MID Server Communication Through an Analogy: The Project Manager and Discovery Admin

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The communication between the ServiceNow instance and the MID Server is essential for effective data collection and processing. To make this relationship and communication clearer, let’s use a simple analogy that compares it to a Project Manager and a Discovery Admin working together within a customer’s network.

Imagine the Scene

Imagine a Project Manager (representing the ServiceNow instance) and a Discovery Admin (representing the MID Server) working together on a discovery implementation project to manage tasks related to the organization's IT infrastructure discovery requirement.

Sending Work Instructions

The Project Manager initiates the process by adding work instructions to the Output Queue of the ECC queue table in ServiceNow. This action is comparable to the Project Manager sending an email to the Discovery Admin, outlining specific tasks or configurations that need to be completed.

Polling for Tasks

The Discovery Admin (MID Server) plays an active role by regularly checking the Output Queue for new work instructions. By default, this polling occurs every 40 seconds, regardless of whether there are new tasks available. This is akin to the Discovery Admin consistently monitoring their email for any new assignments. This regular polling ensures that the Discovery Admin remains updated and helps prevent any loss of communication, particularly if there’s a temporary issue with the connection.

Processing Tasks

Upon receiving the work instructions, the Discovery Admin(Mid Server) processes the tasks as directed. This involves executing configurations or running discovery probes to gather the necessary data. After completing the tasks, the Discovery Admin prepares to report the results back to the Project Manager.

Updating Results

Once the tasks are finished, the Discovery Admin sends an email back to the Project Manager with the results of the completed tasks. This email symbolizes the entry in the Input Queue of the ECC queue table in ServiceNow, where the MID Server logs the outcomes of the work instructions.

Points to Remember

• ECC Output Queue: This represents the work instructions sent by the Project Manager (ServiceNow) that the Discovery Admin (MID server) polls for.
• ECC Input Queue: This signifies the results that the Discovery Admin(Mid Server) sends back to the Project Manager(ServiceNow) after completing the tasks.
• Polling Interval: The Discovery Admin (MID server) checks for new tasks every 40 seconds to maintain open communication and ensure that no updates are missed.

This analogy illustrates how the Project Manager (ServiceNow) communicates tasks to the Discovery Admin (MID Server), who processes these and reports back with results.