
	Home > Ask the SQL Server Experts > Archive: Performance Tuning Questions & Answers > Merge replication to keep SQL Server databases in sync

Ask The SQL Server Expert: Questions & Answers

EMAIL THIS

Merge replication to keep SQL Server databases in sync

EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Denny Cherry

		Pose a Question

		Other SQL Server Categories

		Meet all SQL Server Experts
		Become an Expert for this site

Expert advice on database administration

Digg This! StumbleUpon Del.icio.us

QUESTION POSED ON: 10 December 2007
I have a number of tool vending machines all connected to a SQL Server database to record stock levels and transactions. One of these vending machines is connecting to the SQL Server database through an ADSL link and is constantly experiencing loss of connection between it and the database.
What I've been thinking is to host a copy of the database on the vending machine using the ADSL link and then having the two databases do a two-way sync every couple of hours. My problem is due to my lack of knowledge and experience with SQL Server databases.

The idea of having a local database that syncs when scheduled is to minimize the WAN connectivity issues. What's the best way to proceed?

Based on the information you provided, it sounds like merge replication will be a good solution to help you resolve your issue.

When setting up the articles within the publication, I would recommend filtering any large tables to download only records which are used by this specific vending machine. This will help you reduce your network traffic to this vending machine. You can then schedule the merge to take place on a schedule, so changes are replicated between the two databases. If records are updated at each database, you'll need to be careful when setting up your conflict resolution so that you can keep an accurate inventory.

Check out this helpful tip:

How merge replication works
Find out exactly how merge replication works in this tip, the first in a three-part series by contributor Hilary Cotter.

Digg This!

StumbleUpon

Del.icio.us

RELATED CONTENT

	Archive: Performance Tuning
	Upgrading to SQL Server 2008 advantages and hardware requirements
	Tool to synchronize two SQL Server databases
	Performance tuning for SQL Server 2005 and Exchange running on SBS
	SQL Server tools don't appear in menu after SQL Server 2005 install
	Use SQL Profiler to find long running stored procedures and commands
	Maintain large SQL Server database and resolve website 'Timeout Error'
	How to retrieve SQL Server database disk space in use
	Troubleshoot SQL Server 2005 temporary table performance problems
	View query execution plan in SQL Server with this method
	Adding non-clustered indexes to SQL Server columns

SQL Server High Availability, Scalability and Reliability

SQL Server high availability: Options and caveats

High availability and the database

Are data warehouses made for the cloud?

Top load balancing methods for SQL Server

Maintaining high availability of SQL Server virtual machines

Creating fault-tolerant SQL Server installations

Scaling up vs. scaling out with SQL Server 2008

How to configure storage in SQL Server database with more writes than reads

SQL Server database replication tutorial

Licensing a standby server for SQL Server replication

SQL Server High Availability, Scalability and Reliability Research

RELATED RESOURCES

2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems

Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts

Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary

Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
Search and browse more than 25,000 question and answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.

Browse our Expert Advice
Operating Systems IT Management Networking Database	Security Servers and Storage Applications and Development Career Center

SQL Solutions - SQL Database Design

SEARCH

TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.


TechTarget Corporate Web Site \| Media Kits \| Site Map All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2005 - 2009, TechTarget \| Read our Privacy Policy