Microsoft® SQL Server 2012 Unleashed

What Is Replication?

Long before you ever start setting up and using SQL Server data replication, you need to have a solid grasp of what data replication is and how it can be used to meet your company’s needs. In its classic definition, data replication is based on the “store-and-forward” data distribution model, as shown in Figure 40.1. In other words, data that is inserted, updated, or deleted in one location (stored) is automatically distributed (forwarded) to one or more locations.

FIGURE 40.1 The store-and-forward data distribution model.

Of course, the data distribution model addresses all the other complexities of updates, deletes, data ...