public static IChordNode getFirstActiveNode() throws NoActiveNodeException {
        for (IChordNode node : launchedNodes) {
            try {
                if (node.isActive()) {
                    return node;
                }
            } catch (RemoteException e) {
                // do nothing, because dead node is permitted
                e.printStackTrace();
            }
        }
        throw new NoActiveNodeException();
    }