Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2008 All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies®

VIII.5.4. Replicating between Hosts

Replication between hosts is grouped into two categories:

• Between server and clients: Replication between server and clients can be from the server to the clients or from the clients to the server. It's often done to exchange data with mobile users or point-of-sale applications.

• Between servers and servers: Data is replicated in one or more servers either for data integration or for offloading processing.

VIII.5.4.1. Replicating between servers and clients

When replicating data between servers and clients, the clients can fill any of several roles. For example, clients can be desktop computers, laptops, tablets, or other portable devices.

Some of the scenarios where data can be replicated between servers and clients are

• Exchanging data with mobile users: As an example, Darril's father used to sell and deliver bread and similar products to grocery stores (he called it "peddling bread"). He had a handheld client device he'd take into the stores to create the store's order based on what they needed (and what the device showed he had in the truck). He'd plug it into a printer in his truck to print invoices. On a nightly basis, he would connect his client device to the company computer via a dial-up line. It would upload current sales data and download the next days order. Of course, hundreds or more other "bread peddlers" were also doing the same thing.

• Point-of-sale applications: The day of the simple cash register is long gone. Instead, point-of-sale ...