In a distributed computing environment utilizing Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), a software status display tool that provides a graphical representation of the current operational status of all of the data sources in a computer network. The display tool accesses the CORBA Name Server and obtains all available references for object implementations and their CORBA Interface Definition Language (IDL) interface. The references and interfaces map directly to all of the data suppliers and servers and their respective interfaces. The display tool then interfaces with each and every supplier and server as if it were a corresponding client or consumer and based upon the data it is able to obtain it makes a determination of the state of that particular supplier or server. The display tool then logs the results of its determinations and presents a fundamental color-coded system-wide display of its determinations on a video device.