SQL SERVER – Error 21028 : Replication Components are not Installed on This Server

One of my clients, for whom I installed SQL Server and configured AlwaysOn came back to me with an error message. While trying to configure replication they were getting an error message. In this blog, we would learn how to fix error “Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio is unable to access replication components because replication is not installed on this instance of SQL Server”

Here is the exact error message which they received when they tried configuring distributor.

Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio is unable to access replication components because replication is not installed on this instance of SQL Server. For information about installing replication, see the topic Installing Replication in SQL Server Books Online.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Replication components are not installed on this server. Run SQL Server Setup again and select the option to install replication. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 21028)

WORKAROUND/SOLUTION

As the message says, we need to install replication feature. Since SQL Server product is already installed, we need to “add” replication feature to an existing SQL.

Here are the steps to add the feature.

1. Launch SQL Server Installation Center and choose below option.
   
2. Keep the following wizard and here is the screen where you need to make a change in selection. We need to choose the second option and select the instance name.
   
3. And as mentioned in error message, add replication as shown below.
   
4. And this is how it should end.
   

All is well that ends well.

Hope this would help some new DBA to fix the error. Please comment and let me know if this was useful.

Reference: Pinal Dave (https://blog.sqlauthority.com)