The parent directory that contains the configuration files in Splunk is $SPLUNK_HOME/etc. This directory houses various configuration files that are essential for the function and customization of Splunk. It includes subdirectories and files that define system settings, user preferences, and other operational parameters of the Splunk software.

A heavy forwarder can parse data before forwarding it. This forwarder type allows for advanced processing and routing of data based on its content, which are not functions supported by a universal forwarder. The heavy forwarder is capable of handling the parsing phase, wherein data is broken up into events and additional processing is conducted.

In a distributed Splunk environment, the component responsible for consolidating individual results and preparing reports is the search head. The search head distributes search queries to various search peers (indexers), collects the results, and then consolidates and presents them to the user. This allows for efficient search management and reporting across a distributed architecture.

The deployer is a Splunk Enterprise instance that distributes apps and certain other configuration updates to search head cluster members. This functionality is crucial for maintaining consistency and ensuring that all search head cluster members are up-to-date with the latest configurations and applications. The deployer specifically manages the configuration bundles used for these updates.

On a deployment server, apps should be located in the $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/deployment-apps directory. This is the standard location from which the server will deploy apps to the clients.