Abstract: Systems and methods for automated commissioning of virtualized distributed control systems are disclosed. An example method includes accessing a data structure including a list of configuration names for network cards associated with first and second host servers of a virtual process control environment. The first and second host servers implement virtual machines corresponding to workstations for a process control system. The example method also includes when configuring the first host server, assigning a first name to a first one of the network cards associated with the first host server. The example method further includes when configuring the second host server, assigning the first name to a second one of the network cards associated with the second host server based on a user selection of the first name from the list of configuration names. The second host server is configured after the first host server.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide redundancy in a process control system are disclosed. An example method includes receiving, at a first network host, first integrity messages transmitted from a second network host over a first network. The method includes detecting a network failure over a first communication path between a first network interface of the first network host and a second network interface of the second network host via first network when a first network interface of the first network host fails to receive one of the first integrity messages expected from a first network interface of the second network host. The method includes automatically establishing a second communication path between the first network host and the second network host in response to the detected network failure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide redundancy in a process control system are disclosed. An example method includes receiving, at a first network host, first integrity messages transmitted from a second network host over a first network. The method includes detecting a network failure over a first communication path between a first network interface of the first network host and a second network interface of the second network host via first network when a first network interface of the first network host fails to receive one of the first integrity messages expected from a first network interface of the second network host. The method includes automatically establishing a second communication path between the first network host and the second network host in response to the detected network failure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated commissioning of virtualized distributed control systems are disclosed. An example method includes accessing a data structure including a list of configuration names for network cards associated with first and second host servers of a virtual process control environment. The first and second host servers implement virtual machines corresponding to workstations for a process control system. The example method also includes when configuring the first host server, assigning a first name to a first one of the network cards associated with the first host server. The example method further includes when configuring the second host server, assigning the first name to a second one of the network cards associated with the second host server based on a user selection of the first name from the list of configuration names. The second host server is configured after the first host server.