When multiple objects become out of sync within a replication group, administrators rely on activation processes to restore synchronization and return affected objects to a healthy state. While activation is designed to bring all eligible objects back into sync, the order in which objects are processed can have a direct impact on how quickly recovery progress becomes visible.
Consider a group containing several out-of-sync objects of varying sizes. If a large object is activated first, smaller objects must wait until that larger object has been processed -even when those smaller objects could have been synchronized much sooner.
With iCluster Web 9.4.1, administrators can now use Sort by Size (Ascending) when activating all out-of-sync objects for a replication group. This new option provides additional control over activation sequencing by allowing smaller objects to be processed before larger ones.
The Challenge: Recovery Order Matters
When a replication group contains multiple out-of-sync objects, activation is not simply a question of what gets activated -it is also a question of when each object gets activated.
Without any prioritization, smaller objects may remain queued behind significantly larger objects. As a result, objects that could be brought back into sync quickly may have to wait for larger activation tasks to complete first.
For administrators monitoring recovery activities, activation order can influence how quickly objects begin returning to a synchronized state and how recovery progress unfolds across the group.
Introducing Sort by Size
The new Sort by Size (Ascending) option introduces a simple but effective enhancement to group-level activation.
When enabled, iCluster processes out-of-sync objects in ascending order of object size. Activation starts with the smallest out-of-sync objects and progresses toward larger objects as processing continues.
Importantly, Sort by Size does not change activation eligibility, activation logic, or which objects are selected for activation. The feature changes only the order in which eligible objects are processed.
Available Within Existing Activation Workflows
One of the advantages of Sort by Size is that it integrates directly into an existing workflow administrators already use.
The option is available from:
Monitor → Activate All OOS Objects for Group
Within the activation dialog, administrators can enable the Sort by Size (Ascending Order) toggle alongside the existing activation options.
When the toggle is set to*YES, objects are activated in ascending size order. When the toggle is disabled, the default activation order is used.
Getting Smaller Objects Back in Sync Sooner
Sort by Size provides administrators with greater flexibility when determining how activation work is prioritized.
By processing smaller objects first, administrators can:
- Return smaller out-of-sync objects to a synchronized state earlier in the activation process.
- Reduce the time before the first objects return to sync.
- Gain better control over activation sequencing during recovery activities.
- Improve visibility into recovery progress as objects begin returning to sync sooner.
Rather than relying solely on the default activation order, administrators can prioritize smaller objects and establish a recovery sequence that aligns with their operational goals.
The Bottom Line
When multiple objects require activation, processing order can influence how quickly objects begin returning to a synchronized state.
With Activate OOS Objects by Size in iCluster Web 9.4.1, administrators can use the new Sort by Size (Ascending) option to activate smaller out-of-sync objects before larger ones. Integrated directly into the existing Activate All OOS Objects workflow, the feature provides additional control over recovery sequencing while helping objects return to sync earlier in the activation process.
A single toggle introduces a simple but meaningful enhancement to object activation—one that helps administrators manage recovery activities with greater flexibility and visibility.
See Sort by Size in Action
Watch the demo below to see how Sort by Size helps prioritize smaller out-of-sync objects during group-level activation in iCluster Web.
