A system and method for adapters to provide nodes of a network access to a distributed search mechanism. Network nodes operating as consumer or requesting nodes generate search requests. Nodes operating as hubs are configured to route messages in the network. Individual nodes operating as provider nodes receive search requests and may generate results according to their own procedures in return. Hub nodes may resolve the search requests to a subset of the provider nodes in the network, for example by matching search requests with registration information from nodes. Communication between nodes in the network may use a common query protocol. Adapters may be implemented in the network to reformat messages exchanged in the network. Adapters may customize results. Adapters may enable nodes to function in a distributed search mechanism.