Run options for discovery schedules

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Run options for discovery schedules

    ServiceNow's discovery schedules support various run options that apply to both horizontal and top-down discovery processes. These options control when and how often discovery runs, enabling precise scheduling tailored to your operational needs.

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    Run Options and Their Practical Use

    • On Demand: Default option; discovery runs only when manually triggered via "Discover now."
    • Daily: Runs discovery every day at a specified time.
    • Weekly: Runs discovery once a week on a designated day and time.
    • Monthly: Runs discovery once per month on a designated day and time; if the day doesn’t exist in a month (e.g., day 30 in February), it skips that month.
    • Periodically: Runs discovery repeatedly at a defined interval (days, hours, minutes, seconds) starting from a specified start time. Note that the next run time isn’t shown in the schedule list; it must be checked in the Schedule [systrigger] table’s Next Action field.
    • Once: Runs discovery a single time at the specified date and time.
    • Weekdays: Runs discovery every Monday through Friday at a specified time.
    • Weekends: Runs discovery every Saturday and Sunday at a specified time.
    • Month Last Day: Runs discovery on the last day of every month at a specified time.
    • Calendar Quarter End: Runs discovery on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 at a specified time. These dates can be customized by modifying the DiscoveryScheduleRunType script include.
    • After Discovery: Allows scheduling discovery to run sequentially after another designated discovery finishes. This is useful for staggering discovery schedules. You can opt to run even if the prior discovery is canceled. Note that this option is invalid for DiscoverNow or Discover CI initiated discoveries, cannot create loops, and does not run if the prior discovery does not finish unless "Even if canceled" is selected.

    Important Considerations

    • You cannot designate an inactive discovery schedule to run "After Discovery."
    • For periodic schedules, next run times must be verified in the Schedule [systrigger] table.
    • The "After Discovery" option facilitates sequential runs but has limitations regarding manual starts and loops.

    Practical Application

    Understanding and selecting the appropriate run option allows you to automate discovery in alignment with your maintenance windows and operational cycles—ensuring timely and efficient data collection without manual intervention. Sequential scheduling via "After Discovery" is particularly useful for complex environments requiring staged discovery runs.

    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.