Replication of Tables

[fergmj]

So here is what will likely be a weird question but please bare with me.

Normally, my company replicates tables from a hosted db to a SQL Server 2005 db hosted somewhere else. The purpose is to allow a customer to then use the data replicated to those tables on their SQL Server and not tamper with the data on the hosted db.

A lot of customers don't want the expense and administrative overhead of having to purchase SQL Server but still need the data.

Does anyone have any ideas for how I can get data to customers in another form or fashion? Maybe XML or is there some DTS process I could use?

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

fergmj

 

[mrdenny]

If the database is smaller than 4 Gigs have them download SQL Server Express edition and replicate to that.

If they have another database platform in house you can replicate to that database platform instead.

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)

My Blog

 

[fergmj]

They really don't want the weight of having any database at all. I was wondering if SQL Server 2005 has tools to export tables out to XML and if anyone has experienced good or bad things associated with such an export of data.

 

[mrdenny]

I've setup some basic replication on my machine and the only non-SQL Server destination which I can setup is for Oracle or DB2. It appears that SQL Server doesn't support replications to text files any more.

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)

My Blog