# Kubernetes.statefulset.generation.\* what are these fields meaning? **URL:** \ **Category:** Beats\ **Tags:** metricbeat\ **Created:** [August 15, 2019, 2:42pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/kubernetes-statefulset-generation-what-are-these-fields-meaning/195362 "2019-08-15T14:42:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![asp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@asp](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/asp)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2019, 2:42pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/kubernetes-statefulset-generation-what-are-these-fields-meaning/195362/1 "2019-08-15T14:42:12Z")
Hi, the two exported fields: kubernetes.statefulset.generation.desired kubernetes.statefulset.generation.observed What do they mean in detail? I understand the replicas.desired and observed, but what is generation? Thanks, Andreas ---
**Author:** ![pmercado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/59ef9b/32.png) [@pmercado](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/pmercado)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2019, 9:59am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/kubernetes-statefulset-generation-what-are-these-fields-meaning/195362/2 "2019-08-16T09:59:24Z")
Some kubernetes objects (mainly those that affect underlying pods) have a `generation` field that increments as the spec changes. At the status of that object you can find the `observedGeneration` field. It looks like metricbeat rename `generation` to `generation.desired`. The generation field is used internally at kubernetes so that it knows when some action is required at that object. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2019, 9:59am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/kubernetes-statefulset-generation-what-are-these-fields-meaning/195362/3 "2019-09-13T09:59:37Z")
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