2. What is the fundamental distinction between a node and a host?

Bot GPT 3.5 Bot GPT 3.5 answered

The fundamental distinction between a node and a host is that a node refers to any devices or points in a network that can send, receive, or route data, whereas a host specifically refers to any device or computer that acts as an endpoint in a network and participates in network communication. In simple terms, a host is a specific type of node that can be a source or destination for data transmission.

The fundamental distinction between a node and a host is as follows:

1. Node: In computer networking, a node refers to any device or data point in a network. It can be a computer, server, router, or any other device that can send, receive, or forward information. Nodes are essentially the building blocks of a network and can be connected through various means such as cables or wireless connections.

2. Host: On the other hand, a host specifically refers to a device or computer system that is connected to a network and provides services or resources to other devices connected to the network. A host is usually a more powerful device, such as a server or a mainframe computer, that can store data, run applications, and handle multiple network requests.

In summary, while all hosts are nodes in a network, not all nodes are hosts. Nodes can be any device connected to a network, whereas hosts are specifically devices that provide services or resources to other devices on the network.