BUG: Error 18456 when Trying to Configure Publishing Using a Remote Distributor

• Microsoft SQL Server version 7.0

SYMPTOMS

The following error message is returned when you attempt to configure publishing using a remote distributor if the password required for the publisher to establish an administrative link with the distributor is NULL:

SQL Server Enterprise Manager could not configure '<Distributor_name>' as the Distributor for '<Publisher_name>'.

Error 18456: Login failed for user 'distributor_admin'.

WORKAROUND

• Configure the publisher as a trusted publisher to the distributor so that a password is not required to establish the administrative link between the publisher and the distributor.
  
  -or-



• Do not use a login that has a NULL password for establishing the administrative link between the publisher and the distributor.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in SQL Server version 7.0.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps To Reproduce the Problem

• The following steps should be performed at the distributor:
  
  
  1. In the SQL Server Enterprise Manager (SEM), go to the Tools menu and select Replication.
  
  
  
  2. Next, select the Configure Publishing and Subscribers... option.
  
  
  
  3. The Configure Publishing and Distribution wizard will be started if replication is not already enabled on this server.
  
  
  
  4. Choose the local server as the Distributor.
  
  
  
  5. Do not use the default configuration, but customize the publishing and distribution settings as follows:
  
  
  
  1. In the Enable Publishers window, enable a publisher of your choice and then click the ellipse button next to that publisher.
  
  
  
  2. In the "Replication agents on the Distributor log into the Publisher:" section of the Properties dialog box, select the "Using SQL Server Authentication of this account option:" and specify the login and password. Make sure that this login has no password.
  
  
  
  3. In the "Administrative link to the Distributor" section of the Properties dialog box, select the "A password is required to establish a link to the Distributor" option.
  
  
  
  4. Complete the wizard.
  
  
  



• The following steps should be performed at the publisher:



1. In the SQL Server Enterprise Manager (SEM), go to the Tools menu and select Replication.



2. Next, select the Configure Publishing and Subscribers... option.



3. The Configure Publishing and Distribution wizard will be started if replication is not already enabled on this server.



4. Choose the remote distributor.



5. When prompted for the Administrative password leave the password field blank.



6. Use the default configuration and click Finish to complete the wizard.

SQL Server Enterprise Manager could not configure '<Distributor_name>' as the Distributor for '<Publisher_name>'.

Error 18456: Login failed for user 'distributor_admin'.

Additional query words: Replication

Keywords          : kbbug7.00 kbSQLServ700bug 
Version           : winnt:7.0
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbbug 

Last Reviewed: June 10, 1999