1 Introduction

The Tabular Data Stream Protocol version 4.2 is an application layer request/response protocol that facilitates interaction with a database server. This protocol provides for:

• Authentication and channel encryption negotiation.

• Specification of requests in SQL, including bulk insert.

• Invocation of a stored procedure or user-defined function, also known as a remote procedure call (RPC).

• The return of data.

• Transaction manager requests.

Sections 1.5, 1.8, 1.9, 2, and 3 of this specification are normative. All other sections and examples in this specification are informative.