What is MID Server in ServiceNow?
A MID Server (Management, Instrumentation and Discovery server) is a small Java application you install inside your own network. It lets your cloud ServiceNow instance safely reach servers, devices and applications that aren’t exposed to the internet.
How it works
The MID Server only makes outbound HTTPS connections to your instance, so you don’t need to open inbound firewall ports. It regularly checks the instance’s ECC queue (External Communication Channel) for jobs, runs them inside your network, and sends the results back to the same queue.
What uses a MID Server
Discovery and Service Mapping use it to scan your infrastructure. IntegrationHub and Orchestration use it to run PowerShell, SSH or REST calls against internal systems. Event Management uses it to collect alerts from monitoring tools, and import sets can use it to pull data from internal databases through JDBC.
Installation and sizing
MID Servers run on Windows or Linux servers or virtual machines. Each one is validated in the instance before use and upgrades itself automatically when your instance is upgraded. For larger environments, you install several MID Servers and group them into clusters for load balancing and failover.
Best practices
Place MID Servers close to the networks they need to reach and give them a dedicated service account. Use capabilities and IP ranges to control which MID Server handles which work. Monitor MID Server status in the instance and keep the host’s operating system patched.
Common mistakes
Running everything through one MID Server creates a single point of failure. Under-sized hosts or blocked proxies are the most common reasons for Discovery jobs timing out.
Frequently asked questions
Is a MID Server required for ServiceNow?
Only for features that need to reach inside your network, such as Discovery or on-premise integrations. Many cloud-only use cases don’t need one.
Is the MID Server secure?
It only initiates outbound encrypted connections to your instance, and credentials are stored encrypted in the instance.
How many MID Servers do I need?
It depends on network segments and workload. Most organizations start with two for redundancy and add more as Discovery grows.
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ServiceNow is a trademark of ServiceNow, Inc. This glossary is an independent resource by Sequal Consultancy and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ServiceNow, Inc.