Carefully plan for discovery methods before you enable them. For more information about planning for and controlling discovery, see Chapter 10, "Planning Your SMS Deployment and Configuration." For conceptual information about the each discovery method, see Chapter 4, "Understanding SMS Clients."

You can configure discovery methods to set discovery type, discovery schedule, and other elements, such as domains and Active Directory® containers, that apply to each discovery method. To configure discovery methods, you use the same dialog box in the SMS Administrator console that you use to enable the discovery methods.

You enable and configure discovery methods on a site-wide basis. The exception to this is Network Discovery, which discovers resources that are outside the SMS site boundaries.

To enable the configurable discovery methods

1. In the SMS Administrator console, navigate to Discovery Methods.

   Where?

   Systems Management Server >Site Database (site code - site name)> Site Hierarchy > site code - site name>Site Settings>Discovery Methods

2. In the details pane, click a discovery method, select Properties on the Action menu (or right-click the discovery method and select Properties), and then select the Enable <discovery method> check box.

This section describes how to enable and configure each of the following discovery methods in the SMS Administrator console:

• Network Discovery

• Heartbeat Discovery

• Windows User Account Discovery

• Windows User Group Discovery

• Active Directory System Discovery

• Active Discovery User Discovery

• Active Discovery System Group Discovery

Note:

• Both the discovery of site systems and the creation of discovery data records (DDRs) during inventory are always enabled and do not have any configuration options. You cannot administer them. Resources are discovered by using these methods whenever appropriate.

For More Information

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