Does the website IP identify where the physical server is located?¶
Not necessarily. An IP address identifies a network endpoint or service at a particular time, not always the physical server storing the website.
The address may belong to a cloud provider, VPS company, CDN, reverse proxy or tunnelling service. The origin files may be elsewhere.
IP geolocation may indicate a provider office, network region or approximate location rather than a specific rack or premises.
Use the right question¶
Often the more useful question is:
Which provider and customer account controlled the relevant infrastructure at the relevant time?
Provider, DNS and historic records may be needed. Do not base search or seizure decisions on IP geolocation alone.
Key takeaway
Use the address to trace the provider and account chain. Corroborate physical location separately.