Pre-install tasks: Cloud database platforms

The following cloud database platforms are supported in PI Server 2024 R2:

• Microsoft Azure SQL Database

• Microsoft Azure Managed Instance

• Amazon RDS for SQL Server

You can use these platforms to store and manage your PI Asset Framework (AF) data. The following pre-installation tasks must be completed before installation:

1. Obtain a subscription to the Microsoft Azure or the Amazon Web Services (AWS) portal.

2. Ensure the correct permissions are granted to the account that performs the AF Server installation. See Learn about Azure SQL Database managed identities and PI AF or Pre-install tasks for Amazon RDS.

3. Azure SQL Database and Azure Managed Instance only: Identify which Microsoft Entra authentication method you will use:

   • One of the Azure managed identities supported by the PI Server 2024 install kit:

     • System-assigned

     • User-assigned

     • A different authentication method supported by Microsoft Entra. If you use a different authentication method, you must manually run the GO.bat script using the go-sqlcmd-based version of the sqlcmd utility. See Set the authentication method in GO.bat for Microsoft Azure.

       Note: If you use a system-assigned or user-assigned managed identity, make sure that the managed identity is assigned to the machine that runs the AF Server installation.

4. Note that these install tasks require different permission sets:

   • For Azure SQL Database and Azure Managed Instance: If you will create the PI AF database during installation, the Microsoft Entra ID managed identity requires dbmanager or administrator permissions.

     • Similar permissions are required when creating the PI AF database with Go.bat and using a different authentication method.

   • If the database has been created prior to installation, only dbowner permissions are needed for the managed identity used to run the PI Server install kit.

   • For Amazon RDS: SQL permissions are required by the Windows account that runs the PI Server install kit. See Pre-install tasks for Amazon RDS.

     Note: The following features are not supported if you use a cloud-managed database service to host the PI AF database: AF Collectives, backups during upgrade, PI RTQP Engine, and PI OLEDB Enterprise. SQL Server maintenance jobs can be run in cloud database platforms that support jobs. Alternatively, SQL Server maintenance jobs can be run manually using the AF Diagnostics utility. See AFDiag utility parameters.