1. A computer-implemented method in a data processing system for controlling a distribution of a system management product in a computer network, comprising: broadcasting a request to a set of computers in the computer network, the set of computers comprising a plurality of computers including servers and workstations arranged in a hierarchy, the request being sent to each computer in the set of computers at an equal or lower level of the hierarchy; determining whether each computer in the set of computers is subject to a management authority of the data processing system according to the hierarchy; receiving a reply from a computer in the set of computers, the reply comprising status information that indicates whether the computer is subject to the management authority; and responsive to a determination that the computer in the set of computers is subject to the management authority, managing the distribution of the system management product by the data processing system, wherein the request is only sent to each computer in the set of computers at an equal or lower level of the hierarchy as the data processing system broadcasting the request, but is not sent to any computer in the set of computers at a higher level of the hierarchy than the data processing system broadcasting the request.