Pro SQL Server 2008 Replication

Pro SQL Server 2008 Replication is for MS database developers and administrators who want to learn about the different types of replication and those best suited to SQL Server 2008. This book will also cover advanced topics like replication with heterogeneous databases, backup and recovery of replicated databases, database mirroring with replication, log shipping with replication, troubleshooting, plus optimization and tuning. Tools like tablediff, SQLCMD, DTA, SQL Profiler, and Replication Monitor will be discussed to demonstrate the different techniques used in monitoring, administering, and troubleshooting replication.

Examines the detailed configuration and the internal workings of the different replication types using real?life scenarios Covers replication with database mirroring and troubleshooting Discusses replication administration using different tools
What you?ll learn Configure hierarchical replication: snapshot, transactional and merge, and heterogeneous replication using real?life scenarios. Gain insight into the internal workings of the different replication types. Master the usage of different tools like tablediff, SQLCMD, DTA, and Replication Monitor in administering replication. Perform administration tasks such as backup and recovery, and manage replication with other high?availability techniques like database mirroring and log shipping. Conduct optimization and tuning of replicated databases. Develop troubleshooting techniques.
Who is this book for?

This book is a comprehensive guide for experienced users of SQL Server as well as new users. It also aims at familiarizing the current users of SQL Server 2005 with the new features of replication should they upgrade to SQL Server 2008. This book will delve into the basics of replication like the publisher?subscriber model, the different replication types (such as snapshot, transactional, merge, and heterogeneous), the corresponding architecture, implementation, and administration. Database administration tasks like backup and recovery, managing replication with high?availability techniques like database mirroring, log shipping with replication, and optimization of replicated databases will also be discussed. This book will benefit primarily novice and intermediate users by introducing replication and the different processes and then building on the basics to develop and address the advanced features of replication. This is a must?have companion book that will help you in developing, administering and mastering the intricacies of replication.

About the Apress Pro Series

The Apress Pro series books are practical, professional tutorials to keep you on and moving up the professional ladder.

You have gotten the job, now you need to hone your skills in these tough competitive times. The Apress Pro series expands your skills and expertise in exactly the areas you need. Master the content of a Pro book, and you will always be able to get the job done in a professional development project. Written by experts in their field, Pro series books from Apress give you the hard?won solutions to problems you will face in your professional programming career.

User review
confusing figures
I am only at chapter 2, but this book is starting to anoy me.

I trully believe that the author masters the subject, but explaining it is another job. The conceptual explanation of the Publisher/Subscriber metaphor is intertwingled with SQL Server implementation details. There is no clear separation between concepts and implementation.

But it gets worse. My impression is that the author is not a native English speaker. His message is not formulated precisely; It lacks consistent use of the words `to` and `from` and `request` and `response`. Object and subject are not crystal clear. The figures that are supposed to illustrate things are not effective and not coherent with the text. Figure 2-3, for example, tries to illustrate how publishing with a pull subscription works. The figure shows the artifacts `Publisher`, `Distributor` and `Subscriber`. Numbered arrows should depict the control flow, which is described in text. The arrow labeled `Publisher enables the subscriptions` is inside the artefact `Subscriber`. Even worse, the arrow starts at the subscription database, not at the publisher at all.

I think that readers who are new to the subject get lost by this kind of inconsistencies.
That said, there is no other book that devotes so many pages to the subject.
But don't take every word literally.

User review
Comprehensive Resource
This is one thorough reference. It begins with an introduction to distributed data, distributed data transactions, eager replication, lazy replication, replication in SQL server, and the benefits of replication.

The book then covers replication basics including the published-subscriber model, the different components of replication, physical replication models, and installing and configuring replication.

Next is a detailed chapter on the types of replication, which include snapshot replication, transactional replication, and merge replication.

Then there are several chapters on configuring snapshot generation, transactional replication, and merge replication. Each is covered with a chapter on configuring with a GUI, configuring using T - SQL, and the internals of each type of replication. Merge replication also includes a chapter on web synchronization with merge replication.

After that backup and recovery, and optimizing, are covered for each type of replication.

The book ends with a chapter on heterogeneous replication and how to connect with oracle to do replication.

There are a ton of screenshots and a lot of code. This allows you to read the book without having a computer nearby to look at the examples in full. The book also contains a lot of tables which give great snapshots of the different parts involved with replication.

There is a code download. The download includes text files for each chapter which contains the code samples for that chapter.

The book is very well organized and has a very logical flow to it. The author also has a good writing style which makes reading a book on merge replication, which usually would not be too pleasant, a very enjoyable read.

All in all I do not think there is a more comprehensive resource for information on how to accomplish replication in a real-world production environment.

I highly recommend this book to anyone involved with replication in SQL server 2008.