<PAGE>


THIS WARRANT AND THE COMMON SHARES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAVE
NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. THIS WARRANT
AND THE COMMON SHARES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT MAY NOT BE SOLD,
OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT AS TO THIS WARRANT UNDER SAID ACT OR AN OPINION OF
COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO VIANET TECHNOLOGIES, INC. THAT SUCH
REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

                                    Right to Purchase _____________ Shares of
                                    Common Stock of Vianet Technologies, Inc.
                                    (subject to adjustment as provided herein)

                          COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT

No. 8                                                Issue Date: January 9, 2001

         VIANET TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Delaware (the "Company"), hereby certifies that, for value
received, _______________________, or assigns, is entitled, subject to the terms
set forth below, to purchase from the Company from and after the Issue Date of
this Warrant and at any time or from time to time before 5:00 p.m., New York
time, through five (5) years after such date (the "Expiration Date"), up to
_______________ fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock (as
hereinafter defined), $.001 par value per share, of the Company, at a per share
purchase price of $.28875 (such purchase price per share as adjusted from time
to time as herein provided is referred to herein as the "Purchase Price"). The
number and character of such shares of Common Stock and the Purchase Price are
subject to adjustment as provided herein.

         As used herein the following terms, unless the context otherwise
requires, have the following respective meanings:

         (a)      The term "Company" shall include Vianet Technologies, Inc.
and any corporation which shall succeed or assume the obligations of Vianet
Technologies, Inc. hereunder.

         (b) The term "Common Stock" includes (a) the Company's Common Stock,
$.001 par value per share, as authorized on the date of the Subscription
Agreement referred to in Section 9 hereof, (b) any other capital stock of any
class or classes (however designated) of the Company, authorized on or after
such date, the holders of which shall have the right, without limitation as to
amount, either to all or to a share of the balance of current dividends and
liquidating dividends after the payment of dividends and distributions on any
shares entitled to preference, and the holders of which shall ordinarily, in the
absence of contingencies, be entitled to vote for the election of a majority of
directors of the Company (even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the
happening of such a contingency) and (c) any other securities into which or for
which any of the securities described in (a) or (b) may be converted or
exchanged pursuant to a plan of recapitalization, reorganization, merger, sale
of assets or otherwise.



                                       63
<PAGE>


         (c) The term "Other Securities" refers to any stock (other than Common
Stock) and other securities of the Company or any other person (corporate or
otherwise) which the holder of the Warrant at any time shall be entitled to
receive, or shall have received, on the exercise of the Warrant, in lieu of or
in addition to Common Stock, or which at any time shall be issuable or shall
have been issued in exchange for or in replacement of Common Stock or Other
Securities pursuant to Section 4 or otherwise.

         1.       Exercise of Warrant.
                  -------------------

                  1.1. Number of Shares Issuable upon Exercise. From and after
the date hereof through and including the Expiration Date, the holder hereof
shall be entitled to receive, upon exercise of this Warrant in whole in
accordance with the terms of subsection 1.2 or upon exercise of this Warrant in
part in accordance with subsection 1.3, shares of Common Stock of the Company,
subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 4.

                  1.2. Full Exercise. This Warrant may be exercised in full by
the holder hereof by delivery of an original or fax copy of the form of
subscription attached as Exhibit A hereto (the "Subscription Form") duly
executed by such holder, and surrender of the original Warrant within seven (7)
days of exercise to the Company at its principal office or at the office of its
Warrant agent (as provided hereinafter), accompanied by payment, in cash or by
certified or official bank check payable to the order of the Company, in the
amount obtained by multiplying the number of shares of Common Stock for which
this Warrant is then exercisable by the Purchase Price (as hereinafter defined)
then in effect.

                  1.3. Partial Exercise. This Warrant may be exercised in part
(but not for a fractional share) by surrender of this Warrant in the manner and
at the place provided in subsection 1.2 except that the amount payable by the
holder on such partial exercise shall be the amount obtained by multiplying (a)
the number of shares of Common Stock designated by the holder in the
Subscription Form by (b) the Purchase Price then in effect. On any such partial
exercise, the Company, at its expense, will forthwith issue and deliver to or
upon the order of the holder hereof a new Warrant of like tenor, in the name of
the holder hereof or as such holder (upon payment by such holder of any
applicable transfer taxes) may request, the number of shares of Common Stock for
which such Warrant may still be exercised.

                  1.4.     Fair  Market  Value.  Fair Market Value of a
share of Common Stock as of a particular date (the "Determination Date") shall
mean the Fair Market Value of a share of the Company's Common Stock. Fair Market
Value of a share of Common Stock as of a Determination Date shall mean:

                           (a)      If the Company's Common Stock is traded
on an exchange or is quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. Automated Quotation ("NASDAQ") National Market System or the NASDAQ
SmallCap Market, then the closing or last sale price, respectively, reported for
the last business day immediately preceding the Determination Date.

                           (b)      If the  Company's  Common  Stock is
not traded on an exchange or on the NASDAQ National Market System or the NASDAQ
SmallCap Market but is traded in the over-the-counter market, then the mean of
the closing bid and asked prices reported for the last business day immediately
preceding the Determination Date.

                           (c)      Except as provided in clause (d) below,
if the Company's Common Stock is not publicly traded, then as the Holder and the
Company agree or in the absence of agreement by arbitration in accordance with



                                       64
<PAGE>

the rules then standing of the American Arbitration Association, before a single
arbitrator to be chosen from a panel of persons qualified by education and
training to pass on the matter to be decided.

                           (d)      If the Determination Date is the date of
a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or any event deemed to be a
liquidation, dissolution or winding up pursuant to the Company's charter, then
all amounts to be payable per share to holders of the Common Stock pursuant to
the charter in the event of such liquidation, dissolution or winding up, plus
all other amounts to be payable per share in respect of the Common Stock in
liquidation under the charter, assuming for the purposes of this clause (d) that
all of the shares of Common Stock then issuable upon exercise of all of the
Warrants are outstanding at the Determination Date.

                  1.5. Company Acknowledgment. The Company will, at the time of
the exercise of the Warrant, upon the request of the holder hereof acknowledge
in writing its continuing obligation to afford to such holder any rights to
which such holder shall continue to be entitled after such exercise in
accordance with the provisions of this Warrant. If the holder shall fail to make
any such request, such failure shall not affect the continuing obligation of the
Company to afford to such holder any such rights.

                  1.6. Trustee for Warrant Holders. In the event that a bank or
trust company shall have been appointed as trustee for the holders of the
Warrants pursuant to Subsection 3.2, such bank or trust company shall have all
the powers and duties of a warrant agent (as hereinafter described) and shall
accept, in its own name for the account of the Company or such successor person
as may be entitled thereto, all amounts otherwise payable to the Company or such
successor, as the case may be, on exercise of this Warrant pursuant to this
Section 1.

         2.1 Delivery of Stock Certificates, etc. on Exercise. The Company
agrees that the shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of this Warrant
shall be deemed to be issued to the holder hereof as the record owner of such
shares as of the close of business on the date on which this Warrant shall have
been surrendered and payment made for such shares as aforesaid. As soon as
practicable after the exercise of this Warrant in full or in part, and in any
event within 7 days thereafter, the Company at its expense (including the
payment by it of any applicable issue taxes) will cause to be issued in the name
of and delivered to the holder hereof, or as such holder (upon payment by such
holder of any applicable transfer taxes) may direct in compliance with
applicable Securities Laws, a certificate or certificates for the number of duly
and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock (or
Other Securities) to which such holder shall be entitled on such exercise, plus,
in lieu of any fractional share to which such holder would otherwise be
entitled, cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the then Fair Market Value
of one full share, together with any other stock or other securities and
property (including cash, where applicable) to which such holder is entitled
upon such exercise pursuant to Section 1 or otherwise.

         2.2.     Cashless Exercise.
                  ------------------

                  (a) Payment may be made either in (i) cash or by certified or
official bank check or checks payable to the order of the Company equal to the
applicable aggregate Purchase Price, (ii) by delivery of Warrants, Common Stock
and/or Common Stock receivable upon exercise of the Warrants in accordance with
Section (b) below, or (iii) by a combination of any of the foregoing methods,
for the number of Common Shares specified in such form (as such exercise number
shall be adjusted to reflect any adjustment in the total number of shares of



                                       65
<PAGE>

Common Stock issuable to the holder per the terms of this Warrant) and the
holder shall thereupon be entitled to receive the number of duly authorized,
validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock (or Other
Securities) determined as provided herein.

                  (b) Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, if
the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock is greater than the Purchase
Price (at the date of calculation as set forth below), in lieu of exercising
this Warrant for cash the holder may elect to receive shares equal to the value
(as determined below) of this Warrant (or the portion thereof being cancelled)
by surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company together
with the properly endorsed Subscription Form in which event the Company shall
issue to the holder a number of shares of Common Stock computed using the
following formula:

                           X=Y (A-B)
                                ---
                                 A

                  Where    X=       the number of shares of Common Stock to
be issued to the holder

                           Y=       the number of shares of Common Stock
purchasable under the Warrant or, if only a portion of the Warrant is being
exercised, the portion of the Warrant being exercised (at the date of such
calculation)

                           A=       the Fair Market Value of one share of the
Company's Common Stock (at the date of such calculation)

                           B=       Purchase Price (as adjusted to the date
of such calculation)

         3.       Adjustment for Reorganization, Consolidation, Merger, etc.
                  ---------------------------------------------------------

                  3.1. Reorganization, Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case at
any time or from time to time, the Company shall (a) effect a reorganization,
(b) consolidate with or merge into any other person, or (c) transfer all or
substantially all of its properties or assets to any other person under any plan
or arrangement contemplating the dissolution of the Company, then, in each such
case, as a condition to the consummation of such a transaction, proper and
adequate provision shall be made by the Company whereby the holder of this
Warrant, on the exercise hereof as provided in Section 1 at any time after the
consummation of such reorganization, consolidation or merger or the effective
date of such dissolution, as the case may be, shall receive, in lieu of the
Common Stock (or Other Securities) issuable on such exercise prior to such
consummation or such effective date, the stock and other securities and property
(including cash) to which such holder would have been entitled upon such
consummation or in connection with such dissolution, as the case may be, if such
holder had so exercised this Warrant, immediately prior thereto, all subject to
further adjustment thereafter as provided in Section 4.

                  3.2. Dissolution. In the event of any dissolution of the
Company following the transfer of all or substantially all of its properties or
assets, the Company, prior to such dissolution, shall at its expense deliver or
cause to be delivered the stock and other securities and property (including
cash, where applicable) receivable by the holders of the Warrants after the



                                       66
<PAGE>

effective date of such dissolution pursuant to this Section 3 to a bank or trust
company having its principal office in New York, NY, as trustee for the holder
or holders of the Warrants.

                  3.3. Continuation of Terms. Upon any reorganization,
consolidation, merger or transfer (and any dissolution following any transfer)
referred to in this Section 3, this Warrant shall continue in full force and
effect and the terms hereof shall be applicable to the shares of stock and other
securities and property receivable on the exercise of this Warrant after the
consummation of such reorganization, consolidation or merger or the effective
date of dissolution following any such transfer, as the case may be, and shall
be binding upon the issuer of any such stock or other securities, including, in
the case of any such transfer, the person acquiring all or substantially all of
the properties or assets of the Company, whether or not such person shall have
expressly assumed the terms of this Warrant as provided in Section 4. In the
event this Warrant does not continue in full force and effect after the
consummation of the transaction described in this Section 3, then only in such
event will the Company's securities and property (including cash, where
applicable) receivable by the holders of the Warrants be delivered to the
Trustee as contemplated by Section 3.2.

                  3.4. Share Issuance. Except for the Excepted Issuances as
described in Section 12(a) of the Subscription Agreement, if the Company at any
time shall issue any shares of Common Stock prior to the complete exercise of
this Warrant for a consideration less than the Purchase Price that would be in
effect at the time of such issue, then, and thereafter successively upon each
such issue, the Purchase Price shall be reduced as follows: (i) the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issue shall be
multiplied by the Purchase Price in effect at the time of such issue and the
product shall be added to the aggregate consideration, if any, received by the
Company upon such issue of additional shares of Common Stock; and (ii) the sum
so obtained shall be divided by the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after such issue. The resulting quotient shall be the adjusted
Purchase Price. For purposes of this adjustment, the issuance of any security of
the Company carrying the right to convert such security into shares of Common
Stock or of any warrant, right or option to purchase Common Stock shall result
in an adjustment to the Purchase Price upon the issuance of shares of Common
Stock upon exercise of such conversion or purchase rights.

         4. Extraordinary Events Regarding Common Stock. In the event that the
Company shall (a) issue additional shares of the Common Stock as a dividend or
other distribution on outstanding Common Stock, (b) subdivide its outstanding
shares of Common Stock, or (c) combine its outstanding shares of the Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares of the Common Stock, then, in each such
event, the Purchase Price shall, simultaneously with the happening of such
event, be adjusted by multiplying the then Purchase Price by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to such event and the denominator of which shall be the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the
product so obtained shall thereafter be the Purchase Price then in effect. The
Purchase Price, as so adjusted, shall be readjusted in the same manner upon the
happening of any successive event or events described herein in this Section 4.
The number of shares of Common Stock that the holder of this Warrant shall
thereafter, on the exercise hereof as provided in Section 1, be entitled to
receive shall be increased to a number determined by multiplying the number of
shares of Common Stock that would otherwise (but for the provisions of this
Section 4) be issuable on such exercise by a fraction of which (a) the numerator
is the Purchase Price that would otherwise (but for the provisions of this
Section 4) be in effect, and (b) the denominator is the Purchase Price in effect
on the date of such exercise.


                                       67
<PAGE>

         5. Certificate as to Adjustments. In each case of any adjustment or
readjustment in the shares of Common Stock (or Other Securities) issuable on the
exercise of the Warrants, the Company at its expense will promptly cause its
Chief Financial Officer or other appropriate designee to compute such adjustment
or readjustment in accordance with the terms of the Warrant and prepare a
certificate setting forth such adjustment or readjustment and showing in detail
the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based, including a
statement of (a) the consideration received or receivable by the Company for any
additional shares of Common Stock (or Other Securities) issued or sold or deemed
to have been issued or sold, (b) the number of shares of Common Stock (or Other
Securities) outstanding or deemed to be outstanding, and (c) the Purchase Price
and the number of shares of Common Stock to be received upon exercise of this
Warrant, in effect immediately prior to such adjustment or readjustment and as
adjusted or readjusted as provided in this Warrant. The Company will forthwith
mail a copy of each such certificate to the holder of the Warrant and any
Warrant agent of the Company (appointed pursuant to Section 11 hereof).

         6. Reservation of Stock, etc. Issuable on Exercise of Warrant;
Financial Statements. The Company will at all times reserve and keep available,
solely for issuance and delivery on the exercise of the Warrants, all shares of
Common Stock (or Other Securities) from time to time issuable on the exercise of
the Warrant. This Warrant entitles the holder hereof to receive copies of all
financial and other information distributed or required to be distributed to the
holders of the Company's Common Stock.

         7. Assignment; Exchange of Warrant. Subject to compliance with
applicable laws, this Warrant, and the rights evidenced hereby, may be
transferred by any registered holder hereof (a "Transferor") with respect to any
or all of the Shares. On the surrender for exchange of this Warrant, with the
Transferor's endorsement in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto (the
Transferor Endorsement Form") and together with evidence reasonably satisfactory
to the Company demonstrating compliance with applicable Securities Laws, the
Company at its expense but with payment by the Transferor of any applicable
transfer taxes) will issue and deliver to or on the order of the Transferor
thereof a new Warrant or Warrants of like tenor, in the name of the Transferor
and/or the transferee(s) specified in such Transferor Endorsement Form (each a
"Transferee"), calling in the aggregate on the face or faces thereof for the
number of shares of Common Stock called for on the face or faces of the Warrant
so surrendered by the Transferor.

         8. Replacement of Warrant. On receipt of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of
this Warrant and, in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction of this
Warrant, on delivery of an indemnity agreement or security reasonably
satisfactory in form and amount to the Company or, in the case of any such
mutilation, on surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company at its
expense will execute and deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Warrant of like tenor.

         9. Registration Rights. The Holder of this Warrant has been granted
certain registration rights by the Company. These registration rights are set
forth in a Subscription Agreement entered into by the Company and Subscribers of
the Company's 8% Secured Convertible Notes at or prior to the issue date of this
Warrant. The terms of the Subscription Agreement are incorporated herein by this
reference. Upon the occurrence of a Non-Registration Event as described in the
Subscription Agreement, in the event the Company is unable to issue Common Stock
upon exercise of this Warrant that has been registered in the Registration
Statement described in Section 10.1(iv) of the Subscription Agreement, within
the time periods described in the Subscription Agreement, which Registration
Statement must be effective for the periods set forth in the Subscription
Agreement, then upon written demand made by the Holder, the Company will pay to



                                       68
<PAGE>

the Holder of this Warrant, in lieu of delivering Common Stock, a sum equal to
the closing price of the Company's Common Stock on the Principal Market or such
other principal trading market for the Company's Common Stock on the trading
date immediately preceding the date notice is given by the Holder, less the
Purchase Price, for each share of Common Stock designated in such notice from
the Holder.

         10. Maximum Exercise. The Holder shall not be entitled to exercise this
Warrant on an exercise date, in connection with that number of shares of Common
Stock which would be in excess of the sum of (i) the number of shares of Common
Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its affiliates on an exercise date,
and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of this
Warrant with respect to which the determination of this proviso is being made on
an exercise date, which would result in beneficial ownership by the Holder and
its affiliates of more than 9.99% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of
the Company on such date. For the purposes of the proviso to the immediately
preceding sentence, beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with
Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Regulation
13d-3 thereunder. Subject to the foregoing, the Holder shall not be limited to
aggregate exercises which would result in the issuance of more than 9.99%. The
restriction described in this paragraph may be revoked upon 75 days prior notice
from the Holder to the Company. The Holder may allocate which of the equity of
the Company deemed beneficially owned by the Subscriber shall be included in the
9.99% amount described above and which shall be allocated to the excess above
9.99%.

         11. Warrant Agent. The Company may, by written notice to the each
holder of the Warrant, appoint an agent for the purpose of issuing Common Stock
(or Other Securities) on the exercise of this Warrant pursuant to Section 1,
exchanging this Warrant pursuant to Section 7, and replacing this Warrant
pursuant to Section 8, or any of the foregoing, and thereafter any such
issuance, exchange or replacement, as the case may be, shall be made at such
office by such agent.

         12. Transfer on the Company's  Books.  Until this Warrant is
transferred on the books of the Company, the Company may treat the registered
holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes, notwithstanding any
notice to the contrary.

         13. Notices, etc. All notices and other communications from the Company
to the holder of this Warrant shall be mailed by first class registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, at such address as may have been furnished to
the Company in writing by such holder or, until any such holder furnishes to the
Company an address, then to, and at the address of, the last holder of this
Warrant who has so furnished an address to the Company.

         14. Miscellaneous. This Warrant and any term hereof may be changed,
waived, discharged or terminated only by an instrument in writing signed by the
party against which enforcement of such change, waiver, discharge or termination
is sought. This Warrant shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and
governed by the laws of New York. Any dispute relating to this Warrant shall be
adjudicated in New York State. The headings in this Warrant are for purposes of
reference only, and shall not limit or otherwise affect any of the terms hereof.
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way
affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.



                                       69
<PAGE>


                           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this
Warrant under seal as of the date first written above.

                                            VIANET TECHNOLOGIES, INC.



                                            By:
                                                ------------------------------


Witness:




------------------------------


                                       70
<PAGE>


                                                                      Exhibit A

                              FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION

                   (To be signed only on exercise of Warrant)

TO: Vianet Technologies, Inc.

The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the attached Warrant
(No.____), hereby irrevocably elects to purchase (check applicable box):

___      ________ shares of the Common Stock covered by such Warrant; or

___ the maximum number of shares of Common Stock covered by such Warrant
pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in Section 2.

The undersigned herewith makes payment of the full purchase price for such
shares at the price per share provided for in such Warrant, which is
$___________. Such payment takes the form of (check applicable box or boxes):

___      $__________ in lawful money of the United States; and/or

___ the cancellation of such portion of the attached Warrant as is exercisable
for a total of _______ shares of Common Stock (using a Fair Market Value of
$_______ per share for purposes of this calculation); and/or

___ the cancellation of such number of shares of Common Stock as is necessary,
in accordance with the formula set forth in Section 2, to exercise this Warrant
with respect to the maximum number of shares of Common Stock purchaseable
pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in Section 2.

The undersigned requests that the certificates for such shares be issued in the
name of, and delivered to ____________________       whose
address is _____________________________________________________


The undersigned represents and warrants that all offers and sales by the
undersigned of the securities issuable upon exercise of the within Warrant shall
be made pursuant to registration of the Common Stock under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or pursuant to an exemption from
registration under the Securities Act.

Dated:___________________            ______________________________
                                     (Signature must conform to name of holder
                                     as specified on the face of the Warrant)

                                     -------------------------------------
                                     (Address)



                                       71
<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit B


                         FORM OF TRANSFEROR ENDORSEMENT

                   (To be signed only on transfer of Warrant)


                  For value received, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns, and
transfers unto the person(s) named below under the heading "Transferees" the
right represented by the within Warrant to purchase the percentage and number of
shares of Common Stock of Vianet Technologies, Inc. to which the within Warrant
relates specified under the headings "Percentage Transferred" and "Number
Transferred," respectively, opposite the name(s) of such person(s) and appoints
each such person Attorney to transfer its respective right on the books of
Vianet Technologies, Inc. with full power of substitution in the premises.

========================= =========================== ========================
        Transferees          Percentage                          Number
                            Transferred                     Transferred

------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------
------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------


------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------
------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------


------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------
------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------------


========================= =========================== ========================




Dated:                  ,
       -----------------  ----       ------------------------------------------
                                     (Signature must conform to name of holder
                                      as specified on the face of the warrant)

Signed in the presence of:


-------------------------------             ------------------------------
         (Name)                                     (address)

                                            ------------------------------
ACCEPTED AND AGREED:                                 (address)
[TRANSFEREE]


---------------------------------
         (Name)

                                       72