Understanding discovery phases

A discovery runs through distinct phases. Use this information to understand each of the phases and to help you to monitor the discovery.

About this task

A running discovery passes through the following phases. It is possible for phases to overlap; for example, the Resolving Addresses phase (Phase 2) can start before the Interrogating Devices phase (Phase 1) has completed.

Interrogating Devices

In earlier versions of Network Manager, this phase was known as Phase 1. During this phase the discovery has found the first seed device and is finding other devices within scope. As devices are found, discovery agents proceed to interrogate the devices and retrieve device details, associated device addresses, and device connectivity.

Resolving Addresses

In earlier versions of Network Manager, this phase was known as Phase 2. During this phase the discovery maps devices in layers two and three of the OSI model.

Downloading Connections

In earlier versions of Network Manager, this phase was known as Phase 3. During this phase the discovery uses information retrieved from network switches to discover and verify device connectivity.

Correlating Connectivity

In earlier versions of Network Manager, this phase was known as Phase -1. During this phase the discovery process builds the network topology using network device information collected during the earlier phases. The work of building the topology is performed by discovery stitchers.