Don't miss an insight. Subscribe to Techopedia for free.

Subscribe
Advertisements

Backbone Router

What Does Backbone Router Mean?

A backbone router is a type of router that links separate systems in different meshes of a network with each other. As its name suggests, a backbone router plays the role of a backbone in any network connection and, as such, is part of the backbone network. It makes the connection of any independent system with outside networks possible.

Advertisements

Techopedia Explains Backbone Router

A backbone is not an ordinary router; it must be high performing and reliable because it must handle hundreds of processes from dozens of systems at a time. A backbone router typically has a strong processing ability and a lot of memory. Its routing tables are huge in order to allow the steady flow of data from hundreds of machines. Depending on the protocol, a backbone router connects the major networks together. Backbone routers come with dedicated operating systems, such as Cisco Systems’ Internetwork Operating System (IOS).

Advertisements

Related Terms