| Auto-discovery tools refer to a set of tools that | | | | Some tools users or vendors may advocate that the |
| collects data on a network and records any changes | | | | auto-discovery tools be closely linked to the CMDB |
| made to the assets. For example, Hewlett Packard's | | | | and daily updates of the output from the tools into the |
| Network Node Manager is able to discover all | | | | CMDB be done during the normal day to day |
| equipment connected to a TCP/IP network using the | | | | operations or Monitoring phase of the Configuration |
| Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). | | | | Management process. This is NOT a good idea. What |
| Desktop management tools may be able to collect | | | | happens when an unauthorised change occurs? The |
| information about Windows-based devices using | | | | auto-discovery tool will just pick up the new |
| interfaces like Microsoft's Windows Management | | | | unauthorised asset and the information gets updated |
| Interface (WMI). In any case, the auto-discovery | | | | into the CMDB. Not a good thing since the CMDB is |
| function is just one of the many functions of these | | | | supposed to maintain information of all authorised and |
| tools. You will not probably buy such tools just for this | | | | approved changes. The CMDB should maintain a |
| function only but if you have tools with such capabilities, | | | | definitive state of the authorised or baseline |
| why not use them to support Configuration | | | | configuration. |
| Management? The question is when and how to use | | | | A better way is to use the auto-discovery tools to |
| such tools? | | | | generate a report that shows the actual list of assets |
| During the Identification phase of the Configuration | | | | and their attributes deployed in the IT environment. This |
| Management process, you would want to load | | | | report can be compared against a similar report of |
| information about your IT service assets into our new | | | | authorised assets produced from the CMDB. Any |
| Configuration Management database (CMDB). You will | | | | discrepancies between the actual against the |
| need to capture relevant information of these assets. | | | | authorised signals a potential failure in the Release, |
| Auto-discovery tools are useful to get an initial | | | | Change and Configuration Management processes. |
| inventory list of the assets, also known as | | | | Hence, appropriate corrective actions can be taken. |
| Configuration Items (CI) in ITIL terminology, that are in | | | | This procedure can be automated if possible, so you |
| your IT environment. The auto-discovery tools can also | | | | get an exception report each day or each week. |
| capture relevant attributes of the assets that you | | | | Similarly, the above procedure can be used during the |
| need. However, do not load the data from the | | | | regular audit or verification activities in the Configuration |
| auto-discovery tools into the CMDB right away. This is | | | | Management process. |
| because you may still cleanse or transform the data | | | | In any case, most auto-discovery tools cannot fully |
| before loading them into the CMDB. | | | | replace the manual and disciplined monitoring and |
| The auto-discovery tools should be able to produce a | | | | control activities that need to be in place. The tools |
| report, spreadsheet or CSV file with the information | | | | would not be able to produce good reports on the |
| that you need for your CMDB. Different tools may | | | | relationships between the assets which are an |
| produce different or conflicting information and some | | | | important area in Configuration Management. They are |
| reformatting may be needed. Cleansing and | | | | also limited in their scope and reach. For example, |
| transformation is best done manually and may need | | | | auto-discovery tools that can discover network |
| some consultation with the owners of the assets to | | | | configuration may not be able to discover desktops |
| validate conflicting data or information produced by the | | | | configuration or applications and vice versa. |
| tools. Once you are happy with the data, perform the | | | | Nevertheless, auto-discovery tools can help the |
| CMDB loading. Your Configuration Management tool | | | | Configuration Manager by reducing the effort involved |
| would typically offer a feature or an interface for | | | | in the CMDB implementation, day-to-day monitoring, |
| reading the data off a spreadsheet or CSV file for | | | | regular audits and verification. They should be used |
| loading into the database. | | | | where feasible, and used correctly. |