Splunk Fundamentals 1 Practice Exam

Where do forwarders usually reside?

1. On dedicated servers

2. On the machines where the data originates

3. In the cloud

4. On the Search Heads

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

Forwarders typically reside on the machines where the data originates. This is because forwarders are responsible for collecting log data, metrics, and other event data from various sources before that data is sent to a central Splunk indexer or a heavy forwarder. By being installed on the source machines, forwarders can efficiently monitor and gather data in real-time, ensuring that the information captured is as up-to-date as possible. While dedicated servers and cloud environments may host Splunk components, the specific role of a forwarder is fundamentally tied to data origination sources. These might include application servers, network devices, or even endpoints where logs and events are generated. This architecture allows for a distributed approach to data ingest, which enhances performance and reduces the load on the central Splunk infrastructure while ensuring comprehensive data coverage. Search heads, on the other hand, are designed for querying and visualizing data that has already been indexed, rather than collecting and forwarding raw data. This distinction highlights the primary function of forwarders as data collectors, making their placement on the originating machines critical for the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire Splunk deployment.