Pre-migration tasks for Microsoft Azure

The following tasks must be performed before you can migrate your PI AF database(s) to Azure SQL Database or Azure Managed Instance:

1. Upgrade the current AF Server to AF Server 2024. See PI AF server upgrade.

2. Set up the PI AF database and its schema on on the cloud platform using one of the following options:

   • On a separate machine, run the PI Server 2024 install kit and follow the steps to select your cloud database instance. See Install PI AF server components together.

   • Run the GO.bat script to create the PI AF database (PIFD) and its schema on the cloud instance and then restart the PI AF Application service and any client applications that point to the on-prem PI AF SQL Server database.

     Tip: For help on running GO.BAT, enter GO.bat /? at a command prompt window. See also Set the authentication method in GO.bat for Microsoft Azure.

3. Grant the required permissions to the user account that will connect from the AF application service to the on-prem SQL Server. See SQL Server roles and permissions for PI AF.

4. Select the tool to use for the migration:

   1. Azure SQL migration extension for Azure Data Studio: Provides a user interface that walks you through the migration process.

   2. Azure Command Line Interface (CLI): A cross-platform tool that allows you to manage and create Azure resources via the command line.

   3. Windows PowerShell: A cross-platform task automation solution that has its own command-line shell, scripting language, and configuration management framework.