NetApp SolidFire storage system discovery

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated May 31, 2026
  • 4 minutes to read
    • Summarize
    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 NetApp SolidFire Storage System Discovery

    ServiceNow Discovery leverages the NetApp SolidFire storage system discovery pattern to identify and map clusters and nodes within SolidFire storage systems. This enables comprehensive visibility and management of your storage infrastructure in the CMDB. To discover certain resources, ensure the latest Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application is installed from the ServiceNow Store.

    Show full answer Show less

    Prerequisites

    • Keep the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns, Visibility Content, and CMDB CI Class Models applications updated.
    • Create a basic authentication credential alias for a SolidFire Cluster Admin user to facilitate secure discovery.
    • Verify MID Server connectivity to the SolidFire devices to enable communication during discovery.
    • Configure a serverless discovery schedule targeted at SolidFire clusters and nodes for efficient resource scanning.

    Data Collected and CI Details

    The discovery process populates detailed configuration item (CI) records in the CMDB across several tables, capturing essential attributes such as:

    • Storage Server: Name, serial number, firmware version, IP address, OS version, manufacturer, model ID, and operational status.
    • Storage Cluster: Name, IP address, cluster version (Element OS API), manufacturer, and operational status.
    • Storage Cluster Node: Name, operational status, and cluster reference.
    • Storage Node Element: Hardware details including chassis type, RAM, CPU type/manufacturer, serial number, and operational status.
    • Disk: Device ID, serial number, storage type, size, manufacturer, model ID, and associated storage server.
    • Network Adapter: Name, IP and MAC addresses, netmask, and linked storage server.
    • IP Address: IP, netmask, and linked network adapter.

    CI Relationships and References

    The discovery pattern establishes important relationships to accurately represent the SolidFire environment topology, including:

    • Clusters containing cluster nodes.
    • Cluster nodes hosting storage node elements.
    • Storage node elements managing clusters and allocating storage servers.
    • Storage servers running clusters and containing disks and network adapters.
    • Network adapters owning IP addresses.

    References link CI records across tables to maintain data consistency and enhance impact analysis within the CMDB.

    Practical Implementation

    • Use the provided guidance to create a basic authentication credential alias specific to NetApp SolidFire discovery for secure access.
    • Set up a dedicated serverless discovery schedule focused on SolidFire clusters and nodes to automate and optimize discovery runs.

    Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    By implementing this discovery pattern, customers gain automated, detailed visibility of their NetApp SolidFire storage infrastructure within the CMDB. This enables improved asset management, operational status tracking, and relationship mapping critical for service impact analysis and change management. The structured data and relationships support accurate dependency views showing the interconnections between storage clusters, nodes, and components.

    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 website 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]