How does ServiceNow Discovery interact with Unix/Linux devices?

ServiceNow Discovery interacts with Unix/Linux devices primarily by executing commands over SSH (Secure Shell). SSH is a secure protocol used to access and manage network devices and servers securely across an unsecured network.

When ServiceNow Discovery initiates a discovery scan on Unix/Linux devices, it establishes an SSH connection to the target system. This allows it to execute various commands that retrieve essential system information, such as installed applications, hardware configurations, and network properties. By leveraging SSH, ServiceNow ensures that the data retrieved remains secure during transmission while enabling in-depth discovery capabilities.

The other options do not align with how discovery processes are typically executed on Unix/Linux systems. For instance, standard Windows authentication protocols are specific to Windows environments, while a dedicated database connection is not used for direct system discovery. Additionally, cloud service APIs pertain more to interactions with cloud resources and do not apply to direct command execution on Unix/Linux devices during the discovery process.