A method of communicating data in a network comprises receiving a copy of a message on a first channel via at least one of a first port and a second port, the first port coupled to a first neighbor node and the second port coupled to a first neighbor's neighbor node; and selecting either the copy of the message received via the first port or the copy of the message received via the second port if a copy of the message is received via both the first port and the second port. If a copy of the message is only received via one of the first port or the second port, the received copy of the message is selected. The selected copy of the message is forwarded on the first channel to a second neighbor node via a third port and to a second neighbor's neighbor node via a fourth port; and the integrity of the selected copy of the message is determined based on supplemental integrity data received from another node, wherein the supplemental integrity data is exclusive of a copy of the message communicated on a second channel.