Run options for discovery schedules

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated January 30, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Run options for discovery schedules

    Discovery schedules in ServiceNow, applicable for both horizontal and top-down discovery, can be configured with various run options to control when and how often discovery jobs execute. Understanding these options helps optimize discovery timing to meet organizational needs and resource availability.

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    Run Options

    • On Demand: Default option; discovery runs only when manually triggered via "Discover now."
    • Daily: Runs every day at a specified time.
    • Weekly: Runs once per designated day each week at a specified time.
    • Monthly: Runs on a specified day each month at a specified time. If the day does not exist in a month (e.g., 30th in February), it does not run that month.
    • Periodically: Runs repeatedly at intervals defined in days, hours, minutes, and seconds, starting from a defined start time. The next scheduled run time is tracked in the Schedule [systrigger] table rather than the UI.
    • Run one time: Executes once at a specific date and time defined in the Starting field.
    • Weekdays: Runs Monday through Friday at a specified time.
    • Weekends: Runs Saturday and Sunday at a specified time.
    • Month Last Day: Runs on the last day of every month at a specified time.
    • Calendar Quarter End: Runs on the last day of each calendar quarter (March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31) at a specified time. The dates can be customized by modifying the DiscoveryScheduleRunType script include.
    • After Discovery: Enables sequential scheduling by running this discovery after another designated discovery completes. It can be configured to run even if the preceding discovery is canceled. This option is not applicable when discovery is started via DiscoverNow or Discover CI, and loops are prevented by design.

    Important Notes

    • The "Time" column in the UI does not display the next run time for schedules set to "Periodically"; this must be checked in the Schedule [systrigger] table.
    • Inactive discovery schedules cannot be designated as "Run after" targets.
    • Loops are prevented by disallowing a discovery to run after itself.
    • The "After Discovery" option is invalid when triggering discovery manually or via certain features.

    Practical Application

    ServiceNow customers can use these run options to tailor discovery schedules to their operational requirements—whether requiring manual runs, frequent daily scans, or complex sequential discovery workflows. Proper configuration ensures efficient resource utilization and aligns discovery with business schedules.

    Both horizontal and top-down discovery use these run options.

    Table 1. Discovery schedule run options
    Run option Description
    On Demand

    Doesn’t run on a schedule. Select Discover now to run Discovery. This is the default option.
    Daily Runs every day. Use the Time field to specify the time of day.
    Weekly Runs on one designated day of each week. Use the Time field to specify the time of day.
    Monthly Runs on one designated day of each month. Use the Day field to select the day of the month. Use the Time field to specify the time of day. If the designated day doesn’t occur in the month, the schedule doesn’t run that month. For example, if you designate day 30, the schedule doesn’t run in February.
    Periodically

    Runs every designated time. Use the Repeat Interval field to define the time in days, hours, minutes, and seconds. The first Discovery runs at the point in time defined in the Starting field. The subsequent discoveries run after each Repeat Interval period passes.

    Note:
    For schedules configured as "Periodically", the "Time" column won't display the next scheduled run time. To determine the next execution time for schedule that is configured to run "Periodically", navigate to the Schedule [sys_trigger] table and locate the corresponding schedule record. The Next Action field will indicate the next scheduled run.
    Once Run one time as designated by the date and time defined in the Starting field.
    Weekdays Runs every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Use the Time field to select the time of day.
    Weekends Runs every Saturday and Sunday. Use the Time field to select the time of day.
    Month Last Day Run the last day of every month. Use the Time field to select the time of day.
    Calendar Quarter End Runs on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. Use the Time field to select the time of day. To change the dates, modify the DiscoveryScheduleRunType script include.
    After Discovery

    Allows you to sequentially stagger the schedule. Use this option to run this schedule after the Discovery designated in the Run after field finishes. Select the Even if canceled check box to designate that this discovery should run, even if the Run after Discovery is canceled before it finishes.

    • This option isn’t valid when Discovery is started via DiscoverNow, or when using the Discover CI feature.
    • You can’t designate an inactive Discovery schedule.
    • You can’t create a loop by designating the run after Discovery to be the same Discovery.
    • This Discovery doesn’t run if the Run after Discovery doesn’t finish, with the exception that the Even if canceled check box is selected and the Discovery is canceled.