Sync Logs tab

Synchronization Log Files

Each time the Synchronization Engine performs a synchronization scan, it creates a synchronization log file, which includes details regarding what point edits were made, what points were created, and what points were deleted. These log files also contain other summary information from the synchronization scan, such as the number of existing points, how many of them were out of synchronization with the data source, and so forth. The Path box shows the path to the PI APS installation folder where these files are stored. The list contains the synchronization logs that are still online for the currently selected interface.

To view one of the synchronization logs, select the log file and click View Log, or double-click the log file in the list. A Notepad window opens to display the log file.

The names of the Synchronization Log files have the following format:

InterfaceHost_InterfaceName_PIServer_timestamp.log

For example, Sandbox_pitopi2_strider_1103214051.log is the synchronization log for a synchronization scan that started at 16Dec2004 16:20:51 EST for the pitopi2 interface that is running on interface host Sandbox and sending point updates to the PI Server on strider. The timestamp component of these log file names is the number of seconds since 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 UTC.

Note: The synchronization log files are created by the Synchronization Engine, which is the primary source of messages in the synchronization logs. Any errors or other messages from a PI APS Connector are traditionally written to the pipc.log file because earlier versions of the Synchronization Engine did not share the synchronization log file. Newer PI APS Connectors may write messages to the pipc.log file, the synchronization log file, or both. Consult the documentation for the PI APS Connector to determine where it writes messages.

View Log

The View Log button opens the currently selected log file with Notepad. If no file is selected, the first file in the list opens.

Purge synchronization logs every

The Purge synchronization logs every box displays the setting for how old the synchronization log files can become before they are purged. There are currently four choices:

• Never

• 1 Day

• 1 Week

• 1 Month

Choosing an age limit in this box prevents unbounded growth in the number of synchronization logs. Ages of synchronization log files are checked and overage logs are purged at the end of each synchronization scan for an interface.

Note: The Synchronization Engine does not have a separate schedule for checking for overage synchronization logs.

Therefore, actual purging of log files may not occur at the frequency configured in this dialog box and older synchronization logs may be present. In particular, if the interface is not configured for scheduled synchronization, the synchronization log ages are not checked until the interface has a synchronization scan. A similar situation occurs if the synchronization period of the interface is longer than the age limit for synchronization logs.

Interface and Sync Engine Log File

The View Log button allows you to view all pipc*.log files, to which both the PI APS Connectors and the Synchronization Engine write. To view one of these files, double-click on the file in the list, or select a file in the list and click View Log.