ServiceNow Discovery SQL Instance: SQL Server Express LocalDB

[Steven Coda]

Hello Experts,

Our Horizontal Discovery completed successfully, and we look at the Pattern name: MSSql DB On Windows we are noticing that the LOCALDB is now starting to be discovered.  Our SQL Admins are asking us not to discovery these specific LocalDB instances going forward. 

We are on Toyko and the Horizonal Pattern MSSql DB On Windows runs OOTB, it is not modified.

When debugging the pattern and stepping through I can see Horizontal Discovery working as expected and identifying this instance as any other instance.

Has anyone have seen in their own environment where the LOCALDB has been discovered and if so has your internal customers asked to have them not discoverable?

Information we collected from our Microsoft Support Team: 

LocalDB can be considered as an express free edition of SQL Server. It only copies a minimal set of necessary files of SQL Server. Usually Localdb is used for development purpose because it doesn't need any complex configuration. Also, some application may automatically install localdb as their database for non-critical usage.   The reason you are not seeing SQL instance in services or in SQL configuration manager is because LocalDB does not use services, localdb instance are launched on demand through LocalDB instance API calls which we call it launched process.

Reference Link: SQL Server Express LocalDB - SQL Server | Microsoft Learn

[Lisa O_Brien]

We are also seeing an overwhelming number of LOCALDBs being discovered and our internal customers are asking for them not to be discovered - so I am looking for an answer too.