Sybase® Replication Server® maintains replicated data at multiple sites on a network. Organizations with geographically distant sites can use Replication Server to create distributed database applications with better performance and data availability than a centralized database system can provide.
This book, Replication Server Administration Guide, provides an overview of how Replication Server works, and describes Replication Server administrative tasks.
The Replication Server Administration Guide is for replication system administrators, who manage the routine operation of their Replication Servers. Any user who has been granted the sa permission can be a replication system administrator, although each Replication Server usually has just one.
This book contains the following chapters:
Chapter 1, “Introduction” introduces you to Replication Server, describing the role it plays in a distributed database system and its concepts and components.
Chapter 2, “Replication Server Technical Overview” provides a technical overview of the replication system, giving you the background necessary to maintain and troubleshoot the system.
Chapter 3, “Managing Replication Server with Sybase Central” describes using Sybase Central’s Replication Manager plug-in, which is a graphical tool for managing Replication Server.
Chapter 4, “Managing a Replication System” describes basic operations such as starting, stopping, and configuring Replication Server.
Chapter 5, “Managing RepAgent and Supporting Adaptive Server,” describes Replication Server support for Adaptive Server features, and how to set up, configure, and manage RepAgent.
Chapter 6, “Managing Routes” describes how to create and manage routes between source and destination Replication Servers.
Chapter 7, “Managing Database Connections” describes how to prepare databases for replication and how to create and manage connections between databases and Replication Servers.
Chapter 8, “Managing Replication Server Security” describes how to create and modify login names, passwords, and permissions and how to set up network-based security.
Chapter 9, “Managing Replicated Tables” describes how to set up and manage replicated tables.
Chapter 10, “Managing Replicated Functions” describes how to copy the execution of user stored procedures to remote sites in a replication system using replication definitions.
Chapter 11, “Managing Subscriptions” describes how to create and manage subscriptions, which allow Replication Server to replicate data between databases.
Chapter 12, “Managing Replicated Objects Using Multisite Availability,” describes how to create and manage database replication definitions and database subscriptions.
Chapter 13, “Scheduling Replication Tasks,” describes how to schedule replication tasks and how to delay replication by a fixed period of time.
Volume 2 of the System Administration Guide contains these chapters:
Chapter 1, “Verifying and Monitoring Replication Server” describes checking error logs, verifying that the components of a replication system are running, and monitoring the status of system components and processes.
Chapter 2, “Customizing Database Operations” describes how to use functions, function strings, and function-string classes to customize data replication with Adaptive Server® Enterprise and data servers from other vendors.
Chapter 3, “Managing Warm Standby Applications” describes how to create and manage warm standby applications.
Chapter 4, “Performance Tuning” describes how to manage resources effectively and optimize the performance of individual Replication Servers.
Chapter 5, “Using Counters to Monitor Performance” describes Replication Server counters and how to use them.
Chapter 6, “Handling Errors and Exceptions” discusses error conditions and failed transactions and how to customize data server responses to errors.
Chapter 7, “Replication System Recovery” describes replication system failure conditions and provides procedures for recovering from them, including database resynchronization.
Appendix A, “Asynchronous Procedures” describes a method for replicating stored procedures associated with table replication definitions.
Appendix B, “High Availability on Sun Cluster 2.2,” provides background and procedures for configuring Sybase Replication Server for high availability (HA) on Sun Cluster 2.2.
Appendix C, “Pre-15.1 Request Function Replication” provides information about request function replications with versions earlier than 15.1.
Appendix D, “Implementing a Reference Replication Environment” describes the functions and processes to quickly build a reference replication environment.
The Sybase Replication Server documentation set consists of:
The release bulletin for your platform – contains last-minute information that was too late to be included in the books.
A more recent version of the release bulletin may be available on the World Wide Web. To check for critical product or document information that was added after the release of the product CD, use the Sybase Product Manuals.
Installation Guide for your platform – describes installation and upgrade procedures for all Replication Server and related products.
Configuration Guide for your platform – describes configuration procedures for Replication Server and related products.
Getting Started with Replication Server – provides step-by-step instructions for installing and setting up a simple replication system.
New Features Guide – describes the new features in Replication Server.
Administration Guide (this book) – contains an introduction to replication systems. This manual includes information and guidelines for creating and managing a replication system, setting up security, recovering from system failures, and improving performance.
ASE-to-ASE Replication Quick Start Guide – provides information for Adaptive Server users who want to set up a Replication Server to replicate data from one Adaptive Server database to another.
Design Guide – contains information about designing a replication system and integrating heterogeneous data servers into a replication system.
Heterogeneous Replication Guide and the Replication Server Options documentation set – describes how to use Replication Server to replicate data between databases supplied by different vendors.
Reference Manual – contains the syntax and detailed descriptions of Replication Server commands in the Replication Command Language (RCL); Replication Server system functions; Sybase Adaptive Server commands, system procedures, and stored procedures used with Replication Server; Replication Server executable programs; and Replication Server system tables.
System Tables Diagram – illustrates system tables and their entity relationships in a poster format. Available only in print version.
Troubleshooting Guide – contains information to aid in diagnosing and correcting problems in the replication system.
Replication Manager plug-in help, which contains information about using Sybase Central™ to manage Replication Server.
Use the Sybase Getting Started CD and the Sybase Product Manuals Web site to learn more about your product:
The Getting Started CD is included with your software and contains release bulletins, installation guides in PDF format, and other documents or updated information. To read or print documents on the Getting Started CD, you need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download at no charge from the Adobe Web site using a link provided on the CD.
You can also access the documents available on the Getting Started CD from the Sybase Product Manuals Web site.
The Sybase Product Manuals Web site, which can be accessed using a standard Web browser, includes the Replication Server documents that are not included in the Getting Started CD. In addition to product manuals, you will find links to EBFs/Maintenance, Technical Documents, Case Management, Solved Cases, newsgroups, and the Sybase Developer Network.
To access the Sybase Product Manuals Web site, go to Product Manuals.
Technical documentation at the Sybase Web site is updated frequently.
Finding the latest information on product certifications
Point your Web browser to Technical Documents.
Click Partner Certification Report.
In the Partner Certification Report filter select a product, platform, and timeframe and then click Go.
Click a Partner Certification Report title to display the report.
Finding
the latest information on component certifications
Point your Web browser to Availability and Certification Reports.
Either select the product family and product under Search by Base Product; or select the platform and product under Search by Platform.
Select Search to display the availability and certification report for the selection.
Creating
a personalized view of the Sybase Web site (including support pages)
Set up a MySybase profile. MySybase is a free service that allows you to create a personalized view of Sybase Web pages.
Point your Web browser to Technical Documents.
Click MySybase and create a MySybase profile.
Finding the latest information on EBFs and software
maintenance
Point your Web browser to the Sybase Support Page.
Select EBFs/Maintenance. If prompted, enter your MySybase user name and password.
Select a product.
Specify a time frame and click Go. A list of EBF/Maintenance releases is displayed.
Padlock icons indicate that you do not have download authorization for certain EBF/Maintenance releases because you are not registered as a Technical Support Contact. If you have not registered, but have valid information provided by your Sybase representative or through your support contract, click Edit Roles to add the “Technical Support Contact” role to your MySybase profile.
Click the Info icon to display the EBF/Maintenance report, or click the product description to download the software.
This section describes the style and syntax conventions, RCL command formatting conventions, and icons used in this book.
Style conventions Syntax statements that display the syntax and options for a command are printed as follows:
alter user user set password new_passwd [verify password old_passwd]
See “Syntax conventions” for more information.
Examples that show the use of Replication Server commands are printed as follows:
alter user louise set password somNIfic verify password EnnuI
Command names, command option names, program names, program flags, keywords, functions, and stored procedures are printed as follows:
Use alter user to change the password for a login name.
Variables, parameters, and user-supplied words are in italics in syntax and in paragraph text, as follows:
The set password new_passwd clause specifies a new password.
Names of database objects such as databases, tables, columns, and datatypes, are in italics in paragraph text, as follows:
The base_price column in the Items table is a money datatype.
Names of replication objects, such as function-string classes, error classes, replication definitions, and subscriptions, are in italics.
Syntax conventions Syntax formatting conventions are summarized in the following table. Examples combining these elements follow.
Key |
Definition |
|---|---|
{ }
|
Curly braces mean you must choose at least one of the enclosed options. Do not include braces in the command. |
[ ]
|
Brackets mean you may choose or omit enclosed options. Do not include brackets in the command. |
|
|
Vertical bars mean you may choose no more than one option (enclosed in braces or brackets). |
,
|
Commas mean you may choose as many options as you need (enclosed in braces or brackets). Separate your choices with commas, to be typed as part of the command. Commas may also be required in other syntax contexts. |
( )
|
Parentheses are to be typed as part of the command. |
... |
An ellipsis (three dots) means you may repeat the last unit as many times as you need. Do not include ellipses in the command. |
Curly braces and vertical bars – choose only one option.
{red | yellow | blue}
Curly braces and commas – choose one or more options. If you choose more than one, separate your choices with commas.
{cash, check, credit}
One item in square brackets – choose it or omit it.
[anchovies]
Square brackets and vertical bars – choose none or only one.
[beans | rice | sweet_potatoes]
Square brackets and commas – choose none, one, or more options. If you choose more than one, separate your choices with commas.
[extra_cheese, avocados, sour_cream]
An ellipsis (...) means that you may repeat the last unit as many times as necessary. For the alter replication definition command, for example, you can list one or more columns and their datatypes for the add clause or the add searchable columns clause:
alter replication definition replication_definition
{add column datatype [, column datatype]... |
add searchable columns column [, column]... |
replicate {minimal | all} columns}
RCL commands are similar to Transact-SQL® commands. The following sections present the formatting rules.
You can break a line anywhere except in the middle of a keyword or an identifier. You can continue a character string on the next line by typing a backslash (\) at the end of the line.
Extra spaces are ignored, except after a backslash. Do not enter any spaces after a backslash.
You can enter more than one command in a batch unless otherwise instructed.
RCL commands are not transactional. Each command is executed independently and is not affected by the completion status of other commands in the batch. However, syntax errors in a command prevent Replication Server from executing subsequent commands in a batch.
Keywords in RCL commands are not case sensitive. You can enter them in any combination of uppercase or lowercase letters.
Case sensitivity in identifiers and character data depends on the sort order that is in effect.
If you use a case-sensitive sort order such as “binary,” you must enter identifiers and character data in the correct combination of uppercase and lowercase letters.
If you use a sort order that is not case sensitive, such as “nocase,” you can enter identifiers and character data in any combination of uppercase or lowercase letters.
Identifiers are names you give to servers, databases, variables, parameters, database objects, and replication objects. Database object names include names for tables, columns, and views. Replication object names include names for replication definitions, subscriptions, functions, and publications.
Identifiers can be 1 – 255 bytes long (equivalent to 1 – 255 single-byte characters) and must begin with a letter, the @ sign, or the _ character. See “Support for longer identifiers” for a list of identifiers that have been extended to 255 bytes.
Replication Server function parameters are the only identifiers that can begin with the @ character. Function parameter names can include 255 characters after the @ character.
After the first character, identifiers can include letters, digits, and the #, $, or _ characters. Spaces are not allowed.
Parameters in function strings have the same rules as identifiers, except that:
They are enclosed in question marks (?). This allows Replication Server to locate them in the function string. Use two consecutive question marks (??) to represent a literal question mark in a function string.
The exclamation point (!) introduces a parameter modifier that indicates the source of the data to be substituted for a parameter at runtime. Refer to the Replication Server Reference Manual for a list of modifiers.
Data support Replication Server supports all Adaptive Server datatypes.
User-defined datatypes are not supported. The double precision, nchar, and nvarchar datatypes are indirectly supported; they are mapped to other datatypes.
For more information about the supported datatypes, including how to format them, see “Datatypes,” in Chapter 2, “Topics” of the Replication Server Reference Manual.
In this book, Replication Agent is the generic term used for describing the Replication Agent for Adaptive Server® Enterprise, Oracle, IBM DB2 UDB, and Microsoft SQL Server. The specific names are:
RepAgent – Replication Agent thread for Adaptive Server Enterprise
Replication Agent for ODBC – Replication Agent for IBM DB2 and Microsoft SQL Server
Replication Agent for Oracle – Replication Agent for Oracle
Illustrations in this book use icons to represent the components of a replication system.
Description |
|
|---|---|
 |
This icon represents Replication Server, the Sybase server program maintains replicated data on a local-area network (LAN) and processes data transactions received from other Replication Servers on wide-area network (WAN). |
 |
This icon represents Adaptive Server, the Sybase data server. Data servers manage databases containing primary or replicated data. Replication Server also works with heterogeneous data servers, so, unless otherwise noted, this icon can represent any data server in a replication system. |
 |
This icon represents Replication Agent™, a replication system process or module that transfers transaction log information for primary database to a Replication Server. The Replication Agent for Adaptive Server is RepAgent. Sybase provides Replication Agent products for Adaptive Server® Anywhere, DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle data servers. Except for RepAgent, which is an Adaptive Server thread, all Replication Agents are separate processes. In general, this icon only appears when representing a Replication Agent that is a separate process. |
 |
This icon represents client application. A client application is a user process or application connected to a data server. It may be a front-end application program executed by a user or a program that executes as an extension of the system. |
 |
This icon represents the Sybase Central Replication Manager plug-in (RM), a management utility that lets a replication system administrator develop, manage, and monitor a Sybase Replication Server environment. |
This document is available in an HTML version that is specialized for accessibility. You can navigate the HTML with an adaptive technology such as a screen reader, or view it with a screen enlarger.
Replication Server HTML documentation has been tested for compliance with U.S. government Section 508 Accessibility requirements. Documents that comply with Section 508 generally also meet non-U.S. accessibility guidelines, such as the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) guidelines for Web sites.
You might need to configure your accessibility tool
for optimal use. Some screen readers pronounce text based on its
case; for example, they pronounce ALL UPPERCASE TEXT as initials,
and MixedCase Text as words. You might find it helpful to configure
your tool to announce syntax conventions. Consult the documentation
for your tool.
For information about how Sybase supports accessibility, see Sybase Accessibility. The Sybase Accessibility site includes links to information on Section 508 and W3C standards.
Each Sybase installation that has purchased a support contract has one or more designated people who are authorized to contact Sybase Technical Support. If you cannot resolve a problem using the manuals or online help, please have the designated person contact Sybase Technical Support or the Sybase subsidiary in your area.
