Amazon RDS DB Snapshot pattern-based discovery

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 2 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 Amazon RDS DB Snapshot pattern-based discovery

    The Amazon RDS DB Snapshot pattern-based discovery within ServiceNow's Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application enables automated identification and inventory of Amazon RDS database snapshots in your AWS cloud environment. This pattern helps populate relevant data both in the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) and supporting non-CMDB tables, facilitating comprehensive visibility and management of your RDS snapshots.

    Show full answer Show less

    Key Features

    • Pattern Activation: The RDS DB Snapshot discovery pattern is disabled by default. Starting with Visibility Content version 6.28.0, activating or deactivating patterns is no longer treated as customization, ensuring patterns stay updated after upgrades.
    • AWS Prerequisites: Ensure AWS discovery prerequisites are met, including removal of specific resources from the Resource Inclusion List to avoid duplicate discoveries.
    • GovCloud Support: For AWS GovCloud (US) accounts, configure discovery schedules using datacenter URLs when setting up AWS service accounts.
    • Data Population: - Non-CMDB Tables: The pattern populates the cmdbawsrelationaldatabaseservicesdbsnapshot table with detailed snapshot metadata such as ARN, name, availability zone, status, DB instance identifier, engine type, and engine version. - CMDB Tables: It also populates the cmdbcicmpresource table with core configuration item data including object ID, name, resource type (AWS::RDS::DBSnapshot), install status, and operational status.
    • CI Relationships: The pattern establishes relationships connecting RDS snapshots to AWS datacenters and cloud resource records, enhancing CMDB data integrity and traceability.
    • Tag Discovery: AWS tags associated with snapshots are collected and stored in the cmdbkeyvalue table, enabling tag-based management and reporting.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Automates comprehensive discovery and inventory of Amazon RDS database snapshots, reducing manual effort and improving accuracy.
    • Supports maintaining up-to-date CMDB records and relationships, critical for service mapping, impact analysis, and compliance.
    • Facilitates AWS GovCloud account discovery with proper configuration guidance.
    • Ensures tag data is available for enhanced filtering, reporting, and governance.
    • Allows safe pattern enablement and upgrades without losing configuration status.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns finds AWS services on your cloud environment. Discovering some of these resources may require updating to the latest version of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application from the ServiceNow Store.

    Pattern-based discovery and mapping requirements

    Verify the AWS discovery prerequisites
    For more information, see the prerequisites section in AWS discovery using patterns.
    Remove resources from the Resource Inclusion List table
    Verify that the relevant resource isn't listed in the Resource Inclusion List [sa_cloud_inventory_resource_whitelist] table to avoid duplicate discovery. For more information on removing resources from the Resource Inclusion List, see AWS Resource Inventory discovery with Patterns.
    Enable the relevant pattern
    The pattern for this service is disabled by default. Starting with Visibility Content version 6.28.0, activating or deactivating a pattern won't be considered a customization, and it will continue to receive updates. Patterns that were previously activated or deactivated will reset to the latest predefined version after upgrading while retaining the last active field value. For more information on enabling patterns, see Activate a disabled pattern.
    Configure the Discovery schedule to support GovCloud
    Discovering AWS GovCloud (US) accounts requires using a datacenter URL when setting up an AWS service account. For more information, see Create AWS service accounts.

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in both CMDB and non-CMDB tables.

    Data stored in non-CMDB tables

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in the non-CMDB table when running the Amazon AWS - Relational Database Services DB Snapshot - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern.

    You can review the non-CMDB AWS tables by navigating to All > Configuration > AWS. You can also search the navigation filter for the specific pattern name.

    Table 1. AWS Relational Database Services - DB Snapshot [cmdb_aws_relational_database_services_db_snapshot]
    Field Description
    Object Id [object_id] The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) that uniquely identifies the database snapshot.
    Name [name] A unique identifier for the RDS database snapshot.
    Availability Zone [availability_zone] The availability zone where the database snapshot was created.
    Status [status] The current state or progress of the database snapshot.
    Configuration Item [configuration_item] References the Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource] table.
    DB Instance Identifier [db_instance_identifier] The identifier of the RDS DB instance associated with the snapshot.
    Engine [engine] The database engine used for the snapshot. For example: MySQL or PostgreSQL.
    Engine Version [engine_version] The version of the database engine for the snapshot.

    Data stored in CMDB tables

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in the CMDB when running the Amazon AWS - Relational Database Services DB Snapshot - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern.

    Table 2. Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource]
    Field Description
    Object ID [object_id] The ARN that uniquely identifies the database snapshot.
    Name [name] A unique identifier for the RDS database snapshot.
    Resource type [resource_type] Type of resource. The value is set to AWS::RDS::DBSnapshot.
    Install Status [install_status] Install status of the resource. Default value is Installed.
    Operational status [operational_status] Operational status of the resource. Default value is Operational.

    CI relationships

    The Amazon AWS - Relational Database Services DB Snapshot - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern creates these relationships to support Amazon RDS DB Snapshot discovery.

    CI Relationship CI
    Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource] Hosted on::Hosts AWS Datacenter [cmdb_ci_aws_datacenter]
    AWS Relational Database Services - DB Snapshot [cmdb_aws_relational_database_services_db_snapshot] References Cloud Resource [cmdb_ci_cmp_resource]

    AWS tag discovery

    The pattern collects tags and populates them in the Key Value [cmdb_key_value] table.
    Table 3. Key Value [cmdb_key_value]
    Field Description
    Key [key] Tag name.
    Value [value] Tag value.