True or False: Editing inputs.conf affects both new data and requires re-indexing of previously ingested data.

The statement is false because editing the inputs.conf configuration file will only affect the data that is ingested after the changes are made. This file governs how data is brought into Splunk, including specifying input sources and attributes. Once data has already been ingested and indexed, altering the inputs.conf settings will not change how that previously ingested data is processed or indexed—it remains as it was at the time of ingestion.

Furthermore, re-indexing old data would require additional steps, such as utilizing the Splunk re-indexing capabilities, which means the data must be re-sent to Splunk and indexed again for any changes to take effect on previously ingested data. Hence, the correct understanding here is that any changes made in this configuration file pertain solely to incoming data, not data that has already been indexed.