The sourcetype in Splunk defines how incoming machine data is interpreted, structured, and stored. Proper sourcetype configurations ensure accurate event parsing, indexing, and searching.
#1. Event Breaking Rules (A)
Determines how Splunk splits raw logs into individual events.
If misconfigured, a single event may be broken into multiple fragments or multiple log lines may be combined incorrectly.
Controlled using LINE_BREAKER and BREAK_ONLY_BEFORE settings.
#2. Timestamp Extraction (B)
Extracts and assigns timestamps to events during ingestion.
Incorrect timestamp configuration leads to misplaced events in time-based searches.
Uses TIME_PREFIX, MAX_TIMESTAMP_LOOKAHEAD, and TIME_FORMAT settings.
#3. Line Merging Rules (D)
Controls whether multiline events should be combined into a single event.
Useful for logs like stack traces or multi-line syslog messages.
Uses SHOULD_LINEMERGE and LINE_BREAKER settings.
C: Data Retention Policies #
Affects storage and deletion, not data ingestion itself.
#Additional Resources:
Splunk Sourcetype Configuration Guide
Event Breaking and Line Merging