FAQ

What is the "Server index status" for a search index?

The index's "View" tab displays some additional information. One value that might need some explanation here is the "Server index status". This is the result count which the server returns for a completely unfiltered query for this index, so it represents the total count of items indexed on the server.

So, how can you use that to diagnose problems? This depends a lot on your current setup, which is why initial warning messages to automatically detect problems using this metric were soon removed again since the detection mechanisms didn't apply in some setups.

In general, the item count on the server should be between the number of indexed items and the total number of items displayed for the index. However, when using indexing filters like the "Bundle filter" or "Exclude unpublished nodes", not all items markes as "indexed" internally are really sent to the server. In these cases, you would have to verify yourself the total number of items that should be indexed, and whether the "Server index status" reaches that number (when the index displays "All items have been indexed.").

A second complication is Solr's commit behavior which means that (in some setups), for about two minutes after indexing, the "Server index status" won't yet reflect the real number of items indexed on the server. Finally, if you are indexing data (most likely on a Solr server) with an external program, bypassing Backdrop and the Search API for the indexing part, Search API will of course not know about your externally indexed items and show a too low total item amount (0, when indexing happens exclusively external). You would then have to check your external source for whether the "Server index status" you are seeing is correct and as expected.