A star topology is a topology for a Local Area Network (LAN) in which all nodes are individually connected to a central connection point, like a hub or a switch. A star takes more cable than e.g. a bus, but the benefit is that if a cable fails, only one node will be brought down.

Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) uses fiber-optic cable and is wired in a ring topology and Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) uses token passing as its media-access method and can operate at high speeds.

The topology with highest reliability is mesh topology. ... It is a topology commonly used for wireless network. Mesh topology can handle high amounts of traffic, because multiple devices can transmit data simultaneously. A failure of one device does not cause a break in the network or transmission of data.

Data terminal equipment (DTE)​ is an end instrument that converts user information into signals or reconverts received signals. These can also be called tail circuits. A DTE device communicates with the data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE). Usually, the DTE device is the terminal (or a computer emulating a terminal), and the DCE is a modem. A DTE is the functional unit of a data station that serves as a data source or a data sink and provides for the data communication control function to be performed in accordance with the link protocol.