While investigating customer(s) reporting that they could not use OpenSearch with GitLab 15.0 [https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/363714](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/363714). The error blocked the installation. `Elasticsearch version not compatible`. This bug caused elasticsearch to be reported as the distribution even when OpenSearch was used. To resolve this, we need to do the following actions. - [x] Make sure the needed MRs are in the upcoming patch. https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/88840 - [x] Verify the build includes the change. Link- https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/88840#note_971149685 - [x] Backport https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/88840 to Version 15.0 - [x] Add customer messaging for Indexing Paused https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/89033 - [ ] Determine what logic should allow for and not allow for upward limits for unknown versions: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/363610 - [ ] Account for `distribution` to be blank, beta, and not-recognized. - [x] Research a workaround for the customers immediately impacted by Not being able to use OpenSearch because of the compatibility check. https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/89033/diffs#d42d52f4f43c2f0a7f8dd53ce2682d3cc7bc03f3_38_38 - [x] Figure out if OpenSearch 2.0 is still compatible with GitLab. https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/8163#note_967745245 - [ ] Add OpenSearch 2.0 to our CI pipeline. - [ ] Add opensearch 2.0 to unit test. - [ ] Update the nightly pipelines to test for the newest versions of Elasticsearch and Opensearch. After: - [ ] Provide details on what is needed to include RC testing prior to the official distribution. - [ ] Determine what is needed for conducting frequent version testing and publishing the results of this testing. - [ ] Determine how we can benchmark accuracy between OpenSearch and Elasticsearch. Strategic: - [ ] Determine full user interest in OpenSearch and create a way to determine if the general interest is switching from Elasticsearch. - [ ] Determine what indicators would tell us that GitLab.com should switch to OpenSearch.