[[["易于理解","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["解决了我的问题","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["其他","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["很难理解","hardToUnderstand","thumb-down"],["信息或示例代码不正确","incorrectInformationOrSampleCode","thumb-down"],["没有我需要的信息/示例","missingTheInformationSamplesINeed","thumb-down"],["翻译问题","translationIssue","thumb-down"],["其他","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["最后更新时间 (UTC):2025-08-18。"],[],[],null,["# Migration Center discovery client overview\n\nThis page describes how to use the discovery client for data discovery\nin your infrastructure, its benefits, and its limitations.\nUse this page to get started with the discovery client.\n\nBenefits of data discovery with the discovery client\n----------------------------------------------------\n\nThe discovery client is an application that automatically discovers your\nphysical servers and virtual machines (VMs) in your infrastructure.\nAfter you install the discovery client inside your infrastructure, it\ncollects all the required metrics for a successful migration to Google Cloud.\n\nIf you decide to connect the discovery client with Migration Center,\nthe client automatically sends the collected data to Migration Center,\nwhere you can review it and perform an assessment.\n\nA thorough data discovery can reveal underutilized resources, uncovers\npotential risks, and ensures a smooth migration.\nThe agentless design of the discovery client, based on open and readable\nscripts, offers transparency and flexibility, and can serve the various needs\nof your organization.\n\nKey features of the discovery client\n------------------------------------\n\nThe discovery client offers the following key features:\n\n- **Agentless:** the discovery client doesn't require any software agents, and is based on open and readable scripts. As an alternative to the installed version, the discovery client is available in a [CLI version](/migration-center/docs/discovery-client-cli-overview) that you can use for direct and script-based discovery and collection.\n- **Built for sensitive environments:** the discovery client has minimal system load, with the option to review all the data shared with Google Cloud.\n- **Local offline assessment:** For environments with strict data privacy needs, you can keep your data entirely on-premises and perform both discovery and assessment offline.\n\nLimitations\n-----------\n\nThe following limitations apply to the discovery client:\n\n- The discovery client can only be installed on Windows machines. To run a discovery from a Linux machine, use the [Migration Center discovery client CLI](/migration-center/docs/discovery-client-cli-overview).\n- The discovery client can only scan devices running a Windows or Linux OS. AIX, Solaris, FreeBSD, Oracle Linux and other UNIX-like systems are not supported.\n- The discovery client doesn't support discovery and collection of database assets.\n\nHow data collection works\n-------------------------\n\nData collection with the discovery client follows these steps:\n\n1. Download and install the discovery client on a machine that can access all the assets in your infrastructure.\n2. Create the credentials required to access the other machines.\n3. Provide a list of IP addresses that the discovery client will use to authenticate to, and collect data from.\n4. Let the discovery client run on your infrastructure for some days to get a complete picture of your infrastructure.\n5. Review the collected data in Migration Center, where you can continue your assessment journey with total cost of ownership (TCO) and other reports.\n\nHow to use the discovery client: a step-by-step process\n-------------------------------------------------------\n\nThis section provides you with the list of tasks you perform to successfully\ninstall and run the discovery client in your infrastructure.\nFollow the steps and read through the linked content in the following pages.\n\n1. **Before you start, create a Google Cloud project and\n activate Migration Center.**\n If you're planning to use the discovery client for offline discovery\n and assessment only, you can skip this step.\n\n - For more details, see [Get started with Migration Center](/migration-center/docs/get-started-with-migration-center).\n2. **Review the requirements for the target machines.**\n\n - [Requirements for Windows machines](/migration-center/docs/target-assets-requirements#windows_machines).\n - [Requirements for Linux machines](/migration-center/docs/target-assets-requirements#linux_machines).\n - [Requirements for vCenter VMs](/migration-center/docs/target-assets-requirements#vcenter).\n3. **Review the installation requirements.**\n\n - For more details, see [Installation requirements](/migration-center/docs/installation-requirements).\n4. **Install and configure the discovery client.**\n\n 1. [Download and install the discovery client](/migration-center/docs/installation-process?version=v6#download-and-install-discovery-client).\n 2. [Choose to work in online or offline mode](/migration-center/docs/installation-process?version=v6#upload-data-to-migration-center).\n 3. [Manage users access to the discovery client](/migration-center/docs/installation-process?version=v6#grant_access_to_other_users).\n5. **Start a data discovery.**\n\n 1. [Review the available collection methods](/migration-center/docs/collection-methods).\n 2. [Add credentials for servers](/migration-center/docs/create-and-manage-credentials?version=v6#add_credentials_for_servers).\n 3. [Add credentials for vCenter](/migration-center/docs/create-and-manage-credentials?version=v6#add_vcenter_credentials).\n 4. [Add servers to the credentials](/migration-center/docs/add-servers).\n\nWhat's next\n-----------\n\n- Learn more about [the requirements for machines and databases](/migration-center/docs/target-assets-requirements) from which you want to collect data."]]