Merge Agent Security
Applies to: 
SQL Server
The Merge Agent Security dialog box allows you to specify the Microsoft Windows account under which the Merge Agent runs. The Merge Agent runs at the Distributor for push subscriptions and at the Subscriber for pull subscriptions. The Windows account is also referred to as the process account, because the agent process runs under this account. Additional options available in the dialog box depend on how you access it:
If the dialog box is accessed from the New Subscription Wizard, it also allows you to specify the context under which the Merge Agent makes connections to the Subscriber (for push subscriptions) or the Publisher and Distributor (for pull subscriptions). The connection can be made using the Windows account or under the context of a Microsoft SQL Server account you specify.
If the dialog box is accessed from the Subscription Properties dialog box, specify the context under which the Merge Agent makes connections by clicking the properties button (...) in the Subscriber Connection or Publisher Connection row of that dialog box. For more information about accessing the Subscription Properties dialog box, see View and Modify Push Subscription Properties and how to: View and Modify Pull Subscription Properties.
All accounts must be valid, with the correct password specified for each account. Accounts and passwords are not validated until an agent runs.
Options
Process Account
Enter a Windows account under which the Merge Agent runs.
For push subscriptions, the account must:
At minimum be a member of the db_owner fixed database role in the distribution database.
Be a member of the PAL.
Be a login associated with a user in the publication database.
Have read permissions on the snapshot share.
For pull subscriptions, the account must at minimum be a member of the db_owner fixed database role in the subscription database.
Additional permissions are required if the process account is impersonated when connections are made. See the Connect to the Publisher and Distributor and Connect to the Subscriber sections below.
Process Account cannot be specified for pull subscriptions to Microsoft SQL Server Express, because the Merge Agent does not run on instances of SQL Server Express.
Password and Confirm Password
Enter the password for the Windows account.
Connect to the Publisher and Distributor
For push subscriptions, connections to the Publisher and Distributor are always made by impersonating the account specified in the Process account text box.
For pull subscriptions, select whether the Merge Agent should make connections to the Publisher and Distributor by impersonating the account specified in the Process account text box or by using a SQL Server account. If you select to use a SQL Server account, enter a SQL Server login and password.
Note
Microsoft recommends that you select to impersonate the Windows account rather than using a SQL Server account.
The Windows account or SQL Server account used for the connection must:
Be a member of the PAL.
Be a login associated with a user in the publication database.
Be a login associated with a user in the distribution database (the user can be the Guest user).
Have read permissions on the snapshot share.
Connect to the Subscriber
For pull subscriptions, connections to the Subscriber are always made by impersonating the account specified in the Process account text box.
For push subscriptions, select whether the Merge Agent should make connections to the Publisher and Distributor by impersonating the account specified in the Process account text box or by using a SQL Server account. If you select to use a SQL Server account, enter a SQL Server login and password.
Note
It is recommended that you select to impersonate the Windows account rather than using a SQL Server account.
The Windows account or SQL Server account used for the connection to the Subscriber must at minimum be a member of the db_owner fixed database role in the subscription database.