Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Unleashed- P63:SQL Server 2005 provided a number of significant new features and enhancements over what was available in SQL Server 2000. This is not too surprising considering there was a five-year gap between these major SQL Server 2008 is not as much of a quantum leap forward from SQL Server 2005 | 564 CHAPTER 19 Replication The Distribution Database The distribution database is a special type of database installed on the distribution server. This database which is as a store-and-forward database holds all transactions waiting to be distributed to any subscribers. This database receives transactions from any published databases that have designated it as their distributor. The transactions are held here until they are sent to the subscribers successfully. After a period of time these transactions are purged from the distribution database. In some special situations the transactions might not be purged for a longer period enabling anonymous subscribers ample time to synchronize. The distribution database is the heart of the data replication facility. As you can see in Figure the distribution database has several MS tables such as MSarticles. These tables contain all the necessary information for the distribution server to fulfill the distribution role. Following are some of these tables Publisher SQL Server 2008 FIGURE Tables of the distribution database and the distribution agents. All the different publishers who will use this distribution server Stored in the MSpublisher_databases and MSpublication_access tables. The publications and articles that will be distributed Stored in the MSpublications and MSarticles tables. The complete information for all the distribution agents to perform their tasks Stored in the MSdistribution_agents table. The complete information of the executions of these agents Stored in the MSdistribution_history table. Download from Replication Agents 565 The subscribers Stored in MSsubscriber_info MSsubscriptions and other related tables. Any errors that occur during replication and synchronization states Stored in MSrepl_errors MSsync_state and related tables. The actual commands and transactions that are to be replicated Stored in the MSrepl_commands and MSrepl_transactions tables. Heterogeneous non-SQL .
