Splunk Administration Monitor & Optimize Data Exam Questions and Answers

Splunk Administration: Monitor & Optimize Data certification exam assessment practice question and answer (Q&A) dump including multiple choice questions (MCQ) and objective type questions, with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the Splunk Administration: Monitor & Optimize Data exam and earn Splunk Administration: Monitor & Optimize Data certificate.

Question 1

Which Splunk component is responsible for pushing configurations to multiple forwarders in a managed environment?

A. Search Head
B. Deployment Server
C. License Master
D. Indexer

Answer

B. Deployment Server

Explanation

The Deployment Server is a dedicated Splunk component that acts as a centralized configuration manager, responsible for distributing apps, configurations, and updates to multiple forwarders (called “deployment clients”) across your environment. It uses a push-based model where you organize clients into “server classes” and assign specific app packages to those classes — making it easy to manage hundreds or thousands of forwarders from a single point without manually touching each one.

The other options don’t fit: the Search Head handles search and visualization, the License Master (now called License Manager in newer versions) tracks indexing volume and enforces license limits, and the Indexer receives and stores incoming data — none of them handle configuration distribution to forwarders.

Question 2

Before creating deployment apps, where should administrators organize forwarder inputs on Linux systems?

A. /var/log/splunk
B. /opt/splunk/etc/apps
C. /opt/splunk/etc/system/local
D. /opt/splunk/etc/deployment-apps

Answer

C. /opt/splunk/etc/system/local

Explanation

On Linux forwarders, administrators typically define and validate data collection by editing inputs.conf under $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/local (for a Splunk Enterprise install path like /opt/splunk, that maps to /opt/splunk/etc/system/local).

This is the standard place for host-specific input configuration before you package those settings into a deployment app for centralized rollout, and it avoids modifying default files that can be overwritten during upgrades.

Question 3

Why is configuring forwarder inputs in inputs.conf critical before starting deployment?

A. It controls how dashboards are displayed in the Search Head.
B. It defines how data will be indexed and stored.
C. It determines user permissions for app access.
D. It ensures data sources are defined so forwarders know what to collect.

Answer

D. It ensures data sources are defined so forwarders know what to collect.

Explanation

Configuring forwarder inputs in inputs.conf is critical because that file is where you explicitly define the data inputs (for example, file monitoring, scripted inputs, or network inputs) that tell the forwarder what to collect and ingest in the first place; without those defined inputs, the forwarder has nothing (or not the right things) to gather and send onward for indexing.

The other choices describe responsibilities that live elsewhere: dashboards are search head/UI concerns, user permissions are handled via authentication/authorization settings, and while indexing/storage behavior is influenced by parsing and index configuration, inputs.conf on a forwarder is primarily about defining the data sources to be collected.

Question 4

What is the function of serverclass.conf in Splunk’s deployment architecture?

A. It maps deployment apps to groups of forwarders (server classes).
B. It monitors event parsing performance.
C. It defines indexes for storing incoming data.
D. It handles data transformation rules.

Answer

A. It maps deployment apps to groups of forwarders (server classes).

Explanation

serverclass.conf is the core configuration file on the Deployment Server that defines server classes — logical groupings of deployment clients (forwarders) — and maps specific deployment apps to those groups. Using stanzas like [serverClass:<name>] to define the group and [serverClass:<name>:app:<appName>] to assign apps to it, administrators can control exactly which forwarders receive which apps, using filters based on IP address, hostname, DNS name, or machine type.

The other options are entirely unrelated: event parsing performance is monitored through metrics and monitoring tools, index definitions live in indexes.conf, and data transformation rules are handled by transforms.conf — none of which are the responsibility of serverclass.conf.

Question 5

After creating a deployment app, what must be done before clients receive it?

A. Assign the app to a server class on the Deployment Server.
B. Create a new license pool.
C. Restart the indexer cluster.
D. Manually copy the app to each forwarder.

Answer

A. Assign the app to a server class on the Deployment Server.

Explanation

After creating a deployment app and placing it in the $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/deployment-apps/ directory on the Deployment Server, the app must be assigned to a server class before any forwarder can receive it — this is done either through serverclass.conf or via the Forwarder Management UI (Deployment Server console).

The server class acts as the bridge between the app and its intended recipients; without this mapping, the Deployment Server simply has no instruction on which clients should receive which app, so nothing gets pushed out.

The other options are incorrect: license pools are an entirely separate concern related to indexing volume management, restarting the indexer cluster has no bearing on app distribution to forwarders, and manually copying apps to each forwarder completely defeats the purpose of using a Deployment Server in the first place.

Question 6

Which file is most important for a forwarder to connect to the Deployment Server?

A. server.conf
B. deploymentclient.conf
C. props.conf
D. outputs.conf

Answer

B. deploymentclient.conf

Explanation

deploymentclient.conf is the single most critical file for establishing a forwarder’s connection to a Deployment Server — it tells the forwarder where the Deployment Server is located by specifying the server’s URI and management port (typically 8089) under the [target-broker:deploymentServer] stanza with a targetUri attribute.

Without this file properly configured, the forwarder has no way of knowing which Deployment Server to poll for apps and configurations, meaning it will never register as a deployment client or receive any pushed content.

The other files serve entirely different purposes: server.conf handles general connection and performance tuning, props.conf manages data parsing and field extraction rules, and outputs.conf controls where the forwarder sends its collected data (i.e., which indexer) — none of them establish the forwarder-to-Deployment Server relationship.

Question 7

Which component ensures uniform configuration management across all Splunk forwarders?

A. License Master
B. Indexer Cluster Master
C. Monitoring Console
D. Deployment Server

Answer

D. Deployment Server

Explanation

The Deployment Server is the Splunk component designed to provide centralized, consistent configuration management for fleets of forwarders by distributing (deploying) apps and configuration updates to groups of deployment clients, helping prevent configuration drift across many endpoints.

The other components listed do not serve this role: a License Master/Manager focuses on license usage, an Indexer Cluster Master/Manager handles indexer-cluster coordination, and the Monitoring Console is for health/visibility rather than pushing configurations.

Question 8

Which configuration file must be updated on a forwarder to enable communication with the Deployment Server?

A. server.conf
B. outputs.conf
C. deploymentclient.conf
D. props.conf

Answer

C. deploymentclient.conf

Explanation

deploymentclient.conf is the essential configuration file that must be updated on a forwarder to establish communication with the Deployment Server — specifically, by adding a [target-broker:deploymentServer] stanza containing the targetUri pointing to the Deployment Server’s address and management port (typically 8089).

This file is typically created or modified at $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/local/deploymentclient.conf, and the forwarder must be restarted after changes for them to take effect.

The other files serve entirely different purposes: server.conf handles general server settings and performance tuning, outputs.conf defines where the forwarder sends collected data (i.e., to indexers), and props.conf governs data parsing and field extraction — none of them establish the forwarder-to-Deployment Server relationship.

Question 9

Which directory is used to create and store deployment apps on the Deployment Server?

A. /opt/splunk/etc/system/local
B. /var/log/splunk/deploy
C. /opt/splunk/etc/apps
D. /opt/splunk/etc/deployment-apps

Answer

D. /opt/splunk/etc/deployment-apps

Explanation

The dedicated directory for creating and storing deployment apps on the Deployment Server is $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/deployment-apps, which on a standard Linux installation resolves to /opt/splunk/etc/deployment-apps. Simply creating a subdirectory within that path effectively creates a new deployment app — the subdirectory name becomes the app’s name as it appears in the Forwarder Management UI, even before any configuration content is added inside it.

The other paths serve different purposes: /opt/splunk/etc/system/local stores local system-level configuration overrides, /var/log/splunk/deploy is not a valid Splunk path, and /opt/splunk/etc/apps is where apps are stored for the Splunk instance itself (e.g., on a Search Head), not where deployment apps intended for forwarder distribution are kept.

Question 10

What is the purpose of defining a server class in Splunk?

A. To configure indexer acknowledgment
B. To manage search head clustering
C. To group forwarders for targeted app deployment
D. To define license pools for indexers

Answer

C. To group forwarders for targeted app deployment

Explanation

A server class is fundamentally a logical grouping mechanism in Splunk’s Deployment Server architecture — it clusters deployment clients (forwarders) that share common characteristics (e.g., same OS, role, or location) so that specific deployment apps can be pushed to exactly the right set of forwarders at once.

For example, you could create a server class called linux_servers that whitelists a group of Linux forwarders by IP or hostname, then map a linux_inputs app exclusively to that class — ensuring only those forwarders receive that configuration, while Windows forwarders remain unaffected.

The other options are unrelated: indexer acknowledgment is configured in outputs.conf, search head clustering is managed by a Search Head Deployer, and license pools are a License Manager concern — none of these involve server classes.

Question 11

When assigning deployment apps, what is the next required step for activation?

A. Linking the app to a server class
B. Reinstalling the forwarder on all clients
C. Running splunk validate app on the Deployment Server
D. Restarting all indexers

Answer

A. Linking the app to a server class

Explanation

Once a deployment app has been created and placed in the /opt/splunk/etc/deployment-apps/ directory, the next mandatory step for it to be activated and pushed out is linking (assigning) that app to a server class on the Deployment Server — either through the Forwarder Management UI or by updating serverclass.conf with the appropriate [serverClass:<name>:app:<appName>] stanza.

Without this mapping, the Deployment Server has no instruction on which clients should receive the app, so it simply remains dormant in the deployment-apps directory and never gets distributed, regardless of how well the app itself is configured.

The other options are incorrect: reinstalling forwarders is unnecessary and disruptive, splunk validate app is not a standard activation step in the deployment workflow, and restarting indexers has no bearing on Deployment Server app distribution to forwarders.

Question 12

What is the main purpose of the Forwarder Management interface?

A. To manage user roles and authentication
B. To create custom dashboards
C. To schedule saved searches
D. To view, configure, and monitor deployment clients and apps

Answer

D. To view, configure, and monitor deployment clients and apps

Explanation

The Forwarder Management interface is Splunk’s built-in graphical user interface (GUI) on the Deployment Server that allows administrators to create and manage server classes, assign deployment apps to those classes, and monitor the status of all deployment clients — all without manually editing serverclass.conf.

It provides at-a-glance visibility into the entire deployment environment, showing how many clients, apps, and server classes exist, the last time each client “phoned home,” and whether app deployments succeeded or failed across the forwarder fleet.

The other options are unrelated to Forwarder Management: user roles and authentication are managed under Settings > Access Controls, custom dashboards are built in the Search & Reporting app, and saved searches are scheduled via the Alerts/Reports interface — none of which are functions of the Forwarder Management console.

Question 13

Which of the following files defines where forwarders send their indexed data?

A. inputs.conf
B. outputs.conf
C. indexes.conf
D. serverclass.conf

Answer

B. outputs.conf

Explanation

outputs.conf is the configuration file on a forwarder that defines where collected data gets sent — specifically, it specifies the target indexer(s) by hostname/IP and receiving port (typically 9997), the protocol to use, load balancing behavior across multiple indexers, and optional settings like SSL encryption and indexer acknowledgment.

Without a properly configured outputs.conf, a forwarder can collect data all day long but has nowhere to deliver it, making this file just as critical as inputs.conf for a functioning forwarder setup.

The other files serve entirely different roles: inputs.conf defines what data the forwarder collects, indexes.conf defines index storage locations and properties on the indexer side, and serverclass.conf maps deployment apps to forwarder groups on the Deployment Server — none of them control data forwarding destinations.

Question 14

Why is compressing the data feed beneficial in Splunk forwarding?

A. It minimizes network bandwidth use.
B. It accelerates parsing speed.
C. It encrypts all transmitted data.
D. It reduces license consumption.

Answer

A. It minimizes network bandwidth use.

Explanation

In Splunk forwarding, enabling data compression (configured via the compressed = true setting in outputs.conf for non-SSL forwarding) reduces the size of data chunks transmitted between forwarders and indexers across the network, which directly minimizes bandwidth consumption — a critical optimization in large distributed environments with high data volumes or limited network capacity.

This is especially significant in clustered deployments where data must also be replicated across multiple indexer nodes, as compressing that data stream ensures smooth and efficient transfer between nodes without saturating the network.

The other options are inaccurate: compression does not inherently encrypt data (encryption is a separate concern handled by SSL/TLS settings), it does not accelerate parsing speed (parsing happens after data arrives at the indexer), and it has no effect on Splunk license consumption, which is calculated based on the volume of raw uncompressed data indexed per day.

Question 15

If a forwarder fails to connect to the Deployment Server, what’s the first troubleshooting step?

A. Restart the Search Head cluster.
B. Check the license allocation.
C. Verify the Deployment Server’s management port (8089) is open.
D. Recreate the server class.

Answer

C. Verify the Deployment Server’s management port (8089) is open.

Explanation

When a forwarder fails to connect to the Deployment Server, the very first troubleshooting step is confirming basic network connectivity — specifically that port 8089 (the Splunk management port) is reachable from the forwarder, as this is the port the forwarder uses to “phone home” and perform its handshake with the Deployment Server.

You can validate this by running a simple test from the forwarder, such as curl -ku admin:password https://<deploymentserver>:8089/services or checking local firewall rules with iptables -L, since a blocked port is by far the most common root cause of forwarder connection failures — even when the network appears accessible.

The other options are not logical first steps: restarting the Search Head cluster has no impact on forwarder-to-Deployment Server connectivity, checking license allocation is irrelevant to basic connectivity issues, and recreating the server class would be a much later step only considered after confirming the connection itself is working.

Question 16

Which file governs how apps are distributed to specific clients in Splunk deployment?

A. inputs.conf
B. serverclass.conf
C. deploymentclient.conf
D. outputs.conf

Answer

B. serverclass.conf

Explanation

serverclass.conf is the governing configuration file that controls exactly how deployment apps are distributed to specific clients on the Deployment Server — it uses a hierarchical stanza structure from [global] → [serverClass:<name>] → [serverClass:<name>:app:<appName>] to define which clients belong to which server class and which apps those clients should receive. It supports flexible client filtering using whitelist/blacklist entries based on IP address, hostname, or DNS name, as well as machineTypesFilter to target specific operating systems (e.g., deploying a Linux-specific app only to linux-x86_64 machines and a Windows app only to windows-* machines).

The other files play entirely different roles: inputs.conf defines what data to collect, deploymentclient.conf tells a forwarder where the Deployment Server is, and outputs.conf directs forwarded data to indexers — none of them govern app-to-client distribution logic.