Splunk SPLK-2002 Practice Exams
Last updated on Oct 08,2026- Exam Code: SPLK-2002
- Exam Name: Splunk Enterprise Certified Architect Exam
- Certification Provider: Splunk
- Latest update: Oct 08,2026
Question #151
In which phase of the Splunk Enterprise data pipeline are indexed extraction configurations processed?
- A . Input
- B . Search
- C . Parsing
- D . Indexing
Correct Answer: D
D
Explanation:
Indexed extraction configurations are processed in the indexing phase of the Splunk Enterprise data pipeline. The data pipeline is the process that Splunk uses to ingest, parse, index, and search data. Indexed extraction configurations are settings that determine how Splunk extracts fields from data at index time, rather than at search time. Indexed extraction can improve search performance, but it also increases the size of the index. Indexed extraction configurations are applied in the indexing phase, which is the phase where Splunk writes the data and the .tsidx files to the index. The input phase is the phase where Splunk receives data from various sources and formats. The parsing phase is the phase where Splunk breaks the data into events, timestamps, and hosts. The search phase is the phase where Splunk executes search commands and returns results.
D
Explanation:
Indexed extraction configurations are processed in the indexing phase of the Splunk Enterprise data pipeline. The data pipeline is the process that Splunk uses to ingest, parse, index, and search data. Indexed extraction configurations are settings that determine how Splunk extracts fields from data at index time, rather than at search time. Indexed extraction can improve search performance, but it also increases the size of the index. Indexed extraction configurations are applied in the indexing phase, which is the phase where Splunk writes the data and the .tsidx files to the index. The input phase is the phase where Splunk receives data from various sources and formats. The parsing phase is the phase where Splunk breaks the data into events, timestamps, and hosts. The search phase is the phase where Splunk executes search commands and returns results.
Question #152
Splunk configuration parameter settings can differ between multiple .conf files of the same name contained within different apps.
Which of the following directories has the highest precedence?
- A . System local directory.
- B . System default directory.
- C . App local directories, in ASCII order.
- D . App default directories, in ASCII order.
Correct Answer: A
A
Explanation:
The system local directory has the highest precedence among the following directories that contain Splunk configuration files of the same name within different apps. Splunk configuration files are stored in various directories under the SPLUNK_HOME/etc directory. The precedence of these directories determines which configuration file settings take effect when there are conflicts or overlaps. The system local directory, which is located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/local, has the highest precedence among all directories, because it contains the system-level configurations that are specific to the instance. The system default directory, which is located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/default, has the lowest precedence among all directories, because it contains the system-level configurations that are provided by Splunk and should not be modified.
The app local directories, which are located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/apps/APP_NAME/local, have a higher precedence than the app default directories, which are located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/apps/APP_NAME/default, because the local directories contain the app-level configurations that are specific to the instance, while the default directories contain the app-level configurations that are provided by the app and should not be modified. The app local and default directories have different precedences depending on the ASCII order of the app names, with the app names that come later in the ASCII order having higher precedences.
A
Explanation:
The system local directory has the highest precedence among the following directories that contain Splunk configuration files of the same name within different apps. Splunk configuration files are stored in various directories under the SPLUNK_HOME/etc directory. The precedence of these directories determines which configuration file settings take effect when there are conflicts or overlaps. The system local directory, which is located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/local, has the highest precedence among all directories, because it contains the system-level configurations that are specific to the instance. The system default directory, which is located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/default, has the lowest precedence among all directories, because it contains the system-level configurations that are provided by Splunk and should not be modified.
The app local directories, which are located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/apps/APP_NAME/local, have a higher precedence than the app default directories, which are located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/apps/APP_NAME/default, because the local directories contain the app-level configurations that are specific to the instance, while the default directories contain the app-level configurations that are provided by the app and should not be modified. The app local and default directories have different precedences depending on the ASCII order of the app names, with the app names that come later in the ASCII order having higher precedences.
Question #152
Splunk configuration parameter settings can differ between multiple .conf files of the same name contained within different apps.
Which of the following directories has the highest precedence?
- A . System local directory.
- B . System default directory.
- C . App local directories, in ASCII order.
- D . App default directories, in ASCII order.
Correct Answer: A
A
Explanation:
The system local directory has the highest precedence among the following directories that contain Splunk configuration files of the same name within different apps. Splunk configuration files are stored in various directories under the SPLUNK_HOME/etc directory. The precedence of these directories determines which configuration file settings take effect when there are conflicts or overlaps. The system local directory, which is located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/local, has the highest precedence among all directories, because it contains the system-level configurations that are specific to the instance. The system default directory, which is located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/default, has the lowest precedence among all directories, because it contains the system-level configurations that are provided by Splunk and should not be modified.
The app local directories, which are located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/apps/APP_NAME/local, have a higher precedence than the app default directories, which are located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/apps/APP_NAME/default, because the local directories contain the app-level configurations that are specific to the instance, while the default directories contain the app-level configurations that are provided by the app and should not be modified. The app local and default directories have different precedences depending on the ASCII order of the app names, with the app names that come later in the ASCII order having higher precedences.
A
Explanation:
The system local directory has the highest precedence among the following directories that contain Splunk configuration files of the same name within different apps. Splunk configuration files are stored in various directories under the SPLUNK_HOME/etc directory. The precedence of these directories determines which configuration file settings take effect when there are conflicts or overlaps. The system local directory, which is located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/local, has the highest precedence among all directories, because it contains the system-level configurations that are specific to the instance. The system default directory, which is located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/system/default, has the lowest precedence among all directories, because it contains the system-level configurations that are provided by Splunk and should not be modified.
The app local directories, which are located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/apps/APP_NAME/local, have a higher precedence than the app default directories, which are located at SPLUNK_HOME/etc/apps/APP_NAME/default, because the local directories contain the app-level configurations that are specific to the instance, while the default directories contain the app-level configurations that are provided by the app and should not be modified. The app local and default directories have different precedences depending on the ASCII order of the app names, with the app names that come later in the ASCII order having higher precedences.
Question #154
What is the algorithm used to determine captaincy in a Splunk search head cluster?
- A . Raft distributed consensus.
- B . Rapt distributed consensus.
- C . Rift distributed consensus.
- D . Round-robin distribution consensus.
Correct Answer: A
A
Explanation:
The algorithm used to determine captaincy in a Splunk search head cluster is Raft distributed consensus. Raft is a consensus algorithm that is used to elect a leader among a group of nodes in a distributed system. In a Splunk search head cluster, Raft is used to elect a captain among the cluster members. The captain is the cluster member that is responsible for coordinating the search activities, replicating the configurations and apps, and pushing the knowledge bundles to the search peers. The captain is dynamically elected based on various criteria, such as CPU load, network latency, and search load. The captain can change over time, depending on the availability and performance of the cluster members. Rapt, Rift, and Round-robin are not valid algorithms for determining captaincy in a Splunk search head cluster
A
Explanation:
The algorithm used to determine captaincy in a Splunk search head cluster is Raft distributed consensus. Raft is a consensus algorithm that is used to elect a leader among a group of nodes in a distributed system. In a Splunk search head cluster, Raft is used to elect a captain among the cluster members. The captain is the cluster member that is responsible for coordinating the search activities, replicating the configurations and apps, and pushing the knowledge bundles to the search peers. The captain is dynamically elected based on various criteria, such as CPU load, network latency, and search load. The captain can change over time, depending on the availability and performance of the cluster members. Rapt, Rift, and Round-robin are not valid algorithms for determining captaincy in a Splunk search head cluster
Question #155
What does setting site=site0 on all Search Head Cluster members do in a multi-site indexer cluster?
- A . Disables search site affinity.
- B . Sets all members to dynamic captaincy.
- C . Enables multisite search artifact replication.
- D . Enables automatic search site affinity discovery.
Correct Answer: A
A
Explanation:
Setting site=site0 on all Search Head Cluster members disables search site affinity. Search site affinity is a feature that allows search heads to preferentially search the peer nodes that are in the same site as the search head, to reduce network latency and bandwidth consumption. By setting site=site0, which is a special value that indicates no site, the search heads will search all peer nodes regardless of their site. Setting site=site0 does not set all members to dynamic captaincy, enable multisite search artifact replication, or enable automatic search site affinity discovery. Dynamic captaincy is a feature that allows any member to become the captain, and it is enabled by default. Multisite search artifact replication is a feature that allows search artifacts to be replicated across sites, and it is enabled by setting site_replication_factor to a value greater than 1. Automatic search site affinity discovery is a feature that allows search heads to automatically determine their site based on the network latency to the peer nodes, and it is enabled by setting site=auto
A
Explanation:
Setting site=site0 on all Search Head Cluster members disables search site affinity. Search site affinity is a feature that allows search heads to preferentially search the peer nodes that are in the same site as the search head, to reduce network latency and bandwidth consumption. By setting site=site0, which is a special value that indicates no site, the search heads will search all peer nodes regardless of their site. Setting site=site0 does not set all members to dynamic captaincy, enable multisite search artifact replication, or enable automatic search site affinity discovery. Dynamic captaincy is a feature that allows any member to become the captain, and it is enabled by default. Multisite search artifact replication is a feature that allows search artifacts to be replicated across sites, and it is enabled by setting site_replication_factor to a value greater than 1. Automatic search site affinity discovery is a feature that allows search heads to automatically determine their site based on the network latency to the peer nodes, and it is enabled by setting site=auto
Question #156
Which of the following configuration attributes must be set in server, conf on the cluster manager in a single-site indexer cluster?
- A . master_uri
- B . site
- C . replication_factor
- D . site_replication_factor
Correct Answer: A
A
Explanation:
The correct configuration attribute to set in server.conf on the cluster manager in a single-site indexer cluster is master_uri. This attribute specifies the URI of the cluster manager, which is required for the peer nodes and search heads to communicate with it1. The other attributes are not required for a single-site indexer cluster, but they are used for a multisite indexer cluster. The site attribute defines the site name for each node in a multisite indexer cluster2. The replication_factor attribute defines the number of copies of each bucket to maintain across the entire multisite indexer cluster3. The site_replication_factor attribute defines the number of copies of each bucket to maintain across each site in a multisite indexer cluster4. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, and options B, C, and D are incorrect.
1: Configure the cluster manager 2: Configure the site attribute 3: Configure the replication factor 4: Configure the site replication factor
A
Explanation:
The correct configuration attribute to set in server.conf on the cluster manager in a single-site indexer cluster is master_uri. This attribute specifies the URI of the cluster manager, which is required for the peer nodes and search heads to communicate with it1. The other attributes are not required for a single-site indexer cluster, but they are used for a multisite indexer cluster. The site attribute defines the site name for each node in a multisite indexer cluster2. The replication_factor attribute defines the number of copies of each bucket to maintain across the entire multisite indexer cluster3. The site_replication_factor attribute defines the number of copies of each bucket to maintain across each site in a multisite indexer cluster4. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, and options B, C, and D are incorrect.
1: Configure the cluster manager 2: Configure the site attribute 3: Configure the replication factor 4: Configure the site replication factor
Question #157
When planning a search head cluster, which of the following is true?
- A . All search heads must use the same operating system.
- B . All search heads must be members of the cluster (no standalone search heads).
- C . The search head captain must be assigned to the largest search head in the cluster.
- D . All indexers must belong to the underlying indexer cluster (no standalone indexers).
Correct Answer: D
D
Explanation:
When planning a search head cluster, the following statement is true: All indexers must belong to the underlying indexer cluster (no standalone indexers). A search head cluster is a group of search heads that share configurations, apps, and search jobs. A search head cluster requires an indexer cluster as its data source, meaning that all indexers that provide data to the search head cluster must be members of the same indexer cluster. Standalone indexers, or indexers that are not part of an indexer cluster, cannot be used as data sources for a search head cluster. All search heads do not have to use the same operating system, as long as they are compatible with the Splunk version and the indexer cluster. All search heads do not have to be members of the cluster, as standalone search heads can also search the indexer cluster, but they will not have the benefits of configuration replication and load balancing. The search head captain does not have to be assigned to the largest search head in the cluster, as the captain is dynamically elected from among the cluster members based on various criteria, such as CPU load, network latency, and search load.
D
Explanation:
When planning a search head cluster, the following statement is true: All indexers must belong to the underlying indexer cluster (no standalone indexers). A search head cluster is a group of search heads that share configurations, apps, and search jobs. A search head cluster requires an indexer cluster as its data source, meaning that all indexers that provide data to the search head cluster must be members of the same indexer cluster. Standalone indexers, or indexers that are not part of an indexer cluster, cannot be used as data sources for a search head cluster. All search heads do not have to use the same operating system, as long as they are compatible with the Splunk version and the indexer cluster. All search heads do not have to be members of the cluster, as standalone search heads can also search the indexer cluster, but they will not have the benefits of configuration replication and load balancing. The search head captain does not have to be assigned to the largest search head in the cluster, as the captain is dynamically elected from among the cluster members based on various criteria, such as CPU load, network latency, and search load.
Question #158
Other than high availability, which of the following is a benefit of search head clustering?
- A . Allows indexers to maintain multiple searchable copies of all data.
- B . Input settings are synchronized between search heads.
- C . Fewer network ports are required to be opened between search heads.
- D . Automatic replication of user knowledge objects.
Correct Answer: D
D
Explanation:
According to the Splunk documentation1, one of the benefits of search head clustering is the automatic replication of user knowledge objects, such as dashboards, reports, alerts, and tags. This ensures that all cluster members have the same set of knowledge objects and can serve the same search results to the users. The other options are false because:
Allowing indexers to maintain multiple searchable copies of all data is a benefit of indexer clustering, not search head clustering2.
Input settings are not synchronized between search heads, as search head clusters do not collect data from inputs. Data collection is done by forwarders or independent search heads3.
Fewer network ports are not required to be opened between search heads, as search head clusters use several ports for communication and replication among the members4.
D
Explanation:
According to the Splunk documentation1, one of the benefits of search head clustering is the automatic replication of user knowledge objects, such as dashboards, reports, alerts, and tags. This ensures that all cluster members have the same set of knowledge objects and can serve the same search results to the users. The other options are false because:
Allowing indexers to maintain multiple searchable copies of all data is a benefit of indexer clustering, not search head clustering2.
Input settings are not synchronized between search heads, as search head clusters do not collect data from inputs. Data collection is done by forwarders or independent search heads3.
Fewer network ports are not required to be opened between search heads, as search head clusters use several ports for communication and replication among the members4.
Question #159
Which of the following is an indexer clustering requirement?
- A . Must use shared storage.
- B . Must reside on a dedicated rack.
- C . Must have at least three members.
- D . Must share the same license pool.
Correct Answer: D
D
Explanation:
An indexer clustering requirement is that the cluster members must share the same license pool and license master. A license pool is a group of licenses that are assigned to a set of Splunk instances. A license master is a Splunk instance that manages the distribution and enforcement of licenses in a pool. In an indexer cluster, all cluster members must belong to the same license pool and report to the same license master, to ensure that the cluster does not exceed the license limit and that the license violations are handled consistently. An indexer cluster does not require shared storage, because each cluster member has its own local storage for the index data. An indexer cluster does not have to reside on a dedicated rack, because the cluster members can be located on different physical or virtual machines, as long as they can communicate with each other. An indexer cluster does not have to have at least three members, because a cluster can have as few as two members, although this is not recommended for high availability
D
Explanation:
An indexer clustering requirement is that the cluster members must share the same license pool and license master. A license pool is a group of licenses that are assigned to a set of Splunk instances. A license master is a Splunk instance that manages the distribution and enforcement of licenses in a pool. In an indexer cluster, all cluster members must belong to the same license pool and report to the same license master, to ensure that the cluster does not exceed the license limit and that the license violations are handled consistently. An indexer cluster does not require shared storage, because each cluster member has its own local storage for the index data. An indexer cluster does not have to reside on a dedicated rack, because the cluster members can be located on different physical or virtual machines, as long as they can communicate with each other. An indexer cluster does not have to have at least three members, because a cluster can have as few as two members, although this is not recommended for high availability
Question #160
A customer has installed a 500GB Enterprise license. They also purchased and installed a 300GB, no enforcement license on the same license master.
How much data can the customer ingest before the search is locked out?
- A . 300GB. After this limit, the search is locked out.
- B . 500GB. After this limit, the search is locked out.
- C . 800GB. After this limit, the search is locked out.
- D . Search is not locked out. Violations are still recorded.
Correct Answer: D
D
Explanation:
Search is not locked out when a customer has installed a 500GB Enterprise license and a 300GB, no enforcement license on the same license master. The no enforcement license allows the customer to exceed the license quota without locking search, but violations are still recorded. The customer can ingest up to 800GB of data per day without violating the license, but if they ingest more than that, they will incur a violation. However, the violation will not lock search, as the no enforcement license overrides the enforcement policy of the Enterprise license. For more information, see [No enforcement licenses] and [License violations] in the Splunk documentation.
D
Explanation:
Search is not locked out when a customer has installed a 500GB Enterprise license and a 300GB, no enforcement license on the same license master. The no enforcement license allows the customer to exceed the license quota without locking search, but violations are still recorded. The customer can ingest up to 800GB of data per day without violating the license, but if they ingest more than that, they will incur a violation. However, the violation will not lock search, as the no enforcement license overrides the enforcement policy of the Enterprise license. For more information, see [No enforcement licenses] and [License violations] in the Splunk documentation.