Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The inputs.conf file is the configuration file responsible for defining what data to collect on a Splunk Search Head, including the various sources of Splunk logs. This file outlines the data inputs that Splunk should monitor and index, such as log files, network streams, and scripted inputs.

In this context, inputs.conf is essential because it dictates which logs and data sources are ingested for analysis, ensuring that all relevant information is available for searching and reporting within Splunk.

The other configuration files play different roles:

- Props.conf is primarily focused on parsing and transforming data, tailoring the way that incoming data is interpreted and indexed based on its source type.

- Outputs.conf manages the routing of logs to indexers or forwarders, specifying where the collected data should be sent.

- Transforms.conf relates to data transformation rules, allowing for operations like filtering, renaming, or modifying events as they are indexed.

Hence, inputs.conf specifically addresses the initial collection of data, making it the correct answer for the question.