A method and system for updating a remote database over a network. A plurality of periodic updates, called sendfiles, based on incremental changes to a local database are generated. Each of the periodic updates includes at least one transaction. An initialization update, called an initializing sendfile, including a version of the local database at a start time is generated. Additionally, an identifier associated with the last periodic update generated before the start time and an identifier associated with the last transaction committed prior to the start time are generated.