A Guide to SQL Server 2000 Transactional and Snapshot Replication by Cotter, Hilary (2004) Paperback

Having dealt with DB2 and Oracle databases for years I wasn't too worried when I suddenly "inherited" 40 SQL Servers. However I was not prepared for intricacies of bi-directional replication running over a cross country network! I wish I had this book back then to lessen the learning curve. This book is all that one needs to take on transactional and snapshot replication. Everything is in one place and organized in a logical manner. For anyone getting involved in MSSQL replication, this is the book that you need. Trust me on this.

A book dedicated to all aspects of SQL Server replication is long overdue. I was excited to learn that one finally existed and asked several Microsoft Support Engineers who work with replication daily if they knew about it. I received one particularly enthusiastic response and almost immediately afterward ordered Cotter's book. I have not been disappointed. Many DBA reference books are designed to let you read just a few relevant paragraphs. That's possible here too, but you will also want to read entire chapters for the most solid foundation on replication. I eagerly await the next book on merge replication.

This book is the only choice for a reference on replication -- and not just because it's literally the only book available, but also because Cotter has jammed it full of information. This book covers every aspect of transactional and snapshot replication, from basics all the way through to deep internals. Cotter leaves few, if any, issues uncovered. For replication beginners -- like me -- this book is certainly not an easy read. Replication has a steep learning curve, with lots of new terminology to learn. And it's a huge topic -- this book can only be fairly described as a tome. However, Cotter's casual writing style helps the reader get comfortable with replication quickly and easily. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to successfully work with replication.

I have been waiting for a SQL Server replication book for the last few years and was excited to get hold of one of the first copies. Replication has been crying out for a comprehensive manual and finally we now have one. Firstly, it's a big tome - almost 1000 pages. If you've used replication before this'll be no surprise, as it is a deceptively 'wide' subject that really requires this size of book to do it justice. There are plenty of screenshots throughout the book to help guide newcomers and the first 5 chapters should take a complete beginner and make him more than proficient in planning and implementing snapshot and transactional replication. Some of this info is also in the microsoft help guide (Books On Line, BOL) but much is not - especially replication to other database systems, and many generally useful little tips. Later chapters concentrate on programming, replication internals and troubleshooting - valuable topics which IMHO need to be understood if you want to successfully support replication, and again topics which neither BOL nor on the net are really adequately covered. So, if you're thinking of getting involved with replication or even if you've been using it for some time - either way I'd definitely recommend getting this book.

This is a great book, jam-packed with information that's either tough to find, or doesn't exist, in Microsoft's documentation. I liked that the author delved through the basics, and then showed the pros and cons of each approach (SPs, DMO, ActiveX). He also documented Microsoft's replication system procedures much better than they ever could, and explained some of the caveats that they conveniently leave out. Probably not a book you would read straight through in a single evening, but if you are involved with replication, this is the one book I think you need to have by your side.