SSHCommand probe

concept brazil Updated Sep 10, 2026 1 min read c_SSHCommandProbe.md

A probe using the ECC queue topic name SSHCommand executes a shell command on the target host, and returns the resulting output to the sensor.

Discovery supports Bourne Shell (sh) and Bourne-again Shell (bash) commands. Enter shell script commands in the probe's ECC queue name field. The shell script can use variables and file operations supported by the target UNIX shell.

The SSH engine is active by default on new instances.
Customers on upgraded instances can manually enable ServiceNow SSH for a particular probe by setting the use_snc_ssh parameter to true. Alternatively, enable it for all probes on the MID Server by setting the MID Server parameter mid.ssh.use_snc to true.

Note: To discover network devices, such as routers and switches, use SNMP credentials credentials, not SSH credentials.

SSHCommand parameters
Several parameters are available for the SSHCommand probe.
SSHCommand path
The SSHCommand probe computes the default path from the following sources.
Shell script options
The SSHCommand probe supports the following scripting options in the ECC queue name field.
Non-privileged SSH commands during probe-based discovery
These tables display the SSH commands run by Discovery probes on target devices during horizontal discovery. These SSH commands don’t require elevated privileges to run.
Privileged SSH commands for probe-based discovery
These tables display the SSH commands run by Discovery probes during horizontal discovery. These SSH commands require elevated privileges to run.

Parent Topic:List of Discovery probes

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---
title: SSHCommand probe
description: A probe using the ECC queue topic name SSHCommand executes a shell command on the target host, and returns the resulting output to the sensor.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/it-operations-management/discovery/c\_SSHCommandProbe.html
release: brazil
product: Discovery
classification: discovery
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [List of Discovery probes, Discovery probes and sensors, Using Discovery, Discovery, ITOM Visibility, IT Operations Management]
---

# SSHCommand probe

A probe using the ECC queue topic name SSHCommand executes a shell command on the target host, and returns the resulting output to the sensor.

Discovery supports Bourne Shell \(sh\) and Bourne-again Shell \(bash\) commands. Enter shell script commands in the probe's ECC queue name field. The shell script can use variables and file operations supported by the target UNIX shell.

- The SSH engine is active by default on new instances.
- Customers on upgraded instances can manually enable ServiceNow SSH for a particular probe by setting the use\_snc\_ssh parameter to true. Alternatively, enable it for all probes on the MID Server by setting the MID Server parameter mid.ssh.use\_snc to true.

**Note:** To discover network devices, such as routers and switches, use [SNMP credentials](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/platform-security/c_SNMPCredentials.md) credentials, not SSH credentials.

- **[SSHCommand parameters](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/it-operations-management/discovery/r_Parameters.md)**
Several parameters are available for the SSHCommand probe.
- **[SSHCommand path](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/it-operations-management/discovery/c_SSHCommandPath.md)**
The SSHCommand probe computes the default path from the following sources.
- **[Shell script options](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/it-operations-management/discovery/r_ShellScriptOptions.md)**
The SSHCommand probe supports the following scripting options in the ECC queue name field.
- **[Non-privileged SSH commands during probe-based discovery](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/it-operations-management/discovery/discovery-ssh-probe-commands.md)**
These tables display the SSH commands run by Discovery probes on target devices during horizontal discovery. These SSH commands don’t require elevated privileges to run.
- **[Privileged SSH commands for probe-based discovery](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/it-operations-management/discovery/discovery-ssh-command-require-priv.md)**
These tables display the SSH commands run by Discovery probes during horizontal discovery. These SSH commands require elevated privileges to run.

**Parent Topic:**[List of Discovery probes](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/it-operations-management/discovery/r_ListOfDiscoveryProbes.md)