Video: Push vs Pull Replication

Here is a short video that I created explaining the difference between Push and Pull Replication.

Watch it on YouTube. https://youtu.be/ykHsAHH-ggs?si=Msr4jRgeygOs3_Gq

In SQL Server, the core difference between push and pull replication lies in where the replication jobs, specifically the Distribution Agent, are executed: push replication runs these jobs on the publisher or distributor, while pull Replication runs them on the subscriber. In push replication, the publisher actively manages the process, executing jobs to send data updates to subscribers on a set schedule or as changes occur, centralizing control and placing the workload on the publisher or distributor. In contrast, pull replication has subscribers take charge, running their own jobs to fetch data from the publisher or distributor when needed, which offloads work from the publisher but increases the subscriber’s processing responsibility. This distinction—publisher-driven versus subscriber-driven job execution—shapes the replication dynamics, balancing centralized management in push setups against the distributed autonomy of pull configurations.

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