SCCM SQL Based Replication Guide ConfigMgr Endpoint Manager

SCCM SQL Based Replication Guide ConfigMgr Endpoint Manager. The New (SQL) based site-to-site replication model is the most challenging but very interesting part (at least for me) of System Center Configuration Manager.

So, I thought of sharing some points which are the main pillars of the SQL replication model. Also, you can find very useful blog posts about SQL-based replication from Microsoft in the resources section of the post. This SCCM SQL Based Replication Guide gives you end-to-end coverage of issues.

Before going into deep dive, I would like to thank Saud Al-Mishari, Microsoft PFE (when this post was published ) who was the speaker of the MMS 2012 session “CD-B407”. This post is inspired by his session.

Also, I will share some tips such as how to force or re-init site to site replication, and verify the site to site replication……

Latest Post – FIX SCCM SQL Replication Issues Using Replication Link Analyzer

Read More: Troubleshoot and FIX SCCM SQL Backlog Issues

SCCM SQL Based Replication Guide ConfigMgr Endpoint Manager

Let’s understand the key components of the new (SQL) based replication model.

1. DRS – Data Replication Service
2. SSB – SQL Service Broker
3. RCM – Replication Configuration Management/Monitoring
4. RG – Replication Group
5. Replication Pattern
6. Article Name/s

DRS – Data Replication Service / SSB – SQL Service Broker

To replicate the data between ConfigMgr sites, Configuration Manager uses Database Replication Service (DRS). The DRS intern uses SQL Server Service Broker (SSB) to replicate data between the sites.

RCM –  Replication Configuration Management / Monitoring

RCM is a thread of SMSEXEC. As the name suggests, this thread keeps an eye on Replication Configuration and Monitoring. You can refer to the rcmctrl.log file to get more details about RCM related activities.

RG – Replication Group

Replication Groups are a set of tables that are monitored and replicated together. Replication groups are segregated and grouped into THREE Replication Patterns.

To get the full list of RG along with the replication schedule – Run the SQL query – Select * from vReplicationData

Each RG (Replication Group) has a unique Replication ID. In CM 2012 (and CB version) RTM release, all the transport is based on DRS.

Replication Pattern

Replication Patterns are group rules based on those, the replication groups are segregated. Three replication patterns are available. More Details about Data Replication – TechNet Blog

a) Global – Global data is anything that is created by the administrator. Two-way replication between the CAS and Primaries. e.g Package Metadata

b) Global_Proxy – This Replication data is based on secondary servers.

c) Site – One-way replication to the parent site / CAS. e.g Software Inventory/Hardware Inventory

List of SCCM Database Article Name/s

Replication Groups are further divided into Article Names based on ReplicationID. Each RG (Replication Group) has a unique Replication ID.

Run the SQL query to get the list of Article Names used for the SCCM database.

Select * from vArticleData

e.g  Add_Remove_Programs_64_DATA, Add_Remove_Programs_64_HIST, Add_Remove_Programs_DATA, BoundaryGroup, BoundaryGroupMembers etc…

Force SCCM Database Site To Site Replication / re-init process

You can use <site_Code>.SHA file or Preinst.exe /syncchild, If you want to force the site to site replication in SCCM / ConfigMgr 2007. Fortunately/unfortunately, these methods are NOT going to work in CM 2012

/SYNCCHILD option to sync child sites has been deprecated. This functionality is
no longer required in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager.

If you need to perform a manual sync between the CAS and Primary server, same as dropping.SHA file in the inbox or sync child…..

You can use the stored procedure (sproc) spDrsSendSubscriptionInvalid with a suitable parameters to force the site to site replication.

Word of caution – This will start the re-replication between the sites and may cause of a lot of Network Traffic…..

EXEC spDrsSendSubscriptionInvalid,,
EXEC spDrsSendSubscriptionInvalid 'PR1', 'CAS', 'Configuration Data'

How to verify the site-to-site replication from SQL Server Management studio?

Run the SQL query to check out Transmission Queue for a particular site (in my example it’s site PR1). The SQL query (Transmission Queue) is available in Add files via upload · AnoopCNair/SCCM-SQL-backlog-Check-Query@010e8f9 (github.com)

You can verify the transmission logs through the vLogs view.

Word of Caution – Avoid using the “ select * from vLogs ” query in the production environment !!

select * from vLogs
Select top 1000 * from vLogs order by LogTime desc

You can verify site replication through the rcmctrl.log at CAS and Primary servers.

rcmctrl.log  @ CAS server.

See the log file entry “Created miniJob to send a compressed copy of DRS INIT BCP Package to site PR1.”

rcmctrl.log @ Primary server (PR1)

SQL Queries to Troubleshoot SCCM Database Replication

Some Random SQL Queries will help to troubleshoot further on this type of issue. Make sure you have proper SQL backup before updating the SQL DB.

select * from RCM_ReplicationLinkStatus where SnapshotApplied <>1

Select * from Sites where SiteCode in ('CAS','H00')

Update ServerData set SiteStatus = 125 where SiteCode = 'CAS'

Exec spFakeSiteOutOfMaintenance 'CAS'

Select * from rcm_drsinitializationtracking where initializationstatus not in (6,7) order by initializationstatus desc

Exec SpDiagDRS

Update RCM_DrsInitializationTracking set InitializationStatus = 6 where SiteRequesting='H00' and SiteFulfilling='CAS'

Update Sites set Status =1 and DetailedStatus =125 where sitecode = 'CTO'

EXEC spDrsSendSubscriptionInvalid 'H00', 'CAS', 'Replication Configuration'

More Details about DRS – TechNet Article

More Details about SSB – SQL Team Article

Microsoft ConfigMgr Team released another extensive guide for SCCM ConfigMgr – SQL based related troubleshooting – here

Sudheesh SQL Troubleshooting Guide – here

Author

Anoop C Nair is Microsoft MVP! He is a Device Management Admin with more than 20 years of experience (calculation done in 2021) in IT. He is Blogger, Speaker, and Local User Group HTMD Community leader. His main focus is on Device Management technologies like SCCM 2012, Current Branch, and Intune. He writes about ConfigMgr, Windows 11, Windows 10, Azure AD, Microsoft Intune, Windows 365, AVD, etc.