MS SQL Basics Tutorial: Configuring Replication

You must configure your system for replication options before performing replication, mainly including:

Published by

ORDER BY

Distributors

Distribution database

The Create publication Wizard and the Configure Publishing and distribution Wizard provided by SQL Server Enterprise Manager will make configuration work Simple, Swift.

16.2.1 Create server roles and distribution databases

Creating a server role refers to whether a server is a Publisher, distributor, or subscriber during the replication process. Because SQL Server can play one or more roles, we must specify which server is the role to play.

The distribution database (distribution) is used to store all transactions that are replicated to subscribers and to synchronize information with the Publisher and the Subscriber. There are many replication-related system tables in the distribution database. You must first create a distribution database (the system-related system tables are automatically generated) before you replicate, specifying publishers, publishing databases, distributors, and subscribers. Using SQL Server Enterprise Manager to create a distribution database consists of the following steps:

(1) Start SQL Server Enterprise Manager, and select the server that is ready to play publisher role.

(2) Select the Tools menu item on the main menu to select the Replication option in the Drop-down menu and select Configure

Publishing, Subscribers, and distribution options will pop up the Welcome to the Configure Publishing and Distribution dialog box. As shown in Figure 16-5.

(3) You can learn which replication configurations can be implemented through the wizard, click Next to continue, and then eject the Select Distributor dialog box. As shown in Figure 16-6.