Abstract: A distributed control system architecture (HSE) provides an open, interoperable solution optimized for integration of distributed control systems and other control devices in a high performance backbone, provides an open, interoperable solution that provides system time synchronization suitable for distributed control applications operable over a high performance backbone, and provides an open, interoperable solution that provides a fault tolerant high performance backbone as well as fault tolerant devices that are connected to the backbone. The distributed control system architecture comprises a High speed Ethernet Field Device Access (HSE FDA) Agent, which maps services of a distributed control system, e.g., a fieldbus System, to and from a standard, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Ethernet/Internet component.