PI System Health Review
Overview
Large PI Systems are complex and difficult to maintain, especially when it comes to managing PI Points and understanding where and how they are used. The PI System Health Review tool was created to help identify points of interest within a PI System—such as misconfigured or stale points—and to map their usage in downstream systems like Asset Framework and PI Vision. The tool can also detect references in AF and PI Vision that point to non-existent PI Points.
By finding these points and their dependencies, the tool helps ensure that changes to the PI Data Archive (such as retiring or reconfiguring points) do not inadvertently break downstream processes or displays. This proactive approach supports better system reliability and smoother maintenance.
A new version of the tool is being developed to leverage the latest AVEVA AF SDK for .NET 8 and to provide a web-based GUI for easier management and review.
Goals
- Identify Configuration Issues: Detect misconfigured and stale PI Points that need attention.
- Map Downstream Dependencies: Show where PI Points are used in Asset Framework and PI Vision, so changes can be made safely.
- Support Proactive Maintenance: Help administrators understand the impact of changes before they affect production systems.
- Modernize the Tool: Migrate to the latest SDKs and introduce a user-friendly web interface.
Challenges
- Complex Data References: Asset Framework attributes can reference PI Points in dynamic ways, making it difficult to accurately map dependencies using only SQL.
- Tooling Limitations: While PI OLEDB provides accurate data, it is outdated and being replaced. The newer RTQP engine does not offer the same level of detail, complicating the extraction of reference data.
- System Scale: Large PI Systems with many points and dependencies require efficient algorithms and interfaces to make health reviews practical and actionable.