Exploring Agent Client Collector for Visibility

  • Release version: Washingtondc
  • Updated April 15, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Exploring Agent Client Collector for Visibility

    Agent Client Collector for Visibility (ACC-V) is a tool that enhances data discovery on target hosts, offering an alternative to traditional IP-based discovery methods. It effectively gathers OS-related attributes, such as system information, network interfaces, and running processes, making it suitable for both on-premise servers and cloud instances.

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    Key Features

    • Data Collection Modules: ACC-V supports various data collection modules, including Enhanced Inventory, Serial Numbers, Storage Devices, File Systems, Network Adapters, TCP Connections, Running Processes, Installed Software, and Local User data.
    • Software Discovery: It identifies software from multiple installation sources, including Chocolatey, Click-to-Run, and winget, in addition to traditional MSI-based installations.
    • Credential-Free Management: There is no need for user credentials, configuration of schedules, or scanning IP ranges when registering and managing systems in the ServiceNow Configuration Management Database (CMDB).
    • Supported Operating Systems: ACC-V supports a range of operating systems, including specific versions of Linux, Windows, and macOS (starting with version 1.3.0).
    • Language Limitations: Currently, ACC-V only supports English data parsing; non-English values may lead to discovery failures.

    Key Outcomes

    By utilizing ACC-V, ServiceNow customers can achieve streamlined data discovery and management across diverse operating environments without the complexities of traditional discovery methods. The tool simplifies the process of collecting essential system attributes and enhances visibility into software installations, ultimately supporting more efficient IT asset management and operations.

    Learn how you can use Agent Client Collector for Visibility (ACC-V) to discover data on your target hosts.

    Agent Client Collector for Visibility overview

    ACC-V is an additional mechanism to perform Discovery. It is an alternative to horizontal IP-based Discovery for OS-related attributes including system information, network interfaces, running process, and so on. ACC-V is suitable for on-prem servers and cloud instances. ACC-V discovers software from different installation sources, such as Chocolatey, Click-to-Run and winget, in addition to traditional msi-based installations.

    Agent Client Collector for Visibility supports the following modules:
    • Data Collection
    • Enhanced Inventory
    • Serial Numbers
    • Storage Devices
    • File Systems
    • Network Adapters
    • TCP Connections
    • Running Processes
    • Installed Software
    • Local User
    • Intel vPro® platform
    Note:
    • Currently, Agent Client Collector for Visibility does not support multi-languages. If values returned are not in English, the returned data cannot be parsed properly and the discovery will fail.
    • Powershell is not being used in any of the ACC-V modules on Microsoft Windows operating systems.

    You can register and manage your target systems in the ServiceNow Configuration Management Database (CMDB) using the ACC-V pushed-based model. There is no need to provide credentials, configure schedules, or scan IP ranges.

    Agent Client Collector for Visibility workflow

    The following illustration describes the high-level architecture of Agent Client Collector for Visibility.

    Figure 1. ACC-V architecture
    This block diagram shows the components that work together
    ACC-V works with the following components:
    • ServiceNow Instance
    • ServiceNow MID Server
    • Target host machines
    • ServiceNow Agent Client Collector which runs on the Target host machines

    Supported operating systems

    ACC-V version 1.0.3 collects the system attributes and related lists normally collected by the OS pattern. ACC-V currently supports the following operating systems on x86_64 architecture:
    • Linux
      • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and Oracle Linux (OL) 7, 8, 9
      • Centos 7, 8, 9
      • SLES 12, 15
      • Ubuntu 18, 20
      • Amazon Linux 2
      • Debian 9 and 10
    • Microsoft Windows
      • Windows Server 2012, 2012r2, 2016, 2019, 2022
      • Windows 10 Enterprise Edition
      • Windows 11 Enterprise and Professional Editions
    • macOS (starting in ACC-V version 1.3.0)
      • 10.15 - Catalina
      • 11 - Big Sur
      • Monterey (x86)
      • 13 - Ventura
      • macOS Ventura on ARM64 - Apple Silicon M1/M2