Nodetool repair -pr -full vs Nodetool repair -pr

Question

I am running a cluster with 1 datacenter (6 nodes) and Cassandra 3.11.0 installed on each node with replication factor 2. I know nodetool repair -pr will carry out a repair of the primary ranges on that node. My question, is how nodetool repair -pr -full is different from nodetool repair -pr?

Which repair option should I use on a heavy load production system?

Answer 1

my question is how nodetool repair -pr -full is different from nodetool repair -pr?

So a "full" repair means that all data between the source and target nodes will be verified and repaired. Essentially, it's the opposite of an "incremental" repair, where only a subset of data is repaired. These two options control how much data is repaired.

Once that is decided (incremental vs. full), -pr will run on that subset, and only then repairs the primary replicas.

Additionally, -full is the default for Cassandra 3; which would make -pr and -pr -full essentially the same.

Which repair option should I use on a heavy load production system?

I'll second what Alex said, and also recommend Cassandra Reaper for this. It has the ability to schedule repairs for slower times, as well as allowing you to pause repairs which don't complete in time.