Database Link: Old Data

I have a database link between two schemas in two separate Oracle 8.0.4 instances, A and B. If I update data in a table on B and then, in A, do a select * from table_at_B then I sometimes don't see the updates (even though they are commited). If I do a few more unrelated selects in A and then then try to select * from table_at_B later then the updates are visible.

Is some sort of buffering or timed refresh happening here? It's just a plain database link, not a snapshot.

I'd be grateful for any explanation of this behaviour.

Many thanks,

• Bill