:_mod-docs-content-type: CONCEPT

// Module included in the following assemblies:
//
// assembly-config.adoc

[id='con-configuring-cluster-operator-leader-election-{context}']
= Enabling leader election for Cluster Operator replicas 

[role="_abstract"]
Configure leader election environment variables when running additional Cluster Operator replicas.
The following environment variables are supported:

`STRIMZI_LEADER_ELECTION_ENABLED`:: Optional, disabled (`false`) by default.
Enables or disables leader election, which allows additional Cluster Operator replicas to run on standby.

NOTE: Leader election is disabled by default.
It is only enabled when applying this environment variable on installation.  

`STRIMZI_LEADER_ELECTION_LEASE_NAME`:: Required when leader election is enabled.
The name of the Kubernetes `Lease` resource that is used for the leader election.

`STRIMZI_LEADER_ELECTION_LEASE_NAMESPACE`:: Required when leader election is enabled.
The namespace where the Kubernetes `Lease` resource used for leader election is created.
You can use the downward API to configure it to the namespace where the Cluster Operator is deployed.
+
[source,yaml,options="nowrap"]
----
env:
  - name: STRIMZI_LEADER_ELECTION_LEASE_NAMESPACE
    valueFrom:
      fieldRef:
        fieldPath: metadata.namespace
----

`STRIMZI_LEADER_ELECTION_IDENTITY`:: Required when leader election is enabled.
Configures the identity of a given Cluster Operator instance used during the leader election.
The identity must be unique for each operator instance.
You can use the downward API to configure it to the name of the pod where the Cluster Operator is deployed.
+
[source,yaml,options="nowrap"]
----
env:
  - name: STRIMZI_LEADER_ELECTION_IDENTITY
    valueFrom:
      fieldRef:
        fieldPath: metadata.name
----

`STRIMZI_LEADER_ELECTION_LEASE_DURATION_MS`:: Optional, default 15000 ms.
Specifies the duration the acquired lease is valid.

`STRIMZI_LEADER_ELECTION_RENEW_DEADLINE_MS`:: Optional, default 10000 ms.
Specifies the period the leader should try to maintain leadership.

`STRIMZI_LEADER_ELECTION_RETRY_PERIOD_MS`:: Optional, default 2000 ms.
Specifies the frequency of updates to the lease lock by the leader.