If redundant paths exist, an intelligent hub can route information around normally used paths when cable problems occur. Intelligent hubs also can incorporate diagnostic features that make it easier to troubleshoot network problems. Benefits of Stars Most modern cabling systems are designed in a star physical topology. This makes it easy to isolate individual devices from the network by disconnecting them from the wiring hub. All data goes through the central point, which can be equipped with diagnostic devices that make it easy to trouble shoot and manage the network.
Hierarchical organization allows isolation of traffic on the channel.
This is beneficial when several, but not all, computers place a heavy load on the network. Traffic from those heavily used computers can be separated from the rest or dispersed throughout for a more even flow of traffic. Hub failures can disable large segments of the network. However, as you will learn later in this lesson, the physical wiring and the logical characteristics of Token Ring are quite different. In the diagram, you can see how each node on the ring acts as a repeater .