Merge Replication Web Synchronization with SQL Express subscriber

Vikas Pillai 26 Reputation points
2021-04-30T17:02:57.457+00:00

our publisher is in SQL Server 2012 enterprise and our subscription machines are running SQL Express 2012. We are trying to setup a sync between a Server X(in a corporate network) and an external machine with SQL Express installed. We are tried merge replication using Web Synchronization option. We configured the IIS and are able to access the URL from the browser of subscriber machine. While creating subscription we noticed that in order to use Web URL we have choose Agent run on the Subscriber. SQL Express does not have an Agent.

Can SQL Express as subscriber use Merge Replication (Web Synchronization option ) ?

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  1. David Browne - msft 3,766 Reputation points
    2021-04-30T18:03:27.817+00:00

    Without SQL Agent you just need to use a batch script to run the replication agent on the SQL Express computer. Often in this scenario there is a desktop application running on the client that drives the synchronization. If there's not you can use the Windows task scheduler. For the code you can run the replication agents directly, or use RMO: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/replication/synchronize-a-pull-subscription?view=sql-server-ver15

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  2. CarrinWu-MSFT 6,851 Reputation points
    2021-05-03T07:58:21.743+00:00

    Hi @Vikas Pillai ,

    Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

    SQL Server Express cannot serve as a Publisher or Distributor. However, merge replication allows changes to be replicated in both directions between a Publisher and Subscriber. SQL Server Express does not include SQL Server Agent, which is typically used to run replication agents. If you use a pull subscription (in which agents run at the Subscriber), you must synchronize the subscription using Windows Synchronization Manager or RMO. Please get more information from this link.

    Best regards,
    Carrin

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  3. Vikas Pillai 26 Reputation points
    2021-05-05T14:27:57.97+00:00

    Thank you for the suggestions.

    Our publisher/distributor is in SQL Enterprise(on windows server ), but we are trying to sync data from a subscriber, which is a local machine(SQL Express on windows 10 desktop). because of the nature of connection over VPN, we decided to go with web sync option in replication. since, for web sync option we have to run the agent on subscriber machine(options from replication GUI in SSMS), and SQL express does not have agent, so we had this road block.

    I have not yet tried this the options suggested by you guys. I will keep this post open(unless if any issue by anyone) and update my progress in this space.