Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin Practice Test

How are configuration files merged within Splunk?

1. Only the first loaded file is used

2. All inputs.conf files are merged into one master configuration

3. Files are ignored if they have identical settings

4. Only default configurations apply at runtime

The correct answer is: All inputs.conf files are merged into one master configuration

When it comes to how configuration files are merged within Splunk, it's important to understand the design and functionality of the configuration management system. Splunk is built to allow for flexibility and extensibility through its configuration files, which include files like inputs.conf, props.conf, and many others. The process of merging configuration files occurs in a way that allows all relevant configurations to be combined into one master configuration. This means that if there are multiple inputs.conf files located in various directories or from different apps, they will not simply be overridden by the first loaded file. Instead, all configurations from these separate inputs.conf files are merged together, which means that in scenarios where different files have the same setting, later configurations can take precedence based on the order of loading. This merging behavior comes from Splunk’s hierarchical configuration system, which allows users to customize settings across different layers, such as default configurations, local configurations, and various apps. Thus, the merging of all inputs.conf files into one master configuration is crucial for achieving the desired data ingestion and processing without being limited by the constraints of having a single configuration file. This merging strategy enables interface flexibility and promotes efficient configuration management, making it easier for administrators to manage complex environments with numerous data inputs.