A server farm, comprising: a communication system for routing requests and responses directed towards the server farm, wherein the communication system comprises a bus, a network, or a shared memory; a configuration database storing configuration data for the server farm, wherein the configuration data comprise server topology, security policies, antivirus definitions and language settings, wherein the configuration database is operatively connected to the communication system; and a plurality of servers (202A, 202B, 202C), which communicate with each other through the communication system, wherein each server (202A, 202B, 202C) contains a synchronization mechanism, the synchronization mechanism being a timer service, for automatically updating the server (202A, 202B, 202C) with any change to configuration data in the configuration database by: querying the configuration database periodically; and downloading the change to the configuration data to the server (202A, 202B, 202C), wherein the configuration database is updated by configuration data provided by a configuration data object extending a configuration object model without using the schema of the configuration database, wherein the configuration object model is an only way for interacting with the configuration database; at least one content store that stores data for at least one server (202A, 202B, 202C) in the server farm, wherein the synchronization mechanism propagates information about the content store to the server (202A, 202B, 202C), wherein the content store is operationally connected to the communication system, wherein the stored data comprise documents, data items, discussions, and tasks, wherein the content store operates in conjunction with the configuration database to provide content related to a given configuration change of one or more of the servers (202A, 202B, 202C), wherein the configuration database contains a map of which content database stores data for a server (202A, 202B, 202C). a communication system for routing requests and responses directed towards the server farm, wherein the communication system comprises a bus, a network, or a shared memory; a configuration database storing configuration data for the server farm, wherein the configuration data comprise server topology, security policies, antivirus definitions and language settings, wherein the configuration database is operatively connected to the communication system; and a plurality of servers (202A, 202B, 202C), which communicate with each other through the communication system, wherein each server (202A, 202B, 202C) contains a synchronization mechanism, the synchronization mechanism being a timer service, for automatically updating the server (202A, 202B, 202C) with any change to configuration data in the configuration database by: querying the configuration database periodically; and downloading the change to the configuration data to the server (202A, 202B, 202C), querying the configuration database periodically; and downloading the change to the configuration data to the server (202A, 202B, 202C), wherein the configuration database is updated by configuration data provided by a configuration data object extending a configuration object model without using the schema of the configuration database, wherein the configuration object model is an only way for interacting with the configuration database; at least one content store that stores data for at least one server (202A, 202B, 202C) in the server farm, wherein the synchronization mechanism propagates information about the content store to the server (202A, 202B, 202C), wherein the content store is operationally connected to the communication system, wherein the stored data comprise documents, data items, discussions, and tasks, wherein the content store operates in conjunction with the configuration database to provide content related to a given configuration change of one or more of the servers (202A, 202B, 202C), wherein the configuration database contains a map of which content database stores data for a server (202A, 202B, 202C).