How Discovery populating CMDB Data?

[sainath3]

Hi Teammates,

Am new to ITOM,

i want clear information how & from where the Data populate in CMDB by Discovery,

using Datasource(Transform map) Data is populating using Excell sheet,

Manual entry can be possible through form,

but how Using discovery data is going to populate in CMDB?  

[Onkar Pandav]

Hi,

The Discovery product automatically populates the CMDB. Discovery uses probes, sensors, and patterns, to collect and process data about computers, servers, printers, a variety of IP-enabled devices, the applications that run on them, and the relationships between all the items found. This information is sent back to the instance and is used to populate the CMDB.

Check below link.

https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/newyork-it-operations-management/page/product/discovery/concept/c...

Go through some videos on YouTube and also different articles on community.

Here is one video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnxpBikMd90

Through that video link, you'll get basic idea about discovery process.

Mark helpful/correct based on impact.

[sainath3]

Thanks Mr Onkar

The Discovery product automatically populates the CMDB----It means for ex:

In my company having 20 Desktops with Windows server, and also printers.

if i run discovery it will collect all data within the organization

am i right?

[Prashanth Kuma4 · Accepted solution]

Hello Sainath,

You have to provide the IPs in a discovery schedule and those IPs should be reachable from MID server.

Discovery process

• Scanning

  Discovery sends a probed called Shazzam to the network to see if commonly used ports are open and if these ports can respond to queries. For example, if Shazzam finds a device that responds on port 135, Discovery knows that it is a Windows server.

• Classification

  If Discovery finds devices or computers, it sends additional probes to find the type of device or the operating system on the device. For example, Discovery sends the WMI probe to a Windows machine to detect the Windows 2012 operating system. Then Discovery uses records called classifiers, which specify the trigger probe or probes that run during the next two phases. If you are using patterns, the classifier specifies a trigger probe that in turn launches a pattern.

• Identification

  Discovery tries to gather more information about the device and then tries to determine if a CI for the device exists in the CMDB. Discovery then uses additional probes, sensors, and identifiers to update existing CIs in the CMDB or create new ones. Identifiers, also known as identification rules, specify the attributes that the probes look at when reconciling data with the CIs in the CMDB. If you are using patterns, Discovery uses the appropriate identification rule for the CI type specified in the pattern.

• Exploration

  The identifier launches additional probes configured in the classifier. These probes are especially designed as exploration probes to gather additional information about the device, like the applications running it, and additional attributes, such as memory, network cards, and drivers. Discovery then creates relationships between applications and devices and between applications. If you are using patterns, the operations in the pattern perform the exploration of the CI.

Find more information here

You can also learn more about discovery by setting up a MID server in your laptop and discovering the other laptops in network (connected to same router) by following the ITOM guided setup in your PDI.

[sainath3]

Thanks Prashanth,

Got it.