How does a Splunk Forwarder differ from a Splunk Indexer?

A Splunk Forwarder’s primary role is to collect data from various sources, such as log files or application outputs, and then forward that data to a Splunk Indexer for storage and processing. This separation of responsibilities is essential in a distributed Splunk architecture, where the Forwarder operates at the edge to ensure that data is collected efficiently and then sent to the Indexer, which is responsible for indexing, searching, and reporting on that data.

The Forwarder does not handle storage or data processing tasks directly; its job is to prepare and send data to the Indexer. On the other hand, the Indexer is designed to handle the heavy lifting of storing incoming data, making it searchable, and performing analytics queries against it. This differentiation allows for optimal system performance and scalable architecture in large environments where data is collected in real-time from various sources.

Understanding these roles helps users design and implement effective data ingestion strategies in Splunk, ensuring that data flows seamlessly from collection points through processing and indexing stages.