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

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    - brazil

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Brazil IT Operations Management

ft:clusterId :

    - itom

bundleId :

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workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Automatic CI field population

# Automatic CI field population {#ariaid-title1}

Release version: Brazil  
Updated October 8, 2026  
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## Summary of Automatic CI field population

Automatic CI field population in ServiceNow Discovery allows you to automatically set configuration item (CI) field values during the discovery process using generic attributes.
These attributes follow a hierarchical scope system that enables precise control over CI data by defining defaults at broader levels (schedule) and overriding them with more specific values at narrower levels (range set or individual IP address ranges).
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## Key Features

* **Hierarchical Scope Levels:** Attributes can be set at three scope levels---schedule, range set, and IP address range---providing flexibility in assigning CI field values based on location or network segments.
* **Attribute Hierarchy and Precedence:** When multiple attributes exist for the same field, the most granular attribute (e.g., range-level) takes precedence over broader levels (e.g., schedule-level). Attributes can also target specific CI classes, with more specific classes overriding parent classes.
* **Field Value Types:** Supports two types of values---reference values that link to records in other tables (e.g., Location referencing the Location \[cmnlocation\] table) and static string values entered directly (e.g., Asset tag).
* **Target Table Filtering:** Attributes can be applied broadly to all CIs or restricted to specific CI classes and their children by selecting the appropriate target table.

## Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

* **Eliminates multiple Discovery schedules:** Remove the need to create separate schedules for different locations or CI groups by using attributes to define field values at varying granularities.
* **Improves accuracy and reduces manual updates:** Automatically populates CI fields such as location and asset tags during discovery, reducing manual post-discovery edits.
* **Enables precise control:** Use the scope hierarchy to define broad defaults and override them with exact values for specific IP ranges or CI classes, ensuring accurate and relevant CI data.

## How It Works

During discovery, ServiceNow evaluates generic attributes at each scope level and applies the most specific matching attribute to each discovered CI. For example, a location set at the schedule level can be overridden by a location at the range set level, which in turn can be overridden by a location at the individual IP address range level.

An example scenario:

* Schedule level attribute sets Location = Maryland for all CIs.
* Range set level attribute sets Location = Baltimore for Linux Servers.
* Range level attribute sets Location = 123 Main St, Baltimore for a specific IP address.
* A CI discovered at that IP inherits the most granular location (123 Main St, Baltimore).
* A CI discovered at another IP in the same range set inherits Baltimore from the range set attribute.  
Discovery generic attributes can automatically set configuration item (CI) field values during discovery. Attributes follow a scope hierarchy, where more specific scopes override broader ones, enabling you to
define defaults at the schedule level and apply precise values at the range level.

## Benefits {#ci-field-disco-attributes__section_z3v_lgf_k3c}

Using generic attributes to populate CI fields provides the following benefits:

* Eliminate the need to create separate Discovery schedules for each location or group of CIs that require different field values.
* Set CI field values at the schedule, range set, or IP address range level, providing precise control over location data, asset tags, and other fields.
* Reduce manual CI updates after discovery by automatically populating fields during the discovery process.
* Use the attribute hierarchy to define broad defaults at the schedule level and override them with more specific values at the range set or range level as needed.
{#ci-field-disco-attributes__ul_ajs_4gf_k3c}

## How it works {#ci-field-disco-attributes__section_w2v_qgf_k3c}

Previously, CI field values such as location could only be set globally on a Discovery schedule. This meant that all CIs discovered within a schedule inherited the same value, even when more specific information was available for individual IP addresses or range sets.

Generic attributes solve this problem by enabling you to define field values at multiple levels of granularity. When discovery runs, it evaluates the attributes defined at each scope level and applies the most granular
matching attribute to each discovered CI.

## Scope levels {#ci-field-disco-attributes__section_h4g_sgf_k3c}

You can define generic attributes to populate CI fields at the following scope levels. Each level represents a different degree of granularity.{#ci-field-disco-attributes__table_c2f_tgf_k3c__entry__2}

| Scope | Description |
|-|-|
| Schedule | Applies the attribute value to all CIs discovered within the entire schedule. |
| Range set | Applies the attribute value to all CIs discovered within a specific range set associated with the schedule. |
| Range | Applies the attribute value to all CIs discovered within a specific IP network, IP address range, or IP address list. |
[ ]

{#ci-field-disco-attributes__table_c2f_tgf_k3c}

## Attribute hierarchy {#ci-field-disco-attributes__section_tth_vgf_k3c}

When attributes are defined at multiple levels, Discovery applies the most granular value to the resulting metadata, which can influence both CMDB field population and Discovery runtime behavior. The scope hierarchy from least to most granular is: schedule, range set, IP address range. A range-level attribute overrides a range set-level attribute, which overrides an IP
network-level attribute, and so on. Additionally, attributes can target specific CMDB CI classes. When attributes with the same key exist for different classes within the same class hierarchy, the more specific class takes
precedence. If no attribute is defined at a more granular scope or specific class, the CI inherits the value from the next available level.

For example, set the Location field to Maryland at the schedule level, Baltimore at the range set level, and a specific street address at the range level. A CI discovered from an IP address in that
range inherits the street address. A CI discovered from a different IP address in the same range set inherits Baltimore, because no range-level location is defined.

## Field value types {#ci-field-disco-attributes__section_c3y_xgf_k3c}

Discovery generic attributes support two types of field values.{#ci-field-disco-attributes__table_dk5_1hf_k3c__entry__2}

| Type | Description |
|-|-|
| Reference | A value that references a record in another table. For example, the Location field references a record in the Location \[cmn_location\] table. |
| Static | A string value that you enter directly. For example, you can set the Asset tag field to a custom string value. |
[ ]

{#ci-field-disco-attributes__table_dk5_1hf_k3c}

## Target table filtering {#ci-field-disco-attributes__section_mxg_chf_k3c}

Each attribute includes a Target Table field that specifies which CI class the attribute applies to. You can set the target table to the base Configuration Item \[cmdb_ci\] table to apply the attribute to all discovered CIs. To
restrict the attribute to a specific class and its child classes, select a more specific class, such as Linux Server \[cmdb_ci_linux_server\].

## Example {#ci-field-disco-attributes__section_lbg_2hf_k3c}

The following example illustrates how the attribute hierarchy works across three scope levels.  
A Discovery schedule contains a range set with two IP address ranges. You define the following attributes:

* **Schedule level: Location** = Maryland (applies to all CIs in the schedule)
* **Range set level: Location** = Baltimore (target table: Linux Server)
* **IP address (10.0.0.52): Location** = 123 Main St, Baltimore
* **IP address (10.0.0.117): Asset tag** = tag-test (static value)
{#ci-field-disco-attributes__ul_c4q_ghf_k3c}  
After discovery runs:

* The CI discovered at 10.0.0.52 has its **Location** field set to **123 Main St, Baltimore** because the range-level attribute is the most granular.
* The CI discovered at 10.0.0.117 has its **Asset tag** field set to **tag-test** . Because no range-level **Location** attribute is defined for this IP, the CI inherits **Baltimore** from the range set-level attribute.
{#ci-field-disco-attributes__ul_nyn_3hf_k3c}