Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin Practice Test

Which file is primarily used during the input phase on a forwarder?

1. outputs.conf

2. props.conf

3. inputs.conf

4. transforms.conf

The correct answer is: inputs.conf

The file primarily used during the input phase on a forwarder is the inputs.conf file. This configuration file is essential for specifying what data the forwarder should collect and how it should be collected. It defines data inputs such as file paths, network ports, and types of data sources (like logs, metrics, etc.). In inputs.conf, you can set up various types of inputs, which may include monitoring specific log files, receiving data through network protocols, or executing scripts to pull in data. Essentially, it tells the forwarder what data to look for and ingest into Splunk, making it a fundamental component of the forwarder's operation. Other configuration files serve different purposes. For instance, outputs.conf is used to specify where the data should be sent after it has been collected, typically directing it to a Splunk indexer. Props.conf is utilized for data parsing and field extraction once the data arrives at an indexer, while transforms.conf manages advanced data transformations and potential routing based on certain conditions. Each of these files plays an important role in the overall functioning of Splunk but does not directly handle the input phase like inputs.conf does.