Hello Richard,

R> When a stored procedure is configured for activation, and if the
R> max_queue_readers is set to 1, for example, how are activation
R> requests processed when queue entries arrive faster than they are
R> received?  Are activation requests also queued, are they event based?

They are events. The typical design pattern for a queue reader is to write
it as an infinite look that does a waitfor(receive) and if that returns a
null conversation handle, the sproc should exit. I liken it to "fire-lotier-fire."

R> I'm curious about resources used for keeping up with activation
R> requests, and what type of persistence is involved, if any.

Have a read of "Event-Based Activation" and "Understanding When Activation
Occurs" in BOL. These are part of the "Service Broker Activation" Topic.

Thanks!
Kent Tegels
DevelopMentor
http://staff.develop.com/ktegels/