# One or multiple metricbeat indices?

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/one-or-multiple-metricbeat-indices/285216>\
**Category:** Beats\
**Tags:** metricbeat\
**Created:** [September 27, 2021, 9:59am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/one-or-multiple-metricbeat-indices/285216 "2021-09-27T09:59:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rodri.gz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@rodri.gz](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/rodri.gz)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 9:59am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/one-or-multiple-metricbeat-indices/285216/1 "2021-09-27T09:59:19Z")

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Hi there.

I am installing machines with metricbeat to measure metrics. At the time of implementing it, I have the doubt if it is better to have a single index ({Agent} - {version}) or multiple indexes  
({Agent} -{version} - {hostname} - {timestamp}.

Thank you in advanced!

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**Author:** ![warkolm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/warkolm/32/39224_2.png) [@warkolm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/warkolm)\
**Post date:** [September 29, 2021, 11:39pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/one-or-multiple-metricbeat-indices/285216/2 "2021-09-29T23:39:21Z")

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I'd stick with a single index, otherwise you are going to end up with too many shards.

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**Author:** ![rodri.gz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@rodri.gz](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/rodri.gz)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 9:09am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/one-or-multiple-metricbeat-indices/285216/3 "2021-09-30T09:09:54Z")

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> [@warkolm](#):
>
> I'd stick with a single index, otherwise you are going to end up with too many shards.

for elk performance would also be better? have large index couldn't be a problem? without dates, do the policies apply the same?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![warkolm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/warkolm/32/39224_2.png) [@warkolm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/warkolm)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2021, 9:45pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/one-or-multiple-metricbeat-indices/285216/4 "2021-09-30T21:45:51Z")

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It depends on what version you are on, never ones use [ILM](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/index-lifecycle-management.html) which will mean your indices (shards) won't get excessively large.

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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:** [October 28, 2021, 11:45pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/one-or-multiple-metricbeat-indices/285216/5 "2021-10-28T23:45:54Z")

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