Abstract: Local transactions are run at replication sites while receiving and tracking replication packages from primary sites. If a package coming in from a primary site updates data that a local transaction used, the data is considered stale and the local transaction is restarted. When the replication site wishes to commit (e.g., update data at the primary sites), a special dummy marker is submitted and committed. The marker comprises a dummy transaction that updates a piece of data at the primary site private to the replication site. The local site waits for the dummy transaction in the stream of replication packages sent from the primary site. Once the dummy transaction is received, the replication site is assured that any subsequent replication packages from the primary site will not affect the local transaction. If the replication packages received before the marker do not affect data items referenced during the local transaction, the local transaction commits.