Goal: Successfully pass the SPLK-1005 exam by mastering the core concepts and skills in Splunk using effective learning strategies like the Pomodoro Technique, Ebbinghaus' Forgetting Curve, and Spaced Repetition.

Duration: 6 Weeks (with flexibility to adjust based on progress)

Learning Objectives and Focus Areas

• Week 1: Splunk Basics & Installation
  • Objective: Understand the basic concepts of Splunk and set up a functional environment.
  • Tasks: Install Splunk, explore the interface, and understand data input and indexing.
• Week 2: Searching & Reporting in Splunk
  • Objective: Learn the core search functions of Splunk and how to create basic reports and visualizations.
  • Tasks: Master search language (SPL), use filters, search commands, and generate reports.
• Week 3: Advanced Data Parsing & Knowledge Objects
  • Objective: Learn advanced field extractions, parsing methods, and how to create knowledge objects.
  • Tasks: Perform field extractions, define event types, create custom knowledge objects.
• Week 4: Splunk Apps & Cloud Support
  • Objective: Understand the functionality of Splunk Apps, how to install and manage them, and how to use Splunk Cloud Support effectively.
  • Tasks: Install and configure apps, learn how to use Splunk support and community resources.
• Week 5: Advanced Searching, Reporting, and Dashboards
  • Objective: Gain deeper knowledge in using SPL commands for advanced reporting and building interactive dashboards.
  • Tasks: Learn complex SPL commands, build advanced reports, create dashboards.
• Week 6: Review & Mock Exams
  • Objective: Consolidate all learning, review weak points, and take mock exams to simulate the real exam environment.
  • Tasks: Review all materials, take at least two mock exams, and evaluate performance.

Study Methodology (Pomodoro + Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve + Spaced Repetition)

1. Pomodoro Technique:

   • Break study sessions into 25-minute intervals, with 5-minute breaks in between.
   • After 4 Pomodoro sessions, take a 15-30 minute break to refresh.
   • Example:
     • Session 1: Learn about Splunk Architecture (25 mins)
     • Break (5 mins)
     • Session 2: Hands-on practice with Splunk Installation (25 mins)
     • Break (5 mins)
     • Repeat for a total of 4 sessions before taking a longer break.

2. Ebbinghaus' Forgetting Curve:

   • Revisit topics regularly to avoid forgetting.
   • After learning a new concept, review it after 24 hours, 3 days, and 1 week.
   • Example:
     • Day 1: Learn about Data Parsing
     • Day 2: Review Data Parsing (recall from memory)
     • Day 3: Revisit Data Parsing concepts and apply it on new data
     • Week 1: Final review of all the material covered that week.

3. Spaced Repetition:

   • Use tools like Anki to reinforce what you’ve learned by testing yourself at spaced intervals.
   • Focus on the topics you find most difficult and need to retain in the long term.

Week 1: Splunk Basics & Installation

Objective:
Understand the basic concepts of Splunk and set up a functional environment.

Tasks:

• Install Splunk, explore the interface, and understand data input and indexing.

Day 1: Introduction to Splunk & Setup

Learning Objectives:

• Understand what Splunk is and its role in data analysis.
• Install Splunk on your system (either on-premise or cloud version).
• Familiarize yourself with the Splunk Web Interface.

Activities:

• Install Splunk Enterprise or Splunk Cloud depending on your setup.
• Access Splunk Web and go through the Splunk interface. Familiarize yourself with key sections like Search & Reporting, Settings, and Management.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Understand the concepts behind Splunk and its role in data management.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Install Splunk on your system and check the installation logs.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Explore the basic interface and navigation within Splunk Web.

Day 2: Data Input & Indexing

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to input data into Splunk.
• Understand the concept of indexing and how Splunk organizes data.

Activities:

• Set up a data input source (e.g., CSV file, system logs).
• Explore indexing settings and how Splunk processes and stores incoming data.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Understand different ways of data input (files, network inputs, etc.).
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Set up a sample data input source (CSV, logs) and explore index settings.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Test data input and check the indexed data.

Day 3: Splunk Indexing & Data Processing

Learning Objectives:

• Dive deeper into indexing and learn about data processing.
• Understand the concept of time extraction and field extractions.

Activities:

• Review the data pipeline (input, parsing, indexing).
• Set up a time extraction to ensure accurate timestamps are captured.
• Explore field extractions through Splunk Web interface or using props.conf.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Learn about the data pipeline and how Splunk handles incoming data.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Explore time extraction and configure it.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Work with field extractions and test data processing.

Day 4: Search Interface & Basic Searches

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how to use the Search interface in Splunk.
• Learn how to write basic searches using Search Processing Language (SPL).

Activities:

• Practice basic SPL commands such as search, stats, and timechart.
• Create simple searches for data analysis and test them.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Understand the Search interface in Splunk.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Learn and practice basic SPL commands (e.g., search, stats).
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Perform basic data search exercises and refine queries.

Day 5: Understanding Splunk Search Results

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to interpret search results in Splunk.
• Understand event and field-based search results.

Activities:

• Analyze the output of your search queries and break down the different fields and events.
• Practice searching specific fields and understanding event data formats.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Understand event-based results in Splunk.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Practice searching for specific fields and filtering data.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Analyze search results and learn how to organize data.

Day 6: Review & Troubleshooting

Learning Objectives:

• Review everything learned during the week.
• Troubleshoot any issues or doubts about the setup and configuration.

Activities:

• Revise installation, data input, and indexing concepts.
• Troubleshoot any issues you may have encountered, such as data not appearing in the search or misconfigured indexes.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Review installation and indexing concepts.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Resolve data input issues.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Troubleshoot indexing and data search problems.

Day 7: Consolidation and Practice

Learning Objectives:

• Consolidate all the knowledge learned during the week.
• Engage in practical exercises to reinforce your understanding.

Activities:

• Complete exercises related to data input, indexing, and basic search commands.
• Perform a comprehensive search query on the data you have indexed throughout the week.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Review data input and indexing concepts.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Perform practical search exercises.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Engage in a comprehensive search query and troubleshoot issues.

Week 2: Searching & Reporting in Splunk

Objective:
Learn the core search functions of Splunk and how to create basic reports and visualizations.

Tasks:

• Master search language (SPL), use filters, search commands, and generate reports.

Day 8: Introduction to SPL (Search Processing Language)

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the basics of Search Processing Language (SPL).
• Understand the syntax and structure of SPL commands.

Activities:

• Explore simple SPL queries and how they are structured.
• Start with the search command and explore how it can be refined with time range and filters.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Learn the basics of SPL and how to structure a search query.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Write basic SPL commands to search through the indexed data.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Experiment with filtering results based on time and specific keywords.

Day 9: Using Basic Commands (stats, timechart, table)

Learning Objectives:

• Learn to use stats, timechart, and table commands in SPL.
• Understand how to process and visualize data.

Activities:

• Practice using stats to calculate statistics like count, sum, average, etc.
• Use timechart to create time-based visualizations.
• Create simple tabular outputs with table to display results in a structured manner.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Understand and practice using the stats command for aggregating data.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Create time-based visualizations using timechart.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Experiment with tabular outputs using the table command.

Day 10: Searching with Fields & Filters

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to filter and search for specific fields in Splunk data.
• Use field-based search and filters to narrow down results.

Activities:

• Practice searching for specific fields in the data (e.g., src_ip, event_type).
• Apply filters to limit the dataset and focus on relevant events.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Learn how to use fields to search for specific pieces of data.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Practice applying filters and search modifiers to refine your results.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Experiment with combining fields and filters in complex search queries.

Day 11: Creating Basic Reports in Splunk

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to create basic reports in Splunk using search queries.
• Understand the basic reporting options in Splunk.

Activities:

• Create a custom search report by applying filters, fields, and basic aggregation.
• Set up scheduled reports to run periodically.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Learn how to create a custom search report using your queries.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Set up scheduled reports for automatic execution.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Review your reports and make sure the output is relevant and clear.

Day 12: Visualizations in Splunk

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how to visualize search results using Splunk's built-in visualization tools.
• Create basic visualizations like pie charts, bar charts, and line charts.

Activities:

• Explore different types of visualizations available in Splunk (e.g., pie charts, line charts, bar charts).
• Create visualizations from your reports to gain deeper insights from your data.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Learn about Splunk’s visualization options.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Practice creating pie charts, bar charts, and line charts.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Create a visualization dashboard to present the data more effectively.

Day 13: Search Optimization Techniques

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to optimize your search queries for faster results.
• Understand the importance of efficient searches in large datasets.

Activities:

• Practice optimizing search queries by using time range filters, specific field searches, and summary indexing.
• Learn how to use subsearches and lookup tables for more complex queries.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Learn about search optimization techniques.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Optimize your queries using time range and field filters.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Explore subsearches and lookup tables for complex searches.

Day 14: Consolidation and Practice

Learning Objectives:

• Consolidate everything learned about Splunk's searching and reporting features.
• Apply knowledge to create meaningful reports and visualizations.

Activities:

• Review everything you've learned from Week 2.
• Complete exercises that involve search queries, report creation, and visualization.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Review SPL basics, reporting, and visualization concepts.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Practice creating reports and visualizations.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Test your knowledge by working on a comprehensive search, report, and dashboard project.

Week 3: Advanced Data Parsing & Knowledge Objects

Objective:
Learn advanced field extractions, parsing methods, and how to create knowledge objects in Splunk.

Tasks:

• Perform field extractions, define event types, and create custom knowledge objects.

Day 15: Advanced Field Extraction

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to perform advanced field extractions using regular expressions (regex).
• Understand how to use the Field Extractor in Splunk.

Activities:

• Practice regular expressions to extract custom fields from raw events.
• Use the Field Extractor to create extractions based on patterns in the raw data.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Understand the concept of field extractions in Splunk.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Learn regular expressions (regex) basics for field extraction.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Use Field Extractor tool to extract custom fields.

Day 16: Working with Transforms.conf

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to configure props.conf and transforms.conf to manipulate raw data in Splunk.
• Understand how props.conf works in conjunction with transforms.conf to process events.

Activities:

• Study the role of props.conf and transforms.conf in event processing.
• Configure a transforms.conf file to modify incoming raw data.
• Perform field extractions using props.conf and transforms.conf.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Study the props.conf and transforms.conf files and how they work together.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Configure transforms.conf to extract fields and modify data.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Test your configurations by reviewing the parsed and transformed data.

Day 17: Event Types & Tags

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how to define event types and tags in Splunk.
• Learn how to associate event types and tags with your data to improve data classification and analysis.

Activities:

• Define and create custom event types.
• Learn how to tag events for better organization and querying.
• Use event types and tags to enhance searches and reports.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Learn the concept of event types and their uses in Splunk.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Define custom event types for your dataset.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Create and assign tags to events for improved search accuracy.

Day 18: Creating Custom Knowledge Objects

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to create custom knowledge objects in Splunk, such as lookup tables, tags, and event types.
• Understand how to use knowledge objects for data enrichment and easier analysis.

Activities:

• Define lookup tables to enrich your data with external information.
• Create custom fields and tags as knowledge objects for better classification.
• Apply knowledge objects in your searches and reports for advanced analysis.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Learn how to create lookup tables and use them in Splunk.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Define custom knowledge objects and tags.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Use knowledge objects in your searches and reports for deeper insights.

Day 19: Data Normalization & Field Aliases

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to normalize data from different sources to a common format.
• Understand the concept of field aliases and how to use them to improve data consistency.

Activities:

• Use field aliases to map fields from different sources to a common name.
• Perform data normalization to standardize event data from various sources.
• Work with field transformations to harmonize event data.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Understand field aliases and how to use them to harmonize field names.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Normalize data from different sources using field aliases.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Review field alias and data normalization processes by testing different data sources.

Day 20: Using the CIM (Common Information Model)

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about the Common Information Model (CIM) and its role in data normalization and analysis.
• Understand how to map your data to CIM for consistent event categorization.

Activities:

• Study the CIM and its standard field naming conventions.
• Normalize your data to match CIM specifications and improve reporting accuracy.
• Use CIM-compliant searches to generate more accurate insights.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Learn the structure of the Common Information Model (CIM).
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Map your data to CIM for standardized event categorization.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Run CIM-compliant searches and evaluate results.

Day 21: Review and Practical Exercises

Learning Objectives:

• Consolidate all the concepts learned in Week 3.
• Apply advanced parsing techniques, knowledge objects, and data normalization.

Activities:

• Review advanced field extractions, transforms, event types, and CIM.
• Complete practical exercises that combine field extraction, knowledge object creation, and data normalization.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Review the concepts of advanced field extraction and transforms.conf.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Test your knowledge of event types, tags, and custom knowledge objects.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Complete exercises on data normalization and CIM.

Week 4: Splunk Apps & Cloud Support

Objective:
Understand the functionality of Splunk Apps, how to install and manage them, and how to use Splunk Cloud Support effectively.

Tasks:

• Install and configure Splunk Apps.
• Learn how to use Splunk support and community resources.

Day 22: Introduction to Splunk Apps

Learning Objectives:

• Understand what Splunk Apps are and their role in extending Splunk's functionality.
• Learn about the types of Splunk Apps, including Splunk Enterprise Apps, Splunk Cloud Apps, and Custom Apps.

Activities:

• Explore different types of Splunk Apps and their use cases (e.g., IT monitoring, security analysis).
• Understand the benefits of using Splunk Apps in both Splunk Enterprise and Splunk Cloud environments.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Learn the role of Splunk Apps in enhancing functionality.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Study the differences between Splunk Enterprise Apps and Splunk Cloud Apps.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Research a few Splunk Apps from Splunkbase and understand their use cases.

Day 23: Installing Splunk Apps

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to install Splunk Apps using the Splunk Web interface and command line.
• Understand the apps.conf configuration file to manage app settings.

Activities:

• Install a Splunk App using the Splunk Web interface.
• Learn how to configure app settings using apps.conf.
• Review the Splunkbase (official marketplace) to discover pre-built apps.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Study how to install Splunk Apps via the Splunk Web Interface.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Learn how to manage apps.conf configuration to adjust app settings.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Explore Splunkbase and identify popular apps for your use case.

Day 24: Managing Splunk Apps in Production

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how to manage Splunk Apps in a production environment.
• Learn best practices for configuring and customizing apps to meet organizational needs.

Activities:

• Learn about the App Management section in the Splunk interface.
• Understand how to customize apps to tailor them for specific business or operational needs.
• Practice setting up app permissions and user roles for managing access control.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Review the App Management interface and how to configure app settings.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Customize app settings to meet specific organizational requirements.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Study user roles and permissions to control access to specific apps.

Day 25: Splunk Cloud Apps & Configuration

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the specifics of managing and configuring Splunk Cloud Apps.
• Understand cloud-native environments and their impact on app functionality.

Activities:

• Review how to install and configure Splunk Cloud Apps for cloud environments.
• Learn about cloud integrations and how apps interact with cloud-native data sources.
• Understand the differences between on-premise and cloud-based apps in terms of setup and usage.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Learn the process of installing Splunk Cloud Apps.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Study how cloud-native environments affect app installation and configuration.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Explore Splunk Cloud App Integrations and data flows between cloud and on-prem environments.

Day 26: Splunk Cloud Support: Introduction & Ticket Creation

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the role of Splunk Cloud Support and its services.
• Learn how to create support tickets in the Splunk Support Portal.

Activities:

• Familiarize yourself with the Splunk Cloud Support Portal and its features.
• Learn how to open support tickets for technical or operational issues.
• Practice providing necessary context (e.g., logs, configuration files) to facilitate issue resolution.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Understand the role of Splunk Cloud Support and its service options.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Learn the steps for creating support tickets and including the relevant details.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Review the process of ticket escalation and how to track ongoing issues.

Day 27: Leveraging Splunk Community & Knowledge Base

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to leverage the Splunk Community and Knowledge Base for troubleshooting and best practices.
• Understand the value of community-driven solutions and expert advice.

Activities:

• Explore the Splunk Community forums to find solutions to common issues.
• Review the Splunk Knowledge Base for articles related to troubleshooting and best practices.
• Learn how to search for articles, discussions, and user-generated solutions effectively.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Explore the Splunk Community forums for troubleshooting resources.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Study the Splunk Knowledge Base and learn how to search for helpful articles.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Practice solving a common issue by using community resources and knowledge base articles.

Day 28: Review and Practical Exercises on Splunk Apps & Support

Learning Objectives:

• Review everything learned about Splunk Apps and Cloud Support.
• Practice installing, configuring, and managing Splunk Apps in a simulated environment.

Activities:

• Review the installation and configuration steps for both Splunk Enterprise Apps and Splunk Cloud Apps.
• Set up a sample Splunk App and simulate an issue for which you would need Splunk Cloud Support.
• Use the Splunk Knowledge Base and Community Forums to solve the issue.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Review Splunk App installation and configuration for both on-prem and cloud environments.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Practice troubleshooting a common issue using Splunk Cloud Support.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Complete a practical exercise involving the use of Splunk Apps and Splunk Support resources.

Week 5: Advanced Searching, Reporting, and Dashboards

Objective:
Gain deeper knowledge in using SPL commands for advanced reporting and building interactive dashboards.

Tasks:

• Learn complex SPL commands.
• Build advanced reports and create dashboards.
• Explore performance optimization for searches and reports.

Day 29: Introduction to Advanced SPL Commands

Learning Objectives:

• Understand and use advanced SPL commands such as stats, timechart, chart, top, rare, eval, and transaction.
• Learn how to apply these commands in complex queries to extract meaningful insights from large datasets.

Activities:

• Study the syntax and use cases of the advanced SPL commands.
• Work on sample queries to implement these commands in different scenarios.
• Practice combining commands to extract insights from raw data.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Learn the stats and timechart commands and their usage for aggregation and time-series analysis.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Study chart, top, and rare commands for categorizing and identifying frequent or rare events.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Explore eval and transaction for advanced calculations and managing event sequences.

Day 30: Building Complex Reports

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to build complex reports using SPL.
• Explore how to create multi-dimensional reports that involve aggregation, filtering, and data visualization.

Activities:

• Practice creating reports using stats, chart, and eval functions.
• Work with different time ranges and filters to generate customized reports.
• Understand the use of lookup tables to enrich reports with external data.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Learn how to build multi-dimensional reports using stats and eval.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Practice using lookup tables and incorporating them into your reports.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Create reports for different time ranges and adjust filters to suit specific analysis needs.

Day 31: Interactive Dashboards

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to create interactive dashboards in Splunk.
• Understand the components of a dashboard: panels, visualizations, and interactions.

Activities:

• Learn the basics of creating dashboards in Splunk Web.
• Explore different types of visualizations (e.g., timecharts, pie charts, bar graphs) for displaying data.
• Build interactive elements like drilldowns, filters, and dynamic panels.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Learn the process of creating a basic dashboard and adding panels.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Study the use of visualizations and how to choose the right chart for the data.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Add drilldowns and interactive filters to enhance the user experience of your dashboard.

Day 32: Performance Optimization for Dashboards and Reports

Learning Objectives:

• Learn performance optimization strategies for Splunk searches, reports, and dashboards.
• Understand how to improve query efficiency and reduce load times.

Activities:

• Study best practices for optimizing search performance, such as using indexed fields and efficient search patterns.
• Learn about data model acceleration to speed up dashboard performance.
• Practice optimizing a complex dashboard for improved response time and usability.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Learn search optimization techniques like using indexed fields and search filters.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Study how to apply data model acceleration to dashboards.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Practice optimizing a complex search and dashboard.

Day 33: Advanced Reporting Techniques

Learning Objectives:

• Explore advanced reporting techniques like custom visualizations and dynamic reports.
• Learn how to use advanced SPL commands in combination with dashboards to create real-time reporting.

Activities:

• Create dynamic reports that update in real time based on user input or live data streams.
• Explore how to integrate external data sources into your reports for enriched insights.
• Learn how to implement custom visualizations using HTML and JavaScript.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Study dynamic reporting techniques and how to integrate real-time data.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Learn how to add external data sources to reports.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Explore custom visualizations and how to integrate them into Splunk reports.

Day 34: Case Study: Building an Advanced Dashboard

Learning Objectives:

• Build a comprehensive advanced dashboard that incorporates multiple search results, reports, and visualizations.
• Use drilldowns and filters to make the dashboard interactive and user-friendly.

Activities:

• Create an advanced dashboard that uses multiple search queries and combines different types of visualizations.
• Implement filters and drilldowns to enable users to interact with the data.
• Test the dashboard to ensure it functions smoothly and is optimized for performance.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Create an advanced dashboard with multiple search queries and visualizations.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Add interactive filters and drilldowns for a dynamic user experience.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Test the dashboard for performance, ensuring it's optimized and user-friendly.

Day 35: Review of Advanced Searching and Dashboards

Learning Objectives:

• Review and reinforce the concepts learned during the week related to advanced SPL, reporting, and dashboard creation.

Activities:

• Review all concepts and techniques learned during the week.
• Go through the advanced SPL commands, dashboard building, and report creation tasks.
• Take notes on areas you find challenging and revisit them for clarification.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Review SPL commands and searching techniques.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Go through your advanced dashboard and ensure it meets requirements.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Revisit any complex concepts that need more clarification or practice.

Week 6: Review & Mock Exams

Objective:
Consolidate all learning from the previous weeks, review weak points, and take mock exams to simulate the real exam environment.

Tasks:

• Review all materials learned throughout the course.
• Identify areas of weakness and revisit concepts where necessary.
• Take mock exams to evaluate your readiness for the SPLK-1005 certification exam.

Day 36: Review of Splunk Basics & Installation

Learning Objectives:

• Reinforce understanding of Splunk’s basic concepts.
• Revisit the installation process, data inputs, and indexing techniques.

Activities:

• Review the installation process and ensure understanding of how to set up Splunk environments.
• Go through data input methods and how indexing works in Splunk.
• Test your knowledge of basic concepts such as splunk indexers, search heads, and forwarders.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Review Splunk installation and configuration basics.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Go over data input methods, focusing on different input types.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Revisit indexing concepts and the Splunk architecture.

Day 37: Review of Searching & Reporting

Learning Objectives:

• Consolidate knowledge of SPL commands and searching techniques.
• Review report generation and visualization creation.

Activities:

• Go over SPL commands learned so far (e.g., stats, eval, timechart, chart, etc.).
• Review report creation, focusing on filters, aggregations, and visualization types.
• Practice search optimization to improve performance in large datasets.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Review SPL search commands and their use cases.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Go over report generation and visualization concepts.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Revisit search optimization techniques.

Day 38: Review of Advanced Data Parsing & Knowledge Objects

Learning Objectives:

• Review advanced data parsing techniques such as field extraction, data normalization, and event types.
• Revisit the creation and management of knowledge objects.

Activities:

• Review field extraction methods using regular expressions and props.conf/ transforms.conf.
• Practice creating and managing knowledge objects like event types, tags, and fields.
• Review data normalization and its importance for ensuring consistency across datasets.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Review field extraction methods and tools.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Practice creating knowledge objects and handling tags.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Go over data normalization and how it improves analysis across multiple data sources.

Day 39: Review of Splunk Apps & Cloud Support

Learning Objectives:

• Review the role of Splunk Apps in extending functionality.
• Revisit how to install, configure, and manage apps in Splunk.
• Review how to leverage Splunk Cloud Support and use Splunk Community for troubleshooting.

Activities:

• Review how to install apps, how to configure them, and the most commonly used apps for various use cases.
• Go over the support process including creating support tickets and leveraging the Splunk Knowledge Base.
• Practice navigating Splunk Cloud Support for troubleshooting real-world scenarios.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Review how to install and configure apps.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Go over how to manage Splunk Cloud support.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Explore Splunk Community and Knowledge Base resources.

Day 40: Review of Advanced Searching, Reporting, and Dashboards

Learning Objectives:

• Consolidate knowledge of advanced searching techniques, reporting, and dashboard creation.
• Review advanced SPL commands, dashboard optimization, and dynamic reporting.

Activities:

• Go over advanced SPL commands like eval, stats, timechart, and transaction.
• Review your work on building complex reports and interactive dashboards.
• Revisit techniques for optimizing dashboard performance and creating interactive elements like drilldowns and filters.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Review advanced SPL commands and their applications.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Go over how to create dynamic reports and optimize dashboard performance.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Revisit the process of adding interactive elements to dashboards.

Day 41: Mock Exam 1

Learning Objectives:

• Take the first mock exam to simulate the real exam experience.
• Assess readiness for the SPLK-1005 exam.

Activities:

• Take a full mock exam under exam conditions.
• Time yourself to ensure you are comfortable with the exam duration.
• After completing the exam, review your answers and identify areas for improvement.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Start the mock exam, focusing on answering the questions without looking up answers.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Continue the mock exam, managing time to complete all sections.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Review your mock exam results and make notes on areas that need improvement.

Day 42: Mock Exam 2 & Review

Learning Objectives:

• Take a second mock exam to further test readiness.
• Review performance and analyze weak areas.

Activities:

• Take the second mock exam and simulate real exam conditions.
• After completing the exam, review each question carefully and revisit concepts where mistakes were made.

Pomodoro Breakdown:

1. Pomodoro 1 (25 mins): Take the mock exam and focus on accuracy rather than speed.
2. Pomodoro 2 (25 mins): Continue the mock exam, ensuring to manage time effectively.
3. Pomodoro 3 (25 mins): Review results from the second mock exam and identify key areas for further review.