Top 25 ServiceNow Discovery Interview Questions and Answers 2024

In this article, we will provide a list of common ServiceNow Discovery interview questions. These questions will cover a range of topics, including the basics of Discovery, troubleshooting and maintenance, customization and integration, and advanced concepts such as performance optimization and cloud integration.

Whether you are an experienced IT professional looking to expand your knowledge of ServiceNow Discovery, or a job seeker preparing for an interview in this field, this article will provide valuable insights and help you better understand the key skills and knowledge required for a successful career in ServiceNow Discovery.

ServiceNow is a leading provider of cloud-based solutions for IT service management and IT operations management. One of the key features of ServiceNow is its Discovery tool, which helps organizations automatically identify and inventory their IT assets and infrastructure.

Discovery is an essential component of any IT infrastructure management strategy, as it enables organizations to keep track of their hardware, software, and network resources, and ensure that they are properly configured and maintained.

ServiceNow Discovery Interview Questions and Answers

What is ServiceNow Discovery and how does it work?

Answer: ServiceNow Discovery is a tool that helps organizations automatically identify and inventory their IT assets and infrastructure. It works by using probes and sensors to scan the network and discover devices and services that are connected to it. The Discovery tool then processes this data and creates a record of each discovered asset in the ServiceNow database, which is known as the Configuration Management Database (CMDB).

Describe the Discovery process and its phases.

Answer: The Discovery process typically consists of the following phases:

• Planning: This phase involves identifying the scope of the Discovery process, including the devices and services that need to be discovered and any specific requirements or constraints.
• Scanning: In this phase, the Discovery tool uses probes and sensors to scan the network and gather information about the devices and services that are connected to it.
• Processing: After the data has been gathered, the Discovery tool processes it and creates records in the CMDB for each discovered asset. This process may involve data cleansing and normalization, as well as the application of rules and policies to determine the relationships between different assets and their attributes.
• Reporting: The final phase of the Discovery process involves generating reports and analytics that provide insights into the inventory and configuration of the discovered assets.

How do you troubleshoot Discovery issues?

Answer: To troubleshoot Discovery issues, the first step is to identify the root cause of the problem. This can involve analyzing log files, running diagnostic tests, and working with other IT team members to isolate the issue. Once the root cause has been identified, the next step is to implement a solution to resolve the issue. This may involve making configuration changes, applying patches or updates, or working with vendors to resolve any hardware or software issues.

How do you configure and maintain Discovery schedules?

Answer: To configure and maintain Discovery schedules, you can use the ServiceNow console to create and edit schedules for different types of discoveries. This may involve setting up recurring schedules, such as daily or weekly scans, or one-time scans for specific events or changes to the network. You can also use the console to monitor the status of ongoing discoveries and view the results of previous scans.

How do you handle network changes and updates in Discovery?

Answer: To handle network changes and updates in Discovery, you can use the ServiceNow console to update the configuration and settings for the Discovery tool. This may involve modifying the scan range, adding or removing probes and sensors, or updating the rules and policies that are used to process the data. You can also use the console to monitor the status of ongoing discoveries and view the results of previous scans to ensure that the changes are being properly reflected in the CMDB.

Can you provide examples of using regular expressions in Discovery?

Answer: Regular expressions, or regex, are a powerful tool for specifying patterns in text and are often used in Discovery to extract specific information from data. For example, you might use a regular expression to extract the IP address of a device from a scan result or to parse the version number of a software application. Some common regular expression examples that might be used in Discovery include:

• \d+ to match any series of digits
• [A-Z] to match any uppercase letter
• \bword\b to match the exact word “word”

How do you customize and extend Discovery using patterns and MID Servers?

Answer: ServiceNow Discovery uses patterns and MID Servers to customize and extend the capabilities of the tool. Patterns are pre-defined scripts that can be used to extract specific information from scan results and create records in the CMDB. Patterns can be created using the ServiceNow Pattern Designer, which provides a graphical interface for building and testing patterns.

MID Servers are software components that are installed on remote servers or devices and are used to communicate with the ServiceNow platform and execute Discovery tasks. MID Servers can be used to execute patterns and send the results back to the ServiceNow platform, as well as to perform other tasks such as data collection, integration with other systems, and event management.

How do you use ServiceNow’s integration with other tools, such as CMDB and Asset Management, in Discovery?

Answer: ServiceNow’s integration with other tools, such as CMDB and Asset Management, can be used in Discovery to provide a more comprehensive view of the organization’s IT infrastructure. The CMDB, for example, is a central repository that stores information about all of the assets and services that are managed by ServiceNow. By integrating Discovery with the CMDB, organizations can ensure that the CMDB contains up-to-date and accurate information about the discovered assets.

Asset Management is another tool that can be integrated with ServiceNow Discovery to provide a more comprehensive view of the organization’s IT infrastructure. Asset Management helps organizations track and manage their hardware and software assets, including licenses, warranties, and maintenance contracts. By integrating Asset Management with Discovery, organizations can ensure that the Asset Management database is kept up-to-date with the latest information about discovered assets.

What ECC queue contains?

Answer: The ECC (Event Communications Channel) queue is a component of the ServiceNow platform that is used to store and process event data that is generated by the system. The ECC queue contains records that represent events or messages that are generated by the system or by external sources and includes information about the source of the event, the timestamp, and the event data.

The ECC queue is used to store and process events that are related to the Discovery process, such as data collected by probes, results of pattern processing, or errors and warnings that are generated during the discovery process. The ECC queue can be used to monitor the progress and status of the Discovery process, and to troubleshoot and resolve any issues that arise.

ServiceNow Interview Questions and Answers with Resources.

Advanced ServiceNow Discovery Interview Questions and Answers

How do you optimize Discovery performance and scalability?

Answer: There are several ways to optimize the performance and scalability of ServiceNow Discovery:

• Use efficient scan ranges and probes to minimize the amount of data that needs to be collected and processed.
• Use patterns and MID Servers to extract and process data in a more efficient manner.
• Use the ServiceNow API and integration features to integrate Discovery with other tools and systems, such as load balancers and distributed databases, to scale the system as needed.
• Use the ServiceNow console to monitor the performance and scalability of the Discovery system, and apply performance optimization techniques such as caching and indexing as needed.

Can you explain the concept of “Discovery Normals” and how they are used in ServiceNow?

Answer: Discovery Normals are pre-defined rules and policies that are used to process and normalize the data collected by the Discovery tool. Normals can be used to specify how different types of assets should be classified and categorized, as well as how their attributes should be calculated and stored in the CMDB. For example, a Normal might specify that all servers with a certain type of hardware and operating system should be classified as “Web Servers,” and that their CPU and memory utilization should be calculated as an average over a certain time period.

How do you use ServiceNow’s API and integration features for custom Discovery solutions?

Answer: ServiceNow provides a rich set of API and integration features that can be used to build custom Discovery solutions. These features can be used to integrate Discovery with external systems and data sources, such as CMDBs from other vendors, or to build custom probes and sensors that can be used to gather data from specific types of assets or services. The ServiceNow API can also be used to automate and programmatically control the Discovery process, such as by creating custom schedules or triggering scans based on specific events or conditions.

How do you integrate ServiceNow Discovery with external data sources, such as CMDBs from other vendors?

Answer: ServiceNow Discovery can be integrated with external data sources, such as CMDBs from other vendors, using the ServiceNow API and integration features. This can be done by building custom integrations or using pre-built connectors that are available from ServiceNow or third-party vendors. When integrating Discovery with external data sources, it is important to ensure that the data is properly normalized and cleansed to ensure that it is consistent with the data in the ServiceNow CMDB.

Can you provide examples of using ServiceNow Discovery for cloud infrastructure and hybrid environments?

Answer: ServiceNow Discovery can be used to discover and inventory assets and infrastructure in the cloud and hybrid environments. This may involve using the ServiceNow API and integration features to connect to cloud-based systems and services, such as Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure, and gather information about the assets and services that are running in these environments. ServiceNow Discovery can also be used to discover and track assets that are running on-premises, such as servers and workstations, and to manage the relationships between these assets and the cloud-based resources that they rely on.

Differences between probes and patterns?

Answer: Probes and patterns are two types of components that are used in ServiceNow Discovery to gather and process information about the organization’s IT assets and infrastructure.

Probes are software components that are installed on remote servers or devices and are used to gather information about the assets and services that are running on these systems. Probes can be configured to scan specific types of devices or services, such as servers or workstations, and to gather data about their hardware, software, and network configurations.

Patterns, on the other hand, are pre-defined scripts that are used to extract specific information from the data collected by probes and to create records in the CMDB. Patterns can be created using the ServiceNow Pattern Designer, which provides a graphical interface for building and testing patterns.

How to install mid-server in the client network?

Answer: To install a MID Server in a client network, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Download the MID Server installation package from the ServiceNow platform.
2. Extract the installation package to a local directory on the client machine.
3. Run the installation script, which will guide you through the installation process.
4. Follow the prompts to enter the required information, such as the MID Server name and the ServiceNow instance that it will be connecting to.
5. Start the MID Server service.
6. Configure the MID Server in the ServiceNow console to specify the tasks and probes that it will be responsible for.

What are common discovery errors?

Answer: Some common Discovery errors include:

• Scan range errors: This occurs when the Discovery tool is unable to reach or scan the devices or services that are specified in the scan range. This can be caused by network or firewall issues, or by problems with the probes or sensors that are being used to scan the network.
• Data processing errors: This occurs when the Discovery tool is unable to process the data that it has collected from the scan. This can be caused by problems with the patterns or rules that are being used to extract and normalize the data, or by issues with the CMDB itself.
• Performance and scalability issues: This occurs when the Discovery tool is unable to process the data quickly enough or when the system becomes overloaded due to a large volume of data. This can be caused by inefficient scan ranges or patterns, or by a lack of sufficient resources, such as memory or CPU.

What is horizontal discovery?

Answer: Horizontal discovery is a type of discovery process that is used to identify and inventory assets and services that are connected to a specific layer or tier of the IT infrastructure. For example, a horizontal discovery process might be used to discover all of the servers that are connected to a specific network segment, or all of the applications that are running on a specific server.

Horizontal discovery is often used in conjunction with other types of discovery, such as vertical discovery (which focuses on specific types of assets or services) or dependency mapping (which identifies the relationships between different assets and services).

What is Service Mapping?

Answer: Service Mapping is a feature of the ServiceNow platform that helps organizations understand the relationships between IT assets and services, and how they are connected and dependent on each other. Service Mapping uses Discovery to identify the assets and services that are running in the organization’s IT environment, and then creates a visual map of the relationships between these assets and services.

Service Mapping can be used to identify the dependencies between different assets and services, as well as to understand the impact of changes or outages on the overall IT infrastructure. Service Mapping can also be integrated with other tools, such as Asset Management and Network Management, to provide a more comprehensive view of the organization’s IT environment.

What are the benefits of discovery?

There are several benefits to using ServiceNow Discovery:

1. Inventory management: Discovery helps organizations automatically identify and inventory their IT assets and infrastructure, including hardware, software, and services. This can help organizations keep track of their assets, ensure that they are properly configured and maintained, and optimize their use.
2. Configuration management: Discovery helps organizations understand the configuration and relationships of their assets and services, which can be used to manage and maintain these assets more effectively. For example, Discovery can be used to identify which services are dependent on which assets, or to determine the impact of changes or outages on the overall IT infrastructure.
3. Improved efficiency: Discovery can help organizations streamline their IT operations and reduce manual efforts by automating the process of discovering and inventorying assets and services. This can help organizations save time and resources, and reduce the risk of errors and inconsistencies in their IT systems.
4. Enhanced security: By discovering and inventorying all of the assets and services that are running in their environment, organizations can better understand their security posture and identify potential vulnerabilities or threats. Discovery can also help organizations enforce compliance with security policies and regulations.
5. Cloud integration: ServiceNow Discovery can be used to discover and inventory assets and services that are running in cloud environments, such as Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure. This can help organizations better understand their cloud infrastructure and optimize their use of cloud resources.

What are KPIs for CMDB?

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are metrics that are used to measure the performance and effectiveness of the CMDB (Configuration Management Database). Some common KPIs for the CMDB include:

1. Data accuracy: This KPI measures the accuracy and completeness of the data in the CMDB. This can be tracked using metrics such as the percentage of records that are up-to-date and the percentage of missing or incorrect data.
2. Data coverage: This KPI measures the extent to which the CMDB covers all of the assets and services that are running in the organization’s IT environment. This can be tracked using metrics such as the percentage of assets and services that are represented in the CMDB, or the percentage of the IT environment that is covered by the CMDB.
3. Data quality: This KPI measures the quality of the data in the CMDB, including factors such as consistency, completeness, and accuracy. This can be tracked using metrics such as the percentage of records that are free of errors or inconsistencies, or the percentage of records that have been reviewed and validated.
4. Data timeliness: This KPI measures the extent to which the data in the CMDB is kept up-to-date. This can be tracked using metrics such as the percentage of records that have been updated in the past week or month, or the average time it takes for new assets and services to be added to the CMDB.
5. Data completeness: This KPI measures the extent to which the CMDB contains all of the necessary information about the assets and services that it covers. This can be tracked using metrics such as the percentage of records that are missing data, or the percentage of records that have been fully documented.

What are types of discovery?

There are several types of discovery that can be used to identify and inventory assets and services in an IT environment:

1. Network discovery: This type of discovery is used to identify and inventory the devices and services that are connected to a network. Network discovery can be used to discover devices such as servers, workstations, routers, and switches, as well as services such as web servers and databases.
2. Application discovery: This type of discovery is used to identify and inventory the applications that are running on a specific device or in a specific environment. Application discovery can be used to discover applications such as databases, web servers, and middleware, as well as their dependencies and relationships to other assets and services.
3. Dependency mapping: This type of discovery is used to identify the dependencies and relationships between different assets and services. Dependency mapping can be used to understand how different assets and services are connected and how they impact each other and can help organizations plan and manage changes to their IT infrastructure.
4. Cloud discovery: This type of discovery is used to identify and inventory assets and services that are running in cloud environments, such as Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure. Cloud discovery can be used to discover and track assets such as virtual machines, storage, and networking resources, as well as their relationships to other assets and services.
5. Vertical discovery: This type of discovery is used to focus on specific types of assets or services, such as servers, workstations, or applications. Vertical discovery can be used to gather detailed information about specific types of assets or services, and can be useful for specialized tasks such as asset management or compliance.
6. Horizontal discovery: This type of discovery is used to identify and inventory assets and services that are connected to a specific layer or tier of the IT infrastructure. Horizontal discovery can be used to discover all of the servers that are connected to a specific network segment, or all of the applications that are running on a specific server.

How communication is done between the MID server and the Discovery tool? Who initiates the process?

Answer: Communication between the MID Server and the Discovery tool is typically done through the ServiceNow API. The MID Server sends data about the assets and services that it has discovered to the Discovery tool using API calls, and the Discovery tool sends instructions and configuration data to the MID Server using API calls.

The process is initiated by the Discovery tool, which sends a request to the MID Server to start a scan or to perform a specific task. The MID Server then performs the scan or task, and sends the results back to the Discovery tool using API calls.

When you encounter credential issues, what steps do you take to resolve those issues?

If you encounter credential issues during the Discovery process, you can take the following steps to resolve them:

1. Check the credentials that you are using: Make sure that you are using the correct credentials, such as username and password, to access the assets and services that you are trying to discover.
2. Check the permissions of the credentials: Make sure that the credentials you are using have the necessary permissions to access the assets and services that you are trying to discover.
3. Check the network configuration: Make sure that the network configuration, such as firewall rules and security protocols, is not preventing the Discovery tool from accessing the assets and services that you are trying to discover.
4. Check the MID Server configuration: Make sure that the MID Server is configured correctly and has the necessary credentials and permissions to access the assets and services that you are trying to discover.
5. Check the probe configuration: Make sure that the probes and sensors that are being used to scan the network are configured correctly and have the necessary credentials and permissions to access the assets and services that you are trying to discover.
6. Check the pattern configuration: Make sure that the patterns that are being used to extract and normalize data from the probes are configured correctly and have the necessary permissions to access the data.
7. Check the Discovery schedule: Make sure that the Discovery schedule is configured correctly and is set to scan the correct assets and services.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve credential issues and successfully complete the Discovery process.

Conclusion

In this article, we provided a list of common and advanced ServiceNow Discovery interview questions. These questions covered a range of topics, including the basics of Discovery, troubleshooting and maintenance, customization and integration, and advanced concepts such as performance optimization and cloud integration.

To prepare for a ServiceNow Discovery interview, it is important to have a solid understanding of the key concepts and features of the Discovery tool, as well as practical experience with its configuration and use. You should also be familiar with the broader context of IT infrastructure management, including topics such as asset management, integration, and cloud computing.

By reviewing the questions and answers provided in this article, you should be well-equipped to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in a ServiceNow Discovery interview. Good luck!