Optimizing storage for use with AVEVA Historian

Efficient data storage helps AVEVA Historian deliver reliable performance and easier long-term maintenance. You can significantly reduce disk usage and improve query performance by configuring storage options that align with how your organization collects, retains, and analyzes data.

This topic describes practical strategies you can use to optimize Historian storage. Perform all configuration tasks by using the Operations Control Management Console.

Understand how Historian stores data

AVEVA Historian stores time-series data in a highly compressed format that is optimized for fast retrieval. Storage efficiency depends on several factors, including data update rates, value changes, and retention settings.

To optimize storage effectively, you must balance:

• Data fidelity requirements

• Expected data growth

• Retention and compliance needs

Clear expectations in these areas help you avoid unnecessary storage consumption.

Configure appropriate data collection rates

Collect data at a rate that reflects how often the value meaningfully changes.

Excessively fast collection rates increase storage usage without adding analytical value.

Guidance

• Use faster collection rates only for rapidly changing process variables.

• Use slower collection rates for static or slowly changing values.

• Avoid using the same collection rate for all tags.

Adjust collection rates in the Operations Control Management Console when you configure or edit tags.

Use deadband settings to reduce stored values

Deadband settings prevent Historian from storing small or insignificant value changes. Proper deadband configuration can dramatically reduce the number of stored samples. See Swinging door deadband for delta storage for more information.

Configure a deadband

1. Open the Operations Control Management Console.

2. Navigate to the Historian configuration area where tags are managed.

3. Locate the tag you want to modify.

4. Open the tag Configuration or Properties pane.

5. Identify the deadband configuration field (absolute or percentage).

6. Enter a deadband value that reflects the minimum meaningful change for the tag.

7. Review related settings, such as engineering units and expected value range, to ensure the deadband is appropriate.

8. Validate that the new deadband does not suppress required process changes.

9. Save the configuration.

10. Confirm that the updated settings are applied.

11. Monitor the tag after the change to verify that data is captured as expected.

Best practices

• Use absolute or percentage deadbands based on the engineering units of the tag.

• Apply tighter deadbands only where high precision is required.

• Review deadband settings periodically as process behavior changes.

Apply data retention policies

Retention policies control how long Historian keeps data before removing it. Shorter retention periods reduce storage usage and simplify maintenance.

Plan retention periods

When defining retention periods, consider:

• Regulatory or compliance requirements

• Business reporting needs

• Long-term analysis use cases

Avoid keeping high-resolution data longer than necessary.

Configure retention settings

12. Open the Operations Control Management Console.

13. Navigate to the Historian Storage or Data management configuration section.

14. Locate the Retention or Data lifecycle settings.

15. Identify the different storage tiers, such as online data and archived data.

16. Define retention periods for each tier based on business and compliance requirements.

17. Specify shorter retention periods for high-resolution or high-frequency data.

18. Configure longer retention periods only for summarized or archived data, if required.

19. Review any existing retention rules to avoid conflicts or unintended data deletion.

20. Apply the retention settings.

21. Save the configuration.

22. Verify that the system accepts the updated retention values.

23. Monitor storage usage trends after the change to confirm that retention behavior aligns with expectations.

Archive data strategically

Archiving allows you to move older data to lower-cost storage while keeping it accessible for analysis or audits.

Guidance

• Archive data that is no longer needed for day-to-day operations.

• Store archived data on storage optimized for capacity rather than performance.

• Document archive locations and retention rules for future administrators.

Monitor storage growth regularly

Regular monitoring helps you detect unexpected growth early and adjust configurations before storage becomes constrained.

Recommended actions

• Review disk usage trends on a scheduled basis.

• Identify tags with unusually high data volumes.

• Revisit collection rates, deadbands, or retention settings as needed.

Proactive monitoring reduces the risk of unplanned storage expansion.

Review storage settings during system changes

System changes can affect storage behavior.

Review Historian storage settings when you:

• Add large numbers of new tags

• Increase data collection rates

• Integrate new data sources

• Change reporting or analytics workloads

Routine reviews help ensure that storage remains aligned with current operational needs.