THE INDONESIA COMPUTER NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE

A STATUS REPORT

Onno W. Purbo, Ph.D

Computer Network Research Group
Inter University Center on Microelectronics
Institute of Technology Bandung
Bandung 40132
FAX 62-22 214-417
InterNet yc1dav@itbgtw.itb.ac.id

ABSTRACT
This report will briefly describe our computer networking
initiative within Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB) as well as at
national level in Indonesia. ITB is currently the most wired campus in
Indonesia with more than 1500 users on Campus. We managed to
self-create our network including the technology to build ITB's
network. The major difference with other conventional initiative, ITB's
Campus Network is initially established by low cost technology
(namely, radio network) using heavily bottom-up development
approach with minimal financial support from external resources.
Human Resource (HR) development & the ability to develop our own
technology are the key to success. The adoption of this approach
leads to a self supporting campus wide network development with
minimal support from outside the campus. Our self sustainable
network development concept, which relies on HR & low cost
technology, is currently being adopted by other universities in
Indonesia. A complete report on our national networking status is
broadcasted periodically in InterNet to keep the global InterNet
community up-dated on our effort in Indonesia.

COMPUTER NETWORK AT ITB

History
• Started in 1986-1987, using leased-line via the Indonesian commercial
packet switching network to a conferencing system in Canada. This
initiative failed due to lack of networking capacity within ITB.
• In about the same time (1986-1987), ITB was participated in the
Indonesia's first University Network (UNINET) lead by the University of
Indonesia. However, the initiative was failed due to the high cost long
distance calls, lack of human resources and no Campus network
infrastructure.
• In 1988-1989, ITB's computer center started to submit proposal for ITB-Net.
However, it is never been implemented due to no budget allocation.
• In 1992, as part of the research activities at the Inter University Center on
Microelectronics, we are working on packet radio computer network. It
requires as low as US$300 and a PC per node to be able to hook up into the
 network. Public domain software (including its source code) is used to
reduce the costs.
• Starting with only a single PC 286 with 5 users with a direct radio
connection to Jakarta, within two (2) years, we managed to increase the
number of user to more than 1500 users and connecting close 400 PCs and
several dozen of UNIX workstations.

Personnel
• The development of ITB-Network leads by the Computer Network Research
Group (CNRG) ITB with currently close to 10 dedicated researchers.
Although, CNRG's objective is primarily in doing research in computer
networking - the development of computer network in ITB is actually the
side effect of CNRG's activities as other initiatives fail to materialized.
• Student body at ITB, especially the Electrical Engineering Student Society
and the Amateur Radio Club at ITB, are heavily involved in helping ITB
expanding their network as well as in training / preparing the younger
students in computer networking, thus, help speed up the human resource
development required to support the expansion of our network.
• It is to say that the whole information communities at ITB, including,
academic staffs, students and technicians, are heavily involved in building
our network. Funding is obtained from various donation as well as
activating the under utilized equipments.
• The result of our effort, within a short period of time, we managed to build
the network and its technology as well as the required human resources to
support it.

Hardware
• Currently, we use mostly packet radio technology for our long distance
data communication links.
• In addition to packet radio technology, we are currently installing /
negotiating several advanced data communication links, such as:
m Two (2) 64Kbps dedicated leased lines to InterNet (donated by PT.
Telekomunkasi Indonesia and PT. Aplikasinusa Lintas Arta).
m One 38.4Kbps satellite link via ETS-V to Japan (in collaboration with
Communication Research Lab, Japan).
m One 19.2-250Kbps VSAT Palapa Satellite ground station (in research
collaboration with PT. Elektrindo Nusantara).
m One 9600bps Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite ground station (donated
by the Indonesian Amateur Radio individuals).
Most of them are donated by various organization / individuals knowing
their donation will be used for good by the users at ITB.
• Locally, within the universities, the network is currently using ethernet
10Mbps backbone as our primary Campus Wide Area Network.
• PC based routers are heavily used due to its availability with increasing
capacity at low cost.

Software
• The TCP/IP software for the routers is made by the Electrical Engineering
 students of ITB adapted from the amateur radio community.
• In addition, we use several UNIX based PCs running FreeBSD, 386BSD,
Linux, SCO Unix of which some are available in public domain.
• Various standard applications, such as, e-mail, File Transfer Protocol (FTP),
Telnet capability, Network File System (NFS), are normally used within our
network.
• The emerging World Wide Web (WWW), Mosaic, HTTP servers are also
installed and implemented in ITB's network.
• Novell LANs are also heavily used to integrate our DOS users into the
network. At least close to two dozen Novell LANs in various units /
departments are connected to ITB-Net. Mercury & Pegasus mailers are
used on the Novell LANs to enable it in communicating within the TCP/IP
based network.
• Since most of the software used are in public domain, it is available at no
cost.

Information stored
• Several FTP sites have been set-up within the ITB-Network, it contains:
m Various research results.
m Various public domain software.
m Information / international standards on computer networking.
• The WWW & Mosaic server is run at www.ee.itb.ac.id, it currently contains:
m Various information on research results at ITB.
m The profile of various research units within ITB.
m The profile of researchers at ITB.
• Several electronics discussion groups have been hosted at ITB, some of
them also links to similar electronics discussion groups in InterNet. To
name a few, we are currently hosting:
m General discussion group for the Indonesian network operator at
sysop@itbgtw.itb.ac.id.
m Relay for the discussion group of ITB alumni centralized at
itb@shinano.cs.uec.ac.jp.
m Relay for the discussion group to support the ASEAN Australia
Economic Cooperation Program (AAECP) in Microelectronics and
Information Technology Sub-committee.
m Various local electronics discussion groups within ITB.
• In addition to it, some of our users also subscribe to various Internet
mailing lists and newsgroups. The availability of access to international
experts via these lists and newsgroup have increased the capacity of our
students tremendously.
• Currently, the total traffic between ITB and InterNet is close to 2Mbyte / day
limited by the current capacity of the radio link between ITB and Jakarta. It
will rapidly increases as soon as we managed to install our 64Kbps
dedicated link to InterNet (hopefully, by the end of March 1995).

Evaluation
• A bottom-up development approach has been successfully used to build
 the computer network at Institute of Technology Bandung. Although, it
requires an active participation from the members, in the long run, it can
be easily sustainable.
• Several hardware prototypes have been produced, some prototypes are
currently under small scale production.

COORDINATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL

Bodies involved
• At national level, we have several computer networking initiatives. Some of
the leading initiatives are:

IPTEK-NET The national research and technology network

(supported by the National Research Council).
JASIPAKTA The national aerospace agency networking initiatives.
(supported by the German Aerospace Agency).
INFO-RIS Research Network
(supported by the National Telecommunication
Company).
SDNP Sustainable Development Networking Programme
(funded by United Nation Development Program -
UNDP).

The ITB's networking initiative has close collaboration with these

networking activities. In fact, our InterNet access are supported through all
of the above networking initiatives.

Information compiled
• Research results.
• Public domain software.
• General information / standards.

Reports produced
• Onno W. Purbo, "An alternative approach to built low cost TCP/IP-
based Wide Area Network in Indonesia," the South East Asia Regional
Computer Confederation (SEARCC) '92 regional conference, Kuala Lumpur,
14 August 1992.
• Onno W. Purbo, "The building of computer network in Indonesia,"
accepted for publication in Canadian Journal of Development Studies.
• Onno W. Purbo, Aulia Khusnul Arif, Arman Hazairin, Basuki, Ichwan F. Agus,
Yudhi Prasetyo, "The implementation of packet radio wide area
network in Indonesia," Seminar on computer network and terrestrial
data communication, LAPAN November 1994, Jakarta.
• Onno W. Purbo, Aulia Khusnul Arif, Arman Hazairin, Basuki, Ichwan F. Agus,
Tedjo Widodo, Yudhi Prasetyo, Utoro Sastrokusumo, "An overview of the
implementation of TCP/IP packet radio wide area network in
Indonesia," International Conference in Telecommunication 1995,
 Denpasar, Bali April 1995.
• Onno W. Purbo, "The Indonesia Computer Network Status Report,"
periodically broadcasted in InterNet & available in electronic form upon
request.

Services provided
• Standard applications:
m e-mail (with capability to reach InterNet sites).
m FTP (File Transfer Protocol).
m Telnet
• Some advanced applications, such as, NFS, X-Windowing.
• At least, there are five (5) HTTP servers are running in the Indonesia
network.
• A couple gopher servers are running in the network. However, they are
gradually replaced by HTTP servers.
• A couple of dozen FTP sites are in operation, containing:
m Various research results.
m Various public domain software.
m Various general information & standards.

NETWORKING

Status report of the computer network

in Indonesia as of February 1995, can
be summarized as follows:

• A total of 83 major nodes are in

operation with 67 (81%) of Figure 1. Indonesia Network
which are located in Bandung; Topology as of February 1995
the rest (32%) are spread all
over Indonesia including Jakarta.
• Interestingly, most of the nodes
(80%) are using the low cost
packet radio technology to form
a WAN, the rest (20%) mostly in
Jakarta are using dial-up UUCP /
TCP/IP to reach the InterNet
gateway at IPTEK-NET Jakarta.
• In addition to the active nodes, there are currently at least 71 nodes are
preparing their equipments and human resources to join the network.
• The estimated total user is 6049 users with 37.0% are at universities, 7.5%
in research institutions, 1.7% NGO, 34.7% in government institutes, and
19.1% commercial / industries.
• Approximately 68.3% of total users accessible in Jakarta; 30.1% users
reside in Bandung city (24.4% are users of ITB).
• Major applications are 4 major electronic mailing lists, 14 major
newsgroups & Gopher / WWW servers.
• Estimated growth rate is 700% per year.
Summary of the Indonesian major computer network international links.

• IPTEK-NET
m TCP/IP 300bps to Aachen Germany
m TCP/IP 64Kbps to SprintNet (USA)
• University of Indonesia
m UUCP 14.4Kbps to UUNET (USA), DIALIX (OZ)
• Institute of Technology Bandung
m TCP/IP 38.4Kbps to CRL in Kashima, Japan via ETS-V (experimental)
m Store-and-Forward AX.25 VITASAT to InterNet

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The whole concept on self-supporting network in Indonesia cannot be
implemented without the dedicated group of people who sacrifice many sleepless
nights trying to run our computer network into a reality. Until today, most of them
are still working and sacrificing their time for our network. Among the endless list
of these devoted people, I would like to acknowledge many of my colleagues who
make our dream into a reality, but not limited to, M. Ichsan (LAPAN), R.M.S.
Ibrahim (UI), Samawi Samadikun (IPTEK-NET), Firman Siregar (IPTEK-NET), R.
Santoso (IPTEK-NET), Adi Indrayanto (ITB), Arman Hazairin (ITB), Basuki
Suhardiman (ITB), Aulia Khunus Arif (ITB), Ichwan F. Agus (ITB), Yudi Satria (ITB).
In addition, I would like to thank the generous supports from Prof. Dr.
Samaun Samadikun (DRN), Prof. Dr. Harsono Taroepratjeka (DIKTI), Dr. Vinarya
Legoh (IPTEK-NET), Dr. Tati Mengko (ITB), Dr. Sudaryatno (ITB), Dr. Soegiarjo
Soegijoko (ITB), Dr. Richard Mengko (ITB).
 Expert Group Meeting in the Development of RIHED
Information Network on Higher Education
Sol Twin Towers Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
March 14-16, 1995

PARTICIPANT's FORM

1. Name: Onno W. Purbo

2. Post Held: Group Leader, Computer Network Research Group
Institute of Technology Bandung
3. Address and contact numbers

3.1 Office address:

Computer Network Research Group
Inter University Center on Microelectronics
Institute of Technology Bandung
Bandung 40132, Indonesia
FAX: 62-22 214-417
E-mail: yc1dav@process.paume.itb.ac.id

3.2 Home address:

Setra Sari Atas 15
Bandung 40152, Indonesia

4. Experience on information and higher education:

• Group Leader, Computer Network Research Group ITB 1993-
• Bandung-Net coordinator 1993
• Member of National Task Force for the development of library &
information technology.
• Indonesian node coordinator for academic community for developing
Sustainable Development Network (SDN) - United Nation
Development Program (UNDP).
• Country coordinator for YB-NET, Amateur Packet Radio TCP/IP
Network under Class B IP address 44.132.
5. Any dietary restriction: no ham.
Duration of stay: From: 13 March 1995 to 17 March 1995.

Onno W. Purbo
24 February 1995

(To be sent to SEAMEO RIHED in Bangkok)

5th Floor, Ministry of University Affairs Building, 328 Si Ayutthaya Rd, Bangkok
10400,
FAX: (662) 246-4030