# Single vs mutiple indices: Elasticsearch

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/single-vs-mutiple-indices-elasticsearch/151425>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [October 8, 2018, 9:51am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/single-vs-mutiple-indices-elasticsearch/151425 "2018-10-08T09:51:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rahulnama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8c91f0/32.png) [@rahulnama](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/rahulnama)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 9:51am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/single-vs-mutiple-indices-elasticsearch/151425/1 "2018-10-08T09:51:25Z")

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Hi Team

I've indexed few pdf files. I followed {{ test\_file name }} index convention. which allowed me to create few indices depending on the title of the pdf files.

But I'm confused whether to create multiple indices or just one Index.

I tried creating single index too.

**Primary Concern: Search relevancy, Secondary Concern: search speed**

Here is My Observation:

As I've indexed less data as part of POC now, search speed is good.**(anyway taking less time when I use single Index)**

Search Relevancy: Search results are varying. When I search the same query against single and multiple indices different results are being displayed. sometimes Single Index results are accurate and sometimes they are not.

How to decide on this-- whether to use single index or multiple indices ? Please suggest

**Note: This is not log data and the data is stored permanently. Also,new data will be added to this weekly/monthly.**

-Rahul

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 11:03am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/single-vs-mutiple-indices-elasticsearch/151425/2 "2018-10-08T11:03:10Z")

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One index should be ok IMO.  
Not sure what your problem is though. May be share an example?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rahulnama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8c91f0/32.png) [@rahulnama](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/rahulnama)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2018, 11:16am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/single-vs-mutiple-indices-elasticsearch/151425/3 "2018-10-08T11:16:34Z")

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Hi @dadoonet

to keep it more clear: As the data will be more when we move to production(say more than 100GB) is it good to go with one index? or it's better to split into multiple indices?

In addition any differences in Search Relevancy when using single index and multiple Indices?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2018, 1:56pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/single-vs-mutiple-indices-elasticsearch/151425/4 "2018-10-09T13:56:17Z")

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May I suggest you look at the following resources about sizing:

[https://www.elastic.co/elasticon/conf/2016/sf/quantitative-cluster-sizing](https://www.elastic.co/elasticon/conf/2016/sf/quantitative-cluster-sizing)

> **[How many shards should I have in my Elasticsearch cluster?
	  	 | Elastic](https://www.elastic.co/blog/how-many-shards-should-i-have-in-my-elasticsearch-cluster)**
>
> Elasticsearch is a very versatile platform, that supports a variety of use cases, and provides great flexibility around data organisation and replication strategies. This flexibility can however somet...

> **[NetSecureDay: Managing your Black Friday Logs](https://speakerdeck.com/elastic/netsecureday-managing-your-black-friday-logs)**
>
> Surveiller une application complexe n’est pas une tâche aisée, mais avec les bons outils, ce n’est pas si sorcier. Néanmoins, des périodes fortes telles que les opérations de type « Black Friday » (Vendredi noir) ou période de Noël peuvent pousser...

[https://www.elastic.co/fr/webinars/using-rally-to-get-your-elasticsearch-cluster-size-right](https://www.elastic.co/fr/webinars/using-rally-to-get-your-elasticsearch-cluster-size-right)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rahulnama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8c91f0/32.png) [@rahulnama](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/rahulnama)\
**Post date:** [October 10, 2018, 5:40am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/single-vs-mutiple-indices-elasticsearch/151425/5 "2018-10-10T05:40:08Z")

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@dadoonet

Helpful !!

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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:** [November 7, 2018, 5:40am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/single-vs-mutiple-indices-elasticsearch/151425/6 "2018-11-07T05:40:10Z")

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