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com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093

Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
praveensqldba12@gmail.com

SQL Server Replication is a technology used to copy and distribute data and database objects from one
database to another, and then synchronize the data between databases to maintain consistency. While it’s
a powerful feature, replication can encounter several issues that need troubleshooting.

Below is a detailed look at common SQL Server Replication issues and their resolutions.

1. Log Reader Agent Job Failure

Issue: The Log Reader Agent job fails, preventing changes made at the publisher from being propagated
to the distributor.

Causes:

● Permissions issues on the replication-related system databases.

● Issues with the Distribution database or the transaction log.
● Database recovery model is set to Simple (Log Reader Agent requires Full or Bulk-Logged recovery
model).

Resolution:

● Permissions: Ensure that the Log Reader Agent has the necessary permissions to access the

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Distribution database and the publisher’s transaction log. It should have db_owner permissions on
the Distribution database.
● Transaction Log Issues: Check if the transaction log is truncated or corrupted. Ensure the database is
using the Full or Bulk-Logged recovery model. Change the recovery model using:

ALTER DATABASE [DatabaseName] SET RECOVERY FULL;

● Reinitialize Log Reader Agent: Stop the Log Reader Agent job, then restart it from SQL Server Agent.
This can clear temporary issues with the job.

Verification:

● Check the SQL Server Agent job history for errors related to the Log Reader Agent.
● Run the following query to check the status of the Log Reader Agent:

EXEC sp_replmonitorhelpagent @publisher = 'PublisherName', @agent_type = 3;

https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
praveensqldba12@gmail.com
2. Distribution Agent Job Failure

Issue: The Distribution Agent fails to apply changes from the distribution database to the subscriber(s).

Causes:

● Network connectivity issues between the distributor and subscriber.

● Permissions issues on the subscriber.
● Corruption in the msdb or Distribution database.
● Conflicts between existing data at the subscriber and replicated data.

Resolution:

● Network Issues: Ensure network connectivity between the distributor and subscriber. Use ping or
telnet to check the connection. Also, check for firewall issues and ensure that the correct ports are
open.
● Permissions: Verify that the Distribution Agent has sufficient permissions to access the subscription
database. It should have db_owner on the subscription database.
● Resolve Data Conflicts: If the error is due to data conflicts (e.g., primary key violations), resolve these
conflicts by either:
○ Reinitializing the subscription.
○ Manually resolving conflicts at the subscriber. You can use conflict resolver tools for merge

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●
replication.
Check Database Integrity: Run DBCC CHECKDB on both the msdb and Distribution databases to
check for corruption.

Verification:

● Check the SQL Server Agent job history for errors related to the Distribution Agent.
● Manually restart the Distribution Agent job via SQL Server Agent and monitor its progress.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
praveensqldba12@gmail.com
3. Replication Latency

Issue: Replication is working, but there is a significant delay between when data is changed at the
publisher and when it appears at the subscriber.

Causes:

● High transaction volume at the publisher.

● Insufficient resources (CPU, memory, disk I/O) on the publisher, distributor, or subscriber.
● Network latency or bandwidth issues between replication components.
● Large or frequent batch transactions at the publisher.

Resolution:

● Monitor Transaction Load: Identify if high transaction volume is causing the delay. Use SQL Server’s
Replication Monitor to check for transaction log bloat. You can also use the following query to monitor
replication latency:

EXEC sp_replcounters;

● Increase Agent Frequency: Configure the Log Reader and Distribution Agents to run more frequently or

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●
in continuous mode to reduce replication latency.
Optimize Network and Resources: Ensure that the publisher, distributor, and subscriber servers have
adequate CPU, memory, and disk I/O resources. Also, ensure that the network between these servers has
sufficient bandwidth to handle the replication load.
● Batch Processing: If large batch transactions are causing replication delays, break them into smaller
batches to reduce the replication workload.

Verification:

● Use the Replication Monitor in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to monitor replication latency
and identify bottlenecks.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
praveensqldba12@gmail.com
4. Subscriber Out-of-Sync with Publisher

Issue: The subscriber does not reflect the latest changes made at the publisher.

Causes:

● The Distribution Agent is not running or has failed.

● The subscription is out-of-date and needs to be reinitialized.
● Data conflicts due to merge or transactional replication.

Resolution:

● Start Distribution Agent: Ensure that the Distribution Agent is running. If it has stopped, restart it from
SQL Server Agent.
● Reinitialize Subscription: If the subscription is out-of-sync, reinitialize it by creating a new snapshot and
applying it to the subscriber. Use the following command:

EXEC sp_reinitmergesubscription

@publication = 'PublicationName',

@subscriber = 'SubscriberName',

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●
@subscription_type = 'Both';

Resolve Conflicts: For merge replication, use the conflict resolver in SSMS to review and resolve
conflicts between the publisher and subscriber.

Verification:

● Check the Replication Monitor in SSMS to verify the status of the subscription.
● Review the Distribution Agent logs for specific errors.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
praveensqldba12@gmail.com
5. Replication Agent Permissions Issues

Issue: The replication agents (Log Reader, Distribution, Merge) fail due to permissions errors.

Causes:

● The replication agents (Log Reader Agent, Distribution Agent, Snapshot Agent) lack the necessary
permissions on the publisher, distributor, or subscriber databases.
● Permissions on replication folders for snapshot replication are incorrect.

Resolution:

● Verify SQL Server Permissions: Ensure that the replication agents have the necessary permissions. For
example:
○ Log Reader Agent needs db_owner on the publisher database.
○ Distribution Agent needs db_owner on the distribution and subscriber databases.
○ Snapshot Agent needs read/write permissions on the snapshot folder.
● Check File System Permissions: For snapshot replication, verify that the account running the Snapshot
Agent has the necessary file system permissions to access the snapshot folder.

Verification:

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● Review the job history of the failed agent in SQL Server Agent.
● Use the following query to check agent permissions:

SELECT * FROM msdb.dbo.sysjobs;

https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
praveensqldba12@gmail.com
6. Snapshot Agent Job Failure

Issue: The Snapshot Agent fails to generate a snapshot for the subscriber(s).

Causes:

● Insufficient disk space for the snapshot files.

● Permissions issues on the snapshot folder.
● The publication has changed significantly, and the snapshot is outdated or incomplete.

Resolution:

● Check Disk Space: Ensure there is enough disk space on the server where the snapshot files are
generated.
● Permissions on Snapshot Folder: Verify that the account running the Snapshot Agent has read/write
permissions on the snapshot folder. You may need to grant permissions using Windows Explorer or
command-line tools.
● Recreate Snapshot: If the snapshot is outdated or incomplete, you may need to regenerate it using:

EXEC sp_startpublication_snapshot @publication = 'PublicationName';

Verification:

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●
●
Check the Snapshot Agent job history for errors.
Ensure the snapshot folder contains the generated snapshot files after the job runs successfully.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
praveensqldba12@gmail.com
7. Replication Schema Changes Not Propagating

Issue: Changes to the database schema (e.g., new columns, modified indexes) at the publisher are not
replicated to the subscriber.

Causes:

● Schema changes are not configured to be replicated.

● The publication was created without schema replication enabled.

Resolution:

● Enable Schema Changes: To ensure schema changes are propagated to subscribers, modify the
publication properties and enable schema replication. You can do this via SSMS or using the following
command:

EXEC sp_changepublication @publication = 'PublicationName',

@property = 'allow_anonymous',

@value = 'true';

● Reinitialize Subscription: If the schema at the subscriber is significantly out-of-date, consider

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reinitializing the subscription.

Verification:

● Use Replication Monitor to ensure that schema changes are being applied.
● Check the subscription properties to confirm that schema replication is enabled.
https://www.sqldbachamps.com Praveen Madupu +91 98661 30093
Sr SQL Server DBA, Dubai
praveensqldba12@gmail.com
8. Merge Replication Conflicts

Issue: Conflicts occur in merge replication when changes are made to the same data at both the
publisher and subscriber.

Causes:

● Conflicting updates or inserts at both the publisher and subscriber.

● No conflict resolution strategy in place.

Resolution:

● Review and Resolve Conflicts: Use SSMS to view conflicts in the Conflict Viewer. You can resolve
conflicts manually or use automatic conflict resolution rules based on priorities (e.g., publisher wins,
subscriber wins).
● Implement Conflict Resolution Strategy: For future conflict prevention, ensure that a conflict resolution
policy is in place. You can configure this in the publication properties during setup or by running:

EXEC sp_helpmergeconflictrows @publication = 'PublicationName';

Verification:

● Monitor conflict occurrences in the Replication Monitor under the merge replication section.

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● Use the Conflict Viewer to ensure that conflicts are resolved

By understanding these common SQL Server Replication issues and their resolutions, you can troubleshoot
replication problems more effectively, ensuring data consistency and availability across your SQL Server
environments.