Splunk Enterprise Certified Architect Practice Test

To improve indexing performance, which server configuration change is essential?

1. Lower the number of parallel threads

2. Increase the number of parallel ingestion pipelines

3. Enhance search performance limits

4. Decrease memory allocation for processes

The correct answer is: Increase the number of parallel ingestion pipelines

To improve indexing performance, increasing the number of parallel ingestion pipelines is essential. This configuration change allows Splunk to better utilize system resources by enabling multiple data streams to be processed simultaneously. When more parallel ingestion pipelines are active, it can lead to higher throughput, which means that data is indexed more quickly and efficiently. In a scenario where data is being ingested at high volumes, having multiple pipelines can significantly enhance the overall ingestion speed. This is particularly important for environments where real-time data processing is critical, as it helps maintain performance levels rather than slowing down due to the influx of data. Adjusting other parameters, like lowering the number of parallel threads or decreasing memory allocation for processes, may negatively impact performance rather than improve it, as they could restrict the system's ability to handle concurrent processes. Enhancing search performance limits is not directly related to indexing performance, as search optimizations primarily impact how data is queried after it has been indexed. Thus, focusing on increasing parallel ingestion pipelines directly addresses the needs for faster indexing capabilities.