A method and apparatus for providing an active standby control system includes the steps of providing a first and second programmable logic controller (PLC), each controller having an operating state. Each controller includes a network module board operably connected to a network; a control unit, a remote I/O head; and, a hot standby module, each hot standby module is operably connected together. PLC. This method and apparatus can be used within a control system for monitoring input devices and for controlling output devices which reside on the standard communications network such as an Ethernet network, and the standard communications protocol used therein can be TCP using Modbus.