A variety of methods, apparatus, and data structures for managing transient and persistent distributed objects are disclosed. Objects for use as object references are described, both for transient and persistent objects. In one aspect of the invention, a data structure that is intended for use as an object reference for a transient object is disclosed having a set of endpoint addresses, an incarnation number, and an object key. These elements serve to uniquely identify and locate the transient object. In another aspect of the invention, an object that is intended for use as an object reference for a persistent object is disclosed having a host computer name, a locator identification, an object key, and a subobject identifier. The first three elements serve as an indirection to the persistent object and the third element is for use by the persistent object. These data structures enable a distributed object operating environment which integrates both transient and persistent objects. A variety of methods utilizing one or more of the elements of the abovementioned object references to provide a system resource efficient interaction between a client requesting service from a server object. One particular method selects the fastest transport mode between the client and the server object. Another specific method teaches reading addressing information directly from local cache memory. If the addressing information is not available in cache memory, the information is first found and then stored in cache memory thereby perpetuating the efficiency of the invention.