When "COMMIT TRAN" Doesn't

MSSQL COMMIT fails via FreeTDS

[kp2a]

I am trying to update a MS 2000 / MS SQL server remotely via FreeTDS from a UNIX/perl/Apache box. I can remotely update a MS SQL table via perl or command line tsql using BEGIN TRAN, do it , COMMIT TRAN but the target table reverts to it original state after a few minutes. There are no error messages.

Any clues as to where to look?

Here is a sample - simple test - session
...
locale charset is "ISO-8859-1"
1> select @@trancount
2> go

0
1> begin tran;
2> go
1> select @@trancount
2> go

1
1> use ProdNetPerfMon
2> go
1> select @@trancount
2> go

1
1> update Nodes set Caption = SysName where Vendor = 'Agere Systems, Inc.'
2> go
1> select @@trancount
2> go

1
1> commit tran
2> go
1> select @@trancount
2> go

0
1>

[kp2a]

Same results when using
Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express

select @@trancount
begin tran
select @@trancount
use ProdNetPerfMon
select @@trancount
update Nodes set Caption = SysName where Vendor = 'Agere Systems. Inc.'
select @@trancount
commit tran
select @@trancount

executes as expected without error
Nodes.Caption is updated but reverts after a few minutes.