z/OS discovery

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 3 minutes to read
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    Summary of z/OS discovery

    The z/OS discovery feature in ServiceNow’s Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns identifies computers running the z/OS operating system via the IBM zOS Server pattern. This infrastructure-level discovery collects key configuration data on z/OS servers and populates the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) accordingly. For application-level discovery on z/OS, ServiceNow offers additional application-specific patterns such as IBM Db2, IBM MQ, and IBM WebSphere.

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    To ensure comprehensive discovery, customers may need to update to the latest Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application from the ServiceNow Store. Additionally, migration information from Probe to Pattern is available to support transitions.

    Prerequisites

    • Ensure UNIX System Services (USS) is running on port 22 on the z/OS host to enable SSH connectivity.
    • Verify the ability to execute essential system commands on the host, including uname, hostname, sysvar SYSNAME, netstat, df, ls, cat, grep, ps, and cut.
    • Confirm required permissions: write access to /tmp, read access to all user processes, and the ability to run REXX scripts.
    • Create and configure SSH credentials in ServiceNow to enable secure discovery connections.

    Data Collected During Discovery

    The IBM zOS Server pattern collects and stores detailed information in CMDB tables related to the z/OS server, its network adapters, IP addresses, and USS-mounted file systems. Key data points include:

    • IBM zOS Server ([cmdbciibmzosserver]): Hostname, OS version, OS type (IBMZOS), manufacturer (IBM), hardware serial number, model ID (e.g., z14, z15), and management IP address.
    • IP Address ([cmdbciipaddress]): IPv4 or IPv6 address, network mask, MAC address, and reference to the network adapter.
    • Network Adapter ([cmdbcinetworkadapter]): Interface name, IP address, netmask, MAC address, and reference back to the z/OS server.
    • File System ([cmdbcifilesystem]): USS file system name and mount point, volume ID, dataset name, total and free space in KB, and association with the z/OS server.

    Configuration Item Relationships

    Discovered data is linked to represent infrastructure relationships, such as:

    • z/OS server owns network adapters and IP addresses.
    • z/OS server contains file systems.
    • IP addresses reference network adapters, which in turn reference the z/OS server.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    By leveraging z/OS discovery, customers gain accurate, up-to-date visibility into their mainframe infrastructure within the CMDB. This supports effective configuration management, dependency mapping, and integration with application discovery patterns for comprehensive service mapping. Ensuring prerequisites and permissions are met allows seamless automated discovery and reduces manual data entry and errors.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns finds computers running the z/OS operating system using the IBM zOS Server pattern. 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 new or enhanced Patterns on the ServiceNow® Store

    Visit the ServiceNow Store to view all the available updates 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.

    Note:
    For information on Probe to Pattern migration see the knowledge article KB0694477.

    The IBM zOS Server pattern performs infrastructure-level discovery for z/OS servers. To discover applications on z/OS, use application patterns, such as DB2 on Linux, WMQ On Unix, or Websphere On Unix. For more information, see IBM z/OS Discovery requirements and expectations [KB0623031] article in the Now Support Knowledge Base.

    Prerequisites

    Verify that the UNIX System Services (USS) is running on port 22
    Verify that the USS service is running on port 22 on z/OS.
    Verify the required commands on the host machine
    Verify that you can run the following commands on the host machine:
    • uname
    • hostname
    • sysvar SYSNAME
    • netstat
    • df
    • ls
    • cat
    • grep
    • ps
    • cut
    Verify required permissions
    Verify that you have the following permissions:
    • Write permission to /tmp
    • Read access to all user processes
    • Ability to run REXX scripts
    Create SSH credentials
    For more information, see SSH credentials.

    Data collected by Discovery during horizontal discovery

    Discovery populates the data in the CMDB when running the IBM zOS Server pattern. The pattern discovers USS-mounted file systems.

    Table 1. IBM zOS server [cmdb_ci_ibm_zos_server]
    Field Description
    Name [name] Hostname of the z/OS system.
    OS Version [os_version] z/OS operating system version. For example: V2R5 or 3.1.
    Operating System [os] Operating system type. The value is set to IBM_ZOS.
    Manufacturer [manufacturer] Hardware manufacturer. The value is set to IBM.
    Serial number [serial_number] Hardware chassis serial number.
    Model ID [model_id] Hardware model display name based on model code lookup. For example: z14, z15, or zEnterprise 196.

    If the model code isn’t in the lookup table, this field remains empty.
    IP Address [ip_address] Management IP address used for discovery connection.
    Table 2. IP Address [cmdb_ci_ip_address]
    Field Description
    IP Address [ip_address] IPv4 or IPv6 address.
    Netmask [netmask] Network mask for the IP address. The value is set to 0.0.0.0.
    MAC Address [mac_address] Hardware MAC address. If unavailable, the value is set to NOT_FOUND.
    Nic [nic] References the Network Adapter [cmdb_ci_network_adapter] table.
    Table 3. Network Adapter [cmdb_ci_network_adapter]
    Field Description
    Name [name] Network interface name. If unavailable, the value is set to VIP.
    IP Address [ip_address] IPv4 or IPv6 address assigned to this network adapter.
    Netmask [netmask] Network mask for the adapter. The value is set to 0.0.0.0.
    MAC Address [mac_address] Hardware MAC address for the network adapter. If unavailable, the value is set to NOT_FOUND.
    Configuration Item [cmdb_ci] References the IBM zOS server [cmdb_ci_ibm_zos_server] table.
    Table 4. File System [cmdb_ci_file_system]
    Field Description
    Name [name] Name of the USS file system set to the mount point path. For example: /, /tmp, or /u.
    Volume ID [volume_id] Volume identifier, set to the mount point path.
    Mount point [mount_point] Directory path where the file system is mounted in the USS hierarchy.
    File system [file_system] USS dataset name of the zFS file system. For example: OMVS.ROOT.ZFS or OMVS.TMP.ZFS.
    Size bytes [size_bytes] Total capacity of the file system in kilobytes (KB), as retrieved by the df -Pkv command.
    Free space bytes [free_space_bytes] Available free space in the file system in KB, as retrieved by the df -Pkv command.
    Computer [computer] References the IBM zOS server [cmdb_ci_ibm_zos_server] table.

    CI relationships

    CI Relationship CI
    IBM zOS server [cmdb_ci_ibm_zos_server] Owns::Owned by Network Adapter [cmdb_ci_network_adapter]
    IBM zOS server [cmdb_ci_ibm_zos_server] Owns::Owned by IP Address [cmdb_ci_ip_address]
    IBM zOS server [cmdb_ci_ibm_zos_server] Contains::Contained by File System [cmdb_ci_file_system]
    IP Address [cmdb_ci_ip_address] References Network Adapter [cmdb_ci_network_adapter]
    Network Adapter [cmdb_ci_network_adapter] References IBM zOS server [cmdb_ci_ibm_zos_server]
    Serial Number [cmdb_serial_number] References IBM zOS server [cmdb_ci_ibm_zos_server]
    File System [cmdb_ci_file_system] References IBM zOS server [cmdb_ci_ibm_zos_server]