Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin Practice Test

What file configuration is necessary for Splunk to ingest data?

1. props.conf

2. inputs.conf

3. transforms.conf

4. configs.conf

The correct answer is: inputs.conf

For Splunk to ingest data, the inputs.conf file is essential. This configuration file defines the sources from which Splunk collects data. It specifies settings such as the type of data input, the location of the data files, and any necessary configurations for protocols (like TCP/UDP for network inputs). The inputs.conf file essentially serves as the initial step in the data ingestion pipeline by informing Splunk where to find the data and how to process incoming data streams. This makes it the crucial element for configuring data inputs to ensure that the data is successfully captured into the Splunk environment for indexing and subsequent analysis. While other configuration files like props.conf and transforms.conf play important roles in data processing and formatting after ingestion, they do not directly control how data is initially collected. Without a proper inputs.conf setup, the data would not be ingested into Splunk at all, underscoring its importance in the configuration process.