---
title: "Get-DbaReplPublisher"
description: "Retrieves SQL Server replication publisher configuration and status from distribution servers."
url: "https://dbatools.io/Get-DbaReplPublisher/"
availability: "Windows only"
tags: ["repl", "Replication"]
author: "Mikey Bronowski (@MikeyBronowski), bronowski.it"
source: "https://github.com/dataplat/dbatools/blob/master/public/Get-DbaReplPublisher.ps1"
last_updated: "2024-01-01"
---

# Get-DbaReplPublisher

## Synopsis

Retrieves SQL Server replication publisher configuration and status from distribution servers.

## Description

Retrieves detailed information about SQL Server replication publishers configured on distribution servers. This function connects to instances acting as distributors and returns publisher details including status, working directory, distribution database, and publication counts. Use this to audit replication topology, troubleshoot publisher connectivity issues, or verify publisher configurations across your replication environment.

## Syntax

```powershell
Get-DbaReplPublisher
    [-SqlInstance] <DbaInstanceParameter[]>
    [[-SqlCredential] <PSCredential>]
    [-EnableException]
    [<CommonParameters>]

```

## Examples

### Example 1: Gets publisher for the mssql1 instance

```powershell
PS C:\> Get-DbaReplPublisher -SqlInstance mssql1
```

### Example 2: Pipes a SQL Server object to get publisher information for the mssql1 instance

```powershell
PS C:\> Connect-DbaInstance -SqlInstance mssql1 |  Get-DbaReplPublisher
```

### Required Parameters

##### -SqlInstance

The target SQL Server instance or instances.

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Alias |  |
| Required | True |
| Pipeline | true (ByValue) |
| Default Value |  |

### Optional Parameters

##### -SqlCredential

Login to the target instance using alternative credentials. Accepts PowerShell credentials (Get-Credential).  
Windows Authentication, SQL Server Authentication, Active Directory - Password, and Active Directory - Integrated are all supported.  
For MFA support, please use Connect-DbaInstance.

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Alias |  |
| Required | False |
| Pipeline | false |
| Default Value |  |

##### -EnableException

By default, when something goes wrong we try to catch it, interpret it and give you a friendly warning message.  
This avoids overwhelming you with "sea of red" exceptions, but is inconvenient because it basically disables advanced scripting.  
Using this switch turns this "nice by default" feature off and enables you to catch exceptions with your own try/catch.

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Alias |  |
| Required | False |
| Pipeline | false |
| Default Value | False |

## Outputs

**Microsoft.SqlServer.Replication.DistributionPublisher**

Returns one DistributionPublisher object for each Publisher configured on the distribution server instance. If no publishers are configured, nothing is returned.

**Default display properties (via Select-DefaultView):**

- ComputerName: The computer name of the SQL Server instance
- InstanceName: The SQL Server instance name
- SqlInstance: The full SQL Server instance name (computer\instance)
- Status: The current status of the Publisher (e.g., Healthy, Unhealthy)
- WorkingDirectory: Directory path where publication data and schema files are stored
- DistributionDatabase: The name of the distribution database used for this Publisher
- DistributionPublications: Number of transactional publications at the Publisher
- PublisherType: The type of Publisher (e.g., MSSQLSERVER for SQL Server, or third-party identifier)
- Name: The instance name of the Publisher

**Additional properties available (from SMO DistributionPublisher object):**

- PublisherSecurity: Security context for replication agents connecting to the Publisher
- RegisteredSubscribers: Collection of Subscribers registered for this Publisher's publications
- TransPublications: Collection of transactional publications at the Publisher
- ThirdParty: Boolean indicating if this is a non-SQL Server Publisher
- TrustedDistributorConnection: Boolean indicating if the distributor connection is trusted
- HeterogeneousLogReaderAgentExists: Boolean indicating if a Log Reader Agent job exists
- ConnectionContext: The connection context to the SQL Server instance
- IsExistingObject: Boolean indicating if the object exists on the server
All properties from the base SMO DistributionPublisher object are accessible using Select-Object * even though only default properties are displayed by default.

---

Part of [dbatools](https://dbatools.io/), a free and open source PowerShell module for SQL Server administration. Full command index: https://dbatools.io/commands/