An apparatus for use in industrial process control and automation systems comprising: a. a control network; b. a first controller comprising a microprocessor executing in a gate array, the gate array comprising an IP core, wherein the first controller is a modern controller; Wherein the microprocessor configured to support communication functions (302, control execution functions, I/O functions, and control network interface functions, wherein the microprocessor supports a redundancy manager to engage RTBC or Ethernet protocol, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to support both CEE and PAS/PXX control functions, wherein the IP core is a reusable unit of logic, cell, or integrated circuit layout design stores an IP that is a binary object including control strategies, displays, control language programs, and history configurations, and wherein the IP core configured to run the microprocessor functions using the binary code that is loaded into a memory of the IP core; c. a second controller configured as a redundant partner to the first controller; and d. an I/O link and I/O modules, wherein the microprocessor is configured to - detect whether the second controller is a legacy controller, disable the Ethernet protocol and the CEE control function and utilize the RTBC protocol and the PAS/PXX control function of the first controller when a nature of the second controller is detected to be a legacy controller, and utilize the Ethernet protocol and the CEE control function of the first controller when the nature of the second controller is detected to be another modern controller. a. a control network; b. a first controller comprising a microprocessor executing in a gate array, the gate array comprising an IP core, wherein the first controller is a modern controller; Wherein the microprocessor configured to support communication functions (302, control execution functions, I/O functions, and control network interface functions, wherein the microprocessor supports a redundancy manager to engage RTBC or Ethernet protocol, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to support both CEE and PAS/PXX control functions, wherein the IP core is a reusable unit of logic, cell, or integrated circuit layout design stores an IP that is a binary object including control strategies, displays, control language programs, and history configurations, and wherein the IP core configured to run the microprocessor functions using the binary code that is loaded into a memory of the IP core; Wherein the microprocessor configured to support communication functions (302, control execution functions, I/O functions, and control network interface functions, wherein the microprocessor supports a redundancy manager to engage RTBC or Ethernet protocol, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to support both CEE and PAS/PXX control functions, wherein the IP core is a reusable unit of logic, cell, or integrated circuit layout design stores an IP that is a binary object including control strategies, displays, control language programs, and history configurations, and wherein the IP core configured to run the microprocessor functions using the binary code that is loaded into a memory of the IP core; c. a second controller configured as a redundant partner to the first controller; and d. an I/O link and I/O modules, wherein the microprocessor is configured to - detect whether the second controller is a legacy controller, disable the Ethernet protocol and the CEE control function and utilize the RTBC protocol and the PAS/PXX control function of the first controller when a nature of the second controller is detected to be a legacy controller, and utilize the Ethernet protocol and the CEE control function of the first controller when the nature of the second controller is detected to be another modern controller. detect whether the second controller is a legacy controller, disable the Ethernet protocol and the CEE control function and utilize the RTBC protocol and the PAS/PXX control function of the first controller when a nature of the second controller is detected to be a legacy controller, and utilize the Ethernet protocol and the CEE control function of the first controller when the nature of the second controller is detected to be another modern controller.