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Diagnose OpenSearch vector-search hot shards before RAG latency spikes

A practical runbook to separate real shard pressure, skewed routing, and slow search symptoms without blaming the LLM by reflex.

Learn how to detect hot shards in OpenSearch vector indices, prove whether they affect RAG retrieval, and apply safe mitigations with Dev Tools, metrics, and canaries.

Created: July 6, 2026

Published: July 6, 2026

Estimated time45 min
LevelAdvanced
Before you startRead access to OpenSearch Dev Tools or equivalent API permissions.
PlatformsLinux / Docker
WhatsAppXLinkedIn

Docker

Run the same flow from an ephemeral container if your bastion lacks tooling.

dockerOS and OS_TOKEN variablesnetwork access to OpenSearch
Ephemeral shell with curl and jq
docker run --rm -it -e OS -e OS_TOKEN curlimages/curl:latest sh

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