The Network Discovery method can generate significant network traffic depending on the type of discovery being run, so you should schedule the discovery to occur at times when this network traffic will not adversely affect business uses of your network. For more information on the types of Network Discovery and their impact on your network, see About Network Discovery.

Note
You must have Modify permission for the Site Security object class to configure this discovery method. For more information about security permissions, see Classes and Instances for Object Security in Configuration Manager.

How to configure Network Discovery

  1. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager / Site Database / Site Management / <site name> / Site Settings / Discovery Methods.

  2. Right-click Network Discovery, and then click Properties.

  3. Enable the discovery method if it is not already enabled.

  4. On the General tab, select the type of discovery you want to run. Three types are available:

    • Topology

    • Topology and client

    • Topology, client, and client operating system

  5. If you are working with a slow network, select the Slow Network check box under Network speed.

    Note
    Selecting the Slow network check box will allow Configuration Manager to make allowances for a slower network by doubling SNMP timeouts and reducing the number of SNMP sessions. This might increase the duration of the discovery, however.

  6. On the Subnets tab, select the Search local subnets check box if you want to run discovery on those local subnets. This option is normally selected by default.

  7. If you want to run discovery on subnets in addition to (or instead of) your local subnets, click the New icon.

    In the New Subnet Assignment dialog box, enter the Subnet and Mask information, ensure that the Enable subnet search check box is selected, and then click OK.

  8. On the Domains tab, select the Search local domain check box if you want to run discovery on the local domain. This option is normally selected by default.

  9. If you want to run discovery on domains in addition to (or instead of) your local domain, click the New icon.

    In the Domain Properties dialog box, type the name of the domain to be searched in the discovery in the Domain box, ensure that the Enable domain search check box is selected, and then click OK.

  10. On the SNMP tab, specify the SNMP communities to include in the discovery and place them in the order in which you want to search.

    Note
    Network Discovery uses SNMP community names to gain access to routers that are SNMP devices. Gaining access to a router informs Network Discovery about other routers and subnets linked to the first router. SNMP community names are similar to passwords and Network Discovery can get information only from an SNMP device for which you have specified a community name. Each SNMP device can have its own community name, but often the same community name is shared among several devices. Additionally, most SNMP devices have a default community name of Public (in addition to any others they have). This name can often be used if you do not know any other community names. However, some organizations delete the Public community name from their devices as a security precaution.

  11. If you want to run discovery on SNMP communities in addition to those displayed, click the New icon.

    On the New SNMP Community Name dialog box, type the name of the community to be searched and then click OK.

  12. From the Maximum Hops drop-down list, select the maximum number of router hops for the discovery run to make. For more information on the impact of the number of router hops you select, see About Router Hops in Network Discovery.

  13. If you want to use specific SNMP devices to discover resources with, make sure they are listed on the SNMP Devices tab. If they are not displayed, click the New icon, and in the New SNMP Devices dialog box, type the IP address or name of the specific device and then click OK.

    Specifying an SNMP device will provide information to Network Discovery of other routers and subnets linked to that device.

    Note
    Any device name used must resolve to a valid IP address.

  14. On the DHCP tab, specify any DHCP servers to use to discover DHCP clients if desired.

    To add a new DHCP server to the list, click the New icon and in the New DHCP Server dialog box, type the IP address or resolvable name of the DHCP server, and then click OK.

    Note
    If the server that is running Network Discovery is using a static IP address instead of leasing one from a DHCP server, Network Discovery will not communicate with any DHCP servers unless you specify them on the DHCP tab of the Network Discovery Properties dialog box.

    For more information on the limitations of using DHCP servers for Network Discovery, see About DHCP Servers and Network Discovery.

  15. To use the site server's DHCP server for discovery, select this check box.

  16. On the Schedule tab, click the New icon to set a schedule for running the configured Network Discovery. Generally, Network Discovery generates a large amount of network traffic. You should take this fact into consideration when scheduling the discovery.

    Note
    If multiple schedules are displayed on the Schedule tab at the same time, all schedules will result in a run of Network Discovery as it is configured at the time indicated in the schedule. This is also true for recurring schedules.

  17. Click OK.

  18. After running Network Discovery, verify that the discovery is complete.

    For more information on doing this, see How to Verify that Network Discovery is Complete.

See Also