What are the differences between a star topology and a ring topology?

A conventional UTP network uses a star structure: each connection has a direct link to a central switch. This requires much more cabling (every point needs its own cable) and makes the network less flexible (a new cable must be pulled for each additional point).

The FiberUnlimited network uses a ring topology, where all nodes are connected in one (or multiple) closed loops. This reduces cable use by up to 90% (the cable runs from node to node), makes expansion easier (a new node is simply inserted into the existing cable loop), and allows the system to self-heal in case of a fault.