What is the primary purpose of using wildcards in inputs.conf?

Using wildcards in inputs.conf primarily serves the function of matching variable file patterns. This capability is essential for applications where the specific file names or structures may not be consistent. For instance, if you're processing log files that may have different timestamps in their names or use dynamic naming conventions, wildcards allow the admin to specify patterns rather than individual file names.

By utilizing wildcards, you can create broad rules that ensure all files matching a certain pattern are included for indexing, thus streamlining data collection and management in Splunk. This feature is particularly valuable in environments where file names may change frequently but still adhere to a predictable naming scheme.

In contrast, defining exact file names would not require wildcards, and specifying directories without recursion does not leverage the flexible matching that wildcards provide. Wildcards do not play a role in restricting access to files; access control is managed through other means in Splunk configurations.