Discovery Module

One solution for network scanning and IT documentation

Pathfinder Discovery ^BETA offers precise and comprehensive network scans. At the same time, detailed device information is determined and seamlessly integrated into the existing IT documentation.

Make smart use of discovery data

The newly integrated discovery feature supports you in the areas of network analysis, network security, and network management.
The new module scans your entire network and identifies all active, reachable devices.

During the network scan, information is collected that you need for an effective mapping of your IT environment. For switches, servers, and other devices, detailed data is gathered—such as interface details, device structure, connection information, and VLANs.

Starting with version 3.13, scan results are clearly presented in a new tab. From there, you can either assign them to existing devices in your IT documentation or use them to create new entries for previously unrecorded devices. The integrated template mapping feature supports you in this process:
Based on the scanned attributes, Pathfinder suggests suitable templates that can be applied with just a few clicks. This enables structured documentation—directly from the scan, with no detours.

Advantages and functions at a glance

Transparency and overview

Servers, printers, routers, switches, PDUs or computers – Pathfinder Discovery ^BETA provides information on all SNMP-enabled network devices and makes the collected information available in the documentation at the IT asset. This gives you a clear overview of the entire infrastructure.

Past scan results

Real-time queries are helpful – but in many cases it is necessary to compare previous or ‘historical’ scan results. For this purpose, the new Discovery module also retains results from previous network scans – allowing you to decide how far the data should go back.

Problem solving and troubleshooting

Through the automatic and regular provision of scan data, network problems are diagnosed more quickly. Furthermore, the live data can be used to validate the existing network documentation.

Better utilisation of resources

An automatic device detection and continuous provision of queried information significantly reduce the need for manual network inventory. This not only saves time and resources but also minimizes the risk of errors.

Scan subnets

With subnet scans, you can capture your network in its entirety. The module also allows you to scan multiple subnets simultaneously. During the scan process, Pathfinder Discovery ^BETA identifies and collects extensive details about the scanned devices and processes them accordingly.

Set up in minutes

In the Discovery Job Manager, scan jobs can be created and managed with just a few clicks. You can freely define when the subnets should be scanned. Additionally, the Job Manager provides an overview of the successful execution of all scan activities.

Define credentials & parameters

You define and manage all relevant SNMP credentials in just one place. These ‘credentials’ ensure access to the data available for query on an SNMP-enabled device.

Track power supply in real-time

Intelligent PDUs offer extensive monitoring functions that provide key metrics of the power supply. Pathfinder Discovery ^BETA leverages the measurement intelligence of these devices, reads the live data from SNMP-capable PDUs, and displays it clearly on the device. There is no need to separately access the PDU’s web interface.

Downtimes due to overloaded circuits can be avoided and energy resources can be utilised efficiently. The current version of the Discovery module supports PDUs from the Raritan’s PX2/PX3/PX4 series.

Scan flexibly – document centrally

A key feature of Pathfinder Discovery is its flexible architecture: Discovery jobs can be performed either centrally without agents or decentrally using distributed agents. This allows IT teams to efficiently tailor their discovery strategy to different infrastructure environments.

The classic agentless discovery approach is particularly effective in openly accessible network segments. In these areas, the Pathfinder server can access devices directly – quickly, easily, and without the need for additional software in the target network.

In segmented or secured environments – such as branch offices, data centers, or cloud infrastructures – agentless discovery reaches its limits. This is where distributed Pathfinder agents come into play: they perform local scans on-site and securely transmit the results to the server – without requiring central access rights or firewall exceptions.

We have big plans for the future

Pathfinder Discovery ^BETA will continue to evolve – with the goal of not only identifying more device types, but also automatically mapping logical relationships within the network.

A key next step is the integration of LLDP scans (Link Layer Discovery Protocol), which make it possible to reliably detect a device’s direct network neighbors. Support for CDP (Cisco Discovery Protocol) is also planned to further enhance detection in Cisco-based environments.

The advantage lies in the depth of topology recognition: instead of capturing devices as isolated entities, Pathfinder builds a structured context. This not only improves documentation clarity, but also strengthens the foundation for troubleshooting, migration planning, and network security.