---
title: Scaling down
description: Create or obtain the topology.json file either manually or by using external automation. When promoting from a dev/test environment to a stage/prod environment, you can obtain a topology.json file using the manage-topology export subcommand.
component: pingdirectory
version: 11.0
page_id: pingdirectory:pingdirectory_server_administration_guide:pd_ds_scale_down
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingdirectory/11.0/pingdirectory_server_administration_guide/pd_ds_scale_down.html
revdate: September 13, 2023
section_ids:
  steps: Steps
---

# Scaling down

## Steps

1. Create or obtain the `topology.json` file either manually or by using external automation. When promoting from a dev/test environment to a stage/prod environment, you can obtain a `topology.json` file using the `manage-topology export` subcommand.

2. If the server is not present in the topology JSON file, remove it from the topology, as follows:

   ```
   remove-defunct-server --topologyFilePath /path/to/topology.json \
     --ignore-online \
     --serverInstanceName instance-name
     --retryTimeoutSeconds 120
   ```

   For the sake of simplicity, LDAP bind options are omitted.