High latency not only causes access lag and connection timeouts but also leads to frequent packet loss, resulting in unstable business performance. To effectively reduce ping values, the key is not blindly replacing servers, but rather addressing the problem from multiple angles: network routing, configuration optimization, protocol selection, and architecture design. Therefore, strategies for reducing overseas latency must be systematic. This article will summarize eight reliable methods based on practical experience to help you fundamentally improve the real-time access quality of overseas servers, and provide corresponding troubleshooting approaches and configuration examples.

　　First, it's important to understand that ping values ​​are not determined by a single condition but are formed by the combination of multiple link factors. These include whether the BGP line is optimized, whether the data center has high-quality international bandwidth such as CN2, CMI, or AIA, and even the significant differences in ping values ​​between different service providers in the same region. Therefore, the first method focuses on choosing high-quality lines rather than blindly changing data centers. CN2 GIA, CMI, and AIA have been proven to have shorter hop counts and more stable cross-border links, directly reducing latency by 20–80ms. For example, if you are accessing the US West Coast, CN2 GIA is usually much more stable than regular BGP. If the target users are from Southeast Asia, the Equinix and AIA networks in Singapore will be faster than those in Japan or the United States.

　　The second way to reduce ping is to check for abnormal network path detours using traceroute. For example, some links from mainland China to Hong Kong may unexpectedly take routes through Europe or the United States, causing a sudden spike in ping. You can use traceroute or the tracert tool on Windows to quickly diagnose this. If you see too many hops, it means the line is being rerouted, and you need to contact your service provider to adjust the route or switch lines.

　　Traceroute example:

traceroute your-server-ip

　　Windows example:

tracert your-server-ip

　　The third method is to improve request processing efficiency by using TCP/UDP optimization parameters. Many servers have conservative default network parameters and are not optimized for high-latency cross-border links. Tuning with Sysctl can reduce handshake latency, improve caching efficiency, and reduce the impact of packet loss.

　　Linux optimization example:

net.core.rmem_max = 16777216
net.core.wmem_max = 16777216
net.ipv4.tcp_window_scaling = 1
net.ipv4.tcp_fastopen = 3
net.ipv4.tcp_mtu_probing = 1

　　Execute the following after optimization:

sysctl -p

　　The fourth way to reduce ping is to deploy relay nodes or accelerate lines. For cross-border access, such as accessing a US server from China, even if the target data center has a good network, it may be hampered by congestion at the ISP's international exit points. Relay technologies include GRE, IPSec, Xray, and NAT relay, which select higher-quality entry lines to allow users to access overseas networks faster, significantly reducing latency. For example, accessing Singapore from South China can use Hong Kong relay, and accessing the US from East China can use Japan or Taiwan relay, both of which can significantly improve latency.

　　The fifth method is to use CDN to cache dynamic and static content, allowing users to access the nearest node instead of directly connecting to the overseas origin server. For web pages, APIs, videos, and small file downloads, deploying caching on global edge nodes can reduce latency from 200ms to 20ms. However, it should be noted that CDN is only suitable for HTTP/HTTPS and not for real-time games or dynamic long connections. If the business must pass through an overseas origin server, it needs to be combined with the relay methods mentioned above.

　　The sixth method is to check whether the server's local network stack is restricted by security policies. For example, improper firewall rule settings may cause ICMP packets to be randomly dropped or rate-limited, creating the illusion of unstable ping values. Ensure that ICMP and commonly used ports are not unnecessarily restricted.

　　UFW Example:

ufw allow icmp

　　FirewallD Example:

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-icmp-block=none
firewall-cmd --reload

　　The seventh effective method is to upgrade the server's peak bandwidth and network configuration. Many overseas cloud servers have low default bandwidth, such as 1M, 3M, or 5M, which can cause congestion during high concurrency or streaming. When the outbound bandwidth is saturated, even with sufficient CPU and memory, ping will fluctuate wildly. Upgrading to 20M, 50M, or 100M dedicated bandwidth can significantly improve latency stability. Furthermore, if the ISP uses a shared bandwidth model, peak hours will inevitably see fluctuations, making it even more necessary to consider upgrading to a dedicated bandwidth solution.

　　The eighth method is to optimize the network environment from the user's perspective. For example, check if QoS restrictions are activated on the local broadband, check if the home router's NAT is congested, ensure no devices are consuming excessive bandwidth, and even switching ISPs can significantly improve ping. For gaming or cross-border business, changing broadband ISPs is often more effective than changing servers. For example, China Telecom in southern China often performs better when accessing Hong Kong or Japan, while China Unicom in northern China performs better when accessing the US or Singapore.

　　In conclusion, reducing the ping value of overseas cloud servers is never a single operation, but a comprehensive and coordinated optimization strategy. This includes line selection, routing management, protocol optimization, bandwidth expansion, CDN distributed architecture, and even improvements to the client's network environment; each step can significantly improve latency performance. When deploying projects across borders, enterprises need to assess factors such as target user regions, latency sensitivity, data center resources, and international egress quality in advance to avoid repeatedly migrating data centers or incurring additional costs for remediation later in the project.