Sagar Kasar's Blog on Technology Updates | Modbus Protocol for Industrial Automation Q

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http://www.sagarkasar.com/blog/2009/12/16/modbus-protocol-for-industrial-automation-quick-facts/

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/

Please let me know if you know any other quick fact that can be added to facts list of Modbus.

URL: http://www.sagarkasar.com/blog/2009/12/16/modbus-protocol-for-industrial-automation-quick-facts/

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