I am not making the connection - it is code running locally in a SQL agent job - and the code is reading from system tables and/or DMV's

There is nothing in the sql error log around the time of failure

The log is being flooded with this (but not sure if it is related)

sp_server_diangostics encountered a long delay...

Agent log has the following 4 entries at the time of failure:

[298] SQLServer Error: 26, Client unable to establish connection because an error was encountered during handshakes before login. Common...

If you are interested in Currently running queries and not already completed queries in cache, I would suggest a job that runs every X seconds that look at current running...

Thank you

Thank you!

I found this under Advanced Publish Settings

Appreciate your help!

thank you

I just came across this table sys.dm_db_persisted_sku_features

Which looks like it could be what I was looking for

Thank you for your input. 
Having 1 Distributor server, is it then advised to have multiple distribution databases? For the multiple Subscribers?
Something like:
Server A = Publisher
Server B...

Hi,

One publisher server, 27 publications, One distribution database.
I think you could be right , because I have also noticed that when the CPU spikes on the Publisher,...

Thank you for the great info!  
Much appreciated

The changes they want to make is any Alteration on an existing table
eg. ALTER TABLE .... ALTER COLUMN....
or 
ALTER TABLE... ADD ....

Their permissions are
   ...

We have dedicated support staff that can make these alteration - and yes it is all under change control. All changes are reviewed by me in any way. But I...