Learn about the Data Archive element

AF Link synchronizes PI MDB with the content under the specified Data Archive element in PI AF. The Data Archive element designates the portion of a PI AF database that is synchronized with PI MDB. Any content in PI AF that is outside a Data Archive element is not synchronized with PI MDB. (There are a few configuration modules that are not synchronized with PI AF. See Understand what is not migrated from PI MDB to PI AF).

PI MDB contents synchronized under Data Archive element

This diagram shows the content of PI MDB on a Data Archive server called PI_Server3 with the corresponding Data Archive element in PI AF. Only the highlighted content is synchronized between the two.

A single PI AF server can be synchronized with multiple Data Archive servers. Each Data Archive server that is synchronized with PI AF has its own corresponding Data Archive element in PI AF. The PI AF content under each Data Archive element is synchronized only with PI MDB on the corresponding Data Archive server, as indicated in the following illustration.

One PI AF server synchronized with multiple Data Archive servers

When multiple Data Archive servers are synchronized with a single PI AF server, it is important to choose descriptive names for each Data Archive element. For example, in the preceding illustration, the Data Archive elements are called PI_Server1 ModuleDB, PI_Server2 ModuleDB, and PI_Server3 ModuleDB.