How to Set the Nightly Master Merge Time (299021)

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

This article tells you how to set the time that the master merge occurs.

For optimal performance, the workspace index at any given time is a collection of both in-memory and disk-based data structures. As the number of disk-based structures increases, searching performance eventually degrades. To address this, a process called a master merge takes place that merges all index data into one disk-based structure. This process occurs automatically at midnight each night, after a certain number of documents have been indexed and when disk space gets low. If you have other processes scheduled at midnight, such as scheduled index updates or a backup, you may want to change the midnight master merge start time.

MORE INFORMATION

The master merge interval can be set for a certain number of minutes after midnight. To do this, follow these steps.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
Locate the Indexer:ci:MidnightMasterMergeTimeDelta value under the following key in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Search\1.0\CatalogNames\SharePointPortalServer\workspace_name\Indexer:ci:MidNightMasterMergeTimeDelta
On the Edit menu, click DWORD, type Number of minutes, and then click OK.
Quit Registry Editor.