Which of the following steps is essential when you want to enable event forwarding between two Windows systems?

To enable event forwarding between two Windows systems, configuring event log settings on both systems is essential. This process involves setting up the Event Collector and Event Forwarder services, which allow one system to receive event logs from another. Specifically, the system that will receive the forwarded events (the Event Collector) needs to be configured to accept and manage incoming logs, while the originating system (the Event Forwarder) must be set up to send event logs to the designated collector.

By adjusting the event log settings correctly, administrators can establish a secure and efficient forwarding mechanism. This setup not only ensures that the necessary logs are sent but also includes configurations for filtering (if needed) and setting up subscriptions. Neglecting to configure these settings would prevent the systems from effectively communicating through event logs, rendering the forwarding process non-functional.

The other options, while potentially relevant in different contexts, do not directly pertain to the specific need for enabling event forwarding between Windows systems. Therefore, properly configuring the event log settings is the critical step for successful event log forwarding.