Techniques for managing databases include registering multiple databases at a community server. Each database is controlled by a different party. The community server is accessible over a first network to which one or more users from each party have access. Each database is installed on a different network than the first network. The community server receives from a user over the first network a request to perform a management operation relating to a particular database that is controlled by a particular party. The community server determines that the particular database is registered and determines whether the user is authorized to perform the management operation. If the user is authorized, then the community server causes the management operation to be performed. With these techniques, one or more database devices, such as database appliances, can be managed over the Internet with a browser, at least for many common database management functions. This alleviates the load on an enterprise database manager platform, provides metadata even when the database device or enterprise platform is not working, provides ready backup when a database device or enterprise platform returns to operation, and enables a database administrator for the enterprise to perform some management functions while on the road, away from the site of the enterprise. It can also provide users of an enterprise's database devices with access to some database metadata when the user is on the road or the enterprise equipment is not operating.