Splunk Search

comparing multivalue fields

stevesmith08
Explorer

Good day!

I need to compare the results of a search query that contains multivalued fields.

My search query looks like this:

sourcetype = MySourceType earliest = 0 latest = now()
| eval category = if(_time>relative_time(now(), "-2h@h"), "DeviceIDnew", "DeviceIDlater")
| chart values(deviceID) by IP, category 
| eval compare = if(DeviceIDlater=DeviceIDnew, 0, 1)
| table IP, DeviceIDlater, DeviceIDnew, compare

Despite the fact that, in most cases, the comparison is correct, I noticed that in some cases there are errors.

For example:
alt text
In the example above, I mean that compare = 0 because the values DeviceIDnew contained in the field DeviceIDlater.

Could you help me, please? How it is correct to compare multi-value field?

Thank you!

0 Karma

harishalipaka
Motivator

@stevesmith08

try like this | eval compare = if(match(DeviceIDlater,DeviceIDnew), 0, 1)

Thanks
Harish
0 Karma

MuS
SplunkTrust
SplunkTrust

Hi stevesmith08,

If you use the field with less multi values, expand it and do the compare operation it should work just fine. Try something like this:

sourcetype = MySourceType earliest = 0 latest = now()
 | eval category = if(_time>relative_time(now(), "-2h@h"), "DeviceIDnew", "DeviceIDlater")
 | chart values(deviceID) by IP, category 
 | mvexpand DeviceIDnew
 | eval compare = if(DeviceIDlater=DeviceIDnew, 0, 1)
 | table IP, DeviceIDlater, DeviceIDnew, compare

This will work with a small set of events, if you have millions of events try this:

sourcetype = MySourceType earliest = 0 latest = now()
 | eval category = if(_time>relative_time(now(), "-2h@h"), "DeviceIDnew", "DeviceIDlater")
 | chart values(deviceID) by IP, category 
 | stats values(*) AS * by IP DeviceIDnew
 | eval compare = if(DeviceIDlater=DeviceIDnew, 0, 1)
 | table IP, DeviceIDlater, DeviceIDnew, compare

Hope this helps ...

cheers, MuS

0 Karma
Got questions? Get answers!

Join the Splunk Community Slack to learn, troubleshoot, and make connections with fellow Splunk practitioners in real time!

Meet up IRL or virtually!

Join Splunk User Groups to connect and learn in-person by region or remotely by topic or industry.

Get Updates on the Splunk Community!

[Puzzles] Solve, Learn, Repeat: Matching cron expressions

This puzzle (first published here) is based on matching timestamps to cron expressions.All the timestamps ...

Why Splunk Customers Should Attend Cisco Live 2026 Las Vegas

Why Splunk Customers Should Attend Cisco Live 2026 Las Vegas     Cisco Live 2026 is almost here, and this ...

Data Management Digest – May 2026

Welcome to the May 2026 edition of Data Management Digest!   As your trusted partner in data innovation, the ...