Installing the Splunk Forwarder: A Step-by-Step Guide

The Splunk universal forwarder installs by default in the `/opt/splunkforwarder` directory. With the introduction of version 9.1.0, latest forwarders will no longer be able to communicate with indexers running on Splunk 7.0 or earlier. To ensure seamless communication, it is recommended that you upgrade all instances to the latest version.

However, if you still want to use the old version of the Splunk-to-Splunk protocol, you can learn how to enable this behavior. Version 9.1.0 deprecates version 3 of the Splunk-to-Splunk protocol.

Installing the Universal Forwarder on *nix Hosts

To install the universal forwarder on a *nix host, follow the instructions below:

* Download the installation package or tar file from the official Splunk website.

* Extract the files to a directory where you have permissions.

* Follow the installation instructions provided with the package.

The installation packages contain logic that checks for software dependencies and installs in a predetermined place, depending on your operating system. You can also install the universal forwarder manually by extracting the tar file and running the necessary commands.

Configuring a Receiver

To configure a receiver using a configuration file, follow these steps:

1. Create a stanza and define the receiving port.

2. Change the path to `$SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/local`.

3. Configure a receiver using a configuration file by editing the `inputs.conf` file in the `$SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/local` directory.

Alternatively, you can configure a receiver using the Splunk Web interface:

1. Log into Splunk Web as a user with the admin role.

2. Go to Settings > Forwarding and receiving.

3. Verify if there are existing receiver ports open.

4. Optionally select 'New Receiving Port'.

Compatibility between Forwarders and Indexers

When configuring a receiver, it is essential to ensure compatibility between forwarders and indexers. For more information on the compatibility matrix between forwarders and Splunk Enterprise indexers, refer to the 'Splunk Products Version Compatibility Matrix manual'(https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/Splunk/latest/Admin/Compatibilitybetweenforwardersandindexers).

In this article, we have outlined the steps for installing and configuring the Splunk universal forwarder on a *nix host. We also covered the importance of configuring a receiver to ensure seamless communication between forwarders and indexers. By following these instructions, you can successfully install and configure the Splunk universal forwarder on your *nix host.

Additional Resources

For more information on intermediate forwarders and how they work, refer to 'Configure an Intermediate Forwarder'(https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/Splunk/latest/Admin/Configuringanintermediateforwarder).

Splunk forwarder install