SQL 2005 Web Synchronization for Merge Replication

Web synchronization in SQL 2005 enables highly secure synchronization of your merge subscriptions. This feature has been in high demand for many years, and Microsoft has finally delivered.

Configuring your Web Server for Web Synchronization

The first step is to configure your web server for web synchronization. To do this, you have to obtain a certificate. You can generate one yourself by using Certificate Services, which ships with Windows 200x Enterprise Edition, or you can purchase a certificate from a certificate provider such as Thwarte, Verisign, and so on.
To install the certificate on your web server, open up the Internet Information Services MMC, expand IIS, expand the node for your server/workstation, locate the web site that will host your web synchronization process, right-click on it, select Properties, and click the Directory Security tab. Click the Server Certificate button to install the certificate. After this is complete, open up your browser and enter https://localhost/ to verify that SSL works. Also try the fully qualified domain name that your subscribers will be using to connect to your web server for web synchronization. You should get a prompt to accept your certificate if SSL is installed correctly.