# Change number of replicas for hidden and restricted indices **URL:** \ **Category:** Index Management\ **Tags:** configure\ **Created:** [June 1, 2022, 11:55am UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/change-number-of-replicas-for-hidden-and-restricted-indices/9787 "2022-06-01T11:55:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sastorsl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@sastorsl](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/sastorsl)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 11:55am UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/change-number-of-replicas-for-hidden-and-restricted-indices/9787/1 "2022-06-01T11:55:40Z")
Is there a proper way to set the number of replicas, either explicitly with the `index.number_of_replicas` setting or with the more dynamic `index.auto_expand_replicas` setting for hidden and restricted indices. The goal: Set a minimum of 2 replicas for security, ism, kibana indices. Do **not** change the number of replicas for other / data indices. Preferably manage this automatically at a cluster level, with ISM, a template, or other. But what is the **proper** way to manage this? Examples are: - .opendistro\_security - which seems to have auto\_expand\_replicas set - .opendistro-ism-config - .kibana, .kibana\_1, etc I’ve tried applying an ISM policy to manage this but I’m then getting an “errormessage” of “Matches restricted index pattern defined in the cluster setting”. Fine I guess, would be sad if a misconfigured ISM setting deleted the security index. But is there a way to manage this - for these indices - in a controlled manner? ---
**Author:** ![kris](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.opensearch.org/kris/32/2208_2.png) [@kris](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/kris)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2023, 5:17pm UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/change-number-of-replicas-for-hidden-and-restricted-indices/9787/2 "2023-02-07T17:17:40Z")