Volatile resource manager with pre-prepare notification

The present invention relates generally to transaction processing systems, and more particularly to techniques for preparing resource managers before phase one of the two-phase commitment (2PC) protocol commences. Methods and systems that provide a resource manager the ability to register with a transaction manager that it needs to be "pre-prepared" for a transaction. The transaction manager will issue a pre-prepare notification to any resource manager so registered, and will delay phase one of the two-phase commitment (2PC) protocol until all pre-prepare-registered resource managers have responded that they are ready for commitment processing.