Modify the AF Application Service connect string

During an AF Server installation, the PI AF Application Service is configured to connect with the PI AF SQL Server database. For some installation scenarios, you may have to manually update the connect string in the AFService.exe.config file. If you are using a PI AF Azure SQL database, see the examples in the Modify the AFService.exe.config file.

Note: We recommend that you configure certificates for SQL Server installations. If you are unable to install certificates on SQL Server, then a self-signed certificate can be issued and trusted by updating "Trust Server Certificate=True" as shown in the following code examples.

1. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the %PIHOME64%\AF folder on the PI AF Application Service computer.

2. Use a text editor to open the PI AF Application Service configuration file, AFService.exe.config.

3. Enter the name of the remote SQL Server, and the named instance if applicable, in the connect string server.

   Code example 1

   This code example shows a modified connect string.

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

   <configuration>

   <appSettings>

   <add key="connectString" value="Data Source=<SQLName>[\SQLInstance];Initial Catalog=<PIFD>;Persist Security Info=False;User ID=af_sql_user;Password=af_sql_password;Trust Server Certificate=True;Application Name=&quot;AF Application Server&quot;" />

   Code example 2

   This code example shows syntax for a SQL Server that runs on a cluster. In this scenario, the IP address or computer name of the clustered resource is referenced.

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

   <configuration>

   <appSettings>

   <add key="connectString" value="Data Source=<SQLClusterName>[\SQLInstance];Initial Catalog=<PIFD>;Persist Security Info=False;User ID=af_sql_user;Password=af_sql_password;Trust Server Certificate=True;Application Name=&quot;AF Application Server&quot;" />

   Code example 3

   This code example shows a SQL Server that is configured to use SQL Server mirroring with Failover Partner=<SQLServerName>[\<InstanceName>] inserted after the server name.

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

   <configuration>

   <appSettings>

   <add key="connectString" value="Data Source=<SQLClusterName>[\SQLInstance];Failover Partner=<SQLServerName>[\SQLInstance];Initial Catalog=<PIFD>;Persist Security Info=False;User ID=af_sql_user;Password=af_sql_password;Trust Server Certificate=True;Application Name=&quot;AF Application Server&quot;" />

   You can modify attributes for the connect string, such as enabling encrypted communication or changing the authentication mode. For other options, see this Microsoft topic: SqlConnection.ConnectionString Property.

4. If the PI AF Application Service is running, stop and restart it for your changes to take effect.