sql server replication: I've just been hired at a new job and the first project has to do with Merge
replication with 150+ remote systems that publish to a local server (all SQL
Server 2000). I've been reading in BOL and I'm confused.

I know about log shipping, I know about clustering, but I don't understand
how multiple databases can replicate into a single database. Nor do I
understand the reference to "filters" I've encountered.

All I really need is to know what I need to be studying.

Thanks,

Here is a link of the central subscriber setup that will hopefully help a
bit: http://www.replicationanswers.com/CentralSubscriberArticle.asp
Have a look at "Filtering Published Data" in BOL for details of filtering.
Cheers,
Paul Ibison