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Intermediate node routing means traffic travels through one or more network nodes between its source and destination. The phrase describes a role in a path, not one universal protocol or routing algorithm: the precise decisions and duties depend on the network architecture.
What is an intermediate node?
An intermediate node is a device or point along a network path that traffic passes through before reaching its destination. A standards document uses the term “via node” for an intermediate node in a path within a network. The IETF draft’s terminology section provides that definition; it is an older draft, so it is useful here for terminology rather than current implementation instructions.
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For example, if a packet travels from a computer to a server through a router, that router is an intermediate node on the path. A route may contain several such nodes.
How routing and forwarding relate
Routing determines a path through a network using information such as routing tables. The IETF draft describes routing as determining, establishing, and using routing tables to select paths between network ingress and egress points. Forwarding is the movement of traffic at each node along the selected path.
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These are related but distinct ideas: routing concerns path selection, while forwarding carries packets onward. The phrase “intermediate node routing” by itself does not specify how a node chooses a path, which routing protocol is used, or whether the route is static or dynamically learned.
General meaning versus Cisco SD-Access
In general networking, an intermediate node is simply a transit point between endpoints. Cisco SD-Access uses “intermediate node” more specifically for devices in the Layer 3 network that connect devices with fabric roles. Cisco identifies connections between border nodes and edge nodes as examples. Cisco’s SD-Access validated solution profile describes this architecture-specific role.
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| Context | Meaning | What the node does |
|---|---|---|
| General networking | A node between a source and destination on a network path. | Participates in transit; path selection and forwarding behavior depend on the network’s protocols and design. |
| Cisco SD-Access | A device in the Layer 3 network interconnecting devices that operate in fabric roles. | Cisco says these nodes provide IP reachability and physical connectivity, and support the additional MTU needed for larger packets encapsulated with fabric VXLAN information. |
Why the Cisco SD-Access MTU detail matters
In Cisco SD-Access, VXLAN encapsulation adds information to packets. Cisco says the intermediate-node network must support the resulting larger packet size through an added Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) requirement. This requirement belongs to the described SD-Access design; it should not be assumed to apply to every network that contains intermediate nodes.
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What the phrase does not tell you
- The protocol: The term alone does not identify a routing protocol or algorithm.
- The topology: It does not specify how many intermediate nodes a path contains or what devices they are.
- The architecture: Unless the context names Cisco SD-Access, the phrase should not be read as referring to that specific fabric role.
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