The distsearch.conf [replicationBlacklist] stanza prevents specified files, such as a large lookup, from being included in the search bundle sent from the search head to the indexers. Consequently, the indexers cannot find the file when the search is executed, causing an error. To resolve this, the lookup command in the search string must be modified to include the parameter local=true. This parameter forces the lookup operation to be performed on the search head, which has access to the original lookup file. The search head then forwards the results to the indexers, allowing the search to complete successfully without requiring the lookup file on the indexers.

B. The allowcaching setting in transforms.conf is for performance optimization by caching lookup results; it does not resolve the issue of the file being physically absent on the indexers.

C. The lookup command in SPL does not have a blacklist=false parameter. Blacklisting is configured in distsearch.conf, not controlled within a search query.

D. Reverting the change would work but negates the customer's valid objective of reducing the search bundle size. The local=true parameter provides a solution that meets all requirements.

1. Splunk Enterprise Documentation, Distributed Search Manual, "What gets replicated": This document explains the search bundle replication process and the use of blacklisting. It explicitly states, "If you blacklist a lookup table, you must run the lookup on the search head by adding local=true to the lookup command in your search."

Reference: Distributed Search Manual -> Chapter: "Configure distributed search" -> Section: "What gets replicated" -> Subsection: "Exclude files from the bundle".

2. Splunk Enterprise Documentation, Search Reference, "lookup": The official documentation for the lookup command details its parameters.

Reference: Search Reference -> Command: "lookup" -> Syntax section. It defines the local= argument: "If local=true, the lookup is run on the search head. The default is false, which runs the lookup on the indexer."

3. Splunk Enterprise Documentation, Admin Manual, "distsearch.conf": This configuration file reference describes the [replicationBlacklist] stanza.

Reference: Admin Manual -> File Reference: "distsearch.conf" -> Stanza: [replicationBlacklist]. This section confirms that the stanza is used to "prevent specific files or directories from being replicated to the search peers."