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How does ServiceNow Discovery handle duplicate CIs when the same device is discovered from multiple

ravivsnow
Tera Contributor

I’m looking to understand how ServiceNow Discovery handles a scenario where the same infrastructure device is discovered from multiple sources or discovery methods.

For example, suppose a server is discovered through multiple Discovery schedules or has overlapping discovery data from different sources.

How does ServiceNow determine whether the discovered device is an existing CI or a new CI?

Specifically:

  • Which role do Identification Rules and the Identification and Reconciliation Engine (IRE) play?
  • How are duplicate CIs prevented?
  • What happens when different sources provide conflicting attribute values?
  • How do Reconciliation Rules determine which source should update the CI?

I’m interested in understanding the end-to-end flow from Discovery → IRE → Identification Rules → Reconciliation Rules → CMDB.


2 REPLIES 2

Mark Manders
Tera Patron

Looking at the questions you are asking, I'd advise you to go to NowLearning and take the CMDB course where everything is explained. That would give a way better understanding than just answering these questions. You can even just skip to IRE if you don't want to understand everything.


Please mark any helpful or correct solutions as such. That helps others find their solutions.
Mark

Harish Bainsla
Kilo Patron
🚀 Learn ServiceNow Duplicate CI Remediator with real-time understanding! In this video, I explain how duplicate Configuration Items (CIs) are identified and merged in CMDB using IRE and Duplicate CI Remediator. 🎯 What you will learn: 👉 What is Duplicate CI 👉 Why duplicates occur 👉 How IRE de...