diff --git a/docs/swagger.yaml b/docs/swagger.yaml
index 795bcf2f8..db548b434 100644
--- a/docs/swagger.yaml
+++ b/docs/swagger.yaml
@@ -1499,6 +1499,11 @@ paths:
           format: int
           required: true
           description: The ID of the policy that triggered this job.
+        - name: op_uuid
+          in: query
+          type: string
+          required: false
+          description: The UUID of one trigger of replication policy.
         - name: num
           in: query
           type: integer
@@ -1987,6 +1992,8 @@ paths:
       responses:
         '200':
           description: Trigger the replication successfully.
+          schema:
+            $ref: '#/definitions/ReplicationResponse'
         '401':
           description: User need to log in first.
         '404':
@@ -3926,6 +3933,12 @@ definitions:
       policy_id:
         type: integer
         description: The ID of replication policy
+  ReplicationResponse:
+    type: object
+    properties:
+      uuid:
+        type: string
+        description: UUID of the replication
   RepositoryDescription:
     type: object
     properties:
diff --git a/make/migrations/postgresql/0003_add_replication_op_uuid.up.sql b/make/migrations/postgresql/0003_add_replication_op_uuid.up.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..994487a79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/make/migrations/postgresql/0003_add_replication_op_uuid.up.sql
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ALTER TABLE replication_job ADD COLUMN op_uuid varchar(64);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/common/dao/replication_job.go b/src/common/dao/replication_job.go
index 3773fba37..c25eccc1f 100644
--- a/src/common/dao/replication_job.go
+++ b/src/common/dao/replication_job.go
@@ -356,6 +356,9 @@ func repJobQueryConditions(query ...*models.RepJobQuery) orm.QuerySeter {
 	if q.PolicyID != 0 {
 		qs = qs.Filter("PolicyID", q.PolicyID)
 	}
+	if len(q.OpUUID) > 0 {
+		qs = qs.Filter("OpUUID__exact", q.OpUUID)
+	}
 	if len(q.Repository) > 0 {
 		qs = qs.Filter("Repository__icontains", q.Repository)
 	}
diff --git a/src/common/models/replication_job.go b/src/common/models/replication_job.go
index 3b3c7df80..337df5d2c 100644
--- a/src/common/models/replication_job.go
+++ b/src/common/models/replication_job.go
@@ -54,15 +54,15 @@ type RepPolicy struct {
 // RepJob is the model for a replication job, which is the execution unit on job service, currently it is used to transfer/remove
 // a repository to/from a remote registry instance.
 type RepJob struct {
-	ID         int64    `orm:"pk;auto;column(id)" json:"id"`
-	Status     string   `orm:"column(status)" json:"status"`
-	Repository string   `orm:"column(repository)" json:"repository"`
-	PolicyID   int64    `orm:"column(policy_id)" json:"policy_id"`
-	Operation  string   `orm:"column(operation)" json:"operation"`
-	Tags       string   `orm:"column(tags)" json:"-"`
-	TagList    []string `orm:"-" json:"tags"`
-	UUID       string   `orm:"column(job_uuid)" json:"-"`
-	//	Policy       RepPolicy `orm:"-" json:"policy"`
+	ID           int64     `orm:"pk;auto;column(id)" json:"id"`
+	Status       string    `orm:"column(status)" json:"status"`
+	Repository   string    `orm:"column(repository)" json:"repository"`
+	PolicyID     int64     `orm:"column(policy_id)" json:"policy_id"`
+	OpUUID       string    `orm:"column(op_uuid)" json:"op_uuid"`
+	Operation    string    `orm:"column(operation)" json:"operation"`
+	Tags         string    `orm:"column(tags)" json:"-"`
+	TagList      []string  `orm:"-" json:"tags"`
+	UUID         string    `orm:"column(job_uuid)" json:"-"`
 	CreationTime time.Time `orm:"column(creation_time);auto_now_add" json:"creation_time"`
 	UpdateTime   time.Time `orm:"column(update_time);auto_now" json:"update_time"`
 }
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ func (r *RepPolicy) TableName() string {
 // RepJobQuery holds query conditions for replication job
 type RepJobQuery struct {
 	PolicyID   int64
+	OpUUID     string
 	Repository string
 	Statuses   []string
 	Operations []string
diff --git a/src/core/api/models/replication.go b/src/core/api/models/replication.go
index a24877caf..84617300a 100644
--- a/src/core/api/models/replication.go
+++ b/src/core/api/models/replication.go
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ type Replication struct {
 	PolicyID int64 `json:"policy_id"`
 }
 
+// ReplicationResponse describes response of a replication request, it gives
+type ReplicationResponse struct {
+	UUID string `json:"uuid"`
+}
+
 // Valid ...
 func (r *Replication) Valid(v *validation.Validation) {
 	if r.PolicyID <= 0 {
diff --git a/src/core/api/replication.go b/src/core/api/replication.go
index fd9a9d2d3..5b948474f 100644
--- a/src/core/api/replication.go
+++ b/src/core/api/replication.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ package api
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/goharbor/harbor/src/common/dao"
 	"github.com/goharbor/harbor/src/common/models"
@@ -26,6 +27,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/goharbor/harbor/src/replication/core"
 	"github.com/goharbor/harbor/src/replication/event/notification"
 	"github.com/goharbor/harbor/src/replication/event/topic"
+
+	"github.com/docker/distribution/uuid"
 )
 
 // ReplicationAPI handles API calls for replication
@@ -78,16 +81,27 @@ func (r *ReplicationAPI) Post() {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if err = startReplication(replication.PolicyID); err != nil {
+	opUUID, err := startReplication(replication.PolicyID)
+	if err != nil {
 		r.HandleInternalServerError(fmt.Sprintf("failed to publish replication topic for policy %d: %v", replication.PolicyID, err))
 		return
 	}
 	log.Infof("replication signal for policy %d sent", replication.PolicyID)
+
+	r.Data["json"] = api_models.ReplicationResponse{
+		UUID: opUUID,
+	}
+	r.ServeJSON()
 }
 
-func startReplication(policyID int64) error {
-	return notifier.Publish(topic.StartReplicationTopic,
+// startReplication triggers a replication and return the uuid of this replication.
+func startReplication(policyID int64) (string, error) {
+	opUUID := strings.Replace(uuid.Generate().String(), "-", "", -1)
+	return opUUID, notifier.Publish(topic.StartReplicationTopic,
 		notification.StartReplicationNotification{
 			PolicyID: policyID,
+			Metadata: map[string]interface{}{
+				"op_uuid": opUUID,
+			},
 		})
 }
diff --git a/src/core/api/replication_job.go b/src/core/api/replication_job.go
index a166b49a7..609842f7f 100644
--- a/src/core/api/replication_job.go
+++ b/src/core/api/replication_job.go
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ func (ra *RepJobAPI) List() {
 
 	query.Repository = ra.GetString("repository")
 	query.Statuses = ra.GetStrings("status")
+	query.OpUUID = ra.GetString("op_uuid")
 
 	startTimeStr := ra.GetString("start_time")
 	if len(startTimeStr) != 0 {
diff --git a/src/core/api/replication_policy.go b/src/core/api/replication_policy.go
index cd11f0da1..c894b3b2a 100644
--- a/src/core/api/replication_policy.go
+++ b/src/core/api/replication_policy.go
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ func (pa *RepPolicyAPI) Post() {
 
 	if policy.ReplicateExistingImageNow {
 		go func() {
-			if err = startReplication(id); err != nil {
+			if _, err = startReplication(id); err != nil {
 				log.Errorf("failed to send replication signal for policy %d: %v", id, err)
 				return
 			}
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ func (pa *RepPolicyAPI) Put() {
 
 	if policy.ReplicateExistingImageNow {
 		go func() {
-			if err = startReplication(id); err != nil {
+			if _, err = startReplication(id); err != nil {
 				log.Errorf("failed to send replication signal for policy %d: %v", id, err)
 				return
 			}
diff --git a/src/replication/core/controller.go b/src/replication/core/controller.go
index 0a0626a75..768a47a3f 100644
--- a/src/replication/core/controller.go
+++ b/src/replication/core/controller.go
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ package core
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
 
 	common_models "github.com/goharbor/harbor/src/common/models"
 	"github.com/goharbor/harbor/src/common/utils/log"
@@ -27,6 +29,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/goharbor/harbor/src/replication/source"
 	"github.com/goharbor/harbor/src/replication/target"
 	"github.com/goharbor/harbor/src/replication/trigger"
+
+	"github.com/docker/distribution/uuid"
 )
 
 // Controller defines the methods that a replicatoin controllter should implement
@@ -220,9 +224,16 @@ func (ctl *DefaultController) Replicate(policyID int64, metadata ...map[string]i
 		targets = append(targets, target)
 	}
 
+	// Get operation uuid from metadata, if none provided, generate one.
+	opUUID, err := getOpUUID(metadata...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// submit the replication
 	return ctl.replicator.Replicate(&replicator.Replication{
 		PolicyID:   policyID,
+		OpUUID:     opUUID,
 		Candidates: candidates,
 		Targets:    targets,
 	})
@@ -290,3 +301,26 @@ func buildFilterChain(policy *models.ReplicationPolicy, sourcer *source.Sourcer)
 
 	return source.NewDefaultFilterChain(filters)
 }
+
+// getOpUUID get operation uuid from metadata or generate one if none found.
+func getOpUUID(metadata ...map[string]interface{}) (string, error) {
+	if len(metadata) <= 0 {
+		return strings.Replace(uuid.Generate().String(), "-", "", -1), nil
+	}
+
+	opUUID, ok := metadata[0]["op_uuid"]
+	if !ok {
+		return strings.Replace(uuid.Generate().String(), "-", "", -1), nil
+	}
+
+	id, ok := opUUID.(string)
+	if !ok {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("operation uuid should have type 'string', but got '%s'", reflect.TypeOf(opUUID).Name())
+	}
+
+	if id == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("provided operation uuid is empty")
+	}
+
+	return id, nil
+}
diff --git a/src/replication/core/controller_test.go b/src/replication/core/controller_test.go
index f7ded4556..248912305 100644
--- a/src/replication/core/controller_test.go
+++ b/src/replication/core/controller_test.go
@@ -156,3 +156,26 @@ func TestBuildFilterChain(t *testing.T) {
 	chain := buildFilterChain(policy, sourcer)
 	assert.Equal(t, 3, len(chain.Filters()))
 }
+
+func TestGetOpUUID(t *testing.T) {
+	uuid, err := getOpUUID()
+	assert.Nil(t, err)
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, uuid)
+
+	uuid, err = getOpUUID(map[string]interface{}{
+		"name": "test",
+	})
+	assert.Nil(t, err)
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, uuid)
+
+	uuid, err = getOpUUID(map[string]interface{}{
+		"op_uuid": 0,
+	})
+	assert.NotNil(t, err)
+
+	uuid, err = getOpUUID(map[string]interface{}{
+		"op_uuid": "0",
+	})
+	assert.Nil(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, uuid, "0")
+}
diff --git a/src/replication/replicator/replicator.go b/src/replication/replicator/replicator.go
index 9e3fdeb34..fad3a9640 100644
--- a/src/replication/replicator/replicator.go
+++ b/src/replication/replicator/replicator.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 // Replication holds information for a replication
 type Replication struct {
 	PolicyID   int64
+	OpUUID     string
 	Candidates []models.FilterItem
 	Targets    []*common_models.RepTarget
 	Operation  string
@@ -60,6 +61,9 @@ func (d *DefaultReplicator) Replicate(replication *Replication) error {
 	operation := ""
 	for _, candidate := range replication.Candidates {
 		strs := strings.SplitN(candidate.Value, ":", 2)
+		if len(strs) != 2 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("malforld image '%s'", candidate.Value)
+		}
 		repositories[strs[0]] = append(repositories[strs[0]], strs[1])
 		operation = candidate.Operation
 	}
@@ -69,6 +73,7 @@ func (d *DefaultReplicator) Replicate(replication *Replication) error {
 			// create job in database
 			id, err := dao.AddRepJob(common_models.RepJob{
 				PolicyID:   replication.PolicyID,
+				OpUUID:     replication.OpUUID,
 				Repository: repository,
 				TagList:    tags,
 				Operation:  operation,