The server's IP address is a very valuable resource. Especially when you choose a multi-IP server, the quality of the IP (often referred to as "purity") directly determines the effectiveness of subsequent business. The so-called IP purity refers to whether the IP has a history of blacklists, spam records, abuse, frequent bans, and other adverse conditions. A highly pure IP can ensure stable access, normal email sending and receiving, and unblocked advertising. However, a severely polluted IP may cause the website to be unable to open, emails to be sent to the spam folder, and even the business to be unable to proceed. So, how do you test the IP purity when choosing a multi-IP server?
How do you test IP purity? (Testing IP purity can be divided into the following steps:
1. WHOIS Lookup and Basic Information Verification
Tools: ARIN, APNIC, RIPE, IPIP.net, etc.
Purpose: Check the IP's location, ISP, and allocation status to confirm whether it is a legitimate data center resource.
Key Point: Avoid purchasing IPs from niche data centers or shady channels.
2. Blacklist Check (RBL Check)
Tools: MXToolbox, Multirbl
Purpose: Check if an IP is listed on mainstream email blacklists.
Steps: Enter each IP for a batch check. The results will indicate whether they are on the list.
3. Port Scan and Proxy Check
Tools: Nmap, Shodan
Purpose: Check if an IP has a large number of suspicious ports open (such as SOCKS and HTTP Proxy), which is often a sign of abuse.
4. Access Test
Method: Use the IP to build a simple web browser. service, and then access it through nodes in different regions (domestic and overseas).
Purpose: Verify whether there are any access anomalies or firewall blocking.
5. Email Sending Test
Method: Use this IP to send email to Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo to test the receipt results.
Purpose: Check whether the email is sent to the spam folder or directly rejected.
6. Search Engine Log Query
Method: Use "ip:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" to search on Baidu or Google.
Purpose: Check whether the IP has hosted a large number of low-quality or illegal websites.
7. Reputation Score Check
Tools: Talos Intelligence (IP reputation query provided by Cisco), Project Honeypot
Purpose: Determine whether the IP address has been listed as malicious by security vendors.
Practical Tips for Testing Multiple IP Servers:
1. Batch Testing Tools. If there are dozens or even hundreds of IP addresses, you can use scripts or APIs for batch testing to save time.
2. Focus on checking newly assigned IPs. The probability of contamination is low, but testing is still necessary. Some older IPs may have serious historical issues.
3. Select a testing period. Test access latency during both peak and off-peak hours to avoid only measuring ideal data.
4. Establish long-term monitoring. Even IPs that are initially clean can become contaminated later, so regular reviews are required.
Notes on Choosing a Clean Multi-IP Server
Choosing a reputable data center or a reputable service provider, such as SoftBank in Japan, a large data center in Los Angeles, or CN2 in Hong Kong, provides greater assurance of IP purity. Prioritize native IPs, such as those from the US or Japan, as they are cleaner than "second-hand" IPs that are transferred from other sources.
When signing an SLA agreement, some service providers will promise a free replacement if the IP is blacklisted, which can reduce risk. Avoid abusing IPs. Even if they are initially clean, they can be blacklisted later if used to send spam or increase traffic through scraping.
When choosing a multi-IP server, the purity of the IP directly determines the success or failure of your business. A clean IP address is essential. An IP address can ensure smooth email delivery, normal advertising placement, and unaffected website rankings; however, a “dirty IP address” may put the entire project in trouble.
