[role="xpack"]
[[ilm-searchable-snapshot]]
=== Searchable snapshot

Phases allowed: cold.

Takes a snapshot of the managed index in the configured repository
and mounts it as a searchable snapshot.
If the managed index is part of a <<data-streams, data stream>>,
the mounted index replaces the original index in the data stream.

[NOTE]
This action cannot be performed on a data stream's write index. Attempts to do
so will fail. To convert the index to a searchable snapshot, first
<<manually-roll-over-a-data-stream,manually roll over>> the data stream. This
creates a new write index. Because the index is no longer the stream's write
index, the action can then convert it to a searchable snapshot.
Using a policy that makes use of the <<ilm-rollover, rollover>> action
in the hot phase will avoid this situation and the need for a manual rollover for future
managed indices.

By default, this snapshot is deleted by the <<ilm-delete-action, delete action>> in the delete phase.
To keep the snapshot, set `delete_searchable_snapshot` to `false` in the delete action.

[[ilm-searchable-snapshot-options]]
==== Options

`snapshot_repository`::
(Required, string)
Specifies where to store the snapshot. 
See <<snapshots-register-repository>> for more information.

`force_merge_index`::
(Optional, boolean)
Force merges the managed index to one segment.
Defaults to `true`.
If the managed index was already force merged using the
<<ilm-forcemerge, force merge action>> in a previous action
the `searchable snapshot` action force merge step will be a no-op.

[NOTE]
The `forcemerge` action is best effort. It might happen that some of
the shards are relocating, in which case they will not be merged.
The `searchable-snapshot` action will continue executing even if not all shards
are force merged.

[[ilm-searchable-snapshot-ex]]
==== Examples
[source,console]
--------------------------------------------------
PUT _ilm/policy/my_policy
{
  "policy": {
    "phases": {
      "cold": {
        "actions": {
          "searchable_snapshot" : {
            "snapshot_repository" : "backing_repo"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
--------------------------------------------------