Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin Practice Test

Which Splunk component can forward data directly to a search head?

1. .conf file

2. Indexer

3. Receiver

4. Forwarder

The correct answer is: Forwarder

The forwarder is the correct choice for directly forwarding data to a search head in a Splunk environment. Forwarders are lightweight agents installed on the machines that collect and send logs and event data to a central Splunk indexer or search head. They can efficiently handle the data input and processing, allowing the search head to access real-time data effectively. In a distributed Splunk architecture, there are typically two types of forwarders: universal forwarders and heavy forwarders. Universal forwarders are ideal for just collecting and sending data without needing significant processing, while heavy forwarders can perform some parsing and indexing before sending the data. Both types facilitate the flow of data to a search head, ensuring that data is available for analysis and querying. The other options do not serve this function. .conf files are configuration files that store settings and parameters for Splunk components but do not actively forward any data themselves. Indexers primarily focus on indexing incoming data and are not designed to send it directly to a search head. Receivers, on the other hand, are endpoints that listen for incoming data from forwarders, but they don't initially forward data to any other components; their role is in the data receiving process. Thus, the forwarder is distinctly identified as the