When purchasing a Hong Kong server, many opt for one that is connected to China Telecom’s CN2 dedicated line (China Telecom Next Generation Carrier Network, abbreviated as CN2) because it provides better network connectivity, especially for data transfer with Mainland China. But how can you tell if the Hong Kong server you bought is connected to the CN2 dedicated line? This article will detail the use of Ping commands and tracert routing methods to identify CN2 dedicated line servers.

Server Ping Test

Ping is a commonly used network diagnostic tool that tests the quality of network connections. By performing a server Ping test, you can check the speed of data packet transmission and reception between your local host and the target IP (which is the IP of your Hong Kong server), usually expressed in milliseconds (ms).

Typical Hong Kong servers usually have faster access speeds. If the Ping value is around 60ms, this is considered normal and fast. However, for servers connected to the CN2 dedicated line, thanks to optimized routing and high-quality bandwidth, the domestic Ping value can be stable at 40ms or even lower. Therefore, by comparing Ping values, we can preliminarily determine if a server is likely connected to the CN2 line.

Judging Through tracert Routing Trace

Besides the Ping command, the tracert (trace route) command is also a very effective tool used to identify the path and nodes that packets travel through before reaching their final destination. After executing the tracert command, it lists the IP addresses of each router that the packet passes through from the source to the server.

When determining if a server is connected to CN2, we should pay special attention to the IP addresses of the transit nodes. China Telecom’s CN2 backbone network has specific IP address segments, usually starting with “59.43”. If you see an IP address starting with “59.43” in the results of the routing trace, it usually means that your data packets have passed through China Telecom’s CN2 backbone network, proving that your server is indeed connected to the CN2 line.

If the tracert results do not show an IP address starting with “59.43”, then your server is probably not connected to the CN2 line and is using other ordinary network routes.

Conclusion

Purchasing a Hong Kong server and determining whether it is connected to the CN2 line are two separate steps, but neither is complicated, as long as you correctly understand and use network diagnostic tools.

First, how do you go about purchasing a Hong Kong server? Typically, you need to choose a reliable service provider, examine their server configuration options, and whether they offer CN2 line access. After the purchase, by using both Ping and tracert route tracing, you can quite accurately determine whether your server is connected to the high-quality CN2 line.