1. For a data communication network comprising multiple computing nodes linked by communication media and/or channels, each node serving one or more entities, a method of establishing logical name associations between nodes and their respectively served entities, for permitting programs and/or operators at said nodes to share entities dispersed across said network and initiate communications with said entities by associated names without having to determine physical locations of said entities, comprising: maintaining name association tables at said nodes indicating names adopted at said nodes for respectively served entities; at any node seeking to adopt a new name association, broadcasting a Name Check request message over said network indicating the name to be adopted and the physical address location in said network of the node proposing the adoption; receiving said request at other nodes, and comparing the proposed name with names stored in the name association tables at said other nodes; at any of said other nodes finding a name in their table matching the proposed name, transmitting an acknowledgment message over said network addressed specifically to the node which originated said Name Check request; and at the node which originated said Name Check, adopting or rejecting said name conditional upon the number of said acknowledgments received in response to said Name Check.