How to Check the Instance Version in ServiceNow

Knowing how to check the instance version in ServiceNow helps you confirm which feature release, patch, and hotfix level your environment is running. This guide walks you through three ways to find this information: the Application Navigator stats page, a direct URL, and the Admin Center dashboard. It also covers how to restrict access to the diagnostic pages for security purposes.

Prerequisites

• An account with the admin role in your ServiceNow instance.
• Access to your instance URL (for the direct URL method).

Method 1: View build information using the Application Navigator

Step 1: Log in to your instance

Log in to your ServiceNow instance using an account that has the admin role.

Step 2: Search for the stats page

In the Application Navigator on the left, locate the filter/search box at the top. Type stats into the box.

Under the System Diagnostics section, find and click the Stats link.

Step 3: Review the build name and build tag

You are taken to the Servlet statistics (stats) page. At the top of this page, locate the following information:

• Build name – for example, Washingtondc
• Build tag – for example, glide-washingtondc-12-20-2023_patch3-hotfix1-05-12-2024

These fields indicate the current feature release and the specific patch/hotfix level of your instance.

Method 2: Access the stats page directly via URL

Step 4: Enter the direct stats URL

In your browser, enter the following URL, replacing <instance-name> with your ServiceNow instance name, then press Enter:

https://<instance-name>.service-now.com/stats.do

Note: By default, there is no restriction on accessing this page via the direct URL, which can be a potential security concern.

Understanding build name and build tag

• The build name indicates the current feature release (for example, "Washington DC"), which is one of the two major releases ServiceNow rolls out each year.
• The build tag provides more granular information about the specific patch and hotfix applied to your instance.
• ServiceNow Support uses the /stats.do URL to monitor instance health, which is why it's accessible without admin privileges by default.
• Consider restricting access to /stats.do if you have security concerns.

Restrict access to the /stats.do page

Step 5: Navigate to the System Properties table

In the Application Navigator filter box, type sys. Open the sys_properties.LIST page in a new browser tab to access the System Properties table.

Step 6: Search for the security property

In the System Properties list, search for the property named glide.security.diag_txns_acl.

If the property does not already exist, you need to add it manually.

Step 7: Set the property value to restrict access

Set the value of glide.security.diag_txns_acl to true. This restricts access to the /stats.do, /threads.do, and /replication.do pages to admin users only.

Hover over the property's description to confirm the behavior; the full text confirms that, when set to true, only an admin user can access these pages.

Be aware of potential security risks: Accessing version information via diagnostic URLs such as /stats.do can expose sensitive details to unauthorized users. Ensure you have set the glide.security.diag_txns_acl property to true to restrict access to admin users only.

Method 3: View the instance version using Admin Center

ServiceNow also provides the Admin Center, a dashboard available in recent releases, that allows admins to view instance version and upgrade details.

Step 8: Open the Admin Center

In the Application Navigator filter box, type ADMIN. Under the results, locate and click Admin Center, then click Admin Home to open the admin home dashboard.

Step 9: Locate the instance information widget

On the Admin Home dashboard, scroll to the bottom and find the widget labeled Get information about your instance. Here you see:

• Current version – for example, Washingtondc
• No upgrade scheduled (if applicable)
• Upgradability violations – for example, 0
• A link to Visit upgrade center

Step 10: View detailed patch and hotfix information

Click Visit upgrade center in the widget. In the Upgrade Center, view the Current version field for detailed release information, such as:

• Washingtondc Patch 3 Hotfix 1
• The upgrade date, for example 2024-06-03 19:19:47

Understanding version details

The ServiceNow instance version includes three components:

• Feature release – for example, "Washingtondc"
• Patch number – for example, "Patch 3"
• Hotfix number – for example, "Hotfix 1"

The patch number indicates incremental updates that address bugs or minor improvements since the main feature release. The hotfix number represents urgent fixes applied after a patch, usually for critical issues.

What's next

• To restrict access to diagnostic pages, add or set the glide.security.diag_txns_acl property to true in System Properties.
• To view your instance version going forward, use the Admin Center's Get information about your instance widget and the Upgrade Center for patch/hotfix details.
• Both methods described in this guide require the admin role.

By following these steps, you can secure sensitive diagnostic pages and easily check your ServiceNow instance's version and patch level using either the stats page, the direct URL, or the Admin Center dashboard.