Non-trusted transactional replication with remote distributor?

I'm trying to find out if it is possible to set up transactional replication
over the internet (non-trusted domains) with a remote distributor which is
also a subscriber, and one additional subscriber. Initial snapshot should be
delivered using FTP. Is this possible or do the distributor and publisher
always both need direct access to the snapshot folder?
Note that we very much prefer not to use the so-called pass-through
autentication hack for the SQL Server Agent accounts, and preferably all
replication agents should run using SQL Authentication. In other words assume
the distributor/subscribers have no (non-FTP) access whatsoever to the
publisher's filesystem, and vice versa. Is this possible or will I run into
connectivity problems?
Thanks in advance.
It should be possible, but its madness for high volume applications. The
problem is if your link between your publisher and subscriber goes down your
tlog will start getting large in a hurry. Not to mention the network hop
between the publisher and the distributor/subscriber.
Why do you feel the need to have a remote distributor? Normally you do this
to offload the distribution agent from the publisher.
You don't really need to worry about pass through authentication when using
FTP as well.
Hilary Cotter
Looking for a SQL Server replication book?
http://www.nwsu.com/0974973602.html
Looking for a FAQ on Indexing Services/SQL FTS
http://www.indexserverfaq.com
"Jeremy" <Jeremy@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C8917D4D-88F6-4CC6-AF06-80A8CB1C2F85@.microsoft.com...
> I'm trying to find out if it is possible to set up transactional
replication
> over the internet (non-trusted domains) with a remote distributor which is
> also a subscriber, and one additional subscriber. Initial snapshot should
be
> delivered using FTP. Is this possible or do the distributor and publisher
> always both need direct access to the snapshot folder?
> Note that we very much prefer not to use the so-called pass-through
> autentication hack for the SQL Server Agent accounts, and preferably all
> replication agents should run using SQL Authentication. In other words
assume
> the distributor/subscribers have no (non-FTP) access whatsoever to the
> publisher's filesystem, and vice versa. Is this possible or will I run
into
> connectivity problems?
> Thanks in advance.
>
sql