CompTIA DataSys+ (DS0-001)Business ContinuityMedium

A database administrator is configuring a high-availability solution for a critical production database. The requirement is to maintain continuous operations with no data loss and minimal downtime in the event of a primary server failure. Which replication strategy best meets these objectives?

  1. ASnapshot replication
  2. BTransactional replication
  3. CSynchronous replication
  4. DAsynchronous replication
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C. Synchronous replication

Synchronous replication ensures that data is written to both the primary and replica systems simultaneously before a transaction is committed. This guarantees zero data loss (zero RPO) and enables minimal downtime (low RTO) in a failover scenario, aligning with the requirement for continuous operations with no data loss.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Snapshot replication captures a point-in-time copy and is not suitable for continuous, real-time high availability.
  • B. Transactional replication is typically used for specific data sets and can introduce latency, potentially leading to some data loss in a disaster.
  • D. Asynchronous replication can lead to some data loss during a failover because data is not committed to the replica immediately.

Synchronous Replication

A replication method where a transaction is not considered complete until it has been successfully committed to both the primary and all replica systems, ensuring zero data loss.

  • Guarantees zero data loss (RPO = 0).
  • Higher latency compared to asynchronous replication.
  • Often used for critical systems requiring high availability.

Memory trick: Sync replication keeps everything in step, no loss.

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