Does Splunk Enterprise install the Adobe Flash Player or does it require it (Flash dependencies)?

[rkantamaneni_sp]

Hi,

Does Splunk bundle the Adobe Flash Player in Splunk Enterprise?

Are there any Splunk dependencies on Flash?

Thanks!

[rkantamaneni_sp · Accepted solution]

No, Splunk does not currently bundle the Adobe Flash Player in Splunk Enterprise and has not knowingly for at least several years. If it was ever was bundled, it might have been in versions pre-4.x.

There are no Adobe Flash requirements from Splunk Enterprise Core since Splunk Enterprise 4.3. However, there may be dependencies based on older apps and dashboards. Some flash objects (.swf files) are still shipped in Splunk Enterprise up until 7.3.x, and have been removed in Splunk 8.x, below are the details:

Flash Objects:

Splunk stopped using Flash for objects with Splunk Enterprise 5.0 and switched to JScharts. Thus from this point, Splunk Enterprise core has not been using Flash.

However, it is still an option to use FlashChart if using "Advanced XML". Apps and dashboards that use Advanced XML could still use Flash objects.

There may be apps and add-ons, including older Splunk created ones, that could still be using Advanced XML and possibly some Flash objects in their dashboards.

Splunk Enterprise Core Visualizations:

Splunk Enterprise has not used Adobe Flash since version 5.0, visualizations were changed further in versions 6.0 and 6.3. All Splunk created apps at that point should have stopped using Flash objects also.

Advanced XML:

Third-party apps may use "Advanced XML" to call and use Flash objects up until Splunk Enterprise 7.3.x.

Splunk 8.x drops support for Advanced XML.

Advanced XML deprecation in Splunk Enterprise v6.3:

https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/Splunk/6.3.0/ReleaseNotes/Deprecatedfeatures#Feature_support

As of Splunk 6.3, Advanced XML was marked as Deprecated. At this point, all Splunk created apps should be transiting completely from using Flash objects. Third-party apps could still use Flash objects as Advanced XML is supported.

Advanced XML Support for Dashboards:

Supported through 7.3.x

Advanced XML is supported through 7.3.x. This would be for third-party apps and code and the reason .swf files may be found packaged with Splunk Enterprise.

https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/Splunk/7.3.0/AdvancedDev/Whatsinthismanual#Advanced_XML_Deprec...

Unsupported starting in Splunk 8.0

Advanced XML support is removed from Splunk 8.x.

https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/Splunk/8.0.0/ReleaseNotes/Deprecatedfeatures#Removed_features_...

Thank you to @ddaniel  for helping with the answer.