Launch SQL Server Replication Monitor Without SSMS Archives

Originally published on KendalVanDyke.com.

I manage a lot of replication publications\subscriptions and when I get a latency or agent failure alert it always bugs me that I have to go through 5 steps to launch Replication Monitor: launch SSMS, go to my server in object explorer, expand the treeview, right click on the Replication node, and choose the menu option to launch Replication Monitor. To make things easier I did what I think Microsoft should have done in the first place and created a shortcut to the Replication Monitor executable in my start menu and on my desktop.

To create a shortcut for yourself open up Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn if you’re running SSMS 2008 or C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Tools\Binn if you’re running SSMS 2005. Right click on sqlmonitor.exe and choose Send To > Desktop (Create Shortcut). Now you’ve got a shortcut on your desktop that will launch SQL Server replication monitor without SSMS with a simple double click! (You’ll probably also want to rename the shortcut to something like “Replication Monitor”)

Unfortunately the default icon doesn’t look great in anything bigger than 16×16 so I replaced it with a really nice (and free!) icon from iconspedia.com that looks much better:

Happy monitoring!

Visit: Activity Monitor Icon on iconpedia.com

About the Author

Microsoft SQL Server MVP & Principal Consultant

Kendal Van Dyke

UpSearch Alum Kendal Van Dyke is a database strategist, community advocate, public speaker and blogger. He is passionate about helping leaders use Microsoft's SQL Server to solve complex problems that protect, unlock and optimize data's value.

Since 1999, Kendal has specialized in SQL Server database management solutions and provided IT strategy consulting. Kendal excels at disaster recovery, high availability planning/implementation and debugging/troubleshooting mission critical SQL Server environments.

Kendal Van Dyke served the SQL Server community as Founder and President of MagicPass, the Orlando, FL based chapter of the Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS). In 2012, Kendal served as a member of the PASS Board of Directors.

Kendal remains active in the SQL Server community as a speaker and blogger. He teaches SQL Server enthusiast and technology leaders how to protect, unlock and optimize data’s value. Since 2008, Kendal has operated a SQL Server focused blog at http://www.kendalvandyke.com/.

Microsoft acknowledged Kendal for his support and outstanding contributions to the SQL Server community by awarding him Microsoft MVP (2011-15). Learn more about Kendal Van Dyke https://upsearch.com/kendal-van-dyke/.

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