# Set indices.fielddata.cache.size without restarting node?

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/set-indices-fielddata-cache-size-without-restarting-node/59365>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [August 30, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/set-indices-fielddata-cache-size-without-restarting-node/59365 "2016-08-30T21:58:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Maxwell\_Flanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Maxwell\_Flanders](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Maxwell_Flanders)\
**Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/set-indices-fielddata-cache-size-without-restarting-node/59365/1 "2016-08-30T21:58:38Z")

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Hi there guys. I'm trying to set my indices.fielddata.cache.size to 75% (with a circuit breaker of 60%, so we get alerts before we're close to out of memory), and I just had a couple of questions.

First, is that number 75% of the max memory on the machine, or is that 75% of ES\_HEAP\_SIZE? I figure its the latter, but I want to make sure I have a clear understanding.

Secondly, I have applied this setting in my elasticsearch.yml file, so it will take effect on start up, and when I build new nodes, however is there an api call to alter that setting on live nodes?? I'd prefer not to restart all of our data nodes if I do not have to in order to turn on this setting.

Thanks!

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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:** [August 30, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/set-indices-fielddata-cache-size-without-restarting-node/59365/2 "2016-08-30T22:20:42Z")

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Any limits you can set in ES are for the heap only, that is the only memory it addresses.

You should also read [https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/2.3/circuit-breaker.html#circuit-breaker](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/2.3/circuit-breaker.html#circuit-breaker)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Maxwell\_Flanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Maxwell\_Flanders](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Maxwell_Flanders)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 11:36am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/set-indices-fielddata-cache-size-without-restarting-node/59365/3 "2016-08-31T11:36:47Z")

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Thank you!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Maxwell\_Flanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Maxwell\_Flanders](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Maxwell_Flanders)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2016, 8:30pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/set-indices-fielddata-cache-size-without-restarting-node/59365/4 "2016-08-31T20:30:43Z")

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Hmm I just added the setting using:

`curl -XPUT "http://$(hostname --ip-address):9200/_cluster/settings" -d'{ "persistent" : { "indices.fielddata.cache.size" : "75%" } }'`

and I received:

`{"acknowledged":true,"persistent":{},"transient":{}}`

in response, but when I run:

`curl "http://$(hostname --ip-address):9200/_cluster/settings?pretty"`

to look at my settings I just get back:

```
{
  "persistent" : {
    "discovery" : {
      "zen" : {
        "minimum_master_nodes" : "2"
      }
    },
    "cluster" : {
      "routing" : {
        "allocation" : {
          "enable" : "all",
          "cluster_concurrent_rebalance" : "15",
          "node_concurrent_recoveries" : "15"
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "transient" : {
    "cluster" : {
      "routing" : {
        "allocation" : {
          "enable" : "all"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

```

I.e., I do not see it displaying the new setting I just enacted. Is this expected, or should I see it??

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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:** [July 5, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/set-indices-fielddata-cache-size-without-restarting-node/59365/5 "2017-07-05T22:23:29Z")

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