MBAP Header
With Modbus TCP, a Modbus Application Protocol Header (MBAP Header for short) precedes the actual message.
This header consists of the following parts:
| Name | Length | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction Identifier | 2 bytes | |
| Protocol Identifier | 2 bytes | 0000h (Modbus) |
| Length | 2 bytes | |
| Unit Identifier | 1 byte | 00h |
The MBAP Header is 7 bytes long:
- Transaction Identifier
- It is used for transaction pairing; the server (the controller) copies the value from the client's request in the response. If the client increases the number on each query, the response can be uniquely assigned to the query.
- Protocol Identifier
- Because a Modbus protocol is used, the field always has the value 0.
- Length
- The length of the data including the Unit Identifier field (1 byte), the function code (1 byte) and the data.
- Unit Identifier
- This field is used for internal system routing. Because the controller does not support routing, the field always has the value 0.