How CIM Discovery works

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated January 30, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
    • Summarize
    Summarized using AI
    This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete.

    Summary of How CIM Discovery works

    CIM Discovery in ServiceNow Yokohama release classifies Common Information Model (CIM) storage systems by leveraging the Shazzam probe and related port probes. This process identifies CIM servers and collects detailed storage system data via WBEM and SLP protocols, enabling comprehensive discovery of storage components such as SAN and NAS elements.

    Show full answer Show less

    Key Features

    • Shazzam Probe and WBEM Port Probe: The Shazzam probe launches the wbem port probe during network discovery to detect activity on CIM-related ports (SLP 427, CIM 5988, 5989). It uses an SLP query to identify the wbem service, indicating the presence of an SLP server.
    • Service Registry Queries: The wbem port probe retrieves service attributes and interop namespaces from CIM servers and appends this data for further classification.
    • CIM Classify Probe: Utilizes data from the wbem port probe to explore CIM servers, extracting key details such as VMware ESX serial numbers and relationships between SAN and NAS components.
    • Namespace Configuration: The system property mid.cim.interop.namespace defines default storage namespaces. Customers using additional or custom storage vendor namespaces can add them to this property to ensure comprehensive discovery.
    • SMI-S and CIM Probes and Sensors: A suite of specialized probes and sensors retrieve detailed storage system information, including controllers, disks, file shares, pools, ports, volumes, fabrics, switches, NAS file servers, and WBEM service data.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Enables automated and detailed classification of storage infrastructure across SAN and NAS systems, improving asset visibility.
    • Supports multi-vendor environments by allowing customization of namespaces for accurate CIM data collection.
    • Facilitates relationship mapping between storage components and hosts, aiding in impact analysis and troubleshooting.
    • Integrates with ServiceNow Discovery framework, providing a seamless method to extend discovery capabilities to storage systems.
    • Provides a structured approach to manage and update discovery probes and queries for ongoing accuracy and completeness.

    This is the processing flow for classifying Common Information Model (CIM) storage systems.

    Processing flow

    1. The Shazzam probe launches the wbem port probe as part of network discovery.
    2. The wbem port probe detects activity on target ports SLP 427, CIM 5989 and 5988, and then examines the Service Registry Queries related list, at Discovery Definition > Port Probes, for the SLP query. The base system provides this query to detect the service:wbem service type, which indicates the presence of an SLP server.
    3. The Shazzam probe launches a scanner for the WBEM service type. The scanner retrieves:
      • The attributes of the service from the SLP server.
      • The interop namespaces of CIM servers in the network.
    4. The scanner appends the namespace values it finds to the port probe results.
    5. The wbem port probe appends the SLP data it carries to the CIM Classify probes.
    6. The CIM Classify probe uses that information to explore the CIM servers.
      Figure 1. CIM Shazzam Processing Diagram
      CIM Shazzam Processing Diagram

    The wbem port Probe

    The wbem probe stores the data it retrieves in the CIM Classification [discovery_classy_cim] table. To view the wbem port probe, navigate to Discovery Definition > Port Probes.

    Figure 2. wbem port probe record
    wbem port probe record

    SLP query

    The SLP query detects the wbem service (service:wbem) on an SLP server and gathers the attributes of the service. To view the SLP Query record, open the wbem port probe record and select SLP Query from the Service Registry Queries related list.

    Figure 3. SLP Query record
    SLP Query record

    CIM - Classify probe

    The wbem port probe appends the SLP data it carries, including namespaces, to the CIM - Classify probe before launching it. The CIM classification probe extracts VMware ESX serial numbers and connector relationships between the SAN and NAS components from CIM Servers in the network.

    To access the CIM classification probe, navigate to Discovery Definition > Probes and select CIM - Classify from the list of probes.
    Note:
    The mid.cim.interop.namespace system property defines four default storage namespaces:
    • interop
    • root/interop
    • root/pg_interop
    • pg_interop
    If you’re using multiple storage vendors with custom namespaces not specified as one of the defaults, add the new namespaces to the comma-separated list in this property. If you intend to continue using any of the default namespaces, make sure to include them in the property.
    Figure 4. CIM - Classify probe record
    CIM - Classify probe record

    SMI-S and CIM probes and sensors

    Table 1. SMI-S and CIM probes and sensors
    Probe/Sensor Description
    CIM - Identity Identifies a system via CIM per SMI-S.
    SMI - Array - Controllers Retrieves controller information.
    SMI - Array - Disks Retrieves storage disk information.
    SMI - Array - File Shares Enumerates NAS file shares from a storage server.
    SMI - Array - Pools Retrieves storage pools.
    SMI - Array - Ports Retrieves storage ports.
    SMI - Array - Volumes Retrieves storage volumes.
    SMI - Fabric Retrieves SANs, fabrics, zone sets, zones, zone aliases, endpoints, and connections.
    SMI - Fibre Channel Switch Retrieves FC switches.
    SMI - NAS Head - Component Systems Retrieves all virtual file servers in a NAS head profile.
    SMI - NAS Head - File Server IPs Retrieves IP addresses for each NAS file server.
    SMI - NAS Head - File Servers Retrieves NAS file servers such as Common Internet File System (CIFS) and Network File System (NFS).
    SMI - NAS Head - File Shares Retrieves file shares for each NAS file server.
    SMI - Storage Server Retrieves SAN and NAS arrays and servers.
    SMI - WBEM Service Retrieves WBEM Service information such as profiles and SMI-S version.