Splunk Interview Questions and Answers

Splunk Interview Questions

Splunk Interview Questions and Answers

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Last updated

Feb 6, 2023
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Splunk is a highly efficient software that processes and brings out valuable insights using machine data and other forms of big data. It reads structured, semi-structured, rarely structured and unstructured data while allowing complex functionalities on an interactive platform like searching, tagging, report handling. Below is a list of the most commonly asked Splunk Interview Questions if you are applying for the position of a Splunk Administrator.

Features of Splunk:

  • Efficient Data Ingestion
  • Smooth Data Indexing
  • Simplified Data Searching
  • Data Model & Pivots
  • User-friendly dashboards with Real-Time alert/notifications

Most Frequently Asked Splunk Interview Questions

Here in this article, we will be listing frequently asked Splunk Interview Questions and Answers with the belief that they will be helpful for you to gain higher marks. Also, to let you know that this article has been written under the guidance of industry professionals and covered all the current competencies.

Q1. What are the common ports used by Splunk?
Answer
Q2. What are the components of Splunk?
Answer
The main components of any Splunk Architecture are:
  • Forwarders
  • Indexers
  • Search Heads
  • Deployment Server (used in complex intricate environments)
Q3. How does Splunk categorize data?
Answer
Q4. What is Splunk integration?
Answer
Q5. What is the event and source in Splunk?
Answer
Q6. What is the use of a License Master in Splunk?
Answer

A License master in Splunk is used to make sure that the right amount of data gets indexed effectively. The Splunk license master is based on the amount of data coming to a platform within a 24-hour window and hence ensuring that the environment stays within the limits of the purchased volume throughout the time period in a balanced manner.

Q7. Why should we use Splunk Alert? What are the different options to set up Alerts?
Answer

Alerts can be used in Splunk when you want to be notified/alerted of any discrepancies in your system. For example, sending an automated email to the Splunk Administrator when more than three failed login attempts are encountered in a twenty-four hour time period.

Different options available while setting up alerts in Splunk:
  • You can create a webhook to write to hipchat or GitHub. You could write an email to a group of machines with all your subject, priorities, and body of the message
  • Add results, .csv or pdf or inline attachments within the body of the message to make sure that the recipient fully understands the nature of the alert, and follows best practices to subdue the alert.
  • Create tickets and push alerts based on certain conditions like a specific MAC or IP address. For example, during a virus outbreak, you don't want to alert all systems because it will lead to many ticket generations causing an overload
Q8. What is the difference between Hadoop and Splunk?
Answer
Q9. What is Splunk indexer and forwarder?
Answer
Q10. What is the difference between stats and Eventstats in Splunk?
Answer
Q11. What is a bucket in Splunk?
Answer
Q12. What are the search factor and replication factor in Splunk?
Answer
Q13. What is the transaction command in Splunk?
Answer
Q14. Explain how Splunk works? Briefly explain the Splunk Architecture.
Answer

Splunk is a platform allowing people to get more reach into machine data, through various technological sources like hardware, servers, IoT enabled devices and others.

Splunk functions as three main functions, i.e. Forwarder, Indexer and Search Head. The Forwarder is acting as a data collection agent and forward the data onto the Indexer. Now, this will store data locally in a hardware host machine or on data clouds. Finally, Search Head is used for searching, visualizing, analyzing, and also performing various other functions on the data stored.

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Q15. Which Splunk Roles can share the same machine?
Answer

In Splunk Roles can be shared within the same machine. When there are small deployments, most of the roles can be shared like Indexer, Search Head and License Master. However, if there are larger deployments, then the best practice is to host each role on a stand-alone host.

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Q16. Explain ‘license violation’ from Splunk's perspective.
Answer

A license violation in Splunk is caused when you exceed the data limit. This license warning will persist for 14 business days. In a commercial license, you can have a maximum of 5 warnings in a 30-day window before your Indexer’s search results and reports stop working. In a free version, you get only 3 warnings.

Q17. Explain Data Models and Pivot in Splunk?
Answer

Data models in Splunk are used for the creation of structured hierarchical models within your data. It is widely used in cases of large amounts of unstructured data, and also while using the data to process information without using search queries.

Pivots, give you the flexibility to build front views of your search results and then allow you to pick and choose the most specific filter for the better view of search results.

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Q18. What are the different types of Data Input in Splunk?
Answer
There are 4 types of data Inputs in Splunk:
  • Registry Inputs Monitor
  • Printer Monitor
  • Network Monitor
  • Active Directory Monitor
Q19. What are the default fields for every event in Splunk?
Answer

There are 5 default fields that are barcoded with all events in Splunk. They are:

  • Host
  • Source
  • Source type
  • Index
  • Timestamp
Q20. How can we extract fields in Splunk?
Answer

In Splunk, you can extract fields using either event lists, sidebars or other settings menu through the User Interface. You could also write your own regular expressions in the props.conf configuration file.