How to distribute RDBMS between branch offices

Hi everybody!

        First i'd like to than to all who cooperate in conferences, because it really helps me in exchanging ideas and solve som of my problem.

I have a question for those who has experinces in distribution of data.

I am working on testing Oracle v7 in distributed environment. First of all i am interesting in problems of distribution of database company's clinets.
Company is divided in 5 business unit each in different town. Process of registering clients should proceed on all places.

That means we would like to have central access to database
( in center ), but in branch offices should have access only to their
clients. The question is:

Do wee need central located database and all transactions should proceed on central computer system?

Or

Should we distribute data among branches with local computer systems.

The first moment i am asking about the replication of data in RDBMS , in Oracle for example
what exactly is this and how can it helps me.

I'd like to emphasize a demand that each branch office should work
( also when the central mainframe is dead or telecommunication line is dead ).

I would appreciate any hint or experience or refference!

Thank you all.

If somebody has implemented such distributed database please let me know by advices or hints.

Ivan Drvaric, 21st Jan, Maribor
Technical University Maribor Received on Fri Jan 21 1994 - 10:27:14 CET