NetApp SolidFire storage system discovery

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated May 31, 2026
  • 4 minutes to read
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    Summary of NetApp SolidFire storage system discovery

    ServiceNow Discovery utilizes the NetApp SolidFire storage system discovery pattern to identify clusters and nodes within the SolidFire storage environment. This process populates the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) with detailed information about SolidFire storage components, enabling better asset management and operational insight.

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    To leverage this discovery, customers may need to update the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application from the ServiceNow Store.

    Prerequisites

    • Ensure Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns, Visibility Content, and CMDB CI Class Models applications are up to date.
    • Create a basic authentication credential alias for a SolidFire Cluster Admin user to allow secure discovery access.
    • Verify that the MID Server has network access to the target SolidFire devices.
    • Configure a serverless discovery schedule specifically for SolidFire clusters and nodes to enable targeted and efficient discovery runs.

    Data Collected and CMDB Impact

    The discovery pattern collects and populates key configuration items (CIs) and their attributes in the CMDB, including:

    • Storage Server: name, serial number, firmware version, IP address, manufacturer, model ID, OS version, operational status, and description.
    • Storage Cluster: name, IP address, cluster version, manufacturer, operational status, and description.
    • Storage Cluster Node: name, operational status, and references to the parent storage cluster.
    • Storage Node Element: hardware details such as chassis type, RAM, CPU type and manufacturer, serial number, model ID, operational status, and description.
    • Disk: device ID, serial number, storage type, size, manufacturer, and association with a storage server.
    • Network Adapter: IP address, MAC address, netmask, and association with storage servers.
    • IP Address: IP address, netmask, and linkage to network adapters.

    CI Relationships and References

    The discovery pattern automatically establishes relationships between discovered CIs to represent the storage system topology in the CMDB, such as:

    • Clusters contain cluster nodes.
    • Cluster nodes host storage node elements.
    • Storage node elements manage clusters and allocate storage servers.
    • Storage servers run on clusters and contain disks and network adapters.
    • Network adapters own associated IP addresses.

    These relationships enhance the accuracy of dependency views, providing a clear map of the SolidFire storage infrastructure.

    Practical Implementation Steps for Customers

    • Create and configure a basic authentication credential alias to enable secure discovery access to SolidFire clusters.
    • Set up a dedicated serverless discovery schedule to perform efficient and targeted discovery of SolidFire clusters and nodes.
    • Ensure the MID Server has proper network access to target devices to support discovery operations.

    Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    By implementing this discovery pattern, customers gain automated and comprehensive visibility into their NetApp SolidFire storage environment. This leads to accurate CMDB population, improved asset tracking, and enhanced operational awareness of storage clusters, nodes, and components. The established CI relationships support impact analysis and service mapping for better IT service management.

    ServiceNow Discovery uses the NetApp SolidFire storage system discovery pattern to find clusters and nodes on the SolidFire storage system. Discovering some of these resources may require updating to the latest version of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application from the ServiceNow Store.

    Request apps on the Store

    Visit the ServiceNow Store to view all the available apps, and for information about submitting requests to the store. For cumulative release notes information for all released apps, see the ServiceNow Store version history release notes.

    Prerequisites

    Verify that the following apps are up to date
    • Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns
    • Visibility Content
    • CMDB CI Class Models
    Create credential alias for basic authentication credential

    Configure a credential alias for basic authentication credentials for a SolidFire Cluster Admin user. For more information, see Create a basic authentication credential alias for NetApp SolidFire discovery.

    Verify that the MID Server has access
    Verify the MID Server can access the target device.
    Create a serverless discovery schedule

    Create a serverless discovery schedule to perform targeted discovery of SolidFire clusters and nodes. For more information, see Create a serverless discovery schedule for NetApp SolidFire discovery.

    Data collected by Discovery during horizontal discovery

    Discovery populates the data in the CMDB when running the NetApp SolidFire Storage System pattern.

    Table 1. Storage Server [cmdb_ci_storage_server]
    Field Description
    Name [name] The name of the CI.
    Serial number [serial_number] The serial number associated with the CI.
    Firmware version [firmware_version] The firmware version of the CI.
    IP Address [ip_address] The IP address of the CI.
    Description [short_description] A short textual description of the CI.
    Manufacturer [manufacturer] The device manufacturer.
    Model ID [model_id] The device model ID.
    OS Version [os_version] The version of the OS running on the CI.
    Operating System [os] The OS running on the CI.
    Operational status [operational_status] Operational status of the resource. Default value is Operational.
    Table 2. Storage Cluster [cmdb_ci_storage_cluster]
    Field Description
    Name [name] The name of the CI.
    IP Address [ip_address] The IP address of the storage cluster.
    Description [short_description] A short textual description of the CI.
    Manufacturer [manufacturer] The device manufacturer.
    Cluster Version [cluster_version] Element OS API version running on the cluster.
    Operational status [operational_status] Operational status of the resource. Default value is Operational.
    Table 3. Storage Cluster Node [cmdb_ci_storage_cluster_node]
    Field Description
    Name [name] The name of the CI.
    Operational status [operational_status] Operational status of the resource. Default value is Operational.
    Cluster [cluster] References the Storage Cluster [cmdb_ci_storage_cluster] table.
    Table 4. Storage Node Element [cmdb_ci_storage_node_element]
    Field Description
    Name [name] The name of the CI.
    Description [short_description] A short textual description of the CI.
    Manufacturer [manufacturer] The device manufacturer.
    Serial number [serial_number] The serial number associated with the CI.
    Model ID [model_id] The device model ID.
    Chassis type [chassis_type] The type of chassis that contains the server.
    RAM (MB) [ram] The memory size of the CI.
    CPU type [cpu_type] The CPU type.
    CPU manufacturer [cpu_manufacturer] The CPU manufacturer.
    Operational status [operational_status] Operational status of the resource. Default value is Operational.
    Table 5. Disk [cmdb_ci_disk]
    Field Description
    Name [name] The name of the CI.
    Device ID [device_id] The ID of the device.
    Serial number [serial_number] The serial number associated with the CI.
    Storage type [storage_type] The storage type.
    Size bytes [size_bytes] The available storage size in bytes.
    Manufacturer [manufacturer] The device manufacturer.
    Model ID [model_id] The device model ID.
    Computer [computer] References the Storage Server [cmdb_ci_storage_server] table.
    Table 6. Network Adapter [cmdb_ci_network_adapter]
    Field Description
    Name [name] The name of the CI.
    IP Address [ip_address] The IP address of the CI.
    MAC Address [mac_address] The MAC address of the network adapter.
    Netmask [netmask] The netmask of the server hosting the network adapter.
    Configuration Item [cmdb_ci] References the Storage Server [cmdb_ci_storage_server] table.
    Table 7. IP Address [cmdb_ci_ip_address]
    Field Description
    IP Address [ip_address] The IP address of the CI.
    Netmask [netmask] The netmask of the server hosting the CI.
    Nic [nic] References the Network Adapter [cmdb_ci_network_adapter] table.
    The Dependency Views map shows all discovered SolidFire storage system clusters and nodes in your organization and the relationships between them.
    SolidFire storage system dependency view

    CI relationships

    The NetApp SolidFire Storage System pattern creates the following relationships and references to support storage system discovery. References link to records in other tables and don't appear in the CI Relationship [cmdb_rel_ci] table.

    Table 8. CI relationships
    CI Relationship CI
    Storage Cluster [cmdb_ci_storage_cluster] Cluster of::Cluster Storage Cluster Node [cmdb_ci_storage_cluster_node]
    Storage Cluster Node [cmdb_ci_storage_cluster_node] Hosted on::Hosts Storage Node Element [cmdb_ci_storage_node_element]
    Storage Node Element [cmdb_ci_storage_node_element] Managed by::Manages Storage Cluster [cmdb_ci_storage_cluster]
    Storage Server [cmdb_ci_storage_server] Allocated to::Allocated from Storage Node Element [cmdb_ci_storage_node_element]
    Storage Server [cmdb_ci_storage_server] Runs on::Runs Storage Cluster [cmdb_ci_storage_cluster]
    Storage Server [cmdb_ci_storage_server] Contains::Contained by Disk [cmdb_ci_disk]
    Storage Server [cmdb_ci_storage_server] Owns::Owned by Network Adapter [cmdb_ci_network_adapter]
    Storage Server [cmdb_ci_storage_server] Owns::Owned by IP Address [cmdb_ci_ip_address]
    Table 9. CI references
    CI Field Referenced CI
    Storage Cluster Node [cmdb_ci_storage_cluster_node] Cluster [cluster] Storage Cluster [cmdb_ci_storage_cluster]
    Disk [cmdb_ci_disk] Computer [computer] Storage Server [cmdb_ci_storage_server]
    Network Adapter [cmdb_ci_network_adapter] Configuration Item [cmdb_ci] Storage Server [cmdb_ci_storage_server]
    IP Address [cmdb_ci_ip_address] Nic [nic] Network Adapter [cmdb_ci_network_adapter]
    Serial Number [cmdb_serial_number] Configuration Item [cmdb_ci] Storage Server [cmdb_ci_storage_server]
    Serial Number [cmdb_serial_number] Configuration Item [cmdb_ci] Storage Node Element [cmdb_ci_storage_node_element]