An Alternative to Merge Replication with SQL Server and SQL Server Compact – Zumero for SQL Server

while looking for a migration path for a customer currently using merge replication with sql server and windows mobile, i came across the recently released solution from zumero, zumero for sql server . as mentioned in my previous blog post , merge replication between sql server compact and sql server 2014 is no longer possible, and in addition, sql server compact 3.5 sp2 only supports a limited number of client platforms (windows mobile/ce and windows desktop). microsoft is promoting azure mobile services with offline support , but for obvious reasons, this solution does not work for on premise databases.

zumero for sql server enables you to synchronize any mobile device with tables on a central sql server, using essentially the same components that we know from merge replication:

1: configuration of tables to be synchronized, and added metadata/tracking to those. before: using sql server management studio to create a merge publication with articles (tables)
now: using zss manager to create a dbfile with tables

2: an iis based agent, that exposes a http(s) endpoint for performing the sync process.
before: configure web synchronization wizard
now: zss server

3: client library for performing sync.
before: system.data.sqlserverce.sqlcereplication class, part of the sql server compact ado.net provider
now: zumero client sdk and sqlite.

using zumero;

zumeroclient.sync(
  "/path/to/sqlite.db",   // full path to local db file
  null,
  "http://my_zumero_server:8080",
  "test",                 // remote dbfile name
  null,
  null,
  null);

to get started testing out zumero, simply follow the instructions here: http://zumero.com/get-started/ or start by watching the short, introductory videos here: http://zumero.com/howto/

notice that zumero works with any edition of sql server 2008 r2 express or higher/later. zumero server is not free, but works with the free sql server express for small scale solutions.

on the client side, the following impressive list client operating systems are supported:

android (native and phonegap)
ios (native and phonegap)
xamarin
windows, winrt and windows phone 8
mac os x
linux (ubuntu 12.04+, fedora 17+)

in my next blog post, i will be doing an interview:  “hard talk” with eric sink, zumero founder.

disclaimer: i am simply a zumero user, and not affiliated in any way.