If no timestamp is found, which timestamp does Splunk use for indexing events?

When Splunk is indexing events and it cannot find a timestamp within the event itself, it defaults to using the current system time as the timestamp for those events. This ensures that events are indexed with a timestamp that reflects the exact time they were ingested into Splunk, rather than potentially using a misleading or inaccurate timestamp from the event data or file metadata.

Using the current system time allows for consistent handling of events where a timestamp is missing, which aids in maintaining the integrity of the data indexing process. This is particularly important because accurate event timestamps are crucial for event sequencing and anomaly detection. If a reliable timestamp isn't available, relying on the current system time allows for a known reference point, enabling more straightforward management and analysis of the data within Splunk.

The other options do not apply in the context of Splunk’s indexing behavior for missing timestamps. For example, while file modification time may be relevant in some contexts, it does not apply in this situation where the absence of an event timestamp occurs.