Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin Practice Test

What happens if metadata is not specified in Splunk?

1. Splunk defaults to using previous settings

2. Splunk applies defaults

3. Splunk cannot index the data

4. Splunk will ignore the input

The correct answer is: Splunk applies defaults

When metadata is not specified in Splunk, the system applies default settings. This means that if certain parameters, such as source types or character encodings, are not defined in your data input configuration, Splunk will automatically utilize preset configurations that are built into the system. These defaults are designed to provide a baseline that allows data to be indexed and searched effectively, ensuring that data ingestion can occur even without explicit metadata definitions. Choosing to rely on default settings helps maintain a functional data input process and allows users to begin interacting with data almost immediately. However, it's important to note that using defaults may not always yield optimal results, especially for unique data types or formats, which might require specific configurations for more accurate indexing and searching. In contrast to the other choices, if Splunk defaults were not applied, previous settings would only be relevant if data inputs were reused or modified from an existing configuration. Additionally, if Splunk cannot index the data, it typically indicates a more critical issue such as a data format error or connection issue, rather than simply the absence of metadata. Ignoring the input is not standard behavior for Splunk unless there is a more specific error that prevents indexing.