Glossary · System coordination, integration and orchestration
Endpoint discovery
Also known as: service discovery
German: Endpunkterkennung
In systems integration, endpoint discovery is the process by which a client finds the network addresses, protocols and security settings of the servers or services it can connect to, for example through a discovery server or directory; OPC UA defines discovery services for this purpose.
- System integration
In one sentence
Endpoint discovery lets a client find addresses, protocols and security settings of the servers or services it can connect to.
Example
An OPC UA client asks the local discovery server for registered servers, then requests their endpoints and picks the one with the required security policy.
How it applies
- Engineering: Discovery reduces hard-coded addresses and supports systems whose servers move or scale. In OPC UA, a client retrieves the endpoints of a server, each with a security mode and policy, before it opens a session.
- Security: Discovery information must not lead clients to weaker endpoints than intended. Disable insecure endpoints on servers rather than relying on clients to choose well, and verify server certificates.
- Documentation: Document which discovery mechanism the system uses, which endpoints and security policies it offers and how certificates are managed. Integrators need this before the first connection attempt.
Endpoint discovery vs. capability discovery
Endpoint discovery answers “where and how do I connect?” Capability discovery answers “what can this system do?” once connected.