What tools does Discovery utilize to explore devices?

Discovery employs probes and patterns as its key tools to explore devices within a network. Probes are essential for actively querying devices, gathering data on various attributes and services that they expose. They help in identifying devices and collecting information about their configuration and status.

Patterns take the data collected by probes and use it to determine the type of device and its configuration. Patterns analyze attribute values and utilize them to correlate with existing records in the ServiceNow CMDB (Configuration Management Database) to create or update device information. This combination of probes and patterns allows for a comprehensive exploration and understanding of the network environment, leading to accurate discovery of both hardware and software assets.

In contrast, while IP address ranges can define the scope of the Discovery process, they do not actively gather data or identify devices. Network services and protocols provide the means for communication and service exposure but are not direct tools used by Discovery for exploration. Similarly, while credentials are important for authentication and authorization during the Discovery process, they do not classify as tools for exploring devices themselves. Thus, the use of probes and patterns stands out as the correct choice for the mechanisms employed in the Discovery process.