Run options for discovery schedules

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Run Options for Discovery Schedules

    This guide outlines the various run options available for scheduling discovery in ServiceNow. These options allow you to control when and how discovery processes are executed, helping you manage resources effectively and optimize network visibility.

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    Key Features

    • On Demand: Runs immediately when selected; this is the default option.
    • Daily: Executes every day at the specified time.
    • Weekly: Runs on a selected day each week at the specified time.
    • Monthly: Executes on a designated day of each month; if that day doesn’t exist in a month, it won't run.
    • Periodically: Runs at defined intervals; specify the interval duration. The next execution time is viewable in the Schedule table.
    • Run One Time: Executes once as specified by the provided date and time.
    • Weekdays: Runs Monday through Friday at the specified time.
    • Weekends: Runs Saturday and Sunday at the specified time.
    • Month Last Day: Executes on the last day of each month at the specified time.
    • Calendar Quarter End: Runs on the last day of each quarter (March 31, June 30, September 30, December 31) at the specified time.
    • After Discovery: Staggers schedules to run after a specified discovery completes, with an option to run even if the prior discovery is canceled.

    Key Outcomes

    By utilizing these scheduling options, ServiceNow customers can ensure timely and efficient discovery runs, manage their discovery processes seamlessly, and maintain accurate data across their IT assets. Proper scheduling allows for better resource allocation and reduces the risk of missed discoveries.

    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.