Operators, engineers, managers, and other plant personnel can use client applications to connect to the PI Server to view data stored in the PI Server or in external data archive systems. The PI Server may be connected to almost any existing automation, lab, or information system. The PI Server also includes tools for analytics, alerts, and auditing.

The PI Data Archive collects, stores, and organizes data from data sources, providing an information infrastructure. They have also proposed providing a high-speed fiber-optic network for the industrial corridor in nearby Hayward. Lit San Leandro, a business associated with OSIsoft, has built a fiber-optic network in the city of San Leandro, linking high tech and other businesses. On January 5, 2011, OSIsoft announced a $135 million minority investment by Technology Crossover Ventures and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Optimizing the utilization or performance of a production line.

Determining when maintenance is required on equipment.Comparing the performance of different lots of raw material.Determining if utilities are meeting the demands of production.Users can then access this information using a common set of tools (such as Microsoft Excel, web browser, or PI ProcessBook) and look for correlations. Most information is gathered using one of the many OSIsoft and third-party PI Interfaces. The PI System refers to all OSIsoft software products whereas the PI Server is the core product of the PI System.ĭata can be automatically collected from many sources (control systems, lab equipment, calculations, manual entry or custom software). The term PI System is often used to refer to the PI Server but the two are not the same. It is marketed as an enterprise infrastructure for management of real-time data and events. The PI System is a suite of software products that are used for data collection, historicizing, finding, analyzing, delivering, and visualizing. OSIsoft's target markets include oil and gas chemicals and petrochemicals materials, mines, metals, and metallurgy power and utilities pulp and paper pharmaceuticals, food, and life sciences critical facilities, data centers and IT and federal. OSIsoft develops and supports software used to capture, process, analyze, and store any form of real-time data.

Osisoft datalink users guide