This driver is a simple driver. It provides additional functionality to enable ClearSCADA to interface with specific supported devices using a particular protocol. To interact successfully with such devices, you need to:
- Install and run the driver
- Ensure that the driver is licensed
- Configure the required database items and settings on the driver
- Ensure that the database items (and any database items on which they depend) have valid, saved, configuration and are 'In Service'.
The Simple Modbus Driver allows a ClearSCADA system to be populated with data from, and control points on, Modbus Slaves or Modbus PLCs. The driver provides extra functionality within the server for retrieving data from, or controlling points on, Modbus devices. For example, Modbus PLCs use registers to store point data. Properties used by the Simple Modbus driver determine the location of the data within those registers (see Modbus Register Ranges). Function codes supported by the Simple Modbus driver determine how it reads or writes data to those registers (see Modbus Function Codes Supported by the ClearSCADA Simple Modbus Driver).
The Modbus documentation explains how to configure Modbus-specific features and items within the ClearSCADA database, with sections on:
It also explains driver-specific features that are of interest to operators, such as:
and driver-specific aspects that may be of interest to system administrators and engineers when diagnosing unexpected system behavior:
ClearSCADA can communicate with Modbus devices using one of several drivers—for information on which driver is appropriate for your system requirements, see Which Driver?.