How the software discovery mechanism works for SAM?
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‎03-30-2022 12:16 AM
As part of discovery , we manually run or schedule the discovery to discover the CI's on network and updates into CMDB. Here my question is how software discovery runs to find the software installs and updates in respective table. Is there any way to run it manually? or where i can see the phases such as scanning, classifying , identifying and exploring? Please help me to understand the actual mechanism of software discovery for SAM.
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Discovery

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‎03-30-2022 12:46 AM
Hi
Software discovery models are automatically created during discovery to identify and normalize the software installed in your environment.
Software discovery models are stored in the Software Discovery Model [cmdb_sam_sw_discovery_model] table. The normalization process is automatically run when a new discovery model is created. Discovery models are not created for software installations that have a name containing Security Update.
- A software model is a specific version or configuration of software that is purchased and/or available to users.
- A software discovery model is a model created when a version of software is discovered in a network environment.
- Publisher = X
- Product = Y
- Version = Starts with 10
If there are two separate installs of this product (version 10.1 and version 10.2), two discovery models are created. One of the discovery models has the discovered version set to 10.1, and the other discovery model has the discovered version set to 10.2. The reconciliation process associates both of these discovery models to the same software model since they both meet the version criterion of Starts with 10.
Discovery Models
Software discovery models cannot be created manually. The following field combination, called the primary key, is used to match new software installations to a new or existing software discovery model.
For example, if no match is found for version number 8.0.4, but version 8.0 is found, then version 8.0 is used in the Software model field.
The differing values can be set by the user, or by accepting the normalization suggestion changes. Once a new value is set, the normalization status changes form Normalized to Manually Normalized.
Under specific conditions, certain fields that are typically read-only can be edited. If edited, the status changes to Manually Normalized.
Revert normalization
You can revert normalization if you want to.
Discovery models with a status of Normalized, Partially Normalized, orPublisher Normalized revert to the status of Match Not Found. Fields are reset to their original values, and any rules associated with the software discovery model are deactivated.
Software Installations
The Software Installations list contains the software installed in your organization and is populated by discovery.Installed software is placed in the Software Installation [cmdb_sam_sw_install] table by Discovery, and a primary key is built (using Publisher, Display Name, and Version fields).
Discovery automatically matches the discovered software installation with a new or existing software discovery model using the primary key.Mark my answer correct & Helpful, if Applicable.
Thanks,
Sandeep
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‎03-30-2022 01:50 AM
Thanks for the details shared. But still my doubt is not cleared. Can you please give the snapshot from the instance where we can run the discovery manually to find out the software's in the devices on network and how we achieve this automatically ?

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‎03-30-2022 02:14 AM
when Horizontal discovery is ran these libraries are used to called by Pattern and populate Installed softwares.
also same can be controlled from Discovery - Configuration Console too
Hope this helps too
https://support.servicenow.com/kb?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0696096
Regards
RP
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‎03-30-2022 03:54 AM
Very helpful KB on Same topic-
This article explains how data is populated into cmdb_sam_sw_install table.
When SAM is installed and when it runs, Discovery populates the Software Installation [cmdb_sam_sw_install] table.
https://support.servicenow.com/kb?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0854415
Hope this helps
Regards
RP