Replication Server® maintains replicated data at multiple sites on a network. Organizations with geographically distant sites can use Replication Server to create distributed database applications with better performance and data availability than a centralized database system can provide.
This book, Replication Server Troubleshooting Guide, describes Replication Server troubleshooting tasks, such as dumping stable queues, debugging failures with the Data Server Interface (DSI) and Replication Server Interface (RSI), and diagnosing and correcting problems with subscriptions.
Use the information in this manual for system-level troubleshooting.
For replication agent–specific troubleshooting information,
see the replication agent documentation for your data server.
The Replication Server Troubleshooting Guide is for Replication Server System Administrators and ap
This book contains:
Chapter 1, “Identifying the Problem” describes how to identify configuration, subscription, replication, and manual recovery problems.
Chapter 2, “Analyzing Error Messages” describes how to analyze Replication Server, RepAgent, and Log Transfer Manager (LTM) error messages.
Chapter 3, “Common Errors” describes the most common errors that can occur during configuration and operation of a replication system.
Chapter 4, “Route Problems” explains how to troubleshoot routing problems.
Chapter 5, “Subscription Problems” helps you resolve common problems with subscriptions.
Chapter 6, “Replication Server Interface Problems” helps you resolve problems with the RSI.
Chapter 7, “RepAgent and Log Transfer Manager Problems” helps you troubleshoot problems with RepAgent and the LTM.
Chapter 8, “Data Server Interface Problems” provides troubleshooting information for the DSI.
Chapter 9, “Adaptive Server Log Problems” describes how and when to truncate the Adaptive Server transaction log and other log problems.
Appendix A, “Dumping Stable Queues” explains how to dump Replication Server stable queues.
Appendix B, “Language, Sort Order, and Character Set Issues” discusses problems associated with running a replication system in an international environment.
The Sybase® Replication Server® documentation set consists of the following:
The release bulletin for your platform – contains last-minute information that was too late to be included in the books.
A more recent version of the release bulletin may be available on the World Wide Web. To check for critical product or document information that was added after the release of the product CD, use the Sybase Technical Library.
Installation Guide for your platform – describes installation and upgrade procedures for all Replication Server and related products.
What’s New in Replication Server? – describes the new features in Replication Server version 12.6 and the system changes added to support those features.
Administration Guide – contains an introduction to replication systems. This manual includes information and guidelines for creating and managing a replication system, setting up security, recovering from system failures, and improving performance.
Configuration Guide for your platform – describes configuration procedures for all Replication Server and related products, and explains how to use the rs_init configuration utility.
Design Guide – contains information about designing a replication system and integrating heterogeneous data servers into a replication system.
Getting Started with Replication Server – provides step-by-step instructions for installing and setting up a simple replication system.
Heterogeneous Replication Guide – describes how to use Replication Server to replicate data between databases supplied by different vendors.
Reference Manual – contains the syntax and detailed descriptions of Replication Server commands in the Replication Command Language (RCL); Replication Server system functions; Sybase Adaptive Server® commands, system procedures, and stored procedures used with Replication Server; Replication Server executable programs; and Replication Server system tables.
System Tables Diagram – illustrates system tables and their entity relationships in a poster format. Available only in print version.
Troubleshooting Guide – contains information to aid in diagnosing and correcting problems in the replication system.
Replication Server plug-in help, which contains information about using Sybase Central™ to manage Replication Server.
Use the Sybase Getting Started CD, the SyBooks CD, and the Sybase Product Manuals Web site to learn more about your product:
The Getting Started CD contains release bulletins and installation guides in PDF format, and may also contain other documents or updated information not included on the SyBooks CD. It is included with your software. To read or print documents on the Getting Started CD, you need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download at no charge from the Adobe Web site using a link provided on the CD.
The SyBooks CD contains product manuals and is included with your software. The Eclipse-based SyBooks browser allows you to access the manuals in an easy-to-use, HTML-based format.
Some documentation may be provided in PDF format, which you can access through the PDF directory on the SyBooks CD. To read or print the PDF files, you need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Refer to the SyBooks Installation Guide on the Getting Started CD, or the README.txt file on the SyBooks CD for instructions on installing and starting SyBooks.
The Sybase Product Manuals Web site is an online version of the SyBooks CD that you can access using a standard Web browser. In addition to product manuals, you will find links to EBFs/Maintenance, Technical Documents, Case Management, Solved Cases, newsgroups, and the Sybase Developer Network.
To access the Sybase Product Manuals Web site, go to Product Manuals.
Technical documentation at the Sybase Web site is updated frequently.
Finding the latest information on product certifications
Point your Web browser to Technical Documents.
Click Certification Report.
In the Certification Report filter select a product, platform, and timeframe and then click Go.
Click a Certification Report title to display the report.
Finding the latest information on component certifications
Point your Web browser to Availability and Certification Reports.
Either select the product family and product under Search by Base Product; or select the platform and product under Search by Platform.
Select Search to display the availability and certification report for the selection.
Creating a personalized view of the Sybase Web
site (including support pages)
Set up a MySybase profile. MySybase is a free service that allows you to create a personalized view of Sybase Web pages.
Point your Web browser to Technical Documents.
Click MySybase and create a MySybase profile.
Finding the latest information on EBFs and software
maintenance
Point your Web browser to the Sybase Support Page.
Select EBFs/Maintenance. If prompted, enter your MySybase user name and password.
Select a product.
Specify a time frame and click Go. A list of EBF/Maintenance releases is displayed.
Padlock icons indicate that you do not have download authorization for certain EBF/Maintenance releases because you are not registered as a Technical Support Contact. If you have not registered, but have valid information provided by your Sybase representative or through your support contract, click Edit Roles to add the “Technical Support Contact” role to your MySybase profile.
Click the Info icon to display the EBF/Maintenance report, or click the product description to download the software.
This section describes style and syntax conventions, RCL command formatting conventions, and graphic icons used in this book.
Style conventions Syntax statements (displaying the syntax and options for a command) are printed as follows:
alter user user set password new_passwd [verify password old_passwd]
See “Syntax conventions” for more information.
Examples that show the use of Replication Server commands are printed as follows:
alter user louise set password somNIfic verify password EnnuI
Command names, command option names, program names, program flags, keywords, configuration parameters, functions, and stored procedures are printed as follows:
Use alter user to change the password for a login name.
Variables, parameters to functions and stored procedures, and user-supplied words are in italics in syntax and in paragraph text, as follows:
The set password new_passwd clause specifies a new password.
Names of database objects, such as databases, tables, columns, and datatypes, are in italics in paragraph text, as follows:
The base_price column in the Items table is a money datatype.
Names of replication objects, such as function-string classes, error classes, replication definitions, and subscriptions, are in italics, as follows:
rs_default_function_class is a default function-string class.
Syntax conventions Syntax formatting conventions are summarized in the following table. Examples combining these elements follow.
Key |
Definition |
|---|---|
variable |
Variables (words standing for values that you fill in) are in italics. |
{ }
|
Curly braces mean you must choose at least one of the enclosed options. Do not include braces in the command. |
[ ] |
Brackets mean you may choose or omit enclosed options. Do not include brackets in the command. |
| |
Vertical bars mean you may choose no more than one option (enclosed in braces or brackets). |
, |
Commas mean you may choose as many options as you need (enclosed in braces or brackets). Separate your choices with commas, to be typed as part of the command. Commas may also be required in other syntax contexts. |
( ) |
Parentheses are to be typed as part of the command. |
... |
An ellipsis (three dots) means you may repeat the last unit as many times as you need. Do not include ellipses in the command. |
Curly braces and vertical bars – choose only one option.
{red | yellow | blue}
Curly braces and commas – choose one or more options. If you choose more than one, separate your choices with commas.
{cash, check, credit}
One item in square brackets – choose it or omit it.
[anchovies]
Square brackets and vertical bars – choose none or only one.
[beans | rice | sweet_potatoes]
Square brackets and commas – choose none, one, or more options. If you choose more than one, separate your choices with commas.
[extra_cheese, avocados, sour_cream]
An ellipsis (...) means that you may repeat the last unit as many times as you need. For the alter function replication definition command, for example, you can list one or more parameters and their datatypes for either the add clause or the add searchable parameters clause:
alter function replication definition function_rep_def
{deliver as 'proc_name' |
add @parameter datatype [, @parameter
datatype]... |
add searchable parameters @parameter
[, @parameter]... |
send standby {all | replication definition}
parameters}
