Replication Utilities

You can use five utilities to configure and execute the replication functionality of SQL Server. These utilities are covered in more detail in Chapter 22, "Data Replication." The utilities include the following:

• Replication Distribution Agent partial syntax:

  distrib -Publisher server_name[\instance_name] 
  -PublisherDB publisher_database
  -Subscriber server_name[\instance_name]
  

  The Replication Distribution Agent is a process that transfers the replicated data held at the distributor to the various subscribers.

• Replication Log Reader Agent partial syntax:

  logread -Publisher server_name[\instance_name] 
  -PublisherDB publisher_database
  

  The Replication Log Reader Agent transfers transactions marked for replication on the publisher from the transaction log to the distribution database.

• Replication Merge Agent partial syntax:

  replmerg 
  -Publisher server_name[\instance_name]
  -PublisherDB publisher_database
  -Publication publication
  -Subscriber server_name[\instance_name]
  -SubscriberDB subscriber_database
  

  The Replication Merge Agent transfers the initial snapshots and any subsequent data changes in the publisher's database tables to the subscribers.

• Replication Queue Reader Agent partial syntax:

  queueread -Publisher server_name[\instance_name] 
  -PublisherDB publisher_database
  

  The Replication Queue Read Agent reads messages stored in a SQL Server queue or a Microsoft Message Queue and applies those messages to the publisher. Only snapshot and transactional publications allow queued updating.

• Replication Snapshot Agent partial syntax:

  snapshot -Publisher server_name[\instance_name] 
  -PublisherDB publisher_database
  -Publication publication_name
  

  The Replication Snapshot Agent prepares the initial snapshots of tables in the publisher's database, stores the files on the distributor, and then maintains the status of its synchronization.

All of the replication utility files are located, by default, in Microsoft SQL Server\80\Com\.