PRB: Pull Subscription Status Is "Never Started" If Job Name Is More Than 100 Characters (317391)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (all editions)

This article was previously published under Q317391

SYMPTOMS

When you use a transactional or snapshot publication in SQL Server Enterprise Manager (SEM), after you select a subscribing database in the Pull Subscription folder, the status of the pull subscription is always "Never Started" if the name of the job for the Distribution Agent is more than 100 characters.

CAUSE

The name of the job for the Distribution Agent is composed of:
  • The first 18 characters of the publishing server.
  • The first 18 characters of the publishing database.
  • The first 18 characters of the publication name.
  • The first 18 characters of the subscribing server.
  • The first 18 characters of the subscribing database.
  • A Global Unique Identifier (GUID).
When you create the job, the maximum length of the job name for the Distribution Agent is 131 characters. The temporary table that holds the information for the status of the Distribution Agent permits a maximum job name of only 100 characters.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior you can either:
  • Use the SQL Server Agent jobs history log to check the status of the pull subscription.

    -or-

  • Re-create the publication so that the name of the distribution job is less than 100 characters.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post more information in this article when the information becomes available.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/3/2003
Keywords:kbpending kbprb KB317391