Splunk Monitoring Console Setup

Prerequisites

Tool or access	Purpose	Verify
Bash and Python 3	Run bundled setup and validation helpers	bash --version && python3 --version
Required product/platform access	Inspect or configure the selected target	Complete the documented preflight
Credential files for live modes	Keep secrets out of chat	Verify paths only

Workflow Overview

┌───────────┐   ┌───────────────┐   ┌───────────────┐   ┌─────────────────┐
│ Preflight │ → │ Render/review │ → │ Apply/handoff │ → │ Validate evidence │
└───────────┘   └───────────────┘   └───────────────┘   └─────────────────┘

When to Activate

• Configure distributed or standalone Monitoring Console mode, splunk_monitoring_console_assets.conf auto-config, distsearch.conf search peer groups, forwarder monitoring, platform alerts, search peer onboarding checks, or Monitoring Console.
• Preview and review the splunk monitoring console setup workflow before any live apply phase.
• Diagnose failed prerequisites, generated assets, configuration, or validation evidence.

Scope

Follow the documented read-only or render-first path whenever it is available. This skill does not imply permission to mutate live systems. Require explicit apply flags, protected credentials, and operator review for state changes.

Examples

Inspect the supported setup modes before selecting one:

bash skills/splunk-monitoring-console-setup/scripts/setup.sh --help

Expected output: usage, supported modes, and required arguments are displayed without changing the target environment.

Inspect validation modes before running completion checks:

bash skills/splunk-monitoring-console-setup/scripts/validate.sh --help

Expected output: offline, live, and completion options are displayed when the skill supports them; help exits without mutation.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Cause	Resolution
Preflight fails	A required tool or access path is missing	Resolve it before rendering or applying
Rendered assets are incomplete	Required non-secret inputs are absent	Complete intake and render again
Apply is blocked	Review, credentials, or explicit acceptance is missing	Use the documented handoff
Validation is incomplete	Live evidence is unavailable	Record the gap and keep completion open

This skill prepares Splunk Enterprise Monitoring Console local configuration for standalone or distributed deployments. It renders reviewable assets before any apply phase.

Agent Behavior

Never ask for search-head or search-peer passwords in chat. This skill does not automate splunk add search-server because the documented CLI requires -remotePassword, which would expose a secret as a process argument. Render the peer checklist, then have the operator add peers through Splunk Web or their own secure session.

Use template.example for non-secret values:

• standalone or distributed mode
• search peer host:management-port values
• search peer URI scheme and optional distributed search groups
• peer username
• auto-config setting
• forwarder monitoring schedule
• platform alert names
• Splunk home path

Quick Start

Render distributed Monitoring Console assets with auto-config:

bash skills/splunk-monitoring-console-setup/scripts/setup.sh \
  --mode distributed \
  --search-peers cm01.example.com:8089,sh01.example.com:8089 \
  --peer-username admin \
  --enable-auto-config true

Enable forwarder monitoring and selected platform alerts:

bash skills/splunk-monitoring-console-setup/scripts/setup.sh \
  --mode distributed \
  --enable-forwarder-monitoring true \
  --enable-platform-alerts true \
  --platform-alerts "Near Critical Disk Usage,Search Peer Not Responding"

Apply after search peers and server roles have been reviewed:

bash skills/splunk-monitoring-console-setup/scripts/setup.sh \
  --phase apply \
  --mode distributed \
  --enable-auto-config true

What It Renders

• splunk_monitoring_console_assets.conf with mc_auto_config
• distsearch.conf review file for search peers and custom distributed search groups
• savedsearches.conf overrides for forwarder monitoring and platform alerts
• app.conf local app visibility/configuration metadata
• helper scripts for preflight, apply, peer checklist, and status

Read reference.md before enabling distributed mode, forwarder monitoring, or platform alerts.