What is replication?
December 11 2006 08:00:00 PM
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Replication is one of the most important, yet least understood features of Lotus Notes/Domino. Over a series of tips, I will explain replication, starting with a basic overview, work up to some of the more advanced features you should understand.
First let's begin with a definition. Replication is the process of keeping databases synchronized. That applies to both the design (the look and colours, the forms you fill out, the views that display the documents, the security, etc), and the information (documents) inside the databases.
So what does that mean?
Think of one of the Lotus Notes databases you use at your company. Maybe a HelpDesk application, or Customer Relationship Tracking, or a Document Library. That database most likely resides on more than one server in your company. Perhaps employees in Canada access it on Server A, while employees in France access it on Server B, Germany uses Server C, and people in Japan use Server D. You want everyone to see the same information. So when you create a new document in that database, or edit (update) and existing document, or even delete a document, replication is the Domino process that makes sure those changes are also reflected in the other databases.
Replication occurs on a schedule that your Domino Administrators set-up. For important databases this schedule maybe frequent, such as every 10 minutes, or 5,or even 1. Other databases which are not as "time sensitive" may replicate only once a day.
In the next tip, I will explain "Local Replication", the process which allows you to access Lotus Notes databases on your computer, instead of on a server.
First let's begin with a definition. Replication is the process of keeping databases synchronized. That applies to both the design (the look and colours, the forms you fill out, the views that display the documents, the security, etc), and the information (documents) inside the databases.
So what does that mean?
Think of one of the Lotus Notes databases you use at your company. Maybe a HelpDesk application, or Customer Relationship Tracking, or a Document Library. That database most likely resides on more than one server in your company. Perhaps employees in Canada access it on Server A, while employees in France access it on Server B, Germany uses Server C, and people in Japan use Server D. You want everyone to see the same information. So when you create a new document in that database, or edit (update) and existing document, or even delete a document, replication is the Domino process that makes sure those changes are also reflected in the other databases.
Replication occurs on a schedule that your Domino Administrators set-up. For important databases this schedule maybe frequent, such as every 10 minutes, or 5,or even 1. Other databases which are not as "time sensitive" may replicate only once a day.
In the next tip, I will explain "Local Replication", the process which allows you to access Lotus Notes databases on your computer, instead of on a server.
