Book Image

Mastering ServiceNow - Second Edition

Book Image

Mastering ServiceNow - Second Edition

Overview of this book

ServiceNow is a SaaS application that provides workflow form-based applications. It is an ideal platform for creating enterprise-level applications giving requesters and fulfillers improved visibility and access to a process. ServiceNow-based applications often replace email by providing a better way to get work done. The book steps through the main aspects of the ServiceNow platform, from the ground up. It starts by exploring the core architecture of ServiceNow, including building the right data structure. To add business logic and control data, and interactivity to user interaction, you will be shown how to code on both server and the client. You will then learn more about the power of tasks, events and notifications. The book will then focus on using web services and other mechanisms to integrate ServiceNow with other systems. Furthermore, you will learn how to secure applications and data, and understand how ServiceNow performs logging and error reporting. You will then be shown how to package your applications and changes, so they can be installed elsewhere and ways to maintain them easily. If you wish to create an alternative simple interface, then explore ways to make ServiceNow beautiful using Service Portal. By the end of the book, you will know the fundamentals of the ServiceNow platform, helping you be a better ServiceNow System Administrator or developer.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Mastering ServiceNow Second Edition
Credits
Notice
About the Author
About the Reviewer
www.PacktPub.com
Preface

Working inside the data center - introducing the MID server


The Management, Instrumentation, and Discovery (MID) server is designed to ease communication with external systems that sit inside a customer's data center. While ServiceNow can easily integrate with cloud-based systems without one, integrating with systems behind a firewall requires extra help.

The MID server is not a device, and does not run on the instance-it is installable Java software that runs on customer infrastructure. This provides the following capabilities:

  • The MID server has direct communication with other systems, since it is in the customer's network. This is very useful for communicating via unencrypted protocols, such as JDBC.

  • Scripts that run on the MID server have access to the filesystem and can include custom Java code in JAR packages.

  • The MID server only initiates connections. It does not accept inbound communication and does not open any ports. This makes it more acceptable to security teams.

  • It offloads work...