What is Node in Networking System?

Node in networking is a connection point or redistribution points or communication points which can send and receive information. In this post, we will define what is node in networking. Typically, nodes are needed for a small, mid-level or large network system because the node has the ability to identify and transmit data to the endpoint nodes.

What is Node in Networking?

What is node in networking? A node can be defined in networking is a physical connectivity over a small or large network to send and receive data from one node to another node. In computer science nodes are devices such as personal computer, printer, modems, switches or phone.

Simply put, node in networking is a connection point within the computer network which can store, send, receive and forward data. Typically, a node is essential for a network because it has the capability to recognize and transmit information to the destination nodes.

What is the example of node in networking? The example of nodes in networking are computers, switches, bridges, hubs, modem, printers and servers. The best and most usable example of node is a host computer, which is also called internet node. The host computers are generally identified by an IP (internet protocol) address.

Suppose, an office network connect with five computers, two printers, one switch and also connected with two wireless devices so, total nodes is ten.

In computer networking, multiple nodes or devices are connected to each other. Each type of device has an IP address and a MAC address.

Types of Node in Networking

There are different types of computer networking such as local area network LAN or wide area network WAN, and personal area network. Each types of network includes different types of devices or nodes such as routers, switches, modems, computers and servers. So, all these nodes uniquely identified by a MAC address.

Already we have defined what is a node in networking. Now will focus on types of node in networking.

• Internet Network Node
• LAN & WAN Node
• Telecommunications Network Node
• Cable Television System Node
• Distributed System Nodes

Internet Network Node

In the internet network, the host computers are physical network nodes which are identified by IP address. Each host computer include a unique IP address and MAC address so this host computer referred to as internet network node.

There are some devices in networking system such as bridges or switches which has no IP address but has MAC address. So, these type of devices considered as LAN nodes but not internet nodes.

Some other data link devices such as wireless access point which has no IP address so, it can be physical network or LAN nodes but not internet nodes.

LAN & WAN Node

In local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) system, a network node is a device which typically executes a specific function in networking.

To perform this function every node in networking requires a MAC address for each network interface card (NIC).

The example of this types of node in networking is computers, modem with Ethernet interfaces and access points of wireless LAN. It is noted that, if any device is offline then the functionality of that device as a node will be lost.

Distributed System Nodes

What is node in distributed system? A distributed system in networking contains multiples nodes which linked together within the network but they are physically separate. In this distributed system, all nodes within the network can communicate with each other and perform their functions.

There are different form of nodes in the distributed systems such as client/server systems or peer to peer systems.

In client server systems, there are number of clients and one server. In this system, clients requests a resource to the server and the server accepts the request and provides that resource.

A peer to peer systems that contains multiple nodes and each node can interact with each other for resources sharing. There no needs server for resources sharing in this network system.

Advantages of Distributed Systems Nodes

There are some advantages of using distributed system node, which are as follows:

• In distributed system, resources can share very easily because all the nodes are connected with each other.
• A new node can easily added in distributed system network.
• If any node is fail or offline then others node can still share resources and communicate with each other.

Telecommunications Network Node

A telecommunications network system is a group of devices or nodes (redistribution point or a communication endpoint) which are connected with physical link or a virtual circuit.

The telecommunications system are used to exchange various type of information such as audio, video, text and images between the nodes.

Telephone networks is the example of telecommunication networks which each individual telephone or smartphone is referred to as node.

Cable Television System Node

Cable television is a system which distributing different channel of television programs using radio frequency (RF) signals or through fiber-optic cables.

In cable television systems, nodes are connected with fiber optic cable. Typically, each fiber optic node connects to home or commercial to serve a fiber optic receiver in a geographic area.

Example of Node in Networking

The example of nodes in networking system are computers, switches, bridges, hubs, modem, printers and servers. For your kind information the best and most operational example of node is a host computer.

Conclusion

A network node is essential for small, mid-level or large network because the node has the capability to identify and transmit information to the destination nodes. We have defined “what is node in networking” and types of node in networking. Hope the article will be helpful and can gather knowledge about node in networking.