Replicating Data to SQL Server Express

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express can serve as a Subscriber for all types of replication, providing a convenient way to distribute data to client applications that use this edition of SQL Server. When using SQL Server Express in a replication topology, keep the following considerations in mind:

• 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. For more information, see the following topics:

  • Windows Synchronization Manager

  • RMO programming: How to: Synchronize a Pull Subscription (RMO Programming)

• Replication does not support the Run As Normal User (RANU) feature of SQL Server Express. For more information about this feature, see the SQL Server Express documentation.

For information about subscriptions, see Subscribing to Publications.