Site Replication Not Automatically Generated

[lebisol]

Hello everyone,
Still new at replication so bare with with post.
Currently I have 4 sites with each one holding a BDC.
3 sites have a server with NTDS Settings holding connection
<automatically generated> from SERVER1

where SERVER1 is the main DC in Default-First-Site-Name.
All but the 4th site where I added a SERVER4 manually.

My question is what is the differnce between <automatically generated> connections and if I was to create connetion <manually>?


Prior to adding a 4th site and 4th server my replication topology from MAIIN DC looked like:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Default-First-Site-Name
-| Name | From Server | From Site
<automatically generated> | SERVER1 | SITE1
<automatically generated> | SERVER2 | SITE2
<automatically generated> | SERVER3 | SITE3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
while at each site is pointing back to MAIN DC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-SITE1
<automatically generated> | MAINDC | Default-First-Site-Name
-SITE2
....
-SITE3
...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


After manually adding a 4th site and 4th server the topology has changed:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Default-First-Site-Name
-| Name | From Server | From Site
<automatically generated> | SERVER4 | SITE4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Why are the replication connections 'cleared' on MAIN DC and now pointing only to the newly added server4?
I have pushed the replicaiton from each remote servers towards MAINDC but still no love.
What went wrong? Is there a 'cap' to how many sites I can have?
Sorry for the load of newbie questions!
Thanks for your time!

:--------------------------------------:

All around in my home town,
They tryin' to track me down...

 

[lebisol]

Update:
I have created connetions manually and confirmed in replication monitor that all sites are being replicated.

If anyone can shine some light on the differences between Automatically Generated connections vs. Manually it would be great.
Thanks again for the attention to this thread.
All the best!

:--------------------------------------:

All around in my home town,
They tryin' to track me down...