Google Global Cache (GGC) allows ISPs to serve certain Google content from within their own networks. This eases congestion within your network, and reduces the amount on traffic on your peering and transit links.
If you do not currently host a GGC node, but would like to enquire about availability, please use this web form.
GGC features
- Transparent to users: Google transparently serves user requests from caches inside your network.
- Reduced external traffic: Typically between 70-90% of cacheable traffic can be served from GGC. Cache hit rates will vary, based on the unique consumption patterns of end users on each operator's network.
- Robust: GGC provides resilience through multiple levels of redundancy, which are transparent to users. Google ensures that users are always served from the best available data location, even in the event of a temporary outage.
- Easy to set up: Google provides the GGC hardware. You only need to provide rack space, power, a keyboard & monitor, and a connection to your network. Once you have completed the initial setup, Google takes care of the remote operation of the cache.
Configuration overview
Google maintains a web portal for ISPs (the ISP portal is restricted to users with login access). Use this to provide Google with the following information:
- Shipping instructions, contacts, and addresses
- Technical point(s) of contact for node operations
- IP subnet addresses (IPv4 / IPv6) for the GGC node
- Peer ASN and IP address (IPv4 / IPv6) for a BGP feed to the GGC node
- Maximum rate of traffic to egress from the GGC node towards your users
Further information is available in the GGC install guide.