collapsed backbone

In computing, a method by which network backbone cables are replaced with powerful network routers or network switches that effectively collapse the backbone network cable into one ‘black box’. All of the devices that used to plug onto the backbone cable then plug into the router or switch. Significant improvements in performance can be achieved using this technique, and it provides a more manageable solution. The disadvantage of using this technique is that it introduces a single point of failure into the network, so if the collapsed backbone device fails, the whole network fails.