Multi-table update question

Hello all, How do you people solve the problem of multi-table updates? Consider the following scenario: You got a php-program that has, say, ten fields. You got your database that has it's data normalized (as the good database designers we all are *grin*) and split up over, say, four tables. Now, if you want to check that some of the info in the fields are already there, how do you go about it? A practical example. I've got a database of our computers. The database contains name (fqdn), ip-address, mac-address, network, what switch/hub it's connected to, rough location (ie, floor), accurate location (ie. what room) etc. I've got a php-program with the above-mentioned fields. I've got a ip_name_tbl table, a location table, a ac_loc table and a hub_switch_tbl. I wan't to check that the information entered isn't already in the database tables, but I want to be able to add, say, two ip-addresses for the servers etc. The way I solve it now is i SELECT name and other that I want to be unique and see if I get anything. If not, add. If it's there, don't. Obviously there's a problem with my approach: For each computer inserted, there's a minimum of four or five SELECTs and four or five INSERTs. I'm positive some of you have similar problems. How do you go about solving it? Cheers, Markus Lervik -- Markus Lervik | A Microsoft Certified Systems Linux-administrator | Engineer is to computing what Vaasa City Library - Regional Library | a McDonalds Certified Food +358-6-325 3589 / +358-40-832 6709 | Specialist is to fine cuisine