Replication

What it does

A very powerful feature of SL-Message is the ability to replicate messages. Especially in WAN/LAN-networks replication ensures that messages will reach every client. Very often, broadcasts are blocked by routers to reduce network load, so normally only clients in the same subnet/segment can be reached with broadcasts. SL-Message uses point to point connections between segments and broadcasts within it. So you don't have to change your router configuration to use it.

Under the hood

To use replication you have do define a computer to act as replicator (Replicate=1). You define one machine per subnet/segment as replicator and send your messages directly to them. The replicator resends the message to it's ReplicateDst (normally "*" = broadcast to all reachable computers).
Network load is very low because your message is sent only once over the slow WAN connection.
You don't have to be afraid about duplicated messages or endless loops. SL-Message has a built in message loop protection.
The following image shows you a LAN network. Broadcasts are only allowed between direct connected segments. The sending (SL-Send) computer resides in segment 1. In segment 2 one computer acts as replicator with ReplicateDst=*.
SL-Send sends the message directly to the replicator in segment 2. This replicator resends this message to it's ReplicateDst "*". Because every other segment is directly connected to segment 2, every computer in segment 1,2,3,4 will receive this message via broadcast.
You may define a replicator in every segment. Send the message directly to them, so only within a segment broadcasts will be used.

If you have further questions about replication please contact us at support@selisoft.com.