Abstract: Service registration, discovery, connectivity, and administration are provided on a computer network. The invention includes a directory service, a service provider service, and a consumer provided service. A first software component registers as a service with a directory service process executing on a second computer, and the directory service process creates a registration for the first component of software. A second component of software executes on a third computer and communicates to the directory service process, a request to access and interact with the first software component. The directory service process responds by locating the registration entry for the first component of software, and facilitates communication with the first component of software on behalf of the second component of software.