Identifying replication-related problems
To identify replication-related problems, you can use the Active Roles Console connected to the Publisher Administration Service. If there are any replication failures, a red triangle is displayed on the Server Configuration and Configuration Databases containers in the Console tree. In the Details pane, the same icon is used to highlight the database affected by a replication failure.
If you have encountered a replication failure, you should ensure that the SQL Server Agent service is started on the computer that is running the Publisher SQL Server, and then use SQL Server Management Studio to get more information on that failure.
To ensure that the SQL Server Agent service is started on the computer that is running the Publisher SQL Server
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In Object Explorer, connect to the instance of the SQL Server Database Engine that holds the Publisher role, and then expand that instance.
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Right-click the Replication folder, and click Launch Replication Monitor.
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In the left pane of the Replication Monitor window, expand your Publisher SQL Server, and click AelitaReplica.
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In the right pane of the Replication Monitor window, on the Warnings and Agents tab, under Agents and jobs related to this publication, look for the icon. This icon indicates a Snapshot Agent error:
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Right-click the agent that has encountered an error and then click View Details.
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In the Snapshot Agent window, read the error description under Error details or message of the selected session.
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In the right pane of the Replication Monitor window, on the All Subscriptions tab, in the list of subscriptions, look for the icon. This icon indicates a Merge Agent error:
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On the All Subscriptions tab, right-click the subscription that has encountered an error and then click View Details.
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In the Subscription window, view the error description under Last message of the selected session.
For more information on typical errors and how to resolve them, see Troubleshooting replication failures.
Viewing database connection settings
The most common reasons for replication problems are access failures that Replication Agents encounter when attempting to connect to the Publisher or Subscriber SQL Server. The security credentials of the Replication Agents depend on the authentication mode of the Administration Service. To determine which authentication mode is actually used: Windows authentication or SQL Server authentication, view the Administration Service database connection settings.
To view connection settings in the Active Roles Console:
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In the Console tree, select Configuration > Server Configuration > Administration Services.
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In the details pane, right-click the Administration Service you want to view, and click Properties.
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In the Properties dialog, go to the Configuration Database tab.
The Configuration Database tab displays the following information:
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SQL Server: Identifies the SQL Server instance that is used by the Administration Service.
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Database: The name of the Administration Service database.
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Use Windows authentication: When this is selected, it indicates that the Administration Service uses Windows authentication mode when connecting to SQL Server.
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Use SQL Server authentication: When this is selected, it indicates that the Administration Service uses SQL Server authentication mode when connecting to SQL Server.
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Login name: The name of the SQL Server login that the Administration Service uses to access SQL Server. This only applies to the Use SQL Server authentication option.
Modifying database connection settings
You might have to modify Administration Service database connection settings if the login of the Administration Service for SQL Server authentication is no longer valid, or has the password changed. If you change the login, you also need to change it for Replication Agents, as described in Modifying Replication Agent credentials.
You can modify connection settings by using Active Roles Configuration Center.
To modify the connection settings
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Start the Configuration Center on the computer running the Administration Service, or connect the Configuration Center to that computer.
You can start Configuration Center by selecting Active Roles 8.2.1 Configuration Center on the Apps page or Start menu, depending on the version of your Windows operating system. For more information, see Running Configuration Center.
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In the Configuration Center main window on the Dashboard page, in the Administration Service area, click Manage Settings.
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On the Administration Service page that opens, in the Active Roles database area, click Change.
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To view or change the login or password of the Administration Service for SQL Server authentication, use the Change Active Roles Database wizard that appears: Type the appropriate login name and password in the fields under the SQL Server authentication option on the Connection to Database page.
Changing the service account
With the Windows authentication option selected for database connection, the Administration Service uses its service account to authenticate with SQL Server. Additionally, if the Administration Service database server holds the Publisher role, and has a Subscriber with Windows authentication, the service account requires the appropriate permissions on the Subscriber SQL Server. For details, see SQL Server permissions in the Active Roles Installation Guide.
Because of the requirements of the service account, you might have to specify a different service account with sufficient SQL Server permissions. Also, you might have to change the service account’s password.
To view or change the service account by using Active Roles Configuration Center
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Start the Configuration Center on the computer running the Administration Service, or connect the Configuration Center to that computer.
You can start Configuration Center by selecting Active Roles 8.2.1 Configuration Center on the Apps page or Start menu, depending on the version of your Windows operating system. For more information, see Running Configuration Center.
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On the Dashboard page in the Configuration Center main window, click Manage Settings in the Administration Service area.
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On the Administration Service page that opens, click Change in the Service account area.
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On the Change Service Account page that appears, type the logon name and password of the service account, and then click Change.