Hi

We have a new system that runs on SQL Server 2008 r2 64-bit. There is a primary on-line transactional processing (OLTP) database that accepts a high volume of updates from several thousand Point of Sale systems at stores around the country. In order to protect this vital function, I have decided to introduce a dedicated reporting database server - from which multiple users will run some pretty complex reports.

I realise that there were a number of choices but I decided to use Transaction Replication as the mechanism for copying the data from the OLTP database to the new reporting database - one way replication.

The solution has worked well in test. I'm now being asked what changes need to be made to the backup policy to cover the architectural changes. I have read pages such as MSDN:Strategies for Backing Up and Restoring Snapshot and Transactional Replication but I think these are overkill for my solution. In fact, my current thinking is that we simply need to continue making backups of the OLTP data and logs. If the Reporting db or any of the system replication (eg distribution) databases fail then it's no big deal - we can clear all down then re-create the replication. I realise that taking a complete snapshot of the OLTP would be time consuming (approx 5 hours) but I'd be more relaxed about this that trying to restore backups of the various data and log files in the correct sequence.

My view is that the complex strategies set out in the MSDN article would only be the way to go for a more complex replication solution than I have, eg if there were multiple subscribers with 2-way replication.

Would you agree? I'd be grateful for any advice.

Many thanks,

Rob.,