---
sourceDocument: Australia IT Operations Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/it-operations-management

 Release :

    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia IT Operations Management

ft:clusterId :

    - itom

bundleId :

    - itom

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Alibaba Cloud virtual machines

# Alibaba Cloud virtual machine (VM) pattern-based discovery {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Australia  
Updated March 12, 2026  
![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read
Summarize  
![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI  
This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete.  

## Summary of Alibaba Cloud virtual machine (VM) pattern-based discovery

The Alibaba Cloud virtual machine (VM) pattern-based discovery enables ServiceNow customers to automatically discover Alibaba Cloud VM instances during horizontal discovery using theAlibaba - Virtual Machine (LP)pattern.
This process helps populate the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) with detailed information about virtual machines and their associated resources in Alibaba Cloud environments.
Customers should ensure they have the latest Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application installed from the ServiceNow Store and verify the Alibaba Cloud discovery prerequisites.
Show full answer Show less  

## Key Features

* **VM Instance Discovery:** Captures essential VM attributes such as instance name, ID, state (e.g., Running, Stopped), CPU count, memory size, disk count, guest OS type (Windows or Linux), install status, operational status, and network adapters.
* **Network Interface Identification:** Discovers Elastic Network Interfaces (ENIs) including details like name, ID, MAC address, private and public IP addresses, primary status, and associated instance ID.
* **Cloud Image and Hardware Type Details:** Retrieves image IDs (public and custom) with OS versioning and metadata, and hardware type information linked to the Alibaba cloud provider.
* **CI Relationship Mapping:** Automatically establishes relationships between discovered CIs such as VM instances, network interfaces, datacenters, availability zones, cloud images, and hardware types. This supports comprehensive service mapping and dependency understanding.
* **Tag Collection:** Gathers tags associated with VM instances and stores them in the Key Value table, linking tags directly to VMs for enhanced classification and management.

## Key Outcomes

* **Accurate CMDB Population:** Ensures the CMDB reflects the current state and configuration of Alibaba Cloud VM instances and their related infrastructure, improving visibility and control.
* **Improved Dependency Mapping:** Enables clear insight into VM relationships with network interfaces, datacenters, images, and hardware, facilitating impact analysis and service management.
* **Enhanced Tag Management:** Supports better organization and filtering of VMs through tag discovery, aiding operational and governance processes.
* **Streamlined Cloud Operations:** Empowers IT teams with up-to-date, detailed, and relational data from Alibaba Cloud, enabling more efficient cloud resource management and troubleshooting.  
Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns uses the Alibaba - Virtual Machine (LP) pattern to discover VMs during horizontal discovery. Discovering some of these resources might require updating to the latest version of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application from the ServiceNow Store.

## Pattern-based discovery and mapping requirements {#alibaba-virtual-machine__section_qm1_1wl_dhc}

Verify the Alibaba Cloud discovery prerequisites section in [Alibaba Cloud discovery using patterns](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/NeTOjeNTkxdhDz22~QSk8A "Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns uses patterns to discover components of the Alibaba Cloud deployment during horizontal discovery. Discovering some of these resources might require updating to the latest version of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application from the ServiceNow Store.").

## Data collected by Discovery during horizontal discovery {#alibaba-virtual-machine__section_c5g_zvl_dhc}

Discovery populates the data in the CMDB when running the Alibaba - Virtual Machine (LP) pattern.  
{#alibaba-virtual-machine__table_ztj_yvl_dhc__entry__2}

| Field | Description |
|-|-|
| Name \[name\] | Name of the instance. |
| Object ID \[object_id\] | Instance ID. |
| State \[state\] | Status of the instance. For example: Running or Stopped. |
| CPUs \[cpus\] | Number of Virtual Central Processing Units (vCPUs). |
| Memory (MB) \[memory\] | Memory size in megabytes (MB). |
| Disks \[disks\] | Number of local disks attached to the instance. |
| Guest OS Name \[guest_os_fullname\] | Type of the operating system (OS) of the instance. Possible values are Windows or Linux. |
| Install Status \[install_status\] | Install status of the instance. Default value is Installed. |
| Operational status \[operational_status\] | Operational status of the instance. Default value is Operational. |
| Network adapters \[nics\] | Elastic Network Interfaces (ENIs) attached to the instance. |
[Table 1. Virtual Machine Instance \[cmdb_ci_vm_instance\]]

{#alibaba-virtual-machine__table_ztj_yvl_dhc}  
{#alibaba-virtual-machine__table_dsj_xvl_dhc__entry__2}

| Field | Description |
|-|-|
| Name \[name\] | Name of the ENI. |
| Object ID \[object_id\] | ID of the ENI. |
| MAC Address \[mac_address\] | MAC address of the ENI. |
| Private IP \[private_ip\] | Private IP address of the ENI. |
| IP Address \[ip_address\] | Public IP addresses of instances. |
| Primary \[primary\] | A Boolean indicating whether a network interface is primary or secondary. |
| Node ID \[node_id\] | Instance ID. |
[Table 2. Cloud Mgmt Network Interface \[cmdb_ci_nic\]]

{#alibaba-virtual-machine__table_dsj_xvl_dhc}  
{#alibaba-virtual-machine__table_yvs_wvl_dhc__entry__2}

| Field | Description |
|-|-|
| Object ID \[object_id\] | ID of the image. * IDs of public images contain the operating system version, architecture, language, and release date. For example: win2008r2_64_ent_sp1_en-us_40G_alibase_20190318.vhd. * IDs of custom, shared, and community images start with m.For example: m-0a1b2c3defghijklm4n5o. {#alibaba-virtual-machine__ul_hzw_p4l_dhc} |
| Provider \[provider\] | Image cloud provider: Alibaba. |
[Table 3. Cloud Image \[cmdb_ci_cloud_os_image\]]

{#alibaba-virtual-machine__table_yvs_wvl_dhc}  
{#alibaba-virtual-machine__table_n4c_svl_dhc__entry__2}

| Field | Description |
|-|-|
| Object ID \[object_id\] | ID of the instance type. |
| Provider \[provider\] | Image cloud provider: Alibaba. |
[Table 4. Cloud Hardware Type \[cmdb_ci_cloud_hardware_type\]]

{#alibaba-virtual-machine__table_n4c_svl_dhc}

## CI relationships {#alibaba-virtual-machine__section_zbb_rvl_dhc}

Discovery creates these relationships to support the Alibaba Cloud virtual machine discovery.  
{#alibaba-virtual-machine__table_lqh_qvl_dhc__entry__3}

| CI | Relationship | CI |
|-|-|-|
| Virtual Machine Instance \[cmdb_ci_vm_instance\] | Implement End Point To::Implement End Point From | Cloud Mgmt Network Interface \[cmdb_ci_nic\] |
| Virtual Machine Instance \[cmdb_ci_vm_instance\] | Hosted on::Hosts | Alibaba Datacenter \[cmdb_ci_alibaba_datacenter\] |
| Availability Zone \[cmdb_ci_availability_zone\] | Contains::Contained by | Virtual Machine Instance \[cmdb_ci_vm_instance\] |
| Virtual Machine Instance \[cmdb_ci_vm_instance\] | Provisioned From::Provisioned | Cloud Image \[cmdb_ci_cloud_os_image\] |
| Virtual Machine Instance \[cmdb_ci_vm_instance\] | Provisioned From::Provisioned | Cloud Hardware Type \[cmdb_ci_cloud_hardware_type\] |
| Cloud Image \[cmdb_ci_cloud_os_image\] | Hosted on::Hosts | Alibaba Datacenter \[cmdb_ci_alibaba_datacenter\] |
| Key Value \[cmdb_key_value\] | References | Virtual Machine Instance \[cmdb_ci_vm_instance\] |
[ ]

{#alibaba-virtual-machine__table_lqh_qvl_dhc}

## Tag discovery {#alibaba-virtual-machine__section_dll_pvl_dhc}

The Alibaba - Virtual Machine (LP) pattern collects tags and populates them in the Key Value \[cmdb_key_value\] table.  
{#alibaba-virtual-machine__table_nlm_4vl_dhc__entry__2}

| Field | Description |
|-|-|
| Key \[key\] | Tag key. |
| Value \[value\] | Tag value. |
| Configuration item \[configuration_item\] | References the Virtual Machine Instance \[cmdb_ci_vm_instance\] table. |
[Table 5. Key Value \[cmdb_key_value\]]

{#alibaba-virtual-machine__table_nlm_4vl_dhc}