[App_rpt-users] Private Nodes

I'm trying to understand private nodes, and building one for test. I have some questions. Once I setup a private node, can it link with an Allstar node? If so, how? If I wanted to link it to an Allstar node, would I need to make a connection in the [nodes] stanza that points to the Allstar node. Or perhaps setup a private node on a second server with an Allstar node, that can see its associated private node, then permanently link the two servers together using the two private nodes? Perhaps the broader question is what functionality can be realized with a private node other than permanently hosted to an Allstar node? Thanks, Bob kk6ecm