A coordinator database contains the catalogs that the Star Server uses to keep track of distributed objects. When a user requires information, the Star Server accesses the coordinator database and associated local databases through the local DBMS Server to get the information. (Although the coordinator database is an Ingres database and can be accessed just like any other database, it is intended to be used solely by the Star Server, so it is advisable to access the coordinator database through Ingres Star only.)

These entries contain information that define each distributed database and coordinator database in the installation, and show which coordinator database is associated with which distributed database. They also contain configuration information that allows Ingres Star to efficiently process queries.

Optional links to other data are generated by the Register as Link Statement (see page Register as Link Statement—Define Database Objects to Ingres Star). When you register existing data to a distributed database, information on the location of the data is added to the Ingres Star-specific catalogs in the coordinator database.