How to: Specify Synchronization Schedules (SQL Server Management Studio)

Subscriptions are synchronized by the Distribution Agent (for snapshot and transactional replication) or the Merge Agent (for merge replication). Agents can:

  • Run continuously

  • Run on demand

  • Run on a schedule

Specify synchronization schedules on the Synchronization Schedule page of the New Subscription Wizard. For more information about accessing this wizard, see How to: Create a Push Subscription (SQL Server Management Studio) and How to: Create a Pull Subscription (SQL Server Management Studio).

Modify synchronization schedules in the Job Schedule Properties dialog box, which is available from the Jobs folder in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and from the agent details windows in Replication Monitor. For information about starting Replication Monitor, see How to: Start Replication Monitor (Replication Monitor).

If you specify schedules from the Jobs folder, use the following table to determine the agent job name.

Agent

Job name

Merge Agent for pull subscriptions

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

Merge Agent for push subscriptions

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

Distribution Agent for push subscriptions

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

Distribution Agent for pull subscriptions

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

Distribution Agent for push subscriptions to non-SQL Server Subscribers

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

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 specify synchronization schedules

  1. On the SynchronizationSchedule page of the New Subscription Wizard, select one of the following values from the Agent Schedule drop-down list for each subscription you are creating:

    • Run continuously

    • Run on demand only

    • <Define Schedule…>

  2. If you select <Define Schedule…>, specify a schedule in the Job Schedule Properties dialog box, and then click OK.

  3. Complete the wizard.

To modify a synchronization schedule for a push subscription in 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 Schedules page of the Job Properties - <JobName> dialog box, click Edit.

  6. In the Job Schedule Properties dialog box, select a value from the Schedule Type drop-down list:

    • To specify that the agent should run continuously, select Start automatically when SQL Server Agent starts.

    • To specify that the agent should run on a schedule, select Recurring.

    • To specify that the agent should run on demand, select One time.

  7. If you select Recurring, specify a schedule for the agent.

  8. Click OK.

To modify a synchronization schedule for a push subscription in Management Studio

  1. Connect to the Distributor in Management Studio, and then expand the server node.

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

  3. Right-click the job for the Distribution Agent or Merge Agent associated with the subscription, and then click Properties.

  4. On the Schedules page of the Job Properties - <JobName> dialog box, click Edit.

  5. In the Job Schedule Properties dialog box, select a value from the Schedule Type drop-down list:

    • To specify that the agent should run continuously, select Start automatically when SQL Server Agent starts.

    • To specify that the agent should run on a schedule, select Recurring.

    • To specify that the agent should run on demand, select One time.

  6. If you select Recurring, specify a schedule for the agent.

  7. Click OK.

To modify a synchronization schedule for a pull subscription in Management Studio

  1. Connect to the Subscriber in Management Studio, and then expand the server node.

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

  3. Right-click the job for the Distribution Agent or Merge Agent associated with the subscription, and then click Properties.

  4. On the Schedules page of the Job Properties - <JobName> dialog box, click Edit.

  5. In the Job Schedule Properties dialog box, select a value from the Schedule Type drop-down list:

    • To specify that the agent should run continuously, select Start automatically when SQL Server Agent starts.

    • To specify that the agent should run on a schedule, select Recurring.

    • To specify that the agent should run on demand, select One time.

  6. If you select Recurring, specify a schedule for the agent.

  7. Click OK.