A ServiceNow Developer Instance is a personalized, fully-featured instance of the ServiceNow platform for developers to build, test, and deploy applications. It offers a sandbox environment to experiment with the platform's capabilities without impacting production environments. This guide will walk you through the process of obtaining and setting up a ServiceNow Developer Instance, along with best practices for effective management.
Creating a ServiceNow Developer Account
To access a Developer Instance, you must create a ServiceNow Developer account.
This screenshot showcases the ServiceNow Developer Site's homepage, highlighting the “Sign Up and Start Building” button to help developers begin their journey with a new account.
Fill in the required details, including your name, email address, and password.
Accept the terms and conditions, then click "Submit."
The ServiceNow Developer Site sign-up page includes fields for entering a name, email address, and password, along with a checkbox to accept the terms and conditions. Users must complete these details to create an account and access a Developer Instance.
3. Email Verification:
Check your email for a verification link from ServiceNow.
Click on the link to verify and activate your account.
Requesting a Developer Instance
Once your account is active, you can request a Developer Instance.
Log In:
Go to https://developer.servicenow.com/ and log in with your credentials.
Access the Developer Dashboard:
After logging in, you'll be directed to the Developer Dashboard.
Request an Instance:
Click on the "Request Instance" button in the navigation bar.
The image displays the ServiceNow Developer Site after logging in, showing the Developer Dashboard. The "Request Instance" button is prominently highlighted, guiding users to initiate a new Developer Instance setup.
4. Choose an Instance Version:
A list of available ServiceNow releases will be displayed.
Select the desired version and click "Request".
The Request an Instance window in ServiceNow shows a list of available platform releases. Developers can choose their preferred version before provisioning a new instance for testing and development
5. Instance Provisioning:
The system will provision your instance, which may take a few minutes.
Once ready, your instance URL and admin credentials will be displayed.
Accessing Your Developer Instance
After provisioning, access your instance as follows:
Instance URL:
Navigate to the instance URL provided (e.g., https://dev12345.service-now.com).
Log In:
To log in, use the admin credentials provided during provisioning.
The ServiceNow Developer Instance login page displays input fields for the username and password, allowing users to access their personal development environment. The page follows a simple, user-friendly layout for quick authentication.
Managing Your Developer Instance
Proper management ensures optimal performance and longevity of your instance.
Instance Dashboard:
Access the "My Instance" section from the Developer Dashboard to view instance details and perform administrative tasks.
2. Instance Actions:
Activate Plugin: Activate different ServiceNow plugins on the instance. You can download more plugins, applications, or products inside the instance by navigating to All > System Definition > Plugins.
Manage Email Properties: Enable or disable email sending and receiving.
Release Instance: By releasing your instance, you allow other developers to use that resource. This action doesn't give up your access to the site. You'll only lose access to your personal developer instance.
Change User Role: You can choose between:
The App Engine Studio Creator role allows creators to build applications in App Engine Studio, a low code/no code development tool.
The Admin role grants full access to your PDI, including ServiceNow Studio, which is the application development environment for professional developers.
Remove Demo Data: ServiceNow provides demo data to allow you to explore platform functionality without adding your own data. Demo data includes Users, Groups, and other types of records, such as Incidents, Problems, Workflows, and Configuration Items. Demo data does not include any records you have created in your instance. If you select Remove demo data, all demo data will be permanently removed from your instance.
Reset and Wipe Instance: Reset your instance to its out-of-the-box settings. You will also receive login credentials for new instances after the reset is complete. You can keep your instance name or give up your instance name and get a new one.
Manage Instance Password: Here, you can find the login credentials for your instance. You can email yourself a copy of your login credentials, or you can reset the instance password to generate a new instance login credential.
Refresh Instance: Restart your instance.
Upgrade Instance: Update to newer versions as they become available.
The Manage Instance dashboard in ServiceNow provides a centralized interface for handling essential administrative tasks. This dashboard ensures streamlined control over the developer environment.
3. Scheduled Maintenance:
Be aware of maintenance schedules to prevent disruptions.
Best Practices
To maximize the utility of your Developer Instance:
Regular Backups: Periodically back up your data to prevent loss during development.
Monitor Usage: Keep an eye on resource utilization to maintain performance.
Stay Updated: Regularly check for platform updates and apply them as needed.
Community Engagement: Participate in the ServiceNow Community to stay informed and seek assistance.
Conclusion
A ServiceNow Developer Instance is an invaluable tool for IT administrators and developers to explore, develop, and test applications in a controlled environment. By following the steps outlined above and adhering to best practices, you can effectively leverage this resource to enhance your ServiceNow expertise.
