HomeLab #1: MikroTik as a Home Router

The author set up a MikroTik router (L009UiGS-RM) for their homelab to gain better control over home network traffic and reduce reliance on cloud services, prioritizing wired connections for optimal performance. Before configuring the router, users must understand their ISP's connection method—specifically whether it uses IPoE or PPPoE authentication, and whether they receive a public or private IPv4 address—as these details directly determine the router setup required. The article warns that DS-Lite connections, which tunnel IPv4 over IPv6, severely limit functionality like port forwarding and inbound connections, and may require purchasing a public IPv4 add-on from the ISP.