# Performance elasticsearch with 2 node cluster with new and old machine
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/performance-elasticsearch-with-2-node-cluster-with-new-and-old-machine/31825
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Created:** [October 8, 2015, 8:21am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/performance-elasticsearch-with-2-node-cluster-with-new-and-old-machine/31825 "2015-10-08T08:21:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Paris](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Paris)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2015, 8:21am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/performance-elasticsearch-with-2-node-cluster-with-new-and-old-machine/31825/1 "2015-10-08T08:21:03Z")
Hi Community,
I setup at the moment a new ELK cluster. Node 1 is already running on a new Machine with 64 GB Ram and 12 CPU core on a Raid 1 (System) and Raid 10 (SSD's, Data). This system is running with one shard.
Now I want add a second node to the cluster as a replica. Main function for backup not for performance issue.
Because the Hardware is running, but is a old machine, with 12 GB RAM , 2 Core on Raid 1 (System) and Raid 10 (Data).
Now i read that a replica is also used for requests balancing. So now my question.
When I attach the Node 2 as Replica with this slow performance hardware to the cluster. is that slowing down the complete cluster?
Is there a possiblity that the replica will only be active when the master is not reachable?
Thanks for Help
Paris
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### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 5, 2017, 11:45pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/performance-elasticsearch-with-2-node-cluster-with-new-and-old-machine/31825/2 "2017-07-05T23:45:56Z")