Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin Practice Test

What protocol is recommended for network inputs in Splunk?

1. SMTP

2. UDP

3. TCP

4. IMAP

The correct answer is: TCP

Using TCP as the recommended protocol for network inputs in Splunk is grounded in its reliability and connection-oriented nature. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) ensures that data packets are delivered in the order they were sent and that any lost packets are retransmitted, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the data being collected. This reliability is especially important in environments where data accuracy is critical, such as in logging and monitoring applications. In contrast, other protocols like UDP (User Datagram Protocol) are connectionless and do not guarantee the order or delivery of packets. While UDP is often faster due to its lightweight nature, it is more prone to packet loss, which can lead to incomplete or inaccurate data ingestion. This makes it less suitable for scenarios where the completeness and consistency of logs and events are paramount. Protocols like SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) are specifically designed for email communication, making them inappropriate choices for network data inputs in Splunk, which focuses on collecting and analyzing machine-generated data from various sources. Thus, TCP stands out as the superior choice for ensuring robust data collection in Splunk.