FIX: NULL value in the Retention column in the sysmergepublications table and effects on the metadata cleanup process when you set up a merge replication environment in a republishing topology in SQL Server 2008 R2 or in SQL Server 2012

Microsoft distributes Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Microsoft SQL Server 2012 fixes in one downloadable file. Because the fixes are cumulative, each new release contains all the hotfixes and all the security updates that were included with the previous SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or SQL Server 2012 update release.

When you set up a merge replication environment in a republishing topology in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 or in Microsoft SQL Server 2012, some records have NULL values in the Retention column in the sysmergepublications table after the first synchronization. Additionally, the records that a have a NULL value in the Retention column affect the metadata cleanup process for some kinds of articles.

This issue occurs because the value of the Retention column in the sysmergepublications table is set to NULL for rows that contain information about top-level publishers at the Republishing Subscribers.

Cumulative update information

SQL Server 2012

The fix for this issue was first released in Cumulative Update 1 for SQL Server 2012. For more information about this cumulative update package, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Note Because the builds are cumulative, each new fix release contains all the hotfixes and all the security fixes that were included with the previous SQL Server 2012 fix release. Microsoft recommends that you consider applying the most recent fix release that contains this hotfix. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: You must apply a SQL Server 2012 hotfix to an installation of SQL Server 2012.

Cumulative update package 4 for SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1

The fix for this issue was first released in Cumulative Update 4. For more information about how to obtain this cumulative update package for SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:Note Because the builds are cumulative, each new fix release contains all the hotfixes and all the security fixes that were included with the previous SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 fix release. We recommend that you consider applying the most recent fix release that contains this hotfix. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.