11/19/2007 1:15:39 PM

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Contents

1.0 Introduction

Microsoft Synchronization Services lets you synchronize data from disparate sources over two-tier, N-tier, and service-based architectures. Instead of only replicating a database and its schema, the Synchronization Services application programming interface (API) provides a set of components to synchronize data between data services and a local store. Applications are increasingly used on mobile clients, such as portable computers and devices, that do not have a consistent or reliable network connection to a central server. It is important for these applications to work against a local copy of data on the client. Equally important is the need to synchronize the local copy of the data with a central server when a network connection is available. The Synchronization Services API is modeled after the ADO.NET data access APIs and gives you an intuitive way to synchronize data. It makes building applications for occasionally connected environments a logical extension of building applications where you can depend on a consistent network connection.

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1.1 Obtaining Synchronization Services

The Synchronization Services DLLs ship with Microsoft SQL Server Compact 3.5. By default, they are installed to %Program Files%\Microsoft Synchronization Services. SQL Server Compact is available as a download and is also installed with Microsoft Visual Studio 2008. Download SQL Server Compact from the Microsoft Download Center. For more information about Visual Studio, see the Visual Studio Website.

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1.2 Synchronization Services Books Online

Synchronization Services documentation provides an easy-to-follow introduction, and a set of how tos and reference topics that will enable you to quickly understand and be productive with the API. Download the documentation from the Microsoft Download Center.

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2.0 Supported Operating Systems

Synchronization Services for ADO.NET requires ADO.NET 2.0 or a later version on the client and server. The server database can be any database for which an ADO.NET provider is available. The client database for Synchronization Services applications is SQL Server Compact 3.5 and later versions.

Synchronization Services is supported on the following platforms.

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2
  • Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 SP2
  • Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
  • Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition SP2
  • Microsoft Windows XP Embedded SP2
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 SP2 (WOW),
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition SP2
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition SP2
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition SP2
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2, Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64, Standard Edition (WOW)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64, Enterprise x64 Edition (WOW)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64, Datacenter Edition (WOW)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 x64, Standard Edition (WOW)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 x64, Enterprise Edition (WOW)
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 x64, Datacenter Edition (WOW)
  • Windows Vista Home Basic
  • Windows Vista Home Premium
  • Windows Vista Business
  • Windows Vista Enterprise
  • Windows Vista Ultimate
  • Windows Vista Starter Edition
  • Windows Vista Home Basic x64 (WOW)
  • Windows Vista Home Premium x64 (WOW)
  • Windows Vista Business x64 (WOW)
  • Windows Vista Enterprise x64 (WOW)
  • Windows Vista Ultimate x64 (WOW)

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3.0 Additional Information