Prerequisite:
📋 Before you begin, ensure the following:
- Basic Understanding of MID Server: MID Server should be installed, configured, and running in your ServiceNow instance. Refer my previous article regarding How to setup Mid Server
- CMDB Discovery Architecture: Ensure the CMDB Discovery plugin is installed.
Step 1: Activate the Discovery Plugin
1️⃣ Login to ServiceNow:
- Go to My Profile.
- Select Activate Plugin.
- Choose the Discovery Plugin (Refer to the screenshot below).
💡 Note: Plugin installation may take some time.
📧 You will receive a confirmation email once the plugin is successfully activated.
🔗 For more details on CMDB functionality, refer to the CMDB Documentation.
Step 2: Verify MID Server Installation
🔍 Ensure that the MID Server is installed and operational:
- Navigate to MID Server → Servers in the ServiceNow instance.
- Verify that the MID Server is installed, up, and running.
🛠️ What if the MID Server is not installed?
Refer to this article written by me regarding Mid Server Installation Guide for detailed instructions.
Step 3: Initiate Discovery for the Local Machine
🚀 Purpose: Gather detailed information about the local machine, such as:
- Installed software.
- Running processes with port numbers.
- Machine configurations.
Steps to Start Discovery:
- In ServiceNow, go to the Application Navigator and locate Discovery Schedules.
- Open it for configuration.
- Click the Quick Discovery button.
- In the modal:
- Enter the IP address of the machine (use ipconfig in CMD to find the IP) OR use 127.0.0.1 for localhost.
- Choose the appropriate MID Server for the machine.
- Click OK to begin the discovery process.
🔄 Observe the Process:
- A record is created when the discovery starts.
- Monitor fields like State (changes from "Active" to "Completed").
- Observe device states transitioning from Identifying to Classified.
📌 Result: A CMDB CI for the localhost is created.
🔗 Click on the CI to explore further details.
Step 4: Analyze Discovery Information
📊 Open the localhost record to view all gathered details, such as:
- Installed software.
- Database servers (if any).
- Running processes.
- Configuration details.
Explore Dependency Maps:
- Click on the Dependency Map Icon.
- Analyze the horizontal and vertical dependencies.
📸 Example:
Conclusion
✅ By following these steps, you can successfully activate the Discovery plugin, configure the MID Server, initiate discovery, and analyze the collected data to manage your CMDB efficiently.
🛡️ Pro Tip: Regularly monitor and update your Discovery schedules to keep the CMDB updated and accurate.
Thank you,
Mahesh.
