Introduction v6.2

This document describes the installation, configuration, architecture, and operation of the EDB xDB Replication Server. EDB xDB (cross database) Replication Server (referred to hereafter as xDB Replication Server) is an asynchronous replication system available for PostgreSQL and for EDB Postgres Advanced Server. The latter will be referred to simply as Advanced Server.

xDB Replication Server can be used to implement replication systems based on either of two different replication models – single-master (primary-to-secondary) replication or multi-master replication.

Regardless of the chosen replication model, xDB Replication Server is extremely flexible and easy to use.

For single-master replication, PostgreSQL, Advanced Server, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server are supported in an assortment of configurations (including cascading replication) allowing organizations to utilize it in multiple use cases with a variety of benefits.

The following are some combinations of cross database replications that xDB Replication Server supports for single-master replication:

• From Oracle to PostgreSQL
• From Oracle to Advanced Server
• From SQL Server to PostgreSQL
• From SQL Server to Advanced Server
• From Advanced Server to Oracle
• From PostgreSQL to SQL Server
• From Advanced Server to SQL Server
• Between PostgreSQL and Advanced Server
• From PostgreSQL to Oracle (WAL mode)
• From PostgreSQL to Oracle (trigger mode)

For multi-master replication, xDB Replication Server supports the following configurations:

• Between PostgreSQL database servers
• Between PostgreSQL database servers and Advanced Servers in PostgreSQL compatible mode
• Between Advanced Servers in PostgreSQL compatible mode
• Between Advanced Servers in Oracle compatible mode

The reader is assumed to have basic SQL knowledge and basic Oracle, SQL Server, or PostgreSQL database administration skills (whichever are applicable) so that databases, users, schemas, and tables can be created and database object privileges assigned.

• The remainder of Chapter Introduction describes conventions used throughout this user’s guide along with suggested sections to read based upon your purpose for using this guide.
• Chapter Overview provides an overview of xDB Replication Server including basic replication concepts and definitions, architecture and components of xDB Replication Server, and design guidelines for setting up a replication system.
• Chapter Installation and Uninstallation gives instructions for installing and uninstalling xDB Replication Server.
• Chapter Introduction to the xDB Replication Console provides an overview of the xDB Replication Console, the graphical user interface for using xDB Replication Server.
• Chapter Single-Master Replication Operation gives instructions for the configuration and operation of xDB Replication Server for single-master replication systems.
• Chapter Multi-Master Replication Operation gives instructions for the configuration and operation of xDB Replication Server for multi-master replication systems.
• Chapter Common Operations describes operations that are common to both single-master and multi-master replication systems.
• Chapter xDB Replication Server Command Line Interface describes the xDB Replication Server Command Line Interface, an alternative to the graphical user interface for xDB Replication Server configuration and management.
• Chapter Data Validator gives instructions for configuration and usage of the Data Validator.
• Chapter Appendix is an appendix containing troubleshooting tips, a list of error messages, their causes and resolutions, permitted combinations of database servers in a replication system, xDB Replication Server product upgrade procedures, and other miscellaneous technical information.