You can use the local database directory to override the DCE directory information. For example, if you CONNECT TO DBTEST where /.:/subsys/database/DBTEST is defined in the DCE directory as residing on a host called JAGUAR, you can temporarily change DBTEST to a different database residing on a host called STORM. Catalog DBTEST locally as a remote database with a node directory entry pointing to STORM.
You can create an alias for a database whose DCE name does not follow the directory path name of the client. See CATALOG GLOBAL DATABASE Command for details about the command.