A computer network is a system of computers and computing devices that are connected via communication links. These links allow the computers and other devices to send information over the network.
Network protocols define 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.
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. Logical networks are software representations of a physical network. They are built on top of a physical network.
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 cloud networks possible.
A network node is a connection point in a communications network. Each node is an endpoint for data transmissions or redistribution. Nodes have either a programmed or engineered capability to recognize, process and forward transmissions to other network nodes.
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.
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.
In a computer network, nodes can be physical networked 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 IP address, to grant access to the node.
Nodes connect over a link or communication channel. In a computer network these may be cable, fiber optic or wireless connections.
There are several ways to categorize nodes. One way is by network type; another is by network topology.
Another way to categorize nodes is by how they are arranged in a physical computer network. This is known as the network topology approach. Some common network topologies include these four:
Examples of how network nodes are used include the following:
Print request. An employee sends a print request from a computer to a printer located in another part of the office. The employee’s computer is a node on the network. The request travels over the network and through a series of other nodes — a router, for example — on the company LAN. The request reaches the printer, also a node; it processes the request and completes the printing job.
Base station controller. This 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 nodes on the cell network. Base station controllers determine how cell signals should be routed through the network.
Peer-to-peer mesh network. A peer-to-peer mesh network lets mobile devices communicate information without Wi-Fi or cellular service. In a mesh 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. IBM’s The Weather Company is using this approach to transmit critical information when other networks may be down.
Internet of things. IoT networks connect devices of all types — not just computers — 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.
Find out how fog nodes are simplifying edge computing.
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