1. A path affinity apparatus for facilitating connected messaging between distributed control components comprising: an electronic computer executing a program stored in non-transient memory to (a) communicate on a network connecting industrial control components storing control level data associated with tag names to provide a directory of tag names linked to route data of industrial control components holding the control level data associated with the tag name; (b) receive a request from a first industrial control component providing a tag name for control level data, wherein upon receiving the request, the program executes to: (i) identify whether pre-existing connection is associated with the tag name; and (ii) upon identifying a pre-existing connection associated with the tag name, delete the tag name from the pre-existing connection; (c) open a connection between the path affinity apparatus and a second industrial, control component using route data linked to the tag name from the directory and provide the first industrial control component with a pointer to the connection; and (d) receive the pointer from the first industrial control component to exchange control level data between the first industrial control component and the second industrial control component associated with the tag name using the connection.