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Release: Australia · Updated: 2026-07-09 · Official documentation · View source

Discovery Guided Setup

ITOM Discovery Guided Setup provides a sequence of tasks that help you install and get started with Discovery. If you're setting up Discovery for the first time, this is a good way to get your environment up and running quickly.

Note: This guided setup has been replaced by the ITOM Configuration Console (available in Zurich Patch 8 or later versions of the ServiceNow AI Platform), which offers a faster way to install and update apps, with interactive configuration pages, task assignment, and automated implementation by Now Assist. In ITOM Guided Setup v27.3.1, the Learn phase includes a new task that provides direct access to the ITOM Configuration Console. For more information, see ITOM Configuration Console for Discovery.

To access the ITOM Discovery Guided Setup, navigate to All > ITOM Guided Setup > ITOM Discovery Guided Setup. You're then prompted to enter a configuration name, which enables your progress to be saved and resumed later. If you're returning to the setup, select Cancel followed by Exit in the confirmation dialog to view the list of in-progress setup configurations.

The ITOM Discovery Guided Setup leads you through a structured series of configuration activities to promote accurate visibility in the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) and establish a strong foundation for IT operations.

Phases

The setup is organized into the four distinct phases: Learn, Crawl, Walk, and Run. Each task within a phase includes built-in resources, such as contextual embedded help and links to detailed documentation on the ServiceNow product documentation site. In some cases, you can even complete the task directly within the guided setup.

  • Learn

    The Learn phase is the first step in the guided setup. This phase helps you develop a foundational understanding of Discovery by exploring its core principles, learning about various techniques, and identifying the prerequisites needed to proceed with the setup.

  • Crawl

    This phase walks you through the initial technical setup of Discovery, including installing the necessary plug-ins, configuring credentials, and preparing your instance for scheduling discoveries.

  • Walk

    In this phase, you configure and activate Discovery schedules by setting up various schedule types, adding credentials, and installing and validating your MID Servers.

  • Run

    This phase focuses on monitoring and optimizing ongoing Discovery operations, leveraging tools like Discovery Admin Workspace and Content 360 to track performance and promote continued success.

Key features

The ITOM Discovery Guided Setup provides step-by-step configuration support along with intuitive navigation to track progress and move smoothly through each phase.

Image omitted: disco-guided-setup-landing-features.png
Navigational features available on the landing page
FeatureDescription
1. ExitExit the Guided Setup.Note: Selecting Exit in the confirmation dialog takes you back to the list of setup configurations currently in progress.
2. Complete

Mark the Guided Setup complete.

Note: This option is only available once you have completed all the tasks in each phase of the setup.

3. StartLaunch the Guided Setup phase.
4. StatusTrack your progress of the Guided Setup phase.
5. TaskJump to specific activities within a phase.
6. Phase drop-downView and access tasks within another phase.
Image omitted: disco-guided-setup-phase-features.png
Navigational features available in a phase
FeatureDescription
1. Back arrowReturn to the Guided Setup landing page.
2. Phase drop-downToggle between different phases.
3. ActivitiesJump to other activities within the current phase.
4. CloseNavigate back to the Guided Setup landing page.
5. Mark CompleteTrack your progress and continue to the next activity in the phase.
6. SkipSkip directly to the next activity in the phase.