ServiceNow CMDB Query Builder Complete Guide and Use Cases

Mohit 101 · yesterday

Why CMDB Query Builder Is Important

CMDB data becomes valuable only when you can

- Analyze relationships between Configuration Items
- Identify gaps risks and compliance issues
- Support strategic decisions using accurate infrastructure insights

CMDB Query Builder helps by providing

- A drag and drop visual canvas
- Relationship based querying
- Reusable and exportable queries
- Integration with reporting and scheduling

Sample Customer Use Cases

Customers commonly use CMDB Query Builder to

- Find servers connected to a database or load balancer
- Identify data centers not connected to any configuration items
- Locate servers running applications on unsupported software versions
- Query load balancers that do not support a specific service
- Determine the number of deployed virtual instances per data center
- Find servers without a managed by group assigned

CMDB Query Builder Interface

The CMDB Query Builder provides a visual canvas where users can

- Drag CMDB classes onto the canvas
- Define filters on each class
- Connect classes using relationships
- Control relationship depth and direction

Key interface areas include

- CMDB Classes Panel used to browse and search CI classes
- Canvas used to visually build the query
- Filters Panel used to apply conditions
- Properties Panel used to select output columns
- Query Results Pane used to view results

Query Types in CMDB Query Builder

CMDB Query Builder supports three query types

CMDB Query

- Queries infrastructure CI classes and their relationships
- Supports CI to CI relationships
- Can include non CMDB tables

Example
Find all Windows Servers connected to a SQL Server database

Service Mapping Query

- Queries application services using service maps
- Uses patterns defined in Service Mapping
- Works within application service maps

Example
Find all application services utilizing a Linux Server

Combination Query

- Combines CMDB Query and Service Mapping Query
- Enables infrastructure to service correlation

Example
Find Windows Servers connected to a Tomcat WAR and include related application services

Example Windows Servers and Applications

A common scenario is querying Windows Servers running older operating systems and connected to applications

- The starting node is Windows Server
- Filters are applied on the operating system field
- The server is connected to the application CI class using relationships
- Results show server details with related applications

This helps identify legacy infrastructure risks

Using Query Results

After running a query the results can be

- Viewed in a table format
- Filtered and sorted
- Used to populate CMDB Groups

CMDB Groups

Saved queries can dynamically populate CMDB Groups allowing teams to

- Apply bulk actions
- Monitor CI populations
- Support governance and compliance activities

Exporting Reports from Query Results

CMDB Query Builder allows exporting query results into multiple formats

Steps to export

- Run the query
- Open the query results list menu
- Select export
- Choose the required format

Supported formats

- PDF
- Excel
- CSV

Scheduling CMDB Queries

CMDB Query Builder supports scheduled execution of queries

Scheduling features include

- Running queries on a schedule
- Sending results by email
- Attaching result files
- Compressing attachments if required

Example use case
Weekly report of servers without a managed by group

Import and Export Queries

CMDB Query Builder queries can be migrated between instances

Export a query

- Open CMDB Query Builder
- Open the saved query
- Select export query
- Download the XML file

Import a query

- Open CMDB Query Builder
- Open saved queries
- Select import query
- Upload the XML file

CMDB Query Builder System Properties

Query Builder behavior is controlled using system properties

Access methods

- Open CMDB Properties and Query Builder Properties
- Or open sys properties. list and search for query builder

Common controls

- Enable or disable features
- Control relationship depth
- Adjust performance settings