Prepare to create a PI AF collective

Before you begin creating a PI AF collective, follow these steps:

1. Make sure that you meet all general collective creation requirements:

   • See Configuration requirements.

   • See Port requirements.

   • See SQL Server requirements.

   • See Security requirements.

2. Make sure that PI AF server is installed on each member of the collective.

   A single instance of PI AF server consists of the PI AF application service and the PI AF SQL database. These components may be installed on separate machines.

   This means that at least two complete PI AF server systems must be installed. This could be two machines (PI AF application service and PI AF SQL database installed on both machines), or four machines (two machines with PI AF application service only, and two machines with PI AF SQL database only).

3. Make a full backup of the PI AF SQL database, typically named PIFD.

   We highly recommend that you make regular backups of SQL Server data, especially on the primary server. The PI AF installation process creates a SQL Server backup job that is scheduled to run by SQL Server Agent. Make sure you copy these backups to media other than the media that contains the data.

4. Verify that TCP/IP and Named Pipes are enabled on all SQL Server computers for the correct instance. Run SQL Server Configuration Manager, choose your instance, and verify that the correct protocols are enabled.

5. Make sure the SQL Agent service is running on the primary SQL Server computer.

6. All computers upon which the PI AF application service runs must be in a domain. Check the domain for each computer:

   1. Click Start and right-click Computer.

   2. Select Properties to view workgroup and domain settings.