Types of apps

An app will be called something different depending on which tier it is placed on. Splunk would have you believe that there are only two types of apps: apps and add-ons. However those of you that have used Splunk for a while know that this is simply not true. Using general terminology, an app is something that goes on a search head, whereas an add-on is something that could go on almost any component of Splunk depending on its purpose. It can be quite confusing if you're just stepping into the Splunk world and someone says Let's install <insert app name here> app, and god forbid if someone says Let's install the enterprise security app, and they task you (a new(ish) admin) with its installation.

Search apps

This type of apps are deployed on the search head only, and primarily comprises knowledge objects. These are event types, lookup files, field extractions, and the like, as well as all the .xml files that make up the actual dashboards. This is the visualization component...