PI Interfaces Overview
Interfaces provides high-speed links to external data sources, providing real-time data to the PI System. Interfaces consolidate data from multiple vendor control systems into a single, coordinated, information system. PI Interfaces' fault-tolerant technology keeps collecting data even if the connection to your PI system is interrupted. They will hold and automatically transmit the data back to the PI System once the connection has been re-established.
OSIsoft sells over 350 different interfaces designed for a variety of data sources, platforms, and operating systems. Interfaces are offered to these major automation vendors:
- ABB (ABB Advant, ABB Accuray, ABB Power Systems, Bailey)
- Emerson Electric (Fisher-Rosemount, Intellution)
- ESCA
- General Electric
- GSE Systems
- Honeywell (TPS, TDC3000, Measurex, PHD)
- OPC DAS (1.0a and 2.0) compliant servers
- Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley)
- Siebe Intelligent Automation (Foxboro, Wonderware)
- Schneider Automation (Modicon)
- Siemens (Moore Products)
- Westinghouse
- Yokogawa
PI Interfaces provide:
- Distributed data collection
- Continuous data collection and buffering during communication failures
- Data collection on NT, UNIX, and VMS
- OSIsoft's unified interface design (UniInt)
Many of OSI's Interfaces are "UniInt-based." UniInt is an abbreviation of “Universal Interface.” UniInt is reusable code that performs many generic functions that most interfaces need, such as establishing a connection to the PI Server node or monitoring the PI Point Database for changes. Developers commonly start with UniInt to avoid duplication of effort.
OSI provides "UniInt End User" documentation as well as interface-specific documentation. Consult the interface-specific documentation for features and system requirements.