Using Synonyms for Front-End/Back-End

I have a problem and was wondering if anyone out there had "solved" it before I went off trying to find a solution myself. The problem is we have a fully redundant hardware platform that would be put into use for our users iff the main server went out-to-lunch (CPU failure, disk controller failure (we use mirroring), etc...), and we have front end servers that point to "database_name@machine_name". What is a way to make it easy to point the front ends at the other (redundant) machine (ie. "database_name@other_machine_name") easily?? Is it feasible to have all front ends pointing to the synonym for "database_name@machine_name" and change the synonym somehow to "database_name@other_machine_name" AND have the front ends pick up on this?? I am really baffled by a way to do this (where the machine name changes). I see the problem as how can the front end get the synonym if it doesn't know which machine to ask? Right? Or am I way out there?? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Mike -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike Reetz boulder.colorado.edu!morse!reetz ConferTech International (800) 525-8244 or (303) 235-5378 (voice 2801 Youngfield, Golden, CO 80401 (303) 237-5151 (switchboard) mail)