The present invention relates to a system and methodology providing automation services in a distributed industrial controller environment. In one aspect of the present invention, a data access service is provided that includes, sending and receiving data to and from a data access service namespace operative in the distributed controller environment. In another aspect of the present invention, an alarming service is provided wherein data values are monitored in a server component according to predetermined conditions configured by a user or other entity. If the data values are determined to be outside of boundaries as defined by the predetermined conditions, an alarm can be communicated to a plurality of other components cooperating in the distributed environment.