1. A central database server comprising: a processor; a central database containing central database content; a first archiving module comprising a first archiving program and a staging database, the first archiving program being configured to collect at least some of the central database content and schema of the central database and to organize the collected at least some of the central database content and schema into the staging database, the first archiving module being configured to associate data comprising a database logical name and a database identifier with the collected at least some of the central database content and schema of the staging database and to archive the collected at least some of the central database content and schema of the staging database with the data as a first content archive file, the first archiving module providing the first content archive file with a first version identifier; and, a second archiving module configured to: archive the first content archive file and associated supporting software into a first executable application archive file, wherein the first executable application archive file is adapted to be executed by an associated remote application server, said executing including executing the associated supporting software for accessing the first content archive file to access the at least some of the central database content by the database logical name and the database identifier, and distribute the first executable application archive file to a plurality of associated application servers other than the central database server for executing the first executable application archive file including executing an instance of a database engine and the associated supporting software on at least one of the plurality of associated application servers to organize the content of the first content archive file into a database in accordance with the at least some of the central database content in a machine and operating system independent format, the database engine instance being configured to access the at least some of the central database content by the database logical name, wherein the first archiving module is configured to provide an updated content archive file with a second version identifier different than the first version identifier of the first content archive file, wherein the second archiving module is configured to distribute to the plurality of associated application servers the updated content archive file contained in an updated executable application archive file and having the second version identifier different than the first version identifier, the plurality of associated application servers being adapted to, responsive to receiving the updated content archive file, perform a controlled switchover from using the first content archive file to using the updated content archive file without terminating executing the instance of the database engine by: blocking formation of new database connections, closing open database connections, booting the updated content archive file, and unblocking formation of new database connections.