Error: SQL Server replication requires the actual server name to make a connection to the server. Connections through a server alias, IP address, or any other alternate name are not supported. Specify the actual server

Replication Setup Error 1
Replication Setup Error 2

Setting up replication between 2 Server some times give you a headache. And if servers are in different domain its a hell.

Today i was setting up replication between 2 servers i have created in different domain. Even though i have setup trust between 2 servers but when i want to connect one server in other domain i have to use (FQDN)fully qualified domain name or IP with port.

This error can also come if you have habit to use FQDN. 


Error” SQL Server replication requires the actual server name to make a connection to the server. Connections through a server alias, IP address, or any other alternate name are not supported. Specify the actual server"

Solution:

1. If you are giving IP , alias name , Fully qualified domain name of server, server name with port , you will get this error.
2. So run @@servername in query aanlyzer and use this name to connect
3. If @@servername is null then run
4. EXEC sp_addserver 'servername\instance', 'LOCAL'
5. And now try you will be successful,If you still face issue
6. Read the error message and remember server name in error.
7. GO to Sql Server Configuration Manager on subscriber machine with Management Studio installed 
8. Expand Sql Native 10.0 Configuration\Aliases node
9. Create new alias for subscriber server name. It is should be a machine name or machinename\instance_name for named instances.
10. Specify another options for alias (port, server and protocol).