The network is mostly distributed, as the nodes may run autonomously except that a "King" or master controller is needed to configure the network.

The Assembler's web-like home is a set of extruded neural fibers along which semi-independent multi-legged nodes run performing various tasks for the Assembler.

For example, distributed systems such as cloud computing, peer-to-peer networks, and client-server applications are overlay networks because their nodes run on top of the Internet.

"On the other hand, it's not like the nodes are running independently, either," Sandler pointed out.

The various nodes ran on PIC microcontrollers and were connected via a CAN bus.

Any such change will be detected by the reachability protocol which each node runs with its neighbors.

In some cases, these diskless nodes would still run a traditional operating system and perform computations locally, with storage on a remote server.

Each node runs Cray's version of the SuSE Linux operating system.

With ContikiMAC, nodes can be running in low-power mode and still be able to receive and relay radio messages.

Usually, one node shall run on one physical server, however, it's even allowed that all 6 kinds of node to be installed on one server.