Connecting Ignition Modbus TCP to Modbus Serial Devices

Abstract

This tutorial details how to connect existing Modbus RTU devices over a serial network into the Ignition Modbus TCP driver using a third party serial to ethernet gateway.

For this tutorial we are using the MGate MB3170/MB3270 Series Gateway from Moxa which is readily available for purchase from Amazon.

MGate Topology and serial connections

The image below shows an example of how Modbus RTU Devices could be connected to the Moxa gateway.

The gateway uses male DB9 serial ports to connect to the Modbus RTU or ASCII devices. Each port supports three serial interfaces: RS-232, RS-422 and RS-485 (both 2 and 4 wire) with the pinout shown below:

MGate Configuration

Initial Configuration Access

Setting a Static IP Address

Configuring the Serial Port