In which phase should the horizontal probe be utilized for infrastructure discovery patterns?

The horizontal probe is crucial during the Identification Phase of infrastructure discovery patterns. This phase focuses on recognizing specific devices and services across the infrastructure. The horizontal probe actively collects information from a wide range of devices by probing different network protocols and services. This allows for the identification of endpoints and components in a given network, helping to build an accurate picture of the IT environment.

During the Identification Phase, the data gathered by the horizontal probe is essential for confirming the presence of devices and their associated attributes. This is critical for establishing a reliable Configuration Management Database (CMDB) and ensuring that the discovered assets are correctly identified and classified.

In contrast, the other phases concentrate on different aspects; for instance, the Discovery Phase encompasses the initial assessment and awareness of the environment but does not focus specifically on the identification of devices. The Exploration Phase looks further into the details of the discovered entities, while the Classification Phase organizes devices into specific categories, which relies on the successful identification completed in the Identification Phase. Thus, the use of horizontal probes is inherently tied to the Identification Phase, making it a vital tool for this part of the infrastructure discovery process.