What is a backbone router?
A backbone router is a type of router that connects separate systems in different networks of a network. As the name suggests, a backbone router plays the role of a backbone in every network connection and is therefore part of the backbone network. It enables any independent systems to be connected to external networks.
A backbone is no ordinary router; It has to be powerful and reliable because it has to handle hundreds of processes at the same time. A backbone router typically has strong processing capabilities and a lot of memory. Its routing tables are huge to enable the continuous flow of data from hundreds of machines. Depending on the protocol, a backbone router connects the large networks with one another. Backbone routers are delivered with dedicated operating systems, e.g. B. the IOS (Internetwork Operating System) from Cisco Systems.