1. A customer-configurable plant process observation portal server for collecting plant process information, in accordance with a user designated set of information sources, and for disseminating the information to users via network connections, the portal server comprising: an extensible information source registry for storing at least identification information corresponding to an extensible set of plant information sources; a portal server data interface, accessible via remote networked stations, providing user access to plant information associated with the set of designated plant information sources; and a portal configuration utility enabling a user to at least designate a new plant information source via a configuration interface, the new plant information source thereafter being added to the extensible set of plant information sources.