Hi All,
I'm doing some research on SQL 2012, which we are planning to deploy next year, and wanted to be able to combine peer-to-peer replication with AlwaysOn technologies. We currently have 2 data centres. In the first one, we have our primary databases, which are log-shipped to the second centre for DR purposes. The second centre currently read/writes directly to the first center, and so is subject to network latency issues. We also transactionally read-only replicate our primary databases to a number of other servers for load balancing of other read-only purposes.
What I'd like to do, is to create 2 AlwaysOn availability groups, one at each data centre. Each group would consist of a primary and active secondary node. I would like to set-up peer replication between the 2 AGs, using another server as the distributor between them. That way I can achieve both my HA and load-balancing objectives. Each primary would be used for read/writes by the users at each data centre, with P2P handling the synchronization between them. Each active secondary would be used as both automatic failover points and for load-balancing of our read-only loads.
Can anyone tell me if they have ever done this, or if it is supported? From what I'm reading, I can't see why not as AlwaysOn does support replication. What about identity range management issues? I'm assuming I'd have to coordinate the range management between P2P and AlwaysOn.
Any information, links, or recommended books on the subject would be most appreciated.
Regards,
Diane Sithoo
Diane