What are the methods by which Splunk ingests data?

Splunk is designed to ingest data from a variety of sources to allow for comprehensive data analysis and visualization. The correct method is through file and directory monitoring, network inputs, and API data input.

File and directory monitoring enables Splunk to continuously watch over files or directories for new data, making it ideal for log files or any other forms of data that might be generated continuously. Network inputs allow for the ingestion of data over network protocols, which is vital for real-time logging and monitoring from network devices. Additionally, API data input facilitates gathering data from web services, software applications, or other cloud services, which are increasingly common sources of operational data.

The other methods described in the other options are limited in scope. Relying only on file uploads would restrict the diversity and accessibility of data sources. Focusing exclusively on database connections overlooks the numerous other ways data can be ingested. Manual data entry is quite tedious and impractical for large datasets and does not leverage the automation capabilities that Splunk offers. Thus, option B accurately reflects the versatility and capabilities of Splunk in data ingestion.