OpenSearch® 3.0 is here, bringing game-changing improvements to search performance, AI/ML capabilities, and operational efficiency. NetApp is delighted to announce the preview release of OpenSearch 3.0 to the NetApp Instacustr Managed Platform. OpenSearch, an Apache 2.0 licensed, open source search and analytics engine, has taken a significant leap forward with version 3.0. Let’s explore how this new release and our platform make the perfect match.

Why choose Instaclustr for OpenSearch?

As founding and general members of the OpenSearch Software Foundation and active participants in the OpenSearch community, we are particularly excited about this release—the first major update in nearly three years. Here are some key reasons why you should be excited too:

Enhanced search performance

The big news is that Apache Lucene™ (the underlying search engine library of OpenSearch) is getting a version upgrade to v10. There has also been a significant focus on improving overall performance in OpenSearch 3.0 through streamlining the code base. This has paid big dividends with OpenSearch 3.0 performing an impressive 8.4 times faster than OpenSearch 1.3 on the Big5 benchmark performance aggregate.

What does this all mean for you? It means a faster, leaner, and more efficient OpenSearch helping you find your data quicker while consuming less resources. This means better performance, while adding less to your bottom line. The best thing about this? Upgrading to OpenSearch 3.0 is completely free!

ML and AI improvements

ML and AI are playing a big role in the development of OpenSearch, making it one of the leading vector engines in the market. A big focus of OpenSearch 3.0 has been to improve the usability and performance of AI and ML to enhance the search experience. In particular, k-NN and Neural Search have been boosted by the introduction of parallelized execution of search queries.

What this means, is that you can more easily introduce ML/AI functionality into your OpenSearch deployment, making search results more personalized to the end user. This significantly improves usability and makes OpenSearch one of the easiest databases to build AI/ML workflows that power your business.

Operational enhancements

With OpenSearch 3.0, one of the primary goals was to improve the experience of those who need to operate and administrate OpenSearch clusters at scale. Namely OpenSearch Discover tool, which allows cluster operators to find and visualize their data, which has been completely rebuilt. Additionally, the SQL plugin has been improved, and the JavaScript client has been bumped to version 3.0—bringing a range of improvements across the board.

Why should you care about operational improvements? If your DevOps teams have more and better tools at their disposal, they will be able to more effectively diagnose operational problems and resolve them quicker. In turn, this leads to decreased downtime and business impacts for your organization.

Challenges of managing OpenSearch 3.0

While OpenSearch 3.0 offers many new capabilities and opportunities for DevOps and IT teams, managing it presents a set of challenges that need to be considered. These challenges are nuanced and present significant complexities that businesses often underestimate. For example, recruiting or upskilling employees with niche OpenSearch knowledge is both time-consuming and resource-intensive; regular maintenance takes significant IT resources and can leave teams overwhelmed if sufficient processes aren’t in place; managing version upgrades and patching without disrupting workflows demands foresight, testing, and time that many teams find difficult to spare. For organizations that need assistance, NetApp Instaclustr provides answers to these challenges and more.

Key features of Instaclustr for OpenSearch

This release of OpenSearch means our customers will be some of the first to enjoy the benefits of this exciting new release.

  • Fully managed service: Eliminate operational complexities as we handle provisioning , configuration, maintenance, and updates.
  • Zero-downtime upgrades: Transition smoothly to OpenSearch 3.0 without worrying about downtime or compatibility issues.
  • Enhanced security: Keep your data protected with our robust encryption, monitoring, and compliance measures.
  • Customizable deployment options: Scale your deployment to match your business needs with our flexible hosting solutions.

All you have to do is focus on your business applications, and we’ll do the rest!

Getting started with Instaclustr for OpenSearch

Whether you’re an existing OpenSearch user or considering migration from Elasticsearch, Instaclustr for OpenSearch can get you up and running effortlessly.

  • For OpenSearch users
    • Current customers can upgrade directly to 3.0 with our support. You’ll be among the first to enjoy the benefits of this release. Until then, why not spin up an OpenSearch 3.0 cluster with a free trial on our platform or contact our team for more information.
    • Running self-managed OpenSearch? We can also help! We have extensive experience in OpenSearch and have deep knowledge about OpenSearch 3.0 and how to upgrade with minimal impact.
  • For Elasticsearch users
    Thinking of switching to a fully open source alternative? Our expert migration team will ensure a smooth transition with minimal risk. Contact our team today to discuss your business use case for migration.

Final thoughts

OpenSearch 3.0 is a breakthrough release, and Instaclustr for OpenSearch ensures you capitalize on every feature without the operational burden. From blazing-fast search to AI-powered personalization, we’re here to simplify your data strategy.

Take the first step towards scalable, efficient search today.

Try It Now: Spin up the latest OpenSearch 2.x with a free trial on Instaclustr while planning your upgrade to 3.0.