Monitor and control for distributed system

A distributed control system comprising:

• a production network configured to perform automated control operations, the production network comprising one or more data extraction nodes and a plurality of devices in communication with the data extraction nodes, the data extraction nodes configured to collect data from the plurality of devices, the data indicating connection information associated with the plurality of devices;
• a screen configured to display a plurality of interfaces that include the plurality of devices represented as consumers and providers;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to encode the connection information so as to define encoded connection information that indicates one or more properties associated with connections defined between respective providers and respective consumers,
• wherein the screen is further configured to display the encoded connection information between respective consumers and providers,
• wherein the memory storing further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• responsive to a user actuation, group a set of consumers together so as to define a grouped system element, wherein the screen is further configured to display the encoded connection information between respective providers and the grouped system element.