Splunk SPLK-1003 Practice Test Questions, Exam Dumps

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SPLK-1003 Splunk Practice Test Questions and Exam Dumps

Question No 1:

In a Splunk environment, data retention is a crucial aspect of managing storage and ensuring that the system operates efficiently. The administrator needs to configure the data retention settings based on time, which controls how long data is kept in the index before it is moved to a frozen state or deleted. Which setting in indexes.conf allows the data retention to be controlled by time?

A. maxDaysToKeep
B. moveToFrozenAfter
C. maxDataRetentionTime
D. frozenTimePeriodInSecs

Answer:

D. frozenTimePeriodInSecs

Explanation:

In Splunk, data retention is an important configuration aspect to ensure that old data is either archived or deleted when no longer needed, thereby managing storage space effectively. The setting that controls data retention based on time is frozenTimePeriodInSecs.

Here is a breakdown of each option and how it relates to data retention:

1. frozenTimePeriodInSecs (Correct Answer):

frozenTimePeriodInSecs is the setting in indexes.conf that defines the period (in seconds) after which Splunk will consider the data as frozen. Once the data reaches this retention threshold, it is moved to a frozen state.
The frozen data can be deleted, archived, or retained in an external location depending on the settings. This provides an effective way to control how long indexed data is kept before being removed or archived.
Example: Setting frozenTimePeriodInSecs = 86400 would allow data to be retained for 1 day (86400 seconds) before it is frozen.

2. maxDaysToKeep (Incorrect):

maxDaysToKeep is not a standard setting used in Splunk for data retention control. Splunk uses the frozenTimePeriodInSecs parameter for controlling data retention based on time, rather than maxDaysToKeep.

3. moveToFrozenAfter (Incorrect):

moveToFrozenAfter is related to moving data to frozen storage after a certain size or time condition is met, but it is not directly tied to controlling data retention by time alone. This setting is typically used to specify the size threshold after which data is moved to frozen storage.

4. maxDataRetentionTime (Incorrect):

maxDataRetentionTime is not a valid setting in indexes.conf. Splunk uses frozenTimePeriodInSecs to define data retention periods.

The correct setting to control data retention by time in indexes.conf is frozenTimePeriodInSecs. This setting determines how long data will be retained before being considered for freezing and subsequent archiving or deletion, thus helping manage storage space effectively. Therefore, the correct answer is D. frozenTimePeriodInSecs.

Question No 2:

In a Splunk environment, the Universal Forwarder is responsible for collecting and forwarding log data to a Splunk indexer for processing. The forwarder plays a crucial role in the data collection and transmission pipeline. Which of the following capabilities does the Universal Forwarder have when sending data? (Choose all that apply)

A. Sending alerts
B. Compressing data
C. Obfuscating/hiding data
D. Indexer acknowledgement

Answer:

B. Compressing data
D. Indexer acknowledgement

Explanation:

The Splunk Universal Forwarder (UF) is a lightweight version of the Splunk forwarder that is primarily designed to collect, forward, and monitor data from a wide range of sources such as logs, configuration files, and system metrics. The Universal Forwarder is optimized for minimal resource usage and efficient data forwarding to the Splunk indexer. Let's review each of the capabilities mentioned in the options:

A. Sending alerts (Incorrect):

The Universal Forwarder does not send alerts. Alerts are typically generated at the indexer level in Splunk, based on queries, thresholds, or specific conditions in the indexed data. The Universal Forwarder is responsible for sending data to the indexer, but it does not handle alerting, which is an operation carried out by the Splunk indexer or search head once data has been indexed.

B. Compressing data (Correct):

The Universal Forwarder can compress data before sending it to the indexer to optimize bandwidth usage and reduce the amount of data being transferred over the network. Compression is an important feature in high-volume environments where network bandwidth or data transfer costs might be a concern. This feature is configurable within the Universal Forwarder’s settings, allowing it to compress the data using methods such as gzip.

C. Obfuscating/hiding data (Incorrect):

The Universal Forwarder does not obfuscate or hide data by default. It simply collects and forwards the raw data from sources such as log files, system logs, and configuration files to the indexer. Any form of obfuscation or data masking would typically be performed at the application level or as part of data processing on the indexer, not by the Universal Forwarder.

D. Indexer acknowledgement (Correct):

The Universal Forwarder waits for an indexer acknowledgement to ensure that the data has been successfully received and indexed. This is part of the reliable delivery mechanism in Splunk that ensures data is safely and fully transmitted to the indexer. The forwarder keeps track of data that has been acknowledged by the indexer and retries sending data if it doesn't receive an acknowledgment.

The Splunk Universal Forwarder is designed to send data efficiently and reliably to a Splunk indexer. The correct capabilities are B. Compressing data and D. Indexer acknowledgement. It does not handle alerting, obfuscation, or data masking, and therefore, the options A. Sending alerts and C. Obfuscating/hiding data are incorrect.

Question No 3:

In a security configuration, both a whitelist and a blacklist input setting are used to control the flow of data or allow/deny access to certain items, such as IP addresses or applications. However, a conflict arises when an item is listed in both the whitelist and the blacklist. How does the system handle this conflict?

A. Blacklist
B. Whitelist
C. They cancel each other out.
D. Whichever is entered into the configuration first.

Answer:

A. Blacklist

Explanation:

When managing access controls or security filtering through mechanisms like whitelists and blacklists, the rules regarding which items should be allowed or denied are critical to ensure proper functioning and security. In the case of a conflict between a whitelist and a blacklist, where the same item (such as an IP address or a URL) appears in both, the system typically defaults to the blacklist setting.

Why does the Blacklist take precedence?

Blacklist has a Deny-First Approach:

A blacklist is a security measure that explicitly denies or blocks access to specific items or resources that are considered harmful or undesirable. It works on the principle of "deny all except those explicitly allowed." In contrast, a whitelist works on the principle of "allow only what is explicitly permitted."
In cases of conflict, where a resource is both in the whitelist (allow list) and the blacklist (deny list), the system often prioritizes denial over allowance to mitigate potential risks. This ensures that any item explicitly flagged for denial will not be allowed through the security control, regardless of its presence in the whitelist.

Security Best Practices:

Denying known threats or malicious entities (e.g., IP addresses, websites, applications) is more critical for maintaining system security. The presence of the blacklist entry is a stronger signal to block that entity, even if it is listed in the whitelist. This "deny-first" approach ensures that the system is more cautious and protective against potential threats.

System Default Behavior:

Most security systems and tools that support both whitelisting and blacklisting (such as firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, or content filtering services) are designed to handle these conflicts by giving precedence to the blacklist. This is a built-in safeguard to prevent accidental access by malicious entities.

Why Not the Other Options?

B. Whitelist: The whitelist would not take precedence because allowing access to anything in the whitelist could potentially introduce security risks if that same item is identified in the blacklist as malicious.
C. They cancel each other out: This is not the case in most systems. Security tools do not cancel out conflicting rules; instead, they are designed to prioritize one rule over another, often the blacklist, to ensure security.
D. Whichever is entered into the configuration first: This option is typically not used as a rule of thumb in security systems. The configuration order generally does not determine precedence; instead, explicit security policies, such as giving precedence to the blacklist, govern conflict resolution.

In the event of a conflict between a whitelist and a blacklist, the blacklist will generally take precedence, ensuring that the security system denies access to potentially harmful entities, even if they are on the whitelist. This approach minimizes the risk of vulnerabilities being introduced through improperly allowed items. Therefore, the correct answer is A. Blacklist.

Question No 4:

In a Splunk configuration, you are working with field extractions, data transformations, and text manipulation. To apply a search-time transformation or regular expression replacement on incoming event data, the SEDCMD setting is commonly used. Which configuration file is the SEDCMD setting found in?

A. props.conf
B. inputs.conf
C. indexes.conf
D. transforms.conf

Answer:

A. props.conf

Explanation:

The SEDCMD (Search-Time Event Data Transformation) is a configuration directive used in Splunk to apply search-time transformations to incoming event data. This setting is specifically designed to perform regular expression (regex) replacements or text manipulations on the event data as it is indexed and before it is made available for search queries.

Where is SEDCMD Used?

A. props.conf:

The SEDCMD setting is configured in props.conf, which is a configuration file in Splunk that defines how to process incoming data. The props.conf file controls the behavior of event parsing, including timestamp extraction, field extractions, and applying transformations such as SEDCMD.
SEDCMD is used in conjunction with transforms.conf to define specific text manipulation rules. These transformations are applied when the data is indexed or searched, allowing administrators to modify or clean data at search time without altering the raw event data.

Example of a props.conf configuration with SEDCMD:

[source::...]

SEDCMD-remove_special_chars = s/[^a-zA-Z0-9]//g

In this example, SEDCMD-remove_special_chars performs a regular expression replacement to remove any non-alphanumeric characters from the events.

Explanation of Other Options:

B. inputs.conf:

The inputs.conf file defines the sources from which data is collected (e.g., file paths, network ports, scripted inputs). It controls where and how data enters Splunk, but it does not perform transformations or text manipulations. Therefore, SEDCMD is not used here.

C. indexes.conf:

The indexes.conf file controls the behavior of Splunk’s indexing, including index definitions, storage paths, and retention policies. While it plays a role in data storage and retrieval, it does not contain data transformation rules like SEDCMD.

D. transforms.conf:

transforms.conf is used in Splunk to define the rules for event field extractions, event filtering, and other data transformations. While transforms.conf holds the definition for specific transformations, such as field extraction and lookup, the SEDCMD directive itself must be configured in props.conf. props.conf tells Splunk which transformation to apply by referencing the transformation rules defined in transforms.conf.

The SEDCMD setting is used in props.conf in Splunk to apply search-time transformations and text replacements on incoming event data. This enables users to manipulate or clean data as it is ingested into Splunk, allowing for more efficient and effective data searches without altering the original event data. Therefore, the correct answer is A. props.conf.

Question No 5:

In a Splunk forwarder environment, an administrator is tasked with configuring inputs to collect data from various sources. The administrator is exploring different methods to add inputs on the forwarder. Which of the following are supported configuration methods for adding inputs on a Splunk forwarder? (Choose all that apply.)

A. CLI
B. Edit inputs.conf
C. Edit forwarder.conf
D. Forwarder Management

Answer:

A. CLI
B. Edit inputs.conf
D. Forwarder Management

Explanation:

When configuring a Splunk forwarder to collect data, several methods are available to define the inputs (data sources) that the forwarder will monitor. These methods help administrators define which files or directories to monitor, which network ports to listen on, and how to configure other data collection settings. Below are the common methods to configure inputs on a Splunk forwarder:

A. CLI (Command-Line Interface)

The CLI is a powerful tool to configure Splunk forwarders directly from the command line. Using commands like splunk add input, administrators can configure various data sources. For example, the splunk add monitor command allows you to specify files or directories to monitor, while other commands can be used to configure network inputs like HTTP event collectors.
The CLI is commonly used in automated environments or when managing a large number of forwarders because it provides a scriptable interface for configuring inputs without manually editing configuration files.

Example command to add a file monitor:

splunk add monitor /var/log/syslog

B. Edit inputs.conf

inputs.conf is the main configuration file used by both Universal Forwarders and Indexers to define inputs. This file specifies where data should come from (e.g., file paths, network ports) and how the data should be processed.
Administrators can manually edit inputs.conf to specify the inputs for the forwarder. This method allows for detailed customization and is commonly used when more complex or tailored input configurations are required.

Example configuration in inputs.conf:

[monitor:///var/log]

disabled = false

sourcetype = syslog

C. Edit forwarder.conf

forwarder.conf is not the typical configuration file for defining inputs. This file is primarily used for configuring the forwarder behavior, such as defining output destinations (where to send the data). While it can influence forwarding behavior, inputs.conf is the appropriate place for configuring input data sources.
Hence, forwarder.conf is not typically used to configure inputs on the forwarder.

D. Forwarder Management

Forwarder Management is a feature available through Splunk's deployment server (or via Splunk Cloud's management tools). It allows administrators to centrally configure and manage forwarders across a network. Through Forwarder Management, an administrator can push configuration changes to multiple forwarders, making it an efficient tool for managing large-scale forwarder deployments.
This method can be used to manage inputs remotely, pushing configurations such as data collection rules and server addresses to forwarders in the field.

In summary, the supported configuration methods for adding inputs on a Splunk forwarder are:

A. CLI: A command-line tool for configuring inputs.
B. Edit inputs.conf: Directly editing the inputs.conf file to define input sources.
D. Forwarder Management: Using Splunk’s deployment server or cloud management to centrally manage and configure inputs across multiple forwarders.

C. Edit forwarder.conf is not a method used for defining inputs. Thus, the correct answers are A, B, and D.

Question No 6:

A Splunk administrator is tasked with managing the configuration files in a Splunk instance. The administrator is unsure of which directory contains the key configuration files for the Splunk system. Which parent directory contains the configuration files in Splunk?

A. $SPLUNK_HOME/etc
B. $SPLUNK_HOME/var
C. $SPLUNK_HOME/conf
D. $SPLUNK_HOME/default

Answer:

A. $SPLUNK_HOME/etc

Explanation:

In Splunk, configuration files are essential for defining the behavior and operation of the system, such as how data is indexed, how inputs are defined, and how searches are performed. These configuration files are located in specific directories within the Splunk installation, and understanding where they are stored is crucial for administrators to properly manage the system.

The correct parent directory that contains the configuration files in Splunk is $SPLUNK_HOME/etc. Here’s a breakdown of the various directories and their roles:

A. $SPLUNK_HOME/etc

The $SPLUNK_HOME/etc directory is the primary location where Splunk stores its configuration files. This directory contains subdirectories for various configuration files, including:

$SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system: Contains global configuration files for the Splunk instance.
$SPLUNK_HOME/etc/apps: Stores app-specific configuration files, which can override the global settings in system.
$SPLUNK_HOME/etc/users: Contains user-specific configurations.

It includes key configuration files such as:

inputs.conf (data inputs)
props.conf (data processing and transformations)
outputs.conf (forwarding and receiving data)
indexes.conf (indexing settings)

B. $SPLUNK_HOME/var

The $SPLUNK_HOME/var directory is used primarily for Splunk's operational data, such as logs, indexed data, and runtime data. It is not where the core configuration files are stored. For example, it contains directories like $SPLUNK_HOME/var/log (for logs) and $SPLUNK_HOME/var/lib (for indexed data), but it does not contain the configuration files.

C. $SPLUNK_HOME/conf

$SPLUNK_HOME/conf is not a standard directory within Splunk. The configuration files are not typically located here, so this option is incorrect.

D. $SPLUNK_HOME/default

The $SPLUNK_HOME/default directory exists within the $SPLUNK_HOME/etc directory and contains the default configuration files for Splunk. However, this directory is not the parent directory of configuration files; rather, it is a subdirectory that contains the default settings that can be overridden by user-specific configurations in $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system or $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/apps.

The $SPLUNK_HOME/etc directory is the primary location where Splunk's configuration files are stored. Administrators should be familiar with this directory to effectively manage Splunk’s configuration, including customizing input data sources, defining indexing policies, and setting up outputs for forwarding data. Therefore, the correct answer is A. $SPLUNK_HOME/etc.

Question No 7:

A Splunk administrator is configuring a forwarder to send data to a Splunk indexer. The administrator needs a forwarder type that can process and parse data before it is sent to the indexer. Which forwarder type should be used in this case?

A. Universal forwarder
B. Heaviest forwarder
C. Hyper forwarder
D. Heavy forwarder

Answer:

D. Heavy forwarder

Explanation:

In a Splunk environment, forwarders are used to send data from various sources to the Splunk indexer for storage and analysis. However, different types of forwarders serve different purposes, and their ability to parse and process data varies.

A. Universal Forwarder:

The Universal Forwarder (UF) is a lightweight, minimal forwarder designed to efficiently collect and forward raw data to the Splunk indexer or other forwarders. It does not perform any parsing, indexing, or heavy processing of the data on the source machine.
Key Point: The Universal Forwarder only forwards raw, unprocessed data and does not parse data prior to forwarding. Therefore, it is not suitable for the scenario where you need data parsing before forwarding.

B. Heaviest Forwarder:

There is no "Heaviest Forwarder" type in Splunk. This term does not exist as part of Splunk’s official forwarder types and is, therefore, not relevant to this question.

C. Hyper Forwarder:

Like the "Heaviest Forwarder," the Hyper Forwarder is not a recognized forwarder type in Splunk documentation. Thus, this option is incorrect and does not apply to Splunk forwarders.

D. Heavy Forwarder:

The Heavy Forwarder (HF) is a more feature-rich forwarder compared to the Universal Forwarder. It has the capability to parse, index, and transform data before forwarding it to the Splunk indexer or other destinations.
Key Point: The Heavy Forwarder is designed to perform parsing, indexing, and some other preprocessing tasks such as event breaking and field extractions before sending data to the indexer. This makes it ideal when you need to preprocess and parse data before forwarding it to other Splunk components.
The Heavy Forwarder is typically used when you need the data to be processed on the forwarder itself before being sent, which is the case in this scenario.

When the requirement is to parse data before it is forwarded to the Splunk indexer, the Heavy Forwarder (HF) is the appropriate choice. It has the capability to perform data parsing and other preprocessing tasks, making it more suited for situations where data manipulation is necessary before forwarding. Therefore, the correct answer is D. Heavy forwarder.

Question No 8:

In a Splunk distributed environment, data is collected and indexed across multiple machines. After the data has been indexed, there is a need to consolidate the results from various sources and prepare reports based on the search queries. Which Splunk component is responsible for this task?

A. Indexers
B. Forwarder
C. Search head
D. Search peers

Answer:

C. Search head

Explanation:

In a Splunk distributed environment, different components perform specific roles to ensure data collection, indexing, and search capabilities work together seamlessly. Let's break down the components involved in the process and their responsibilities.

A. Indexers:

Role: Indexers are responsible for indexing and storing incoming data. They process raw data by creating indices, which enable efficient searching later. Indexers work with data that is forwarded by forwarders (either Universal Forwarders or Heavy Forwarders).
Key Point: Indexers do not consolidate search results or prepare reports. They are focused solely on indexing and storing the data in the appropriate format.

B. Forwarder:

Role: Forwarders collect and send raw data to the indexers. They ensure data reaches the Splunk platform from various sources like logs, devices, or servers.
Key Point: Forwarders play no role in data aggregation, reporting, or consolidating search results. Their function is solely to forward the raw data to the appropriate indexers.

C. Search Head:

Role: The Search Head is the component responsible for initiating search queries, consolidating the results from multiple indexers, and generating reports. It coordinates searches across search peers (which are the indexers) in a distributed environment. After the data is indexed and stored by the indexers, the Search Head allows users to search through that data and provides the results in the form of reports, dashboards, and visualizations.
Key Point: The Search Head is where users interact with the data through search queries. It collects results from indexers (search peers), consolidates them, and prepares the final output, making it the component responsible for generating reports and performing searches across the indexed data.

D. Search Peers:

Role: Search Peers are indexers that participate in a distributed search. They store and retrieve the data during a search process. When a query is initiated by the Search Head, it distributes the search request across multiple search peers (indexers) to retrieve relevant data.
Key Point: Search peers assist in performing searches across data but do not consolidate results or prepare reports. The consolidation and reporting tasks are handled by the Search Head.

In a distributed Splunk environment, the Search Head is responsible for consolidating the individual results from multiple indexers (search peers) and preparing the reports based on user queries. This makes C. Search head the correct answer for this question.

Question No 9:

In a Splunk deployment, the deployment server is responsible for distributing apps to clients (forwarders). Where should the apps be located on the deployment server so that they can be pulled by clients?

A. $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/apps
B. $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/search
C. $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/master-apps
D. $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/deployment-apps

Answer:

D. $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/deployment-apps

Explanation:

In a Splunk environment, the deployment server plays a key role in managing and distributing apps, configuration files, and other necessary settings to forwarders (Universal or Heavy Forwarders). Apps and configurations are stored on the deployment server in specific directories, and clients (forwarders) will pull them based on their configurations.

Let’s explore the correct location and the role of each directory:

A. $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/apps:

Role: This directory is used for local apps installed on a Splunk instance (such as a search head, indexer, or other Splunk server). While apps in this directory are important for the Splunk instance itself, it is not the directory used by the deployment server to distribute apps to forwarders.
Key Point: Apps placed here will not be pulled by clients in the context of forwarder management.

B. $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/search:

Role: The search directory is typically used for search-specific configurations or settings related to search heads. It is not the correct location for apps meant to be distributed to forwarders by the deployment server.
Key Point: This directory is not used for managing apps for deployment to clients.

C. $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/master-apps:

Role: The master-apps directory is typically used for clustered environments (like a search head or indexer cluster) to manage shared apps between cluster members. It is not the directory used for apps that the deployment server will distribute to forwarders.
Key Point: This directory is not intended for forwarder management; rather, it's used for clustering purposes.

D. $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/deployment-apps:

Role: This is the correct directory for storing apps that will be distributed by the deployment server. Apps placed in this directory are pulled by forwarders (clients) based on the configuration set up in the deployment server. When the deployment server is configured to manage forwarders, it uses the apps in this directory to push the necessary configurations and updates to the clients.
Key Point: The deployment-apps directory is where apps intended for forwarders are stored and from where they are retrieved by the clients.

To distribute apps to clients (forwarders) using a deployment server, the apps should be located in the $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/deployment-apps directory. This ensures that the deployment server can correctly push apps and configurations to forwarders as part of the forwarder management process. Therefore, the correct answer is D. $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/deployment-apps.

Question No 10:

In a Splunk environment with a search head cluster, there is a need to distribute apps and specific configuration updates to the members of the search head cluster. Which Splunk component is responsible for this task?

A. Deployer
B. Cluster master
C. Deployment server
D. Search head cluster master

Answer:

A. Deployer

Explanation:

In a Splunk deployment, when using a search head cluster to distribute search workloads across multiple search heads, it is crucial that all search heads are kept synchronized with the same configurations, apps, and settings. The task of managing the distribution of these updates and ensuring consistency across the search head cluster members falls to a specific Splunk component known as the Deployer.

Let’s break down the role of each component and its responsibilities in a Splunk environment:

A. Deployer:

Role:
The Deployer is specifically designed to manage and distribute configurations and apps across search head cluster members. When an app or configuration update is required, such as a new app or a change in a configuration file, the Deployer pushes these changes to all search head cluster members, ensuring they are all updated and remain synchronized.

Key Point:
The Deployer is a central component for ensuring that all search heads in a cluster have identical apps and configurations. Without it, each search head might run different versions of apps and configurations, causing inconsistencies and issues in search operations. It is essential for maintaining synchronization in multi-search head environments.

B. Cluster Master:

Role:
The Cluster Master manages the indexer clustering in Splunk, responsible for controlling indexer clusters, replication, and data distribution across indexers. This component does not handle the distribution of apps or configuration updates to the search heads.

Key Point:
The Cluster Master ensures data redundancy, availability, and correct operation of the indexing cluster but does not manage apps or configurations for search heads. This makes it unsuitable for distributing apps or configuration updates to search head clusters.

C. Deployment Server:

Role:
The Deployment Server is responsible for distributing configurations and apps to forwarders in a Splunk environment. These forwarders can be either Universal Forwarders or Heavy Forwarders. The Deployment Server is not designed to manage search head clusters or distribute configurations to them.

Key Point:
While the Deployment Server is essential for managing forwarder configurations, it does not interact with search head clusters, and it does not distribute apps or configurations to them.

D. Search Head Cluster Master:

Role:
The Search Head Cluster Master is a component used within search head clustering. Its main role is to manage the search head cluster itself, ensuring that all search heads in the cluster are correctly configured and synchronized. However, it does not directly handle the distribution of apps or configuration updates.

Key Point:
While the Search Head Cluster Master manages the internal operations of the cluster, it is not responsible for distributing apps or configuration updates to search heads. That task is managed by the Deployer.

To distribute apps and configuration updates across search head cluster members in a Splunk environment, the component responsible for this task is the Deployer. It ensures all search heads are synchronized with the latest configurations and apps, maintaining consistency across the entire search head cluster.

Therefore, the correct answer is A. Deployer.