What is the default maximum span of data, in seconds, before it ages out in Splunk?

In Splunk, the default maximum span of data, before it ages out, is set to 7776000 seconds. This value corresponds to the retention policy for indexed data, specifically as it pertains to the maximum time that Splunk will retain events before they are eligible for deletion.

This retention period is essentially a way for organizations to manage their storage space efficiently, enabling them to balance between retaining critical data for compliance and analytical purposes while controlling the amount of disk usage. The choice of 7776000 seconds, which is equivalent to 90 days, is a common configuration for many organizations, providing a good compromise between data availability and resource consumption.

The other potential values provided, while they represent various spans of time, do not align with Splunk’s standard configuration for data retention. By understanding these spans, administrators can make informed decisions about managing their data lifecycle based on organizational needs and policy requirements.