A real-time distributed network module arranged to provide an interface between at least one master application and at least one real-time distributed network; the at least one real-time distributed network module comprising: a first communications component arranged to transmit and receive real-time distributed network data over at least a first real-time distributed network connection; at least one further communications component arranged to transmit and receive real-time distributed network data over at least one further real-time distributed network connection; at least one master application interface component arranged to provide an interface to the at least one master application; and at least one configuration component arranged to perform mapping of communication channels between the first communications component, the at least one further communications component and the at least one master application interface component; wherein the at least one configuration component is further arranged to perform dynamic remapping of the communication channels between the first communications component, the at least one further communications component and the at least one master application interface, from a first, redundant mode configuration to an at least one further, failed link mode configuration, upon detection of a link failure within the real-time distributed network, and wherein the first communications component and the at least one further communications component are arranged to parse data frames received from the at least one real-time distributed network to detect the link failure as a re-circulate bit within at least a first data frame that is looped back from the link failure. a first communications component arranged to transmit and receive real-time distributed network data over at least a first real-time distributed network connection; at least one further communications component arranged to transmit and receive real-time distributed network data over at least one further real-time distributed network connection; at least one master application interface component arranged to provide an interface to the at least one master application; and at least one configuration component arranged to perform mapping of communication channels between the first communications component, the at least one further communications component and the at least one master application interface component; wherein the at least one configuration component is further arranged to perform dynamic remapping of the communication channels between the first communications component, the at least one further communications component and the at least one master application interface, from a first, redundant mode configuration to an at least one further, failed link mode configuration, upon detection of a link failure within the real-time distributed network, and wherein the first communications component and the at least one further communications component are arranged to parse data frames received from the at least one real-time distributed network to detect the link failure as a re-circulate bit within at least a first data frame that is looped back from the link failure.