---
title: Configuring data streams created by Metricbeat 8
description: When monitoring using Metricbeat, data is stored in a set of data streams with the following pattern: For example: The settings and mappings for these...
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3016/deploy-manage/monitor/monitoring-data/config-monitoring-data-streams-metricbeat-8
products:
  - Elasticsearch
applies_to:
  - Elastic Cloud Hosted: Generally available
  - Elastic Cloud on Kubernetes: Generally available
  - Elastic Cloud Enterprise: Generally available
  - Self-managed Elastic deployments: Generally available
---

# Configuring data streams created by Metricbeat 8
When monitoring using Metricbeat, data is stored in a set of data streams with the following pattern:
```
.monitoring-{{product}}-8-mb
```

For example:
```
.monitoring-es-8-mb
```

The settings and mappings for these data streams are determined by an index template with the following pattern:
```
.monitoring-{{product}}-mb
```

For example:
```
.monitoring-es-mb
```

You can alter the settings of each data stream by cloning this index template and editing it.
<warning>
  You need to repeat this procedure when upgrading the Elastic Stack to get the latest updates to the default monitoring index templates.
</warning>

You can clone index templates in Kibana:
- go to the **Index Management** management page in the navigation menu or use the [global search field](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3016/explore-analyze/find-and-organize/find-apps-and-objects).
- Select **Index Templates**,
- From the **View** dropdown, select **System templates**.
- Search for the index template.
- Select the **Clone** action.
- Change the name, for example into `custom_monitoring`.
- Set the priority to `500`, to ensure it overrides the default index template.
- Specify the settings you want to change in the `settings` section.
- Save the cloned template.

You can also use the Elasticsearch API:
- Retrieve the index template using the [get index template API](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-indices-get-index-template).
- Edit the index template: set the template `priority` to `500`, and specify the settings you want to change in the `settings` section.
- Store the updated index template under a different name, for example `custom_monitoring`, using the [create index template API](https://www.elastic.co/docs/api/doc/elasticsearch/operation/operation-indices-put-index-template).

<note>
  Metricbeat 8 uses [composable templates](https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3016/manage-data/data-store/templates), rather than legacy templates.
</note>

After changing the index template, the updated settings are only applied to the data stream’s new backing indices. [Roll over the data stream](/elastic/docs-builder/docs/3016/manage-data/data-store/data-streams/use-data-stream#manually-roll-over-a-data-stream) to immediately apply the updated settings to the data stream’s write index.