Magento 2 Elasticsearch: How to Configure Magento 2 ElasticSearch?

Magento 2 Elasticsearch

Magento is no different from other eCommerce platform developers in their ongoing efforts to include technology and elements that directly enhance user experience.

Magento 2 Elasticsearch is one such element that enhances the user experience. It makes it simple for users to quickly select the ideal product, complete the transaction within minutes, and enjoy a wonderful shopping experience.

What is Magento?

Magento is an open-source eCommerce platform. It lets online store owners control how their store looks, works, and what content it shows.

It also comes with a flexible shopping cart system. Magento offers strong tools for managing products, search engine optimization, and marketing.

Magento was designed so that even non-developers can use it. The Magento community is large and very supportive.

However, most people will face challenges at some point while using it.

What is Elasticsearch?

Elasticsearch is a free, open-source platform used for searching and analyzing text, numbers, geographic, structured, and unstructured data. It was built on Apache Lucene and was first released in 2010 by a company now called Elastic.

Elasticsearch is the main part of the Elastic Stack, a group of free tools for data collection, storage, analysis, and visualization. It is known for its easy-to-use REST APIs, decentralized design, fast performance, and ability to scale.

The Elastic Stack, also called the ELK Stack, includes Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana. It now also supports lightweight data shippers called Beats, which send data to Elasticsearch.

Originally, Elasticsearch was created for full-text searches, showing complete results based on queries and related terms. But it can do more than just search. It can also be used to set up site-wide search functions.

What is Magento 2 Elasticsearch?

What are the benefits of Magento 2 Elasticsearch?

Let’s talk about some of the key advantages of Magento 2 Elasticsearch

1. Enhanced Performance

Through its distributed inversion indices, Elasticsearch is capable of carrying out incredibly quick searches.

In other words, Elasticsearch is good at catching all search terms for the result set, and it would then direct the query for the result from the caches whenever a search contains a cached filter.

As a consequence, it can obtain the results of a search in less than 10 milliseconds, which is much quicker than the standard SQL database, which can take up to 10 seconds to do so.

2. High Scalability

Elasticsearch can grow up to several thousand servers and thousands of gigabytes of storage because it is built on a distributed architecture.

Additionally, it is built so that it may function properly on any cluster or system with numerous nodes.

As a result, scaling just requires a little forethought when going from a solitary small cluster to a bigger or even massive cluster.

3. Distributed Architecture

Elasticsearch is capable of managing enormous volumes of data thanks to its distributed architecture, making it the ideal inner website’s search engine for handling search queries.

The indices are essentially split into shards by Elasticsearch’s distributed design, and the tach fragment is capable of producing an infinite number of replicas.

This means that the sequencing and rebalancing actions are carried out automatically each time new documents are uploaded to the database.

4. Document-Oriented Database

JSON refers to Javascript Object Notation, which is what Elasticsearch makes use of.

In essence, it’s a serialization format for documents that stores complicated entities and indexes every item by itself.

In reality, JSON is currently compatible with many other programming languages and is a well-liked and extensively utilized language for NoSQL databases.

It is a very succinct, straightforward, and easy-to-read serialization format, which eventually leads to quicker performance.

5. Free Of Schema

Elasticsearch is also “schema-free,” which means it doesn’t need any kind of data definition and ordinarily indexes dates using defaults unless a specific data type is given.

To put it simply, Elasticsearch receives JSON files, determines the data type, indexes the data, and makes them searchable.

Additionally, when an entity with a new attribute is indexed later, the mapping definitions are immediately updated to include it.

How to Install ElasticSearch

Install ElasticSearch on UNIX or Linux-based systems.

1. Ensure Java is installed on your system; install openJDK or OracleJDK.

2. Run the following commands in order:

a. wget https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.15.2-linux-x86_64.tar.gz

b. wget https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.15.2-linux-x86_64.tar.gz.sha512

c. shasum -a 512 -c elasticsearch-7.15.2-linux-x86_64.tar.gz.sha512

d. tar -xzf elasticsearch-7.15.2-linux-x86_64.tar.gz

e. cd elasticsearch-7.15.2/

Commands 1-3 compare the SHA of the downloaded .tar.gz file archive the checksum published, which will display:

elasticsearch-{version}-linux-x86_64.tar.gz: OK.

Commands 4&5 are a directory known as $ES_HOME.

Install ElasticSearch archive for MacOS

Run the following commands in order:

1. wget https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.15.2-darwin-x86_64.tar.gz
2. wget https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.15.2-darwin-x86_64.tar.gz.sha512
3. shasum -a 512 -c elasticsearch-7.15.2-darwin-x86_64.tar.gz.sha512
4. tar -xzf elasticsearch-7.15.2-darwin-x86_64.tar.gz
5. cd elasticsearch-7.15.2

Commands 1-3 compare the SHA of the downloaded .tar.gz file archive the checksum published, which will display:

elasticsearch-{version}-linux-x86_64.tar.gz: OK.

This indicates that the file elasticsearch-{version}-linux-x86_64.tar.gz has passed a verification check and is considered valid.

Commands 4&5 are a directory known as $ES_HOME.

Download ElasticSearch for Windows with .zip.

ElasticSearch can be activated on Windows by using the .zip archive. This comes alongside a command that sets up ElasticSearch to run as a service.

 

1. You will have to download the .xip archive for your ElasticSearch v7.15.2 from this website: https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.15.2-windows-x86_64.zip

 

2. Now you will unzip the file using WinRar, 7Zip, or any unzip tool that you find suitable. This will now create a new folder which will be named ElasticSearch- 7.15.2 that can be referred to as %ES_HOME%.

 

3. Enable the creation of the system indices. ElasticSearch, by default is configured to automatically allow index creation without additional steps. However, if you have disabled the automatic index creation, you must configure the action.auto_create_index in the elasticsearch.yml and allow the commercial features to install the following indices:

action.auto_create_index: .monitoring*,.watches,.triggered_watches,.watcher-history*,.ml*.

 

4. Now you can run the command line as follows on your command prompt: \bin\elasticsearch.bat.

If your ElasticSearch Keystore is password-protected, it will be required that you enter the key store’s password that you set. As a default, ElasticSearch prints the logs to the console command of STDOUT and also to <clustername>.log within the logs directory.

ElasticSearch can log some data while the search engine boots up. After it is established, it can continue to be used in the foreground and will not log any data unless an event worth recording occurs. While ElasticSearch is active, you can interact with the HTTP interface which is by default on port 9200. In order to terminate ElasticSearch, Press Ctrl-C on your keyboard.

 

5. Now you need to configure ElasticSearch on the command line.ElasticSearch will load its configuration from the %ES_HOME%\config\elasticsearch.yml file by default. Any setting that can be specified config will subsequently also be specified on the command line, using a syntax of –E.

For example, .\bin\elasticsearch.bat -Ecluster.name=my_cluster -Enode.name=node_1.

 

6. Now check if ElasticSearch is running by sending an HTTP request to the 9200 port on localhost:

GET/ which will return a response defining the name, class and cluster, etc.

 

7. Install ElasticSearch as a service on Windows. ElasticSearch can now be installed as a service that can run in the background and start automatically at boot time independent of any user interaction. This can be achieved by accessing the ElasticSearch-service.bat script in the bun\ folder. This can install, remove, configure or manage the services, all from the command-line interface.

In case you find activating the services challenging, which they are for people who do not have extensive knowledge in development, you can Magento support services.

Set up ElasticSearch

Now ElasticSearch is installed on your system. You must now set up and configure ElasticSearch. Elastic search already configure the system based on the default settings. In order to configure with Magento you can follow the steps:

• Log into your Magento store account on Admin and the administrator.
• Click on stores, then setting, then configuration, catalog, and select catalog search.
• Now from the search engine list, select your installed ElasticSearch version.

In case you have configured the setting from your end, these configuration options will help you configure Magento 2.

Elasticsearch Server Hostname: Enter the IP address of your machine that is responsible for running ElasticSearch.

Elasticsearch Server Port: Input the ElasticSearch web server’s proxy port. The default port is 9200.

ElasticSearch Index Prefix: Enter the index prefix for ElasticSearch.In case you are using a single instance of ElasticSearch for more than one Magento store, you will have to specify a unique prefix for each installation.

Enable ElasticSearch HTTP Auth: You should only click yes if you had enabled the authentication for your ElasticSearch server. You will provide your username and password in the fields.

Test Your Search.

Now you must test your connection by clicking the test connection button. If you see “Successful! Test again?” you can then proceed to configure Apache and ElasticSearch if you wish.

If the feedback is “Connection failed! Try again?” Then you can try the following to set your connection correctly.

• Ensure that the ElasticSearch server is running on the back-end by running the command \bin\elasticsearch.bat on the backend.
• In case the ElasticSearch server is not on the host from Magento, you will log in to the Magento server and then ping the ElasticSearch host. This will resolve the network connectivity issues and then you should click on test the connection
• Scrutinize the command prompt, where you had initiated the ElasticSearch for stack traces and exceptions. Resolve this before you continue by making sure that you had initiated ElasticSearch as a user who has access to root
• Check whether the UNIX firewall and SELinux are both disabled. Then also examine if the setup rules successfully allow ElasticSearch to communicate with Magento.
• Recheck the value of the ElasticSearch Server Hostname and make sure it is valid. Ensure that the server is available, you could also try your server’s IP (Internet Protocol) address.

What are the ElasticSearch Extra Features?

ElasticSearch provides extensively exclusive features. The reason why ElasticSearch is the number one

Data storage is flexible:

• Elasticsearch offers flexible data storage. It supports different types of data like text, numbers, vectors, shapes, and both structured and unstructured data. Users can work with this data in various ways, without being restricted to certain data types.
• It can also store unstructured documents, so data doesn’t need to be organized in a specific way to be used or analyzed. This makes Elasticsearch a simple and effective document store, even though it’s not a NoSQL database.
• Elasticsearch uses a unique data structure called an inverted index. This allows for very fast full-text searches by creating dynamic indexes.
• Data can be stored in vertical columns, with values saved on disk. This setup supports efficient analysis of metrics and time series data, making Elasticsearch very good at these tasks.

Making sure the data is safe internally and secure from external threats in real-time:

• The Elastic Stack has policies for securing its environment. These policies require disk-level encryption on all host machines. Additionally, data backups are encrypted and protected, so unauthorized users cannot access them.
• Elasticsearch also includes API security. This means that access to certain documents and fields is restricted, preventing some users from viewing or using sensitive information.

Manage the data efficiently:

• Clustered indices are used in Elasticsearch. These are groups of nodes that work together to store data and provide indexing and search functions across multiple servers, known as clusters. This setup allows data to be scaled horizontally. Users can manage their clusters through REST APIs and user interfaces.
• To save memory, you can create source-only data snapshots. These snapshots include stored fields and index metadata but exclude indexes and are not searchable when restored.
• You can also take backup snapshots of your data cluster and store them on an external repository. This provides an additional backup in case something goes wrong.
• Historical data is often kept for analysis, but due to high costs, it’s not always preferred. To address this, the index management system offers a rollup indices feature. This feature summarizes the data and stores it more cost-effectively, making it cheaper to analyze compared to storing raw data.

Data is enhanced for internal use.

Examine words and provide task migration.

• Elasticsearch offers features like auto-complete for search terms. This helps users find relevant results quickly by predicting what they are looking for before they finish typing. This feature suggests possible completions for the search term.
• If a user types a query with spelling or grammatical errors, Elasticsearch can detect and correct these mistakes. It analyzes the text and suggests corrected terms based on this analysis.
• There is also a phrase suggester feature. It improves search results by adding logic for handling variations in search queries, like synonyms or alternative phrases. Term suggesters help select the right phrases, making the search engine more efficient by deciding which tokens to store based on their frequency and occurrence.

Magento 2 ElasticSearch integration can help your store grow by boosting sales. It is preferable to make use of e-commerce solutions companies as the Magento 2 pricing packages they provide cover expenses of the integration alongside Magento support services.

What is the Flexibility of ElasticSearch Ultimate?

The flexibility of ElasticSearch is one of the most resilient features provided by ElasticSearch. Flexibility means that the search engine can perform with the changing requirements. It offers scalability and resiliency for the users. It is able to provide:

• High availability for data as it clusters the nodes together. These then hold the data and provide searching and indexing capabilities across the nodes.
• Recoverability to the data by replacing the deleted storage with a replica. This ensures that if the user deleted the data accidentally, he can recover the data.
• The search engine is smart enough to be aware as to which physical location is the data stored on.
• Cross-data center data replication means that your data is saved at more than one location to access it accordingly.
• Scalability, if more data requests are being sent then the search engine can increase the performance of the physical hardware that helps manage the huge traffic on the servers.

 Conclusion

Magento 2 ElasticSearch is a powerful tool that can help your store attract more customers. It provides features that enhance the customer experience by allowing for flexible data storage and access.

The integration includes real-time security features that protect your server from attacks. It also makes searching easier for users, even if they make mistakes or forget their exact requirements.

To get the most out of Magento 2 ElasticSearch, you should hire a professional Magento Development Company. Look for companies with certified developers and extensive experience. They can offer affordable Magento 2 pricing packages and Magento Support services to help your store stand out from the competition.

FAQs:

Q) What is Magento ElasticSearch? How does it work in Magento 2?

A) Magento ElasticSearch is an integration between the Magento 2 platform and the ElasticSearch search engine. This integration helps users find what they’re looking for more quickly and accurately, even if they aren’t sure of the exact details.

It improves data management and makes better use of available resources. Additionally, it provides extra protection to keep data safe from external threats.

To get the best results from Magento ElasticSearch, it’s recommended to work with e-commerce solution providers like Folio3. These expert Magento Development Companies offer solutions and support to help your store stay current with trends and maintain or improve its performance.

Q) How does Magento search work?

A) Magento search works by using the search query entered by the user. The site re-indexes the data and updates information about the attributes involved in the search.

When a user types a query, the site breaks it down into individual elements, separating out logical connectors like OR and AND. For example, the query “Clothes for parties” is split into three elements.

The site then compares each element with its database records. If it finds matching products, those products are displayed. This process helps show the most relevant results to the user.

To handle more complex queries, you can use Magento 2 ElasticSearch.

Q) Why is Magento 2 ElasticSearch fast?

A) ElasticSearch provides precise and reliable search results using several techniques:

• Data Clustering: Data is stored in clusters, so related data can be quickly retrieved because it’s stored close together.
• Inverted Index: ElasticSearch uses a unique structure called an inverted index. This dynamic index adjusts to different scenarios, making it flexible.
• Tokenization: Magento 2 ElasticSearch breaks down words into tokens. It then compares these tokens with the database to show results that are closest to the query entered.
• Redundant Data Storage: Frequently used data is stored for quick access. This allows the system to display data faster because it is readily available.

Using Magento 2 ElasticSearch integration can greatly enhance the user experience for your customers.