A method and apparatus for determining a mapping of a database object to storage layers is provided. According to one aspect, a database server generates views that represent which components of each storage layer store parts of the object. The views are based on information that the database server automatically gathers from one or more vendor libraries. Each library implements a common API. Each storage layer is associated with a library. The database server passes the object's identifier to each library's implementation of a get-mapping routine of the API. A process that is associated with the storage layer that recognizes the object's identifier responds with the identity of one or more components of the storage layer that store one or more parts of the object. The database server recursively uses this information to obtain mappings between storage layer components and underlying storage layer components.