Add a ModbusAsyncNetwork

First see Modbus Driver Installations for license and software requirements. For background information, see About Modbus Async networks.

To add a ModbusAsyncNetwork in the station

Use the following procedure to add a ModbusAsyncNetwork component under the station’s Drivers container.

If the host JACE has multiple RS-485 or RS-232 ports to be used for client (master) access of Modbus networks, add one ModbusAsyncNetwork for each physical port. Note that for each ModbusAsyncNetwork, you must Configure the serial port parameters and transmission mode.

To add a ModbusAsyncNetwork in the station:

Double-click the station’s Drivers container, to bring up the Driver Manager.
Click the New button to bring up the New network dialog. For more details, see “Driver Manager New and Edit” in the Drivers Guide.
Select “Modbus Async Network,” number to add: 1 (or more if multiple networks) and click OK.

This brings up a dialog to name the network(s).
Click OK to add the ModbusAsyncNetwork(s) to the station.

You should have a ModbusAsyncNetwork named “ModbusAsyncNetwork” (or whatever you named it), under your Drivers folder, initially showing a status of “{fault}” and enabled as “true.”

After you Configure the serial port parameters and transmission mode, status should change to “{ok}”.

Configure the serial port parameters and transmission mode

In the ModbusAsyncNetwork property sheet for each network, you must set the serial port configuration to match the serial communications parameters used by other Modbus devices on the network, including the Modbus transmission mode (RTU or ASCII).

To set the serial port parameters

To set the serial port parameters and mode for a ModbusAsyncNetwork:

Right-click the ModbusAsyncNetwork and select Views->Property Sheet.

The Property Sheet appears.
Scroll down and expand the Serial Port Config slot

Set the properties for the JACE serial port used, where defaults are:
- Port Name: none — Enter the JACE port being used, like COM2 or COM3.
- Baud Rate: Baud9600 — Or choose different from selection list.
- Data Bits: Data Bits8 — Or choose different from selection list.
- Stop Bits: Stop Bit1 — Or choose different from selection list.
- Parity: none — Or choose different from selection list.
- Flow Control Mode: none — Or choose different using checkbox.
You must determine the setup of the Modbus serial network to correctly set the baud rate, data bits, stop bits, parity, and flow control settings.
Set the Modbus Data Mode property value, either Rtu (default) or Ascii, depending on network type.
Click the Save button.
While in the property network’s property sheet, you should review its “global” Modbus settings.

See Review network-level Modbus client configuration.