How to add a data input in Server GUI that modifies the inputs.conf file in the Universal Forwarders?

[leantricity]

Hi:

I'm using Splunk in a Mac OS X system. I've installed Universal Forwarders in several Windows Machines. I 've used the installer's GUI for the forwarders, customised the options to monitor a folder and data IS getting into Splunk Server. But when I check the Universal Forwarders etc/system/local/inputs.conf file I only see 2 lines [Default] and Host name. Nothing there about the directory I'm supposed to monitor in the server. As I've said, data IS getting into the server, but I get the "no source type for this job" error when trying to extract fields. So I was wondering if should I trust the GUI to add a Data Input for a Directory in the managed forwarders (they also show OK in the Server's console), or just tweak the inputs.conf file locally in each forwarder to add the source type field there.

If I add a data input in the server GUI, is that configuration written anywhere in the remote universal forwarder ?

Thanks!

[MuS · Accepted solution]

Hi leantricity,

on the server with the universal forwarder you can run this command in the CLI:

 $SPLUNK_HOME\bin\splunk.exe btool inputs list --debug

Where $SPLUNK_HOME is the directory where you installed Splunk. The output of the command will show you the path and file where each option is configured.

Hope this helps ...

cheers, MuS

[leantricity]

Thanks! Found it inside $SPLUNK_HOME\etc\apps\SplunkUniversalForwarder\local\inputs.conf