Amazon Elastic File System (Amazon EFS) pattern-based discovery

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated June 16, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Amazon Elastic File System (Amazon EFS) pattern-based discovery

    The Amazon Elastic File System (Amazon EFS) pattern-based discovery is part of the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application in ServiceNow. It enables automated identification and mapping of Amazon EFS resources within your AWS cloud environment, populating data into both CMDB and non-CMDB tables for comprehensive asset and relationship management.

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    Key Features

    • Pattern Activation: The Amazon EFS discovery pattern is disabled by default and requires manual activation. From Visibility Content version 6.28.0 onward, enabling or disabling patterns is not considered a customization and patterns reset to the latest predefined version after upgrades while preserving activation status.
    • AWS Discovery Prerequisites: Ensure all AWS discovery prerequisites are met, including removing relevant resources from the Resource Inclusion List to avoid duplicate discovery.
    • GovCloud Support: Discovery supports AWS GovCloud (US) accounts by requiring configuration with a datacenter URL during AWS service account setup.
    • Data Population: Discovery populates detailed Amazon EFS data into ServiceNow tables:
      • Non-CMDB Table: Information is stored in the cmdbawselasticfilesystemfilesystem table, including ARN, name, configuration item references, and unique file system ID.
      • CMDB Table: Related cloud directory data is stored in cmdbciclouddirectory, capturing install and operational status, descriptions, and resource type.
      • Tag Collection: AWS tags associated with EFS resources are captured and stored in the cmdbkeyvalue table as key-value pairs.
    • CI Relationships: The pattern establishes relationships between EFS file systems, cloud directories, and AWS datacenters to support accurate CMDB mapping.

    Practical Application for ServiceNow Customers

    By enabling and properly configuring the Amazon EFS pattern-based discovery, customers can:

    • Automatically discover and maintain up-to-date information about Amazon EFS resources in their AWS environment.
    • Ensure accurate CMDB records with detailed attributes and relationships, enhancing cloud asset visibility and management.
    • Leverage AWS tag information for improved categorization and reporting within ServiceNow.
    • Support discovery in specialized AWS environments such as GovCloud by adjusting discovery schedules and service account configurations.

    This capability streamlines cloud operations and governance by integrating AWS EFS data into ServiceNow’s asset and configuration management workflows.

    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 Amazon AWS Cloud components 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 Amazon Web Services (AWS) Resource Inventory.
    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 - Elastic File System - 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 Elastic File System [cmdb_aws_elastic_file_system_file_system]
    Field Description
    Object Id [object_id] The Amazon Resource Name (ARN) for the file system.
    Name [name] The assigned name of the Amazon EFS file system.
    Configuration Item [configuration_item] References the Cloud Directory [cmdb_ci_cloud_directory] table.
    File System ID [file_system_id] The unique identifier of the Amazon EFS file system.

    Data stored in CMDB tables

    Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application populates data in the CMDB when running the Amazon AWS - Elastic File System - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern.

    Table 2. Cloud Directory [cmdb_ci_cloud_directory]
    Field Description
    Object ID [object_id] The ARN for the file system.
    Name [name] The assigned name of the Amazon EFS file system.
    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.
    Description [short_description] Type of resource. The value is set to AWS::Elastic File System::File System.

    CI relationships

    The Amazon AWS - Elastic File System - Extended Inventory (LP) pattern creates these relationships to support Amazon EFS discovery.

    CI Relationship CI
    Cloud Directory [cmdb_ci_cloud_directory] Hosted on::Hosts AWS Datacenter [cmdb_ci_aws_datacenter]
    AWS Elastic File System [cmdb_aws_elastic_file_system_file_system] References Cloud Directory [cmdb_ci_cloud_directory]

    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.