Problem with Replication

[naveenrt]

I have a stand alone server(CISINNT01) in a WORKGROUP. I am trying to experiment how the replication will work in a LAN setup (Export machine being a WINNT Server and Import machine being a WINNT Workstation (CISSYSTEST)) as i will need this in a WAN Environment after i prove that the directory replication is possible.

I followed the steps

1)Run the User Manager from the Administrative Tools group.
2)Created a new account for replication (for example, REPL). Specify no password. Removed the check from the "User must change password at next logon" check box.
3)Choose OK. Then closed User Manager.
4)Run the Control Panel and select Services.
5)Choose the Directory Replicator service and choose Startup. Change the Startup Type from Manual to Automatic.
6)In the Log On As control, choose This Account. Then choose Add User. Selected the account created in step 2 above and choose Add.
7)Type the password for the replication account and choose OK. Control Panel responds with a message such as "The account CISINNT01\REPL has been granted the Log On As A Service right and added to the Replicator local group."
8) I Choose OK to dismiss this message.
9)Start -Controlpanel---->server---> Replication
10)Choose Replication. In the Replication dialog box, choose Export Directories. The Server Manager displays the default path: C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\REPL\EXPORT.

I do not want the default directory as above and i choose D:\CISTOOLS

11) Choose Add. Specify the name of the domain or computer to act as the import server.Specified the name of WINNT Workstation (CISSYSTEST) and clicked on ok

12) Choose OK to exit the Directory Replication dialog box. Windows NT responds with the message &quot;Attempting to Start the Directory Replication service on <computername>.&quot;

Configured the Import server as below
1)On import computer, run Control Panel and selectED Services.
2)Choose the Directory Replicator service and choose Startup. ChangeD the Startup Type from Manual to Automatic.
3)In the Log On As control, choose This Account. Then choose Add User.Couldn't find the REPL user created on the export server as the worksation belonged to a WORKGROUP . So i created the same user name REPL with the same password as on export server

4)Type the password for the replication account and choose OK. Control Panel responds with a message such as &quot;The account CISSYSTEST\REPL has been granted the Log On As A Service right and added to the Replicator local group.&quot;
5)Choose OK to dismiss this message.
6)In Control Panel, choose Server, then choose Replication.
In the Replication dialog box, choose Import directories. Changed the Path to D:\tools directory .
Choose Add. Specify the name of the CISINNT01 computer to act as the export server.

Now i can see all the directories exported by the export server (CISTools subdirectories) on my Workstation. All the services are started on Both


I waited for a day but still no replication of data is happening

When i see the Status it ias all blank and i know replication is not happening

Have i missed any step . Please help me on this as this is very critical to the project

Thanks in Advance
Naveen

 

[sobak]

I believe the key to your problem here is &quot;I have a stand alone server(CISINNT01) in a WORKGROUP&quot; Now it's been a long time since my Windows NT course but I believe that replication can only happen between PDC's and BDC's. From my understanding you are trying to do this between a Stand Alone server and a Workstation...Since you are creating accounts using User Manager those accounts will only be valid for those local machines and not the entire domain. When you use User Manager for Domains, this is where you create accounts for the entire Domain that reside on the PDC. Now keep in mind I may be wrong on this, I have my MCSE but work with Novell......

david e
*end users are just like computers, some you can work with...others just need a simple reBOOTing to fix their problems.*

 

[naveenrt]

David
Thanks for the response, If replication is possible only on PDC then how come i am able to see all the directories of export server(Standalone) on my Windows-NT workstation.And in the Windows NT Site of Microsoft he also says that you can also create an account if the server is not visible with the same UID and password you created in an export server.Here is the URL

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q101/6/02.asp?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0

I am able to see the directories i exported but replication is not happening.

What may be the reason.............???

Thanks

Naveen

 

[sobak]

Naveen,

Okay you got me, I'm going to have to break down and look it up in my books. Unless you get someone to answer you by tonight, I will research it for you and get back with you either late tonight or tomorrow. It's just been so long that I've had to do any replication that I need a refresher course on it. I've marked this for notifications so if someone can answer this question sometime today we can both learn a little......If not I will post what I found out...

david e
*end users are just like computers, some you can work with...others just need a simple reBOOTing to fix their problems.*

 

[DevilDog]

Question...

You say that &quot;Now i can see all the directories exported by the export server (CISTools subdirectories) on my Workstation.... I waited for a day but still no replication of data is happening.&quot;
Are you saying that the subdirectories within your export directory did replicate? Where exactly does your data reside? at the root of the export dir or in the subdirectories? As far as I know replication will not transfer data from the root of the specified export dir but only its subdirs and their data. Have you checked the event log for any replication errors? It has been a long time...

-- Devil Dog --

 

[DevilDog]

Some more... I always made the initial copy of all subdirs in the export dir to the import dir. Make sure you do not have any replication errors in the system & application logs. As a test I then simply edited a single existing file in the export dir and within a couple of minutes found the modified version in the import dir. -- Devil Dog --

 

[DevilDog]

Still some more... You mentioned that you created LOCAL REPL groups on each box. Does not matter. On the export box you can leave the Replicator service running under the SYSTEM account. The import box on the other hand must have the service run under an account that has access rights to the export box, otherwise you will register event ID 3222 &quot;Replicator could not access \\exportservername\REPL$\xx on EXPORTSERVERNAME due to system error 5 &quot;.

Also did you insure that both your import and export directories are shared as REPL$ ??? By default they point to C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\REPL\EXPORT (IMPORT) dir's. I have also seen where the REPL group has only READ rights to the import dir. Watch your event logs for errors. -- Devil Dog --

 

[sobak]

Some very good information DevilDog, thanks for backing this one up. I had to dig out my MCSE books for this one.

Naveen....follow what devildog says and you should be up and running......


david e
*end users are just like computers, some you can work with...others just need a simple reBOOTing to fix their problems.*

 

[naveenrt]

Thanks Sobak and Devil dog
I was on a holiday and when i come back and see the replication has really worked . Sorry for not responding to you guys

Probably it's a matter of time. I have not done any changes after i posted it here. So the steps i followed was correct.

Now my other question

I have A NTserver At US which is a PDC and can I replicate the data from PDC Server to my Standalone server in India . Is there anything special i need to do as it is WAN or the same steps above should work.


Thanks in Advance
Naveen

 

[DevilDog]

You should have no problem. I assume it is the same domain across the wan. Just watch how much and how often you are replicating. The amount and frequency can be controlled.
You might also consider alternatives to using the Replication Service; check out MS Article ID: Q160513, Q140552, Q140422 and Q142692 is VERY good. You will be OK if you follow these articles. -- Devil Dog --