(1) A user's computer in a peer-to-peer network that acts as a relay between one user and another. Supernodes are typically established automatically by the peer-to-peer software based on current network traffic and the capabilities of the user's machine. Users may have little or no control whether their machines become supernodes, or they may have the option to not participate. See
Kazaa and
Skype.
(2) (SuperNode) An earlier computing platform for Nortel Networks DMS switches. The SuperNode managed the call flow throughout the duration of a call. See
DMS and
XA-Core.