Elasticsearch Best Practices

Comprehensive guide to optimize performance, security, and reliability of your Elasticsearch clusters

Overview

This guide covers essential best practices for running Elasticsearch in production environments. Each recommendation is categorized by priority and implementation effort to help you focus on the most impactful improvements.

12
Performance Tips
9
Security Practices
9
Monitoring Setup
12
Infrastructure

Implementation Priority

Start with Critical and High priority items, then gradually implement Medium and Low priority improvements.

Best Practices by Category

Performance Optimization(3 practices)

JVM Heap Sizing

Configure optimal heap sizes for your workload

Priority: HighEffort: Medium
Implementation Tips:
  • •Set heap size to 50% of available RAM, max 32GB
  • •Use compressed OOPs for heaps under 32GB
  • •Monitor GC frequency and adjust accordingly
  • •Consider G1GC for large heaps (>6GB)

Index Management

Optimize index settings for performance

Priority: HighEffort: Medium
Implementation Tips:
  • •Use time-based indices for time-series data
  • •Set appropriate refresh intervals
  • •Optimize shard count: aim for 20-40GB per shard
  • •Use index templates for consistent settings

Query Optimization

Write efficient queries and avoid common pitfalls

Priority: MediumEffort: Low
Implementation Tips:
  • •Use filters instead of queries when possible
  • •Avoid deep pagination with from/size
  • •Use scroll API for large result sets
  • •Profile slow queries with _profile API

Security Hardening(3 practices)

Authentication & Authorization

Implement proper access controls

Priority: CriticalEffort: High
Implementation Tips:
  • •Enable X-Pack Security or Open Distro Security
  • •Use strong passwords and enforce password policies
  • •Implement role-based access control (RBAC)
  • •Regular audit of user permissions

Network Security

Secure network communications

Priority: CriticalEffort: Medium
Implementation Tips:
  • •Enable TLS for all communications
  • •Use VPN or private networks for cluster traffic
  • •Implement IP whitelisting
  • •Disable unnecessary HTTP endpoints

API Key Management

Secure API access with proper key management

Priority: HighEffort: Low
Implementation Tips:
  • •Use API keys instead of username/password
  • •Implement key rotation policies
  • •Restrict API key permissions to minimum required
  • •Monitor API key usage patterns

Monitoring & Observability(3 practices)

Metrics Collection

Implement comprehensive monitoring

Priority: HighEffort: Medium
Implementation Tips:
  • •Monitor cluster health, node stats, and indices metrics
  • •Set up alerts for critical thresholds
  • •Use Elastic Stack monitoring or external tools
  • •Track query performance and slow queries

Log Management

Centralize and analyze Elasticsearch logs

Priority: MediumEffort: Low
Implementation Tips:
  • •Configure appropriate log levels
  • •Centralize logs using Filebeat or similar
  • •Set up log rotation and retention policies
  • •Monitor for ERROR and WARN level messages

Health Checks

Regular health assessments

Priority: MediumEffort: Low
Implementation Tips:
  • •Run ElasticDoctor diagnostics weekly
  • •Monitor cluster status and shard allocation
  • •Check disk space and memory usage trends
  • •Review deprecated features and upgrade paths

Infrastructure & Scaling(3 practices)

Node Configuration

Optimize node settings for reliability

Priority: HighEffort: Medium
Implementation Tips:
  • •Use dedicated master nodes for clusters >3 nodes
  • •Configure minimum master nodes properly
  • •Separate hot and warm data nodes for time-series
  • •Use coordinating nodes for heavy query loads

Capacity Planning

Plan for growth and resource needs

Priority: HighEffort: High
Implementation Tips:
  • •Monitor growth trends and plan accordingly
  • •Size nodes based on workload requirements
  • •Plan for peak loads and seasonal variations
  • •Implement automated scaling where possible

Backup & Recovery

Implement robust backup strategies

Priority: CriticalEffort: Medium
Implementation Tips:
  • •Set up automated snapshot policies
  • •Test backup restoration procedures regularly
  • •Store backups in multiple locations
  • •Document recovery procedures and RTO/RPO

Version-Specific Recommendations

Elasticsearch 8.x

Latest version with enhanced security and performance

  • • Security enabled by default
  • • Improved query performance
  • • Better memory management
  • • Enhanced monitoring capabilities
  • • Natural language processing features

Elasticsearch 7.x

Stable and widely adopted version

  • • Mature ecosystem and plugins
  • • Well-tested in production
  • • Good documentation and examples
  • • Consider upgrade path to 8.x
  • • Plan for end-of-life timeline

Quick Wins (Low Effort, High Impact)

Immediate Actions

  • Enable cluster health monitoring
  • Set up basic authentication
  • Configure log rotation
  • Review default settings

Weekly Tasks

  • Run ElasticDoctor diagnostics
  • Check disk space usage
  • Review slow query logs
  • Monitor cluster health trends

Implementation Roadmap

Week 1-2: Critical Security & Stability

  • • Enable authentication and authorization
  • • Configure TLS/SSL for all communications
  • • Set up automated backups
  • • Configure proper master node settings
  • • Run comprehensive health check

Week 3-4: Performance Optimization

  • • Optimize JVM heap sizing
  • • Review and optimize index settings
  • • Set up monitoring and alerting
  • • Implement log management
  • • Optimize query patterns

Month 2: Advanced Configuration

  • • Implement capacity planning
  • • Set up automated scaling
  • • Configure advanced security features
  • • Optimize for specific use cases
  • • Document procedures and runbooks

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Over-sharding

Too many small shards can hurt performance. Aim for 20-40GB per shard.

Ignoring heap size limits

Never exceed 32GB heap size. Use 50% of available RAM as a starting point.

Running without backups

Always have automated backup policies in place and test recovery procedures.

Mixing node roles inappropriately

Use dedicated master nodes for clusters with more than 3 nodes.

Additional Resources

Health Checks Guide

Understanding ElasticDoctor's comprehensive health checks

Connection Setup

Secure connection configuration across all ES versions

Features & Automation

Set up monitoring and automated diagnostics

Next Steps

Assess Your Cluster

Run ElasticDoctor to identify which best practices to implement first

Start Assessment

Automate Monitoring

Set up scheduled diagnostics and automated reporting

View Features

Need Implementation Help?

Our team can help you implement these best practices and provide guidance on optimization strategies.

Contact SupportHealth Checks Guide