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Installing the First MID Server

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In this lesson, you will learn:

  • The steps to install a MID Server
  • What the MID user is
  • What to record during install

🔁 Quick look back: Last time: Choosing Windows or Linux for the MID Server. You learned how to choose a Windows or Linux host for each MID Server.

1 The Problem: A Rushed Install Causes Problems Later

On past projects, rushed installs caused trouble:

  • The MID Server ran as a personal account that later expired.
  • Nobody wrote down where it was installed.
  • It was named ‘MID1’, so nobody knew which one it was.

🎯 The problem: A rushed install causes problems later.

👉 The fix: Install carefully: the right account, a clear name and notes.

Five install steps.
Figure 1. How snwr-mid-mum-01 was installed.

2 The install steps

  1. Create a MID user on the instance with the MID Server role.
  2. Download the installer for the host OS from the instance.
  3. Run the installer on the host. Enter the instance URL, the MID user and a clear name.
  4. Run the service as a dedicated service account.
  5. Start it and check it appears on the instance.

Key term: MID user

A ServiceNow user the MID Server logs in as. It needs the MID Server role and nothing else.

3 What to record

  • Host, install folder and service account.
  • MID Server name.
  • Who installed it and when.

4 Project Clear View: How We Implemented It

📍 Situation: Priya handed over the Mumbai host.

🧭 Decision: Install snwr-mid-mum-01 with a dedicated account and clear name.

🛠️ Steps we took:

  1. Created the MID user on snwr with only the MID Server role.
  2. Downloaded the Windows installer from the instance.
  3. Ran it with Priya, using the dedicated service account.
  4. Named it snwr-mid-mum-01 and recorded the details.

✅ What we verified:

  • The MID Server appears on the instance.
  • It runs as the dedicated account, not a person.

📁 Evidence: The MID install record in the runbook.

5 Quick recap

  • Create a MID user with only the MID Server role.
  • Download the installer from the instance.
  • Run it as a dedicated service account, with a clear name.
  • Record where and how it was installed.

6 Check yourself

Think of your answer first. Then tap to check.

1 What role does the MID user need? Show answer

The MID Server role, and nothing else.

2 Why not run the MID Server as a personal account? Show answer

It could expire or leave with the person, stopping Discovery.

3 What did SNWR name its first MID Server? Show answer

snwr-mid-mum-01.

Nice work! SNWR’s first MID Server is installed. 🎉
Next up: Validating the MID Server

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