Replacing PI System is not only about storing time-series data. Long-term PI users rely on a full ecosystem of historian storage, asset modeling, visualization, Excel reporting, calculations, events, notifications, buffering, security, and enterprise integrations.
TDengine Historian provides functional coverage for the major PI System components and workflows in one modern platform. This gives manufacturers a practical path to replace, reduce, or modernize their PI footprint without losing the core capabilities their operations teams depend on.
PI System to TDengine Historian Functional Coverage
| PI System component / workflow | What PI users rely on it for | TDengine Historian functional match |
|---|---|---|
| PI Data Archive / PI Server | Storing real-time and historical time-series data | Industrial time-series storage in TDengine Historian |
| PI Points / Tags | Managing process variables, sensor values, and calculated signals | Tag-based historian data model for equipment, measurements, and calculated metrics |
| PI Asset Framework | Asset hierarchy, templates, attributes, metadata, and contextualization | Asset model, templates, attributes, metadata, and contextualization in TDengine Historian |
| PI System Explorer | Configuring asset models, attributes, calculations, and event logic | Modeling and configuration tools inside TDengine Historian |
| PI Vision | Web-based dashboards, trends, and operational displays | Dashboards, trends, Canvas, and process visualization |
| PI ProcessBook | Legacy process graphics and operator displays | Browser-based dashboard and Canvas modernization path |
| PI DataLink | Excel-based reporting, analysis, and data retrieval | Excel access, export, and reporting workflows included with TDengine Historian |
| PI Analyses | Calculated tags, derived metrics, and operational formulas | Calculated metrics, rules, analytics, and stream processing |
| PI Event Frames | Capturing production events, downtime, batches, and abnormal conditions | Event model, event detection, event history, and event-based analysis |
| PI Notifications | Alerts based on thresholds, events, or operating conditions | Notification rules based on tags, events, calculations, and conditions |
| PI Interfaces / PI Connectors / AVEVA Adapters | Collecting data from plant systems and external sources | taosX, OPC UA, OPC DA, MQTT, PI connector, file/database connectors, and APIs |
| PI Buffer Subsystem | Local buffering during network interruptions | taosX Agent local cache and store-and-forward architecture |
| PI to PI / PI Migration | Moving or replicating data across PI environments | PI connector, historical backfill, side-by-side validation, and phased migration |
| PI Integrator for Business Analytics | Sending historian data to BI, analytics, and enterprise systems | JDBC, ODBC, REST API, exports, Tableau, Power BI, and enterprise integration |
| PI Web API / PI SDK / AF SDK | Programmatic access for applications and custom integrations | Open APIs, JDBC, ODBC, and connector-based integration |
| PI Collective / HA | High availability for production historian workloads | TDengine cluster high availability deployment |
| AVEVA CONNECT / Cloud Integration | Sharing operations data across plant, enterprise, and cloud environments | On-premises, cloud, and hybrid deployment with unified TDengine Historian architecture |
| Manual / Lab / CSV Data Workflows | Bringing offline, lab, or manually entered data into historian context | CSV/Excel import, manual data workflows, and API ingestion |
| Security and Access Control | User, role, plant, and team-level access control | User roles, permissions, and multi-site access control |
| AI and Advanced Analytics | Forecasting, anomaly detection, troubleshooting, and operational insights | AI copilot, forecasting, anomaly detection, imputation, and LLM-powered analysis |
Validate Your PI Replacement Path
Every PI environment is different. TDengine Historian provides functional coverage for the major PI System components, but customer-specific PI AF models, PI Vision displays, ProcessBook graphics, DataLink reports, calculations, event frames, and custom integrations should be reviewed during a focused PoC.
A typical PI replacement assessment can validate:
- Live data ingestion from plant systems
- Selected PI historical data migration
- Asset hierarchy and template mapping
- Dashboard and Canvas workflows
- Excel reporting workflows
- Event, alert, and calculation logic
- Local buffering and high availability
- BI, API, and enterprise integrations
- Security and user access requirements
- Total cost comparison against PI expansion or renewal
Request a PI Replacement Assessment
Share your PI tag count, PI modules, data sources, dashboards, Excel reports, and migration goals. TDengine can help map your current PI environment to a practical replacement or phased migration plan.
Request Assessment Today
