---
title: Service Discovery Mechanism
description: This is an abstract object type that cannot be instantiated.
component: pingds
version: 8.1
page_id: pingds:configref:objects-service-discovery-mechanism
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/8.1/configref/objects-service-discovery-mechanism.html
section_ids:
  service_discovery_mechanisms: Service Discovery Mechanisms
  dependencies: Dependencies
  service_discovery_mechanism_properties: Service Discovery Mechanism properties
  basic_properties: Basic properties
  java-class: java-class
---

# Service Discovery Mechanism

*This is an abstract object type that cannot be instantiated.*

A Service Discovery Mechanism identifies a set of LDAP servers for load balancing

## Service Discovery Mechanisms

The following Service Discovery Mechanisms are available:

* [Replication Service Discovery Mechanism](objects-replication-service-discovery-mechanism.html)

* [Static Service Discovery Mechanism](objects-static-service-discovery-mechanism.html)

These Service Discovery Mechanisms inherit the properties described below.

## Dependencies

The following objects depend on Service Discovery Mechanisms:

* [Proxy Backend](objects-proxy-backend.html)

## Service Discovery Mechanism properties

You can use configuration expressions to set property values at startup time. For details, see [Property value substitution](expressions.html).

| Basic Properties          |
| ------------------------- |
| [java-class](#java-class) |

### Basic properties

Use the `--advanced` option to access advanced properties.

### java-class

|                         |                                                                                                                    |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| *Synopsis*              | Specifies the fully-qualified name of the Java class that provides the Service Discovery Mechanism implementation. |
| *Default value*         | None                                                                                                               |
| *Allowed values*        | A Java class that extends or implements:- org.opends.server.discovery.ServiceDiscoveryMechanism                    |
| *Multi-valued*          | No                                                                                                                 |
| *Required*              | Yes                                                                                                                |
| *Admin action required* | The object must be disabled and re-enabled for changes to take effect.                                             |
| *Advanced*              | No                                                                                                                 |
| *Read-only*             | No                                                                                                                 |