AnUpdate Setin ServiceNow is a mechanism used tocapture configuration changes(such as UI policies, business rules, client scripts, and more) from one instance and move them to another. This ensures that customizations and modifications can be transferred across different ServiceNow instances efficiently.
The process ofretrieving an Update Setfrom another instance follows these key steps:
Verify Update Set is Complete
Before moving an Update Set, it must be marked asCompleteto ensure that all related changes are included.
Navigate toSystem Update Sets > Local Update Setsand confirm that the status is set toComplete.
If the status isIn Progress, the Update Set cannot be retrieved.
Retrieve Update Set
In thetarget instance, navigate toSystem Update Sets > Retrieved Update Sets.
Click"Retrieve Update Set"and provide the remote instance’s URL where the update set exists.
The system will fetch the Update Set from the source instance.
Preview Update Set
Before applying changes, ServiceNow provides apreview optionto check for potential errors or collisions with existing customizations.
Click"Preview Update Set"to initiate validation.
The preview will highlight any skipped records, collisions, or missing dependencies.
Commit Update Set
If the preview is successful (i.e., no critical errors), click"Commit Update Set"to apply the changes to the instance.
Once committed, the changes in the Update Set will be merged into the system's configuration.
"Commit" is the correct final step– after previewing, the Update Set must becommittedto take effect.
"Apply" is incorrect– ServiceNow does not use "Apply" in the Update Set process; instead, it uses "Commit."
"Test Connection" is not part of the Update Set retrieval process– it is relevant forMID Server connectivitybut not for Update Sets.
Why the Correct Answer is "D. Verify Update Set is Complete, Retrieve, Preview, Commit"Thus, the correct sequence is:
✔Verify Update Set is Complete → Retrieve → Preview → Commit
ServiceNow CSA Official Documentation– Update Set Management
ServiceNow Docs - Update Sets(Search for "Update Set Lifecycle")
ServiceNow Community Best Practices on Update Sets
ServiceNow Community(Search for "Best Practices for Update Sets")
ServiceNow Learning Portal - Admin Fundamentals
Available via ServiceNow Now Learning Platform(Look under "Instance Configuration" and "Update Sets")
References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:
