Monitor Replication Agents
Microsoft SQL Server Replication Monitor provides a systemic view of replication activity, but also makes it straightforward to find information on a specific agent. The following list includes each agent, the tabs in the Replication Monitor on which it can be found, and a link to a topic that explains how to access these tabs:
The following agents are associated with publications in Replication Monitor:
Snapshot Agent
Log Reader Agent
Queue Reader Agent
Access information and tasks associated with these agents through the following tabs: Agents (available for each Publisher and publication) and Warnings (available for each publication). For more information, see View Information and Perform Tasks for the Agents Associated With a Publication (Replication Monitor).
The following agents are associated with subscriptions in Replication Monitor:
Distribution Agent
Merge Agent
Access information and tasks associated with these agents through the following tabs: Subscription Watch List (available for each Publisher) or the All Subscriptions tab (available for each publication). For more information, see View Information and Perform Tasks for the Agents Associated With a Subscription (Replication Monitor).
Using SQL Server Management Studio to Monitor Replication Agents
Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio provides the following dialog boxes for monitoring replication agents:
View Snapshot Agent Status (for all publications)
View Log Reader Agent Status (for all transactional publications)
View Synchronization Status (for all subscriptions; this dialog box allows access to the Distribution Agent and the Merge Agent)
Replication Monitor provides additional information about each agent and provides monitoring for the Queue Reader Agent, if it is used. For more information, see View Information and Perform Tasks for the Agents Associated With a Publication (Replication Monitor), View Information and Perform Tasks for the Agents Associated With a Publication (Replication Monitor), and View Information and Perform Tasks for the Agents Associated With a Subscription (Replication Monitor).
To monitor the Snapshot Agent and Log Reader Agent
Connect to the Publisher in Management Studio, and then expand the server node.
Expand the Replication folder, and then expand the Local Publications folder.
Right-click a publication, and then click View Log Reader Agent Status or View Snapshot Agent Status.
In the View Log Reader Agent Status or View Snapshot Agent Status dialog box:
View agent status.
Start or stop the agent if necessary.
Click Monitor to launch Replication Monitor.
Click Close.
To monitor the Distribution Agent and Merge Agent (from the Publisher)
Connect to the Publisher in Management Studio, and then expand the server node.
Expand the Replication folder, and then expand the Local Publications folder.
Expand the publication for the subscription you want to monitor.
Right-click the subscription, and then click View Synchronization Status.
In the View Synchronization Status dialog box:
View agent status.
Start or stop the agent if necessary.
For push subscriptions, click Monitor to launch Replication Monitor.
For pull subscriptions, click View Job History to launch the Log File Viewer, which displays output from the agent log.
Click Close.
To monitor the Distribution Agent and Merge Agent (from the Subscriber)
Connect to the Subscriber in Management Studio, and then expand the server node.
Expand the Replication folder, and then expand the Local Subscriptions folder.
Right-click the subscription you want to monitor, and then click View Synchronization Status.
In the View Synchronization Status dialog box:
View agent status.
Start or stop the agent if necessary.
Click View Job History to launch the Log File Viewer, which displays output from the agent log.
Click Close.