How Replication Server Works

Replication Server distributes data over a network by managing replicated transactions while retaining transaction integrity across the network.

It also provides application developers and system administrators with a flexible publish-and-subscribe model for marking data and stored procedures to be replicated.

A Replication Server at each primary or replicate site coordinates the data replication activities for the local data servers and exchanges data with Replication Servers at other sites.

A Replication Server:

Receives transactions from primary databases through Replication Agents and distributes them to sites with subscriptions for the data
Receives transactions from other Replication Servers and applies them to local databases

Replication Server system tables store the information needed to accomplish these tasks. The system tables include descriptions of the replicated data and the following replication objects:

Replication definitions and subscriptions
Security records for Replication Server users
Routing information for other sites
Access methods for local databases
Other administrative information

Replication Server system tables are stored in a database called the Replication Server System Database (RSSD).

To manage replication information in Replication Server, use Replication Command Language (RCL). You can execute RCL commands, which resemble SQL commands, on Replication Server using isql, the Sybase interactive SQL utility. For a complete reference for RCL, see the Replication Server Reference Manual.