Add administrator docs for cross-project search by marciw · Pull Request #5245 · elastic/docs-content

marciw · 2026-02-20T20:10:19Z

Status

🟢 ready for SME/technical review
🚧 not ready for tech writer review

Summary

Fixes https://github.com/elastic/docs-content-internal/issues/30

Adds a CPS config topic under Deploy & manage. For more details, see the docs plan Gdoc

New pages:

🛑 Do not review the explore & analyze changes

they are for staging purposes only

What's next

Move this to cps-tech-preview OR re-hide pages from TOC and navigation if merging to main
Updates to existing pages (separate PR)

Generative AI disclosure

Did you use a generative AI (GenAI) tool to assist in creating this contribution?

Yes
No

Tool(s) and model(s) used:
Cursor auto, Claude Opus 4.6, gpt-5.3-codex

github-actions · 2026-02-20T20:12:53Z

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github-actions · 2026-02-26T00:41:35Z

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marciw · 2026-03-17T22:40:28Z

@naj-h @alisonelizabeth I don't expect you to have time to review these this week! 🙃 But here are the CPS administrator docs, if/when you do get a chance to review them.

deploy-manage/cross-project-search-config/cps-config-access-and-scope.md

deploy-manage/cross-project-search-config/cps-config-impacts-and-limitations.md

deploy-manage/_snippets/cps-limitations-core.md

wajihaparvez · 2026-03-18T13:42:42Z

@marciw sorry for jumping the gun! Just realized that this is not ready for TW review. I'll come back later

Co-authored-by: wajihaparvez <wajiha.parvez@elastic.co>

naj-h · 2026-03-18T12:29:15Z

deploy-manage/cross-project-search-config.md

+
+To configure {{cps}}, make sure you meet these prerequisites:
+
+- You must be an organization owner or project administrator.


We could add here that, to link projects together, you are expected to be either an organization owner, or a project administrator in the origin and all projects you plan to link to it

fixed in c1cc444 (from analogous change in #5498)

naj-h · 2026-03-25T11:42:16Z

explore-analyze/cross-project-search/_snippets/cps-default-search-behavior.md

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+After you link projects, searches from the origin project run across the origin and all linked projects by default.
+This default behavior provides a consistent experience for querying, analysis, and insights across linked projects.
+Restricting search scope is always possible, by explicitly scoping the search request using [qualified expressions](/explore-analyze/cross-project-search/cross-project-search-search.md#search-expressions), the `_origin` identifier, or [routing parameters](/explore-analyze/cross-project-search/cross-project-search-project-routing.md).


Suggested change

Restricting search scope is always possible, by explicitly scoping the search request using [qualified expressions](/explore-analyze/cross-project-search/cross-project-search-search.md#search-expressions), the `_origin` identifier, or [routing parameters](/explore-analyze/cross-project-search/cross-project-search-project-routing.md).

Restricting search scope is always possible, by explicitly scoping the search request using [qualified expressions](/explore-analyze/cross-project-search/cross-project-search-search.md#search-expressions) or [project routing parameters](/explore-analyze/cross-project-search/cross-project-search-project-routing.md).

reason: the _origin identifier can be used either in qualified expressions or in project routing

fixed in c1cc444

cc @szabosteve because this is an E&A snippet

naj-h · 2026-03-25T12:03:52Z

deploy-manage/cross-project-search-config.md

+
+::::{important}
+:applies_to: serverless: preview
+**Origin projects must be new**: During technical preview, only newly created projects can be origin projects for {{cps}}. Existing projects can be _linked_ to an origin project, but they can't serve as origin projects themselves. To get started, create a new {{serverless-short}} project and link it to your existing projects.


Suggested change

**Origin projects must be new**: During technical preview, only newly created projects can be origin projects for {{cps}}. Existing projects can be _linked_ to an origin project, but they can't serve as origin projects themselves. To get started, create a new {{serverless-short}} project and link it to your existing projects.

**Origin projects must be new**: During technical preview, only newly created projects can be origin projects for {{cps}}. Existing projects can be _linked_ by an origin project, but they can't serve as origin projects themselves. To get started, create a new {{serverless-short}} project and link it to your existing projects.

fixed in c1cc444 (but I went with "from" instead of "by")

naj-h · 2026-03-25T12:05:37Z

deploy-manage/cross-project-search-config.md

+
+- {{es}} projects require the **Serverless Plus** add-on.
+- {{sec-serverless}} and {{obs-serverless}} projects require the **Complete** feature tier. Projects on the **Essentials** tier are not compatible with {{cps}}.
+- Workplace AI projects are not compatible with {{cps}}.


to be removed because Workplace AI projects are not released and will not be released when CPS is out

fixed in c1cc444

naj-h · 2026-03-25T12:06:38Z

deploy-manage/cross-project-search-config.md

+
+You can link any combination of {{product.elasticsearch}}, {{product.observability}}, and {{product.security}} projects, with the following requirements and limitations:
+
+- {{es}} projects require the **Serverless Plus** add-on.


there is no limitation in TP for ES3 projects. Serverless Plus is also still being discussed, so let's remove this until there's more clarity

fixed in c1cc444

naj-h · 2026-03-25T13:01:40Z

deploy-manage/_snippets/cps-limitations-core.md

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+
+- **Maximum of 20 linked projects:** Each origin project can have up to 20 linked projects. A linked project can be associated with any number of origin projects.
+- **Chaining/transitivity not supported:** If Project A links to Project B, and Project B links to Project C, Project A cannot automatically search Project C. Each link is independent.


this is a design choice, not a limitation per se. Not sure where to call it out.

fixed in c1cc444; moved to new "How linking works" subsection in the Link and manage topic

naj-h · 2026-03-25T13:01:48Z

deploy-manage/_snippets/cps-limitations-core.md

+
+- **Maximum of 20 linked projects:** Each origin project can have up to 20 linked projects. A linked project can be associated with any number of origin projects.
+- **Chaining/transitivity not supported:** If Project A links to Project B, and Project B links to Project C, Project A cannot automatically search Project C. Each link is independent.
+- **Links are unidirectional:** Searches that run from a linked project do **not** run against the origin project. If you need bidirectional search, link the projects twice, in both directions.


this is a design choice, not a limitation per se. Not sure where to call it out.

fixed in c1cc444 (moved to the the Link and manage page)

naj-h · 2026-03-25T13:01:55Z

deploy-manage/_snippets/cps-limitations-core.md

+- **Maximum of 20 linked projects:** Each origin project can have up to 20 linked projects. A linked project can be associated with any number of origin projects.
+- **Chaining/transitivity not supported:** If Project A links to Project B, and Project B links to Project C, Project A cannot automatically search Project C. Each link is independent.
+- **Links are unidirectional:** Searches that run from a linked project do **not** run against the origin project. If you need bidirectional search, link the projects twice, in both directions.
+- **System indices are excluded:** System indices (such as `.security` and `.fleet-*`) are excluded from {{cps}}.


this is a design choice, not a limitation per se. Not sure where to call it out.

fixed in c1cc444

naj-h · 2026-03-25T13:02:39Z

deploy-manage/_snippets/cps-limitations-core.md

+- **Links are unidirectional:** Searches that run from a linked project do **not** run against the origin project. If you need bidirectional search, link the projects twice, in both directions.
+- **System indices are excluded:** System indices (such as `.security` and `.fleet-*`) are excluded from {{cps}}.
+- **Unavailable APIs:** `_transform` and `_fleet_search` requests do not support {{cps-init}}.
+- **Workplace AI projects:** Workplace AI projects are not compatible with {{cps}}.


Workplace AI projects are not released in Serverless and have been deprioritized according to the latest info to date. Let's remove this

fixed in c1cc444

naj-h · 2026-03-25T13:05:23Z

deploy-manage/_snippets/cps-limitations-core.md

+- **Chaining/transitivity not supported:** If Project A links to Project B, and Project B links to Project C, Project A cannot automatically search Project C. Each link is independent.
+- **Links are unidirectional:** Searches that run from a linked project do **not** run against the origin project. If you need bidirectional search, link the projects twice, in both directions.
+- **System indices are excluded:** System indices (such as `.security` and `.fleet-*`) are excluded from {{cps}}.
+- **Unavailable APIs:** `_transform` and `_fleet_search` requests do not support {{cps-init}}.


Let's remove this. Reason: The fleet search API is mostly an internal API that's used to search local/individual indices. Transform is already called out below in the ML and transforms bullet point

fixed in c1cc444

naj-h · 2026-03-25T13:07:17Z

thanks for the write-up @marciw ! left comments in there, would be happy to review again afterwards

marciw · 2026-03-29T16:06:28Z

thanks for the write-up @marciw ! left comments in there, would be happy to review again afterwards

Thanks @naj-h for all the improvements! I think I've addressed all your comments, whenever you have time to review again. All the previews still work and show the changes, so you can keep using those.

PS: This PR won't actually be merged because we're working in a feature branch with combined writer updates (see #5498 -- not asking you to review that one yet though; we'll run it by you soon)

… into mw-cps-config

marciw · 2026-04-08T13:14:33Z

closing this in favor of #5498 -- all changes have been applied to that branch

marciw added 2 commits February 19, 2026 23:41

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CPS tech preview #5498

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marciw closed this Apr 8, 2026


		To configure {{cps}}, make sure you meet these prerequisites:

		- You must be an organization owner or project administrator.

	Restricting search scope is always possible, by explicitly scoping the search request using [qualified expressions](/explore-analyze/cross-project-search/cross-project-search-search.md#search-expressions), the `_origin` identifier, or [routing parameters](/explore-analyze/cross-project-search/cross-project-search-project-routing.md).
	Restricting search scope is always possible, by explicitly scoping the search request using [qualified expressions](/explore-analyze/cross-project-search/cross-project-search-search.md#search-expressions) or [project routing parameters](/explore-analyze/cross-project-search/cross-project-search-project-routing.md).

	Origin projects must be new: During technical preview, only newly created projects can be origin projects for {{cps}}. Existing projects can be _linked_ to an origin project, but they can't serve as origin projects themselves. To get started, create a new {{serverless-short}} project and link it to your existing projects.
	Origin projects must be new: During technical preview, only newly created projects can be origin projects for {{cps}}. Existing projects can be _linked_ by an origin project, but they can't serve as origin projects themselves. To get started, create a new {{serverless-short}} project and link it to your existing projects.


		You can link any combination of {{product.elasticsearch}}, {{product.observability}}, and {{product.security}} projects, with the following requirements and limitations:

		- {{es}} projects require the Serverless Plus add-on.

		@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@

		- Maximum of 20 linked projects: Each origin project can have up to 20 linked projects. A linked project can be associated with any number of origin projects.
		- Chaining/transitivity not supported: If Project A links to Project B, and Project B links to Project C, Project A cannot automatically search Project C. Each link is independent.

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