Backbone network

A backbone or core network is a part of a <a href="/facts/Computer_network/3w5RM99p">computer network</a> which interconnects networks, providing a path for the exchange of information between different <a href="/facts/LAN/edUDxJ6J">LANs</a> or <a href="/facts/Subnetwork/s1rQsNDv">subnetworks</a>. A backbone can tie together diverse networks in the same building, in different buildings in a campus environment, or over wide areas. Normally, the backbone's capacity is greater than the networks connected to it.
A large corporation that has many locations may have a backbone network that ties all of the locations together, for example, if a server cluster needs to be accessed by different departments of a company that are located at different geographical locations. The pieces of the network connections (for example: Ethernet, wireless) that bring these departments together is often mentioned as network backbone. <a href="/facts/Network_congestion/9ohkRMso">Network congestion</a> is often taken into consideration while designing backbones.
One example of a backbone network is the <a href="/facts/Internet_backbone/osqxo7y2">Internet backbone</a>.

Backbone network open-in-new

Backbone network