# Elastic-search as our primary database **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [June 25, 2014, 9:50am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elastic-search-as-our-primary-database/18325 "2014-06-25T09:50:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rayman\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3bc359/32.png) [@rayman\_2](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/rayman_2)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 9:50am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elastic-search-as-our-primary-database/18325/1 "2014-06-25T09:50:42Z")
We are thinking of using Elastic-search as our primary database. But i am concerned about few things: 1. If we need to modify a document type(let's say add new field) we will need to re-index all raw data. therefor we need to keep the raw data somewhere. In that case we need to maintain additional db?? which type of db? 2. How's elastic search behave as a primary database? is that best practice? Thanks, ray. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). To view this discussion on the web visit [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/49ffdb3f-31a6-4629-bfb8-b25859839eb4%40googlegroups.com](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/49ffdb3f-31a6-4629-bfb8-b25859839eb4%40googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**Author:** ![Swen\_Thummler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Swen\_Thummler](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Swen_Thummler)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 10:15am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elastic-search-as-our-primary-database/18325/2 "2014-06-26T10:15:50Z")
Am Mittwoch, 25. Juni 2014 11:50:42 UTC+2 schrieb rayman: > We are thinking of using Elastic-search as our primary database. > > But i am concerned about few things: > > 1. If we need to modify a document type(let's say add new field) we will > need to re-index all raw data. therefor we need to keep the raw data > somewhere. In that case we need to maintain additional db?? which type of > db? > > 2. How's Elasticsearch behave as a primary database? is that best > practice? > > I think you should read > [Jepsen: Elasticsearch](http://aphyr.com/posts/317-call-me-maybe-elasticsearch) first. Bottom line: > do not use elasticsearch as the primary database unless you can always > recreate your data from other sources. --Swen -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). To view this discussion on the web visit [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/63c0f150-6dae-41b7-b4a5-ab315374b792%40googlegroups.com](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/63c0f150-6dae-41b7-b4a5-ab315374b792%40googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**Author:** ![Stephane\_Bastian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@Stephane\_Bastian](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Stephane_Bastian)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elastic-search-as-our-primary-database/18325/3 "2014-06-26T14:31:57Z")
Just for what itล› worth: we have been using ES as our primary datastore for almost 2 years. so far so good. I think that the blog post you are referring to is _very_ interesting _but_ at the same time, think about how many sql databases out there are not even backed-up in production... are they safer because they use a SQL store? ๐Ÿ˜‰ -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "elasticsearch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:elasticsearch+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). To view this discussion on the web visit [https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/be0b99f5-4953-4ea4-b0f7-0921ae8b2cb9%40googlegroups.com](https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/elasticsearch/be0b99f5-4953-4ea4-b0f7-0921ae8b2cb9%40googlegroups.com). For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2017, 1:19am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elastic-search-as-our-primary-database/18325/4 "2017-07-06T01:19:29Z")