Introduction to PI connectors

PI connectors are among the classes of data communications software developed by AVEVA for a range of data formats. (For a complete list of AVEVA products, see the Product List under the PI System tab on the AVEVA home page.) They represent a technology a generation beyond AVEVA's earlier interface products, simplifying systems administration through the automation of key functions. (See Generations of PI connectors.)

With minimal configuration requirements managed through an HTML-5 compliant web-based dashboard (see Learn about PI connector administration), PI connectors automate many aspects of setting up an effective PI System, including:

• Collection of data types

  PI connectors automatically discover data on a data source when they are first connected. The administrator can then choose the data to be stored, which is done through the PI Data Collection Manager dashboard. PI connectors collect time-series data and metadata. Metadata does not necessarily change with time, but provides additional context about the data in the system; for example, the last maintenance date of a piece of equipment. Time-series data is saved to PI points in Data Archive, whereas metadata such as elements, attributes, and related Event Frames are saved in PI AF server. PI connectors replicate the data model that exists on the data source.

• Creation of PI points

  PI connectors automatically create the PI points, elements, and attributes needed to store the data that has been selected for collection. Data streams are then auto-configured on the PI Server. A reference model is built in PI AF, which serves as a mirror image of the data source. This is a convenient starting point for integration with a more comprehensive PI AF model. New data streams added to the data source are automatically collected by PI connector, which monitors the source continuously. Automation of this process is particularly useful when dealing with large numbers of tags.

• Data buffering

  PI connectors have an automatic buffering mechanism. Buffering is always on and configuration involves nothing more than specifying the folder to store the buffered data. See PI connectors data buffering.

PI connectors provide additional advantages, including disconnected startup so a connector can start without a connection to a configured PI server. PI connectors support 64-bit processors, so are capable of storing more computational data than predecessor interfaces. Connectors also use internal protocol to communicate to Data Archive (see PI System components), AF SDK to communicate to PI AF server, or AMQP to communicate to PI connector relays, which limits exposure of data.