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'.
Intended Audience
This guide is primarily intended for engineers who are responsible for configuring Modbus items and features in the ClearSCADA database.
The guide also contains information for:
- Operators and engineers who use the Simple Modbus driver to monitor and control plant
- Maintenance engineers.
Document Scope
This guide explains the configuration, features and database items that are specific to ClearSCADA’s Simple Modbus driver. 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).
For information on how to configure ClearSCADA to act as a Modbus PLC and report any data changes back to its Master, see the ClearSCADA Guide to the Modbus Slave Driver.
Prerequisite Reading
This guide contains technical information that is intended for users that are sufficiently familiar with ClearSCADA configuration and operation. Before reading this driver guide, ensure that you are familiar with:
- ClearSCADA configuration practices, procedures, and the configuration of properties that are common to many database items. For more information, see the ClearSCADA Guide to Core Configuration, and the ClearSCADA Guide to Core Point Configuration.
- Driver structure, components, and configuration properties, pick actions, and status attributes that are common to many drivers. For more information, see the ClearSCADA Guide to Drivers.
- Simple driver composition, configuration order, and configuration properties and logging options that are common to many simple drivers. For more information, see the ClearSCADA Guide to Simple Drivers.
Some sections of this guide are intended for operator-level users. These sections are intended for users that are familiar with the navigational and operational aspects of ClearSCADA. Before reading the operational sections in this guide, ensure that you are familiar with:
- The ClearSCADA user interfaces (ViewX and WebX), the various types of display, their navigation and operation. For more information, see the ClearSCADA Guide to ViewX and WebX Clients.
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?.