sql server replication: Hello,
every few days my merge replication fails due to a network problem and
subsequent time out. How can I trigger a replication restart automatically,

Bill,
you can change the workflow properties on your merge agent's job so that the
third step on completion goes to the first step.
Alternatively, you could avoid continuous replication and have the merge
agent run on a schedule.
HTH,
Paul Ibison SQL Server MVP, www.replicationanswers.com
(recommended sql server 2000 replication book:
http://www.nwsu.com/0974973602p.html)