Discover data source contents and select assets and PI points for data collection

The connector subscribes to the MQTT broker with the topics inside the Topics CSV file, and then automatically create PI Tags and the assets based on the data selected after performing a Discovery. Perform the steps in the procedure below to instruct the connector to automatically discover available data source contents. After the discovery process completes, you can select among available assets and value streams for data collection using PI Data Collection Manager.

Before you begin

Make certain that the connector is running.

Procedure

1. Select the Data Sources node and then Discover Data Source Contents in the DataSourceName Data Source Details pane.

   

   You can now proceed to discover the contents of the selected data source.

   Note: Discover Data Source Contents should only used once. If it is triggered again after discovery has been completed, it may stop data collection. As a result, you will need to restart the connector from Windows Services before it can collect data again.

2. Select the Connectors node and then Select Data in the ConnectorName Connector Details pane.

   

   • Select any data under the data source that you want to collect and then select Next.

   • Select Save.

     Example of selecting data for collection

     

     The connector discovers the hierarchy associated with the topics inside the Topics CSV file. You can now populate the hierarchy with the assets and PI points in the Topics file.

     Note: The connector performs a rediscovery every 15 seconds and add any newly discovered assets and PI points to the Topics file. You may want to use the PI Data Collection Manager to refresh the hierarchy shown in the UI and to select additional assets and PI points for data collection.

     The connector retrieves information about assets and PI points from the Topics file and populates the hierarchy in the UI.

     Note: If new assets need to be added to the Data Selection, do not select Discover Data Source Contents again within the PI Data Collection Manager UI. As the connector performs periodic rediscovery, there is no need to trigger data discovery manually again.

3. Select Select Data in the right pane under Select Data for Collection again after the initial discovery process has completed (~30 seconds).

   Any new data that comes in will be updated in the Select Data screen on a 30 second interval.

   • Select the check box next to the assets and/or PI points to select them for data collection

     Example of selected assets and /or PI points

     

Results

You have now discovered the data source contents and selected assets and PI Points for data collection.

Caution: We recommend that you do not rediscover data source contents for previously discovered data sources as doing so clears out the data selection for those previously discovered data sources. The connector will stop collecting data if you save the new contents or have the Use these selections as rules to automatically update destinations option selected. To resume the data flow, you will need to restart the connector service from the Windows Service Manager (Services.msc).