Packet-switching node: In a packet-switching

Packet switching

Packet switching is a digital networking communications method that groups all transmitted data – regardless of content, type, or structure – into suitably sized blocks, called packets. Packet switching features delivery of variable-bit-rate data streams over a shared network...

 network, a node

Node (networking)

In communication networks, a node is a connection point, either a redistribution point or a communication endpoint . The definition of a node depends on the network and protocol layer referred to...

 that contains data

Data

The term data refers to qualitative or quantitative attributes of a variable or set of variables. Data are typically the results of measurements and can be the basis of graphs, images, or observations of a set of variables. Data are often viewed as the lowest level of abstraction from which...

 switches and equipment for controlling, formatting, transmitting, routing

Routing

Routing is the process of selecting paths in a network along which to send network traffic. Routing is performed for many kinds of networks, including the telephone network , electronic data networks , and transportation networks...

, and receiving data packets.

Note: In the Defense Data Network

Defense Data Network

The Defense Data Network was a computer networking effort of the United States Department of Defense from 1983 through 1995.-History:In 1975, the Defense Communication Agency took over operation of the ARPANET as it became an operational tool instead of a research project. In 1983, plans for a...

 (DDN), a packet-switching node is usually configured to support up to thirty-two X.25 56 kbit/s host

Server (computing)

In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...

 connections, as many as six 56 kbit/s interswitch trunk

InterSwitch Trunk

InterSwitch Trunk is one or more parallel point-to-point links that connect two switches together to create a single logical switch. The IST allows the two switches to share addressing information, forwarding tables, and state information, permitting rapid fault detection and forwarding path...

 (IST) lines to other packet-switching nodes, and at least one Terminal Access Controller

Terminal Access Controller

A Terminal Access Controller is a host computer that accepts terminal connections, usually from dial-up lines, and that allows the user to invoke Internet remote log-on procedures, such as Telnet....

(TAC).