---
sourceDocument: Yokohama IT Operations Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/yokohama/it-operations-management

 Release :

    - yokohama

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Yokohama IT Operations Management

ft:clusterId :

    - itom

bundleId :

    - itom

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# How Discovery identifiers work

# How Discovery identifiers work {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Yokohama
* 
* Updated January 30, 2025
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

When Discovery has determined the device's class, it launches an identity probe that is
configured to run one or more commands with a single authentication.

The identity probe in the base Discovery system can be configured to ask the device for
information such as its serial numbers, name, and network identification. The results of this
scan are processed by an identity sensor, which then passes the results to the identifier. The
identifier then attempts to find a matching device in the CMDB. If the identifier finds a
matching CI, the identifier either updates that CI or does nothing. If the identifier cannot find
a matching CI, it either creates a new CI or does nothing. If Discovery is configured to
continue, the identifier launches the exploration probes configured in the classification record
to gather additional information about the device. Exploration probes can be multiprobes or
simple probes.  
Note:  
When you use patterns for Discovery, the identity probe isn't used. Discovery uses the appropriate identifier rules based on the CI type that you're trying to discover as specified in the pattern operations. The operations in the pattern along with these identifier rules perform the identification and exploration phases of discovery.