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When configuring a subscription to a publication in SQL Server, on initialization it is common to encounter the error:
The process could not read file X:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\<instance>\MSSQL\repldata\<snapshot>\<snapshot_file> due to OS error 3. (Source: MSSQL_REPL, Error number: MSSQL_REPL20016)
Get help: http://help/MSSQL_REPL20016
The system cannot find the path specified.
(Source: MSSQL_REPL, Error number: MSSQL_REPL3)
Get help: http://help/MSSQL_REPL3
This error can be puzzling at first glance especially when further investigation reveals that the path indeed does exist and the replication agent process accounts have sufficient privileges to access the snapshot folder. Well, if you are like most, you probably configured the Distributor using the Configure Distribution Wizard or the New Publication Wizard which defaults the snapshot folder to a local path.
The reason this error occurs is because when using pull subscriptions and/or a remote distributor you must specify a UNC network share such as \\<computername>\snapshot rather than a local path for the snapshot folder. To alleviate this issue, make the snapshot folder a UNC network share and update the Distributor Properties to reflect this change.
Posted by Paul Bezanson-322376 on 18 July 2012
Thanks! I see no one has commented on this and I'd just like you to know that this post most likely just saved me hours of trying to figure this one out! I realize that the cryptic nature of these messages sometimes depends on where in the process the error is trapped but, really, how difficult would it be to pass some useful information up the error chain? :) Thanks, again.
Posted by Brandon J Williams on 18 July 2012
Paul - Agreed. Some of the replication errors can be cryptic. Glad I could help.
Posted by jwedster on 20 August 2012
Yes, I share in the thanks. This also helped me save significant amount of time.
Posted by G Peterson on 28 September 2012
Yup, a precise and good resolution. A time saver. Thanks!
Posted by ma.pashna on 12 November 2012
Thanks buddy
Posted by Brandon J Williams on 12 November 2012
You are welcome