Splunk Core Certified User Practice Exam

Where do forwarders usually reside?

1. On the central server

2. On the machines where the data originates

3. On the Splunk cloud

4. On the search head

The correct answer is: On the machines where the data originates

Forwarders are designed to collect data from the source where it originates and send it to a Splunk indexer for processing and indexing. This architecture allows for efficient data ingestion by capturing logs and metrics directly from the applications or systems that produce the data. By having forwarders on the machines where the data originates, it ensures that the data is captured in real-time, providing a comprehensive and timely view of operational metrics and logs. The other options involve locations where forwarders do not typically reside. For instance, having a forwarder on a central server would not be ideal for collecting data directly from the source. While Splunk Cloud may incorporate elements of data collection, forwarders operate primarily on the originating machines. The search head serves a different purpose, focusing on searching and analyzing data rather than collecting it, which reinforces why the correct choice highlights the forwarder's placement at the data source.