(1) In hardware, a uniprocessor or symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) computer that is part of a clustered system or a massively parallel processing (MPP) system.
(2) In communications, an end point of a communication link or a junction common to two or more links in a network. Nodes can be processors, communication controllers, cluster controllers, terminals, or workstations. Nodes can vary in routing and other functional capabilities.
(3) A location in a communications network that provides host-processing services.
(4) In X.25, a point where packets are received, stored, and forwarded to another location (or data terminal equipment) according to a routing method defined for the network.
(5) In networking, a point capable of sending and receiving data. A node can be a device, such as printer or workstation, a system, or a storage location on a disk. See also port.
(6) In XML, the smallest unit of valid, complete structure in a document.
(7) One of the points in a topology view or topology diagram. A node usually corresponds to a machine, but depending on the type of view, might also correspond to a facility, base product, solution element, or solution artifact.
(8) In a network, a point at which one or more functional units connect channels or data circuits.
(9) A logical grouping of managed servers. See also managed node.