A system is provided. The system includes a plurality of nodes. One of the plurality of nodes is designated as a server node, and the others of the plurality of nodes are designated as Human Machine Interface (HMI) client nodes. The designated server node comprises a network interface configured to communicate with a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) either directly or through a network switch. Each of the designated HMI client nodes includes a network interface configured to communicate with the designated server node through one or more of a network switch, and another designated HMI client node. Also, the each of the designated HMI client nodes includes a failover module configured to detect a failure of the designated server node and designate a new server node from among the designated HMI client nodes based on detecting the failure of the designated server node.