Abstract: An adaptive distributed network includes a plurality of information centers connected over a network. Each information center holds any number of information units. The plurality of information applications are connected over the network to the information centers. The information applications retrieve information units from and/or update units at one or more of the information centers. Information applications retrieve and/or update information units at specified information centers. The passage of information over the network is monitored and the distribution of information units across the information centers is controlled adaptively, together with knowledge of the required connectivity between information application and information units. Also the specified information centers are determined in response to the monitored passage of information to improve the system performance.