# Primary shard size much bigger than replica

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/primary-shard-size-much-bigger-than-replica/226202>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [April 2, 2020, 11:33am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/primary-shard-size-much-bigger-than-replica/226202 "2020-04-02T11:33:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![saiergon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@saiergon](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/saiergon)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 11:33am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/primary-shard-size-much-bigger-than-replica/226202/1 "2020-04-02T11:33:57Z")

</div>

**Elasticsearch version** ( `bin/elasticsearch --version` ): 5.2.0

**JVM version** ( `java -version` ): 1.8.0\_102

the primary shard size much bigger than the replica, like below, but the documents number is same：

[![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/d/7/d7d5c0eb173fa45e33f534b00a3f8956d5f6e730.png)](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/4198386/78222645-2504bb80-74f8-11ea-85ed-2ee7b4ed3aba.png)

use segment api , i found the primary shard only has one segment (because i issued a forcemerge operation), but the replica has 58 segments, the info as below:

```auto
"249" : [
          {
            "routing" : {
              "state" : "STARTED",
              "primary" : true,
              "node" : "pC6DBL4IQ6Ka3FCRj-bAoA"
            },
            "num_committed_segments" : 1,
            "num_search_segments" : 1,
            "segments" : {
              "_4gd" : {
                "generation" : 5773, 
                "num_docs" : 31580226,
                "deleted_docs" : 0,
                "size_in_bytes" : 52193301314,
                "memory_in_bytes" : 88592516,
                "committed" : true, 
                "search" : true, 
                "version" : "6.4.0",
                "compound" : false 
              }     
            }     
          },    
          {     
            "routing" : {
              "state" : "STARTED",
              "primary" : false,
              "node" : "5hK55XhzQNajssip8SUzRA"
            },    
            "num_committed_segments" : 58, 
            "num_search_segments" : 58, 
            "segments" : {
              "_ue" : {
                "generation" : 1094, 
                "num_docs" : 1391556,
                "deleted_docs" : 0,
                "size_in_bytes" : 2117655625,
                "memory_in_bytes" : 3299492,
                "committed" : true, 
                "search" : true, 
                "version" : "6.4.0",
                "compound" : false 
              },

```

and the node holds the primary shard hash much segments than the segment api returned.

```auto
total 99G
...
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 2.0G Apr 1 18:56 _3sy.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 18:56 _3sy.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 427 Apr 1 18:56 _3sy.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 2.0G Apr 1 19:32 _3w3.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 19:32 _3w3.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 427 Apr 1 19:32 _3w3.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 2.0G Apr 1 20:16 _3zs.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 20:16 _3zs.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 426 Apr 1 20:16 _3zs.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 2.0G Apr 1 20:46 _42j.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 20:46 _42j.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 427 Apr 1 20:46 _42j.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 2.0G Apr 1 21:24 _45k.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 21:24 _45k.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 427 Apr 1 21:24 _45k.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 2.0G Apr 1 22:14 _49i.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 22:14 _49i.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 427 Apr 1 22:14 _49i.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 22:51 _4ch.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 36M Apr 1 22:51 _4ch.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 22:51 _4ch.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 22:58 _4cw.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 4.1M Apr 1 22:58 _4cw.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 22:58 _4cw.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 2.0G Apr 1 23:02 _4cg.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:02 _4cg.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 426 Apr 1 23:02 _4cg.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:08 _4do.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 4.7M Apr 1 23:08 _4do.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:08 _4do.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:13 _4dz.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 5.4M Apr 1 23:13 _4dz.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:13 _4dz.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:13 _4e3.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 4.7M Apr 1 23:13 _4e3.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:13 _4e3.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:32 _4ez.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 61M Apr 1 23:32 _4ez.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:32 _4ez.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:32 _4f0.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 6.3M Apr 1 23:32 _4f0.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:32 _4f0.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:33 _4f3.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 2.9M Apr 1 23:33 _4f3.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:33 _4f3.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 14M Apr 1 23:33 _4f7.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:33 _4f7.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 427 Apr 1 23:33 _4f7.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:40 _4fc.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 4.7M Apr 1 23:40 _4fc.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:40 _4fc.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:40 _4fd.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 586K Apr 1 23:40 _4fd.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:40 _4fd.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:40 _4fg.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 1021K Apr 1 23:40 _4fg.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:40 _4fg.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:43 _4fi.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 7.2M Apr 1 23:43 _4fi.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:43 _4fi.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:43 _4fl.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 5.0M Apr 1 23:43 _4fl.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:43 _4fl.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:48 _4fq.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 1.9M Apr 1 23:48 _4fq.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:48 _4fq.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:48 _4fm.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 59M Apr 1 23:48 _4fm.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:48 _4fm.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:48 _4fs.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 794K Apr 1 23:48 _4fs.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:48 _4fs.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:48 _4fr.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 2.8M Apr 1 23:48 _4fr.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:48 _4fr.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:48 _4ft.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 3.4M Apr 1 23:48 _4ft.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:48 _4ft.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:53 _4fv.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 53M Apr 1 23:53 _4fv.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:53 _4fv.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:53 _4fw.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 21M Apr 1 23:53 _4fw.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:53 _4fw.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:53 _4fx.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 20M Apr 1 23:53 _4fx.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:53 _4fx.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:57 _4g1.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 3.3M Apr 1 23:57 _4g1.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:57 _4g1.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 1.9M Apr 1 23:57 _4g2.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:57 _4g2.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:57 _4g2.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:57 _4g4.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 496K Apr 1 23:57 _4g4.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:57 _4g4.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:57 _4g3.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 907K Apr 1 23:57 _4g3.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:57 _4g3.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 1 23:58 _4g7.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 27M Apr 1 23:58 _4g7.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:58 _4g7.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 280M Apr 1 23:59 _4g6.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 1 23:59 _4g6.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 427 Apr 1 23:59 _4g6.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 2.0G Apr 2 00:02 _4fu.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 2 00:02 _4fu.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 427 Apr 2 00:02 _4fu.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 103M Apr 2 00:03 _4gb.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 2 00:03 _4gb.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 427 Apr 2 00:03 _4gb.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 6.0M Apr 2 00:03 _4g9.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 2 00:03 _4g9.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 2 00:03 _4g9.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 2 00:03 _4g8.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 16M Apr 2 00:03 _4g8.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 2 00:03 _4g8.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 389 Apr 2 00:03 _4ga.si
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 113K Apr 2 00:03 _4ga.cfs
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 405 Apr 2 00:03 _4ga.cfe
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 3.8K Apr 2 00:04 segments_8d
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 7.1M Apr 2 03:01 _4gd.fdx
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 30G Apr 2 03:01 _4gd.fdt
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 72M Apr 2 03:15 _4gd_Lucene50_0.tip
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 8.2G Apr 2 03:15 _4gd_Lucene50_0.tim
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 881M Apr 2 03:15 _4gd_Lucene50_0.pos
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 1.2G Apr 2 03:15 _4gd_Lucene50_0.doc
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 2.4K Apr 2 03:23 _4gd_Lucene54_0.dvm
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 8.2G Apr 2 03:23 _4gd_Lucene54_0.dvd
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 500M Apr 2 03:24 _4gd.dim
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 122 Apr 2 03:24 _4gd.dii
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 78 Apr 2 03:24 _4gd.nvm
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 31M Apr 2 03:24 _4gd.nvd
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 5.1K Apr 2 03:24 _4gd.fnm
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 229 Apr 2 03:24 segments_8e
-rw-rw-r-- 1 search search 591 Apr 2 03:24 _4gd.si

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DavidTurner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/davidturner/32/22453_2.png) [@DavidTurner](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/DavidTurner)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2020, 11:40am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/primary-shard-size-much-bigger-than-replica/226202/2 "2020-04-02T11:40:34Z")

</div>

The older segments on the primary may be retained by ongoing activity (maybe searches or scrolls) and should eventually be cleaned up when that activity finishes. However this version is very old and long past the [end of its supported life](https://www.elastic.co/support/eol) so maybe there's some behaviour that I don't know about which has been addressed in a more recent version too. You should definitely be trying to upgrade to a supported version as a matter of some urgency.

---

<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:** [April 30, 2020, 11:40am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/primary-shard-size-much-bigger-than-replica/226202/3 "2020-04-30T11:40:41Z")

</div>

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