SPLK-1002 Splunk Core Certified Power User Exam Question and Answers

Search workflow actions are custom actions that run a search when you click on a field value in your search results. Search workflow actions can be configured with various options, such as label name, search string, time range, app context, etc. One of the options is to define the time range of the search when creating the workflow action. You can choose from predefined time ranges, such as Last 24 hours, Last 7 days, etc., or specify a custom time range using relative or absolute time modifiers. Search workflow actions do not run as real-time searches by default, but rather use the same time range as the original search unless specified otherwise. Search workflow actions cannot be configured as scheduled searches, as they are only triggered by user interaction. Search workflow actions can be configured with any valid search string that includes any search command, such as transaction.

A delimiter field extraction is a method of extracting fields from data that uses a character or a string to separate fields in each event. A delimiter field extraction can be performed by using the Field Extractor (FX) tool or by editing the props.conf file. A delimiter field extraction can be applied to any file format that uses a delimiter to separate fields, such as CSV, TSV, PSV, etc. A CSV file is a comma-separated values file that uses commas as delimiters. Therefore, a CSV file can be extracted using a delimiter field extraction.

A macro is a way to save a commonly used search string as a variable that you can reuse in other searches1. When you create a macro, you can define arguments that are placeholders for values that you specify at execution time1. The argument values are used to resolve the search string when the macro is invoked, not when it is created1. Therefore, statements B and C are true, while statements A and D are false.

To create a macro that accepts arguments, you must include the number of arguments in parentheses at the end of the macro name1. For example, my_macro(3) is a macro that accepts three arguments. The number of arguments in the macro name must match the number of arguments in the definition1. Therefore, option A is correct, while options B, C and D are incorrect.

The Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) add-on helps you normalize your data from different sources and make it easier to analyze and report on it3. One of the functionalities that the CIM add-on relies on to normalize fields with different names is field aliases3. Field aliases allow you to assign an alternative name to an existing field without changing the original field name or value2. By using field aliases, you can map different field names from different sources or sourcetypes to a common field name that conforms to the CIM standard3. Therefore, option B is correct, while options A, C and D are incorrect.

https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/Splunk/8.1.0/SearchReference/ConversionFunctions#tostring.28X.2CY.29

The tostring function in the eval command converts a numeric value to a string value. It can take an optional second argument that specifies the format of the string value. Some of the possible formats are:

hex: converts the numeric value to a hexadecimal string.

commas: adds commas to separate thousands in the numeric value.

duration: converts the numeric value to a human-readable duration string, such as “2h 3m 4s”.

Therefore, the formats A, B, and D can be used with the tostring function.

The Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) add-on is a collection of pre-built data models and knowledge objects that help you normalize your data from different sources and make it easier to analyze and report on it3. The CIM add-on includes pre-configured data models that cover various domains such as Alerts, Email, Database, Network Traffic, Web and more3. Therefore, option B is correct. The CIM add-on also includes fields and event category tags that define the common attributes and labels for the data models3. Therefore, option C is correct. The CIM add-on does not include custom visualizations or automatic data model acceleration. Therefore, options A and D are incorrect.

The timeline is a graphical representation of your search results that shows the distribution of events over time2. You can use the timeline to zoom in or out of a specific time range or to select one or more bars on the timeline to filter your results by that time range2. However, these actions will not re-run the search, but rather refine the existing results based on the selected time range2. Therefore, options B, C and D are correct, while option A is incorrect because zooming out will re-run the search with a broader time range.

Auto-Extracted fields in Splunk Data Models are derived directly from the indexed data based on the existing fields within the events. These fields are identified and extracted by Splunk automatically, without the need for explicit field extractions configured by the user. Understanding the characteristics of Auto-Extracted fields is crucial for effectively managing Data Models and utilizing them in Pivot tables for analysis.

A. Auto-Extracted fields can be hidden in Pivot. This is true. When building a Data Model, you have the option to hide certain fields from appearing in Pivot, making the Pivot table cleaner and more focused on the fields that are most relevant for analysis. This helps in reducing clutter and focusing on the data that matters most to the users.

B. Auto-Extracted fields can have their data type changed. This statement is not typically accurate for Auto-Extracted fields. The data type of an Auto-Extracted field is determined by Splunk based on the field's content in the indexed data. While you can assign a type to a field when you manually create a field in a data model, the inherent data type of Auto-Extracted fields is not something that is changed within the Data Model itself.

C. Auto-Extracted fields can be given a friendly name for use in Pivot. This is correct. Within Data Models, you can assign a more user-friendly, descriptive name to an Auto-Extracted field. This feature is particularly useful in making Data Models more intuitive and easier to use for those who may not be familiar with the original field names or when the original field names are not descriptive or user-friendly.

D. Auto-Extracted fields can be added if they already exist in the dataset with constraints. This is true. Auto-Extracted fields are based on fields that already exist in the data. When you define a dataset within a Data Model, you can apply constraints to narrow down the events that the dataset includes. The Auto-Extracted fields are then identified from this constrained dataset. This means that the fields must already be present in the data that meets the dataset's constraints to be available for auto-extraction.

In summary, Auto-Extracted fields in Splunk Data Models offer a flexible and efficient way to utilize existing data fields within Pivot tables, with options to rename them for clarity and hide unnecessary fields to streamline data analysis.

The Field Extractor (FX) allows you to use regular expressions (regex) to extract fields from your events using a graphical interface or by manually editing the regex2. When you use the FX to perform a regex field extraction, you can use the require option to specify a string that must be present in an event for it to be included in the extraction2. This way, you can filter out events that do not contain the required string and focus on the events that are relevant for your extraction2. Therefore, option D is correct, while options A, B and C are incorrect.

The relationship between data models and pivots is that data models provide the datasets for pivots. Data models are collections of datasets that represent your data in a structured and hierarchical way. Data models define how your data is organized into objects and fields. Pivots are user interfaces that allow you to create data visualizations that present different aspects of a data model. Pivots let you select options from menus and forms to create charts, tables, maps, etc., without writing any SPL code. Pivots use datasets from data models as their source of data. Pivots and data models are not the same thing, as pivots are tools for visualizing data models. Pivots do not provide datasets for data models, but rather use them as inputs.

Therefore, only statement A is true about the relationship between data models and pivots.

The Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) add-on is a Splunk app that contains data models to help you normalize data from different sources and formats. The CIM add-on defines a common and consistent way of naming and categorizing fields and events in Splunk. This makes it easier to correlate and analyze data across different domains, such as network, security, web, etc. The CIM add-on does not use machine learning to normalize data, but rather relies on predefined field names and values. The CIM add-on does not contain dashboards that show how to map data, but rather provides documentation and examples on how to use the data models. The CIM add-on is not automatically installed in a Splunk environment, but rather needs to be downloaded and installed from Splunkbase.

The timechart command is used to create a time-series chart of statistical values based on your search results2. You can use the timechart command with a by clause to split the results by one or more fields and create multiple series in the chart2. However, you can only list one field after the by clause when using the timechart command because _time is already implied as the x-axis of the chart2. Therefore, option B is correct, while options A, C and D are incorrect.

A field alias is a way to assign an alternative name to an existing field without changing the original field name or value2. You can use field aliases to make your field names more consistent or descriptive across different sources or sourcetypes2. When you run a search without any transforming commands in Smart Mode, Splunk automatically identifies and displays interesting fields in your results2. Interesting fields are fields that appear in at least 20 percent of events or have high variability among values2. If you have created a field alias based on an original field, both the original field name and the alias name will appear in the Interesting Fields list if they meet these criteria2. However, only one of them will appear in each event depending on which one you have specified in your search string2. Therefore, option B is correct, while options A, C and D are incorrect.

Tags are aliases or alternative names for field values in Splunk. They can make your data more understandable by using common or descriptive terms instead of cryptic or technical terms. For example, you can tag a field value such as “200” with “OK” or “success” to indicate that it is a HTTP status code for a successful request. Tags are case sensitive, meaning that “OK” and “ok” are different tags. Tags are created at search time, meaning that they are applied when you run a search on your data. Tags are searched by using the syntax tag::, where  is the name of the tag you want to search for.

The search string below returns events from the data model named Application_State.

| datamodel Application_State All_Application_State search

The search string does the following:

It uses the datamodel command to access a data model in Splunk. The datamodel command takes two arguments: the name of the data model and the name of the dataset within the data model.

It specifies the name of the data model as Application_State. This is a predefined data model in Splunk that contains information about web applications.

It specifies the name of the dataset as All_Application_State. This is a root dataset in the data model that contains all events from all child datasets.

It uses the search command to filter and transform the events from the dataset. The search command can use any search criteria or command to modify the results.

Therefore, the search string returns events from the data model named Application_State.

Data model acceleration is a feature that speeds up searches on data models by creating and storing summaries of the data model datasets1. To enable data model acceleration, you must have administrative permissions or the accelerate_datamodel capability1. Therefore, option D is correct. Accelerated data models cannot be edited unless you disable the acceleration first1. Therefore, option B is correct. Private data models cannot be accelerated because they are not visible to other users1. Therefore, option C is correct. Root events can be accelerated as long as they are not based on a search string1. Therefore, option A is incorrect.

The eval command is used to create new fields or modify existing fields based on an expression2. The sort command is used to sort the results by one or more fields in ascending or descending order2. If you want to convert numeric field values to strings and also sort on those values, you should use the sort command first, then use the eval command to convert the values to strings2. This way, the sort command will use the original numeric values for sorting, rather than the converted string values which may not sort correctly. Therefore, option C is correct, while options A, B and D are incorrect.

Event types are custom categories of events that are based on search criteria. Event types can be used to label events with meaningful names, such as error, success, login, logout, etc. Event types can also be used to create transactions, alerts, reports, dashboards, etc. Event types can be created in two ways:

By going to the Settings menu and clicking Event Types > New. This will open a form where you can enter the name, description, search string, app context, and tags for the event type.

By selecting an event in search results and clicking Event Actions > Build Event Type. This will open a dialog box where you can enter the name and description for the event type. The search string will be automatically populated based on the selected event.

Event types cannot be created by using the searchtypes command in the search bar, as this command does not exist in Splunk. Event types can also be created by editing the event_type stanza in the transforms.conf file, not the props.conf file.

The Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) provides a methodology to normalize data from different sources and source types. The CIM defines a common set of fields and tags for different types of data, such as web, network, email, etc. This allows you to search and analyze data from different sources in a consistent way.

The command sourcetype=access_combined | transaction JSESSIONID does three things:

It filters the events by the sourcetype access_combined, which is a predefined sourcetype for Apache web server logs.

It groups the events by the field JSESSIONID, which is a unique identifier for each user session.

It creates a single event from each group of events that share the same JSESSIONID value. This single event will have some additional fields created by the transaction command, such as duration, eventcount, and startime.

Therefore, the statements B, C, and D are true.

The search string below creates a table of the total count of mysterymeat corndogs split by user.

| stats count by user | where corndog=mysterymeat

The search string does the following:

It uses the stats command to calculate the count of events for each value of the user field. The stats command creates a table with two columns: user and count.

It uses the where command to filter the results by the value of the corndog field. The where command only keeps the rows where corndog equals mysterymeat.

Therefore, the search string creates a table of the total count of mysterymeat corndogs split by user.

GET workflow actions are custom actions that open a URL link when you click on a field value in your search results. GET workflow actions can be configured with various options, such as label name, base URL, URI parameters, app context, etc. One of the options is to choose whether to open the URL link in the current window or in a new window. GET workflow actions do not have to be configured with POST arguments, as they use GET method to send requests to web servers. Configuration of GET workflow actions does not include choosing a sourcetype, as they do not generate any data in Splunk. Label names for GET workflow actions must include a field name surrounded by dollar signs, as this indicates the field value that will be used to replace the variable in the URL link.

A chart is a graphical representation of your search results that shows the relationship between two or more fields2. You can display a chart in stack mode by changing the Stack Mode option in the Format menu2. Stack mode allows you to stack multiple series on top of each other in a chart to show the cumulative values of each series2. Therefore, option C is correct, while options A, B and D are incorrect because they are not ways to display a chart in stack mode.

The correct answer is B. Delimiters. This is because the delimiters method is designed for structured event data, such as data from files with headers, where all of the fields in the events are separated by a common delimiter, such as a comma or space. You can select a sample event, identify the delimiter, and then rename the fields that the field extractor finds. You can learn more about the delimiters method from the Splunk documentation1. The other options are incorrect because they are not suitable for comma-separated data. The regular expression method works best with unstructured event data, where you select and highlight one or more fields to extract from a sample event, and the field extractor generates a regular expression that matches similar events and extracts the fields from them. The eval expression is a command that lets you calculate new fields or modify existing fields using arithmetic, string, and logical operations. The table extraction is a feature that lets you extract tabular data from PDF files or web pages. You can learn more about these methods from the Splunk documentation23 .

https://docs .splunk.com/Documentation/DashApp/0.9.0/DashApp/chartsBub

 The following commands are used when creating visualizations: geom, geostats, and iplocation. Visualizations are graphical representations of data that show trends, patterns, or comparisons. Visualizations can have different types, such as charts, tables, maps, etc. Visualizations can be created by using various commands that transform the data into a suitable format for the visualization type. Some of the commands that are used when creating visualizations are:

geom: This command is used to create choropleth maps that show geographic regions with different colors based on some metric. The geom command takes a KMZ file as an argument that defines the geographic regions and their boundaries. The geom command also takes a field name as an argument that specifies the metric to use for coloring the regions.

geostats: This command is used to create cluster maps that show groups of events with different sizes and colors based on some metric. The geostats command takes a latitude and longitude field as arguments that specify the location of the events. The geostats command also takes a statistical function as an argument that specifies the metric to use for sizing and coloring the clusters.

iplocation: This command is used to create location-based visualizations that show events with different attributes based on their IP addresses. The iplocation command takes an IP address field as an argument and adds some additional fields to the events, such as Country, City, Latitude, Longitude, etc. The iplocation command can be used with other commands such as geom or geostats to create maps based on IP addresses.

The maxpause option of the transaction command in Splunk is used to specify the maximum time allowed between events in a transaction. If the time between events exceeds the maxpause value, those events are not considered part of the same transaction.

References:

Splunk Docs: transaction command

Splunk Answers: maxpause option in transaction

The time range specified for a historical search defines the amount of data fetched from the index matching that time range2. A historical search is a search that runs over a fixed period of time in the past2. When you run a historical search, Splunk searches the index for events that match your search string and fall within the specified time range2. Therefore, option B is correct, while options A and C are incorrect because they are not what the time range defines for a historical search.

The transaction command is a Splunk command that finds transactions based on events that meet various constraints1.

Transactions are made up of the raw text (the _raw field) of each member, the time and date fields of the earliest member, as well as the union of all other fields of each member1.

The transaction command adds some fields to the raw events that are part of the transaction12. These fields are:

duration: The difference, in seconds, between the timestamps for the first and last events in the transaction12.

eventcount: The number of events in the transaction12.

closed_txn: A Boolean field that indicates whether the transaction is closed or evicted2. A transaction is closed if it meets one of the following conditions: maxevents, maxpause, maxspan, or startswith2. A transaction is evicted if it does not meet any of these conditions and exceeds the memory limit specified by maxopentxn or maxopenevents23.

Therefore, evicted transactions can be distinguished from non-evicted transactions by checking the value of the closed_txn field. The closed_txn field is set to 0, or false, for evicted transactions and 1, or true for non-evicted, or closed, transactions23.

When using the Field Extractor (FX) in Splunk for regex field extraction, it's important to select the context in which you want to perform the extraction. The context is essentially the subset of data you're focusing on for your field extraction task.

D. Sourcetype or source: This is the correct option. In the initial steps of using the Field Extractor tool, you're prompted to choose a data type for your field extraction. The options available are typically based on the nature of your data and how it's organized in Splunk. "Sourcetype" refers to the kind of data you're dealing with, a categorization that helps Splunk apply specific processing rules. "Source" refers to the origin of the data, like a specific log file or data input. By selecting either a sourcetype or source, you're narrowing down the dataset on which you'll perform the regex extraction, making it more manageable and relevant.

The descriptions of the data models that come with the Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) Add-on are documented in the CIM Add-on manual (Option B). This manual provides detailed information about the data models, including their structure, the types of data they are designed to normalize, and how they can be used to facilitate cross-sourcing reporting and analysis.

Event types in Splunk are saved searches that categorize data, making it easier to search for specific patterns or criteria within your data. When saving an event type, the search must essentially filter events based on criteria without performing operations that transform or aggregate the data. Here's a breakdown of the options:

A. The search index-server_472 sourcetype-BETA_494 code-488 | stats count by code performs an aggregation operation (stats count by code), which makes it unsuitable for saving as an event type. Event types are meant to categorize data without aggregating or transforming it.

B. The search index=server_472 sourcetype=BETA_494 code=488 [ | inputlookup append=t servercode.csv] includes a subsearch and input lookup, which is typically used to enrich or filter events based on external data. This complexity goes beyond simple event categorization.

C. The search index=server_472 sourcetype=BETA_494 code=488 | stats where code > 200 includes a filtering condition within a transforming command (stats), which again, is not suitable for defining an event type due to the transformation of data.

D. The search index=server_472 sourcetype=BETA_494 code-488 is the correct answer as it purely filters events based on index, sourcetype, and a code field condition without transforming or aggregating the data. This is what makes it suitable for saving as an event type, as it categorizes data based on specific criteria without altering the event structure or content.

The where command can be used to complete the search below.

… | where failure>successes

The where command is a search command that allows you to filter events based on complex or custom criteria. The where command can use any boolean expression or function to evaluate each event and determine whether to keep it or discard it. The where command can also compare fields or perform calculations on fields using operators such as >, <, =, +, -, etc. The where command can be used after any transforming command that creates a table or a chart.

The search string below does the following:

It uses … to represent any search criteria or commands before the where command.

It uses the where command to filter events based on a comparison between two fields: failure and successes.

It uses the greater than operator (>) to compare the values of failure and successes fields for each event.

It only keeps events where failure is greater than successes.

Field aliases in Splunk are alternate names assigned to fields. These can be particularly useful for normalizing data from different sources or simply for making field names more intuitive. Once an alias is created for a field, it can be used across various Splunk knowledge objects, enhancing their flexibility and utility.

A. Calculated fields, lookups, event types, and tags: This is the correct answer. Field aliases can indeed be referenced in calculated fields, lookups, event types, and tags within Splunk. When you create an alias for a field, that alias can then be used in these knowledge objects just like any standard field name.

Calculated fields: These are expressions that can create new field values based on existing data. You can use an alias in a calculated field expression to refer to the original field.

Lookups: These are used to enrich your event data by referencing external data sources. If you've created an alias for a field that matches a field in your lookup table, you can use that alias in your lookup configurations.

Event types: These are classifications for events that meet certain search criteria. You can use field aliases in the search criteria for defining an event type.

Tags: These allow you to assign meaningful labels to data, making it easier to search and report on. You can use field aliases in the search criteria that you tag.

When performing an outer join in Splunk using the | join employeeNumber type=outer command, it combines the rows from both tables based on the employeeNumber field. An outer join returns all rows from both tables, with matching rows from both sides where available. If there is no match, the result is NULL on the side of the join where there is no match.

In the provided tables, there are five rows in the first table and three in the second. Since it’s an outer join, all rows from both tables will be returned. This means the new table will have a total of eight rows, combining the matched rows and the unmatched rows from both tables.

References:

Splunk Documentation on the join command.

Splunk Community discussions on the usage of join and types of joins.

The correct answer is A. When a log file has values that are separated by the same character, for example, commas.

The Field Extractor (FX) is a utility in Splunk Web that allows you to create new fields from your events by using either regular expressions or delimiters. The FX provides a graphical interface that guides you through the steps of defining and testing your field extractions1.

The FX supports two field extraction methods: regular expression and delimited. The regular expression method works best with unstructured event data, such as logs or messages, that do not have a consistent format or structure. You select a sample event and highlight one or more fields to extract from that event, and the FX generates a regular expression that matches similar events in your data set and extracts the fields from them1.

The delimited method is designed for structured event data: data from files with headers, where all of the fields in the events are separated by a common delimiter, such as a comma, a tab, or a space. You select a sample event, identify the delimiter, and then rename the fields that the FX finds1.

Therefore, you would select the delimited field extraction method when you have a log file that has values that are separated by the same character, for example, commas. This method will allow you to easily extract the fields based on the delimiter without writing complex regular expressions.

The other options are not correct because they are not suitable for the delimited field extraction method. These options are:

B. When a log file contains empty lines or comments: This option does not indicate that the log file has a structured format or a common delimiter. The delimited method might not work well with this type of data, as it might miss some fields or include some unwanted values.

C. With structured files such as JSON or XML: This option does not require the delimited method, as Splunk can automatically extract fields from JSON or XML files by using indexed extractions or search-time extractions2. The delimited method might not work well with this type of data, as it might not recognize the nested structure or the special characters.

D. When the file has a header that might provide information about its structure or format: This option does not indicate that the file has a common delimiter between the fields. The delimited method might not work well with this type of data, as it might not be able to identify the fields based on the header information.

References:

Build field extractions with the field extractor

Configure indexed field extraction

The correct answer is B. Reusable pieces of search processing language.

The explanation is as follows:

Search macros are knowledge objects that allow you to insert chunks of SPL into other searches12.

Search macros can be any part of a search, such as an eval statement or a search term, and do not need to be a complete command12.

You can also specify whether the macro field takes any arguments and define validation expressions for them12.

Search macros can help you make your SPL searches shorter and easier to understand3.

To use a search macro in a search string, you need to put a backtick character () before and after the macro name[^1^][1]. For example, mymacro`.

The correct answer is A. Field alias123.

In Splunk, a field alias is a knowledge object that you can use to assign an alternate name to a field3. This can be particularly useful when you want to normalize your data to comply with the Splunk Common Information Model (CIM)12.

The CIM provides a methodology for normalizing values to a common field name1. It acts as a search-time schema to define relationships in the event data while leaving the raw machine data intact2. By using field aliases, you can map vendor fields to common fields that are the same for each data source in a given domain4. This allows you to correlate events from different source types by normalizing these different occurrences to a common structure and naming convention1.

This search will run the third_party_outages macro and pass the arguments EMEA and -24h to the macro definition. A search macro is a reusable chunk of SPL that can be inserted into other searches. A search macro can take arguments that are used to resolve the search string at execution time. The syntax for using a search macro is macro_name (argument1, argument2, ...).ReferencesSee Use search macros in searches and Search macro examples in the Splunk Documentation.

When you mouse over and click to add a search term from the Fields sidebar or from an event in your search results, Splunk automatically adds the term to your search string with an implied AND operator2. However, this does not apply to some Boolean operators such as OR, NOT and parentheses (). These operators are not implied when you add a search term and you have to type them manually if you want to use them in your search string2. Therefore, options A, B and D are correct, while option C is incorrect because AND is implied when you add a search term.

In Splunk, Pivot is a tool that allows you to report on a specific data set without using the Splunk Search Processing Language (SPL™)1. You can use a drag-and-drop interface to design and generate pivots that present different aspects of your data in the form of tables, charts, and other visualizations12.

One of the features of Pivot is that it allows you to save your reports1. This can be useful when you want to reuse a report or share it with others1. Therefore, it’s not true that users cannot share visualizations created with Pivot or that they must use SPL to find events in a Pivot12. It’s also not true that users cannot create visualizations with Pivot, as creating visualizations is one of the main functions of Pivot12.

The Field Extractor (FX) is a tool that helps you extract fields from your events using a graphical interface or by manually editing the regular expression2. The FX allows you to create field extractions that persist as knowledge objects, which are entities that you create to add knowledge to your data and make it easier to search and analyze2. Field extractions are methods that extract fields from your raw data using various techniques such as regular expressions, delimiters or key-value pairs2. When you create a field extraction using the FX, you can save it as a knowledge object that applies to your data at search time2. You can also manage and share your field extractions with other users in your organization2. Therefore, option C is correct, while options A, B and D are incorrect because they do not describe the use of the FX.

As mentioned before, a calculated field is a field that you create based on the value of another field or fields2. A calculated field can be based on extracted fields, which are fields that are extracted from your raw data using various methods such as regular expressions, delimiters or key-value pairs2. Therefore, option B is correct, while options A, C and D are incorrect because they are not types of fields that a calculated field can be based on.

The correct answer is B. eventtype=web_errors.

An event type is a way to categorize events based on a search. An event type assigns a label to events that match a specific search criteria. Event types can be used to filter and group events, create alerts, or generate reports1.

To search for events that have a specific event type, you need to use the eventtype field with the name of the event type as the value. The syntax for this is:

eventtype=

For example, if you want to search for events that have the event type web_errors, you can use the following syntax:

eventtype=web_errors

This will return only the events that match the search criteria defined by the web_errors event type.

The other options are not correct because they use different syntax or fields that are not related to event types. These options are:

A. tag=web_errors: This option uses the tag field, which is a way to add descriptive keywords to events based on field values. Tags are different from event types, although they can be used together. Tags can be used to filter and group events by common characteristics2.

C. eventtype “web errors”: This option uses quotation marks around the event type name, which is not valid syntax for the eventtype field. Quotation marks are used to enclose phrases or exact matches in a search3.

D. eventtype (web_errors): This option uses parentheses around the event type name, which is also not valid syntax for the eventtype field. Parentheses are used to group expressions or terms in a search3.

References:

About event types

About tags

Search command cheatsheet

The correct answer is A. | where 10yearAnnerversary=Renewal-MonthYear.

The where command is used to filter the search results based on an expression that evaluates to true or false. The where command can compare two fields, two values, or a field and a value. The where command can also use functions, operators, and wildcards to create complex expressions1.

The syntax for the where command is:

| where

The expression can be a comparison, a calculation, a logical operation, or a combination of these. The expression must evaluate to true or false for each event.

To compare two fields with the where command, you need to use the field names without any quotation marks. For example, if you want to find events where the values for the 10yearAnnerversary field match the values for the Renewal-MonthYear field, you can use the following syntax:

| where 10yearAnnerversary=Renewal-MonthYear

This will return only the events where the two fields have the same value.

The other options are not correct because they use quotation marks around the field names, which will cause the where command to interpret them as string values instead of field names. For example, if you use:

| where ‘10yearAnnerversary’=‘Renewal-MonthYear’

This will return no events because there are no events where the string value ‘10yearAnnerversary’ is equal to the string value ‘Renewal-MonthYear’.

References:

where command usage

The correct answer is C. Distributable streaming. This is because the eval command is a type of command that can run on the indexers before the results are sent to the search head. This reduces the amount of data that needs to be transferred and improves the search performance. Distributable streaming commands can operate on each event or result individually, without depending on other events or results. You can learn more about the types of commands and how they affect search performance from the Splunk documentation1.

A report that is scheduled to run every 15 minutes but takes 17 minutes to complete is in danger of being skipped or deferred2. This means that Splunk may skip some scheduled runs of the report if they overlap with previous runs that are still in progress or defer them until the previous runs are finished2. This can affect the accuracy and timeliness of the report results and notifications2. Therefore, option A is correct, while options B, C and D are incorrect because they are not consequences of a report taking longer than its schedule interval.

To configure a Search Workflow Action to use the same time range as the original search, you need to check the option "Use the same time range as the search that created the field listing." This will ensure the time range is inherited from the original search.

References:

Splunk Docs - Search Workflow Actions

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An event type in Splunk is defined by a search string that returns a specific set of events. The search string index=games sourcetype=score player=* score>9999 is valid because it filters events based on specific criteria directly within the main search command. This search will find all events in the games index with a sourcetype of score, where the player field exists, and the score is greater than 9999. This specificity and direct filtering make it suitable for defining an event type.

References:

Splunk Docs: Create event types

Splunk Answers: Defining event types

The correct answer is D. field2 values are replaced with the value of the field1.

A field alias is a way to associate an additional (new) name with an existing field name. A field alias can be used to normalize fields from different sources that have different names but represent the same data. Field aliases can also be used to rename fields for clarity or convenience1.

When you create a field alias in Splunk Web, you can select the Overwrite Field Values option to change the behavior of the field alias. This option affects how the Splunk software handles situations where the original field has no value or does not exist, as well as situations where the alias field already exists as a field in your events, alongside the original field2.

If you select the Overwrite Field Values option, the following rules apply:

If the original field does not exist or has no value in an event, the alias field is removed from that event.

If the original field and the alias field both exist in an event, the value of the alias field is replaced with the value of the original field.

If you do not select the Overwrite Field Values option, the following rules apply:

If the original field does not exist or has no value in an event, the alias field is unchanged in that event.

If the original field and the alias field both exist in an event, both fields are retained with their respective values.

Therefore, if you create a field alias where field1—field2 and select the Overwrite Field Values option, and an event only contains values for field1, then the value of field2 will be replaced with the value of field1.

References:

About calculated fields

About field aliases

Create field aliases in Splunk Web

In Splunk, a macro can accept arguments, and the correct syntax for a macro that takes two arguments is macro_name(argument1, argument2). In this case, the macro is called samplemacro, and it accepts two arguments, so the correct format would be samplemacro(1,2). This syntax allows for passing dynamic values into the macro, which can then be used to modify the search dynamically based on the arguments provided.

References:

Splunk Docs - Macros

The fillnull command in Splunk is used to handle missing data within search results. It plays a crucial role in data normalization and preparation, especially before performing statistical analyses or visualizations.

A. Replace empty values with a specified value: This is the correct answer. The fillnull command is specifically designed to replace null values (empty values) with a specified default value. This is particularly useful in ensuring consistency within your data, especially when performing operations that require numerical values or when you want to distinguish between genuinely missing data and zeroes, for instance.

Example Usage: ... | fillnull value=0 This command would replace all null values in the search results with 0.

When using the Field Extractor (FX) tool in Splunk and the tool fails to extract a value from all appropriate events, there are specific steps you can take to improve the extraction process. These steps involve interacting with the FX tool and possibly adjusting the extraction method:

A. Select an additional sample event with the Field Extractor (FX) and highlight the missing value in the event. This approach allows Splunk to understand the pattern better by providing more examples. By highlighting the value in another event where it wasn't extracted, you help the FX tool to learn the variability in the data format or structure, improving the accuracy of the field extraction.

D. Edit the regular expression manually. Sometimes the FX tool might not generate the most accurate regular expression for the field extraction, especially when dealing with complex log formats or subtle nuances in the data. In such cases, manually editing the regular expression can significantly improve the extraction process. This involves understanding regular expression syntax and how Splunk extracts fields, allowing for a more tailored approach to field extraction that accounts for variations in the data that the automatic process might miss.

Options B and C are not typically related to improving field extraction within the Field Extractor tool. Re-ingesting data (B) does not directly impact the extraction process, and changing to a delimited extraction method (C) is not always applicable, as it depends on the specific data format and might not resolve the issue of missing values across events.

The transaction command is a search command that creates a single event from a group of events that share some common characteristics. The transaction command can group events based on fields, time, or both. The transaction command can also create some additional fields for each transaction, such as duration, eventcount, startime, etc. The transaction command does not group a set of transactions based on time, but rather groups a set of events into a transaction based on time. The transaction command does not separate two events based on one or more values, but rather joins multiple events based on one or more values. The transaction command does not return the number of credit card transactions found in the event logs, but rather creates transactions from the events that match the search criteria.