I have a SQL 2012 server in production which I don't want to touch. I have a department who want to modify a .net program to modify the data on tables. So we have another SQL Server 2008. In SQL2012 production, there is a database with 20+tables that are being modified on daily basis. I want that department access the SQLServer2008 instead for their own purpose and reporting so the real data can still reside in production.
Is it better to setup a one-way replication from SQL2014 to SQL2008 and select that entire database to replicate at all times? Is LinkServer the answer or what other alternatives do i have to get this done? This way that particular department can have real data at all time to play with.
Thanks in advance.
Sean