thinQmaster Virtual testing partner Adaptive practice exams that find your weak spots and drill them. Every answer explained. From $69
Enroll

thinQmaster

Find your exam

Five questions free, before you decide.

Step 1 · choose a vendor

In one of our camps? Your practice exams come with the tuition — they are on your study page already.

Networking Fundamentals · Intermediate

Collapsed Core

A two-tier design in which the core and distribution layers are combined in the same devices.

Definition

Collapsed core suits small and medium campuses where a separate core layer would add cost without benefit. The combined layer handles both aggregation and backbone transport.

Example

A single-building office uses two Layer 3 switches as both core and distribution.

Exam tip

Two-tier = collapsed core plus access.

Related terms