Purpose of creating snapshots on a schedule 1

[jcaulder]

I am running SQL Server 2000 publisher and MSDE subscribers using Dynamic Partitions with Merge Replication.

When a publication is created, by default, it creates a snapshot job that runs on a schedule. This usually defaults to once a day, say 12:00am for the main snapshot agent. Similarly with dynamic partitions, there is also a dynamic snapshot job created that also gets scheduled, by default, to I believe run once a week.

My question is what is the purpose in running the snaphost jobs or dynamic snapshot jobs on a schedule? If I needed to re-init a subscriber wouldn't I just run the snapshot agent when needed for that subscriber?

It seems a waste of server resources to be creating snapshots daily and weekly(there are 21 dynamic partitions for this publication). Are these scheduled snapshots somehow necessary for replication to work properly? There must be some reason these default to run on a schedule.

Thanks!!
J

 

[mrdenny]

The theory is that if you need to re-initalize the snapshot is already ready for you to use. Personally I remove these schedules and do all snapshoting on demand.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Configuration / Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: Configuration)
MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005) / Database Developer (SQL 2005)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

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[jcaulder]

Ok, thanks. Like you, I cannot see the benefit in running these on a schedule. I will disable all these jobs.