Single IP address multiple servers

Question

I have seen that some IP addresses are tied to multiple servers (physical machines). Example: check the ping times of one of GoDaddy's nameservers:

http://just-ping.com/index.php?vh=NS39.DOMAINCONTROL.COM&c=&s=ping!

It has a ping time of around 3.2 ms from Singapore AND a ping time of 2.3 ms from Ashburn, U.S.A, etc. So I am pretty sure it pings the nearest server.

How does one set this up? Is it possible for an average webmaster to set things like this (buy servers in multiple countries and tie them to a single IP address)?

Answer 1

The only way I know of to do this is an Anycast network.

Basically it's a bastardisations of the DNS and BGP systems, and no, they're not something an average person can set up, it requires a lot of infrastructure and know-how and technological resources, not to mention your own AS and your own IP range.