Lesson 1: Creating Windows Accounts for Replication

In this lesson, you will create Windows accounts to run replication agents. You will create a separate Windows account on the local server for the following agents:

Agent

Location

Account name

Snapshot Agent

Publisher

<machine_name>\repl_snapshot

Log Reader Agent

Publisher

<machine_name>\repl_logreader

Distribution Agent

Publisher and Subscriber

<machine_name>\repl_distribution

Merge Agent

Publisher and Subscriber

<machine_name>\repl_merge

Note

In the replication tutorials, the Publisher and Distributor share the same instance of SQL Server. The Publisher and Subscriber may share the same instance of SQL Server, but it is not a requirement. If the Publisher and Subscriber share the same instance, the steps that are used to create accounts at the Subscriber are not required.

To create local Windows accounts for replication agents at the Publisher

  1. At the Publisher, open Computer Management from Administrative Tools in Control Panel.

  2. In System Tools, expand Local Users and Groups.

  3. Right-click Users and then click New User.

  4. Enter repl_snapshot in the User name box, provide the password and other relevant information, and then click Create to create the repl_snapshot account.

  5. Repeat the previous step to create the repl_logreader, repl_distribution, and repl_merge accounts.

  6. Click Close.

To create local Windows accounts for replication agents at the Subscriber

  1. At the Subscriber, open Computer Management from Administrative Tools in Control Panel.

  2. In System Tools, expand Local Users and Groups.

  3. Right-click Users and then click New User.

  4. Enter repl_distribution in the User name box, provide the password and other relevant information, and then click Create to create the repl_distribution account.

  5. Repeat the previous step to create the repl_merge account.

  6. Click Close.

Next Steps

You have successfully created Windows accounts for replication agents. Next, you will configure the snapshot folder. See Lesson 2: Preparing the Snapshot Folder.

See Also

Concepts