{"id":8151,"date":"2022-03-02T14:06:54","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T12:06:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/?p=8151"},"modified":"2022-03-02T14:06:56","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T12:06:56","slug":"what-a-network-node-is-a-detailed-explanation-with-examples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/what-a-network-node-is-a-detailed-explanation-with-examples\/","title":{"rendered":"What a network node is; a detailed explanation with examples"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time-approximately:<\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A computer network is a system of computers and computing devices that are connected via communication links.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/contributor\/Ben-Lutkevich\">Ben Lutkevich<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techtarget.com\/contributor\/Kate-Gerwig\">Kate Gerwig<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These links allow the computers and other devices to send information over the network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Network protocols\u00a0define how information is sent and received. Networks can be defined by their geographic location, the protocols they use, the physical arrangement of the network components and their purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Computer networks can be physical or logical. A physical computer network is a real network comprised of the cable and devices that send data back and forth.\u00a0Logical networks\u00a0are software representations of a physical network. They are built on top of a physical network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Computer networks aim to share information and resources among multiple digital devices. The internet is an example of a computer network. It is made up of many smaller computer networks. Computer networks make things like video streaming, social networks and\u00a0cloud networks\u00a0possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>A network node is a connection point in a communications network. Each node is an\u00a0endpoint\u00a0for data transmissions or redistribution. Nodes have either a programmed or engineered capability to recognize, process and forward transmissions to other network nodes.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The concept of network nodes came into being with the use of distributed networks and packet switching. Depending on the application, network nodes perform a variety of functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"What is Networking (Computer Networking)?\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gvC04PSdAog?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What does a network node do?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A network node sits at a point in the network where it sends, receives, stores or creates information. It transmits data to communicate with other nodes in the network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a computer network, nodes can be physical\u00a0networked devices, such as modems, PCs and printers. These devices recognize transmissions from other nodes and forward them to other nodes. A node checks for identification, such as an\u00a0IP address, to grant access to the node.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nodes connect over a link or communication channel. In a computer network these may be cable, fiber optic or wireless connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are the types of network nodes?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several ways to categorize nodes. One way is by network type; another is by network topology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Network type<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Data communications.<\/strong>\u00a0In data communications, physical network nodes include data communications equipment or devices that sit between data terminal equipment (DTE) and data transmission circuits. These include switches,\u00a0bridges, modems or\u00a0hubs\u00a0that perform signal conversion, coding and line clocking. These nodes also include DTE, such as digital telephone handsets, printers, routers, servers and workstations.<\/li><li><strong>Internet network.<\/strong>\u00a0On the internet and with intranets, most physical network nodes are host computers identified by an IP address. However, some data link devices, such as\u00a0wireless local area network (LAN) access points, do not have IP host addresses. They are considered physical network or LAN nodes rather than internet nodes or hosts.<\/li><li><strong>LANs and wide area networks.<\/strong>\u00a0These nodes are devices that perform a specific function. Each one must have a\u00a0Media Access Control address\u00a0for each\u00a0network interface card. Examples include modems with Ethernet interfaces, wireless LAN access points and computers.<\/li><li><strong>Telecommunications network.<\/strong>\u00a0In fixed telephone networks, nodes may be public or private telephone exchanges or a computer providing an intelligent network service. In cellular communications, nodes include\u00a0base station\u00a0controllers that control one or more base stations. Cellular network base stations are not considered nodes.<\/li><li><strong>Cable system.<\/strong>\u00a0In\u00a0cable systems, nodes use fiber optic cable to connect to businesses and homes served by a common fiber optic receiver within a geographic location. A fiber optic node describes the number of homes or businesses that a specific fiber node can serve.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"727\" src=\"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/network-topology-infographic.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/network-topology-infographic.png 1020w, https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/network-topology-infographic-300x214.png 300w, https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/network-topology-infographic-768x547.png 768w, https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/network-topology-infographic-800x570.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/><figcaption><strong>The nodes in the topologies pictured are represented by the dots and the communication links by the lines.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Network topologies<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Another way to categorize nodes is by how they are arranged in a physical computer network. This is known as the\u00a0network topology\u00a0approach. Some common network topologies include these four:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Bus\u00a0topology connects individual nodes directly to a main cable.<\/li><li>Ring\u00a0topology has nodes connected in a loop or ring; each node has a neighbor on each side.<\/li><li>Star\u00a0topology connects all nodes to a central hub.<\/li><li>Mesh\u00a0topology has every node connected to every other node.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"What is a Mesh Network? Everything You Need to Know\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8UZlwhiWKmA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are examples and applications of network nodes?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Examples of how network nodes are used include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Print request.<\/strong>&nbsp;An employee sends a print request from a computer to a printer located in another part of the office. The employee&#8217;s computer is a node on the network. The request travels over the network and through a series of other nodes &#8212; a router, for example &#8212; on the company LAN. The request reaches the printer, also a node; it processes the request and completes the printing job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/edge-to-cloud-architecture-layers-infographic-1.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"180\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/edge-to-cloud-architecture-layers-infographic-1-180x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8154\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/edge-to-cloud-architecture-layers-infographic-1-180x300.png 180w, https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/edge-to-cloud-architecture-layers-infographic-1.png 575w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><\/a><figcaption><strong>Fog nodes give IoT and edge networks an extra boost.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Base station controller.<\/strong>\u00a0This is a node on a cellular network that provides intelligent network services to devices. The base station controller sits between the cell sites and mobile switching center, which are also\u00a0nodes on the cell network. Base station controllers determine how cell signals should be routed through the network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Peer-to-peer mesh network.<\/strong>\u00a0A peer-to-peer mesh network lets mobile devices communicate information without Wi-Fi or cellular service. In a\u00a0mesh network topology, every node connects to every other node. Cellphones act as nodes and extend their signals to other cellphones in the network that may be experiencing a service outage.\u00a0IBM&#8217;s The Weather Company\u00a0is using this approach to transmit critical information when other networks may be down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Internet of things.<\/strong>\u00a0IoT networks\u00a0connect devices of all types &#8212; not just computers &#8212; to the internet. Each device is a node on the IoT network. Edge nodes create data from IoT devices. Fog nodes add another layer of physical servers that bring real-time analytical processing to IoT networks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time-approximately:<\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>A computer network is a system of computers and computing devices that are connected via communication links.\u00a0 By Ben Lutkevich and Kate Gerwig These links allow the computers and other devices to send information over the network. Network protocols\u00a0define how information is sent and received. Networks can be defined by their geographic location, the protocols they use, the physical arrangement<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/what-a-network-node-is-a-detailed-explanation-with-examples\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[155,38,35,8,185,4,30,3,188,352,195,76],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-batting-for-tech-in-the-covid-19-times","category-best-practices-for-data-center-operations","category-data-center-facilities","category-data-center-hardware","category-data-center-hardware-terminology","category-datacenter-news","category-expert-advise-and-opinion","category-industry-news-and-expert-advise","category-network-infrastructure","category-network-node","category-network-visibility","category-telecoms-networks-and-broadband-communications"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/113"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8151"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8151\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8155,"href":"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8151\/revisions\/8155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tekmart.co.za\/t-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}