A remote subscription is a database object in SAP HANA used specifically for real-time data replication. Its primary purpose is to define the relationship between a remote source table (represented by a virtual table) and a local target table. Once activated, the subscription monitors the remote source for data changes (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE) and automatically applies these changes to the local target table, ensuring the data remains synchronized.

A. To establish a connection to the replication service: A REMOTE SOURCE object, not a remote subscription, is used to define and establish the connection to a remote system and its associated replication service (Data Provisioning Agent).

B. To be notified when remote data has changed: While a subscription acts on data changes, its function is active data replication, not merely passive notification. The goal is to update a local table, not just to be informed of a change.

D. To assign a virtual table to a remote source: A virtual table is created and mapped to a remote object using the CREATE VIRTUAL TABLE statement. A remote subscription is created after the virtual table exists to replicate its data.

1. SAP HANA Cloud

SAP HANA Database SQL Reference Guide for SAP HANA Platform:

Section: CREATE REMOTE SUBSCRIPTION Statement (Data Lake)

Content: "Creates a remote subscription to specify how to replicate data from a remote source object into a target table." This statement directly confirms that the subscription's purpose is to replicate data from a remote source to a local target.

2. SAP HANA Smart Data Integration and SAP HANA Smart Data Quality Guide:

Section: Replicating Data in Real Time

Content: The guide outlines the process for real-time replication which involves creating a remote source

creating virtual tables

and then creating a remote subscription. It states

"A remote subscription defines the replication process from one source virtual table to one target table." This explicitly supports the function described in option C.