sql server replication: I have 5 offices that are running their own local copy of a database.
Each office performs updates that need to be replicated with the other 4
offices.

What kind of replication topology should I look for? At a first glance seems
like implmenting a start with a 6th db acting as master could work.

Thanks in advance,

Nic

You should look into BI-Directional Transactional replication with one
master db and every other db is a subscriber to the master
database. Your master db then forwards those changes to all 5 servers.
Distributor keeps track of loopback so the same changes don't
get stuck in the infite loop.

Read this article and it will help.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;820675

Otherwise, you can look into Merge Replication which can be really pain in
the neck to manage.

I will still suggest BI-Directional transactional replication.

-Nitin


[quoted text, click to view]

My vote would be for merge replication. This will provide
a series of possible conflict resolvers while
BiDirectional TR will require you to write your own.
Also, BiDi doesn't support schema changes.
Rgds,
Paul Ibison SQL Server MVP, www.replicationanswers.com

(recommended sql server 2000 replication book:
http://www.nwsu.com/0974973602p.html)