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Version: 1.2.x (Latest)

Cluster Tasks Management

Cluster Tasks Management​

Secan provides comprehensive task management capabilities for monitoring and controlling long-running operations in your Elasticsearch cluster.

What are Cluster Tasks?​

Cluster tasks represent ongoing operations in Elasticsearch such as:

  • Index operations: Reindex, delete by query, update by query
  • Search operations: Long-running searches with scroll
  • Bulk operations: Large bulk indexing requests
  • Snapshot operations: Backup and restore operations
  • Recovery operations: Shard recovery and relocation

Tasks Tab​

Access task management through the Tasks tab in the cluster view. This provides a real-time view of all running tasks with detailed information and control options.

Task Information Display​

Each task displays the following information:

FieldDescription
Task IDUnique identifier for the task
ActionType of operation (e.g., indices:data/write/reindex)
DescriptionHuman-readable description of the operation
Start TimeWhen the task began execution
Running TimeDuration the task has been running
NodeWhich node is executing the task
ProgressCurrent progress (if available)
StatusCurrent task status

Task Filtering​

Filter tasks to find specific operations:

  • Search by ID: Filter by task ID or partial ID
  • Filter by Action: Show only specific action types
  • Filter by Node: Display tasks running on specific nodes
  • Filter by Status: Show tasks with specific status
  • Time Range: Filter by start time

Bulk Operations​

Perform actions on multiple tasks simultaneously:

  1. Select Tasks: Use checkboxes to select multiple tasks
  2. Choose Action: Select from bulk operation menu
  3. Confirm: Review and confirm the operation

Available Bulk Operations​

  • Cancel Tasks: Stop selected tasks gracefully
  • Export Details: Export task information as JSON
  • Copy IDs: Copy task IDs to clipboard

Task Details Modal​

Click on any task to view detailed information:

  • Full Task Description: Complete task description
  • Progress Details: Detailed progress information
  • Stats: Task-specific statistics
  • Node Information: Details about the executing node
  • Actions: Available actions for the task

Task Cancellation​

Cancel long-running or problematic tasks:

Single Task Cancellation​

  1. Click on the task to open details modal
  2. Click Cancel Task button
  3. Confirm the cancellation

Bulk Task Cancellation​

  1. Select multiple tasks using checkboxes
  2. Click Actions menu
  3. Select Cancel Selected
  4. Confirm bulk cancellation

Task Monitoring Best Practices​

Regular Monitoring​

  • Check the Tasks tab regularly for long-running operations
  • Monitor task progress for critical operations
  • Watch for tasks running longer than expected

Identifying Problematic Tasks​

Look for these warning signs:

  • Tasks running for extended periods (hours or days)
  • Tasks with no progress indication
  • Multiple tasks from the same operation type
  • Tasks consuming significant node resources

When to Cancel Tasks​

Consider cancelling tasks when:

  • The operation is no longer needed
  • The task appears stuck (no progress for extended time)
  • The task is impacting cluster performance
  • The operation was started by mistake

Task API Integration​

Secan uses the Elasticsearch _tasks API for task management:

# List all tasks
GET /_tasks

# List tasks with specific action
GET /_tasks?actions=*reindex

# Cancel a specific task
DELETE /_tasks/<task_id>

# Cancel tasks by action
POST /_tasks/_cancel?actions=*delete_by_query