diff --git a/command/agent/agent.go b/command/agent/agent.go
index e1b4364b5..5f4d95be2 100644
--- a/command/agent/agent.go
+++ b/command/agent/agent.go
@@ -314,6 +314,13 @@ func convertServerConfig(agentConfig *Config) (*nomad.Config, error) {
 		}
 		conf.DeploymentGCThreshold = dur
 	}
+	if gcThreshold := agentConfig.Server.CSIPluginGCThreshold; gcThreshold != "" {
+		dur, err := time.ParseDuration(gcThreshold)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		conf.CSIPluginGCThreshold = dur
+	}
 
 	if heartbeatGrace := agentConfig.Server.HeartbeatGrace; heartbeatGrace != 0 {
 		conf.HeartbeatGrace = heartbeatGrace
diff --git a/command/agent/config.go b/command/agent/config.go
index 0b2567736..799d57eea 100644
--- a/command/agent/config.go
+++ b/command/agent/config.go
@@ -389,6 +389,11 @@ type ServerConfig struct {
 	// GCed but the threshold can be used to filter by age.
 	DeploymentGCThreshold string `hcl:"deployment_gc_threshold"`
 
+	// CSIPluginGCThreshold controls how "old" a CSI plugin must be to be
+	// collected by GC. Age is not the only requirement for a plugin to be
+	// GCed but the threshold can be used to filter by age.
+	CSIPluginGCThreshold string `hcl:"csi_plugin_gc_threshold"`
+
 	// HeartbeatGrace is the grace period beyond the TTL to account for network,
 	// processing delays and clock skew before marking a node as "down".
 	HeartbeatGrace    time.Duration
@@ -1323,6 +1328,9 @@ func (a *ServerConfig) Merge(b *ServerConfig) *ServerConfig {
 	if b.DeploymentGCThreshold != "" {
 		result.DeploymentGCThreshold = b.DeploymentGCThreshold
 	}
+	if b.CSIPluginGCThreshold != "" {
+		result.CSIPluginGCThreshold = b.CSIPluginGCThreshold
+	}
 	if b.HeartbeatGrace != 0 {
 		result.HeartbeatGrace = b.HeartbeatGrace
 	}
diff --git a/command/agent/config_parse_test.go b/command/agent/config_parse_test.go
index 157413ec0..e5523373f 100644
--- a/command/agent/config_parse_test.go
+++ b/command/agent/config_parse_test.go
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ var basicConfig = &Config{
 		JobGCInterval:          "3m",
 		JobGCThreshold:         "12h",
 		DeploymentGCThreshold:  "12h",
+		CSIPluginGCThreshold:   "12h",
 		HeartbeatGrace:         30 * time.Second,
 		HeartbeatGraceHCL:      "30s",
 		MinHeartbeatTTL:        33 * time.Second,
diff --git a/command/agent/testdata/basic.hcl b/command/agent/testdata/basic.hcl
index 78d8d63ef..69ed6cf00 100644
--- a/command/agent/testdata/basic.hcl
+++ b/command/agent/testdata/basic.hcl
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ server {
   job_gc_threshold          = "12h"
   eval_gc_threshold         = "12h"
   deployment_gc_threshold   = "12h"
+  csi_plugin_gc_threshold   = "12h"
   heartbeat_grace           = "30s"
   min_heartbeat_ttl         = "33s"
   max_heartbeats_per_second = 11.0
diff --git a/command/agent/testdata/basic.json b/command/agent/testdata/basic.json
index b02e0db88..ab18da9c1 100644
--- a/command/agent/testdata/basic.json
+++ b/command/agent/testdata/basic.json
@@ -256,6 +256,7 @@
     {
       "authoritative_region": "foobar",
       "bootstrap_expect": 5,
+      "csi_plugin_gc_threshold": "12h",
       "data_dir": "/tmp/data",
       "deployment_gc_threshold": "12h",
       "enabled": true,
diff --git a/nomad/config.go b/nomad/config.go
index 8b4fc1c25..e7be14d2c 100644
--- a/nomad/config.go
+++ b/nomad/config.go
@@ -191,6 +191,13 @@ type Config struct {
 	// for GC. This gives users some time to view terminal deployments.
 	DeploymentGCThreshold time.Duration
 
+	// CSIPluginGCInterval is how often we dispatch a job to GC unused plugins.
+	CSIPluginGCInterval time.Duration
+
+	// CSIPluginGCThreshold is how "old" a plugin must be to be eligible
+	// for GC. This gives users some time to debug plugins.
+	CSIPluginGCThreshold time.Duration
+
 	// EvalNackTimeout controls how long we allow a sub-scheduler to
 	// work on an evaluation before we consider it failed and Nack it.
 	// This allows that evaluation to be handed to another sub-scheduler
@@ -377,6 +384,8 @@ func DefaultConfig() *Config {
 		NodeGCThreshold:                  24 * time.Hour,
 		DeploymentGCInterval:             5 * time.Minute,
 		DeploymentGCThreshold:            1 * time.Hour,
+		CSIPluginGCInterval:              5 * time.Minute,
+		CSIPluginGCThreshold:             1 * time.Hour,
 		EvalNackTimeout:                  60 * time.Second,
 		EvalDeliveryLimit:                3,
 		EvalNackInitialReenqueueDelay:    1 * time.Second,
diff --git a/nomad/core_sched.go b/nomad/core_sched.go
index 08f65e5bf..e3f762f4c 100644
--- a/nomad/core_sched.go
+++ b/nomad/core_sched.go
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ func (c *CoreScheduler) Process(eval *structs.Evaluation) error {
 		return c.deploymentGC(eval)
 	case structs.CoreJobCSIVolumeClaimGC:
 		return c.csiVolumeClaimGC(eval)
+	case structs.CoreJobCSIPluginGC:
+		return c.csiPluginGC(eval)
 	case structs.CoreJobForceGC:
 		return c.forceGC(eval)
 	default:
@@ -72,6 +74,9 @@ func (c *CoreScheduler) forceGC(eval *structs.Evaluation) error {
 	if err := c.deploymentGC(eval); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if err := c.csiPluginGC(eval); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	// Node GC must occur after the others to ensure the allocations are
 	// cleared.
@@ -736,3 +741,51 @@ func (c *CoreScheduler) csiVolumeClaimGC(eval *structs.Evaluation) error {
 	err := c.srv.RPC("CSIVolume.Claim", req, &structs.CSIVolumeClaimResponse{})
 	return err
 }
+
+// csiPluginGC is used to garbage collect unused plugins
+func (c *CoreScheduler) csiPluginGC(eval *structs.Evaluation) error {
+
+	ws := memdb.NewWatchSet()
+
+	iter, err := c.snap.CSIPlugins(ws)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Get the time table to calculate GC cutoffs.
+	var oldThreshold uint64
+	if eval.JobID == structs.CoreJobForceGC {
+		// The GC was forced, so set the threshold to its maximum so
+		// everything will GC.
+		oldThreshold = math.MaxUint64
+		c.logger.Debug("forced plugin GC")
+	} else {
+		tt := c.srv.fsm.TimeTable()
+		cutoff := time.Now().UTC().Add(-1 * c.srv.config.CSIPluginGCThreshold)
+		oldThreshold = tt.NearestIndex(cutoff)
+	}
+
+	c.logger.Debug("CSI plugin GC scanning before cutoff index",
+		"index", oldThreshold, "csi_plugin_gc_threshold", c.srv.config.CSIPluginGCThreshold)
+
+	for i := iter.Next(); i != nil; i = iter.Next() {
+		plugin := i.(*structs.CSIPlugin)
+
+		// Ignore new plugins
+		if plugin.CreateIndex > oldThreshold {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		req := &structs.CSIPluginDeleteRequest{ID: plugin.ID}
+		req.Region = c.srv.Region()
+		err := c.srv.RPC("CSIPlugin.Delete", req, &structs.CSIPluginDeleteResponse{})
+		if err != nil {
+			if err.Error() == "plugin in use" {
+				continue
+			}
+			c.logger.Error("failed to GC plugin", "plugin_id", plugin.ID, "error", err)
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/nomad/core_sched_test.go b/nomad/core_sched_test.go
index 70b500a82..bfebd51ba 100644
--- a/nomad/core_sched_test.go
+++ b/nomad/core_sched_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	memdb "github.com/hashicorp/go-memdb"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper/uuid"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/nomad/mock"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/nomad/state"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/nomad/structs"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/testutil"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -2193,3 +2194,57 @@ func TestAllocation_GCEligible(t *testing.T) {
 	alloc.ClientStatus = structs.AllocClientStatusComplete
 	require.True(allocGCEligible(alloc, nil, time.Now(), 1000))
 }
+
+func TestCoreScheduler_CSIPluginGC(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	srv, cleanupSRV := TestServer(t, nil)
+	defer cleanupSRV()
+	testutil.WaitForLeader(t, srv.RPC)
+	require := require.New(t)
+
+	srv.fsm.timetable.table = make([]TimeTableEntry, 1, 10)
+
+	deleteNodes := state.CreateTestCSIPlugin(srv.fsm.State(), "foo")
+	defer deleteNodes()
+	state := srv.fsm.State()
+
+	// Update the time tables to make this work
+	tt := srv.fsm.TimeTable()
+	index := uint64(2000)
+	tt.Witness(index, time.Now().UTC().Add(-1*srv.config.DeploymentGCThreshold))
+
+	// Create a core scheduler
+	snap, err := state.Snapshot()
+	require.NoError(err)
+	core := NewCoreScheduler(srv, snap)
+
+	// Attempt the GC
+	index++
+	gc := srv.coreJobEval(structs.CoreJobCSIPluginGC, index)
+	require.NoError(core.Process(gc))
+
+	// Should not be gone (plugin in use)
+	ws := memdb.NewWatchSet()
+	plug, err := state.CSIPluginByID(ws, "foo")
+	require.NotNil(plug)
+	require.NoError(err)
+
+	// Empty the plugin
+	plug.Controllers = map[string]*structs.CSIInfo{}
+	plug.Nodes = map[string]*structs.CSIInfo{}
+
+	index++
+	err = state.UpsertCSIPlugin(index, plug)
+	require.NoError(err)
+
+	// Retry
+	index++
+	gc = srv.coreJobEval(structs.CoreJobCSIPluginGC, index)
+	require.NoError(core.Process(gc))
+
+	// Should be gone
+	plug, err = state.CSIPluginByID(ws, "foo")
+	require.Nil(plug)
+	require.NoError(err)
+}
diff --git a/nomad/csi_endpoint.go b/nomad/csi_endpoint.go
index b04294680..56e6254be 100644
--- a/nomad/csi_endpoint.go
+++ b/nomad/csi_endpoint.go
@@ -594,3 +594,34 @@ func (v *CSIPlugin) Get(args *structs.CSIPluginGetRequest, reply *structs.CSIPlu
 		}}
 	return v.srv.blockingRPC(&opts)
 }
+
+// Delete deletes a plugin if it is unused
+func (v *CSIPlugin) Delete(args *structs.CSIPluginDeleteRequest, reply *structs.CSIPluginDeleteResponse) error {
+	if done, err := v.srv.forward("CSIPlugin.Delete", args, args, reply); done {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Check that it is a management token.
+	if aclObj, err := v.srv.ResolveToken(args.AuthToken); err != nil {
+		return err
+	} else if aclObj != nil && !aclObj.IsManagement() {
+		return structs.ErrPermissionDenied
+	}
+
+	metricsStart := time.Now()
+	defer metrics.MeasureSince([]string{"nomad", "plugin", "delete"}, metricsStart)
+
+	resp, index, err := v.srv.raftApply(structs.CSIPluginDeleteRequestType, args)
+	if err != nil {
+		v.logger.Error("csi raft apply failed", "error", err, "method", "delete")
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if respErr, ok := resp.(error); ok {
+		return respErr
+	}
+
+	reply.Index = index
+	v.srv.setQueryMeta(&reply.QueryMeta)
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/nomad/csi_endpoint_test.go b/nomad/csi_endpoint_test.go
index 1878d109b..fb903cdb3 100644
--- a/nomad/csi_endpoint_test.go
+++ b/nomad/csi_endpoint_test.go
@@ -548,6 +548,87 @@ func TestCSIPluginEndpoint_RegisterViaFingerprint(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Nil(t, resp2.Plugin)
 }
 
+func TestCSIPluginEndpoint_DeleteViaGC(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	srv, shutdown := TestServer(t, func(c *Config) {
+		c.NumSchedulers = 0 // Prevent automatic dequeue
+	})
+	defer shutdown()
+	testutil.WaitForLeader(t, srv.RPC)
+
+	deleteNodes := state.CreateTestCSIPlugin(srv.fsm.State(), "foo")
+	defer deleteNodes()
+
+	state := srv.fsm.State()
+	state.BootstrapACLTokens(1, 0, mock.ACLManagementToken())
+	srv.config.ACLEnabled = true
+	codec := rpcClient(t, srv)
+
+	// Get the plugin back out
+	listJob := mock.NamespacePolicy(structs.DefaultNamespace, "", []string{acl.NamespaceCapabilityReadJob})
+	policy := mock.PluginPolicy("read") + listJob
+	getToken := mock.CreatePolicyAndToken(t, state, 1001, "plugin-read", policy)
+
+	reqGet := &structs.CSIPluginGetRequest{
+		ID: "foo",
+		QueryOptions: structs.QueryOptions{
+			Region:    "global",
+			AuthToken: getToken.SecretID,
+		},
+	}
+	respGet := &structs.CSIPluginGetResponse{}
+	err := msgpackrpc.CallWithCodec(codec, "CSIPlugin.Get", reqGet, respGet)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, respGet.Plugin)
+
+	// Delete plugin
+	reqDel := &structs.CSIPluginDeleteRequest{
+		ID: "foo",
+		QueryOptions: structs.QueryOptions{
+			Region:    "global",
+			AuthToken: getToken.SecretID,
+		},
+	}
+	respDel := &structs.CSIPluginDeleteResponse{}
+
+	// Improper permissions
+	err = msgpackrpc.CallWithCodec(codec, "CSIPlugin.Delete", reqDel, respDel)
+	require.EqualError(t, err, structs.ErrPermissionDenied.Error())
+
+	// Retry with management permissions
+	reqDel.AuthToken = srv.getLeaderAcl()
+	err = msgpackrpc.CallWithCodec(codec, "CSIPlugin.Delete", reqDel, respDel)
+	require.EqualError(t, err, "plugin in use")
+
+	// Plugin was not deleted
+	err = msgpackrpc.CallWithCodec(codec, "CSIPlugin.Get", reqGet, respGet)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, respGet.Plugin)
+
+	// Empty the plugin
+	plugin := respGet.Plugin.Copy()
+	plugin.Controllers = map[string]*structs.CSIInfo{}
+	plugin.Nodes = map[string]*structs.CSIInfo{}
+
+	index, _ := state.LatestIndex()
+	index++
+	err = state.UpsertCSIPlugin(index, plugin)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Retry now that it's empty
+	err = msgpackrpc.CallWithCodec(codec, "CSIPlugin.Delete", reqDel, respDel)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Plugin is deleted
+	err = msgpackrpc.CallWithCodec(codec, "CSIPlugin.Get", reqGet, respGet)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Nil(t, respGet.Plugin)
+
+	// Safe to call on already-deleted plugnis
+	err = msgpackrpc.CallWithCodec(codec, "CSIPlugin.Delete", reqDel, respDel)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
 func TestCSI_RPCVolumeAndPluginLookup(t *testing.T) {
 	srv, shutdown := TestServer(t, func(c *Config) {})
 	defer shutdown()
diff --git a/nomad/fsm.go b/nomad/fsm.go
index b9f412393..39280a736 100644
--- a/nomad/fsm.go
+++ b/nomad/fsm.go
@@ -270,10 +270,12 @@ func (n *nomadFSM) Apply(log *raft.Log) interface{} {
 		return n.applyCSIVolumeDeregister(buf[1:], log.Index)
 	case structs.CSIVolumeClaimRequestType:
 		return n.applyCSIVolumeClaim(buf[1:], log.Index)
-	case structs.CSIVolumeClaimBatchRequestType:
-		return n.applyCSIVolumeBatchClaim(buf[1:], log.Index)
 	case structs.ScalingEventRegisterRequestType:
 		return n.applyUpsertScalingEvent(buf[1:], log.Index)
+	case structs.CSIVolumeClaimBatchRequestType:
+		return n.applyCSIVolumeBatchClaim(buf[1:], log.Index)
+	case structs.CSIPluginDeleteRequestType:
+		return n.applyCSIPluginDelete(buf[1:], log.Index)
 	}
 
 	// Check enterprise only message types.
@@ -1190,6 +1192,24 @@ func (n *nomadFSM) applyCSIVolumeClaim(buf []byte, index uint64) interface{} {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (n *nomadFSM) applyCSIPluginDelete(buf []byte, index uint64) interface{} {
+	var req structs.CSIPluginDeleteRequest
+	if err := structs.Decode(buf, &req); err != nil {
+		panic(fmt.Errorf("failed to decode request: %v", err))
+	}
+	defer metrics.MeasureSince([]string{"nomad", "fsm", "apply_csi_plugin_delete"}, time.Now())
+
+	if err := n.state.DeleteCSIPlugin(index, req.ID); err != nil {
+		// "plugin in use" is an error for the state store but not for typical
+		// callers, so reduce log noise by not logging that case here
+		if err.Error() != "plugin in use" {
+			n.logger.Error("DeleteCSIPlugin failed", "error", err)
+		}
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (n *nomadFSM) Snapshot() (raft.FSMSnapshot, error) {
 	// Create a new snapshot
 	snap, err := n.state.Snapshot()
diff --git a/nomad/leader.go b/nomad/leader.go
index 29550dc79..97a59eb1a 100644
--- a/nomad/leader.go
+++ b/nomad/leader.go
@@ -522,6 +522,8 @@ func (s *Server) schedulePeriodic(stopCh chan struct{}) {
 	defer jobGC.Stop()
 	deploymentGC := time.NewTicker(s.config.DeploymentGCInterval)
 	defer deploymentGC.Stop()
+	csiPluginGC := time.NewTicker(s.config.CSIPluginGCInterval)
+	defer csiPluginGC.Stop()
 
 	// getLatest grabs the latest index from the state store. It returns true if
 	// the index was retrieved successfully.
@@ -554,6 +556,11 @@ func (s *Server) schedulePeriodic(stopCh chan struct{}) {
 			if index, ok := getLatest(); ok {
 				s.evalBroker.Enqueue(s.coreJobEval(structs.CoreJobDeploymentGC, index))
 			}
+		case <-csiPluginGC.C:
+			if index, ok := getLatest(); ok {
+				s.evalBroker.Enqueue(s.coreJobEval(structs.CoreJobCSIPluginGC, index))
+			}
+
 		case <-stopCh:
 			return
 		}
diff --git a/nomad/state/state_store.go b/nomad/state/state_store.go
index 88d9b1bb8..fbb1e3e57 100644
--- a/nomad/state/state_store.go
+++ b/nomad/state/state_store.go
@@ -2312,6 +2312,65 @@ func (s *StateStore) CSIPluginDenormalize(ws memdb.WatchSet, plug *structs.CSIPl
 	return plug, nil
 }
 
+// UpsertCSIPlugin writes the plugin to the state store. Note: there
+// is currently no raft message for this, as it's intended to support
+// testing use cases.
+func (s *StateStore) UpsertCSIPlugin(index uint64, plug *structs.CSIPlugin) error {
+	txn := s.db.Txn(true)
+	defer txn.Abort()
+
+	existing, err := txn.First("csi_plugins", "id", plug.ID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("csi_plugin lookup error: %s %v", plug.ID, err)
+	}
+
+	plug.ModifyIndex = index
+	if existing != nil {
+		plug.CreateIndex = existing.(*structs.CSIPlugin).CreateIndex
+	}
+
+	err = txn.Insert("csi_plugins", plug)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("csi_plugins insert error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := txn.Insert("index", &IndexEntry{"csi_plugins", index}); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("index update failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	txn.Commit()
+	return nil
+}
+
+// DeleteCSIPlugin deletes the plugin if it's not in use.
+func (s *StateStore) DeleteCSIPlugin(index uint64, id string) error {
+	txn := s.db.Txn(true)
+	defer txn.Abort()
+	ws := memdb.NewWatchSet()
+
+	plug, err := s.CSIPluginByID(ws, id)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if plug == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	plug, err = s.CSIPluginDenormalize(ws, plug.Copy())
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if !plug.IsEmpty() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("plugin in use")
+	}
+
+	err = txn.Delete("csi_plugins", plug)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("csi_plugins delete error: %v", err)
+	}
+	txn.Commit()
+	return nil
+}
+
 // UpsertPeriodicLaunch is used to register a launch or update it.
 func (s *StateStore) UpsertPeriodicLaunch(index uint64, launch *structs.PeriodicLaunch) error {
 	txn := s.db.Txn(true)
diff --git a/nomad/structs/csi.go b/nomad/structs/csi.go
index a227e93c1..7cecb7cd9 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/csi.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/csi.go
@@ -868,3 +868,12 @@ type CSIPluginGetResponse struct {
 	Plugin *CSIPlugin
 	QueryMeta
 }
+
+type CSIPluginDeleteRequest struct {
+	ID string
+	QueryOptions
+}
+
+type CSIPluginDeleteResponse struct {
+	QueryMeta
+}
diff --git a/nomad/structs/structs.go b/nomad/structs/structs.go
index 5a2e47c5f..0880cbef0 100644
--- a/nomad/structs/structs.go
+++ b/nomad/structs/structs.go
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ const (
 	CSIVolumeClaimRequestType
 	ScalingEventRegisterRequestType
 	CSIVolumeClaimBatchRequestType
+	CSIPluginDeleteRequestType
 )
 
 const (
@@ -8990,6 +8991,11 @@ const (
 	// claiming them. If so, we unclaim the volume.
 	CoreJobCSIVolumeClaimGC = "csi-volume-claim-gc"
 
+	// CoreJobCSIPluginGC is use for the garbage collection of CSI plugins.
+	// We periodically scan plugins to see if they have no associated volumes
+	// or allocs running them. If so, we delete the plugin.
+	CoreJobCSIPluginGC = "csi-plugin-gc"
+
 	// CoreJobForceGC is used to force garbage collection of all GCable objects.
 	CoreJobForceGC = "force-gc"
 )
diff --git a/website/pages/docs/configuration/server.mdx b/website/pages/docs/configuration/server.mdx
index db7294a7b..e14a3fae2 100644
--- a/website/pages/docs/configuration/server.mdx
+++ b/website/pages/docs/configuration/server.mdx
@@ -90,6 +90,10 @@ server {
   deployment must be in the terminal state before it is eligible for garbage
   collection. This is specified using a label suffix like "30s" or "1h".
 
+- `csi_plugin_gc_threshold` `(string: "1h")` - Specifies the minimum age of
+  CSI plugin before it is eligible for garbage collection if not in use.
+  This is specified using a label suffix like "30s" or "1h".
+
 - `default_scheduler_config` <code>([scheduler_configuration][update-scheduler-config]:
   nil)</code> - Specifies the initial default scheduler config when
   bootstrapping cluster. The parameter is ignored once the cluster is bootstrapped or