Elasticsearch Checking OpenSearch Version: A Comprehensive Guide

By Opster Team

Updated: Nov 14, 2023

| 2 min read

Introduction

OpenSearch is a powerful search and analytics engine that is derived from Elasticsearch. It is an open-source project that provides a suite of tools for ingesting, storing, and analyzing large volumes of data. In this article, we will discuss how to check the OpenSearch version, which is essential for ensuring compatibility with plugins, clients, and other components. We will also cover the differences between OpenSearch and Elasticsearch versions and provide examples of how to check the version using various methods.

Checking OpenSearch Version

There are several ways to check the OpenSearch version, including using the REST API, the OpenSearch Dashboards, and the command line. We will discuss each method in detail below.

1. Using the REST API

The easiest way to check the OpenSearch version is by sending a GET request to the cluster’s root endpoint. This can be done using a tool like curl or any HTTP client. Here’s an example using curl:

curl -X GET "http://localhost:9200"

The response will be a JSON object containing information about the OpenSearch cluster, including the version number. Look for the “version” field in the response:

json
{
  "name" : "opensearch-node",
  "cluster_name" : "opensearch-cluster",
  "cluster_uuid" : "abcd1234",
  "version" : {
    "distribution" : "opensearch",
    "number" : "1.0.0",
    "build_type" : "tar",
    "build_hash" : "abcdef123456",
    "build_date" : "2021-07-02T23:22:21.383695Z",
    "build_snapshot" : false,
    "lucene_version" : "8.8.2",
    "minimum_wire_compatibility_version" : "6.8.0",
    "minimum_index_compatibility_version" : "6.0.0-beta1"
  },
  "tagline" : "You Know, for Search"
}

In this example, the OpenSearch version is 1.0.0.

2. Using OpenSearch Dashboards

OpenSearch Dashboards is a web-based user interface for managing and visualizing data stored in OpenSearch. To check the OpenSearch version using OpenSearch Dashboards, follow these steps:

a. Open your browser and navigate to the OpenSearch Dashboards URL (usually http://localhost:5601).

b. Click on the “hamburger” menu icon in the top left corner of the screen.

c. Select “Stack Management” from the menu.

d. In the “Stack Management” section, click on “Clusters” in the left-hand menu.

e. The “Clusters” page will display information about your OpenSearch cluster, including the version number.

3. Using the Command Line

If you have access to the command line on the machine where OpenSearch is installed, you can check the version by inspecting the contents of the VERSION.txt file located in the OpenSearch installation directory. For example:

cat /path/to/opensearch/VERSION.txt

This command will output the OpenSearch version number, like “1.0.0”.

Understanding OpenSearch Versions

OpenSearch is forked from Elasticsearch 7.10.2 and has its own versioning scheme. The first release of OpenSearch is version 1.0.0, and subsequent releases will follow semantic versioning. It is important to note that OpenSearch and Elasticsearch versions are not directly comparable, as they have diverged since the fork and they now are separate projects with different features and development timelines.

Conclusion

Checking the OpenSearch version is crucial for ensuring compatibility with plugins, clients, and other components. In this article, we discussed various methods to check the OpenSearch version, including using the REST API, OpenSearch Dashboards, and the command line. We also covered the differences between OpenSearch and Elasticsearch versions. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily determine the version of your OpenSearch cluster and ensure that you are using the appropriate components for your specific use case.

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