Oracle database discovery

concept brazil Updated Sep 10, 2026 11 min read c_OracleDatabaseDiscovery.md
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Discovery can identify an Oracle database instance that is running on UNIX or Windows operating systems. It can also find Oracle clusterware, which runs Real Application Clusters (RAC).

Patterns perform the discovery of Oracle installations. These patterns replace several probes for new instances. If you want to continue to use probes, you can deactivate the Horizontal discovery probe, which launches the pattern, and then activate the necessary probes.

Note: Oracle DB on Unix and Oracle DB on Windows do not support RAC single-node discovery.

The Oracle DB on Unix and Oracle DB on Windows patterns discover Oracle catalog objects through the pattern extension Get Catalog info. For more information, see Oracle Catalog discovery. For general information about database catalog discovery, see database catalogs.

Note: For information on Probe to Pattern migration see the knowledge article KB0694477.

Credentials

Configure these credentials:

Credential type

Additional information

Applicative credentials

Applicative credentials are mandatory for two use cases:

  • Executing SQL queries against the remote Oracle DB Instance
  • Creating connections to database links
  • Software Asset Management activated

You must add the database user you configured during Oracle database installation. Specify Oracle instance [cmdb_ci_db_ora_instance] as the CI type. The user must also have access to the tnsnames.ora parameters file. Make sure that the tnsnames.ora is configured correctly and exists in the Oracle path on the target Windows host. Also, verify that the utilized Discovery Credentials can read tnsnames.ora file.

The user needs permissions for the SQL*Plus command line tool and permissions to execute SELECT queries against the following tables:

  • PRODUCT_COMPONENT_VERSION
  • V$VERSION
  • V$DATABASE
  • V$PARAMETER

Oracle Wallet authentication

You can use Oracle Wallet instead of applicative credentials.

Windows credentials

Required for Windows targets. The user must have read permissions to the tnsnames.ora file.For a list of privileged commands that you need for Discovery and Service Mapping, see Service Mapping commands requiring a privileged user. This list includes commands that require elevated rights to discover and map Unix-based hosts in your organization.

SSH credentials

Required for UNIX targets. The user must have read permission to the oratab file and read permission to the System Parameter file.For a list of privileged commands that you need for Discovery and Service Mapping, see Service Mapping commands requiring a privileged user. This list includes commands that require elevated rights to discover and map Unix-based hosts in your organization.
## Additional requirements

Discovery identifies a running instance of an Oracle database on UNIX from the process that starts with ora_pmon_. Ensure this process is running in the IP range you designate for Discovery. Discovery identifies a running instance of an Oracle database on Windows from the oracle.exe process. Ensure this process is running in the IP range you designate.

For Oracle clusterware, you also need permissions to read the /etc/hosts/ file, which associates host names with IP addresses.

The following commands are run for Oracle clusterware:

Command

Description

ps -ef | grep 'crsd.bin' |grep -v grep

Verifies if Oracle CRS process is running.

ps -ef |grep LISTENER | grep -v $$ | head -1 | awk '{print $8}'

Gets Oracle home from the listener process path. Used when the ORACLE_HOME environment variable is unavailable.

ps -ef | grep 'd.bin' | grep -v grep | grep -v bash | awk '{print $8}'

Gets Oracle Grid home from the CRS daemon process path. Paths that contain flashgrid are excluded. If *grid\_home*/bin/crsctl does not exist, the pattern stops running.

/u01/app/12.1.0.2/grid/bin/olsnodes -c | egrep -vi 'error|return code|DIA|Additional'

Gets Oracle CRS cluster name.

sudo /u01/app/12.1.0.2/grid/bin/ocrcheck | egrep -vi 'error|return code|DIA|Additional'

Gets Oracle CRS cluster ID.

/u01/app/12.1.0.2/grid/bin/crsctl query crs softwareversion| egrep -vi 'error|return code|DIA|Additional'

Gets Oracle CRS version.

/u01/app/12.1.0.2/grid/bin/olsnodes | egrep -vi 'error|return code|DIA|Additional'

Gets Oracle CRS nodes.

/u01/app/12.1.0.2/grid/bin/crsctl status server | egrep -vi 'error|return code|DIA|Additional'

Gets Oracle CRS node status.

/u01/app/12.1.0.2/grid/bin/crsctl stat res -f | tr '\n' '#'

Gets Oracle CRS resources.

/u01/app/12.1.0.2/grid/bin/crsctl stat res -p | grep -v CHECK_R |grep -v error |grep -v failed

Gets Oracle CRS VIP resources.

/u01/app/12.1.0.2/grid/bin/srvctl config scan | tr '\n' ' '

Gets Oracle RAC SCAN VIP configurations.

/u01/app/12.1.0.2/grid/bin/srvctl config vip -node ol7-121-rac1| egrep ' Name' | awk '{print $3}'

Gets Oracle CRS VIPs name.

/u01/app/12.1.0.2/grid/bin/srvctl config vip -node ol7-121-rac1| grep ' IPv4 Address:' | awk '{print $4}'

Gets Oracle CRS VIPs IP address.
**Important:** Sudo permission is required to run `sudo /u01/app/12.1.0.2/grid/bin/ocrcheck | egrep -vi 'error|return code|DIA|Additional'`.

Classifiers, patterns, and probes

Discovery uses these classifiers, probes, and patterns for Oracle database discovery:

Classifier

Trigger probes

Pattern

Oracle Instance
  • Horizontal discovery probe: launches patterns
  • Powershell-Oracle - Instance PFile (for Windows)*
  • Powershell-Oracle - Instance Version (for Windows)*
  • SSHCommand-Oracle - Instance Details (for Linux)*

Application patterns:

  • Oracle DB On Windows Pattern
  • Oracle DB on UNIX Pattern

This shared library pattern used by the Linux Server pattern:

UNIX Cluster - ORACLE Clusterware

Note: This shared library pattern is triggered if the crsd.bin process is running on the Oracle database server.

Oracle Listener

SSHCommand-Oracle - Listener Details

none
**\***Probes inactive for new instances.

To use patterns, verify that the correct pattern is specified in the horizontal pattern probe on the classifier. See Add the Horizontal Pattern probe to a classifier for instructions.

Data collected

The following data is collected on the Oracle Instances [cmdb_ci_db_ora_instance] table for both UNIX and Windows:

Label

Field name

Additional information

SID

sid

Obtained from the name of the process that starts with ora_pmon_

Install directory

install_directory

Obtained from the path of ORA_HOME

Version

version

Obtained in this order:- From the output of the ORA_HOME/bin/sqlplus /NOLOG command

  • From the output of the ORA_HOME/bin/lsnrctl status command
  • From the path of ORA_HOME

Parameter file

pfile

The following locations are explored for the location of the System Parameter File. If this file does not exist in one of the explored locations, Discovery does not find the file and reports an error. - oracle_home/dbs/spfileSID.ora

  • oracle_home/dbs/spfile.ora
  • oracle_home/dbs/initSID.ora

Oracle Home

oracle_home

Obtained from the ORATAB file.

Edition

edition

Obtained from the context.xml file.

Name

name

Combination of SID name Host name in the format SID@HOST_NAME.

TCP port(s)

tcp_port

Obtained from the tnsnames.ora file, or lsnrctl status command. If no valid information is retrieved, the default port 1521 is assigned.
**Note:** See [Oracle options](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/it-operations-management/itom-visibility/c_OracleDatabaseDiscovery.md) for pattern extensions and additional information collected.

Label

Field name

Additional information

SID

sid

Obtained from the process parameter that is passed to the oracle.exe process.

Install directory

install_directory

 

Version

version

Obtained from the output of the ORA_HOME/bin/sqlplus.exe -V command.

Parameter file

pfile

The following locations are explored for the location of the System Parameter File. If this file does not exist in one of the explored locations, Discovery does not find the file and reports an error. - oracle_home\database\spfileSID.ora

  • oracle_home\database\spfile.ora
  • oracle_home\database\initSID.ora

Oracle Home

oracle_home

Parsed from the path of oracle.exe

Edition

edition

 
**Note:** See [Oracle options](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/it-operations-management/itom-visibility/c_OracleDatabaseDiscovery.md) for pattern extensions and additional information collected.

Oracle options

For general information on Oracle options, see https://docs.oracle.com/en/.

Discovery can also find the Oracle options that you enable on the instance using the legacy pattern extension, Oracle option extension for Windows/Unix. Note that to discover Oracle options, the Software Asset Management Professional for Oracle (com.snc.samp.oracle) plugin is required.

Label Field name
Instance instance
Option option
Licensable licensable
Currently used currently_used
First usage date first_usage
Last usage date last_usage
Last sample date last_sample
Detected usage detected_usage
Sample interval sample_interval

Table privileges needed

Additional information

The following tables are accessed as part of the Oracle option extension for UNIX and Windows:- DBA_FEATURE_USAGE_STATISTICS

  • CDB_FEATURE_USAGE_STATISTICS
  • V$DATABASE
  • V$VERSION
  • GV$PARAMETER
  • V$CONTAINERS
  • V$INSTANCE

The following pattern extensions use the Oracle script: options_packs_usage_statistics.sql. This sql script is for DB Server version 11.2 and later. You need the Select any dictionary privilege to execute the script. See the support document ID13172651.1 on https://support.oracle.com/portal/ for more information about usage scripts. - Oracle option extensions for UNIX

  • Oracle option extensions for Windows

Table

Labels and field names

Unix Cluster [cmdb_ci_unix_cluster]

Name [name]

Cluster status [cluster_status]

Cluster type [cluster_type]

IP address [ip_address]

Short description [short_description]

Cluster ID [cluster_id]

Cluster version [cluster_version]

cmdb_ci_unix_cluster_node

Name [name]

Node state [node_state]

IP address [ip_address]

Node status [node_status]

cmdb_ci_unix_cluster_resource

Name [name]

Resource type [resource_type]

Resource status [resource_status]

Properties [properties]

cmdb_ci_cluster_vip

Name [name]

IP address [ip_address]

Cluster name [cluster_name]

Cluster ID [cluster_id]
On the dependency view, a **+1** on an Oracle database server signifies that it is part of a cluster.

Extend Oracle instance extension

Note: Discovery can also find additional attributes for the instance using the Extend Oracle instance extension. See the Oracle website for more information on options https://docs.oracle.com/en/. Discovery saves these attributes to the Oracle Instances [cmdb_ci_db_ora_instance] table.

Label Field name
Instance instance
Host Name host_name
IS_CDB cdb_yn
DB Unique Name db_unique_name
DB Name database_name
Replication Enabled replication_enabled

Table privileges needed

Additional information

The following tables are accessed as part of the Extend Oracle Instance extension for UNIX and Windows:- V$DATABASE

  • V$INSTANCE

The Extend Oracle Instance extension needs to be installed. This extension is included in the Discovery and Service Mapping Patterns application, version 1.0.72 or higher, which can be downloaded from the ServiceNow Store.
## Oracle instances on virtual machines

When Oracle instances are hosted on virtual machines, the system creates relationships between CIs.

CI

Relationship

CI

Oracle instance

Hosted on

Computer [cmdb_ci_computer] or Server [cmdb_ci_server]Note: This is a virtual machine. The Is virtual field is true.

Computer [cmdb_ci_computer] or Server [cmdb_ci_server]Note: This is a virtual machine. The Is virtual field is true.

Virtualized by

Computer [cmdb_ci_computer] or Server [cmdb_ci_server]Note: This is not a virtual machine.
## Oracle instances on virtual machines that are hosted on AWS or Azure clouds

Base class

Relationship

Dependent class

Oracle instance

Hosted on

Computer [cmdb_ci_computer]Note: This is a virtual machine. The Is virtual field is true.

Computer [cmdb_ci_computer]Note: This is a virtual machine. The Is virtual field is true.

Virtualized by

Computer [cmdb_ci_computer]Note: This is not a virtual machine.

Computer [cmdb_ci_computer]Note: This is a virtual machine. The Is virtual field is true.

Virtualized by

Virtual Machine Instance [cmdb_ci_vm_instance]Note: The vCPU count is populated in this table.

Virtual Machine Instance [cmdb_ci_vm_instance]

Hosted on

AWS Datacenter [cmdb_ci_aws_datacenter] or Azure Datacenter [cmdb_ci_azure_datacenter]
## Relationships for clusterware

CI

Relationship

CI

Unix Cluster [cmdb_ci_unix_cluster]

Virtualizes::Virtualized by

Cluster Virtual IP [cmdb_ci_cluster_vip]

Unix Cluster Resource [cmdb_ci_unix_cluster_resource]

Defines resources for::Gets resources from

Unix Cluster Node [cmdb_ci_unix_cluster_node]

Cluster Virtual IP [cmdb_ci_cluster_vip]

Uses::Used by

Unix Cluster Node [cmdb_ci_unix_cluster_node]

Unix Cluster Node [cmdb_ci_unix_cluster_node]

Cluster of::Cluster

Unix Cluster [cmdb_ci_unix_cluster]

Unix Cluster Node [cmdb_ci_unix_cluster_node]

Hosted on:Hosts

Unix Cluster [cmdb_ci_unix_cluster]

Unix Cluster Resource [cmdb_ci_unix_cluster_resource]

Defines resources for::Gets resources from

Unix Cluster [cmdb_ci_unix_cluster]

Unix Cluster [cmdb_ci_unix_cluster]

Hosts::Hosted on

Linux Server [cmdb_ci_linux_server]

Unix Cluster Node [cmdb_ci_unix_cluster_node]

Hosted on::Hosts

Linux Server [cmdb_ci_linux_server]
**Parent Topic:**[Database discovery](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/brazil/markdown/it-operations-management/itom-visibility/database-discovery.md)

Related topics

Add the Horizontal Pattern probe to a classifier

Horizontal Pattern probe

Database Administrator (DBA) report discovery

Oracle Catalog discovery

Oracle pluggable database and container database discovery

Oracle GLAS data collection using patterns

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