I/O station storing configuration data

An automation system comprising:

• a plurality of network devices, wherein the network devices include any of:
• one or more controllers, one or more human-machine interfaces and one or more engineering tools;
• a plurality of input-output (I/O) stations, each connected with the plurality of network devices, wherein each I/O station comprises:
• one or more base plates comprising a first plurality of slots and a second slot different from the first plurality of slots;
• a plurality of I/O modules, each I/O module disposed in one of the first plurality of slots and configured to provide one or more I/O channels that connect respective one or more field devices;
• and
• an I/O network interface disposed in the second slot and configured to forward data between the plurality of I/O modules and the plurality of network devices via a network,
• wherein each of the I/O channels that connect a respective field device is communicatively connected to at least one of the plurality of network devices via the network, and
• wherein the I/O station further comprises a non-volatile storage configured to store configuration data for the I/O station;
• and
• the network via which the plurality of I/O stations are communicatively connected to the plurality of network devices.

A method of configuring an input-output (I/O) station connected with a plurality of network devices in an automation system, wherein the network devices include any of:

• one or more controllers, one or more human-machine interfaces and one or more engineering tools, wherein:
• the I/O station comprises:
• one or more base plates comprising a first plurality of slots and a second slot different from the first plurality of slots;
• a plurality of I/O modules, each I/O module disposed in one of the first plurality of slots and configured to provide one or more I/O channels that connect respective one or more field devices;
• and
• an I/O network interface disposed in the second slot and configured to forward data between the plurality of I/O modules and the plurality of network devices via a network,
• wherein each of the I/O channels that connect a respective field device is communicatively connected to at least one of the plurality of network devices via the network, and
• wherein the I/O station further comprises a non-volatile storage configured to store configuration data for the I/O station, and
• the method comprises:
• obtaining the configuration data from the non-volatile storage in the I/O station;
• and
• configuring the I/O station in accordance with the obtained configuration data, including re-establishing a previously lost communication connection with at least one of the plurality of network devices.