Learn about connection types for PI API and PI SDK

When you configure a PI trust, you need to know the type of connection the trust will be used for. There are two different Data Archive connection types. Each PI interface and client application is configured to use one or the other. (There are also a few interfaces that use both.) The two mechanisms are:

• PI API Connection: Most PI interfaces use the PI API to connect to the Data Archive server.

• PI SDK Connection: Most client applications use the PI SDK to connect to the Data Archive server.

The PI API and PI SDK connections both support Windows authentication, which is the most secure authentication method available for theData Archive server. We recommend that you always use Windows authentication when possible.