The CN2 line is the quickest option for linking foreign servers to China. It is a cutting-edge bearer network developed by China Telecom, surpassing the technological framework of the original 163 backbone network. This line offers exceptional performance for various services such as voice, video, data, private line, and international interconnections, with impressive metrics such as low one-way delay, high one-way packet loss rate, and more. If you require a stable connection when leasing a server in Hong Kong, it is advisable to select the CN2 line. However, the Hong Kong server rental market is crowded, making it easy for inexperienced users to lease servers with counterfeit CN2 lines. To avoid this, the editor of Houlangyun is sharing over a decade of industry knowledge on how to differentiate between genuine and fake CN2 lines.

There are two categories of CN2 lines available. The first type is the CN2 GT (Global Transit) that falls under the Global Internet Service (GIS). It is considered a lower-level CN2, and the provincial/overseas nodes begin with 202.97. It consists of 2 to 4 international backbone nodes, and the congestion on its outbound lines is moderately higher than the 163 backbone network. However, it offers superior cost-effectiveness in comparison to CN2 GIA. The CN2 nodes begin with 59.43. The second type of CN2 line is called CN2 GIA (Global Internet Access), which offers the highest level of performance. Its provincial/overseas/international backbone nodes all start with 59.43, and there are no nodes starting with 202.97 in the entire process. This line provides the best performance, with minimal congestion, theoretically the fastest, and most stable. However, the CN2 GIA is significantly more expensive.

The second method to verify a CN2 line is to conduct a traceroute test through a local computer or server. If the traceroute passes through multiple 59.43.xx nodes, it indicates that the CN2 line is in use. On the other hand, if you do not see 59.43.xx, but there are multiple routing nodes that start with 202.97, then it is not a CN2 line, but a regular Telecom 163 network. For Windows systems, use the command “tracert server IP”, while for MAC or Linux systems, use the command “traceroute server IP”. When renting an overseas server, you may also encounter the issue of one-way and two-way CN2 lines.

Some data centers only use one-way CN2 lines, which results in slower access to the mainland. To check this, perform a tracert from the Hong Kong server to the local network. If the reverse tracert also passes through 59.43.xx, then it is a normal two-way CN2 line. However, if the forward tracert is through 59.43, and the reverse tracert is through node 202.97, then it is a one-way CN2 line. It is essential to note that while the CN2 line technology is advanced, stable, and reliable, the cost of a CN2 GIA line is beyond the means of ordinary users due to limited resources. If the server provider promises a high-bandwidth CN2 line at an unusually low price, it is crucial to exercise caution as the quality may not be as promised.