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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 Agents tab in Replication Monitor. For information about starting Replication Monitor, see Start the 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 Agents tab.

  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

Replication Agent Administration
Replication Agent Executables Concepts
Replication Agents Overview