SQL Remote User's Guide
SQL Remote Administration
Tuning Message Agent performance
Tuning incoming message polling
If, when the Message Agent polls for incoming messages, one message is missing from a sequence, the Message Agent does not immediately request that the message be resent. Instead, it has a default patience of one poll.
If the next message expected is number 6 and message 7 is found, the Message Agent takes no action until the next poll. Then, if no new message for that user is found, it issues a resend request.
You can change the number of polls for which the Message Agent waits before sending a request using the -rp option. This option is often used in conjunction with the -rd option that sets the polling interval.
For example, if you have a very small polling interval, and a message system that does not preserver the order in which messages arrive, it may be very common for out-of-sync messages to arrive only after two or three polls have been completed. In such a case, you should instruct the Message Agent to be more patient before sending a resend request, by increasing the -rp value. If you do not do this, a large number of unnecessary resend requests may be sent.