To communicate with an advanced device such as a SCADAPack Modbus controller, ViewX needs to be able to identify the communication settings such as the port, parity, and the protocol to be used. These settings are defined in a channel. Each advanced driver has its own channels, so for your SCADAPack Modbus controller, you need to configure an Advanced Modbus Direct Channel.
To configure an Advanced Modbus Direct Channel:
- Display the Database Bar (see Display an Explorer Bar in the ClearSCADA Guide to ViewX and WebX Clients).
- In the Database Bar, right-click on the 'Serial Comms' Group to display its context sensitive menu, then select Create New>Modbus - Advanced>Direct Channel to create a new Modbus Channel database item.
- Press the Enter key to use the default name for the channel: 'New Direct Channel'.
- Double-click on 'New Direct Channel' to display its configuration Form.
- Select the Connection tab.
- On the Connection tab, configure the following setting:
- Port—Use the browse button to choose the port to which your SCADAPack Modbus device is connected (COM1, COM2, and so on.)
- Still on the Connection tab, configure the remaining settings as follows:
- Baud Rate—9600
- Data Bits—8 Bits
- Parity—None
- Stop Bits—1 Bit
- Flow Control—Choose the setting that applies to your connection:
- None if a 3 wire cable is being used
- Hardware (RTS/CTS) if a standard null modem cable is being used.
These settings should match those of your SCADAPack Modbus device.
- Select the Channel tab.
- On the Channel tab, select the In Service check box to activate the Direct Channel.
- Select the Scan Parameters tab.
- On the Scan Parameters tab, set the Re-establishment Interval to 10 seconds. If the server's attempts to establish communications with an outstation are unsuccessful, or if communications are interrupted, the server will attempt to re-establish communications via the channel every 10 seconds.
- Save the configuration.
With the Direct Channel configured, next you need to Configure an Advanced Modbus Direct Outstation Set.
Further Information
SCADAPack Modbus: Please refer to the SCADAPack Modbus Driver Guide in the ClearSCADA online help.