Manage connection preferences for PI System Explorer

Use the Server Options window to define how PI System Explorer should connect to a PI AF collective or Data Archive collective, whether login prompts are allowed, and if you want servers to be added to the Known Servers Table automatically.

1. In PI System Explorer, choose Tools > Options > Server Options.

2. In the PI AF Server Connection Settings in PI System Explorer section, define how PI System Explorer should connect to the PI AF server:

   Setting	Description
   Connection preference	Use this preference to influence the selection of a collective member when a connection is made to a PI AF collective. Prefer Primary PI System Explorer attempts to connect with the primary server in the collective, and if it is not available, uses the individual priority settings of the collective member to influence selection of the server connection. This is the default setting. Require Primary PI System Explorer is required to connect with the primary server in the collective. If the primary server is not available, the connection fails. Any PI System Explorer can connect with any available member of the collective, and uses the individual priority settings of the collective member to influence selection of the server connection.
   Server name resolution behavior	Use this preference to inform PI System Explorer what action to perform when it attempts to communicate with one or more PI AF servers that are not in the Known Servers Table. Auto Add Adds a server to the Known Servers Table automatically if the computer name is valid and PI System Explorer can find the server's computer name on the network. Auto Add If Resolvable Adds a server to the Known Servers Table only when the server name is successfully resolved by a DNS server. Do Not Auto Add Makes no attempt to find a server if it cannot be found in the existing collective.
   Allow login prompt	Select this option if you want a login prompt to appear when a connection to the server fails because of a security exception.

3. In the PI Data Archive Connection Settings in PI System Explorer section, define how PI System Explorer should connect to Data Archive:

   Setting	Description
   Connection preference	This preference is used to influence the selection of a collective member when a connection is made to a Data Archive collective. Prefer Primary PI System Explorer attempts to connect with the primary server in the collective, and if it is not available, uses the individual priority settings of the collective member to influence selection of the server connection. This is the default setting. Require Primary PI System Explorer is required to connect with the primary server in the collective. If the primary server is not available, the connection fails. Any PI System Explorer can connect with any available member of the collective, and uses the individual priority settings of the collective member to influence selection of the server connection.
   Server name resolution behavior	Use this preference to inform PI System Explorer what action to perform when it attempts to communicate with one or more PI Data Archive servers that are not in the Known Servers Table. Auto Add Adds a server to the Known Servers Table automatically if the computer name is valid and PI System Explorer can find the server's computer name on the network. Auto Add If Resolvable Adds a server to the Known Servers Table only when the server name is successfully resolved by a DNS server. Do Not Auto Add Makes no attempt to find a server if it cannot be found in the existing collective.

4. In Protocols in the PI Data Archive Connection Settings section, set the authentication protocols and the order in which they are used when connections are attempted to known servers.

   PI System Explorer attempts to connect using the first protocol listed. If the first attempt fails, it continues attempting to connect using the other protocol in the list (if selected). If attempts using all protocols fail and Allow login prompt is selected, the PI Data Archive Login window is displayed.

   1. To establish the order used when connecting to a server, use the arrows button to move protocols.

   2. Select the Allow login prompt option if you want a login prompt to be displayed when a connection to the server fails because of a security exception.

5. Click OK.