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AWS emr documentation change

Service: emr · 2026-04-10 · Documentation low

File: emr/latest/ReleaseGuide/emr-hbase-migrate.md

Summary

Added new section for migrating HBase on Amazon S3 clusters to EMR 7.12.0+ using read-replica clusters, including new HBase shell commands (readonly_state and readonly_switch) and detailed migration steps

Security assessment

This change documents a new migration feature for HBase clusters using read-replica functionality. There is no evidence of addressing a security vulnerability, weakness, or incident. The documentation focuses on operational procedures for cluster migration and state switching between read-only and active modes. No security patches, vulnerabilities, or security incidents are mentioned.

Diff

diff --git a/emr/latest/ReleaseGuide/emr-hbase-migrate.md b/emr/latest/ReleaseGuide/emr-hbase-migrate.md
index d5a708cbe..1b1f38f92 100644
--- a//emr/latest/ReleaseGuide/emr-hbase-migrate.md
+++ b//emr/latest/ReleaseGuide/emr-hbase-migrate.md
@@ -5 +5 @@
-Migrating to Amazon EMR version 7.4.0 or later
+Migrating to Amazon EMR version 7.4.0 or laterMigrating HBase on Amazon S3 clusters to Amazon EMR Version 7.12.0 or later using Read-Replica clusters
@@ -57,0 +58,88 @@ If you are currently running an EMR version with Amazon's Store File Tracking fe
+## Migrating HBase on Amazon S3 clusters to Amazon EMR Version 7.12.0 or later using Read-Replica clusters
+
+Starting with EMR 7.12.0, you can switch a read-replica HBase on Amazon S3 cluster from read-only mode to active mode, enabling both read and write operations. This functionality is provided through two new HBase shell commands.
+
+  1. `readonly_state`
+
+Retrieves the current read-write operational state of the cluster.
+
+Output:
+
+     * INACTIVE - Cluster is in read-only mode and write is in-active.
+
+     * ACTIVE - Cluster supports both read and write operations.
+
+  2. `readonly_switch`
+
+Enables or disables read-only mode with configurable options for the switching process.
+
+Syntax:
+    
+        readonly_switch <readonly>,<force_flush>,<force_refresh_meta>,<force_refresh_hfile>
+
+Parameters:
+
+     * readonly (required) - Boolean value to enable (true) or disable (false) read-only mode
+
+     * force_flush (optional) - Forces data flush before switching from active to read-only mode (default: true)
+
+     * force_refresh_meta (optional) - Forces meta table refresh when switching from read-only to active mode (default: true)
+
+     * force_refresh_hfile (optional) - Forces HFile refresh when switching from read-only to active mode (default: true)
+
+
+
+
+### Migration Steps
+
+If you are currently running an EMR 6.0.0+ HBase on Amazon S3 cluster and want to migrate to an EMR 7.12.0 or later cluster, follow these steps:
+
+  1. Ensure your source cluster is in a stable state with no inconsistencies using the hbck report or stuck procedures from the HBase master UI.
+    
+        sudo -u hbase hbase hbck > hbck_report.txt
+
+  2. Ensure there are no regions in the SPLIT state on the source cluster:
+
+    1. If there are regions in SPLIT state, run major compactions on the respective tables and wait for them to complete
+        
+                major_compact <table_name>
+
+    2. Run `catalogjanitor_run` in the HBase shell after the compaction is complete
+
+  3. Create a new EMR 7.12.0+ cluster configured as a read-replica pointing to the same Amazon S3 location as your source cluster. Refer to this [blog](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/big-data/setting-up-read-replica-clusters-with-hbase-on-amazon-s3/) for more details on how to set up a read replica cluster. Launch the new cluster with the DefaultStoreFileTracker configuration as mentioned in the above steps if you want to upgrade to the OSS Store file tracking.
+
+  4. Wait for the master node to initialize completely. Verify data accessibility by reading the tables and confirm the new cluster is in read-only mode
+    
+        hbase:001:0> readonly_state
+    Took 0.4612 seconds
+    => "INACTIVE"
+
+  5. Disable balancing and compactions on the source cluster:
+    
+        echo "balance_switch false" | hbase shell
+    echo "compaction_switch false" | hbase shell
+
+  6. Ensure there are no overlaps/inconsistencies showing up in the read-replica cluster UI and verify that regions show OPEN status and are properly assigned.
+
+  7. Convert the Store file tracking using the commands on the read-replica cluster mentioned in the section above if you want to change to FileBasedTracker.
+
+  8. Stop the jobs pointing to the source cluster, flush all the tables, and shut down the source cluster. Wait for complete termination before proceeding.
+    
+        echo "flush 'usertable'" | hbase shell
+    echo "flush 'hbase:meta'" | hbase shell
+    echo "flush 'hbase:namespace'" | hbase shell
+
+  9. Switch the read-replica cluster to active mode to enable write operations. After completing this step, your new cluster will support both read and write operations, and the migration is complete.
+    
+        hbase:010:0> readonly_switch false
+    Took 38.1568 seconds
+
+  10. Validate writes on the new cluster and ensure all regions are serving requests.
+
+
+
+
+###### Note
+
+There can be only one active cluster pointing to an Amazon S3 location at any point in time. Therefore, switching the read-replica to active should be done only after the source cluster is terminated.
+