telegraf/plugins/inputs/modbus/README.md

# Modbus Input Plugin

The Modbus plugin collects Discrete Inputs, Coils, Input Registers and Holding
Registers via Modbus TCP or Modbus RTU/ASCII.

## Configuration

```toml @sample_general_begin.conf @sample_register.conf @sample_request.conf @sample_general_end.conf
# Retrieve data from MODBUS slave devices
[[inputs.modbus]]
  ## Connection Configuration
  ##
  ## The plugin supports connections to PLCs via MODBUS/TCP, RTU over TCP, ASCII over TCP or
  ## via serial line communication in binary (RTU) or readable (ASCII) encoding
  ##
  ## Device name
  name = "Device"

  ## Slave ID - addresses a MODBUS device on the bus
  ## Range: 0 - 255 [0 = broadcast; 248 - 255 = reserved]
  slave_id = 1

  ## Timeout for each request
  timeout = "1s"

  ## Maximum number of retries and the time to wait between retries
  ## when a slave-device is busy.
  # busy_retries = 0
  # busy_retries_wait = "100ms"

  # TCP - connect via Modbus/TCP
  controller = "tcp://localhost:502"

  ## Serial (RS485; RS232)
  # controller = "file:///dev/ttyUSB0"
  # baud_rate = 9600
  # data_bits = 8
  # parity = "N"
  # stop_bits = 1

  ## For Modbus over TCP you can choose between "TCP", "RTUoverTCP" and "ASCIIoverTCP"
  ## default behaviour is "TCP" if the controller is TCP
  ## For Serial you can choose between "RTU" and "ASCII"
  # transmission_mode = "RTU"

  ## Trace the connection to the modbus device as debug messages
  ## Note: You have to enable telegraf's debug mode to see those messages!
  # debug_connection = false

  ## Define the configuration schema
  ##  |---register -- define fields per register type in the original style (only supports one slave ID)
  ##  |---request  -- define fields on a requests base
  configuration_type = "register"

  ## --- "register" configuration style ---

  ## Measurements
  ##

  ## Digital Variables, Discrete Inputs and Coils
  ## measurement - the (optional) measurement name, defaults to "modbus"
  ## name        - the variable name
  ## address     - variable address

  discrete_inputs = [
    { name = "start",          address = [0]},
    { name = "stop",           address = [1]},
    { name = "reset",          address = [2]},
    { name = "emergency_stop", address = [3]},
  ]
  coils = [
    { name = "motor1_run",     address = [0]},
    { name = "motor1_jog",     address = [1]},
    { name = "motor1_stop",    address = [2]},
  ]

  ## Analog Variables, Input Registers and Holding Registers
  ## measurement - the (optional) measurement name, defaults to "modbus"
  ## name        - the variable name
  ## byte_order  - the ordering of bytes
  ##  |---AB, ABCD   - Big Endian
  ##  |---BA, DCBA   - Little Endian
  ##  |---BADC       - Mid-Big Endian
  ##  |---CDAB       - Mid-Little Endian
  ## data_type   - INT16, UINT16, INT32, UINT32, INT64, UINT64,
  ##               FLOAT32-IEEE, FLOAT64-IEEE (the IEEE 754 binary representation)
  ##               FLOAT32, FIXED, UFIXED (fixed-point representation on input)
  ## scale       - the final numeric variable representation
  ## address     - variable address

  holding_registers = [
    { name = "power_factor", byte_order = "AB",   data_type = "FIXED", scale=0.01,  address = [8]},
    { name = "voltage",      byte_order = "AB",   data_type = "FIXED", scale=0.1,   address = [0]},
    { name = "energy",       byte_order = "ABCD", data_type = "FIXED", scale=0.001, address = [5,6]},
    { name = "current",      byte_order = "ABCD", data_type = "FIXED", scale=0.001, address = [1,2]},
    { name = "frequency",    byte_order = "AB",   data_type = "UFIXED", scale=0.1,  address = [7]},
    { name = "power",        byte_order = "ABCD", data_type = "UFIXED", scale=0.1,  address = [3,4]},
  ]
  input_registers = [
    { name = "tank_level",   byte_order = "AB",   data_type = "INT16",   scale=1.0,     address = [0]},
    { name = "tank_ph",      byte_order = "AB",   data_type = "INT16",   scale=1.0,     address = [1]},
    { name = "pump1_speed",  byte_order = "ABCD", data_type = "INT32",   scale=1.0,     address = [3,4]},
  ]

  ## --- "request" configuration style ---

  ## Per request definition
  ##

  ## Define a request sent to the device
  ## Multiple of those requests can be defined. Data will be collated into metrics at the end of data collection.
  [[inputs.modbus.request]]
    ## ID of the modbus slave device to query.
    ## If you need to query multiple slave-devices, create several "request" definitions.
    slave_id = 1

    ## Byte order of the data.
    ##  |---ABCD -- Big Endian (Motorola)
    ##  |---DCBA -- Little Endian (Intel)
    ##  |---BADC -- Big Endian with byte swap
    ##  |---CDAB -- Little Endian with byte swap
    byte_order = "ABCD"

    ## Type of the register for the request
    ## Can be "coil", "discrete", "holding" or "input"
    register = "coil"

    ## Name of the measurement.
    ## Can be overriden by the individual field definitions. Defaults to "modbus"
    # measurement = "modbus"

    ## Field definitions
    ## Analog Variables, Input Registers and Holding Registers
    ## address        - address of the register to query. For coil and discrete inputs this is the bit address.
    ## name *1        - field name
    ## type *1,2      - type of the modbus field, can be INT16, UINT16, INT32, UINT32, INT64, UINT64 and
    ##                  FLOAT32, FLOAT64 (IEEE 754 binary representation)
    ## scale *1,2     - (optional) factor to scale the variable with
    ## output *1,2    - (optional) type of resulting field, can be INT64, UINT64 or FLOAT64. Defaults to FLOAT64 if
    ##                  "scale" is provided and to the input "type" class otherwise (i.e. INT* -> INT64, etc).
    ## measurement *1 - (optional) measurement name, defaults to the setting of the request
    ## omit           - (optional) omit this field. Useful to leave out single values when querying many registers
    ##                  with a single request. Defaults to "false".
    ##
    ## *1: Those fields are ignored if field is omitted ("omit"=true)
    ##
    ## *2: Thise fields are ignored for both "coil" and "discrete"-input type of registers. For those register types
    ##     the fields are output as zero or one in UINT64 format by default.

    ## Coil / discrete input example
    fields = [
      { address=0, name="motor1_run"},
      { address=1, name="jog", measurement="motor"},
      { address=2, name="motor1_stop", omit=true},
      { address=3, name="motor1_overheating"},
    ]

    [inputs.modbus.request.tags]
      machine = "impresser"
      location = "main building"

  [[inputs.modbus.request]]
    ## Holding example
    ## All of those examples will result in FLOAT64 field outputs
    slave_id = 1
    byte_order = "DCBA"
    register = "holding"
    fields = [
      { address=0, name="voltage",      type="INT16",   scale=0.1   },
      { address=1, name="current",      type="INT32",   scale=0.001 },
      { address=3, name="power",        type="UINT32",  omit=true   },
      { address=5, name="energy",       type="FLOAT32", scale=0.001, measurement="W" },
      { address=7, name="frequency",    type="UINT32",  scale=0.1   },
      { address=8, name="power_factor", type="INT64",   scale=0.01  },
    ]

    [inputs.modbus.request.tags]
      machine = "impresser"
      location = "main building"

  [[inputs.modbus.request]]
    ## Input example with type conversions
    slave_id = 1
    byte_order = "ABCD"
    register = "input"
    fields = [
      { address=0, name="rpm",         type="INT16"                   },  # will result in INT64 field
      { address=1, name="temperature", type="INT16", scale=0.1        },  # will result in FLOAT64 field
      { address=2, name="force",       type="INT32", output="FLOAT64" },  # will result in FLOAT64 field
      { address=4, name="hours",       type="UINT32"                  },  # will result in UIN64 field
    ]

    [inputs.modbus.request.tags]
      machine = "impresser"
      location = "main building"

  ## Enable workarounds required by some devices to work correctly
  # [inputs.modbus.workarounds]
    ## Pause after connect delays the first request by the specified time. This might be necessary for (slow) devices.
    # pause_after_connect = "0ms"
    ## Pause between read requests sent to the device. This might be necessary for (slow) serial devices.
    # pause_between_requests = "0ms"
    ## Close the connection after every gather cycle. Usually the plugin closes the connection after a certain
    ## idle-timeout, however, if you query a device with limited simultaneous connectivity (e.g. serial devices)
    ## from multiple instances you might want to only stay connected during gather and disconnect afterwards.
    # close_connection_after_gather = false
```

## Notes

You can debug Modbus connection issues by enabling `debug_connection`. To see
those debug messages, Telegraf has to be started with debugging enabled
(i.e. with the `--debug` option). Please be aware that connection tracing will
produce a lot of messages and should __NOT__ be used in production environments.

Please use `pause_after_connect` / `pause_between_requests` with care. Ensure
the total gather time, including the pause(s), does not exceed the configured
collection interval. Note that pauses add up if multiple requests are sent!

## Configuration styles

The modbus plugin supports multiple configuration styles that can be set using
the `configuration_type` setting. The different styles are described
below. Please note that styles cannot be mixed, i.e. only the settings belonging
to the configured `configuration_type` are used for constructing _modbus_
requests and creation of metrics.

Directly jump to the styles:

- [original / register plugin style](#register-configuration-style)
- [per-request style](#request-configuration-style)

---

### `register` configuration style

This is the original style used by this plugin. It allows a per-register
configuration for a single slave-device.

#### Usage of `data_type`

The field `data_type` defines the representation of the data value on input from
the modbus registers.  The input values are then converted from the given
`data_type` to a type that is apropriate when sending the value to the output
plugin. These output types are usually one of string, integer or
floating-point-number. The size of the output type is assumed to be large enough
for all supported input types. The mapping from the input type to the output
type is fixed and cannot be configured.

##### Integers: `INT16`, `UINT16`, `INT32`, `UINT32`, `INT64`, `UINT64`

These types are used for integer input values. Select the one that matches your
modbus data source.

##### Floating Point: `FLOAT32-IEEE`, `FLOAT64-IEEE`

Use these types if your modbus registers contain a value that is encoded in this
format. These types always include the sign, therefore no variant exists.

##### Fixed Point: `FIXED`, `UFIXED` (`FLOAT32`)

These types are handled as an integer type on input, but are converted to
floating point representation for further processing (e.g. scaling). Use one of
these types when the input value is a decimal fixed point representation of a
non-integer value.

Select the type `UFIXED` when the input type is declared to hold unsigned
integer values, which cannot be negative. The documentation of your modbus
device should indicate this by a term like 'uint16 containing fixed-point
representation with N decimal places'.

Select the type `FIXED` when the input type is declared to hold signed integer
values. Your documentation of the modbus device should indicate this with a term
like 'int32 containing fixed-point representation with N decimal places'.

(FLOAT32 is deprecated and should not be used. UFIXED provides the same
conversion from unsigned values).

---

### `request` configuration style

This sytle can be used to specify the modbus requests directly. It enables
specifying multiple `[[inputs.modbus.request]]` sections including multiple
slave-devices. This way, _modbus_ gateway devices can be queried. Please note
that _requests_ might be split for non-consecutive addresses. If you want to
avoid this behavior please add _fields_ with the `omit` flag set filling the
gaps between addresses.

#### Slave device

You can use the `slave_id` setting to specify the ID of the slave device to
query. It should be specified for each request, otherwise it defaults to
zero. Please note, only one `slave_id` can be specified per request.

#### Byte order of the register

The `byte_order` setting specifies the byte and word-order of the registers. It
can be set to `ABCD` for _big endian (Motorola)_ or `DCBA` for _little endian
(Intel)_ format as well as `BADC` and `CDAB` for _big endian_ or _little endian_
with _byte swap_.

#### Register type

The `register` setting specifies the modbus register-set to query and can be set
to `coil`, `discrete`, `holding` or `input`.

#### Per-request measurement setting

You can specify the name of the measurement for the following field definitions
using the `measurement` setting. If the setting is omitted `modbus` is
used. Furthermore, the measurement value can be overridden by each field
individually.

#### Field definitions

Each `request` can contain a list of fields to collect from the modbus device.

##### address

A field is identified by an `address` that reflects the modbus register
address. You can usually find the address values for the different datapoints in
the datasheet of your modbus device. This is a mandatory setting.

For _coil_ and _discrete input_ registers this setting specifies the __bit__
containing the value of the field.

##### name

Using the `name` setting you can specify the field-name in the metric as output
by the plugin. This setting is ignored if the field's `omit` is set to `true`
and can be omitted in this case.

__Please note:__ There cannot be multiple fields with the same `name` in one
metric identified by `measurement`, `slave_id` and `register`.

##### register datatype

The `register` setting specifies the datatype of the modbus register and can be
set to `INT16`, `UINT16`, `INT32`, `UINT32`, `INT64` or `UINT64` for integer
types or `FLOAT32` and `FLOAT64` for IEEE 754 binary representations of floating
point values. Usually the datatype of the register is listed in the datasheet of
your modbus device in relation to the `address` described above.

 This setting is ignored if the field's `omit` is set to `true` or if the
 `register` type is a bit-type (`coil` or `discrete`) and can be omitted in
 these cases.

##### scaling

You can use the `scale` setting to scale the register values, e.g. if the
register contains a fix-point values in `UINT32` format with two decimal places
for example. To convert the read register value to the actual value you can set
the `scale=0.01`. The scale is used as a factor e.g. `field_value * scale`.

This setting is ignored if the field's `omit` is set to `true` or if the
`register` type is a bit-type (`coil` or `discrete`) and can be omitted in these
cases.

__Please note:__ The resulting field-type will be set to `FLOAT64` if no output
format is specified.

##### output datatype

Using the `output` setting you can explicitly specify the output
field-datatype. The `output` type can be `INT64`, `UINT64` or `FLOAT64`. If not
set explicitly, the output type is guessed as follows: If `scale` is set to a
non-zero value, the output type is `FLOAT64`. Otherwise, the output type
corresponds to the register datatype _class_, i.e. `INT*` will result in
`INT64`, `UINT*` in `UINT64` and `FLOAT*` in `FLOAT64`.

This setting is ignored if the field's `omit` is set to `true` or if the
`register` type is a bit-type (`coil` or `discrete`) and can be omitted in these
cases. For `coil` and `discrete` registers the field-value is output as zero or
one in `UINT16` format.

#### per-field measurement setting

The `measurement` setting can be used to override the measurement name on a
per-field basis. This might be useful if you want to split the fields in one
request to multiple measurements. If not specified, the value specified in the
[`request` section](#per-request-measurement-setting) or, if also omitted,
`modbus` is used.

This setting is ignored if the field's `omit` is set to `true` and can be
omitted in this case.

#### omitting a field

When specifying `omit=true`, the corresponding field will be ignored when
collecting the metric but is taken into account when constructing the modbus
requests. This way, you can fill "holes" in the addresses to construct
consecutive address ranges resulting in a single request. Using a single modbus
request can be beneficial as the values are all collected at the same point in
time.

#### Tags definitions

Each `request` can be accompanied by tags valid for this request.

__Please note:__ These tags take precedence over predefined tags such as `name`,
`type` or `slave_id`.

---

## Metrics

Metrics are custom and configured using the `discrete_inputs`, `coils`,
`holding_register` and `input_registers` options.

## Troubleshooting

### Strange data

Modbus documentation is often a mess. People confuse memory-address (starts at
one) and register address (starts at zero) or are unsure about the word-order
used. Furthermore, there are some non-standard implementations that also swap
the bytes within the register word (16-bit).

If you get an error or don't get the expected values from your device, you can
try the following steps (assuming a 32-bit value).

If you are using a serial device and get a `permission denied` error, check the
permissions of your serial device and change them accordingly.

In case you get an `exception '2' (illegal data address)` error you might try to
offset your `address` entries by minus one as it is very likely that there is
confusion between memory and register addresses.

If you see strange values, the `byte_order` might be wrong. You can either probe
all combinations (`ABCD`, `CDBA`, `BADC` or `DCBA`) or set `byte_order="ABCD"
data_type="UINT32"` and use the resulting value(s) in an online converter like
[this][online-converter]. This especially makes sense if you don't want to mess
with the device, deal with 64-bit values and/or don't know the `data_type` of
your register (e.g. fix-point floating values vs. IEEE floating point).

If your data still looks corrupted, please post your configuration, error
message and/or the output of `byte_order="ABCD" data_type="UINT32"` to one of
the telegraf support channels (forum, slack or as an issue).  If nothing helps,
please post your configuration, error message and/or the output of
`byte_order="ABCD" data_type="UINT32"` to one of the telegraf support channels
(forum, slack or as an issue).

[online-converter]: https://www.scadacore.com/tools/programming-calculators/online-hex-converter/

### Workarounds

Some Modbus devices need special read characteristics when reading data and will
fail otherwise. For example, some serial devices need a pause between register
read requests. Others might only support a limited number of simultaneously
connected devices, like serial devices or some ModbusTCP devices. In case you
need to access those devices in parallel you might want to disconnect
immediately after the plugin finishes reading.

To enable this plugin to also handle those "special" devices, there is the
`workarounds` configuration option. In case your documentation states certain
read requirements or you get read timeouts or other read errors, you might want
to try one or more workaround options.  If you find that other/more workarounds
are required for your device, please let us know.

In case your device needs a workaround that is not yet implemented, please open
an issue or submit a pull-request.

## Example Output

```sh
$ ./telegraf -config telegraf.conf -input-filter modbus -test
modbus.InputRegisters,host=orangepizero Current=0,Energy=0,Frecuency=60,Power=0,PowerFactor=0,Voltage=123.9000015258789 1554079521000000000
```