Abstract: A data request that references an external data environment object (foreign object) is identified. A Data Manipulation Language (DML) statement for accessing the object is traversed in a defined order to identify foreign servers having the foreign object. Connections are attempted to foreign servers in the defined order and a selection to one of the foreign servers is made based on server and/or data conditions. The selected server is used for the request to process the portion of the request that includes the foreign object, In an embodiment and during execution of data request, the server and/or the data conditions can be dynamically overridden to change selection criteria for the selected server.