Cry about...
SQL Server Troubleshooting

Merge Agent: Only members of the sysadmin role may set server options.

Symptom:

A merge agent has failed, the full error message text being:

Only members of the sysadmin role may set server options.

the last command may be recorded as:

{call sp_MScreateglobalreplicat (,?,?,?,?,?,?)}

Cause:

The subscriber is causing the error, not the publisher. The subscriber is preventing the merge agent from functioning because it requires the sysadmin role, but lacks it.

Remedy:

On the subscriber grant the process used by the merge agent the 'System Administrator' role.