Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin Practice Test

What is the recommended method to handle SNMP data in Splunk?

1. Directly ingest SNMP data

2. Use a heavy forwarder for ingestion

3. Monitor a file written by the sender containing SNMP data

4. SNMP data cannot be ingested

The correct answer is: Monitor a file written by the sender containing SNMP data

Using a file written by the sender to contain SNMP data is a recommended method for handling this type of data in Splunk. This approach allows for the data to be processed in a structured manner as the data is collected in a file format that Splunk can easily read. When SNMP data is written to a file, it can be monitored for changes, indexed, and analyzed within Splunk without the complications that may arise from streaming data directly. This method provides a layer of decoupling between the data source and Splunk, which can enhance stability and reliability, especially in scenarios where real-time processing is not critical. Also, it allows you to batch the data, reducing the load during peak monitoring times and providing flexibility in how the data is ingested and indexed. The other methods presented do not take full advantage of structured data handling or may present integration challenges, making file monitoring a more efficient approach for many use cases involving SNMP data.