One common issue when operating a website in Mainland China is that the server’s IP may be blocked, leading to slow website access or complete inaccessibility within Mainland China. Therefore, understanding how to determine if a server’s IP has been blocked and taking appropriate measures is particularly important.

How to Detect if a Server’s IP is Blocked

First, to determine whether a server’s IP has indeed been blocked, you can judge using the following methods:

  • Direct access test: Try to access the server from within Mainland China directly. If it is inaccessible but can be accessed normally from outside China, this may be a sign of blocking.
  • Use online detection tools: Some online services can detect whether your IP address is accessible from China. These tools determine if an IP is blocked by attempting to connect to the server from multiple locations in China.
  • Check server logs: Server logs may show a sudden reduction or cessation of connections with Mainland China IP addresses. This could be due to blocking.

Countermeasures

Once it is confirmed that the server’s IP is blocked, consider the following solutions:

  1. Apply for IP unblocking: If you believe that the server’s IP has been blocked by mistake, you can try to contact your server provider to assist with communications with the relevant departments to apply for unblocking.
  2. Change IP address: In some cases, changing the IP address may be the fastest solution. You can contact your server provider to request a new IP address.
  3. Use CDN services: Content Delivery Network (CDN) can help cache your content at multiple nodes around the world, including nodes within Mainland China. Using CDN services can not only improve the speed of website access but also indirectly deal with IP blocking issues.
  4. Deploy backup servers: Deploying backup servers outside Mainland China and being ready for rapid switching is a common strategy. This allows for quick switching to a backup server when the main server’s IP is blocked, ensuring service continuity.
  5. Set up mirror sites: Consider setting up a mirror site in regions less affected by blocking, so when the main site is inaccessible due to blocking, users can access content through the mirror site.
  6. VPN and proxy solutions: Providing users with a VPN or proxy to access the service can help them bypass restrictions due to IP blocking.

Long-Term Strategies

In addition to the above countermeasures, establishing long-term strategies is also crucial:

  • Comply with local laws and regulations: Ensure that your website and services comply with China’s internet laws and policies to reduce the risk of being blocked.
  • Technical contingency plan: Develop a detailed technical contingency plan, including data backups, rapid DNS switching, etc., to ensure a quick response to any blocking.