Example: Configure multiple instances of PI to PI interface

For this example, assume that multiple instances of the PI to PI interface connect two PI Servers. Each PI to PI instance is managed by PI ICU. Points have been configured for the interface instances to move data from the source PI Server to the target PI Server. No plan was used to select which points were configured for each PI to PI instance, necessitating the use of Method 2.

The goal is to manage these interface instances with PI APS so that all points on the source PI Server are automatically replicated in the target PI Server. This is accomplished by registering each of the existing interface instances with PI APS and configuring those instances so that only their existing points are synchronized. A new PI to PI instance is created and registered with PI APS to find new points on the source PI Server. To do this, run the PI APS Configuration Utility and perform the following procedure.

Note: For further discussion and details specifically on the PI to PI interface and multiple instances with PI APS, see the PI to PI Interface - APS Connector User Guide.

1. Do one of the following for each instance of the PI to PI interface:

   • On the Interface menu, click Register New and use the dialog box that opens to register the interface instance with PI APS.

   • Click Rules on the Settings menu. On the Rules for interface dialog box, choose Skip search for new points in the Points Not in PI area:

     

   This turns off the search for new points for each interface instance. Because these are new registrations with PI APS, the original interface instances have no available points.

2. Create a new instance of the PI to PI interface that will be used to collect data for all new points added to the source PI Server:

   1. Use PI ICU to create the new instance of PI to PI.

   2. Register the new instance of PI to PI with PI APS.

   3. Set the Points Not in PI rule for the new instance to Store in available points database.

   4. Set the PI Point Edits rule for the new instance to Edit automatically.

3. Enable the new instance of the PI to PI interface.

4. Do one of the following to synchronize PI APS:

   • If this interface instance is configured for scheduled synchronization (the default option), synchronization occurs when you enable the interface instance.

   • If this interface instance is configured for manual synchronization, click Sync Now to initiate the first synchronization.

5. Wait for the first synchronization to complete.

   The purpose of this synchronization is to identify all available points from the source PI Server. Many (or all) of the available points are actually existing points managed by the other interface instances.

6. Use the PI APS Configuration Utility to review the available points on the grid area of the main window. Hide any available points that are actually existing points that belong to the original interface instances.

   • If you know that every source PI Server point has a corresponding existing point that is managed by one of the original interface instances, you can simply hide all available points on the list.

   • If the list of available points is a mixture of existing points for the original interface instances and actual available points, select and hide the existing points.

   For information on how to select a subset of the points displayed on the grid, see Main window. For information on how to hide selected points, see Available points shortcut menu.

   Note: Hiding existing points can be a tedious manual process when the points are a mixture of existing points and actual available points. If the majority of the available points are existing points for the original interface instances, it might be easier to hide all points that are identified as Available points and then identify and unhide the actual available points.

7. Optional: Reconfigure the new PI to PI instance to create points automatically.

   Note: Do not make this change until you are certain that all existing points for the original interface instances are hidden for this interface instance.

   

   The new interface instance detects and owns any new points created on the source PI Server. These points can be moved to other instances of the PI to PI interface as needed.