SPLK-1005 Splunk Cloud Certified Admin Questions and Answers

Explanation: Any modifications in capacity or configurations within Splunk Cloud require an official support ticket, as they are managed by Splunk Cloud support teams to ensure consistent and secure changes. [Reference: Splunk Docs on Splunk Cloud support requests]

In Splunk, an index is a data repository that stores both raw data and associated indexing information. Specifically, the raw data is stored in a compressed format, and the indexing information is stored in tsidx files (time series index files). These tsidx files enable fast searching and retrieval of data based on time. The correct terminology and structure make option B accurate.

Splunk Documentation Reference: Splunk Indexes

Explanation: splunk cmd allows running scripts in Splunk’s environment for testing purposes. This ensures the script behaves as expected within Splunk’s CLI context. [Reference: Splunk Docs on scripted inputs]

In the context of Splunk, when configuring data inputs to monitor specific directories, the correct syntax must match the directory paths accurately and adhere to the format recognized by Splunk.

Option A: [monitor:///apache/*/logs] - This syntax would attempt to monitor all directories under /apache/ that contain the word logs, which is not what the question is asking. It is incorrect for the paths given in the question.

Option B: [monitor:///apache/foo/logs, /apache/bar/logs, /apache/bar/1/logs] - This syntax correctly lists the specific paths /apache/foo/logs, /apache/bar/logs, and /apache/bar/1/logs separately. This is the correct answer as it precisely matches the paths given in the question.

Option C: [monitor:///apache/.../logs] - The triple dots syntax (...) is used to match any subdirectories under /apache/. This would monitor all logs directories within any subdirectory structure under /apache/, which again, does not specifically match the paths given in the question.

Option D: [monitor:///apache/foo/logs, /apache/bar/logs, and /apache/bar/1/logs] - This syntax includes the word "and", which is not valid in the Splunk monitor stanza. The syntax should list the paths separated by commas, without additional words.

Thus, Option B is the correct syntax to monitor the specified paths in Splunk.

For additional reference, you can check the official Splunk documentation on monitoring inputs which provides guidelines on how to configure monitoring of files and directories.

Splunk Cloud Support should be contacted when issues arise that cannot be resolved internally or when problem isolation has been unsuccessful.

C. When unable to resolve issues or perform problem isolation is the correct answer. Splunk Cloud Support is typically involved when internal troubleshooting has been exhausted, and the issue requires expert assistance or deeper investigation. While scripted input troubleshooting might be handled by internal teams, contacting support for unresolved issues is the appropriate step.

Splunk Documentation References:

When to Contact Splunk Support

For input apps that are not permitted on Splunk Cloud, the recommended place to deploy them is on a Universal Forwarder or Heavy Forwarder. These forwarders handle data collection and preprocessing before sending the data to Splunk Cloud. This setup allows organizations to leverage apps and configurations that are not supported directly in the cloud environment.

Splunk Documentation Reference: Forwarding Data to Splunk Cloud

In Splunk, SEDCMD (Stream Editing Commands) is applied during the Typing Pipeline of the data indexing process. The Typing Pipeline is responsible for various tasks, such as applying regular expressions for field extractions, replacements, and data transformation operations that occur after the initial parsing and aggregation steps.

Here’s how the indexing process works in more detail:

Parsing Pipeline: In this stage, Splunk breaks incoming data into events, identifies timestamps, and assigns metadata.

Merging Pipeline: This stage is responsible for merging events and handling time-based operations.

Typing Pipeline: The Typing Pipeline is where SEDCMD operations occur. It applies regular expressions and replacements, which is essential for modifying raw data before indexing. This pipeline is also responsible for field extraction and other similar operations.

Index Pipeline: Finally, the processed data is indexed and stored, where it becomes available for searching.

Splunk Cloud Reference: To verify this information, you can refer to the official Splunk documentation on the data pipeline and indexing process, specifically focusing on the stages of the indexing pipeline and the roles they play. Splunk Docs often discuss the exact sequence of operations within the pipeline, highlighting when and where commands like SEDCMD are applied during data processing.

Source:

Splunk Docs: Managing Indexers and Clusters of Indexers

Splunk Answers: Community discussions and expert responses frequently clarify where specific operations occur within the pipeline.

Explanation: SEDCMD in props.conf applies regular expressions to modify data as it is ingested. It is useful for transforming raw event data before indexing. [Reference: Splunk Docs on SEDCMD]

When a forwarder phones home to a Deployment Server, it compares the checksum of its apps with those on the Deployment Server. If the checksums do not match, the app on the forwarder is always deleted and re-downloaded from the Deployment Server. This ensures that the forwarder has the most current and correct version of the app as dictated by the Deployment Server.

Splunk Documentation Reference: Deployment Server Overview

When integrating LDAP authentication with Splunk, new user data is cached the first time a user logs in. This means that Splunk does not store LDAP usernames and passwords; instead, it relies on the LDAP server for authentication. The mapping of LDAP groups to Splunk roles must be configured manually; it does not happen automatically. Additionally, Splunk Cloud supports various LDAP servers, not just Active Directory.

Splunk Documentation Reference: LDAP Authentication

When a forwarder is unable to send data to indexers, it queues the data in memory and optionally on disk. The setting used for the disk queue is persistentQueueSize. This configuration defines the size of the disk queue that stores data temporarily on the forwarder when it cannot immediately forward the data to an indexer.

Splunk Documentation Reference: Configure forwarding and receiving in Splunk

By default, the sc_admin role in Splunk Cloud is granted several important capabilities, including:

indexes_edit: The ability to create, edit, and manage indexes.

fsh_manage: Manage full-stack monitoring integrations.

admin_all_objects: Full administrative control over all objects in Splunk.

can_delete: The ability to delete events using the delete command.

Option C correctly lists these default capabilities for the sc_admin role.

Splunk Documentation Reference: User roles and capabilities

In Splunk Cloud, only apps that have been certified and vetted by Splunk are supported. This is because Splunk Cloud is a managed service, and Splunk ensures that all apps meet specific security, performance, and compatibility requirements before they can be installed. This certification process guarantees that the apps won’t negatively impact the overall environment, ensuring a stable and secure cloud service.

Self-service installation is available, but it is limited to apps that are certified for Splunk Cloud. Non-certified apps cannot be installed directly; they require a review and approval process by Splunk support.

Splunk Cloud Reference: Refer to Splunk’s documentation on app installation and the list of Cloud-vetted apps available on Splunkbase to understand which apps can be installed in Splunk Cloud.

Source:

Splunk Docs: About apps in Splunk Cloud

Splunkbase: Splunk Cloud Apps

Explanation: The Universal Forwarder credentials package is available in the Splunk Cloud search head’s Universal Forwarder app for secure, managed deployment. [Reference: Splunk Docs on Universal Forwarder credentials package]

The default bandwidth limit in the Splunk Universal Forwarder is set to 256 KBps. This setting is in place to prevent the forwarder from overwhelming network resources, and it can be adjusted as necessary based on the deployment's specific needs.

Splunk Documentation Reference: Universal Forwarder Configuration

In Splunk Cloud, when an app on Splunkbase indicates "Request Install," it means that the app is not available for direct self-service installation and requires intervention from Splunk Support. This could be because the app needs to undergo an additional review for compatibility with the managed cloud environment or because it requires special installation procedures.

In these cases, customers need to contact Splunk Support to request the installation of the app. Support will ensure that the app is properly vetted and compatible with Splunk Cloud before proceeding with the installation.

Splunk Cloud Reference: For further details, consult Splunk’s guidelines on requesting app installations in Splunk Cloud and the processes involved in reviewing and approving apps for use in the cloud environment.

Source:

Splunk Docs: Install apps in Splunk Cloud Platform

Splunkbase: App request procedures for Splunk Cloud

To view the runtime configuration instructions for a monitored file in inputs.conf on the forwarder, the correct command to use involves accessing the internal REST API that provides details on data inputs.

C. ./splunk _internal rest /services/data/inputs/monitor is the correct answer. This command uses Splunk's internal REST endpoint to retrieve information about monitored files, including their runtime configurations as defined in inputs.conf.

Splunk Documentation References:

Splunk REST API - Data Inputs

Explanation: Default Splunk Cloud roles include power, user, and admin, each with unique permissions suitable for common operational and administrative functions. [Reference: Splunk Docs on user roles in Splunk Cloud]

In Splunk, when ingesting logs such as an Apache access log, the time zone for each event is typically determined by the time zone indicator present in the raw event data itself. In the log snippet you provided, the time zone is indicated by -0400, which specifies that the event's timestamp is 4 hours behind UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).

Splunk uses this information directly from the event to properly parse the timestamp and apply the correct time zone. This ensures that the event's time is accurately reflected regardless of the time zone in which the Splunk instance or forwarder is located.

Splunk Cloud Reference: For further details, you can review Splunk documentation on timestamp recognition and time zone handling, especially in relation to log files and data ingestion configurations.

Source:

Splunk Docs: How Splunk software handles timestamps

Splunk Docs: Configure event timestamp recognition

The acceptFrom parameter is used in Splunk to specify which IP addresses or DNS names are allowed to send data to a Splunk instance. The supported formats include IPv4, IPv6, CIDR notation, and DNS names.

B. IPv4, IPv6, CIDRs, DNS names is the correct answer. These are the valid formats that can be used with the acceptFrom argument. Wildcards are not supported in acceptFrom parameters for security reasons, as they would allow overly broad access.

Splunk Documentation References:

acceptFrom Parameter Usage

The SHOULD_LINEMERGE setting is used in Splunk to control whether or not multiple lines of an event should be combined into a single event. This setting is configured in the props.conf file, where Splunk handles data parsing and field extraction. Setting SHOULD_LINEMERGE = true merges lines together based on specific rules.

Splunk Documentation Reference: props.conf - SHOULD_LINEMERGE