The Devices module facilitates seamless real-time communication and data exchange with various field devices and industrial protocols, supporting standard interfaces like OPC-UA, OPC-DA, MQTT, and HART. 

Included in Devices

• IT Protocols (SNMP and Ping)
• Connections with Historian Tools (OSIsoft PI, GE Historian, InfluxDB, and Canary) 
• 70+ Drivers 
• 200 Communication Protocols

The Device Module collects data from the field and feeds that data into the solution's tags. 

• Simplify your architecture by removing the needing for additional communication products.
• Easily setup a communications hub to support comms and logic between practically any device, any database, any historian, anywhere.
• On-Premise, Edge or enterprise level, and to/from the cloud – we have you covered!
• MQTT Broker and OPC Server are both built-in!
• MQTT SparkPlug B and OPC-UA simulators expedite demos and prototyping.
• Driver Toolkit allows our team, or any third-party, to easily add new interfaces.

Our software supports numerous communication protocols for HMI and industrial device interaction. The platform also supports open communication standards, like OPC, but there are various benefits in having the native protocol implementation. When using the platform, you don't need to understand the details of the protocol implementation because you can easily map the devices and the information you want to read or write from the device. 

When using the Devices module, you can use multiple protocols simultaneously. 

→ Read more about Devices Channels.

While both Devices module and ExternalTags manage data points and their communication, the Devices module focuses on field device communication, whereas ExternalTags focuses on the overall management of tags within the platform environment.

Devices represent the physical equipment in the system, while ExternalTags are the logical entities that store and manage tag information. Understanding the distinction between these two components is essential for effective system configuration and management. By clearly separating the responsibilities of these components, our software promotes modularity, simplifies configuration, and enables users to build scalable and maintainable solutions.

→ Read more about External TagProviders

The Device Module collects data from the field and feeds that into the solution tags.

All initial configurations for devices in the solutions on the software platform encompass the following workflow:

1. Defining a Channel using a target communication Protocol. It will create the base instance for linking a Node Learn more at Devices - Channels.

2. Defining the Node linked to the created Channel. Learn more at Devices Nodes.

3. Defining the Point that you would like to monitor. Learn more at Device Points.

Protocols define communication rules between the platform and devices. Channels define global parameters for the usage of a communication protocol. Nodes represent the physical field devices (like a PLC) with a unique field address (PrimaryStation). Points represent tags within a device. Additionally, AccessType defines how the device interacts with the platform (Read and/or Write). Learn more at AccessType.

The Device Configuration Tutorial provides a detailed guide to configuring the Modbus interface, along with the essential concepts that apply to all communication drivers. This tutorial demonstrates how to define multiple protocol interfaces using the abstraction layers, such as Channels and Nodes, provided by the platform. You will learn the differences in syntax for the STATION and ADDRESS fields when using various protocols, as well as the configuration and testing procedures that remain consistent across all communication interfaces.

The tutorial includes an overview of device configuration features, which enable users to configure and manage industrial automation devices such as PLCs, HMIs, sensors, actuators, and others. It offers a user-friendly graphical interface for adding, removing, and configuring these devices in an automation solution. You will also explore how to configure communication parameters and tags for each device, ensuring reliable and accurate communication between devices and the automation control system.

Go to Device Configuration Tutorial →  Modbus Tutorial.

See the below to find our best practice recommendations for using the Devices module the most effectively. And in case you should happen to encounter any issues you will also find some troubleshooting tips below as well.