In an example, a node in a network includes four ports coupled to respective nodes via respective links. Two of the ports are coupled to respective nodes via respective near links and two of the port are coupled to respective nodes via respective skip links. The node further includes a processor configured to compare first and second data streams, sourced from a self-checking pair of nodes, received in a first direction and to compare third and fourth data streams, sourced from the self-checking pair of nodes, received in a second direction. The processor is configured to relay the second data stream in the first direction and fourth data stream in the second direction and a hop count at the end of the respective data stream that is indicative of integrity of the respective data stream.