NODE (NETWORKING)

A 'node' is a device that is connected as part of a computer network. For example, a node may be a computer, personal digital assistant, cell phone, router, switch, or hub.
If the network in question is the Internet, every node must have a MAC address or Data Link Control address^[1] if it is at least an OSI model layer 2 device.
If the network in question is a peer-to-peer or overlay network, nodes that actively route data for the other networked devices as well as themselves are called supernodes.
In general terms, a node is a specific location in a telecommunication network. In Cable TV systems (CATV), this term has assumed a broader context and is generally associated with a Fiber Optic Node. A fiber optic node is those homes or businesses within a specific geographic area that are served from a common fiber optic receiver. A fiber optic node is generally described in terms of the number of Homes Passed that are served by that specific fiber node.
Network node (NN): A grouping of one or more network elements (at one or more sites) which provides network related functions, and is administered as a single entity. A single site may contain more than one network node. For the purpose of this glossary, a network node is considered synonymous with a network element, and is usually at a single site. This restriction simplifies the definition of the network node interface (NNI) and INI, which would not apply between network elements.

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