Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin Practice Test

How does Splunk handle file indexing based on the modification dates?

1. Files are indexed according to size

2. Files with recent modifications are prioritized

3. Files outside a specified modification window are ignored

4. All files are indexed regardless of modification

The correct answer is: Files outside a specified modification window are ignored

Splunk’s approach to file indexing incorporates the handling of file modification dates by considering whether files fall within a specified modification window. When files are indexed, those that do not meet the criteria set for recent modification dates may be ignored to optimize performance and ensure that only relevant and up-to-date data is processed. This selective indexing is crucial for maintaining efficiency and relevancy in the search results produced by Splunk. In this context, the focus on ignoring files outside the defined modification window helps improve the processing of data by filtering out outdated entries that are less likely to provide valuable insights. This approach aligns with best practices in data management, ensuring that only the most current files are indexed, which can significantly enhance the analysis process. The other options suggest processes that do not accurately reflect how Splunk operates regarding file indexing based on modification dates. For instance, indexing solely based on size or always indexing all files would not leverage the important aspect of modification relevance that is crucial for efficient data management in an analytical platform like Splunk.