A method and system for externally managing router configuration data in conjunction with a centralized database subsystem in a router device. The centralized database provides external management registration and unregistration for various managing router subsystems associated with said database system. The centralized database and the subsystems registered for external data management engage in transaction request sequences to provide router data requested by other client subsystems. The arrangement of the various client subsystems associated with the database subsystem allows the client subsystems to remain modular and independent of each other.