The signal that was distributed was 70 Mb/s computer interconnect (CI) data and the star coupler provided two redundant paths of either 8 or 16 ports each.

However, using switches to connect multiple Ethernet networks in a fault-tolerant fashion requires redundant paths through that network, which in turn requires a spanning tree configuration.

The network should have redundant paths between every resource and an access point and automatic routing to switch the traffic to the available path without loss of data or time.

Each point is connected to its nearest neighbors by several redundant paths.

They provide high-density redundant electrical paths for high reliability connections.

Multipath software layers can leverage the redundant paths to provide performance enhancing features, such as:

The network topology is configured to have redundant paths and be self-healing in case of physical damage.

Its major drawback is the wastage of bandwidth, since no traffic travels through the redundant path.

During normal operation, no traffic or low priority traffic is sent through the redundant path.

When any failure occurs, both the source and destination switch onto the redundant or alternate path.