How to: View and Modify Replication Agent Command Prompt Parameters (SQL Server Management Studio)

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Replication agents are executables that accept command line parameters. By default, agents run under Microsoft SQL Server Agent job steps, so these parameters can be viewed and modified using the Job Properties - <Job> dialog box. This dialog box is available from the Jobs folder in SQL Server Management Studio and from the Common Jobs tab in Replication Monitor. For information about starting Replication Monitor, see How to: Start Replication Monitor (Replication Monitor).

Note

Agent parameter changes take effect the next time the agent is started. If the agent runs continuously, you must stop and restart the agent.

Although parameters can be modified directly, it is more common to modify them through an agent profile. For more information, see Replication Agent Profiles.

If you access agent jobs from the Jobs folder, use the following table to determine the agent job name and the parameters available for each agent.

Agent Job name For a list of parameters, see…

Snapshot Agent

<Publisher>-<PublicationDatabase>-<Publication>-<integer>

Replication Snapshot Agent

Snapshot Agent for a merge publication partition

Dyn_<Publisher>-<PublicationDatabase>-<Publication>-<GUID>

Replication Snapshot Agent

Log Reader Agent

<Publisher>-<PublicationDatabase>-<integer>

Replication Log Reader Agent

Merge Agent for pull subscriptions

<Publisher>-<PublicationDatabase>-<Publication>-<Subscriber>-<SubscriptionDatabase>-<integer>

Replication Merge Agent

Merge Agent for push subscriptions

<Publisher>-<PublicationDatabase>-<Publication>-<Subscriber>-<integer>

Replication Merge Agent

Distribution Agent for push subscriptions

<Publisher>-<PublicationDatabase>-<Publication>-<Subscriber>-<integer>1

Replication Distribution Agent

Distribution Agent for pull subscriptions

<Publisher>-<PublicationDatabase>-<Publication>-<Subscriber>-<SubscriptionDatabase>-<GUID>2

Replication Distribution Agent

Distribution Agent for push subscriptions to non-SQL Server Subscribers

<Publisher>-<PublicationDatabase>-<Publication>-<Subscriber>-<integer>

Replication Distribution Agent

Queue Reader Agent

[<Distributor>].<integer>

Replication Queue Reader Agent

1 For push subscriptions to Oracle publications, it is <Publisher>-<Publisher> rather than <Publisher>-<PublicationDatabase>

2 For pull subscriptions to Oracle publications, it is <Publisher>-<DistributionDatabase> rather than <Publisher>-<PublicationDatabase>

To view and modify replication agent command line parameters from Management Studio

  1. Connect to the appropriate computer in Management Studio, and then expand the server node:

    • For the Distribution Agent and Merge Agent for pull subscriptions, connect to the Subscriber.
    • For all other agents, connect to the Distributor.

  2. Expand the SQL Server Agent folder, and then expand the Jobs folder.

  3. Right-click a job, and then click Properties.

  4. On the Steps page of the Job Properties - <Job> dialog box, select the step Run agent, and then click Edit.

  5. In the Job Step Properties - Run agent dialog box, edit the Command field.

  6. Click OK on both dialog boxes.

To view and modify Distribution Agent and Merge Agent command line parameters from Replication Monitor

  1. Expand a Publisher group in the left pane of Replication Monitor, expand a Publisher, and then click a publication.

  2. Click the All Subscriptions tab.

  3. Right-click a subscription, and then click View Details.

  4. In the Subscription < SubscriptionName> window, click Action, and then click <AgentName> Job Properties.

  5. On the Steps page of the Job Properties - <Job> dialog box, select the step Run agent, and then click Edit.

  6. In the Job Step Properties - Run agent dialog box, edit the Command field.

  7. Click OK on both dialog boxes.

To view and modify Snapshot Agent, Log Reader Agent, and Queue Reader Agent command line parameters from Replication Monitor

  1. Expand a Publisher group in the left pane of Replication Monitor, expand a Publisher, and then click a publication.

  2. Click the Warnings and Agents tab (the tab is Agents for Microsoft SQL Server 2000).

  3. Right-click an agent in the grid, and then click Properties.

  4. On the Steps page of the Job Properties - <Job> dialog box, select the step Run agent, and then click Edit.

  5. In the Job Step Properties - Run agent dialog box, edit the Command field.

  6. Click OK on both dialog boxes.

See Also

Concepts

Administering Replication Agents
Replication Agents Overview

Other Resources

Programming Replication Agent Executables

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance