Replication is a process of maintaining a defined set of data in more than one location. DB2 DataPropagator can replicate changes between any DB2 relational databases. It involves copying designated changes from one location (a source) to another (a target), and synchronizing the data in both locations.
A data link is a link to a file with data like drawings, reports, and sound and other multimedia data. The size of these files can be very large. Accessing these types of files over a remote network would cause delays and increase network traffic. If the data does not change frequently and accessing the most current data is not a requirement, DB2 DataPropagator provides a good solution to this problem. However, since these files are not part of the database, a mechanism is required to replicate the files and ensure that the data and files are in sync at the target site. Data links replication can solve this problem.
With a data type of DATALINK, the database server has control over the remote files, and the files are treated as if they are part of the database. Data links replication replicates not only database data, but also files in a synchronized way.
In Version 7, DB2 Data Propagator replicates DATALINK columns and invokes a user exit routine to replicate the external files to which the DATALINK columns point. The user exit program maps the source data link value to a link in the target system and then copies the referenced file to the target file system. A sample user exit program is shipped with the product and it uses FTP to copy the files. See the Replication Guide and Reference for more information.
For more information on data links, see the DB2 Data Links Manager Quick Beginnings.
On Windows 32-bit operating systems, you can use the Capture and Apply programs on demand using the ASNSAT command. This command provides more flexibility when using DB2 DataPropagator functions and in handling error conditions.
You can start both the Capture and Apply programs from within an application by using the new asnCapture and asnApply application programming interfaces.
See the Replication Guide and Reference for more information.
If you are using DB2 DataPropagator Relational (DPropR) Version 1, you must migrate to Version 5 before migrating to Version 6 or Version 7.