Last updated: 2025-12-04

Source: https://support.freshservice.com/support/solutions/articles/158681-configuring-the-discovery-probe

Configuring the Discovery Probe

After the Discovery Probe is downloaded from Admin > Global Settings > Asset Management > Discovery Hub \> Configure Agent and Probe > Probe****tab and installed for the first time, you need to perform a series of steps to get things up and running. This includes adding credentials and managing preferences so that the Probe works just the way you want. You can also set up multiple probes with different settings to meet different needs within your organization.

Note: Reach out to your IT admin or network administrator if you face problems setting up the Discovery Probe, as one or more configuration steps require you to have Admin privileges to the IT infrastructure within your organization.

When the Discovery Probe is executed for the first time, a configuration wizard will take you through the following steps.

Step 1: Select the configuration type

The Probe can either be used as a Standard Probe or to integrate with your instance of SCCM.

  • Standard Probe: Used to discover devices using protocols such as WMI, SSH, and SNMP. This Probe configuration can be used to connect to your Active Directory and to import users in Freshservice.
  • SCCM Integration: If you have a Microsoft SCCM configured within your organization, then you can connect to the SCCM instance through the Probe and import device information to Freshservice.

    • Step 2: Authenticate the Probe

  • Upon selecting the configuration type, the Probe will attempt to connect to Freshservice and authenticate your installation.
  • If you have any Proxy configured in your organization, you will receive an error and you can retry connecting to Freshservice with the Proxy information.
  • Upon successful authentication, you will be taken to the first-time scan configuration steps.

    • Step 3: Import users from Active Directory (optional step)

  • Enter the Domain Name or the IP address of your Active Directory.
  • Enter a Controller Name if applicable.
  • Enter the Username and Password for your user directory.
  • Click Fetch OU Structure.
  • You should now be able to see the structure of all users in your network.
  • Check the names you want to import into Freshservice from the list.
  • Click Next to finish adding them to your helpdesk.

    • Step 4: Scan your network for assets

  • Choose between IP Range and Domain Scan.
  • Domain Scan

    • - Enter the domain you want the Probe to scan. - Enter your Windows Credentials \- these will be used to authenticate all Windows machines in your network. - Enter your SSH Credentials \- these will be used to authenticate all Mac OS X and Linux-based machines in your network. - In case you are using SNMP, you can use the secure string to be used for authentication. - Click Next to start the scan. -  If your environment has a firewall or restricted internet access, it is essential to ensure that you allow access to the following domains:

     \*.freshservice.com

                            \*.amazonaws.com

  • IP Range Scan

    • - Enter the Profile Name of the IP Range. For example, IP range in the Scan, Department, or Location of the devices being scanned, device types being scanned, and so on. - Configure the IP members that need to be included/excluded in the scan. - Enter your Windows Credentials \- these will be used to authenticate all Windows machines in your network. - Enter your SSH Credentials \- these will be used to authenticate all Mac OS X and Linux-based machines in your network. - In case you are using SNMP, you can use the secure string to be used for authentication. - Click Next to start the scan.

    Note: Whitelist the NAT IP addresses for Freshservice to enable seamless connectivity.

    Step 5: Schedule scans to take place periodically

  • Enter a name for the Probe so that it is easily identifiable from your admin panel.
  • Turn on automated device scanning.
  • Choose the days on which you want the probe to run every week along with the time.
  • Turn on automated Active Directory scanning.
  • Choose the days from the list based on when you want user information to be fetched.
  • Click Get Started to finish setting up the Probe.

    • Modifying the Probe Configuration after the first time

    When you are done configuring the Probe for the first time, it will no longer show the four-step setup wizard. Instead, you will see tabs for S canned devices, E rror messages, IP range, and D omains that are currently related to the Probe. You can learn more about each of these tabs here.