The interesting tool at McDar that shows the results from several Google data centers for the same search terms at the same moment gives results that puzzle me. There are seven centers shown. For a given search-term set, one of my sites shows these placement results: 39 - 25 - 38 - 38 - 39 - 39 - 39. While I would be (reluctantly) willing to write off that 25 as just a chance variation, the fact is that when I call an actual search, that is the result I get a majority of the time, perhaps (I haven't been counting) a large majority. Moreover, this is a fairly steady and persistent difference: it has been that way for at least days, and I reckon from memory, weeks, meaning across the recent Google juggling, so it is not just the blind chance of a given moment. Some questions, then: 1. Are the centers geographic? That is, do I see a given center more often because of where I am? 2. Are the centers more or less equally served, or do I perhaps see one more often because it carries a much higher load than some others? 3. Why the sharp difference at one center compared to another?
Google data centers are geographic... your physical location will give you a higher probability of hitting a certain one (www.google.com uses a data center not listed on mcdar's tool for me about 50% of the time for example). If that one is under high load, I'll be routed to another one that is under less load. - Shawn
Caryl: I refer to 216.239.39.99 (I had not noticed the headings before because Privoxy blocks them as if they were ads, but I turned it off to look). The exact numbers have jiggled very slightly, but that site remains--for my terms--wildly out of synch with the others (favorably to me). I am in eastern Washington State.
Hey Mcdar! Your Google Datacenter Watch Tool is awesome. Thanks very much for creating it! Of course, in deference to our host, I should also mention that the Digital Point Keyword Tracker is the best tool ever. Voyager Webmaster: The Hack FAQ
Eric, Boy that is odd. I currently have a phrase that comes up 13 and 14 across all banks ACCEPT the ones labled as "NEW". In that set I rank 3 and 4. I made a modification to the pages and thought that maybe it was just the effect of the change "working it's way" into the system but no other keywords I check for are showing similar results. I really can't explain it.
Shawn, The datacenter 216.239.53.99 was listed on the Datacenter Tool. It was in the ".99" bank of results. But - the Easter Bunny brought you something this morning - go take a look.
Yes, it was there. But this morning I made a change and now it is in the first frame of the www - akadns bank.
Everyone is discussiong and raving aboput this tool, but I missed the original posting. What is the URL? I want to get in on the fun.