Is it possible to tell which Google server you are on?

[PhotogJohn]

I just started using an anonymous IP service, and I notice differences in Google SERPs with different IP's.

With my IP in the middle of the USA one of my sites is #9. When I get an IP that is located in California that same site is #4 for the same search. I notice the same on several of my sites.

Is there a way to know which Google server I am connected to each time? I am curious as to if a server is ahead or behind. Will my local server be catching up to the rankings on the other server or the other way around.

I understand SERPs will be different between countries, but I'm surprised to find such a difference between states. Also, these are not results that should not be impacted by region. I am seeing the same sites, none of them local businesses, but the sites are simply ranking in different orders.

Thanks for anyone that can provide info.

[awj888]

google is changing the way its delivers searches. Its going to give slightly different results based on locations as well as users. So yes checking with different IPs is going to give slightly different results. its kind of the same way facebook shows your news feed with information that IT thinks is releveant to what you want to see. These companies are creating a bubble around the users thinking they only want to see things they want to see, as apose to being challenged having a portion of own discovery of new things. But back to the states difference, local search is going to give different results as differney businesses will be ranking for the localization. Google knows your location when you search and tries to match the content acordingly.

[PhotogJohn]

Sure, I understand that. But again these are not searches that have anything to do with location.

I am also doing the searches in privacy mode. So Google isn't getting any information from me. Just different IP's in different locations.

What I am asking is if there is a way to find information on the different servers I am connecting to because I think that is the difference. I'm guessing Google has different servers set up around the world that are not all in perfect sync.

[MisterE]

PhotogJohn,

Yes there is a way, but I'm not sure if you will get much satisfaction, then again it might be exactly what you're looking for.

This requires Firefox.

Install this addon: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/showip/

Restart Firefox and go to Google dot com, or load up a Google search results page.

At the bottom of the browser you will see the IP number of the Server that is handling your search.

Right click on the IP number, find the same IP that was showing from the list of different IP's (Google uses multiple servers in the backbone for search results).

Open the info panel next to the correct IP and choose the Robtex dot com.
You will now be presented with a page of info regarding the IP.

Scroll down and you will see what appears to be a Mindmap, scroll through this until you find the main node for the diagram. On the far right of this main node you will see the 'AS' number. Click on this to open the page. Scroll to the bottom and you will see the locations of the servers for the associated IP.

There may be other ways to find locations such as this: Find IP to Location | Tejji


Mark

[PhotogJohn]

I think that is exactly what I was looking for. I'll give it a shot.

Thanks!

[PhotogJohn]

Yes, I understand, Yasir. I was using proxies and privacy mode for the browser. But what I found is that what someone may see in the central US isn't the same as someone in southern California.