A Developer’s Guide to OpenSearch Automation with a9s Search

Implementing robust search functionality is critical for many web applications, but managing search infrastructure can be complicated and time-consuming. a9s Search is a powerful automation tool that simplifies the deployment and management of OpenSearch. Here’s how it can help transform your development workflow.

Understanding OpenSearch

OpenSearch is a community-driven search engine built on Apache Lucene that’s designed to handle full-text search and analytics at scale. It uses indices to organize and structure data, enabling efficient identification and retrieval based on user queries. These indices are akin to the index cards in a traditional library.

One of its key strengths is its compatibility with Elasticsearch 7.10.2, making it a reliable alternative for teams looking to transition away from Elasticsearch.

What is a9s Search?

a9s Search is a comprehensive service that automates the deployment and operation of OpenSearch. It's available as a standalone data service, or as part of the a9s Data Services Bundle, and is designed to eliminate the operational overhead typically associated with managing search infrastructure. Think of it as your DevOps team dedicated specifically to search functionality.

With a9s Search, platform operators can maintain a world-class search engine experience while eliminating licensing concerns.

a9s Search Benefits for Developers

1. Operational Cost Savings

By automating your search infrastructure, the need for dedicated DevOps personnel for search infrastructure is eliminated. This means that training resources are also reduced for team members, too.

Development teams can move faster when freed from infrastructure concerns. Instead of becoming OpenSearch experts, your developers focus entirely on core business logic and feature development. This laser focus on value-adding activities significantly reduces time-to-market for new features.

2. Automated Lifecycle Management

Forget manually configuring and maintaining search infrastructure. a9s Search handles the entire lifecycle of your OpenSearch instance, whether you are running on-premise or in the cloud. This automation includes:

1. Deployment and configuration
2. Scaling operations
3. Updates and maintenance
4. Backup and recovery

3. Enhanced Security Out-of-the-Box

Security comes baked into a9s Search; the OpenSearch security plugin is enabled by default. This means you get:

• TLS protocol configuration
• Cipher suite management
• Built-in security features without additional setup

4. Easy Migration Path

Teams currently using Elasticsearch 7 benefit from a straightforward migration path that is 100% API-compliant. Plus with full API compatibility, built-in migration tools, and service-binding capabilities, most applications require minimal changes. The process moves quickly too, averaging just 1-3 minutes per gigabyte of data.

5. Flexible Configuration Options

While automation handles the heavy lifting, developers retain control where it matters. You can customize parameters and TLS protocols, manage cipher suites, and control index templates. a9s Search offers both dynamic and explicit mapping options, so you choose the right approach for your data structure.

Dynamic and Explicit Mapping with a9s Search

Mapping in a search engine, similar to a schema in a database, defines the fields and properties for an index. This ensures that data is organized efficiently and can be retrieved accurately.

Understanding Mapping

In a search engine, mapping determines the structure of the index by defining various fields and their types. For example:

• Name: Typically a string of text.
• Size: Often an integer.
• Boolean Field: Represents a true or false value.

The specific fields and their types depend on the nature of your documents and the information they contain.

Choosing the Right Approach

The choice between dynamic and explicit mapping depends on your needs:

• Dynamic Mapping: Ideal for quick setups where flexibility is important.
• Explicit Mapping: Best when you need precise control over the index structure and data types.

a9s Search does not interfere with your mapping choices. The responsibility for defining the mapping structure rests with you as the application developer, since you have the best understanding of your data.

Without an Automated Search Solution

Consider a typical scenario: Your team needs to implement search functionality in an application. Without a9s Search, you'd need to:

• Set up and configure OpenSearch servers
• Implement security measures
• Create backup solutions
• Monitor and maintain the infrastructure
• Handle scaling as your data grows
• Train team members on OpenSearch operations
• Maintain 24/7 operational readiness

With a9s Search, these tasks are automated, allowing your team to focus on what matters most — building features that deliver value to your users. The cost savings in terms of time, personnel, and infrastructure often make a9s Search more economical than self-managed solutions.

Getting Started with a9s Search

a9s Search represents a significant step forward in search infrastructure automation. By handling the complex operational aspects of OpenSearch, it enables development teams to focus on building great applications rather than managing search infrastructure. Whether you're building a new application or migrating from Elasticsearch, a9s Search provides the tools and automation needed to streamline your search implementation.

The decision to use a9s Search over self-managed OpenSearch comes down to a simple question: Do you want your team focused on building web applications and features or managing infrastructure? With a9s Search, you get enterprise-grade search capabilities without the operational overhead, it’s the obvious choice for organizations that want to move fast and stay focused on their core business objectives.