# In a single role cluster, what do the non master nodes do?

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/in-a-single-role-cluster-what-do-the-non-master-nodes-do/24441>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [June 26, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/in-a-single-role-cluster-what-do-the-non-master-nodes-do/24441 "2015-06-26T16:23:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Chris\_Neal](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/chris_neal/32/3527_2.png) [@Chris\_Neal](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Chris_Neal)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/in-a-single-role-cluster-what-do-the-non-master-nodes-do/24441/1 "2015-06-26T16:23:19Z")

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Hi again everyone.

I'm browsing my Dev cluster that I recently changed to have dedicated roles per node via the head plugin, and have a question about master nodes.

I have 3 master eligible nodes, one of which is master, two of which are not. The two that are not show up in the head plugin as Client Nodes. Is that really what they are? What do non-master nodes in a single role architecture actually do?

All three are set with the following configuration:

```
node:
  data: false
  master: true

```

Thanks for the clarification!  
Chris

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**Author:** ![nik9000](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/nik9000/32/44947_2.png) [@nik9000](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/nik9000)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 4:40pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/in-a-single-role-cluster-what-do-the-non-master-nodes-do/24441/2 "2015-06-26T16:40:02Z")

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They bide their time, waiting for the death of the current master.

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**Author:** ![Chris\_Neal](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/chris_neal/32/3527_2.png) [@Chris\_Neal](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Chris_Neal)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/in-a-single-role-cluster-what-do-the-non-master-nodes-do/24441/3 "2015-06-26T19:25:18Z")

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Thanks Nik.

The head plugin must not know what to call them, so it just calls them "client" nodes. 😄

Much appreciated!  
Chris

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**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, 12:05am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/in-a-single-role-cluster-what-do-the-non-master-nodes-do/24441/4 "2017-07-06T00:05:05Z")

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