Replication

Replication is a very complex and in depth process that has always been an advancec topic in the database field. Due to space limitations, this chapter will only seek to give you an overview of replication and the process of setting up replication. This chapter also utilizes a single server to replicate data between two databases. When first attempting replication, it is highly recommended that you use this approach. Confing your initial testing to a single server elimiates any connectivity or latecy problems that could cause failures. It also gives a very controlled environment to to learn replication in.

Replication is now starting to creep more into the mainstream at companies. This is mainly due to the fact that systems are getting larger, more specialized, and more disbursed. As systems get more disbursed, there is also becoming a greater need for centralized analysis and reporting in order to "see the big picture". Replication is an excellent tool to support this.

Prior to version 7.0, the replication features of SQL Server were barely adequate. This made for extremely difficult and work intensive administration to keep the systems running smoothly. Additionally, many of the types of replication that companies wanted to do were not possible or extremely difficult to implement.

The process for setting up replication is fairly straightforward. Microsoft has provided a very simple wizard that walks you through the entrie set up process. Don’t be fooled by the simple face placed on replication. The decisions that you make during the set up process will have wide reaching effects on your systems and data.

Terminology

Replication also used a specialized vocabulary to describe the process. In order to beter understand the remainder of this chapter, those terms are defined here.

Replication

The process whereby data is copied from one server to another or from one database to another.

Topology

The business diagram describing the way data flows through the system.

Publisher

The server or database that sends its data to another server or database.

Subscriber

The server or database that receives data from another server or database.

Distributor

The server that manages the flow of data through the replication system. This is the server that contains the distribution database.

Publication

The group of data that is sent to a subscriber server or database. A publication consists of one or more articles.

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