SPLK-5002

The Splunk SPLK-5002 exam, "Splunk Core Certified Power User," focuses on demonstrating practical skills and knowledge using Splunk Enterprise. The main points cover a wide range of functionalities, but can be broadly categorized as follows:

I. Data Ingestion and Management:

• Data Inputs: Understanding and configuring various data inputs (e.g., files, Windows events, syslog, databases, cloud sources) and troubleshooting ingestion issues.
• Data Processing: Using transforms, props.conf, and transforms.conf to process and normalize data for easier searching and analysis. This includes understanding regular expressions for data manipulation.
• Data Indexing: Knowledge of indexing processes, index settings (e.g., time range, hot/warm/cold tiers), and how indexing impacts search performance.
• Data Modeling: Understanding and effectively using knowledge objects for improved data organization and search efficiency.

II. Searching and Reporting:

• Search Language: Proficient use of Splunk's search processing language (SPL) including commands like search , stats , chart , table , timechart , eventstats , eval , and field extractions. This includes understanding search optimization techniques.
• Report Creation: Creating various types of reports (e.g., dashboards, visualizations, alerts) using the Splunk web interface and understanding the different visualization options.
• Dashboarding: Designing clear and effective dashboards to present key metrics and insights.
• Alerting: Setting up alerts based on specific search criteria and actions.

III. Administration and Security:

• User and Role Management: Creating and managing users, roles, and permissions within a Splunk environment to ensure security and access control.
• App Management: Understanding how to install, manage, and utilize Splunk apps.
• Performance Tuning: Identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks related to searches, indexing, and system resources.
• Data Security: Implementing basic security measures to protect Splunk data and configurations.

IV. Understanding Splunk Architecture:

• While not a deep dive into the backend, you will need a fundamental understanding of how Splunk components (indexer, search head, indexer cluster, etc.) interact to function.

In summary: The SPLK-5002 exam assesses your ability to ingest, process, search, visualize, and manage data within the Splunk platform to effectively monitor, analyze, and troubleshoot systems. The emphasis is on practical application of Splunk's features and capabilities rather than theoretical knowledge. Hands-on experience is crucial for success.