1. In a computing environment, a system, comprising: one or more servers operable to host one or more user databases; a directory service operable to store and use data that associates logical server names with the one or more user databases; and one or more gateways operable to receive requests from clients regarding data in the user databases, the requests conveyed in conjunction with logical server names and logical database names, the one or more gateways operable to determine a location of a user database using the directory service based on a logical server name and logical database name, the one or more gateways further operable to act as proxies between the clients and the user databases.