IBM Data Replication's Q and SQL news.

IBM offers a lot of flexibility with its data replication technologies (CDC, Q Replication, and SQL Replication). As a result, we get a lot of questions about what's needed under various circumstances. This post is a collection of links to answers for the most common questions I get asked.  Of course, as you read these, remember that IBM's license documents are the final word on what's allowed.  If there's ever a conflict between them and what's posted here, the license document win :) 

Note: After the links, I also have a little background about why flexibility drives these questions.

• Which products contain IBM replication technologies?
• What happens if my source and target have different levels of software?
• What do I need to get for my particular configuration?
   

To determine or understand the answers, you may need a little background related to three areas of flexibility.  First, you can get IBM's data replication technologies a number of ways:

• In a stand-alone product.
• As a feature of selected products.
• Included at no additional charge in selected products.
   

Second, IBM data replication technologies allow a lot of differences between source and target systems:

• The source's operating system can be different from the target's (e.g., AIX vs Windows).
• The source database can be different from the target database (e.g., DB2 z/OS vs InfoSphere Warehouse).
• The source's software can be at a different version and release than that of the target.  This includes:
  • Operating systems
  • Databases
  • The replication software
     

Third, IBM data replication technolgies offer a number of ways they can be set up:

• Capture can often be run remote from the source when the source and capture run on Linux, UNIX, or Windows.
• Apply can run remote from the target.
• A single install can access many sources and targets.
   

The links in this post help you navigate the options.