Probes used by Orchestration

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
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    Summary of Probes used by Orchestration

    Orchestration probes, managed by MID Servers, facilitate automation tasks on remote computers, such as server restarts and virtual machine creation. When a Workflow triggers an Orchestration activity, it launches a probe that communicates with the ECC Queue for task execution and status updates.

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    Key Features

    • Execution Process: When a Workflow activity initiates, the corresponding probe writes an output record to the ECC Queue. The selected MID Server retrieves this assignment, performs the task on the target machine, and logs the outcome back to the Queue.
    • Probe Parameters: Parameters for the probes are defined by the initiating activities, ensuring tailored execution based on specific needs.

    Probe List

    The base system includes several Orchestration probes:

    • Command: Executes local commands on the MID server.
    • DNS Name Resolver: Resolves FQDNs into IP addresses using DNS cache and hosts file.
    • SCPCommand: Securely copies files between machines through the MID Server.
    • Shazzam: Identifies active devices on the network.
    • SNMPProbe: Performs SNMP queries.
    • SOAPProbe: Sends SOAP requests to target machines.
    • SSHCommand: Executes shell scripts via SSH on target machines.
    • SSHCommandLong: Runs long-running shell scripts on target machines via SSH.
    • VMWareProbe: Executes VMware-related scripts defined in the ECC Queue.
    • Windows - PowerShell: Runs PowerShell scripts on the MID Server, utilizing specified credentials.

    Key Outcomes

    Utilizing Orchestration probes enables ServiceNow customers to automate routine IT tasks efficiently, enhance operational productivity, and streamline workflows, leading to faster resolution times and reduced manual intervention.

    Certain probes, controlled by MID Servers, perform Orchestration tasks on remote computers, such as restarting a server or creating virtual machines from templates.

    How Orchestration probes work

    When a Workflow executes an Orchestration activity, that activity launches a probe, which writes an output record to the ECC Queue. The MID Server selected for the activity checks the ECC Queue for assignments, and then executes the appropriate probe to do the work on the target machine. The information about the activity (machine restarted, files copied, etc.) that is returned from the target machine by the probe is written to the ECC Queue as an input record. This information is then sent from the ECC Queue to a sensor that is built into the Workflow activity. The Workflow is updated, and the next activity is executed.
    Note:
    The probe parameters are set by the activities that launch the probe.
    Figure 1. How Orchestration uses probes
    How Orchestration uses probes

    Probe List

    The base system includes the following Orchestration probes (Orchestration > Definition > Probes).
    Table 1. Probe List
    Probe Name ECC Queue Topic ECC Queue Name Description
    Command Command A probe that runs a local command on the MID server.
    DNS Name Resolver DNSNameResolver A probe that resolves a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) into an IP address. The probe executes MID Server queries in parallel. It utilizes DNS lookup by the MID Server host OS to make use of the OS maintained DNS cache. It also leverages the hosts file on the OS.
    SCPCommand SCPCommand A probe that copies files securely from one machine to another. The copy function is performed using the MID Server as a tunnel.
    Shazzam Shazzam A probe that identifies active devices.
    SNMPProbe SNMP SNMP Query This is a generic SNMP probe.
    SOAPProbe SOAPProbe A probe that sends a SOAP request to target machine.
    SSHCommand SSHCommand A probe that executes shell scripts from a command line after logging in to a target machine via SSH.
    SSHCommandLong SSHCommandLong A probe that executes long running shell scripts from a command line after logging in to a target machine via SSH.
    VMWare VMWareProbe A generic VMware probe that executes the MID Server script include in the ECC queue name that is set by a VMware Orchestration activity. This probe can run any MID Server script include.
    Windows - PowerShell PowerShell Windows - PowerShell A probe that runs a Windows PowerShell script on the MID Server. The PowerShell script is provided as the value of a parameter with name ending in .ps1. Two variables are available to the script:
    • $computer: The computer pointed to as the source for this probe
    • $cred: A PowerShell credential, using a user name and password from the Credentials table, that logs into $computer successfully.