System and method for invoking methods on place objects in a distributed environment

Methods on objects in a distributed environment are accessed and invoked on a system including a plurality of server objects instantiated in the environment in the same address domain, which share a same user directory and authentication system, are on a same user network, and are administered by a single administration team. A service catalog is provided for cataloging a plurality of objects as nodes on a tree, objects including the plurality of servers objects within the distributed environment. A document file is provided for encapsulating cataloged relationships of server objects in the distributed environment and for storing object attributes generated by traversing the tree.