Do nameservers effect SEO???

Hello, I was wondering if anyone had any insights as to whether or not nameservers have an effect on SEO.

One example that came to mind was this:

If I create two websites on the same nameserver, and use only white-hat tactics on one site, and all black-hat tactics on the other, will the white-hat site be negatively effected because it shares the same nameserver as the black-hat site?

[–]Sleeparchive

I shouldn't think so. All DNS servers do is return the IP of a URL. It wouldn't make any sense for Google to make 'bad neighbourhood' DNS servers. That is like penalizing someone for watching the same TV as a criminal.

That said, I've never tested it.

[–]bajanboost

Google does not pay attention to a website's nameserver unless it is common with websites that abuse the rules. Shared server companies like dreamhost uses a common name server for thousands of websites.

[–]JohnDRuckerduck

Just one? I don't think so. A multitude? Yes.

In the same way that Baidu seems to have a preference to websites hosted on Chinese nameservers, there most likely is a bias towards the name server you choose

[–]HalNavel

As far as covering up which domains you own, use a nameserver from a major host, or several major hosts. Be sure to use unique whois, UA code, GWT verification, AdSense, etc if you want to try this.

[–]hzane

Nameservers can and do get blocked or flagged for spam frequently. Especially in a shared hosting environment. So while it's a little more complicated than that, the short answer is pretty much, yes. That's the value of having a dedicated IP and either self-hosting or using a quality hosting provider.