How to Resolve Elasticsearch Memory Allocation Issues on Ubuntu

Question

What steps can I take to resolve Java memory allocation errors when starting Elasticsearch on Ubuntu?

# Example configuration in elasticsearch.yml
bootstrap.mlockall: true

Answer

Encountering memory allocation errors when starting Elasticsearch is a common issue that can stem from various factors, such as insufficient system memory or incorrect configuration settings. This guide will walk you through diagnosing and fixing these problems effectively.

# Modify ES_HEAP_SIZE in the /etc/default/elasticsearch file
ES_HEAP_SIZE=256M
# Ensure this configuration allows enough memory for Elasticsearch to function smoothly.

Causes

  • Insufficient physical memory on the server (e.g., only 1GB available).
  • Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is unable to allocate the requested memory for Elasticsearch operations.
  • Improper configuration settings in the Elasticsearch configuration files.

Solutions

  • Increase the available RAM on your Ubuntu system, if possible.
  • Review and modify the heap size allocated for Elasticsearch by adjusting the `ES_HEAP_SIZE`. For a 1GB system, consider reducing this value to 256M, leaving enough memory for the OS and other processes.
  • Ensure the `max_locked_memory` is configured correctly in both the Elasticsearch configuration and the system limits, as improper settings can lead to memory allocation failures. Refer to the following commands to adjust the limits accordingly:
  • 1. Open or create `/etc/security/limits.conf` and add: ``` elasticsearch soft memlock unlimited elasticsearch hard memlock unlimited ``` 2. Edit `/etc/systemd/system/elasticsearch.service` (for systemd installations) and ensure the MemoryLimit is set accordingly. ``` [Service] LimitMEMLOCK=unlimited ``` 3. Reload systemd configurations with `sudo systemctl daemon-reload`, and restart Elasticsearch.

Common Mistakes

Mistake: Not restarting Elasticsearch after changing configuration settings.

Solution: Always restart Elasticsearch for the changes to take effect.

Mistake: Setting `ES_HEAP_SIZE` too high for available system memory.

Solution: For a 1GB RAM server, set `ES_HEAP_SIZE` to 256M or lower.

Helpers

  • Elasticsearch memory issues
  • Elasticsearch startup errors
  • Java memory allocation failure Elasticsearch
  • Elasticsearch configuration Ubuntu
  • Java VM memory allocation error

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