Difference between 2 fields using the diff command does not yield the same result

[BlueTurtleM]

I am comparing a user list field from an index that runs a collection every 30 minutes. I do a comparison of these 2 events and search for the + or - . If it is + user has been added and if it is a - the user has been deleted.

The problem I am having is that the somehow the events ( 15 mins apart) are not coming through in the "right order".

2019-11-22 15:00 John Doe User Removed
2019-11-22 15:00 Jane Doe User Added

Press the search button again maybe 2 times ( No changes to time... just basically search again) I get ..

2019-11-22 15:00 Jane Doe User Removed
2019-11-22 15:00 John Doe User Added

Names have changed around.

Is this a bug in Splunk? ( I can replicate this over and over...)

[woodcock]

Open a support case and then come back here and tell us what you find out!

[BlueTurtleM]

I opened a support case and it looks like when the events are returned the diff command, irrespective of when the events arrived, would compare the events. This lead to the difference in the comparison between the 2 events. To resolve this issue we forced the events to be sorted before we did the diff command. At the moment it is working for now.

[arjunpkishore5]

What is your base search? We will be unable to determine the issue without looking at your query.

[BlueTurtleM]

index= cn = ""

| diff pos1=1 pos2=2 attribute=member_name

I then extract the username and do an eval case on the + and - which then does the added or removed.