In an approach, a database management system is configured in a manner that allows all pluggable databases within a cluster to be treated, from the perspective of a user, as though stored on a single container database, even when the pluggable databases are distributed across a plurality of container databases. When a command is received by a database server that is to be executed on all or a subset of the pluggable databases within the cluster, the database inspects mapping information replicated on all container databases within the cluster by a cluster synchronization server to determine which container databases store pluggable databases implicated by the command. The command is then forwarded to the database servers responsible for the determined container databases for execution. As a result, the commands issued by the user can be agnostic in regard to the actual location of the pluggable databases within the cluster.