Which component is responsible for collecting logs and forwarding them to the indexer?

The component responsible for collecting logs and forwarding them to the indexer is the forwarder. Forwarders play a critical role in the Splunk architecture by gathering data from various sources, such as servers and applications, and then sending this data to the indexer for storage and indexing.

In a typical Splunk deployment, forwarders can operate in two main modes: Universal Forwarder and Heavy Forwarder. The Universal Forwarder is lightweight and designed primarily for data collection. In contrast, the Heavy Forwarder is more robust, capable of performing data parsing and routing in addition to collecting data. Regardless of the mode, the forwarder's primary function remains focused on data collection and forwarding.

In the context of the other options, the searcher is responsible for executing searches against indexed data, while a license master manages Splunk licenses across a given deployment. The data model, on the other hand, is a structure for organizing and summarizing data for effective reporting and visualization but does not engage in data collection or forwarding. This highlights the unique and essential role of the forwarder in the Splunk ecosystem.