The following sections provide technical details about site-to-site communications in Configuration Manager 2012.
Types of Replication in Configuration Manager 2012
Configuration Manager 2012 transfers data between sites by using database replication and file-based replication. Additionally, the data that is replicated is grouped into the following classifications:
- Global data that replicates by using database
replication.
- Site data that replicates by using database
replication.
- File content that replicates by using
file-based replication.
The following table identifies replication methods and data types in Configuration Manager 2012.
| Replication Type | Data Type | Examples |
|---|---|---|
|
Database replication |
Global data |
Collections, package metadata, and deployments |
|
Database replication |
Site data |
Collection membership, hardware inventory, and alerts |
|
File-based replication |
File content |
Software packages and software updates |
Database Replication
Database replication in Configuration Manager 2012 uses Configuration Manager database replication. Configuration Manager database replication uses the SQL Server Service Broker to transfer data between the SQL Server database of different sites in a hierarchy. Data, represented as objects, can include different types of information such as configuration settings or client inventory or status information. When a new site installs, a snapshot of the parent sites database is taken and transferred by Server Message BLocks (SMB) to the new site where it is inserted by bulk copy (BCP) to the local database.
Objects replicated by database replication include the following:
| Global Data |
|---|
|
Alert rules |
|
Client discovery |
|
Collections rules and count |
|
Configuration Items metadata |
|
Deployments |
|
Operating system images (boot images and driver packages) |
|
Package metadata |
|
Program metadata |
|
Site control file |
|
Site security objects (security roles and security scopes) |
|
Software updates metadata |
|
System Resource List (site system servers) |
| Site Data |
|---|
|
Alert messages |
|
Asset Intelligence client access license (CAL) tracking data |
|
Client Health data |
|
Client Health history |
|
Collection membership results |
|
Component and Site Status Summarizers |
|
Hardware inventory |
|
Software distribution status details |
|
Software inventory and metering |
|
Software updates site data |
|
Status messages |
|
Status summary data |
File-Based Replication
File-based replication in Configuration Manager 2012 transfers data in file format between Configuration Manager 2012 sites. This is accomplished by use of a sender and address combination that define how and when a network connection to a parent or child site can be established. In a change from past versions of Configuration Manager, a single type of sender is supported by Configuration Manager 2012 and it uses the Server Message Block protocol.
Objects replicated by file-based replication include the following:
| Data | Destination |
|---|---|
|
Package files used by deployments |
Sent to primary and secondary sites. |
|
Secondary site data |
Sent to the primary site (parent) of the secondary site. |
|
Fallback status point state messages |
Forwarded to the assigned site when only a single fallback status point is in use. |
|
Discovery data records |
Forwarded to the assigned site when not processed at the site where they are generated. |