What do indexers in Splunk do?

In Splunk, indexers play a critical role in the data ingestion and processing workflow. Their primary function is to receive incoming data from various sources, index it for efficient retrieval, and store it in a manner that allows quick access and search capabilities. When data arrives at Splunk, the indexer organizes it in an index structure, which is optimized for fast search operations. This process involves parsing the raw data into events, extracting relevant fields, and applying any necessary transformations defined within the configurations.

The other functions mentioned are essential elements of Splunk's ecosystem but do not fall under the duties of the indexers. Monitoring system performance is typically handled by dedicated monitoring tools or administrative interfaces. Data visualization is performed primarily by the Splunk Search Head, which interprets indexed data to create dashboards and visual representations. Executing scheduled searches is also a capability of the Search Head that runs predefined queries and reports based on the indexed data, rather than being a function of the indexers themselves. Thus, the designated responsibility of indexers is firmly centered around the reception, indexing, and storage of incoming data.