Splunk Core Certified User Practice Exam

How would you modify the search to show the top 25 results for a specific field?

1. | top limit=10 src_ip

2. | top limit=25 src_ip

3. | top count=25 src_ip

4. | top src_ip limit=25

The correct answer is: | top limit=25 src_ip

The chosen answer effectively demonstrates how to correct specify the desired number of results to be displayed for a specific field using Splunk's top command. The usage of "limit=25" in conjunction with the field name "src_ip" instructs Splunk to return the top 25 values of that field based on their frequency in the search results. This command is concise and directly aligns with Splunk's syntax for the top command, which is designed to identify prominent values in a dataset. By specifying "limit=25", it ensures that the user will see a more extensive list of top results, as opposed to a smaller default set. In comparison, other formulations do not align perfectly with how the command is structured in Splunk. For example, an option that suggests using "count=25" might imply a different function, as "count" typically relates to counting occurrences rather than specifying a limit of displayed results. Additionally, using "top" with a different arrangement such as "src_ip limit=25" loses clarity regarding the intended result limit, making it a less effective choice. Thus, the selected answer provides the correct and clear method to achieve the desired outcome in Splunk, enhancing the visibility of data trends for the defined field.