Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin Practice Test

Which command is part of configuring the replication factor in a cluster master setup?

1. replication_factor 2

2. replication_factor 3

3. replication_factor 4

4. replication_factor 5

The correct answer is: replication_factor 4

In a cluster master setup, configuring the replication factor is crucial for ensuring data availability and redundancy across the indexers within the cluster. The replication factor specifically determines how many copies of each piece of indexed data will be kept across different nodes in the cluster. A replication factor of 4 signifies that there will be four copies of the data distributed across the indexers. This level of redundancy is particularly advantageous as it helps prevent data loss in case one or more indexers fail. It ensures that even if some indexers become unavailable, there are still enough copies of data available to service search requests and maintain operational continuity. Selecting a replication factor is a trade-off between resource utilization and data availability. In a scenario where data integrity and accessibility are paramount, opting for a higher replication factor like 4 is often preferred. This aligns well with best practices for mission-critical environments where uptime and data durability are vital. It’s important to note that choosing a factor lower than the total number of indexers could lead to situations where data might not be retrievable if an indexer goes down, while a factor exceeding the number of available indexers may not even be feasible. Thus, determining the optimal replication factor is key in achieving a balance between reliability and resource efficiency.