Index: hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/HBaseAdmin.java =================================================================== --- hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/HBaseAdmin.java (revision 1459213) +++ hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/HBaseAdmin.java (working copy) @@ -1576,7 +1576,16 @@ } /** - * Special method, only used by hbck. + * Offline specified region from master's in-memory state. It will not attempt to reassign the + * region as in unassign. This API can be used when a region not served by any region server and + * still online as per Master's in memory state. If this API is incorrectly used on active region + * then master will loose track of that region. + * + * This is a special method that should be used by experts or hbck. + * + * @param regionName + * Region to offline. + * @throws IOException */ public void offline(final byte [] regionName) throws IOException {