150. Database to database replication excludes simplistic transfer mechanisms using business-transaction-oriented data interchange formats, e.g. ADatP3; such interoperability mechanisms are considered under another heading. The mechanisms considered under this area are the more sophisticated protocols employed within commercial products capable of transaction management, selective attribute-based replication, etc.

151. At present, each commercial database product provides its own proprietary replication mechanisms. Effective standards do not exist for protocols, nor for the data formats employed, or the integrity services provided. Replication between dissimilar products is only possible to a limited degree. It would be possible to adopt a proprietary product as an NCOE standard but no product currently has sufficient market dominance to justify this.