The ClientBox feature allows data collected by the Indabox Pro-S to be accessed locally on the cloud part of the Indabox.
For this local network communication, the Indabox Pro-S supports Modbus TCP.
1. Configurating the ClientBox feature
1.1. Activating the feature
Access the General settings page, then tick the "ClientBox mode enabled" box, in the Optional services section :
The ClientBox settings section appears.
1.2. Communication settings
The available communication mode is Modbus TCP.
Specify the port number to use:
2. Configuring variables for clientBox exposure
To make your equipment's data accessible via the ClientBox functionality, you need to assign specific ClientBox addresses to the relevant variables. This can be accomplished using one of two methods :
Method 1 : Exporting the device configuration to an Excel file, editing it, and then importing it back.
Method 2 : Directly editing variables through the device's interface.
Both methods are detailed below.
2.1 Method 1 : Using Excel File Export/Import
2.1.1 Exporting a device
To export an existing device, access the Data Source page of the Indus Box.
Then, click on the export button for the device of your choice :
The Excel file is downloaded from your browser.
Note : If you are using multiple devices, ensure that you assign different addresses to each device to avoid address conflicts.
To do so, in the exported Excel file, go to the equipment tab :
And make sure that each of your devices has a different IP address and a different slave number.
2.1.2 Configurating the variables to be exposed
The Excel file has two tabs. The second tab allows you to view all the equipment variables.
In order to make the clientBox variables available, you need to set their addresses in the ClientBox Address column.
Note : You can also configure the ClientBox address for your variables directly from the variable editing screen, bypassing the export process.
2.1.3 Importing equipment
Once the necessary changes have been made, you can import the equipment again.
To do so, click on the "Import file" button at the top of the Data Source page :
Select the updated Excel file and click the Confirm button :
Since the equipment already exists, a message suggests replacing it. Click on confirm.
2.2 Method 2 : configuration via the variable editing screen
This method allows you to set or modify ClientBox addresses for variables directly through the Indus Box interface.
It can be quicker for configuring individual variables or making minor adjustments.
Go to the Data Source page.
Click the button used to display the list of variables for an equipment.
To edit an existing variable, click the edit button for the variable of your choice :
On the variable editing screen, locate the field designated for the “ClientBox Address”.
Enter or update the desired unique ClientBox address in this field.
3. Accessing the data
To access the data, use the Modbus TCP client of your choice.
When configuring your Modbus TCP client, you must establish the connection with the Cloud part of the Indabox Pro-S. To do so, use the IP address configured for the Cloud part of your device (the default IP address for the Cloud part is 192.168.1.223).
Important : Regardless of the type of the configured input function :
Bool data types can only be read in function 2 (Input status)
All other data types can only be read in function 4 (Input register).
WARNING ! If the Cloud Box is not connected to a DHCP-enabled network, the timestamp must be set manually to ensure the data is read correctly.