Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin Practice Test

Which file is NOT used during index time in Splunk?

1. inputs.conf

2. outputs.conf

3. props.conf

4. scripts.conf

The correct answer is: scripts.conf

At index time in Splunk, various configuration files play specific roles in determining how data is processed and indexed. Understanding the function of each file is key to grasping this concept. Inputs.conf is critical as it defines the data sources that Splunk will monitor and index. It specifies where to collect data from, such as files or network ports, and controls characteristics like data format and the way Splunk should read the input data. Outputs.conf is also important at the index time. It controls how data gets forwarded from the indexer to other Splunk components, such as search heads or other indexers. While it primarily deals with data routing and forwarding, it is still considered part of the indexing architecture because it influences how indexed data is handled post-ingestion. Props.conf contains configuration settings that are crucial for the parsing and indexing of the incoming data. It lays out how fields should be extracted, how timestamps should be managed, and other processing rules that shape the final indexed data. In contrast, scripts.conf is not a standard configuration file used during index time. Instead, it defines executable scripts that can be run at specific phases of data processing (like searching or report generation) but does not play a role in the actual indexing process itself. Thus,