- A
index=net sourcetype=netflow | eventstats sum(bytes) as total_bytes by src_ip | stats count by src_ip, dest_ip
Why wrong: This adds total_bytes to each event but does not limit to top IPs; it would count all IPs.
- B
index=net sourcetype=netflow | stats sum(bytes) as total_bytes, count by src_ip, dest_ip | sort -total_bytes | head 5
Why wrong: This returns the top 5 combinations of src_ip and dest_ip by total_bytes, not the top 5 source IPs with all their destinations.
- C
index=net sourcetype=netflow [ search index=net sourcetype=netflow | stats sum(bytes) as total_bytes by src_ip | sort -total_bytes | head 5 | fields src_ip ] | stats count by src_ip, dest_ip
The subsearch calculates top IPs by total bytes; the outer search then counts destinations for those IPs.
- D
index=net sourcetype=netflow | top limit=5 src_ip by bytes | fields src_ip | search index=net sourcetype=netflow | stats count by src_ip, dest_ip
Why wrong: The 'top' command with 'by bytes' is invalid; 'top' sorts by count, not by a numeric field.
SPLK-1002 Basic Searching and Transforming Commands Practice Question
This SPLK-1002 practice question tests your understanding of basic searching and transforming commands. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A network operations team uses Splunk to monitor netflow data stored in index='net' and sourcetype='netflow'. The events contain fields: src_ip, dest_ip, bytes, and protocols. The team needs to identify the top 5 source IPs by total bytes transferred (based on the bytes field). For each of those top source IPs, they also want to list the destination IPs and the number of times they communicated. The data volume is large, so performance is important. Which SPL approach returns the desired results efficiently?
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
index=net sourcetype=netflow [ search index=net sourcetype=netflow | stats sum(bytes) as total_bytes by src_ip | sort -total_bytes | head 5 | fields src_ip ] | stats count by src_ip, dest_ip
Option C is correct because it uses a subsearch to first identify the top 5 source IPs by total bytes, then passes those IPs to the outer search to efficiently compute the count of communications per destination IP. This approach minimizes the data processed in the outer search by filtering only the relevant source IPs, which is critical for performance on large netflow datasets.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
index=net sourcetype=netflow | eventstats sum(bytes) as total_bytes by src_ip | stats count by src_ip, dest_ip
Why it's wrong here
This adds total_bytes to each event but does not limit to top IPs; it would count all IPs.
- ✗
index=net sourcetype=netflow | stats sum(bytes) as total_bytes, count by src_ip, dest_ip | sort -total_bytes | head 5
Why it's wrong here
This returns the top 5 combinations of src_ip and dest_ip by total_bytes, not the top 5 source IPs with all their destinations.
- ✓
index=net sourcetype=netflow [ search index=net sourcetype=netflow | stats sum(bytes) as total_bytes by src_ip | sort -total_bytes | head 5 | fields src_ip ] | stats count by src_ip, dest_ip
Why this is correct
The subsearch calculates top IPs by total bytes; the outer search then counts destinations for those IPs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
index=net sourcetype=netflow | top limit=5 src_ip by bytes | fields src_ip | search index=net sourcetype=netflow | stats count by src_ip, dest_ip
Why it's wrong here
The 'top' command with 'by bytes' is invalid; 'top' sorts by count, not by a numeric field.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose option B, mistakenly thinking that sorting by total_bytes after a stats command that groups by both src_ip and dest_ip will correctly identify the top source IPs, but it actually ranks pairs, not individual source IPs.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The 'top' command with 'by bytes' is invalid; 'top' sorts by count, not by a numeric field.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The subsearch in option C uses the format command implicitly to return a list of src_ip values, which the outer search uses as an inline filter. This leverages Splunk's search optimization to reduce the dataset early, avoiding expensive stats operations on all events. In large netflow environments, this pattern is essential because it minimizes memory and CPU usage by pre-filtering at the index level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SPLK-1002 question test?
Basic Searching and Transforming Commands — This question tests Basic Searching and Transforming Commands — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: index=net sourcetype=netflow [ search index=net sourcetype=netflow | stats sum(bytes) as total_bytes by src_ip | sort -total_bytes | head 5 | fields src_ip ] | stats count by src_ip, dest_ip — Option C is correct because it uses a subsearch to first identify the top 5 source IPs by total bytes, then passes those IPs to the outer search to efficiently compute the count of communications per destination IP. This approach minimizes the data processed in the outer search by filtering only the relevant source IPs, which is critical for performance on large netflow datasets.
What should I do if I get this SPLK-1002 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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