SPLK-1002 Transactions and Event Correlation Practice Question
An analyst runs the following search to correlate login and logout events: `index=auth | transaction user startswith="LOGIN" endswith="LOGOUT"`. However, some transactions span over 24 hours. Which option should be added to limit each transaction to a maximum of 8 hours?
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
✓
maxspan=8h
Maxspan=8h limits the total time window of the transaction to 8 hours. Option A (maxevents) limits the number of events, not time. Option B (duration) is not a valid transaction option. Option C (maxpause) limits inactivity between events, not the total span.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
maxevents=10
Why it's wrong here
maxevents limits number of events, not time span.
- ✗
duration=8h
Why it's wrong here
duration is not a valid transaction option.
- ✗
maxpause=8h
Why it's wrong here
maxpause limits the gap between events, not total duration.
- ✓
maxspan=8h
Why this is correct
maxspan restricts the transaction to an 8-hour window.
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Same concept, more angles
3 more ways 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. An analyst runs `transaction user_id` to correlate events from a web server. The resulting transaction events have a field 'duration' that shows the time between the first and last event. However, some transactions span over 30 minutes. What transaction option should be added to limit the maximum time between the first and last event?
easy- ✓ A.maxspan=30m
- B.maxpause=30m
- C.maxevents=30
- D.contime=30m
Why A: The maxspan option sets the maximum time span from the first event to the last event in a transaction.
Variation 2. A security analyst wants to correlate login events from multiple sources to identify a single user session. The data includes source IP, username, and timestamp. Which Splunk command is most appropriate to group these events into a single transaction based on a common field and a maximum time window?
easy- A.eventstats max(_time) by username
- ✓ B.transaction username maxspan=30m
- C.timechart count by username
- D.stats values(username) by sourceip
Why B: The correct command is 'transaction username maxspan=30m'. This command groups events into a single transaction when they share the same username and occur within a 30-minute time window, which is exactly what the analyst needs to correlate login events into a single user session. Option A (eventstats max(_time) by username) adds a field but does not group events into transactions. Option C (timechart count by username) creates a time series chart, not a transaction. Option D (stats values(username) by sourceip) groups by source IP, not username, and does not create transactions.
Variation 3. An analyst wants to correlate events from multiple sourcetypes that have different timestamps but share a common reference ID. The events are ingested with some delay. Which parameter is crucial to ensure the transaction captures all related events despite ingestion delay?
medium- A.maxpause
- B.maxevents
- C.fields _indextime
- ✓ D.maxspan
Why D: A large maxspan accommodates delays in event arrival. Option A (maxpause) would not capture events if there is a large gap. Option B (maxevents) does not affect time. Option C (fields _indextime) is irrelevant.
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.