My application is to communicate with two Modicon PLCs using Modicon's ModBus Plus (PCI based PCI-85) network card inside my PC, and using Lookout as an SCADA software. Since there is no ISA slot available in new PCs, I can not use Modicon's ISA-85 Modbus Plus networc card. But Lookout does not support PCI based PCI-85 card, how can I use PCI-85 card then, with Lookout? Why doesn't Lookout support it? I asked the following question from from the Modicon's representative about it:
If I purchase Modbus Plus Driver Suite CD (SWMXDS001, 05, or 10 etc),will I be able to use Lookout SCADA software (by the way, it supports standard MB+ prtocol) for my application? If yes, can I use any version of an
y of the ISA, PCI, or PCMCIA based MB+ card?
His answer was:
The Modbus Plus Driver Suite will talk to any version of card, PCMCIA, ISA, and PCI. The question now is will the SCADA package you are
planning on using be able to talk to the Modbus Plus Driver Suite? You must contact National Instruments and ask them if they support Modbus Plus, and if
they used the MB+ system developement kit to develop their product. Or if they wrote their own MB+ drivers, do they work with Modicon hardware?