# ILM Settings

LLMS index: [llms.txt](/llms.txt)

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<a id="ilm-settings"></a>
<a id="minio-server-envvar-ilm"></a>

This page covers settings that control Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) for the MinIO process.

You can establish or modify settings by defining:

- an *environment variable* on the host system prior to starting or restarting the MinIO Server. Refer to your operating system’s documentation for how to define an environment variable.
- a *configuration setting* using [`mc admin config set`](/reference/minio-mc-admin/mc-admin-config/#mc.admin.config.set).

If you define both an environment variable and the similar configuration setting, MinIO uses the environment variable value.

Some settings have only an environment variable or a configuration setting, but not both.

> [!WARNING]
> **Important**
>
> Each configuration setting controls fundamental MinIO behavior and functionality. MinIO **strongly recommends** testing configuration changes in a lower environment, such as DEV or QA, before applying to production.

## Expiration Workers {#expiration-workers}

**Environment Variable**

#### `MINIO_ILM_EXPIRATION_WORKERS` {#envvar.MINIO_ILM_EXPIRATION_WORKERS}

*envvar*

**Configuration Setting**

#### `ilm expiration_workers` {#mc-conf.ilm.expiration_workers}

*mc-conf*

> [!NOTE]
> **Added: MinIO**
>
> Server RELEASE.2024-03-03T17-50-39Z

Set the number of workers to use for [expiring objects](/administration/object-management/object-lifecycle-management/#minio-lifecycle-management-expiration). Valid values are `1` to `500`.

The default value is `100`.