# Confused about certain yml settings

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/confused-about-certain-yml-settings/131644>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [May 14, 2018, 12:28am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/confused-about-certain-yml-settings/131644 "2018-05-14T00:28:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panthersquirrel](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/panthersquirrel/32/31548_2.png) [@panthersquirrel](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/panthersquirrel)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 12:28am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/confused-about-certain-yml-settings/131644/1 "2018-05-14T00:28:10Z")

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### Scenario 1

Suppose i have a 3 node cluster(n1,n2,n3) + a kibana node that has an ES coordinating node(n4) on its box that it uses to communicate with the 3 node cluster. n1,n2,n3 are all master/data.

1a) On which nodes(n1-\>n4) do i need to set `discovery.zen.minimum_master_nodes: 2`?  
1b) Do i need to set `discovery.zen.ping.unicast.hosts: [n1.ip, n2.ip, n3.ip]` on all 4 nodes?

### Scenario 2

Suppose i have a 5 node cluster(n1-\>n5) + a kibana node that has an ES coordinating node(n6) on its box that it uses to communicate with the 5 node cluster. n1,n2,n3 are dedicated master nodes while n4,n5 are dedicated data nodes.

2a) On which nodes(n1-\>n6) do i need to set `discovery.zen.minimum_master_nodes: 2`?  
2b) For this cluster configuration, is `discovery.zen.ping.unicast.hosts: [n1.ip, n2.ip, n3.ip]` the correct setting? This assumes it's sufficient to only reference the 3 master nodes.  
2c) If so, which nodes(n1-\>n6) do i apply `discovery.zen.ping.unicast.hosts: [n1.ip, n2.ip, n3.ip]` to?

### Closing

Basically, im confused in which nodes' (kibana coordinating node included) `elasticsearch.yml` files i need to set `discovery.zen.minimum_master_nodes` and `discovery.zen.ping.unicast.hosts`. Thanks.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/christian_dahlqvist/32/4617_2.png) [@Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Christian_Dahlqvist)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 4:39am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/confused-about-certain-yml-settings/131644/2 "2018-05-14T04:39:51Z")

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> [@panthersquirrel](#):
>
> 1a) On which nodes(n1-\>n4) do i need to set discovery.zen.minimum\_master\_nodes: 2?

You should set this on all nodes.

> [@panthersquirrel](#):
>
> 1b) Do i need to set discovery.zen.ping.unicast.hosts: [n1.ip, n2.ip, n3.ip] on all 4 nodes?

Yes

> [@panthersquirrel](#):
>
> 2a) On which nodes(n1-\>n6) do i need to set discovery.zen.minimum\_master\_nodes: 2?

Set it on all nodes

> [@panthersquirrel](#):
>
> 2b) For this cluster configuration, is discovery.zen.ping.unicast.hosts: [n1.ip, n2.ip, n3.ip] the correct setting? This assumes it's sufficient to only reference the 3 master nodes.

Looks correct

> [@panthersquirrel](#):
>
> 2c) If so, which nodes(n1-\>n6) do i apply discovery.zen.ping.unicast.hosts: [n1.ip, n2.ip, n3.ip] to?

This need to be set on all nodes as they all need to be able to connect to the cluster.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![panthersquirrel](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/panthersquirrel/32/31548_2.png) [@panthersquirrel](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/panthersquirrel)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 4:53am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/confused-about-certain-yml-settings/131644/3 "2018-05-14T04:53:43Z")

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Ok thank you!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 4:53am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/confused-about-certain-yml-settings/131644/4 "2018-06-11T04:53:45Z")

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