License: Your Feature Gateway
Elasticsearch licensing determines which features are available in your cluster. Understanding your license type, expiration dates, and feature restrictions is crucial for maintaining compliance and maximizing capabilities.
Elasticsearch licensing can be confusing, but it's essential to understand. Your license determines everything from security features to machine learning capabilities. The license check ensures you're compliant, warns about expirations, and helps you understand what features are available in your cluster.
What You'll Learn
License Fundamentals
- • Different Elasticsearch license types
- • Feature availability by license
- • License expiration monitoring
- • Compliance requirements
Practical Management
- • License installation and updates
- • Feature usage optimization
- • Troubleshooting license issues
- • Planning license upgrades
Elasticsearch License Types Explained
Basic License (Free)
Free ForeverWhat's Included
- • Core Elasticsearch functionality
- • Kibana basic features
- • Logstash full functionality
- • Beats data collection
- • Basic monitoring
What's Limited
- • No authentication/authorization
- • No encryption
- • No machine learning
- • No alerting
- • Limited monitoring features
Best For:
Development, testing, small-scale production deployments where security isn't critical, and basic search/analytics use cases.
Gold License (Paid)
CommercialAdditional Features
- • Authentication and authorization
- • LDAP/Active Directory integration
- • Alerting and notifications
- • Advanced monitoring
- • Graph analytics
Still Missing
- • Machine learning
- • Advanced security features
- • Hot-warm architecture
- • Cross-cluster replication
- • SAML/PKI authentication
Best For:
Production deployments requiring basic security, user management, and monitoring with alerting capabilities.
Platinum License (Paid)
Full FeaturedPremium Features
- • Machine learning and anomaly detection
- • Advanced security (SAML, PKI)
- • Hot-warm-cold architecture
- • Cross-cluster replication
- • Advanced SQL support
Enterprise Capabilities
- • Canvas for data visualization
- • Maps with commercial features
- • Advanced alerting conditions
- • Reporting and PDF generation
- • Enhanced monitoring
Best For:
Enterprise deployments requiring advanced security, machine learning, multi-tier storage, and comprehensive monitoring.
Enterprise License (Paid)
Maximum FeaturesEverything Plus
- • All Platinum features
- • Advanced threat detection
- • Searchable snapshots
- • Data tiers management
- • Enhanced support
Enterprise Exclusive
- • Priority support
- • Advanced consulting
- • Custom integrations
- • Enhanced SLA
- • Future feature access
Best For:
Large-scale, mission-critical deployments requiring maximum features, priority support, and enterprise-level service agreements.
License Management Best Practices
✅ Proactive Management
- • Set up license expiration alerts (90, 30, 7 days)
- • Monitor node usage against limits
- • Document license type and features
- • Plan license renewals in advance
- • Test license updates in staging
💡 Feature Optimization
- • Understand features available in your license
- • Maximize value from licensed features
- • Plan feature usage based on license type
- • Consider upgrade timing for new features
❌ Common Pitfalls
- • Ignoring license expiration warnings
- • Exceeding node limits without monitoring
- • Not understanding feature dependencies
- • Applying wrong license type
- • Lack of license backup/recovery plan
⚠️ Compliance Considerations
- • Ensure license covers all production nodes
- • Understand geographic restrictions
- • Maintain license audit trail
- • Document license agreements
License Management Excellence
Key Takeaways
- • Proactive Monitoring: Set up alerts for expiration and limits
- • Feature Awareness: Understand what your license enables
- • Compliance Focus: Ensure proper licensing for all nodes
- • Planning: Schedule renewals and upgrades strategically
Action Items
- • Implement license expiration monitoring
- • Document current license capabilities
- • Plan feature roadmap based on license type
- • Establish license renewal procedures