Adding, Installing & Managing Remote Probes

Probes are applications that are installed on a network to fetch the details of the devices present in the network. The fetched device and software details are updated to ServiceDesk Plus Cloud application.

Since ServiceDesk Plus Cloud is based on the probe server model, you are required to install remote probes that are started as a windows service. The data transfer between the central server and the Probe is secured using an HTTPS connection.

The probe will scan your networks and domains to collect important asset-related information. During, subsequent network & domain scans, the probe sends only the diff data to the central server thereby minimizing the bandwidth utilization. The Probe contacts the central server once every 5 minutes. Hence any job assigned to the probe in the central server will be given to the probe during its next contact.

You can configure probes in custom widgets to establish a connection between the custom widget and a third-party application.

OS Versions Supported: Windows 8 or Higher, Windows Server 2012 or Higher

• Adding a Probe
• Installing a Probe
• Adding Domains and Networks
• Scheduling a Scan
• Viewing Probe Task Status
• Viewing Probe Details from Desktop
• Managing Probe From Desktop
• Removing Uninstalling a Probe

To Add and install the probe manually the following procedure must be followed:

• Go to Setup >> Probes & Discovery >> Probe.
• Click Add Probe. The following page will be displayed.

• Give a name for the probe in the Probe Name and click Add.
• Click Show Key in the corresponding probe from the probe list view. A pop-up with a key similar to the one given below will be displayed

• Copy the probe key. This probe key is needed during Probe installation.

Downloading and Installing a Probe

• Click Download Probe. Click Save file and save the ServiceDeskPlus Cloud Probe to the machine on which you want to run your probe.

• Double click the downloaded probe to install it.

The probe setup is dependent on the .NET Framework so in case you do not have the framework installed you will have to install the .NET Framework 4.5 or above version from the web.

• After you have successfully installed the probe, click Close. A pop-up will be displayed asking you to provide the probe key that you copied previously.

• If you are using a proxy server then provide proxy server details such as proxy host and proxy port, proxy username and password.

• Click Register Probe. The installed probe will be listed in the probe list view page. The Installed Host column lists the system in which the probe is installed.

Adding Domains and Networks

Once the probe has been installed domains and networks that are part of the organization can be added and scanned to discover and collect information of assets across all the added domains and networks.

Scheduling a Scan

After the networks and domains are added a scan schedule needs to be configured. All Networks and Domains associated with the installed Probe will be scanned as per this schedule.

To schedule a scan:

• From the Probe List click the scan schedule icon 

• A pop-up Schedule Scan page will be displayed as given below:

• Enable Scheduled Scan.

• Select the time period for the scan schedule and provide the schedule details using the following pointers, i.e. Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Periodic or Generate Once.

• Enter the details for the selected time period. Based on the time period select or enter details accordingly. For example, for a weekly scan, you will have to select the days and enter the time for when the scan has to be scheduled.

• Click Save. The scan will take place based on the schedule.

• If you want to Disable the schedule scan click on the schedule scan icon  and disable the Enable Scheduled scan option in the pop-up.

Viewing Probe Task Status

The Probe's task status page gives the current status of the jobs assigned to a particular probe.

To view the Probe's task status,

• Click the Task Status icon next to the probe for which you want to view the task status.

• To delete a task select the checkbox in line with the task you want to delete and click on the Delete button.

• A confirmation dialogue will pop-up. Click Ok to proceed to delete

• To close the task status page click Close.

Viewing the Probe on your Desktop

Once the probe has been installed on your system it can be represented as an icon on your desktop tray.

To view the probe icon,

• From your desktop click Start >> All Programs and from the listed programs go to ManageEngine SDP Cloud Probe and click Show Tray icon.

• An icon will appear in your desktop tray at the right bottom side of the page with a pop-up message that reads ManageEngine SDP Cloud Probe.

• Click the icon to view the probe details.

Managing the probe from your desktop

Managing of the probe is easier and faster with the probe desktop tray icon.

To manage the installed probe,

• From your desktop click Start >> All Programs.

• From the listed programs go to ManageEngine SDP Cloud Probe and click Show Tray Icon.

• An icon will appear in your desktop tray at the right bottom side of the page with a pop-up message that reads ManageEngine SDP Cloud Probe.

• Right click the probe tray icon. The menu will show four options, 

  • Start: to start running the probe on your system.

  • Stop: to stop the probe from running on your system.

  • Register Probe: to register the probe (if it has not yet been registered) by mentioning the probe key.

  • Exit: to stop the functioning of the probe.

Removing/Uninstalling a Probe

To Remove the ServiceDesk Plus Cloud Probe,

• Double click the ServiceDeskPlus Cloud Probe which you downloaded on your machine.
• A pop will be displayed. Select the button next to Remove ManageEngine SDP Cloud Probe
• Click Finish. A success message will be displayed on completion. 
• Click Close to exit.