An industrial controller may communicate with a number of input/output (I/O) modules using an optimized connection packet assembled by a scanner communicating directly with the I/O modules and forwarding the optimized connection packet to the industrial processor. The optimized connection packet is communicated over a connection as part of a connected messaging system used to ensure highly reliable network communication. The need for higher data rates for some I/O modules as part of the optimized connection packet may be accommodated through the opening of a second redundant connection that provides the high-data-rate data in an interleaving fashion with the optimized connection packet, without upsetting the optimized connection packet or changing the use of the data by the industrial control program.