BigSam (8/12/2013)
You are so correct in there being no downtime. We will pick a time of day to minimize the impact to potential connections.Sounds like log shipping is the easiest solution to implement. Now for the fun questions:
Do I need a dedicated/secure pipe for that to work?
Do I want a dedicated pipe? (None of the information is sensitive.)
What destination port(s) do I need to open at the 2nd site?
Thanks
1. No
2. Perhaps. It's a bandwidth/timing/latency issue
3. It's a file copy. Whatever allows that with your method of file copy. You can use the SQL Server wizards, which I believe need the SMB ports (double check me), or you can use various scripting/xfer methods like SFTP.
Note that no matter what you choose, secure it. Limit the xfers to these specific machines on these ports with explicit rules. You never know when someone will start shooting sensitive information in your database. Or when info you don't consider sensitive gets classified that way.