A monitoring system, comprising: a first backplane having, at least one first data lane, at least one second data lane in parallel with the at least one first data lane, at least one first port in electronic communication with the at least one first data lane and the at least one second data lane, and at least one second port in electronic communication with the at least one first data lane and the at least one second data lane; characterized by a first functional circuit detachably coupled to the at least one first port, the first functional circuit being configured to receive a sensor signal from a sensor, the sensor signal characterizing measured operating parameter of a machine, the functional circuit being configured to generate a first digital signal based on the sensor signal, and deliver the first digital signal to the at least one first data lane; and a second functional circuit detachably coupled to the at least one second port, the second functional circuit being configured to receive the first digital signal from the at least one first data lane, determine an operating status of the machine based on the received first digital signal and a predetermined operating threshold, generate a second digital signal based on the first digital signal and the predetermined operating threshold, the second digital signal characterizing the operating status of the machine, and deliver the second digital signal to the at least one second data lane; wherein the at least one first data lane is a dedicated data lane and is configured to receive data from only the first functional circuit; and wherein the at least one second data lane is a dedicated data lane and is configured to receive data from only the second functional circuit. a first backplane having, at least one first data lane, at least one second data lane in parallel with the at least one first data lane, at least one first port in electronic communication with the at least one first data lane and the at least one second data lane, and at least one second port in electronic communication with the at least one first data lane and the at least one second data lane; at least one first data lane, at least one second data lane in parallel with the at least one first data lane, at least one first port in electronic communication with the at least one first data lane and the at least one second data lane, and at least one second port in electronic communication with the at least one first data lane and the at least one second data lane; characterized by a first functional circuit detachably coupled to the at least one first port, the first functional circuit being configured to receive a sensor signal from a sensor, the sensor signal characterizing measured operating parameter of a machine, the functional circuit being configured to generate a first digital signal based on the sensor signal, and deliver the first digital signal to the at least one first data lane; and a second functional circuit detachably coupled to the at least one second port, the second functional circuit being configured to receive the first digital signal from the at least one first data lane, determine an operating status of the machine based on the received first digital signal and a predetermined operating threshold, generate a second digital signal based on the first digital signal and the predetermined operating threshold, the second digital signal characterizing the operating status of the machine, and deliver the second digital signal to the at least one second data lane; wherein the at least one first data lane is a dedicated data lane and is configured to receive data from only the first functional circuit; and wherein the at least one second data lane is a dedicated data lane and is configured to receive data from only the second functional circuit.