The index.lifecycle.parse_origination_date setting in Elasticsearch controls whether Index Lifecycle Management (ILM) should attempt to parse the origination date from the index name when managing indices.
- Default value:
false - Possible values:
trueorfalse - Recommendation: Enable this setting if your index names include a timestamp that represents the origination date of the data.
When set to true, ILM will try to extract the origination date from the index name. This is particularly useful for time-based indices where the index name includes a date or timestamp. By parsing this date, ILM can more accurately manage the lifecycle of the index based on the age of the data it contains.
This setting was introduced in Elasticsearch 7.7.0.
Example
To enable parsing of the origination date from index names:
PUT _cluster/settings
{
"persistent": {
"index.lifecycle.parse_origination_date": true
}
}
Enabling this setting is beneficial when you have indices named with a date pattern, such as logs-2023.05.15. ILM can then use this date to determine the age of the index and apply lifecycle policies more accurately.
Common Issues or Misuses
- Enabling this setting for indices that don't include a parseable date in their names can lead to unexpected behavior in ILM policies.
- Inconsistent date formats in index names may cause parsing errors and affect ILM operations.
Do's and Don'ts
Do's:
- Enable this setting if your index naming convention includes a consistent date format.
- Use a consistent and easily parseable date format in your index names when this setting is enabled.
- Test the setting with a small subset of indices before applying it cluster-wide.
Don'ts:
- Don't enable this setting if your index names don't include dates or if the dates are not consistently formatted.
- Avoid changing index naming conventions without updating ILM policies and this setting accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does ILM determine the origination date if this setting is disabled?
A: When disabled, ILM uses the index creation time as the origination date, which may not accurately reflect the age of the data in the index.
Q: Can I use custom date formats in my index names with this setting?
A: Elasticsearch attempts to parse common date formats, but it's best to stick to standard formats like ISO 8601 for consistency and reliability.
Q: Will enabling this setting affect existing indices?
A: Enabling this setting will affect how ILM manages existing indices going forward, potentially changing when certain lifecycle actions are taken based on the parsed dates.
Q: What happens if ILM fails to parse the date from an index name?
A: If ILM cannot parse the date, it will fall back to using the index creation time as the origination date for that specific index.
Q: Can this setting be configured on a per-index basis?
A: No, this is a cluster-level setting that applies to all indices managed by ILM. It cannot be set differently for individual indices.
