Mirroring and replication are two different data storage and backup strategies. Mirroring is the type of data storage in which an exact duplicate of a file or database is kept on two or more servers. Replication, on the other hand, entails creating several copies of a file or database and storing them on other servers. Let us discuss the difference between Mirroring and Replication with the help of the comparison given below.
What is Mirroring?
Mirroring is the practice of maintaining a backup database server for a master database server. If the master database is unavailable for any reason, the mirror database can be used as a backup. In general, only one database server is active at any given time, and database requests are served from the active server only.
What is Replication?
Replication is the process of maintaining numerous copies of a database dispersed over several geographical locations. Content servers are a classic example of replication since they are replicated across continents so that the user can download the file from the closest location to prevent network delays and slow response.
Difference between Mirroring and Replication:
- Mirroring is the copying of data or databases to a different location. While Replication is the creation of data and database objects to increase the distribution actions.
- Mirroring perform mirroring on the database. While we replicate data and database objects.
- Mirroring operation on the database is costlier than replication. While replication is less costly than mirroring.
- Mirroring does not support the distributed database. While replication supports the distributed database.
- Generally, a mirror database is implemented on a different machine or location from its main database. The database and data items are preserved in another database while under replication.
- Mirroring doesn't support distributed environment whereas replication was devised for the distributed database.
- The mirror database can usually be found in a different machine from its primary database. As against this, the replicated data and database objects are stored in another database.