Walkthrough: Configuring the Merge Replication Agent (Web Synchronization) sqlcesa35.dll (SP2) on Windows 7 x64 and x86 with IIS 7.5

With the recent release of SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP2, installing the Web Synchronization Agent on Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 has become a lot easier, as I demonstrate below.

Download the latest Server Tools

First, download the latest version of the SQL Compact Server tools for 3.5 SP2.

For x64 systems, the x64 version of the tools is:  SSCEServerTools_x64-ENU.msi

Notice the following on the download page:

Prior to installing SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP2 Server Tools, uninstall all earlier versions of SQL Server Compact Server Tools, including, SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP2 Server Tools Beta, SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP1 Server Tools, SQL Server Compact 3.5 Server Tools, SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition Server Tools or SQL Server 2005 Mobile Edition Server Tools by using the Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel.

On Windows Vista SP1, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 with IIS 7.0, the IIS 6.0 Compatibility Components need to be installed prior to installing SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP2 Server Tools. For more information about installing the IIS 6.0 Compatibility Components, see IIS 6 Compatibility Components.

Configure IIS 7.5

Enable IIS on Windows 7:

Click Start, click Control Panel, click Programs and Features, and then click Turn Windows features on or off.

Select the Internet Information Services check box.

Open Internet Information Services.

Open World Wide Web Services.

Open Application Development Features

Select the ISAPI Extensions check box.

Open Web Management Tools.

Open IIS 6.0 Management Compatibility.

Select the check boxes for IIS 6 Metabase and IIS 6 configuration compatibility and IIS 6 Management Console

Click OK.

 

Install the Server Tools

Install SSCEServerTools_x64-ENU.msi or SSCEServerTools_x86-ENU.msi

Important steps:

The checkmarks in this steps reflects the version of the SQL Server Replication components installed on the system, I my case only SQL Server 2008 replication components are installed.

Otherwise, just click Next, Next…

Create the publication and configure for SQL Compact subscribers

Go ahead and do this. See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms171780(v=SQL.100).aspx

Configure the agent - run Configure Web Syncronization Wizard

Run "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v3.5\sync\SQL\ConnWiz.exe" (you can use the shortcut in Start, All Programs, Microsoft SQL Server Compact 3.5).

Complete the Wizard.

Test the agent

Run: http://mypc/ssce35/sscesa35.dll in your browser.

You may encounter this error:

If this happens, try to remove the web.config file from your root web folder (c:\inetpub\wwwroot). This worked for me.

If the test succeeds, you are good to go:

You can now use SQL Server Management Studio to test your publication, before testing on other machines and devices.

Create a new SQL Server Compact Database, and run the New Subscription Wizard to test it.