Search icon CANCEL
Subscription
0
Cart icon
Your Cart (0 item)
Close icon
You have no products in your basket yet
Save more on your purchases! discount-offer-chevron-icon
Savings automatically calculated. No voucher code required.
Arrow left icon
Explore Products
Best Sellers
New Releases
Books
Videos
Audiobooks
Learning Hub
Newsletter Hub
Free Learning
Arrow right icon
timer SALE ENDS IN
0 Days
:
00 Hours
:
00 Minutes
:
00 Seconds
Mastering Splunk
Mastering Splunk

Mastering Splunk: Optimize your machine-generated data effectively by developing advanced analytics with Splunk

eBook
$28.99 $32.99
Paperback
$54.99
Subscription
Free Trial
Renews at $19.99p/m

What do you get with Print?

Product feature icon Instant access to your digital copy whilst your Print order is Shipped
Product feature icon Paperback book shipped to your preferred address
Product feature icon Redeem a companion digital copy on all Print orders
Product feature icon Access this title in our online reader with advanced features
Product feature icon DRM FREE - Read whenever, wherever and however you want
OR
Modal Close icon
Payment Processing...
tick Completed

Shipping Address

Billing Address

Shipping Methods
Table of content icon View table of contents Preview book icon Preview Book

Mastering Splunk

Chapter 2. Advanced Searching

In this chapter, we will demonstrate advanced searching topics and techniques, providing meaningful examples as we go along. The following topics will be covered:

  • Searching for operators, command formats, and tags
  • Subsearching
  • Searching with parameters
  • Efficient searching with macros
  • Search results

Searching in Splunk

It would be negligent for a book on mastering Splunk searching to not mention the dashboard of version 6.0.

The search dashboard

If you take a look at the Splunk search dashboard (and you should), you can break it down into four general areas. They are given as follows:

  • The search bar: The search bar is a long textbox into which you can enter your searches when you use Splunk Web.
  • Range picker: Using the (time) range picker, you can set the period over which to apply your search. You are provided with a good supply of preset time ranges that you can select from, but you can also enter a custom time range.
  • How-To (panel): This is a Splunk panel that contains links that you can use to access the Search Tutorial and Search Manual pages.
  • What-To (panel): This is another Splunk panel that displays a summary of the data that is installed on the current Splunk instance.

The new search dashboard

After you run a new search, you're taken to the New Search page. The search bar and...

Knowledge management

As mentioned, you can define or create Splunk transactional types for later use by yourself or for other Splunk users by utilizing the transactiontypes.conf file. A lot of thought should go into a Splunk knowledge management strategy. You will find more on this topic later in this book, but for now, here are the basics you can use to define some Splunk transactions:

  1. If it doesn't already exist, you can use a text editor to create a transactiontypes.conf file in $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/local/ or your own custom app directory in $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/apps/.
  2. Next, define transactions using the following arguments:
    [<transactiontype>]
    maxspan =  [<integer> s|m|h|d|-1]
    maxpause = [<integer> s|m|h|d|-1]
    fields = <comma-separated list of fields>
    startswith = <transam-filter-string>
    endswith=<transam-filter-string>

Let's discover the functions of the code terms in the preceding example:

  • transactiontype: This is the name of the transaction...

Subsearching

A subsearch is a Splunk search that uses a search pipeline as the argument. Subsearches in Splunk are contained in square brackets and evaluated first. Think of a subsearch as being similar to a SQL subquery (a subquery is a SQL query nested inside a larger query).

Subsearches are mainly used for three purposes:

  • To parameterize one search using the output of another search
  • To run a separate search but to stitch the output to the first search using the append command
  • To create a conditional search where you only see the results of your search if the result meets the criteria or perhaps the threshold of the subsearch

Generally, you use a subsearch to take the results of one search and use them in another search, all in a single Splunk search pipeline. Because of how this works, the second search must be able to accept arguments, such as with the append command (as mentioned earlier).

Some examples of subsearching are as follows:

  • Parameterization: Consider the following code:
    sourcetype...

Searching with parameters

In Splunk, searches can be initiated in both Splunk Web as well as in the Splunk command-line interface or CLI (for information on how to access the CLI and find help for it, refer to the SplunkAdmin manual).

Your searches in CLI work the same way as searches in Splunk Web, except that there is no timeline given with the search results and there is no default time range. Instead, the results are displayed as a raw events list or a table, depending on the type of your search. Searching parameters (such as batch, header, and wrap) are options that control the way the CLI search is run or the way the search results are displayed.

Note

In addition to Splunk Web and Splunk CLI, there is an applications programming interface (API) available, which Splunk programmers can use to perform searches and manage Splunk configurations and objects.

Searching with the CLI will not be covered in this book, so our discussion on searching with parameters will focus on the (advanced) searching...

Splunk macros

A Splunk macro can be thought of as a (hopefully, previously tested and otherwise validated) reusable assembly of Splunk (or business) logic—basically, any part or even all of a Splunk search that you don't want to type in again. Saved macros can even be defined to receive arguments when reused. Splunk macros are an integral part of knowledge management.

To understand how macros might be defined, saved, and reused, let's take a look at the previous example using the previously defined eval statement. In the following search, we defined a new field to be evaluated and searched on, named event_date:

sourcetype=TM1* error | EVAL event_date =  date_month  + "/" + date_mday + "/" + date_year | where event_date = "october/24/2007"

The event_date field is made up of the date_month, date_mday, and date_year fields. Since we will perhaps want to perform multiple searches in the future, searching for events that occurred on different dates...

Searching in Splunk


It would be negligent for a book on mastering Splunk searching to not mention the dashboard of version 6.0.

The search dashboard

If you take a look at the Splunk search dashboard (and you should), you can break it down into four general areas. They are given as follows:

  • The search bar: The search bar is a long textbox into which you can enter your searches when you use Splunk Web.

  • Range picker: Using the (time) range picker, you can set the period over which to apply your search. You are provided with a good supply of preset time ranges that you can select from, but you can also enter a custom time range.

  • How-To (panel): This is a Splunk panel that contains links that you can use to access the Search Tutorial and Search Manual pages.

  • What-To (panel): This is another Splunk panel that displays a summary of the data that is installed on the current Splunk instance.

The new search dashboard

After you run a new search, you're taken to the New Search page. The search bar and time...

Knowledge management


As mentioned, you can define or create Splunk transactional types for later use by yourself or for other Splunk users by utilizing the transactiontypes.conf file. A lot of thought should go into a Splunk knowledge management strategy. You will find more on this topic later in this book, but for now, here are the basics you can use to define some Splunk transactions:

  1. If it doesn't already exist, you can use a text editor to create a transactiontypes.conf file in $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/local/ or your own custom app directory in $SPLUNK_HOME/etc/apps/.

  2. Next, define transactions using the following arguments:

    [<transactiontype>]
    maxspan =  [<integer> s|m|h|d|-1]
    maxpause = [<integer> s|m|h|d|-1]
    fields = <comma-separated list of fields>
    startswith = <transam-filter-string>
    endswith=<transam-filter-string>

Let's discover the functions of the code terms in the preceding example:

  • transactiontype: This is the name of the transaction type

  • maxspan...

Left arrow icon Right arrow icon

Description

This book is for those Splunk developers who want to learn advanced strategies to deal with big data from an enterprise architectural perspective. You need to have good working knowledge of Splunk.
Estimated delivery fee Deliver to Chile

Standard delivery 10 - 13 business days

$19.95

Premium delivery 3 - 6 business days

$40.95
(Includes tracking information)

Product Details

Country selected
Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Dec 17, 2014
Length: 344 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781782173830
Vendor :
Splunk
Category :
Languages :
Tools :

What do you get with Print?

Product feature icon Instant access to your digital copy whilst your Print order is Shipped
Product feature icon Paperback book shipped to your preferred address
Product feature icon Redeem a companion digital copy on all Print orders
Product feature icon Access this title in our online reader with advanced features
Product feature icon DRM FREE - Read whenever, wherever and however you want
OR
Modal Close icon
Payment Processing...
tick Completed

Shipping Address

Billing Address

Shipping Methods
Estimated delivery fee Deliver to Chile

Standard delivery 10 - 13 business days

$19.95

Premium delivery 3 - 6 business days

$40.95
(Includes tracking information)

Product Details

Publication date : Dec 17, 2014
Length: 344 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781782173830
Vendor :
Splunk
Category :
Languages :
Tools :

Packt Subscriptions

See our plans and pricing
Modal Close icon
$19.99 billed monthly
Feature tick icon Unlimited access to Packt's library of 7,000+ practical books and videos
Feature tick icon Constantly refreshed with 50+ new titles a month
Feature tick icon Exclusive Early access to books as they're written
Feature tick icon Solve problems while you work with advanced search and reference features
Feature tick icon Offline reading on the mobile app
Feature tick icon Simple pricing, no contract
$199.99 billed annually
Feature tick icon Unlimited access to Packt's library of 7,000+ practical books and videos
Feature tick icon Constantly refreshed with 50+ new titles a month
Feature tick icon Exclusive Early access to books as they're written
Feature tick icon Solve problems while you work with advanced search and reference features
Feature tick icon Offline reading on the mobile app
Feature tick icon Choose a DRM-free eBook or Video every month to keep
Feature tick icon PLUS own as many other DRM-free eBooks or Videos as you like for just $5 each
Feature tick icon Exclusive print discounts
$279.99 billed in 18 months
Feature tick icon Unlimited access to Packt's library of 7,000+ practical books and videos
Feature tick icon Constantly refreshed with 50+ new titles a month
Feature tick icon Exclusive Early access to books as they're written
Feature tick icon Solve problems while you work with advanced search and reference features
Feature tick icon Offline reading on the mobile app
Feature tick icon Choose a DRM-free eBook or Video every month to keep
Feature tick icon PLUS own as many other DRM-free eBooks or Videos as you like for just $5 each
Feature tick icon Exclusive print discounts

Frequently bought together


Stars icon
Total $ 164.97
Mastering Splunk
$54.99
Splunk Operational Intelligence Cookbook
$54.99
Implementing Splunk: Big Data Reporting and Development for Operational Intelligence
$54.99
Total $ 164.97 Stars icon

Table of Contents

12 Chapters
1. The Application of Splunk Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Advanced Searching Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Mastering Tables, Charts, and Fields Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Lookups Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Progressive Dashboards Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Indexes and Indexing Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Evolving your Apps Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. Monitoring and Alerting Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
9. Transactional Splunk Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
10. Splunk – Meet the Enterprise Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
A. Quick Start Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 2.7
(3 Ratings)
5 star 33.3%
4 star 0%
3 star 0%
2 star 33.3%
1 star 33.3%
JDMiller Mar 19, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Enjoyed this.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
lisle_g Mar 12, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 2
Here is my first complaint: for $45, I expect at least some of the diagrams to be in color. Instead, the publisher has a download site where you can get a color PDF of the diagrams. Annoying, particularly when the author writes "If you haven't noticed, I have used the color attribute..." No, it didn't really show up in the black-and-white diagram!!The book tries to provide some high-level context for Splunk, but it is uneven. By page 7, the book discusses using a single Splunk server vs. multiple servers, but has built no foundation for this discussion. I often found myself saying: "true, but why do I care?" Other than a scattering of screenshots, the book has few illustrations (so maybe color isn't so important). The discussion also seems jumpy, as if the author has a number of facts about Splunk without having an organized way of presenting them. This made the topics harder to understand, even though most topics are treated superficially (e.g., sizing the Splunk installation). Even the detailed topics, like searching, start with a discussion of tags before even the most simple search is introduced.I found some of the examples simplistic; most were not well-explained. Other examples illustrate poor Splunk usage, particularly around subsearches. Complex topics such as macros are introduced way too early and with little explanation. There are typos in some of the examples.If you know Splunk, you won't learn anything new from this book. If you don't know Splunk, I don't know how you will achieve any of the items listed on the back of the book as "what you will learn from this book."Another reviewer said that this book had a chapter on the Splunk documentation. It does not, but you could certainly look at the free tutorials, videos and online documentation at splunk.com, and save your money.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
kingofgeek Jan 27, 2015
Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 1
THIS BOOK IS HORRIBLE! ITS HAS A CHAPTER ON SPLUNK DOCUMENTATION WTF!!!!!!
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Get free access to Packt library with over 7500+ books and video courses for 7 days!
Start Free Trial

FAQs

What is the digital copy I get with my Print order? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

When you buy any Print edition of our Books, you can redeem (for free) the eBook edition of the Print Book you’ve purchased. This gives you instant access to your book when you make an order via PDF, EPUB or our online Reader experience.

What is the delivery time and cost of print book? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Shipping Details

USA:

'

Economy: Delivery to most addresses in the US within 10-15 business days

Premium: Trackable Delivery to most addresses in the US within 3-8 business days

UK:

Economy: Delivery to most addresses in the U.K. within 7-9 business days.
Shipments are not trackable

Premium: Trackable delivery to most addresses in the U.K. within 3-4 business days!
Add one extra business day for deliveries to Northern Ireland and Scottish Highlands and islands

EU:

Premium: Trackable delivery to most EU destinations within 4-9 business days.

Australia:

Economy: Can deliver to P. O. Boxes and private residences.
Trackable service with delivery to addresses in Australia only.
Delivery time ranges from 7-9 business days for VIC and 8-10 business days for Interstate metro
Delivery time is up to 15 business days for remote areas of WA, NT & QLD.

Premium: Delivery to addresses in Australia only
Trackable delivery to most P. O. Boxes and private residences in Australia within 4-5 days based on the distance to a destination following dispatch.

India:

Premium: Delivery to most Indian addresses within 5-6 business days

Rest of the World:

Premium: Countries in the American continent: Trackable delivery to most countries within 4-7 business days

Asia:

Premium: Delivery to most Asian addresses within 5-9 business days

Disclaimer:
All orders received before 5 PM U.K time would start printing from the next business day. So the estimated delivery times start from the next day as well. Orders received after 5 PM U.K time (in our internal systems) on a business day or anytime on the weekend will begin printing the second to next business day. For example, an order placed at 11 AM today will begin printing tomorrow, whereas an order placed at 9 PM tonight will begin printing the day after tomorrow.


Unfortunately, due to several restrictions, we are unable to ship to the following countries:

  1. Afghanistan
  2. American Samoa
  3. Belarus
  4. Brunei Darussalam
  5. Central African Republic
  6. The Democratic Republic of Congo
  7. Eritrea
  8. Guinea-bissau
  9. Iran
  10. Lebanon
  11. Libiya Arab Jamahriya
  12. Somalia
  13. Sudan
  14. Russian Federation
  15. Syrian Arab Republic
  16. Ukraine
  17. Venezuela
What is custom duty/charge? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customs duty are charges levied on goods when they cross international borders. It is a tax that is imposed on imported goods. These duties are charged by special authorities and bodies created by local governments and are meant to protect local industries, economies, and businesses.

Do I have to pay customs charges for the print book order? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

The orders shipped to the countries that are listed under EU27 will not bear custom charges. They are paid by Packt as part of the order.

List of EU27 countries: www.gov.uk/eu-eea:

A custom duty or localized taxes may be applicable on the shipment and would be charged by the recipient country outside of the EU27 which should be paid by the customer and these duties are not included in the shipping charges been charged on the order.

How do I know my custom duty charges? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

The amount of duty payable varies greatly depending on the imported goods, the country of origin and several other factors like the total invoice amount or dimensions like weight, and other such criteria applicable in your country.

For example:

  • If you live in Mexico, and the declared value of your ordered items is over $ 50, for you to receive a package, you will have to pay additional import tax of 19% which will be $ 9.50 to the courier service.
  • Whereas if you live in Turkey, and the declared value of your ordered items is over € 22, for you to receive a package, you will have to pay additional import tax of 18% which will be € 3.96 to the courier service.
How can I cancel my order? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Cancellation Policy for Published Printed Books:

You can cancel any order within 1 hour of placing the order. Simply contact customercare@packt.com with your order details or payment transaction id. If your order has already started the shipment process, we will do our best to stop it. However, if it is already on the way to you then when you receive it, you can contact us at customercare@packt.com using the returns and refund process.

Please understand that Packt Publishing cannot provide refunds or cancel any order except for the cases described in our Return Policy (i.e. Packt Publishing agrees to replace your printed book because it arrives damaged or material defect in book), Packt Publishing will not accept returns.

What is your returns and refunds policy? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Return Policy:

We want you to be happy with your purchase from Packtpub.com. We will not hassle you with returning print books to us. If the print book you receive from us is incorrect, damaged, doesn't work or is unacceptably late, please contact Customer Relations Team on customercare@packt.com with the order number and issue details as explained below:

  1. If you ordered (eBook, Video or Print Book) incorrectly or accidentally, please contact Customer Relations Team on customercare@packt.com within one hour of placing the order and we will replace/refund you the item cost.
  2. Sadly, if your eBook or Video file is faulty or a fault occurs during the eBook or Video being made available to you, i.e. during download then you should contact Customer Relations Team within 14 days of purchase on customercare@packt.com who will be able to resolve this issue for you.
  3. You will have a choice of replacement or refund of the problem items.(damaged, defective or incorrect)
  4. Once Customer Care Team confirms that you will be refunded, you should receive the refund within 10 to 12 working days.
  5. If you are only requesting a refund of one book from a multiple order, then we will refund you the appropriate single item.
  6. Where the items were shipped under a free shipping offer, there will be no shipping costs to refund.

On the off chance your printed book arrives damaged, with book material defect, contact our Customer Relation Team on customercare@packt.com within 14 days of receipt of the book with appropriate evidence of damage and we will work with you to secure a replacement copy, if necessary. Please note that each printed book you order from us is individually made by Packt's professional book-printing partner which is on a print-on-demand basis.

What tax is charged? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Currently, no tax is charged on the purchase of any print book (subject to change based on the laws and regulations). A localized VAT fee is charged only to our European and UK customers on eBooks, Video and subscriptions that they buy. GST is charged to Indian customers for eBooks and video purchases.

What payment methods can I use? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

You can pay with the following card types:

  1. Visa Debit
  2. Visa Credit
  3. MasterCard
  4. PayPal
What is the delivery time and cost of print books? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Shipping Details

USA:

'

Economy: Delivery to most addresses in the US within 10-15 business days

Premium: Trackable Delivery to most addresses in the US within 3-8 business days

UK:

Economy: Delivery to most addresses in the U.K. within 7-9 business days.
Shipments are not trackable

Premium: Trackable delivery to most addresses in the U.K. within 3-4 business days!
Add one extra business day for deliveries to Northern Ireland and Scottish Highlands and islands

EU:

Premium: Trackable delivery to most EU destinations within 4-9 business days.

Australia:

Economy: Can deliver to P. O. Boxes and private residences.
Trackable service with delivery to addresses in Australia only.
Delivery time ranges from 7-9 business days for VIC and 8-10 business days for Interstate metro
Delivery time is up to 15 business days for remote areas of WA, NT & QLD.

Premium: Delivery to addresses in Australia only
Trackable delivery to most P. O. Boxes and private residences in Australia within 4-5 days based on the distance to a destination following dispatch.

India:

Premium: Delivery to most Indian addresses within 5-6 business days

Rest of the World:

Premium: Countries in the American continent: Trackable delivery to most countries within 4-7 business days

Asia:

Premium: Delivery to most Asian addresses within 5-9 business days

Disclaimer:
All orders received before 5 PM U.K time would start printing from the next business day. So the estimated delivery times start from the next day as well. Orders received after 5 PM U.K time (in our internal systems) on a business day or anytime on the weekend will begin printing the second to next business day. For example, an order placed at 11 AM today will begin printing tomorrow, whereas an order placed at 9 PM tonight will begin printing the day after tomorrow.


Unfortunately, due to several restrictions, we are unable to ship to the following countries:

  1. Afghanistan
  2. American Samoa
  3. Belarus
  4. Brunei Darussalam
  5. Central African Republic
  6. The Democratic Republic of Congo
  7. Eritrea
  8. Guinea-bissau
  9. Iran
  10. Lebanon
  11. Libiya Arab Jamahriya
  12. Somalia
  13. Sudan
  14. Russian Federation
  15. Syrian Arab Republic
  16. Ukraine
  17. Venezuela