An apparatus and system is disclosed connected to at least one input/output (I/O) module and to at least one controller of an industrial distributed control system. The apparatus and system comprises a control network module having a control component that uses a processor to execute operating software that implements operating configurations for the control network module. At least one I/O port is connected to the control component that is configurable by the operating software to enable port configurations to connect the at least one I/O module to the control network module. An expansion component connected to the control component has at least one expansion port connected to the at least one controller. The expansion port connects the at least one controller to the control component for communicating data and control signals to and from the at least one controller to the at least one I/O module. A security component regulates access to the apparatus based upon one or more security attributes.

An apparatus and system is disclosed connected to at least one input/output (I/O) module and to at least one controller of an industrial distributed control system. The apparatus and system comprises a control network module having a control component that uses a processor to execute operating software that implements operating configurations for the control network module. At least one I/O port is connected to the control component that is configurable by the operating software to enable port configurations to connect the at least one I/O module to the control network module. An expansion component connected to the control component has at least one expansion port connected to the at least one controller. The expansion port connects the at least one controller to the control component for communicating data and control signals to and from the at least one controller to the at least one I/O module. A security component regulates access to the apparatus based upon one or more security attributes.