# Multiple shard VS multiple indexing

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/multiple-shard-vs-multiple-indexing/5703>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [October 27, 2011, 4:13am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/multiple-shard-vs-multiple-indexing/5703 "2011-10-27T04:13:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![vineeth\_mohan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@vineeth\_mohan](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/vineeth_mohan)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 4:13am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/multiple-shard-vs-multiple-indexing/5703/1 "2011-10-27T04:13:54Z")

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Hi ,

If i have a huge database and i want to improve performance , either i can

- Increase number of shards
- Partition a single index logically (say one index will hold a year's  
data) and restrict the search to the required index only. I agree we get  
some mileage here as we are restricting the search to the required index  
only.

Is there any other advantages for multiple index over multiple shards here ?

Thanks  
Vineeth

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**Author:** ![Karussell1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/50afbb/32.png) [@Karussell1](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Karussell1)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2011, 10:01am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/multiple-shard-vs-multiple-indexing/5703/2 "2011-10-27T10:01:36Z")

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I would prefer multiple indices as it can grow dynamically without  
reindexing.  
When using multiple shards and you want to increase the number of  
shards you'll need to reindex the whole index.

Peter

On 27 Okt., 06:13, Vineeth Mohan [vineethmo...@algotree.com](mailto:vineethmo...@algotree.com) wrote:

> Hi ,
> 
> If i have a huge database and i want to improve performance , either i can
> 
> - Increase number of shards
> - Partition a single index logically (say one index will hold a year's  
> data) and restrict the search to the required index only. I agree we get  
> some mileage here as we are restricting the search to the required index  
> only.
> 
> Is there any other advantages for multiple index over multiple shards here ?
> 
> Thanks  
> Vineeth

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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, 3:50am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/multiple-shard-vs-multiple-indexing/5703/3 "2017-07-06T03:50:42Z")

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