Splunk Tutorial- A Complete Guide For Beginners

Splunk is a popular software that offers and handles in-depth knowledge related to machine data and other big data. This machine data is derived from IoT devices, mobile apps, etc. It can make a lot of things happen and we are going to talk about it here. And if you are interested in making a career in this field, then there is nothing better than Splunk online training. In this Splunk tutorial, we will take you through a complete understanding of Splunk, starting with what is Splunk. Consequently, we will cover its features, architecture, why learn Splunk, and a brief Splunk vs ELK, which is another similar software.

What is Splunk?

Splunk is a widely popular software platform that is employed for searching, visualizing, analyzing, and monitoring machine-generated data in real-time. It performs a lot of tasks like indexing, correlating, and capturing the real-time data in a searchable container to ultimately help in producing dashboards, alerts, visualizations, and graphs. 

It can be seen as a data mining tool but for big data applications. And it is so famous because no database is necessary for storing its data. Why? Because it extensively uses its indexes for storing the data.

Features of Splunk

Splunk is so famous everywhere because of the numerous features it has to boast about. Here are a few of the top Splunk features:

• It facilitates building real-time data apps.
• Helps improve performance by troubleshooting any condition.
• Empowers users with its analysis, visualization, and search capabilities.
• Generates faster ROI.
• Fastens the testing and development phase.
• Accepts data in all formats, such as JSON, CSV, etc.
• Enables real-time architecture and agile figures documentation.

Splunk Architecture

The Splunk architecture is composed of three key components.

1. Splunk Forwarder

The job of Splunk Forwarder is to collect real-time data so that the user can implement real-time data analysis. The entire log's data is collected by the Splunk Forwarder and is sent to the indexer. There are two main Splunk Forwarders -

• Splunk Forwarder
• Search Head
• Splunk Indexer

2. Search Head

Splunk Search Head is a graphical user interface that allows the user to perform a plethora of operations as per their requirements. This stage allows easy interaction with Splunk and consequent performance of search and query operations on the entire Splunk data.

3. Splunk Indexer

The Splunk Indexer is employed for indexing and then storing the data received from the Splunk Forwarder. In short, it changes data into events to store and add them to an index. This enhances the overall searchability.

First, the data received is parsed and all unwanted data is removed. The next step is indexing where files are created that are later bifurcated into different directories known as buckets. The files are -

• Metadata files

• Indexes pointing to raw data (.TSIDX files)

• Compressed raw data

Applications of Splunk

Discussing all the applications of Splunk here is nearly impossible. Yes, you will be able to learn more about them during your Splunk course. And if you decide to go for Splunk certification, then you will get to know about everything during your training period. Here are a few applications of Splunk -

• Understand KPIs and improve performance by deploying Splunk for web analytics

• Works in relation with IoT

• Advice cybersecurity professionals about the best means of securing the IT systems

• Used in IT operations to detect network abusers, breaches, and intrusions

• Used in industrial automation systems

• Track, analyze, and refine digital marketing campaigns

Don't forget to read this- Splunk Fundamentals: Get Started with Data Analytics and Visualization

Why Learn Splunk?

Yes, we know you are wondering whether or not you should learn Splunk. Is it really worth it? Does it have a bright future? Are we even going to see it in the future? Can I get Splunk training free anywhere?

Too many questions and not enough time. To give you a better idea about the why's, let us look at a few benefits of Splunk training.

Benefits of Splunk Training

Till now, we have seen and discussed what Splunk is and more about its features. But now it's time we see how Splunk online training can help you build a successful career.

• Splunk course is for those who wish to enjoy a bright tech career with the aid of this amazing platform. Thus, you already have the zeal to move ahead. 

• With the right Splunk course, you will learn to use this platform for collecting, visualizing, and analyzing data from a myriad of sources. This data is received from different sources including applications, user behavior, devices, machines, and social media. 

• As per your prior experience and skill set, a training program will provide you with advanced knowledge. 

• Training courses or Splunk tutorial also come with hands-on learning exercises that are crucial for skill development. This increases your chances of getting hired as hiring managers see you as an asset that they do not have to provide training. 

• Splunk is a leading name and its future is bright. Getting trained and Splunk certification will help you get more opportunities to work with top companies anywhere in the world. 

Splunk Certification

The Splunk certification you should aim at achieving is the Splunk Core Certified User Certification. It is a professional certification designed for beginners who wish to demonstrate their proficiency in employing core Splunk Enterprise features.

To get certified, individuals have to pass the SplunkCore Certified User examination.

Splunk vs. ELK Stack: A Comparison

The ELK (Elastic, Logstash, Kibana) stack offers similar functionality to Splunk. However, there is a line of difference between the two here that is what we are going to talk about next.

Conclusion

There is a lot to learn about Splunk since it is a leading platform today. While covering it all in a blog is difficult, you can still learn it all with the help of the best Splunk course.

Since there are no prerequisites to learning Splunk, anyone can make a career in this field. All you need is to have a zest to learn and that is enough.

Splunk Tutorial FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1. Can I learn Splunk easily?

Ans. Learning Splunk is not that hard but if you wish to master it, then it will take some time.

Q2. Where can I get Splunk training free?

Ans. There are a lot of online portals where you can get free short modules or practice sessions. However, if you want to learn it so that you can make a career in it, then we suggest you go with a full-fledged course or learn through Splunk tutorial.

Q3. Is there an official Splunk Certification?

Ans. Yes, the Splunk Core Certified User certification is issued by Splunk itself.

Q4. Is Splunk a tool or a software?

Ans. Splunk is a well-known software platform that is used for searching, visualizing, and analyzing machine-generated data.

Q5. Who uses Splunk?

Ans. Companies from all industries like electricity, gas, oil, banking, financial services, communication, etc., use Splunk.

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