PI System components

A complete PI System is comprised of the following components:

• PI Server

  PI Server is the heart of the PI System. It collects, stores, and organizes data from all your data sources, providing a powerful and flexible information infrastructure for your organization. PI Server includes sophisticated tools for analytics, alerts, and auditing. You can connect PI Server to almost any existing automation, lab, or information system. Operators, engineers, managers, and other plant personnel use a variety of client applications to connect to PI Server to view data stored in PI Server or in external data archive systems. The PI Server is a suite of products.

• PI Data Archive

  Data Archive is a component of PI Server that provides efficient storage and archiving of time series data. It is the cornerstone of the PI System and your data infrastructure, enabling high-performance data storage and retrieval by client software. Time series data can be used for monitoring processes, data analytics, and process optimization.

• PI Asset Framework

  PI Asset Framework (PI AF) is a single repository for asset-centric models, hierarchies, objects, and equipment. It integrates, contextualizes, refines, references, and further analyzes data from multiple sources, including one or more Data Archive and non-PI sources such as external relational databases. Together, these metadata and time series data provide a detailed description of equipment or assets.

  PI AF can expose this rich data to PI System components, such as AVEVA PI Vision, PI DataLink, or PI ProcessBook, where it can be used to build displays, run calculations, deliver important information, and more. PI Asset Framework can also expose these data to non-PI systems through a rich set of data access products. PI AF also includes a number of basic and advanced search capabilities to help users sift through static and real-time information.

• PI Connector

  Similar to PI interfaces, PI connectors are AVEVA's newest technology that collects data from sensors and control systems. They are designed to require minimal configuration and simplify the collection of data by scanning and automatically creating needed PI points and AF structures.

• PI Connector Relay

  PI Connector Relay is an individual component that relays the data coming from a connector that is running on a Windows/Linux operating system to a PI system. The connector sends a generalized representation of the assets and real-time measurements that it collects from the data sources to PI Connector Relay. PI Connector Relay creates elements, attributes, and Event Frames in PI AF servers and PI points in Data Archive. The relay is capable of sending data that is coming from the connectors to multiple PI systems, including collectives.

• PI Data Collection Manager

  PI Data Collection Manager is a browser-based web application that enables you to configure and manage multiple PI Connectors and PI Connector Relays to multiple PI Systems. From PI Data Collection Manager, you register connectors, select data sources, and route data to specific destinations within the PI AF database. Once registered and configured, you can then view and monitor connector performance and data flow in real-time on the PI Data Collection Manager dashboard. The dashboard also provides functionality to modify data sources, start and stop connectors, and re-route data flow to alternative destinations.