A technique for automatically discovering a new server connected within an automated data center. In one example embodiment, this is performed by connecting and powering a new server to one or more data center resources of the automated data center. The new server is then booted-up by loading a temporary OS image from a manager server. Server-specific attributes for the new server are then obtained using the loaded initial temporary OS image by the management server. An SNMP trap is then received from each of the one or more data center resources by the management server upon powering the new server. Each of the received SNMP traps includes physical connection information associated with a connection between the new server and one of the one or more data center resources. An inventory database is then updated by storing the received physical connection information associated with SNMP trap and the obtained server-specific attributes.