Search clusters often sit at the center of applications, dashboards, and operational workflows, so upgrades deserve time and testing. To give customers that runway, OCI Search with OpenSearch is extending support for existing clusters running OpenSearch v1.2.4 through December 2026.

This extension follows the OpenSearch project’s end of support for OpenSearch 1.x in May 2025, as described in the OpenSearch Release Schedule and Maintenance Policy. As releases age, Oracle continues to align OCI services with security, compliance, and operational reliability standards.

Customers can review currently supported OCI Search with OpenSearch versions in the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure documentation: Search with OpenSearch Supported Versions.

What’s changing

1. Existing OpenSearch v1.2.4 clusters remain supported through December 2026

Existing OCI Search with OpenSearch clusters running OpenSearch v1.2.4 will continue to be supported through December 2026. The extension is intended to help customers keep workloads running while they plan, test, and complete an upgrade.

Use this time to review cluster configuration, application dependencies, index compatibility, client libraries, custom plugins, dashboards, integrations, and operational procedures. The supported versions and cluster software upgrade documentation are good starting points.

2. New OpenSearch v1.2.4 clusters and major operations are restricted after May 2026

After May 2026, customers will no longer be able to create new OCI Search with OpenSearch clusters using OpenSearch v1.2.4.

Major operations on existing OpenSearch v1.2.4 clusters will also be restricted. Before making significant lifecycle or configuration changes, customers should upgrade to a currently supported OpenSearch version. Upgrade options are described in Upgrading Search with OpenSearch Cluster Software.

Restricted operations may include:

  • Creating a new cluster with OpenSearch v1.2.4
  • Restoring or cloning into a new cluster running OpenSearch v1.2.4
  • Making major configuration changes to an OpenSearch v1.2.4 cluster
  • Performing other lifecycle operations that require a supported OpenSearch release

For restore-based migrations, review the documentation for creating a cluster backup and restoring a backup to a new Search with OpenSearch cluster.

3. Upgrade planning should start now

Although support is extended through December 2026, Oracle recommends upgrading as early as practical. Planning the upgrade yourself gives you control over validation, change windows, rollback preparation, and production cutover.

Moving from OpenSearch v1.2.4 to a supported OpenSearch 2.x or 3.x release is a major version upgrade. Major upgrades can require changes to applications, clients, index mappings, plugins, dashboards, queries, and operational workflows. Include the OpenSearch breaking changes documentation in your review.

Customers running OpenSearch v1.2.4 should complete the upgrade before January 2027 so they can test application behavior and address compatibility issues before any service-impacting action occurs.

4. What happens after December 2026

During the January 2027 maintenance cycle, any remaining OCI Search with OpenSearch cluster running OpenSearch v1.2.4 will not be automatically upgraded. Instead, OCI Search with OpenSearch will:

  • Create a backup of the cluster
  • Place the cluster into an inaccessible state for 30 days
  • Delete the cluster after the 30-day period

Because clusters will become inaccessible, customers should not wait for the January 2027 maintenance cycle. Upgrade proactively to avoid application disruption and to keep control of testing, validation, and cutover timing.

The backup provides a recovery path, but it should not be treated as an upgrade plan. Customers should validate the upgrade path ahead of time using one of the supported upgrade methods.

5. Upgrade options are available today

OCI Search with OpenSearch supports multiple upgrade approaches, including clone and upgrade, direct upgrade, and snapshot and restore. These options are documented in OpenSearch cluster software upgrades.

For production workloads, Oracle recommends the clone-and-upgrade approach. This lets teams validate application behavior, index compatibility, query performance, dashboards, integrations, and operational procedures before moving traffic.

To identify affected clusters, see the documentation for listing Search with OpenSearch clusters.

How Oracle is helping customers prepare

Oracle will provide notifications and guidance throughout the transition so customers have time to plan and act before the January 2027 timeline.

  • Direct communications: Affected customers will receive Cloud Notifications with reminders, recommended actions, and upgrade resources.
  • Operational guardrails: After May 2026, OCI Search with OpenSearch will restrict new OpenSearch v1.2.4 cluster creation and major operations on existing OpenSearch v1.2.4 clusters.

Recommended next steps

  • Review and plan: Identify clusters running OpenSearch v1.2.4 and build an upgrade plan ahead of January 2027. Start with Search with OpenSearch Supported Versions.
  • Prioritize v1.2.4 clusters: Treat this as a major version upgrade and review OpenSearch breaking changes as part of planning.
  • Test before production cutover: Use clone and upgrade where appropriate to validate applications, indexes, dashboards, queries, integrations, and operational workflows.
  • Back up before major changes: Review the documentation for creating backups and restoring backups.
  • Plan around May 2026: After May 2026, new OpenSearch v1.2.4 cluster creation and major operations on OpenSearch v1.2.4 clusters will be restricted.
  • Do not wait for January 2027: Remaining OpenSearch v1.2.4 clusters will be backed up, made inaccessible for 30 days, and then deleted.

Summary

OCI Search with OpenSearch is extending support for OpenSearch v1.2.4 through December 2026. The extension gives customers more time to plan and complete a major version upgrade while maintaining continuity for existing workloads.

After May 2026, new OpenSearch v1.2.4 cluster creation and major operations on OpenSearch v1.2.4 clusters will be restricted. During the January 2027 maintenance cycle, remaining OpenSearch v1.2.4 clusters will be backed up and placed into an inaccessible state for 30 days, then deleted.

Customers should upgrade proactively to a currently supported OpenSearch version before January 2027. For more information, review the OCI Search with OpenSearch documentation for supported versions, cluster software upgrades, creating backups, and restoring backups.