SPLK-1002 Transactions and Event Correlation Practice Question
A transaction that groups events by field 'session_id' sometimes produces transactions that contain events from multiple distinct sessions due to session_id reuse over time. What is the best way to ensure transactions are correctly separated?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use 'transaction session_id maxspan=30m' to limit the time window.
Adding a maxspan limits the time window, preventing events from reused session IDs that are widely separated in time from merging into the same transaction. Options A, B, and D do not address the reuse issue effectively: A limits events per transaction but doesn't separate sessions, B includes raw data but doesn't separate, D uses start/end markers which may not be present for all sessions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use 'transaction session_id maxevents=1' to stop after one event.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Would break legitimate sessions.
- ✗
Use 'transaction session_id mvlist=_raw' to include raw data.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Does not separate sessions.
- ✓
Use 'transaction session_id maxspan=30m' to limit the time window.
Why this is correct
Correct: Time window separates reused IDs.
- ✗
Use 'transaction session_id startswith="new_session" endswith="end_session"'.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Requires start/end events which may not exist.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on SPLK-1002
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A network operations team monitors firewall logs using Splunk. They need to group events from the same TCP session, identified by 'src_ip', 'dst_ip', and 'src_port'. The logs contain events for 'session_start', 'data_transfer', and 'session_end' actions. They currently use `transaction src_ip dst_ip src_port startswith=action=session_start endswith=action=session_end`. However, many transactions are incomplete because some sessions do not have a 'session_end' event due to firewall timeouts. The team wants to include these incomplete sessions as well, but still group them around a start event. What should they modify?
medium- A.Add `maxspan=30m` and keep endswith
- ✓ B.Remove endswith and add maxspan=30m
- C.Change startswith to `action=session_start OR action=session_end`
- D.Use `transaction src_ip dst_ip src_port maxspan=30m` without startswith or endswith
Why B: To include incomplete sessions without an 'session_end' event, remove the `endswith` clause and add a `maxspan` time limit. This ensures that transactions are automatically closed after the specified time (30 minutes) if no end event is encountered. The `startswith` clause remains to initiate transactions only on 'session_start' events. Option B correctly implements this: `transaction src_ip dst_ip src_port startswith=action=session_start maxspan=30m`. This way, sessions that timeout are still captured as transactions.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SPLK-1002 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Splunk certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SPLK-1002 exam.