The new generation of open, distributed, object-based systems poses many new challenges. For example, it raises the issue of how the application should be mapped onto a distributed target platform so that performance and reliability constraints are met. This paper shows how the abstract Engineering Model of ODP, together with the high-level language SDL, can be used to achieve system descriptions that are independent of the concrete platform, despite the implementation-oriented nature of distribution configuration. A distribution configuration language and its tool support are presented. The language today covers static distribution configuration. Controlling the evolution of ODP-based systems also requires support for dynamic reconfiguration, and the paper outlines an approach to how the language can serve as a basis for further work in this area.