Modbus Protocol for Industrial Automation Quick facts
- Modbus is a serial communications protocol published by Modicon in 1979 for use with its programmable logic controllers (PLCs). - Modbus is not industry specific and is used across a wide range of industries. - Modbus is used in multiple master-slave applications to monitor and program devices; to communicate between intelligent devices and sensors and instruments; to monitor field devices using PCs and HMIs. - Although the main Modbus message structure is peer-to-peer, Modbus is able to function on both point-to-point and multidrop networks.
- MODBUS is considered an application layer messaging protocol.
- Modbus protocol defines a message structure, how the PC addresses and requests information from a Modbus device, how the device will respond and how errors are detected and reported. - On the OSI model, MODBUS is positioned at level 7. - Modbus is a data transfer protocol used mainly in the building and industrial automation industry. - Modbus is now an open standard, administered by the Modbus-IDA - Modbus typically utilizes RS-232 and RS-485 to physically connect to PLC’s, I/O, and other hardware - Modbus is designed to move raw data, regardless of form or function. This gives vendors enormous flexibility in development on their end, and greatly minimizes data format restrictions - Modbus is a master-slave technology. This means that only one device on the network can act as master, while the others act as slaves. - Unlike the Standards RS232, RS422 and RS485, Modbus is a protocol that doesn't insist on voltage levels, connection pins, etc. Modbus devices can use a variety of cables or networks, including RS485 or RS232. - Modbus has two modes: ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) and RTU (Remote Terminal Unit). - Modbus can be used over TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). - Modbus is a free and open standard, it lowers the cost of development and implementation on all ends. - Modbus is limited to 247 connections per master unit/system. The exception is when TCP/IP mode is used because it makes the ratio between master and device virtually unlimited. - Modbus Protocol Organization can be reached via http://www.modbus.org/
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