The Google-System consists of a network of thousands and thousands of computers and servers, which contain data of 60% of all internet-users worldwide. These systems are spread over all continents, containing more information about some users, less about others. It’s always a question of how much the individual user reveals online.

The exact number of Google-Server-Farms is a well-kept secret. Some experts believe that there are seven, others are convinced that the company maintains twenty-five. Likewise, the number of servers at the Googleplex in Mountain View can only be guessed. Approximations range from 100,000 to 450,000, which would be twice the number of computers at Microsoft. Christoph Pichler, an internet-marketing expert at CPC-Consulting, has found a map of all of Google’s data centers on Pingdom. It shows a world-map with publicized locations of the individual server farms. Overall, there appear to be 36, of which 12 are in Europe. I believe this map includes every Google establishment, not only server locations.

This secretive behavior is simply a protective measure against potential attacks – Google does not want to become a potential target.

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 4:25 pm | Category: Google
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