Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin Practice Test

Do Search Heads require an Enterprise License even if no inputs have been configured?

1. True

2. False

3. Only if used in production

4. Depends on configuration

The correct answer is: True

Search Heads do indeed require an Enterprise License, regardless of whether any inputs have been configured. This requirement stems from the way Splunk's licensing system is structured. The Enterprise License is aimed at providing full access to all the features and capabilities of the Splunk platform, which includes functionalities available on the Search Head. Even if a Search Head is not actively ingesting data (meaning no inputs are configured), it is still a core component of the Splunk architecture that performs searches across indexed data, manages user access, and provides the visualization layer for users. Licensing is tied not only to data ingestion but also to the operation of the Splunk software in an enterprise context. Therefore, having an Enterprise License is essential to ensure that organizations comply with Splunk's licensing agreements and fully utilize the capabilities of their Search Heads. Considering this, it's clear that a Search Head operates under the licensing requirements established for Splunk, making it necessary to have an Enterprise License in place even if inputs are not configured.