Merge Replication problem over VPN

The setup:
Publisher/Distributor
Win2000
SQLServer2000
Merge replication enabled
Publication created
Subscriber
Win2000
MSDE
connect to publisher over VPN
can ping Publisher using alias
Publisher alias registered in EM
can create subscription (via wizard)
The problem:
When I creat the subscription (or Start Synchronizing), after
"connecting to distributor" (completes successfully), I get the
message:
"The remote server does not exist or has not been designated as a valid
Publisher."
I've looked all over the web and the couple of solutions seem to
suggest adding an alias in the Client Network Utility. But I've already
done that (and can ping by alias).
Configure Publishing ... | Publishers tab has the publisher listed and
checked with its distributor. But the publisher name is listed twice -
once with a distributor and checked, and once unchecked with no
distributor. I thought this was kind of strange.
So, what could it be? Please help!
- Desperate in Pittsburgh
Something is hosed here. The brainless way to fix this is to disable
replication and then to reenable it. The more masochistic but precise way to
do this is to modify the underlying system tables.
Hilary Cotter
Looking for a SQL Server replication book?
http://www.nwsu.com/0974973602.html
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/off...?condition=all
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http://www.indexserverfaq.com
<richerwin@.ubs-europe.org> wrote in message
news:1107578304.398811.87440@.g14g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> The setup:
> --
> Publisher/Distributor
> Win2000
> SQLServer2000
> Merge replication enabled
> Publication created
> Subscriber
> Win2000
> MSDE
> connect to publisher over VPN
> can ping Publisher using alias
> Publisher alias registered in EM
> can create subscription (via wizard)
> The problem:
> --
> When I creat the subscription (or Start Synchronizing), after
> "connecting to distributor" (completes successfully), I get the
> message:
> "The remote server does not exist or has not been designated as a valid
> Publisher."
> I've looked all over the web and the couple of solutions seem to
> suggest adding an alias in the Client Network Utility. But I've already
> done that (and can ping by alias).
> Configure Publishing ... | Publishers tab has the publisher listed and
> checked with its distributor. But the publisher name is listed twice -
> once with a distributor and checked, and once unchecked with no
> distributor. I thought this was kind of strange.
> So, what could it be? Please help!
> - Desperate in Pittsburgh
>