Abstract: A distributed computer system service monitor provides information to a user regarding the status of services available on the computer system. The computer system includes plural host computers which act as servers and clients in connection with the services. The computer system is logically segregated into functional entities and sub-entities which define service regions and system layers. At least one host computer serves as the service monitor and includes a discovery function for passing a set of queries to other host computers and for using the responses (i) to identify functional entities and sub-entities served by each host computer and (ii) to determine whether each host computer acts as a server or a client or both and (iii) to determine the service or services performed or consumed by each host computer. The service monitor constructs a database which stores service information for each functional entity.