Frequently Asked Questions

Launch & Configure Modbus Devices

The Modbus Tab on the Deployments page lets you add, configure, and manage Modbus IP devices within your deployment.

Onboard supports a pre-defined set of vendor templates for Modbus. To confirm if your Modbus device is supported, please review the Network & Connectivity Requirements article and verify the Connectivity Requirements section before proceeding.

Adding a New Modbus Device

  1. On the Modbus tab, Click “ADD NEW MODBUS” button
  2. This opens the launch interface where you will enter details about your device.‍
  3. Enter Device Information‍
    • Controller IP: The IP address of your Modbus device. Ensure it is accessible to the Edge Software on your network. ‍
    • Port Number: By default, Modbus uses port# 502.‍
    • Unit Identifier: This identifies the Modbus device on the network (often called slave ID). You can find it in your device documentation or front-end configuration.‍
    • Vendor Device: Choose from Onboard’s supported vendor templates. These templates map registers to equipment and point types automatically.‍
    • Polling Frequency: Define how often the Edge Software should query the Modbus device (default: 60 seconds).‍
  4. Save Configuration
  5. Once you save, the Edge Software attempts to connect to the Modbus device. The device will now appear under the Modbus tab with an indicated status.

Understanding Device Status

  • NEW → Device configuration has been added; Edge Software is attempting connection (allow 15–20 minutes).
  • SUCCESS → Connection was successful. Visit Staging to confirm that points from this device appear. Publish the points to begin trending data.
  • FAILED → Connection was unsuccessful. Check the information provided (IP, port, unit ID) and try again.

🔄 To retry the same configuration, use the refresh button under the Actions column.

🗑️ To correct configuration details, delete the device and re-add it with the proper settings (the UI does not currently support editing existing configurations).

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⚠️ One Active Collector Only: To connect with a modbus device, make sure only collector is active. You can disable the inactive collectors via the Replacement tab or email us if you need assistance.

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👉 Next Steps: Once your Modbus device shows SUCCESS, head to Staging to validate and publish its equipment and points.