SQL Server replication, a software package included in Microsoft SQL Server, is used to move data from server to server in a transitionally consistent state from one instance to another.
SQL Server replication can
Replication topology
Replication topology consists of three servers – the subscriber, publisher and distributor. The subscribers are the servers receiving the data. The publisher is the server that holds the initial set of data being made available to the subscribers. The distributor is the server that contains many of the settings. It also holds the data as it is moved from the publisher to the subscribers.
There are three different replication techniques available. They are snapshot replication, merge replication and transactional replication.
Snapshot replication is a single unidirectional push of data. When updated data is fed from the publisher to the subscribers, all of the data is sent each time.
Merge replication is a bidirectional replication that transmits data either in real time, or on a schedule. Merge replication is the only bidirectional replication technique available.
Transactional replication is unidirectional from the publisher to the subscribers. Data can