Database replication definition
Database replication refers to electronic copying of digital data from one digital location to another to create a distributed database. A distributed database — or a database that consists of multiple, interconnected databases — allows users to quickly access the data relevant to their tasks. Database replication also helps companies to recover from system failures more easily because the data is stored in multiple locations.
See also: data backup
How database replication works
- Database replication is copying data from one database to another (either at intervals or real-time).
- First, you need to identify the source database — the database that contains the original data that needs to be replicated.
- The second step is identifying the target database — the database that will receive the replicated data.
- Then, a replication method is chosen (e.g., multi-master replication, snapshot replication).
- The next step involves configuring the replication settings, such as specifying the frequency and direction.
- The necessary connections between the source and target databases are set up and the replication process is initiated.
- The target database is updated with the replicated data.
- Any errors that occur during the replication process are handled promptly via reconfiguring the settings or troubleshooting.
Benefits of database replication
- Improved data availability
- Quick recovery from system failures
- Prevention of data loss
- Increased business scalability
