A modular device backbone includes two or more backplates configured to be distributed throughout a user space and further configured to couple with swappable devices. Each of the one or more backplates may include a configuration storage device to store configuration information for communicating with additional swappable devices coupled to additional backplates. Each of the one or more backplates may further include a communication unit to provide the configuration information to a coupled swappable device, where the coupled swappable device unit establishes a communication link to the additional swappable devices based on the configuration information.