ServiceNow CIS-Discovery Dumps

The Set Parameter Value operation is used to assign a value to a variable in a Discovery pattern1. The syntax for this operation is as follows2:

Set Parameter Value: =

The  can be either a constant or an expression. To declare a constant, unchanging value, one must use quotes around the value. For example2:

Set Parameter Value: $name = "John"

This assigns the string “John” to the variable $name. The quotes indicate that the value is a constant and will not change. The other options, hash tag, brackets, and dollar sign, are not used to declare a constant value. They have different meanings in the syntax of the Set Parameter Value operation. A hash tag (#) is used to indicate a comment2. Brackets ([]) are used to access an element of an array or a map2. A dollar sign

Debug mode is a feature of the Pattern Designer that allows you to test and troubleshoot your patterns in real time. To activate Debug mode, you need to have the admin role or a role that includes the pattern_designer_debug permission. Debug mode is not available for users who only have the pattern_designer_read permission1.

Credential affinity is an association between a set of credentials and a device on your network. When Discovery or Orchestration first attempts to access a device, they try all available credentials until a valid one is found. Once a valid credential is found, it is recorded in the dscy_credentials_affinity table, and further discovery processes rely on this information. If the credentials are modified or changed, the process will be repeated until a valid credential is found and updated in the same table. Credential affinity allows Discovery to use the most efficient and successful credential for each device, and avoid unnecessary credential failures.

The Pattern Designer is a graphical tool that allows users to create and edit horizontal discovery patterns. The Pattern Designer has three main sections: the left section shows the CI type and the pattern type, the middle section shows the pattern steps and the flow diagram, and the far-right section shows the details of the selected step or operation. The far-right section can display the following tabs, depending on the type of step or operation selected12:

Operations: This tab shows the list of available operations that can be added to the pattern, such as Execute Command, Parse File, Set Parameter Value, etc. Operations are the basic building blocks of a pattern that perform specific actions on the target device or the MID Server.

CI Attributes: This tab shows the list of attributes that can be set or updated for the CI type of the pattern, such as name, serial number, manufacturer, etc. CI attributes are used to populate the CI record in the CMDB with the information collected by the pattern.

Temporary Variables: This tab shows the list of temporary variables that can be created or used by the pattern, such as $result, $output, $user_var, etc. Temporary variables are used to store and manipulate data within the pattern, such as the output of a command, the value of a parameter, or the result of a calculation.

CMDB Dashboard: This tab shows the CMDB dashboard that displays the CI record and its related lists, such as relationships, identification rules, sensors, etc. The CMDB dashboard is used to preview and verify the outcome of the pattern on the CI record in the CMDB.

 When Discovery or Service Mapping identifies a CI that matches an existing CI in the CMDB, it checks whether the CIs are duplicates or not. If they are duplicates, Discovery adds them to a de-duplication task, which is a record that groups duplicate CIs and allows you to review and remediate them. You can use the Duplicate CI Remediator wizard to merge, flag, retire, or delete the duplicate CIs. By default, Discovery does not send notifications, create identification rules, or stop the next discovery for duplicate CIs.

 According to the ServiceNow Discovery documentation, the base system CI Identifiers for Windows Server class are name and serial_number. These are the attributes that Discovery uses to uniquely identify a Windows Server CI. If both attributes match an existing CI, Discovery updates that CI. If only one attribute matches, Discovery creates a new CI. If neither attribute matches, Discovery also creates a new CI. In this scenario, the serial_number is the same for both Windows Servers, but the name is different. Therefore, Discovery will create two separate CIs, one with WindowsSN1 as the name and one with WindowsSN2 as the name.

In ServiceNow Discovery, the reconciliation process is governed by precedence rules. These rules determine which data source’s information will be retained if there are conflicts when multiple sources discover the same CI. In this case, Altiris has a higher order of precedence (300) compared to ServiceNow (100), as seen in the “Data Source Precedents” section of the image. Therefore, if Altiris discovers ‘Windows2’ for the name attribute on the same CI after ServiceNow sets it to ‘Windows1’, the name will change to ‘Windows2’ due to Altiris’s higher precedence.

To troubleshoot discovery issues from a discovery status in ServiceNow, the following related lists can be particularly useful:

Discovery Log- Provides detailed logs of the discovery process, helping to identify errors or issues encountered during discovery.

ECC Queue- Shows the messages and data passed between the ServiceNow instance and the MID Server, offering insights into the communication and data exchange during discovery.

Devices- Lists the devices discovered in the process, allowing for a direct view of the results and any potential issues with specific devices.

The "Running Processes" list is not typically used for troubleshooting discovery processes as it relates more to the operational aspects of the server or device rather than the discovery process itself.References= ServiceNow Discovery documentation, specifically the sections on Discovery troubleshooting and analysis, and the use of related lists for monitoring and troubleshooting purposes.

 The Shazzam probe is placed in the ECC queue as a first step in horizontal discovery. The ECC queue is a table that stores requests and responses for communication between the MID Server and the ServiceNow instance1. The Shazzam probe is a script that performs port scanning on a target host to determine what protocols are available and what classifiers to trigger2. The Shazzam probe is sent from the ServiceNow instance to the MID Server, which executes it on the target host and returns the results to the ECC queue3.

The Credential Affinity table is a table that associates an IP address and a credential in Discovery1. It is used to store the credential that was successfully used to access a device during Discovery2. It can also be used to manually assign a credential to an IP address or a range of IP addresses3. The other options are not tables that associate an IP address and a credential in Discovery. The Service Affinity table is a table that associates a business service and a credential. The Service CI Association table is a table that associates a business service and a configuration item (CI). The Tags table is a table that stores tags that can be applied to records in any table.

In ServiceNow Discovery, when encountering the error 'Active, couldn't classify' during the discovery of a new SNMP network device, it typically indicates an issue with the classification process. Classification is a crucial initial step in the Discovery process, where the system determines the type of device it is interacting with. If an SNMP Classification rule for the new device type does not exist or needs updating, Discovery will be unable to classify and thus properly discover the device. Incorrect SNMP credentials or firewall issues usually result in different types of errors, such as authentication failures or no response from the device.

 The Service Account for the MID Server must have the Log on as service right on the Windows platform. This right allows the MID Server to run as a Windows service and communicate with the ServiceNow instance. The Service Account does not need to have local or domain admin rights, as these are not required for the MID Server functionality. The MID Server User Role is a role on the ServiceNow instance, not on the Windows platform, and it is used to control the access and permissions of the MID Server on the instance.

Discovery and Service Mapping are both products that help to identify and map the IT infrastructure and services in an organization. However, they have different approaches and objectives. Discovery uses IP address ranges as the starting point for finding devices and applications on the network, and then runs probes and sensors to collect information and classify them. Discovery focuses on inventory-related use-cases, such as asset management, configuration management, and compliance. Service Mapping uses entry points, such as URLs or host names, as the starting point for mapping business services and their dependencies. Service Mapping runs patterns, which are sequences of operations that follow the traffic connections between devices and applications, and then creates a service map that shows the logical and semantic relationships. Service Mapping focuses on service-related use-cases, such as service availability, impact analysis, and root cause analysis12.

The Pattern Designer in ServiceNow Discovery uses different types of horizontal patterns to model various IT components and services. The temporary variable 'computer_system' seen in the pattern indicates that this is a 'Computer System' pattern type. This type of pattern is used to model and discover details about computer systems, which typically include hardware, operating system, and other related components.

 Based on the web search results from the search_web tool, the following choices best represent key capabilities of a ServiceNow ITOM Enterprise solution:

Manage Hybrid Clouds: ServiceNow ITOM enables organizations to gain visibility into their IT environment, on-premises to cloud, and see the impact of their applications on business services12. It also helps to plan, track, and secure cloud implementation through best-practice governance1. Four apps comprise Cloud Accelerate to help prepare for cloud migration, streamline provisioning requests, and manage cloud resources1.

Proactively Eliminate Service Outages: ServiceNow ITOM helps to predict issues, reduce user impact, and automate resolutions with predictive AIOps and automation13. It analyzes telemetry and log data using AI to reduce noise, expeditemapping and predict issues1. It also delivers proactive digital operations with real-time log data to solve problems quickly1.

The other choices are not specific to ServiceNow ITOM Enterprise solution, but rather general features of the ServiceNow platform. The ServiceNow platform allows users to create an engaging user experience with intuitive interfaces and workflows. It also enables users to build new apps fast with low-code development tools and pre-built components.

The ECC Queue tab displays the input and output messages from and to MID Servers. The default fields that are displayed on this tab are:

Topic: The topic of the message, such as Discovery, Orchestration, or MID Server.

Queue: The queue name of the message, such as input, output, or error.

Source: The source of the message, such as the MID Server name, the instance name, or the probe name.

State: The state of the message, such as ready, processed, or ignored.

Created: The date and time when the message was created.

Updated: The date and time when the message was last updated.

Some other fields that can be added to the ECC Queue tab are:

Details: The details of the message, such as the payload, the response, or the error message.

Pattern log link: The link to the pattern log file, if the message is related to a pattern execution.

CMDB CI: The configuration item that is associated with the message, if any.

Discovery schedule name: The name of the discovery schedule that triggered the message, if any.

Credential-less Discovery is a feature of ServiceNow Discovery that allows the instance to identify configuration items (CIs) without using credentials. Credential-less Discovery uses Network Mapper (Nmap), a free and open-source network scanner, to collect information about the CIs by sending packets and analyzing the responses. Nmap must be installed on the MID Server that runs Credential-less Discovery. Credential-less Discovery can be used as a fallbackoption when credential-based probes fail, or as a primary option for scanning certain types of devices, such as network devices, printers, or IoT devices12.

 The WMI service is a Windows service that enables remote management of Windows devices using the WMI protocol. The WMI service is required for Discovery to access the configuration and status information of Windows devices using WMI queries. If the WMI service is not running on a host, it will prevent the discovery of Windows devices, as Discovery will not be able to communicate with the WMI Collector or execute WMI queries on the target device123.

The mid.discovery.max_pattern_payload_size property defines the maximum overall size for the returned payload that comes from patterns. This property is set on the MID Server and applies to all patterns that run on that MID Server. If the payload size exceeds this limit, the pattern execution fails and an error message is logged in the ECC queue. The default value of this property is 10 MB1.

A horizontal discovery pattern is a set of steps that execute operations to identify, classify, and populate attributes for configuration items (CIs) of a specific category or class, such as infrastructure or application. A horizontal pattern can be applied to any operating system or platform that supports the required protocols and commands12.

Variables are used in discovery patterns to store and manipulate data that is collected or calculated during the discovery process. There are three kinds of variables used in discovery patterns12:

CI attributes: These are variables that correspond to the attributes of the configuration item (CI) type that the pattern is discovering. For example, name, serial_number, manufacturer, etc. CI attributes are used to populate the CI record in the CMDB with the information gathered by the pattern.

Temporary: These are variables that are created and used within the pattern, but are not stored in the CMDB. For example, $result, $output, $user_var, etc. Temporary variables are used to store and manipulate data such as the output of a command, the value of a parameter, or the result of a calculation.

Global: These are variables that are defined in the global scope and can be accessed by any pattern. For example, $mid, $target, $ip_address, etc. Global variables are used to store and access data that is common to all patterns, such as the MID Server, the target device, or the IP address.

Step 25 uses a shared library called Windows - Storage, which is a reusable component that can be invoked by multiple patterns to discover the storage information of Windows servers. A shared library is a collection of steps that can be referenced by a pattern name and can accept input parameters and return output values. Shared libraries help to avoid duplication of code and simplify the maintenance of patterns.

For ServiceNow Discovery to detect a Windows device, the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) service needs to be running on the host. WMI is a Windows feature that provides a standardized way to access management information about operating system components and services. Discovery uses WMI to query Windows hosts for information about their hardware, software, and system configuration. SSH is used for Unix-like systems, WinRM is an alternative Windows management protocol, and CIM (Common Information Model) is a cross-platform standard; however, WMI is the primary service used for Windows device discovery.

For a MID Server to access servers using Windows Remote Management (WinRM), it's necessary to specify that WinRM should be used as the protocol for Windows management. This is typically done by setting the appropriate MID Server parameter, such asmid.windows.management_protocol, to WinRM. This configuration tells the MID Server to use the WinRM protocol when communicating with the target servers for executing commands and collecting data. The answer is derived from understanding how ServiceNow Discovery uses MID Servers to perform remote operations and the need to configure these MID Servers appropriately to communicate using different protocols like WinRM. It is not sufficient to just add the WinRM parameter on target servers or simply add the MID Servers as a trusted source with DNS; the MID Server itself must be configured to use WinRM. Setting a 'JEA Property' to true is not relevant to the basic configuration of a MID Server for WinRM access.

The image shows a part of a horizontal pattern in Pattern Designer that uses the WMI Query operation to retrieve information about the processes running on a Windows server. The operation takes a WQL query as an input parameter and returns a tabular variable that contains the results of the query. The tabular variable is named ‘WMI Query’ by default, but it can be renamed by the user. The WQL query in the image selects four attributes from the Win32_Process class: Name, MaximumWorkingSetSize, PageFaults, and PeakVirtualSize. These attributes are stored as scalar variables in the tabular variable, and they can be accessed by using the dot notation, such as WMI Query.Name or WMI Query.MaximumWorkingSetSize. Therefore, the most probable results of the image are a tabular variable named ‘WMI Query’ and two scalar variables named ‘MaximumWorkingSetSize’ and ‘PeakVirtualSize’.

A MID Server needs to have access to the install.service-now.com domain to automatically stay up-to-date with instance versions. This domain hosts the MID Server upgrade files that are downloaded and installed by the MID Server when a new version is available. The MID Server checks for updates every 24 hours by default, or when the mid.upgrade.check_interval property is set12.

A horizontal pattern is a type of Discovery pattern that discovers configuration items (CIs) and their relationships by moving across the network from one device to another. A horizontal pattern can use the Change user operation to switch from the default credentials to any other appropriate credentials for a specific device or application. This operation allows the pattern to access different types of CIs with different authentication methods.

The main Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the CMDB Health scorecard in ServiceNow include Correctness, Completeness, and Staleness. These KPIs are critical for assessing the overall health and quality of the CMDB. Correctness refers to the accuracy of the data in the CMDB, Completeness measures whether all required CI data is present, and Staleness indicates the freshness or timeliness of the CI data. Compliance and Duplicates, while important, are not considered main KPIs in the context of the CMDB Health scorecard.References= ServiceNow CMDB documentation and CMDB Health Dashboard user guide, focusing on the key performance indicators for CMDB health.

Quick Discovery is a wizard that helps you get up and running with Discovery quickly. It discovers both physical and logical components, including virtual machines, servers, storage, databases, applications, and more. To use Quick Discovery, you need to have a MID Server installed and configured, and provide a target IP range or subnet to scan. You do not need to create a Discovery Schedule or a PID for Quick Discovery.

When designing steps with operations requiring variables, it is best practice to query targets for variables1. This allows you to dynamically obtain the values of the variables from the target devices, rather than hard coding them or using scalar variables that may not reflect the current state of the target. Querying targets for variables also enables you to design for a dynamic environment, where the target configuration may change over time.

A Functionality Definition is a configuration record that defines what protocols to detect from within a Behavior. A Behavior is a set of Functionality Definitions that Discovery uses to identify and explore a device or application. A Functionality Definition specifies the order, type, and parameters of the probes that Discovery launches to gather information about a device or application12.

SNMP credentials are used by Discovery to communicate with devices that support the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). SNMP credentials do not include a user name, just a password, called the community string. The default read-only community string for many SNMP devices is public, and Discovery will try that automatically. Enter the appropriate SNMP credentials if they differ from the public community string1.