multiple db servers for one app

hi im looking for a point in the right direction. i would like to setup 1 mysql db server for user account data with pointers to X other db mysql servers with data split into 1TB dbs. the reason for this is that all logged in users will access all data depending on share permissions. i was looking at partitioning in mysql with hibernate shards, but this seems far to complicated. it would seem that there should be some simple way to specify pointers to other dbs from within the login db. we are currently using tomcat/struts2/spring/hibernate/mysql. where do i need to start researching to accomplish this?

Anthony,
Welcome to JavaRanch!

I don't know the full answer for mySql, but I can point to research direction. I think database partitions are the way to go. (based on a different database) A partition means the database stores the data in a tablespace based on some criteria that you specify - this sounds like what you are trying to do. I imagine you could mount those tablespaces on different machines to accomplish the end goal.