Is There a Modbus Poll for Linux? Alternatives and Where Voltrus Fits
Short answer: not from Voltrus. Voltrus Modbus Poll runs on macOS (and, built from the same source, on iPhone and iPad). There is no Linux build and no Windows build. The name also gets confused with Modbus Poll by Witte Software, a separate commercial tool that is Windows-only. This page is for people who searched for either one on Linux.
What people use on Linux
- mbpoll: a command-line Modbus master for Linux. Reads and writes registers and coils over TCP and RTU from a shell, which suits scripts and SSH sessions.
- QModMaster: an open-source Qt GUI Modbus master. The closest thing to a register-table tool on a Linux desktop.
- diagslave: a free command-line Modbus slave simulator for Windows and Linux. See the Modbus simulator comparison for its limits.
- pymodbus: a Python library. Twenty lines of code give you a master or a slave serving a register map, and it fits CI jobs and containers.
Windows tools under Wine
Some engineers run the Windows Modbus Poll under Wine or in a Windows VM. We have not tested that, so we cannot say how it behaves with serial adapters. If you commission over RS-485, check that your adapter shows up and passes frames before you rely on it in the field.
Where Voltrus Modbus Poll fits
If you work on a Mac, Voltrus Modbus Poll covers the same ground as the Windows tool without a VM: a Modbus TCP and RTU master with live register values, a slave simulator with device templates, a traffic view with CSV export and trend charts. On Linux it is not an option.
Modbus Poll for Mac
Voltrus Modbus Poll: Modbus TCP + RTU master and slave simulator with a readable traffic view, for macOS.
See Modbus Poll for MacFrequently Asked Questions
Does Voltrus Modbus Poll run on Linux?
No. Voltrus Modbus Poll runs on macOS and, built from the same source, on iPhone and iPad. There is no Linux or Windows build.
Is there a Modbus Poll for Linux?
Not from Voltrus. Modbus Poll by Witte Software is a Windows application. On Linux, people usually pick a command-line master such as mbpoll, a Qt-based GUI master such as QModMaster, a Python library such as pymodbus, or a command-line slave simulator such as diagslave.
Can I simulate a Modbus slave on Linux?
Yes, with other tools. diagslave is a free command-line Modbus slave simulator for Windows and Linux, and pymodbus can serve a register map from a short Python script. Voltrus Modbus Poll has a slave simulator too, but only on macOS and iOS.
What does Voltrus Modbus Poll cover?
A Modbus TCP and RTU master with live register values, a slave simulator with device templates, a traffic view and CSV export, for Mac users who would otherwise run a Windows tool in a virtual machine.
Moving from simulation to monitoring?
When the project outgrows register polling, Voltrus SCADA polls Modbus, OPC-UA, S7, EtherNet/IP and BACnet continuously with dashboards, alarms, and history. Single binary, lifetime license from $49.