Yes, the Siemens S7-1200 PLC fully supports the Modbus TCP communication protocol. Modbus TCP is an Ethernet-based industrial protocol used for data exchange between automation devices like PLCs, HMIs, drives, and energy meters. It allows the S7-1200 to communicate easily with both Siemens and third-party equipment from brands such as Schneider, Delta, or Omron.
The S7-1200 can act as both a Modbus TCP Client (Master) and a Modbus TCP Server (Slave). In client mode, it can read or write data from other Modbus-compatible devices on the same network. In server mode, it allows other controllers or SCADA systems to access its internal data blocks, I/O values, or process variables. This flexibility makes integration between different automation systems simple and cost-effective.
You can enable Modbus TCP communication on the S7-1200 using Siemens’ TIA Portal software by configuring the “MB_CLIENT” and “MB_SERVER” function blocks. These blocks handle all the Modbus communication functions like reading, writing, and data transfer. Since Modbus TCP runs over standard Ethernet, it uses the same PROFINET port built into the PLC — no special hardware modules are required.
In simple terms, the S7-1200 does support Modbus TCP, allowing it to communicate with a wide range of industrial devices over Ethernet. This makes it a versatile PLC for mixed-brand environments, energy monitoring systems, or applications where third-party instruments must share data with Siemens automation systems.
Yes, the Siemens S7-1200 PLC fully supports Modbus TCP communication. This allows it to connect and exchange data with a wide range of industrial devices such as HMIs, SCADA systems, and other PLCs over a standard Ethernet network. The best part is that it doesn’t need any extra hardware — everything works through the S7-1200’s built-in PROFINET (Ethernet) port. Inside the TIA Portal software, you can use the predefined MB_SERVER and MB_CLIENT function blocks to set up the PLC as either a Modbus TCP server or a client, depending on your application.
When the S7-1200 acts as a Modbus TCP server, it responds to data requests from other Modbus devices, sharing inputs, outputs, or data blocks. As a client, it can actively send commands and read data from other Modbus servers. The communication happens through defined memory areas or data blocks (like MB_DB), which represent Modbus registers and coils. This setup provides a reliable and flexible way to integrate the S7-1200 with non-Siemens systems while maintaining fast Ethernet performance. In short, the Siemens S7-1200 supports Modbus TCP seamlessly, making it a powerful controller for modern automation networks that combine multiple brands and protocols.