Servicenow Discovery and CMDB interview questions.

[SatishChitti]

Hello Everyone,

Can anyone suggest me the interview questions for an ServiceNow ITOM mainly specializes in Discovery part(Scenario Based questions as well).
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

Satish

[Abbas_5 · Accepted solution]

Hello @SatishChitti,

Please refer to the link below:
https://www.servicenow.com/community/developer-articles/servicenow-discovery-amp-cmdb-interview-ques...

OR

Scenario-based ServiceNow Discovery and CMDB questions test practical knowledge. These questions often involve troubleshooting, configuration, and impact analysis within an IT environment. They assess your ability to apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios, not just rote memorization. 

Example Scenario:

Imagine you are implementing ServiceNow Discovery in a new organization with a complex, multi-domain environment. The initial discovery run identifies many false positives and fails to accurately classify some key assets. How would you address these challenges, including the following aspects: 

1. False Positives:

• Explain what causes false positives in ServiceNow Discovery.
• Describe the process for identifying and resolving false positives.
• What configuration changes can be made to improve accuracy?
• How would you verify that false positives are being correctly addressed?

2. Complex Asset Classification:

• Explain how you would classify assets within a multi-domain environment, particularly if some assets have overlapping attributes.
• What are the best practices for creating and managing CI classes?
• How would you handle situations where assets are not being classified as expected?
• How can you ensure that the classification process is consistent and accurate?

3. Impact Analysis:

• What is impact analysis in the context of CMDB?
• How would you use the CMDB to perform impact analysis for a planned change?
• What are some key considerations when performing impact analysis?
• How can you ensure that impact analysis is accurate and timely?

Example Answers (Illustrative):

• False Positives:

  False positives in Discovery can be caused by various factors, including incorrect credentials, misconfigured behaviors, or network connectivity issues. You would need to investigate each instance, potentially using troubleshooting tools to identify the underlying cause. Once the cause is identified, you can adjust the Discovery configuration (e.g., behaviors, credentials, or MID Server) to minimize false positives. Verification involves reviewing the results of subsequent discovery runs to confirm that the issue has been resolved.
• Complex Asset Classification:

  In a multi-domain environment, you might use a combination of CI classes and attributes to accurately classify assets. For example, you could create specific CI classes for different departments or locations within the organization. You could also use attributes to differentiate between assets within a class, such as a 'domain' attribute to identify the domain an asset belongs to. Consistent classification is maintained by defining clear rules for classifying assets and training users on these rules.
• Impact Analysis:

  Impact analysis in CMDB helps determine the potential consequences of a change on other parts of the IT infrastructure. You can use the CMDB to identify assets that are affected by a change, including related applications, servers, and services. This helps you assess the risk of the change and plan accordingly. Impact analysis is most effective when the CMDB is accurate and complete. 

Key Aspects to Highlight in Your Answers:

• Understanding of ServiceNow Discovery:

  You need to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the various Discovery phases (Scanning, Classification, Identification, and Exploration), the different types of probes, and the importance of MID Servers.
• CMDB Management:

  You should be able to explain the importance of the CMDB, how it is populated, and how to manage relationships between CIs.
• Troubleshooting and Problem-Solving:

  You should be able to demonstrate your ability to troubleshoot issues in ServiceNow Discovery and CMDB, such as false positives and missing assets.
• Best Practices:

  Highlight best practices for CMDB management, including data reconciliation, CI classification, and impact analysis.
• Communication Skills:

  Be able to articulate your thoughts and solutions clearly and concisely. 

By preparing for these types of scenario-based questions, you can showcase your practical knowledge of ServiceNow Discovery and CMDB and increase your chances of success in the interview process. 

If this is helpful, please hit the thumbs up button and accept the correct solution by referring to this solution in future it will be helpful to them.

Thanks & Regards,

Abbas Shaik

[Johnson8743]

Appreciate the content!

[SatishChitti]

Hello Abaas,
Thanks, mate, for your help.