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Posted to commits@hbase.apache.org by bb...@apache.org on 2022/12/15 17:03:44 UTC

[hbase] 04/91: HubSpot Backport: HBASE-26147 Add a dry run mode to the balancer, where moves are calculated but not actually executed

This is an automated email from the ASF dual-hosted git repository.

bbeaudreault pushed a commit to branch hubspot-2
in repository https://gitbox.apache.org/repos/asf/hbase.git

commit 1507f893a75d8d861980fa5fe6ec1e353eee8bb2
Author: Bryan Beaudreault <bb...@hubspot.com>
AuthorDate: Wed Sep 1 21:55:40 2021 -0400

    HubSpot Backport: HBASE-26147 Add a dry run mode to the balancer, where moves are calculated but not actually executed
    
    Signed-off-by: Duo Zhang <zh...@apache.org>
    Signed-off-by: Josh Elser <el...@apache.org>
    
    (Re-application of HBASE-26147 with the correct author metadata)
---
 .../java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/Admin.java |  28 ++++-
 .../org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/AsyncAdmin.java |  22 +++-
 .../hadoop/hbase/client/AsyncHBaseAdmin.java       |   4 +-
 .../apache/hadoop/hbase/client/BalanceRequest.java | 114 +++++++++++++++++++
 .../hadoop/hbase/client/BalanceResponse.java       | 126 +++++++++++++++++++++
 .../org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/HBaseAdmin.java |  69 +++++------
 .../hadoop/hbase/client/RawAsyncHBaseAdmin.java    |  14 +--
 .../hadoop/hbase/shaded/protobuf/ProtobufUtil.java |  32 ++++++
 .../hbase/shaded/protobuf/RequestConverter.java    |  10 --
 .../src/main/protobuf/Master.proto                 |   5 +-
 .../apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdmin.java  |  14 ++-
 .../hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdminClient.java   |  12 +-
 .../hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdminEndpoint.java |  21 +++-
 .../hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdminServer.java   |  29 +++--
 .../hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupProtobufUtil.java  |  35 +++++-
 hbase-rsgroup/src/main/protobuf/RSGroupAdmin.proto |   4 +
 .../hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/TestRSGroupsBalance.java  |  90 ++++++++++-----
 .../hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/TestRSGroupsBase.java     |   6 +-
 .../hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/TestRSGroupsFallback.java |   4 +-
 .../hbase/rsgroup/VerifyingRSGroupAdminClient.java |   6 +-
 .../hadoop/hbase/coprocessor/MasterObserver.java   |  16 ++-
 .../org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java    |  54 +++++----
 .../hadoop/hbase/master/MasterCoprocessorHost.java |  18 +--
 .../hadoop/hbase/master/MasterRpcServices.java     |   3 +-
 .../hbase/security/access/AccessController.java    |   3 +-
 .../apache/hadoop/hbase/TestRegionRebalancing.java |  27 ++++-
 .../client/TestAsyncTableGetMultiThreaded.java     |   2 +-
 .../hadoop/hbase/client/TestMultiParallel.java     |   2 +-
 .../hbase/client/TestSeparateClientZKCluster.java  |   4 +-
 .../hbase/coprocessor/TestMasterObserver.java      |  13 ++-
 .../hbase/master/TestMasterDryRunBalancer.java     | 126 +++++++++++++++++++++
 .../master/procedure/TestProcedurePriority.java    |   3 +-
 .../security/access/TestAccessController.java      |   3 +-
 .../access/TestWithDisabledAuthorization.java      |   3 +-
 hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/admin.rb           |   7 +-
 hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/balancer_utils.rb  |  57 ++++++++++
 hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/rsgroup_admin.rb   |   7 +-
 .../main/ruby/shell/commands/balance_rsgroup.rb    |  22 +++-
 .../src/main/ruby/shell/commands/balancer.rb       |  33 +++---
 hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/admin_test.rb      |   8 +-
 .../src/test/ruby/hbase/balancer_utils_test.rb     |  78 +++++++++++++
 .../src/test/ruby/shell/rsgroup_shell_test.rb      |   2 +
 .../hadoop/hbase/thrift2/client/ThriftAdmin.java   |   7 ++
 43 files changed, 943 insertions(+), 200 deletions(-)

diff --git a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/Admin.java b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/Admin.java
index fb616128d99..a3a51071b33 100644
--- a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/Admin.java
+++ b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/Admin.java
@@ -1251,7 +1251,20 @@ public interface Admin extends Abortable, Closeable {
    * @return <code>true</code> if balancer ran, <code>false</code> otherwise.
    * @throws IOException if a remote or network exception occurs
    */
-  boolean balance() throws IOException;
+  default boolean balance() throws IOException {
+    return balance(BalanceRequest.defaultInstance())
+      .isBalancerRan();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Invoke the balancer with the given balance request.  The BalanceRequest defines how the
+   * balancer will run. See {@link BalanceRequest} for more details.
+   *
+   * @param request defines how the balancer should run
+   * @return {@link BalanceResponse} with details about the results of the invocation.
+   * @throws IOException if a remote or network exception occurs
+   */
+  BalanceResponse balance(BalanceRequest request) throws IOException;
 
   /**
    * Invoke the balancer.  Will run the balancer and if regions to move, it will
@@ -1262,7 +1275,7 @@ public interface Admin extends Abortable, Closeable {
    * @return <code>true</code> if balancer ran, <code>false</code> otherwise.
    * @throws IOException if a remote or network exception occurs
    * @deprecated Since 2.0.0. Will be removed in 3.0.0.
-   * Use {@link #balance(boolean)} instead.
+   * Use {@link #balance(BalanceRequest)} instead.
    */
   @Deprecated
   default boolean balancer(boolean force) throws IOException {
@@ -1277,8 +1290,17 @@ public interface Admin extends Abortable, Closeable {
    * @param force whether we should force balance even if there is region in transition
    * @return <code>true</code> if balancer ran, <code>false</code> otherwise.
    * @throws IOException if a remote or network exception occurs
+   * @deprecated Since 2.5.0. Will be removed in 4.0.0.
+   * Use {@link #balance(BalanceRequest)} instead.
    */
-  boolean balance(boolean force) throws IOException;
+  @Deprecated
+  default boolean balance(boolean force) throws IOException {
+    return balance(
+      BalanceRequest.newBuilder()
+      .setIgnoreRegionsInTransition(force)
+      .build()
+    ).isBalancerRan();
+  }
 
   /**
    * Query the current state of the balancer.
diff --git a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/AsyncAdmin.java b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/AsyncAdmin.java
index 6b8fda79f07..85d545505e9 100644
--- a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/AsyncAdmin.java
+++ b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/AsyncAdmin.java
@@ -1257,7 +1257,8 @@ public interface AsyncAdmin {
    *         {@link CompletableFuture}.
    */
   default CompletableFuture<Boolean> balance() {
-    return balance(false);
+    return balance(BalanceRequest.defaultInstance())
+      .thenApply(BalanceResponse::isBalancerRan);
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1267,8 +1268,25 @@ public interface AsyncAdmin {
    * @param forcible whether we should force balance even if there is region in transition.
    * @return True if balancer ran, false otherwise. The return value will be wrapped by a
    *         {@link CompletableFuture}.
+   * @deprecated Since 2.5.0. Will be removed in 4.0.0.
+   *  Use {@link #balance(BalanceRequest)} instead.
+   */
+  default CompletableFuture<Boolean> balance(boolean forcible) {
+    return balance(
+      BalanceRequest.newBuilder()
+        .setIgnoreRegionsInTransition(forcible)
+        .build()
+    ).thenApply(BalanceResponse::isBalancerRan);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Invoke the balancer with the given balance request.  The BalanceRequest defines how the
+   * balancer will run. See {@link BalanceRequest} for more details.
+   *
+   * @param request defines how the balancer should run
+   * @return {@link BalanceResponse} with details about the results of the invocation.
    */
-  CompletableFuture<Boolean> balance(boolean forcible);
+  CompletableFuture<BalanceResponse> balance(BalanceRequest request);
 
   /**
    * Query the current state of the balancer.
diff --git a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/AsyncHBaseAdmin.java b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/AsyncHBaseAdmin.java
index c7b9897f501..db720f3f68e 100644
--- a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/AsyncHBaseAdmin.java
+++ b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/AsyncHBaseAdmin.java
@@ -684,8 +684,8 @@ class AsyncHBaseAdmin implements AsyncAdmin {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public CompletableFuture<Boolean> balance(boolean forcible) {
-    return wrap(rawAdmin.balance(forcible));
+  public CompletableFuture<BalanceResponse> balance(BalanceRequest request) {
+    return wrap(rawAdmin.balance(request));
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/BalanceRequest.java b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/BalanceRequest.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e464410c8df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/BalanceRequest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+/*
+ *
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+ * distributed with this work for additional information
+ * regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+ * to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+ * "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+ * with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client;
+
+import org.apache.yetus.audience.InterfaceAudience;
+
+/**
+ * Encapsulates options for executing a run of the Balancer.
+ */
+@InterfaceAudience.Public
+public final class BalanceRequest {
+  private static final BalanceRequest DEFAULT = BalanceRequest.newBuilder().build();
+
+  /**
+   * Builder for constructing a {@link BalanceRequest}
+   */
+  @InterfaceAudience.Public
+  public final static class Builder {
+    private boolean dryRun = false;
+    private boolean ignoreRegionsInTransition = false;
+
+    private Builder() {}
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a BalancerRequest which runs the balancer in dryRun mode.
+     * In this mode, the balancer will try to find a plan but WILL NOT
+     * execute any region moves or call any coprocessors.
+     *
+     * You can run in dryRun mode regardless of whether the balancer switch
+     * is enabled or disabled, but dryRun mode will not run over an existing
+     * request or chore.
+     *
+     * Dry run is useful for testing out new balance configs. See the logs
+     * on the active HMaster for the results of the dry run.
+     */
+    public Builder setDryRun(boolean dryRun) {
+      this.dryRun = dryRun;
+      return this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Creates a BalancerRequest to cause the balancer to run even if there
+     * are regions in transition.
+     *
+     * WARNING: Advanced usage only, this could cause more issues than it fixes.
+     */
+    public Builder setIgnoreRegionsInTransition(boolean ignoreRegionsInTransition) {
+      this.ignoreRegionsInTransition = ignoreRegionsInTransition;
+      return this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Build the {@link BalanceRequest}
+     */
+    public BalanceRequest build() {
+      return new BalanceRequest(dryRun, ignoreRegionsInTransition);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Create a builder to construct a custom {@link BalanceRequest}.
+   */
+  public static Builder newBuilder() {
+    return new Builder();
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get a BalanceRequest for a default run of the balancer. The default mode executes
+   * any moves calculated and will not run if regions are already in transition.
+   */
+  public static BalanceRequest defaultInstance() {
+    return DEFAULT;
+  }
+
+  private final boolean dryRun;
+  private final boolean ignoreRegionsInTransition;
+
+  private BalanceRequest(boolean dryRun, boolean ignoreRegionsInTransition) {
+    this.dryRun = dryRun;
+    this.ignoreRegionsInTransition = ignoreRegionsInTransition;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Returns true if the balancer should run in dry run mode, otherwise false. In
+   * dry run mode, moves will be calculated but not executed.
+   */
+  public boolean isDryRun() {
+    return dryRun;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Returns true if the balancer should execute even if regions are in transition, otherwise
+   * false. This is an advanced usage feature, as it can cause more issues than it fixes.
+   */
+  public boolean isIgnoreRegionsInTransition() {
+    return ignoreRegionsInTransition;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/BalanceResponse.java b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/BalanceResponse.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0d8e84b9a0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/BalanceResponse.java
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+/*
+ *
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+ * distributed with this work for additional information
+ * regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+ * to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+ * "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+ * with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client;
+
+import org.apache.yetus.audience.InterfaceAudience;
+
+/**
+ * Response returned from a balancer invocation
+ */
+@InterfaceAudience.Public
+public final class BalanceResponse {
+
+  /**
+   * Builds a {@link BalanceResponse} for returning results of a balance invocation to callers
+   */
+  @InterfaceAudience.Public
+  public final static class Builder {
+    private boolean balancerRan;
+    private int movesCalculated;
+    private int movesExecuted;
+
+    private Builder() {}
+
+    /**
+     * Set true if the balancer ran, otherwise false. The balancer may not run in some
+     * circumstances, such as if a balance is already running or there are regions already
+     * in transition.
+     *
+     * @param balancerRan true if balancer ran, false otherwise
+     */
+    public Builder setBalancerRan(boolean balancerRan) {
+      this.balancerRan = balancerRan;
+      return this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set how many moves were calculated by the balancer. This will be zero if the cluster is
+     * already balanced.
+     *
+     * @param movesCalculated moves calculated by the balance run
+     */
+    public Builder setMovesCalculated(int movesCalculated) {
+      this.movesCalculated = movesCalculated;
+      return this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set how many of the calculated moves were actually executed by the balancer. This should be
+     * zero if the balancer is run with {@link BalanceRequest#isDryRun()}. It may also not equal
+     * movesCalculated if the balancer ran out of time while executing the moves.
+     *
+     * @param movesExecuted moves executed by the balance run
+     */
+    public Builder setMovesExecuted(int movesExecuted) {
+      this.movesExecuted = movesExecuted;
+      return this;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Build the {@link BalanceResponse}
+     */
+    public BalanceResponse build() {
+      return new BalanceResponse(balancerRan, movesCalculated, movesExecuted);
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Creates a new {@link BalanceResponse.Builder}
+   */
+  public static Builder newBuilder() {
+    return new Builder();
+  }
+
+  private final boolean balancerRan;
+  private final int movesCalculated;
+  private final int movesExecuted;
+
+  private BalanceResponse(boolean balancerRan, int movesCalculated, int movesExecuted) {
+    this.balancerRan = balancerRan;
+    this.movesCalculated = movesCalculated;
+    this.movesExecuted = movesExecuted;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Returns true if the balancer ran, otherwise false. The balancer may not run for a
+   * variety of reasons, such as: another balance is running, there are regions in
+   * transition, the cluster is in maintenance mode, etc.
+   */
+  public boolean isBalancerRan() {
+    return balancerRan;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * The number of moves calculated by the balancer if {@link #isBalancerRan()} is true. This will
+   * be zero if no better balance could be found.
+   */
+  public int getMovesCalculated() {
+    return movesCalculated;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * The number of moves actually executed by the balancer if it ran. This will be
+   * zero if {@link #getMovesCalculated()} is zero or if {@link BalanceRequest#isDryRun()}
+   * was true. It may also not be equal to {@link #getMovesCalculated()} if the balancer
+   * was interrupted midway through executing the moves due to max run time.
+   */
+  public int getMovesExecuted() {
+    return movesExecuted;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/HBaseAdmin.java b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/HBaseAdmin.java
index b7ed2d03ad9..0704d518d07 100644
--- a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/HBaseAdmin.java
+++ b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/HBaseAdmin.java
@@ -92,6 +92,25 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.security.access.GetUserPermissionsRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.security.access.Permission;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.security.access.ShadedAccessControlUtil;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.security.access.UserPermission;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.snapshot.ClientSnapshotDescriptionUtils;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.snapshot.HBaseSnapshotException;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.snapshot.RestoreSnapshotException;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.snapshot.SnapshotCreationException;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.snapshot.UnknownSnapshotException;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.util.Addressing;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.util.Bytes;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.util.EnvironmentEdgeManager;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.util.ForeignExceptionUtil;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.util.Pair;
+import org.apache.hadoop.ipc.RemoteException;
+import org.apache.hadoop.util.StringUtils;
+import org.apache.yetus.audience.InterfaceAudience;
+import org.apache.yetus.audience.InterfaceStability;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
+import org.apache.hbase.thirdparty.com.google.common.base.Preconditions;
+import org.apache.hbase.thirdparty.com.google.protobuf.ServiceException;
+import org.apache.hbase.thirdparty.org.apache.commons.collections4.CollectionUtils;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.ProtobufUtil;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.RequestConverter;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.AccessControlProtos;
@@ -163,8 +182,7 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.IsInMainte
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.IsProcedureDoneRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.IsProcedureDoneResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.IsRpcThrottleEnabledRequest;
-import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos
-  .IsSnapshotCleanupEnabledRequest;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.IsSnapshotCleanupEnabledRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.IsSnapshotDoneRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.IsSnapshotDoneResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.ListDecommissionedRegionServersRequest;
@@ -211,25 +229,6 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.ReplicationProtos.GetRe
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.ReplicationProtos.RemoveReplicationPeerResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.ReplicationProtos.UpdateReplicationPeerConfigResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.SnapshotProtos;
-import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.snapshot.ClientSnapshotDescriptionUtils;
-import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.snapshot.HBaseSnapshotException;
-import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.snapshot.RestoreSnapshotException;
-import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.snapshot.SnapshotCreationException;
-import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.snapshot.UnknownSnapshotException;
-import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.util.Addressing;
-import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.util.Bytes;
-import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.util.EnvironmentEdgeManager;
-import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.util.ForeignExceptionUtil;
-import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.util.Pair;
-import org.apache.hadoop.ipc.RemoteException;
-import org.apache.hadoop.util.StringUtils;
-import org.apache.hbase.thirdparty.com.google.common.base.Preconditions;
-import org.apache.hbase.thirdparty.com.google.protobuf.ServiceException;
-import org.apache.hbase.thirdparty.org.apache.commons.collections4.CollectionUtils;
-import org.apache.yetus.audience.InterfaceAudience;
-import org.apache.yetus.audience.InterfaceStability;
-import org.slf4j.Logger;
-import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 /**
  * HBaseAdmin is no longer a client API. It is marked InterfaceAudience.Private indicating that
@@ -1476,26 +1475,14 @@ public class HBaseAdmin implements Admin {
     });
   }
 
-  @Override
-  public boolean balance() throws IOException {
-    return executeCallable(new MasterCallable<Boolean>(getConnection(), getRpcControllerFactory()) {
-      @Override
-      protected Boolean rpcCall() throws Exception {
-        return master.balance(getRpcController(),
-            RequestConverter.buildBalanceRequest(false)).getBalancerRan();
-      }
-    });
-  }
-
-  @Override
-  public boolean balance(final boolean force) throws IOException {
-    return executeCallable(new MasterCallable<Boolean>(getConnection(), getRpcControllerFactory()) {
-      @Override
-      protected Boolean rpcCall() throws Exception {
-        return master.balance(getRpcController(),
-            RequestConverter.buildBalanceRequest(force)).getBalancerRan();
-      }
-    });
+  @Override public BalanceResponse balance(BalanceRequest request) throws IOException {
+    return executeCallable(
+      new MasterCallable<BalanceResponse>(getConnection(), getRpcControllerFactory()) {
+        @Override protected BalanceResponse rpcCall() throws Exception {
+          MasterProtos.BalanceRequest req = ProtobufUtil.toBalanceRequest(request);
+          return ProtobufUtil.toBalanceResponse(master.balance(getRpcController(), req));
+        }
+      });
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/RawAsyncHBaseAdmin.java b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/RawAsyncHBaseAdmin.java
index 57d4bac5a3b..a0e5320f855 100644
--- a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/RawAsyncHBaseAdmin.java
+++ b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/RawAsyncHBaseAdmin.java
@@ -126,14 +126,13 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.HBaseProtos;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.HBaseProtos.ProcedureDescription;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.HBaseProtos.RegionSpecifier.RegionSpecifierType;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.HBaseProtos.TableSchema;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.AbortProcedureRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.AbortProcedureResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.AddColumnRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.AddColumnResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.AssignRegionRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.AssignRegionResponse;
-import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.BalanceRequest;
-import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.ClearDeadServersRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.ClearDeadServersResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.CreateNamespaceRequest;
@@ -3210,15 +3209,16 @@ class RawAsyncHBaseAdmin implements AsyncAdmin {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public CompletableFuture<Boolean> balance(boolean forcible) {
+  public CompletableFuture<BalanceResponse> balance(BalanceRequest request) {
     return this
-        .<Boolean> newMasterCaller()
+        .<BalanceResponse> newMasterCaller()
         .action(
-          (controller, stub) -> this.<BalanceRequest, BalanceResponse, Boolean> call(controller,
-            stub, RequestConverter.buildBalanceRequest(forcible),
-            (s, c, req, done) -> s.balance(c, req, done), (resp) -> resp.getBalancerRan())).call();
+          (controller, stub) -> this.<MasterProtos.BalanceRequest, MasterProtos.BalanceResponse, BalanceResponse> call(controller,
+            stub, ProtobufUtil.toBalanceRequest(request),
+            (s, c, req, done) -> s.balance(c, req, done), (resp) -> ProtobufUtil.toBalanceResponse(resp))).call();
   }
 
+
   @Override
   public CompletableFuture<Boolean> isBalancerEnabled() {
     return this
diff --git a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/shaded/protobuf/ProtobufUtil.java b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/shaded/protobuf/ProtobufUtil.java
index c2544f6d008..2297732eae0 100644
--- a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/shaded/protobuf/ProtobufUtil.java
+++ b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/shaded/protobuf/ProtobufUtil.java
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
 import org.apache.hadoop.conf.Configuration;
 import org.apache.hadoop.fs.Path;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.ByteBufferExtendedCell;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.CacheEvictionStats;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.CacheEvictionStatsBuilder;
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.NamespaceDescriptor;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.ServerName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Append;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalancerRejection;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalancerDecision;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.CheckAndMutate;
@@ -3753,4 +3755,34 @@ public final class ProtobufUtil {
       .build();
   }
 
+  public static MasterProtos.BalanceRequest toBalanceRequest(BalanceRequest request) {
+    return MasterProtos.BalanceRequest.newBuilder()
+      .setDryRun(request.isDryRun())
+      .setIgnoreRit(request.isIgnoreRegionsInTransition())
+      .build();
+  }
+
+  public static BalanceRequest toBalanceRequest(MasterProtos.BalanceRequest request) {
+    return BalanceRequest.newBuilder()
+      .setDryRun(request.hasDryRun() && request.getDryRun())
+      .setIgnoreRegionsInTransition(request.hasIgnoreRit() && request.getIgnoreRit())
+      .build();
+  }
+
+  public static MasterProtos.BalanceResponse toBalanceResponse(BalanceResponse response) {
+    return MasterProtos.BalanceResponse.newBuilder()
+      .setBalancerRan(response.isBalancerRan())
+      .setMovesCalculated(response.getMovesCalculated())
+      .setMovesExecuted(response.getMovesExecuted())
+      .build();
+  }
+
+  public static BalanceResponse toBalanceResponse(MasterProtos.BalanceResponse response) {
+    return BalanceResponse.newBuilder()
+      .setBalancerRan(response.hasBalancerRan() && response.getBalancerRan())
+      .setMovesCalculated(response.hasMovesCalculated() ? response.getMovesExecuted() : 0)
+      .setMovesExecuted(response.hasMovesExecuted() ? response.getMovesExecuted() : 0)
+      .build();
+  }
+
 }
diff --git a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/shaded/protobuf/RequestConverter.java b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/shaded/protobuf/RequestConverter.java
index bdae13bbfce..5f2181e3ccd 100644
--- a/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/shaded/protobuf/RequestConverter.java
+++ b/hbase-client/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/shaded/protobuf/RequestConverter.java
@@ -106,7 +106,6 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.HBaseProtos.RegionSpeci
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.AddColumnRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.AssignRegionRequest;
-import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.BalanceRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.ClearDeadServersRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.CreateNamespaceRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.shaded.protobuf.generated.MasterProtos.CreateTableRequest;
@@ -1576,15 +1575,6 @@ public final class RequestConverter {
     return IsMasterRunningRequest.newBuilder().build();
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Creates a protocol buffer BalanceRequest
-   *
-   * @return a BalanceRequest
-   */
-  public static BalanceRequest buildBalanceRequest(boolean force) {
-    return BalanceRequest.newBuilder().setForce(force).build();
-  }
-
   /**
    * Creates a protocol buffer SetBalancerRunningRequest
    *
diff --git a/hbase-protocol-shaded/src/main/protobuf/Master.proto b/hbase-protocol-shaded/src/main/protobuf/Master.proto
index 5e2e6cecef9..303d4fec09a 100644
--- a/hbase-protocol-shaded/src/main/protobuf/Master.proto
+++ b/hbase-protocol-shaded/src/main/protobuf/Master.proto
@@ -292,11 +292,14 @@ message IsInMaintenanceModeResponse {
 }
 
 message BalanceRequest {
-  optional bool force = 1;
+  optional bool ignore_rit = 1;
+  optional bool dry_run = 2;
 }
 
 message BalanceResponse {
   required bool balancer_ran = 1;
+  optional uint32 moves_calculated = 2;
+  optional uint32 moves_executed = 3;
 }
 
 message SetBalancerRunningRequest {
diff --git a/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdmin.java b/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdmin.java
index 15daf1450de..2e4b80b31f5 100644
--- a/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdmin.java
+++ b/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdmin.java
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.net.Address;
 import org.apache.yetus.audience.InterfaceAudience;
 
@@ -67,7 +69,17 @@ public interface RSGroupAdmin {
    *
    * @return boolean Whether balance ran or not
    */
-  boolean balanceRSGroup(String groupName) throws IOException;
+  default BalanceResponse balanceRSGroup(String groupName) throws IOException {
+    return balanceRSGroup(groupName, BalanceRequest.defaultInstance());
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Balance regions in the given RegionServer group, running based on
+   * the given {@link BalanceRequest}.
+   *
+   * @return boolean Whether balance ran or not
+   */
+  BalanceResponse balanceRSGroup(String groupName, BalanceRequest request) throws IOException;
 
   /**
    * Lists current set of RegionServer groups.
diff --git a/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdminClient.java b/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdminClient.java
index b4e5e80d272..51addd36679 100644
--- a/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdminClient.java
+++ b/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdminClient.java
@@ -28,13 +28,15 @@ import java.util.Set;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableNotFoundException;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Admin;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Connection;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.net.Address;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.ProtobufUtil;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.generated.HBaseProtos;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.generated.HBaseProtos.NameStringPair;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.generated.RSGroupAdminProtos;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.generated.RSGroupAdminProtos.AddRSGroupRequest;
-import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.generated.RSGroupAdminProtos.BalanceRSGroupRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.generated.RSGroupAdminProtos.GetRSGroupInfoOfServerRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.generated.RSGroupAdminProtos.GetRSGroupInfoOfServerResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.generated.RSGroupAdminProtos.GetRSGroupInfoOfTableRequest;
@@ -154,11 +156,11 @@ public class RSGroupAdminClient implements RSGroupAdmin {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public boolean balanceRSGroup(String groupName) throws IOException {
-    BalanceRSGroupRequest request = BalanceRSGroupRequest.newBuilder()
-        .setRSGroupName(groupName).build();
+  public BalanceResponse balanceRSGroup(String groupName, BalanceRequest request) throws IOException {
     try {
-      return stub.balanceRSGroup(null, request).getBalanceRan();
+      RSGroupAdminProtos.BalanceRSGroupRequest req =
+        RSGroupProtobufUtil.createBalanceRSGroupRequest(groupName, request);
+      return RSGroupProtobufUtil.toBalanceResponse(stub.balanceRSGroup(null, req));
     } catch (ServiceException e) {
       throw ProtobufUtil.handleRemoteException(e);
     }
diff --git a/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdminEndpoint.java b/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdminEndpoint.java
index bf26de17062..5488fa81d93 100644
--- a/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdminEndpoint.java
+++ b/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdminEndpoint.java
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.NamespaceDescriptor;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.PleaseHoldException;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.ServerName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.RegionInfo;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.SnapshotDescription;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.TableDescriptor;
@@ -291,24 +293,31 @@ public class RSGroupAdminEndpoint implements MasterCoprocessor, MasterObserver {
     @Override
     public void balanceRSGroup(RpcController controller,
         BalanceRSGroupRequest request, RpcCallback<BalanceRSGroupResponse> done) {
-      BalanceRSGroupResponse.Builder builder = BalanceRSGroupResponse.newBuilder();
+      BalanceRequest balanceRequest = RSGroupProtobufUtil.toBalanceRequest(request);
+
+      BalanceRSGroupResponse.Builder builder = BalanceRSGroupResponse.newBuilder()
+        .setBalanceRan(false);
+
       LOG.info(master.getClientIdAuditPrefix() + " balance rsgroup, group="
           + request.getRSGroupName());
       try {
         if (master.getMasterCoprocessorHost() != null) {
-          master.getMasterCoprocessorHost().preBalanceRSGroup(request.getRSGroupName());
+          master.getMasterCoprocessorHost().preBalanceRSGroup(request.getRSGroupName(), balanceRequest);
         }
+
         checkPermission("balanceRSGroup");
-        boolean balancerRan = groupAdminServer.balanceRSGroup(request.getRSGroupName());
-        builder.setBalanceRan(balancerRan);
+        BalanceResponse response = groupAdminServer.balanceRSGroup(request.getRSGroupName(), balanceRequest);
+        RSGroupProtobufUtil.populateBalanceRSGroupResponse(builder, response);
+
         if (master.getMasterCoprocessorHost() != null) {
           master.getMasterCoprocessorHost().postBalanceRSGroup(request.getRSGroupName(),
-              balancerRan);
+              balanceRequest,
+            response);
         }
       } catch (IOException e) {
         CoprocessorRpcUtils.setControllerException(controller, e);
-        builder.setBalanceRan(false);
       }
+
       done.run(builder.build());
     }
 
diff --git a/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdminServer.java b/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdminServer.java
index 0c65dbf0f53..3ea48039a94 100644
--- a/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdminServer.java
+++ b/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupAdminServer.java
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.HConstants;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.NamespaceDescriptor;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.ServerName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.RegionInfo;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.TableDescriptor;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.TableDescriptorBuilder;
@@ -508,32 +510,36 @@ public class RSGroupAdminServer implements RSGroupAdmin {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public boolean balanceRSGroup(String groupName) throws IOException {
+  public BalanceResponse balanceRSGroup(String groupName, BalanceRequest request) throws IOException {
     ServerManager serverManager = master.getServerManager();
     LoadBalancer balancer = master.getLoadBalancer();
 
+    BalanceResponse.Builder responseBuilder = BalanceResponse.newBuilder();
+
     synchronized (balancer) {
       // If balance not true, don't run balancer.
-      if (!((HMaster) master).isBalancerOn()) {
-        return false;
+      if (!((HMaster) master).isBalancerOn() && !request.isDryRun()) {
+        return responseBuilder.build();
       }
 
       if (getRSGroupInfo(groupName) == null) {
         throw new ConstraintException("RSGroup does not exist: "+groupName);
       }
+
       // Only allow one balance run at at time.
       Map<String, RegionState> groupRIT = rsGroupGetRegionsInTransition(groupName);
-      if (groupRIT.size() > 0) {
+      if (groupRIT.size() > 0 && !request.isIgnoreRegionsInTransition()) {
         LOG.debug("Not running balancer because {} region(s) in transition: {}", groupRIT.size(),
             StringUtils.abbreviate(
               master.getAssignmentManager().getRegionStates().getRegionsInTransition().toString(),
               256));
-        return false;
+        return responseBuilder.build();
       }
+
       if (serverManager.areDeadServersInProgress()) {
         LOG.debug("Not running balancer because processing dead regionserver(s): {}",
             serverManager.getDeadServers());
-        return false;
+        return responseBuilder.build();
       }
 
       //We balance per group instead of per table
@@ -541,12 +547,17 @@ public class RSGroupAdminServer implements RSGroupAdmin {
           getRSGroupAssignmentsByTable(master.getTableStateManager(), groupName);
       List<RegionPlan> plans = balancer.balanceCluster(assignmentsByTable);
       boolean balancerRan = !plans.isEmpty();
-      if (balancerRan) {
+
+      responseBuilder.setBalancerRan(balancerRan).setMovesCalculated(plans.size());
+
+      if (balancerRan && !request.isDryRun()) {
         LOG.info("RSGroup balance {} starting with plan count: {}", groupName, plans.size());
-        master.executeRegionPlansWithThrottling(plans);
+        List<RegionPlan> executed = master.executeRegionPlansWithThrottling(plans);
+        responseBuilder.setMovesExecuted(executed.size());
         LOG.info("RSGroup balance " + groupName + " completed");
       }
-      return balancerRan;
+
+      return responseBuilder.build();
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupProtobufUtil.java b/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupProtobufUtil.java
index 9f092c52f2c..42472d3cd37 100644
--- a/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupProtobufUtil.java
+++ b/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/RSGroupProtobufUtil.java
@@ -21,12 +21,15 @@ package org.apache.hadoop.hbase.rsgroup;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.stream.Collectors;
-
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.net.Address;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.ProtobufUtil;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.generated.HBaseProtos;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.generated.HBaseProtos.NameStringPair;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.generated.RSGroupAdminProtos.BalanceRSGroupRequest;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.generated.RSGroupAdminProtos.BalanceRSGroupResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.generated.RSGroupProtos;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.protobuf.generated.TableProtos;
 import org.apache.yetus.audience.InterfaceAudience;
@@ -36,6 +39,36 @@ final class RSGroupProtobufUtil {
   private RSGroupProtobufUtil() {
   }
 
+  static void populateBalanceRSGroupResponse(BalanceRSGroupResponse.Builder responseBuilder, BalanceResponse response) {
+    responseBuilder
+      .setBalanceRan(response.isBalancerRan())
+      .setMovesCalculated(response.getMovesCalculated())
+      .setMovesExecuted(response.getMovesExecuted());
+  }
+
+  static BalanceResponse toBalanceResponse(BalanceRSGroupResponse response) {
+    return BalanceResponse.newBuilder()
+      .setBalancerRan(response.getBalanceRan())
+      .setMovesExecuted(response.hasMovesExecuted() ? response.getMovesExecuted() : 0)
+      .setMovesCalculated(response.hasMovesCalculated() ? response.getMovesCalculated() : 0)
+      .build();
+  }
+
+  static BalanceRSGroupRequest createBalanceRSGroupRequest(String groupName, BalanceRequest request) {
+    return BalanceRSGroupRequest.newBuilder()
+      .setRSGroupName(groupName)
+      .setDryRun(request.isDryRun())
+      .setIgnoreRit(request.isIgnoreRegionsInTransition())
+      .build();
+  }
+
+  static BalanceRequest toBalanceRequest(BalanceRSGroupRequest request) {
+    return BalanceRequest.newBuilder()
+      .setDryRun(request.hasDryRun() && request.getDryRun())
+      .setIgnoreRegionsInTransition(request.hasIgnoreRit() && request.getIgnoreRit())
+      .build();
+  }
+
   static RSGroupInfo toGroupInfo(RSGroupProtos.RSGroupInfo proto) {
     RSGroupInfo rsGroupInfo = new RSGroupInfo(proto.getName());
     for(HBaseProtos.ServerName el: proto.getServersList()) {
diff --git a/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/protobuf/RSGroupAdmin.proto b/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/protobuf/RSGroupAdmin.proto
index 54add90eff4..2a4f2d80269 100644
--- a/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/protobuf/RSGroupAdmin.proto
+++ b/hbase-rsgroup/src/main/protobuf/RSGroupAdmin.proto
@@ -86,10 +86,14 @@ message RemoveRSGroupResponse {
 
 message BalanceRSGroupRequest {
   required string r_s_group_name = 1;
+  optional bool ignore_rit = 2;
+  optional bool dry_run = 3;
 }
 
 message BalanceRSGroupResponse {
   required bool balanceRan = 1;
+  optional uint32 moves_calculated = 2;
+  optional uint32 moves_executed = 3;
 }
 
 message ListRSGroupInfosRequest {
diff --git a/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/TestRSGroupsBalance.java b/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/TestRSGroupsBalance.java
index e419ee0b8ed..2e502b6a85c 100644
--- a/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/TestRSGroupsBalance.java
+++ b/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/TestRSGroupsBalance.java
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.ServerName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.Waiter;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.Waiter.Predicate;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.RegionInfo;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.TableDescriptor;
@@ -80,11 +82,65 @@ public class TestRSGroupsBalance extends TestRSGroupsBase {
 
   @Test
   public void testGroupBalance() throws Exception {
-    LOG.info(name.getMethodName());
-    String newGroupName = getGroupName(name.getMethodName());
+    String methodName = name.getMethodName();
+
+    LOG.info(methodName);
+    String newGroupName = getGroupName(methodName);
+    TableName tableName = TableName.valueOf(tablePrefix + "_ns", methodName);
+
+    ServerName first = setupBalanceTest(newGroupName, tableName);
+
+    // balance the other group and make sure it doesn't affect the new group
+    admin.balancerSwitch(true, true);
+    rsGroupAdmin.balanceRSGroup(RSGroupInfo.DEFAULT_GROUP);
+    assertEquals(6, getTableServerRegionMap().get(tableName).get(first).size());
+
+    // disable balance, balancer will not be run and return false
+    admin.balancerSwitch(false, true);
+    assertFalse(rsGroupAdmin.balanceRSGroup(newGroupName).isBalancerRan());
+    assertEquals(6, getTableServerRegionMap().get(tableName).get(first).size());
+
+    // enable balance
+    admin.balancerSwitch(true, true);
+    rsGroupAdmin.balanceRSGroup(newGroupName);
+    TEST_UTIL.waitFor(WAIT_TIMEOUT, new Waiter.Predicate<Exception>() {
+      @Override
+      public boolean evaluate() throws Exception {
+        for (List<String> regions : getTableServerRegionMap().get(tableName).values()) {
+          if (2 != regions.size()) {
+            return false;
+          }
+        }
+        return true;
+      }
+    });
+    admin.balancerSwitch(false, true);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void testGroupDryRunBalance() throws Exception {
+    String methodName = name.getMethodName();
+
+    LOG.info(methodName);
+    String newGroupName = getGroupName(methodName);
+    final TableName tableName = TableName.valueOf(tablePrefix + "_ns", methodName);
+
+    ServerName first = setupBalanceTest(newGroupName, tableName);
+
+    // run the balancer in dry run mode. it should return true, but should not actually move any regions
+    admin.balancerSwitch(true, true);
+    BalanceResponse response = rsGroupAdmin.balanceRSGroup(newGroupName,
+      BalanceRequest.newBuilder().setDryRun(true).build());
+    assertTrue(response.isBalancerRan());
+    assertTrue(response.getMovesCalculated() > 0);
+    assertEquals(0, response.getMovesExecuted());
+    // validate imbalance still exists.
+    assertEquals(6, getTableServerRegionMap().get(tableName).get(first).size());
+  }
+
+  private ServerName setupBalanceTest(String newGroupName, TableName tableName) throws Exception {
     addGroup(newGroupName, 3);
 
-    final TableName tableName = TableName.valueOf(tablePrefix + "_ns", name.getMethodName());
     admin.createNamespace(NamespaceDescriptor.create(tableName.getNamespaceAsString())
       .addConfiguration(RSGroupInfo.NAMESPACE_DESC_PROP_GROUP, newGroupName).build());
     final TableDescriptor desc = TableDescriptorBuilder.newBuilder(tableName)
@@ -126,31 +182,7 @@ public class TestRSGroupsBalance extends TestRSGroupsBase {
       }
     });
 
-    // balance the other group and make sure it doesn't affect the new group
-    admin.balancerSwitch(true, true);
-    rsGroupAdmin.balanceRSGroup(RSGroupInfo.DEFAULT_GROUP);
-    assertEquals(6, getTableServerRegionMap().get(tableName).get(first).size());
-
-    // disable balance, balancer will not be run and return false
-    admin.balancerSwitch(false, true);
-    assertFalse(rsGroupAdmin.balanceRSGroup(newGroupName));
-    assertEquals(6, getTableServerRegionMap().get(tableName).get(first).size());
-
-    // enable balance
-    admin.balancerSwitch(true, true);
-    rsGroupAdmin.balanceRSGroup(newGroupName);
-    TEST_UTIL.waitFor(WAIT_TIMEOUT, new Waiter.Predicate<Exception>() {
-      @Override
-      public boolean evaluate() throws Exception {
-        for (List<String> regions : getTableServerRegionMap().get(tableName).values()) {
-          if (2 != regions.size()) {
-            return false;
-          }
-        }
-        return true;
-      }
-    });
-    admin.balancerSwitch(false, true);
+    return first;
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -167,7 +199,7 @@ public class TestRSGroupsBalance extends TestRSGroupsBase {
       RSGroupInfo.getName());
 
     admin.balancerSwitch(true, true);
-    assertTrue(rsGroupAdmin.balanceRSGroup(RSGroupInfo.getName()));
+    assertTrue(rsGroupAdmin.balanceRSGroup(RSGroupInfo.getName()).isBalancerRan());
     admin.balancerSwitch(false, true);
     assertTrue(observer.preBalanceRSGroupCalled);
     assertTrue(observer.postBalanceRSGroupCalled);
diff --git a/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/TestRSGroupsBase.java b/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/TestRSGroupsBase.java
index 0b875f59eb7..5dcd9e53ff1 100644
--- a/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/TestRSGroupsBase.java
+++ b/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/TestRSGroupsBase.java
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.ServerName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.Waiter;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Admin;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.RegionInfo;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.TableDescriptor;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.coprocessor.CoprocessorHost;
@@ -406,13 +408,13 @@ public abstract class TestRSGroupsBase {
 
     @Override
     public void preBalanceRSGroup(final ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> ctx,
-        String groupName) throws IOException {
+        String groupName, BalanceRequest request) throws IOException {
       preBalanceRSGroupCalled = true;
     }
 
     @Override
     public void postBalanceRSGroup(final ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> ctx,
-        String groupName, boolean balancerRan) throws IOException {
+        String groupName, BalanceRequest request, BalanceResponse response) throws IOException {
       postBalanceRSGroupCalled = true;
     }
 
diff --git a/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/TestRSGroupsFallback.java b/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/TestRSGroupsFallback.java
index 15220c4b5b4..bd45e8ccd52 100644
--- a/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/TestRSGroupsFallback.java
+++ b/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/TestRSGroupsFallback.java
@@ -107,14 +107,14 @@ public class TestRSGroupsFallback extends TestRSGroupsBase {
     Address startRSAddress = t.getRegionServer().getServerName().getAddress();
     TEST_UTIL.waitFor(3000, () -> rsGroupAdmin.getRSGroupInfo(RSGroupInfo.DEFAULT_GROUP)
       .containsServer(startRSAddress));
-    assertTrue(master.balance());
+    assertTrue(master.balance().isBalancerRan());
     assertRegionsInGroup(tableName, RSGroupInfo.DEFAULT_GROUP);
 
     // add a new server to test group, regions move back
     t = TEST_UTIL.getMiniHBaseCluster().startRegionServerAndWait(60000);
     rsGroupAdmin.moveServers(
       Collections.singleton(t.getRegionServer().getServerName().getAddress()), groupName);
-    assertTrue(master.balance());
+    assertTrue(master.balance().isBalancerRan());
     assertRegionsInGroup(tableName, groupName);
 
     TEST_UTIL.deleteTable(tableName);
diff --git a/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/VerifyingRSGroupAdminClient.java b/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/VerifyingRSGroupAdminClient.java
index faa0bc0005f..2156ed79d1f 100644
--- a/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/VerifyingRSGroupAdminClient.java
+++ b/hbase-rsgroup/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/rsgroup/VerifyingRSGroupAdminClient.java
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ import java.util.Set;
 
 import org.apache.hadoop.conf.Configuration;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.ConnectionFactory;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Result;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Scan;
@@ -92,8 +94,8 @@ public class VerifyingRSGroupAdminClient implements RSGroupAdmin {
   }
 
   @Override
-  public boolean balanceRSGroup(String groupName) throws IOException {
-    return wrapped.balanceRSGroup(groupName);
+  public BalanceResponse balanceRSGroup(String groupName, BalanceRequest request) throws IOException {
+    return wrapped.balanceRSGroup(groupName, request);
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/coprocessor/MasterObserver.java b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/coprocessor/MasterObserver.java
index 7f09fb0e63d..ce70647e925 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/coprocessor/MasterObserver.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/coprocessor/MasterObserver.java
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.MetaMutationAnnotation;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.NamespaceDescriptor;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.ServerName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.MasterSwitchType;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Mutation;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.RegionInfo;
@@ -566,18 +568,20 @@ public interface MasterObserver {
    * Called prior to requesting rebalancing of the cluster regions, though after
    * the initial checks for regions in transition and the balance switch flag.
    * @param ctx the environment to interact with the framework and master
+   * @param request the request used to trigger the balancer
    */
-  default void preBalance(final ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> ctx)
+  default void preBalance(final ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> ctx, BalanceRequest request)
       throws IOException {}
 
   /**
    * Called after the balancing plan has been submitted.
    * @param ctx the environment to interact with the framework and master
+   * @param request the request used to trigger the balance
    * @param plans the RegionPlans which master has executed. RegionPlan serves as hint
    * as for the final destination for the underlying region but may not represent the
    * final state of assignment
    */
-  default void postBalance(final ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> ctx, List<RegionPlan> plans)
+  default void postBalance(final ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> ctx, BalanceRequest request, List<RegionPlan> plans)
       throws IOException {}
 
   /**
@@ -1275,15 +1279,19 @@ public interface MasterObserver {
    * @param groupName group name
    */
   default void preBalanceRSGroup(final ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> ctx,
-                         String groupName) throws IOException {}
+      String groupName, BalanceRequest request) throws IOException {
+  }
 
   /**
    * Called after a region server group is removed
    * @param ctx the environment to interact with the framework and master
    * @param groupName group name
+   * @param request the request sent to the balancer
+   * @param response the response returned by the balancer
    */
   default void postBalanceRSGroup(final ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> ctx,
-                          String groupName, boolean balancerRan) throws IOException {}
+      String groupName, BalanceRequest request, BalanceResponse response) throws IOException {
+  }
 
   /**
    * Called before servers are removed from rsgroup
diff --git a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java
index 6d0d1cacbb6..4b169bf7580 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/HMaster.java
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ import org.apache.commons.lang3.StringUtils;
 import org.apache.hadoop.conf.Configuration;
 import org.apache.hadoop.fs.FSDataOutputStream;
 import org.apache.hadoop.fs.Path;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.ClusterId;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.ClusterMetrics;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.ClusterMetrics.Option;
@@ -79,6 +80,7 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableNotDisabledException;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableNotFoundException;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.UnknownRegionException;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.ColumnFamilyDescriptor;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.CompactionState;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.MasterSwitchType;
@@ -1704,8 +1706,8 @@ public class HMaster extends HRegionServer implements MasterServices {
     if (interrupted) Thread.currentThread().interrupt();
   }
 
-  public boolean balance() throws IOException {
-    return balance(false);
+  public BalanceResponse balance() throws IOException {
+    return balance(BalanceRequest.defaultInstance());
   }
 
   /**
@@ -1731,12 +1733,16 @@ public class HMaster extends HRegionServer implements MasterServices {
     return false;
   }
 
-  public boolean balance(boolean force) throws IOException {
-    if (loadBalancerTracker == null || !loadBalancerTracker.isBalancerOn()) {
-      return false;
+  public BalanceResponse balance(BalanceRequest request) throws IOException {
+    BalanceResponse.Builder responseBuilder = BalanceResponse.newBuilder();
+
+    if (loadBalancerTracker == null
+      || !(loadBalancerTracker.isBalancerOn() || request.isDryRun())) {
+      return responseBuilder.build();
     }
+
     if (skipRegionManagementAction("balancer")) {
-      return false;
+      return responseBuilder.build();
     }
 
     synchronized (this.balancer) {
@@ -1753,28 +1759,29 @@ public class HMaster extends HRegionServer implements MasterServices {
           toPrint = regionsInTransition.subList(0, max);
           truncated = true;
         }
-        if (!force || metaInTransition) {
-          LOG.info("Not running balancer (force=" + force + ", metaRIT=" + metaInTransition +
-            ") because " + regionsInTransition.size() + " region(s) in transition: " + toPrint +
-            (truncated? "(truncated list)": ""));
-          return false;
+
+        if (!request.isIgnoreRegionsInTransition() || metaInTransition) {
+          LOG.info("Not running balancer (ignoreRIT=false" + ", metaRIT=" + metaInTransition +
+            ") because " + regionsInTransition.size() + " region(s) in transition: " + toPrint
+            + (truncated? "(truncated list)": ""));
+          return responseBuilder.build();
         }
       }
       if (this.serverManager.areDeadServersInProgress()) {
         LOG.info("Not running balancer because processing dead regionserver(s): " +
           this.serverManager.getDeadServers());
-        return false;
+        return responseBuilder.build();
       }
 
       if (this.cpHost != null) {
         try {
-          if (this.cpHost.preBalance()) {
+          if (this.cpHost.preBalance(request)) {
             LOG.debug("Coprocessor bypassing balancer request");
-            return false;
+            return responseBuilder.build();
           }
         } catch (IOException ioe) {
           LOG.error("Error invoking master coprocessor preBalance()", ioe);
-          return false;
+          return responseBuilder.build();
         }
       }
 
@@ -1790,25 +1797,34 @@ public class HMaster extends HRegionServer implements MasterServices {
 
       List<RegionPlan> plans = this.balancer.balanceCluster(assignments);
 
+      responseBuilder.setBalancerRan(true).setMovesCalculated(plans == null ? 0 : plans.size());
+
       if (skipRegionManagementAction("balancer")) {
         // make one last check that the cluster isn't shutting down before proceeding.
-        return false;
+        return responseBuilder.build();
       }
 
-      List<RegionPlan> sucRPs = executeRegionPlansWithThrottling(plans);
+      // For dry run we don't actually want to execute the moves, but we do want
+      // to execute the coprocessor below
+      List<RegionPlan> sucRPs = request.isDryRun()
+        ? Collections.emptyList()
+        : executeRegionPlansWithThrottling(plans);
 
       if (this.cpHost != null) {
         try {
-          this.cpHost.postBalance(sucRPs);
+          this.cpHost.postBalance(request, sucRPs);
         } catch (IOException ioe) {
           // balancing already succeeded so don't change the result
           LOG.error("Error invoking master coprocessor postBalance()", ioe);
         }
       }
+
+      responseBuilder.setMovesExecuted(sucRPs.size());
     }
+
     // If LoadBalancer did not generate any plans, it means the cluster is already balanced.
     // Return true indicating a success.
-    return true;
+    return responseBuilder.build();
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/MasterCoprocessorHost.java b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/MasterCoprocessorHost.java
index 3170bfc27da..a1f2dce361c 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/MasterCoprocessorHost.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/MasterCoprocessorHost.java
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.NamespaceDescriptor;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.ServerName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.SharedConnection;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Connection;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.MasterSwitchType;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Mutation;
@@ -737,20 +739,20 @@ public class MasterCoprocessorHost
     });
   }
 
-  public boolean preBalance() throws IOException {
+  public boolean preBalance(final BalanceRequest request) throws IOException {
     return execOperation(coprocEnvironments.isEmpty() ? null : new MasterObserverOperation() {
       @Override
       public void call(MasterObserver observer) throws IOException {
-        observer.preBalance(this);
+        observer.preBalance(this, request);
       }
     });
   }
 
-  public void postBalance(final List<RegionPlan> plans) throws IOException {
+  public void postBalance(final BalanceRequest request, final List<RegionPlan> plans) throws IOException {
     execOperation(coprocEnvironments.isEmpty() ? null : new MasterObserverOperation() {
       @Override
       public void call(MasterObserver observer) throws IOException {
-        observer.postBalance(this, plans);
+        observer.postBalance(this, request, plans);
       }
     });
   }
@@ -1433,22 +1435,22 @@ public class MasterCoprocessorHost
     });
   }
 
-  public void preBalanceRSGroup(final String name)
+  public void preBalanceRSGroup(final String name, final BalanceRequest request)
       throws IOException {
     execOperation(coprocEnvironments.isEmpty() ? null : new MasterObserverOperation() {
       @Override
       public void call(MasterObserver observer) throws IOException {
-        observer.preBalanceRSGroup(this, name);
+        observer.preBalanceRSGroup(this, name, request);
       }
     });
   }
 
-  public void postBalanceRSGroup(final String name, final boolean balanceRan)
+  public void postBalanceRSGroup(final String name, final BalanceRequest request, final BalanceResponse response)
       throws IOException {
     execOperation(coprocEnvironments.isEmpty() ? null : new MasterObserverOperation() {
       @Override
       public void call(MasterObserver observer) throws IOException {
-        observer.postBalanceRSGroup(this, name, balanceRan);
+        observer.postBalanceRSGroup(this, name, request, response);
       }
     });
   }
diff --git a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/MasterRpcServices.java b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/MasterRpcServices.java
index 15ade550ca8..9fda3f7f20a 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/MasterRpcServices.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/MasterRpcServices.java
@@ -675,8 +675,7 @@ public class MasterRpcServices extends RSRpcServices implements
   public BalanceResponse balance(RpcController controller,
       BalanceRequest request) throws ServiceException {
     try {
-      return BalanceResponse.newBuilder().setBalancerRan(master.balance(
-        request.hasForce()? request.getForce(): false)).build();
+      return ProtobufUtil.toBalanceResponse(master.balance(ProtobufUtil.toBalanceRequest(request)));
     } catch (IOException ex) {
       throw new ServiceException(ex);
     }
diff --git a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/AccessController.java b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/AccessController.java
index 1b2fb204e2d..4d8d31e2847 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/AccessController.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/AccessController.java
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.Tag;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Admin;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Append;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.ColumnFamilyDescriptor;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Delete;
@@ -1003,7 +1004,7 @@ public class AccessController implements MasterCoprocessor, RegionCoprocessor,
   }
 
   @Override
-  public void preBalance(ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> c)
+  public void preBalance(ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> c, BalanceRequest request)
       throws IOException {
     requirePermission(c, "balance", Action.ADMIN);
   }
diff --git a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/TestRegionRebalancing.java b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/TestRegionRebalancing.java
index ed37713d631..30492c20826 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/TestRegionRebalancing.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/TestRegionRebalancing.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 package org.apache.hadoop.hbase;
 
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collection;
 import java.util.List;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Admin;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Connection;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.ConnectionFactory;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.RegionInfo;
@@ -128,14 +130,21 @@ public class TestRegionRebalancing {
       assertRegionsAreBalanced();
 
       // On a balanced cluster, calling balance() should return true
-      assert(UTIL.getHBaseCluster().getMaster().balance() == true);
+      BalanceResponse response = UTIL.getHBaseCluster().getMaster().balance();
+      assertTrue(response.isBalancerRan());
+      assertEquals(0, response.getMovesCalculated());
+      assertEquals(0, response.getMovesExecuted());
 
       // if we add a server, then the balance() call should return true
       // add a region server - total of 3
       LOG.info("Started third server=" +
           UTIL.getHBaseCluster().startRegionServer().getRegionServer().getServerName());
       waitForAllRegionsAssigned();
-      assert(UTIL.getHBaseCluster().getMaster().balance() == true);
+
+      response = UTIL.getHBaseCluster().getMaster().balance();
+      assertTrue(response.isBalancerRan());
+      assertTrue(response.getMovesCalculated() > 0);
+      assertEquals(response.getMovesCalculated(), response.getMovesExecuted());
       assertRegionsAreBalanced();
 
       // kill a region server - total of 2
@@ -152,14 +161,24 @@ public class TestRegionRebalancing {
           UTIL.getHBaseCluster().startRegionServer().getRegionServer().getServerName());
       waitOnCrashProcessing();
       waitForAllRegionsAssigned();
-      assert(UTIL.getHBaseCluster().getMaster().balance() == true);
+
+      response = UTIL.getHBaseCluster().getMaster().balance();
+      assertTrue(response.isBalancerRan());
+      assertTrue(response.getMovesCalculated() > 0);
+      assertEquals(response.getMovesCalculated(), response.getMovesExecuted());
+
       assertRegionsAreBalanced();
       for (int i = 0; i < 6; i++){
         LOG.info("Adding " + (i + 5) + "th region server");
         UTIL.getHBaseCluster().startRegionServer();
       }
       waitForAllRegionsAssigned();
-      assert(UTIL.getHBaseCluster().getMaster().balance() == true);
+
+      response = UTIL.getHBaseCluster().getMaster().balance();
+      assertTrue(response.isBalancerRan());
+      assertTrue(response.getMovesCalculated() > 0);
+      assertEquals(response.getMovesCalculated(), response.getMovesExecuted());
+
       assertRegionsAreBalanced();
       regionLocator.close();
     }
diff --git a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestAsyncTableGetMultiThreaded.java b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestAsyncTableGetMultiThreaded.java
index 23ab43de074..e6f4b1a6e6f 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestAsyncTableGetMultiThreaded.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestAsyncTableGetMultiThreaded.java
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ public class TestAsyncTableGetMultiThreaded {
       }
       Thread.sleep(5000);
       LOG.info("====== Balancing cluster ======");
-      admin.balance(true);
+      admin.balance(BalanceRequest.newBuilder().setIgnoreRegionsInTransition(true).build());
       LOG.info("====== Balance cluster done ======");
       Thread.sleep(5000);
       ServerName metaServer = TEST_UTIL.getHBaseCluster().getServerHoldingMeta();
diff --git a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestMultiParallel.java b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestMultiParallel.java
index 84c90de4234..419b81245f1 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestMultiParallel.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestMultiParallel.java
@@ -824,7 +824,7 @@ public class TestMultiParallel {
 
     @Override
     public void postBalance(final ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> ctx,
-        List<RegionPlan> plans) throws IOException {
+        BalanceRequest request, List<RegionPlan> plans) throws IOException {
       if (!plans.isEmpty()) {
         postBalanceCount.incrementAndGet();
       }
diff --git a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestSeparateClientZKCluster.java b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestSeparateClientZKCluster.java
index e01c84e2a19..52b69db2553 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestSeparateClientZKCluster.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/client/TestSeparateClientZKCluster.java
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ public class TestSeparateClientZKCluster {
       }
       LOG.info("Got master {}", cluster.getMaster().getServerName());
       // confirm client access still works
-      assertTrue(admin.balance(false));
+      assertTrue(admin.balance(BalanceRequest.defaultInstance()).isBalancerRan());
     }
   }
 
@@ -278,4 +278,4 @@ public class TestSeparateClientZKCluster {
       TEST_UTIL.waitFor(30000, () -> locator.getAllRegionLocations().size() == 1);
     }
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/coprocessor/TestMasterObserver.java b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/coprocessor/TestMasterObserver.java
index 2cab41b6818..71a7643c1f1 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/coprocessor/TestMasterObserver.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/coprocessor/TestMasterObserver.java
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.NamespaceDescriptor;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.ServerName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Admin;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Connection;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.ConnectionFactory;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.MasterSwitchType;
@@ -689,13 +691,14 @@ public class TestMasterObserver {
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void preBalance(ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> env)
-        throws IOException {
+    public void preBalance(ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> env,
+      BalanceRequest request) throws IOException {
       preBalanceCalled = true;
     }
 
     @Override
     public void postBalance(ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> env,
+        BalanceRequest request,
         List<RegionPlan> plans) throws IOException {
       postBalanceCalled = true;
     }
@@ -1159,12 +1162,12 @@ public class TestMasterObserver {
 
     @Override
     public void preBalanceRSGroup(ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> ctx,
-                                  String groupName) throws IOException {
+                                  String groupName, BalanceRequest request) throws IOException {
     }
 
     @Override
     public void postBalanceRSGroup(ObserverContext<MasterCoprocessorEnvironment> ctx,
-        String groupName, boolean balancerRan) throws IOException {
+        String groupName, BalanceRequest request, BalanceResponse response) throws IOException {
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -1616,7 +1619,7 @@ public class TestMasterObserver {
       UTIL.waitUntilNoRegionsInTransition();
       // now trigger a balance
       master.balanceSwitch(true);
-      boolean balanceRun = master.balance();
+      master.balance();
       assertTrue("Coprocessor should be called on region rebalancing",
           cp.wasBalanceCalled());
     } finally {
diff --git a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/TestMasterDryRunBalancer.java b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/TestMasterDryRunBalancer.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..730075394fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/TestMasterDryRunBalancer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+/**
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+ * distributed with this work for additional information
+ * regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+ * to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+ * "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+ * with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package org.apache.hadoop.hbase.master;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import org.apache.commons.lang3.Validate;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.HBaseClassTestRule;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.HBaseTestingUtility;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.ServerName;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.Waiter;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.RegionInfo;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.regionserver.HRegionServer;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.testclassification.MasterTests;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.testclassification.MediumTests;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.util.Bytes;
+import org.junit.After;
+import org.junit.ClassRule;
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.junit.experimental.categories.Category;
+import org.mockito.Mockito;
+
+@Category({ MasterTests.class, MediumTests.class})
+public class TestMasterDryRunBalancer {
+  @ClassRule
+  public static final HBaseClassTestRule CLASS_RULE =
+    HBaseClassTestRule.forClass(TestMasterDryRunBalancer.class);
+
+  private static final HBaseTestingUtility TEST_UTIL = new HBaseTestingUtility();
+  private static final byte[] FAMILYNAME = Bytes.toBytes("fam");
+
+  @After
+  public void shutdown() throws Exception {
+    TEST_UTIL.shutdownMiniCluster();
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void testDryRunBalancer() throws Exception {
+    TEST_UTIL.startMiniCluster(2);
+
+    int numRegions = 100;
+    int regionsPerRs = numRegions / 2;
+    TableName tableName = createTable("testDryRunBalancer", numRegions);
+    HMaster master = Mockito.spy(TEST_UTIL.getHBaseCluster().getMaster());
+
+    // dry run should be possible with balancer disabled
+    // disabling it will ensure the chore does not mess with our forced unbalance below
+    master.balanceSwitch(false);
+    assertFalse(master.isBalancerOn());
+
+    HRegionServer biasedServer = unbalance(master, tableName);
+
+    BalanceResponse response = master.balance(BalanceRequest.newBuilder().setDryRun(true).build());
+    assertTrue(response.isBalancerRan());
+    // we don't know for sure that it will be exactly half the regions
+    assertTrue(
+      response.getMovesCalculated() >= (regionsPerRs - 1)
+        && response.getMovesCalculated() <= (regionsPerRs + 1));
+    // but we expect no moves executed due to dry run
+    assertEquals(0, response.getMovesExecuted());
+
+    // sanity check that we truly don't try to execute any plans
+    Mockito.verify(master, Mockito.never()).executeRegionPlansWithThrottling(Mockito.anyList());
+
+    // should still be unbalanced post dry run
+    assertServerContainsAllRegions(biasedServer.getServerName(), tableName);
+
+    TEST_UTIL.deleteTable(tableName);
+  }
+
+  private TableName createTable(String table, int numRegions) throws IOException {
+    TableName tableName = TableName.valueOf(table);
+    TEST_UTIL.createMultiRegionTable(tableName, FAMILYNAME, numRegions);
+    return tableName;
+  }
+
+
+  private HRegionServer unbalance(HMaster master, TableName tableName) throws Exception {
+    waitForRegionsToSettle(master);
+
+    HRegionServer biasedServer = TEST_UTIL.getMiniHBaseCluster().getRegionServer(0);
+
+    for (RegionInfo regionInfo : TEST_UTIL.getAdmin().getRegions(tableName)) {
+      master.move(regionInfo.getEncodedNameAsBytes(),
+        Bytes.toBytes(biasedServer.getServerName().getServerName()));
+    }
+
+    waitForRegionsToSettle(master);
+
+    assertServerContainsAllRegions(biasedServer.getServerName(), tableName);
+
+    return biasedServer;
+  }
+
+  private void assertServerContainsAllRegions(ServerName serverName, TableName tableName)
+    throws IOException {
+    int numRegions = TEST_UTIL.getAdmin().getRegions(tableName).size();
+    assertEquals(numRegions,
+      TEST_UTIL.getMiniHBaseCluster().getRegionServer(serverName).getRegions(tableName).size());
+  }
+
+  private void waitForRegionsToSettle(HMaster master) {
+    Waiter.waitFor(TEST_UTIL.getConfiguration(), 60_000,
+      () -> master.getAssignmentManager().getRegionStates().getRegionsInTransitionCount() <= 0);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/procedure/TestProcedurePriority.java b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/procedure/TestProcedurePriority.java
index fa4c4a5283c..95211a3ffda 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/procedure/TestProcedurePriority.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/master/procedure/TestProcedurePriority.java
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.HBaseClassTestRule;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.HBaseTestingUtility;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.Waiter.ExplainingPredicate;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Durability;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Get;
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ public class TestProcedurePriority {
     for (Future<?> future : futures) {
       future.get(1, TimeUnit.MINUTES);
     }
-    UTIL.getAdmin().balance(true);
+    UTIL.getAdmin().balance(BalanceRequest.newBuilder().setIgnoreRegionsInTransition(true).build());
     UTIL.waitUntilNoRegionsInTransition();
   }
 
diff --git a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/TestAccessController.java b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/TestAccessController.java
index 94b2385f687..391fbf65efa 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/TestAccessController.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/TestAccessController.java
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableNotFoundException;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Admin;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Append;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Connection;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.ConnectionFactory;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Delete;
@@ -775,7 +776,7 @@ public class TestAccessController extends SecureTestUtil {
     AccessTestAction action = new AccessTestAction() {
       @Override
       public Object run() throws Exception {
-        ACCESS_CONTROLLER.preBalance(ObserverContextImpl.createAndPrepare(CP_ENV));
+        ACCESS_CONTROLLER.preBalance(ObserverContextImpl.createAndPrepare(CP_ENV), BalanceRequest.defaultInstance());
         return null;
       }
     };
diff --git a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/TestWithDisabledAuthorization.java b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/TestWithDisabledAuthorization.java
index 26507025a3f..fb1a060eccc 100644
--- a/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/TestWithDisabledAuthorization.java
+++ b/hbase-server/src/test/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/access/TestWithDisabledAuthorization.java
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableNameTestRule;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableNotFoundException;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Admin;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Append;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Connection;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.ConnectionFactory;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Delete;
@@ -568,7 +569,7 @@ public class TestWithDisabledAuthorization extends SecureTestUtil {
     verifyAllowed(new AccessTestAction() {
       @Override
       public Object run() throws Exception {
-        ACCESS_CONTROLLER.preBalance(ObserverContextImpl.createAndPrepare(CP_ENV));
+        ACCESS_CONTROLLER.preBalance(ObserverContextImpl.createAndPrepare(CP_ENV), BalanceRequest.defaultInstance());
         return null;
       }
     }, SUPERUSER, USER_ADMIN, USER_RW, USER_RO, USER_OWNER, USER_CREATE, USER_QUAL, USER_NONE);
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/admin.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/admin.rb
index a0bea3aa291..e540bbb4716 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/admin.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/admin.rb
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ java_import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName
 java_import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.ColumnFamilyDescriptorBuilder
 java_import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.HConstants
 
+require 'hbase/balancer_utils'
+
 # Wrapper for org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.HBaseAdmin
 
 module Hbase
@@ -206,8 +208,9 @@ module Hbase
     #----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     # Requests a cluster balance
     # Returns true if balancer ran
-    def balancer(force)
-      @admin.balancer(java.lang.Boolean.valueOf(force))
+    def balancer(*args)
+      request = ::Hbase::BalancerUtils.create_balance_request(args)
+      @admin.balance(request)
     end
 
     #----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/balancer_utils.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/balancer_utils.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9948c0f4745
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/balancer_utils.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+#
+#
+# Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+# or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+# distributed with this work for additional information
+# regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+# to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+# "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+# with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+#
+
+include Java
+
+java_import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest
+
+module Hbase
+  class BalancerUtils
+    def self.create_balance_request(args)
+      args = args.first if args.first.is_a?(Array) and args.size == 1
+      if args.nil? or args.empty?
+        return BalanceRequest.defaultInstance()
+      elsif args.size > 2
+        raise ArgumentError, "Illegal arguments #{args}. Expected between 0 and 2 arguments, but got #{args.size}."
+      end
+
+      builder = BalanceRequest.newBuilder()
+
+      index = 0
+      args.each do |arg|
+        if !arg.is_a?(String)
+          raise ArgumentError, "Illegal argument in index #{index}: #{arg}. All arguments must be strings, but got #{arg.class}."
+        end
+
+        case arg
+        when 'force', 'ignore_rit'
+          builder.setIgnoreRegionsInTransition(true)
+        when 'dry_run'
+          builder.setDryRun(true)
+        else
+          raise ArgumentError, "Illegal argument in index #{index}: #{arg}. Unknown option #{arg}, expected 'force', 'ignore_rit', or 'dry_run'."
+        end
+
+        index += 1
+      end
+
+      return builder.build()
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/rsgroup_admin.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/rsgroup_admin.rb
index af268e9a5d3..4ce28bb34d4 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/rsgroup_admin.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/hbase/rsgroup_admin.rb
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
 include Java
 java_import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.util.Pair
 
+require 'hbase/balancer_utils'
+
 # Wrapper for org.apache.hadoop.hbase.group.GroupAdminClient
 # Which is an API to manage region server groups
 
@@ -61,8 +63,9 @@ module Hbase
 
     #--------------------------------------------------------------------------
     # balance a group
-    def balance_rs_group(group_name)
-      @admin.balanceRSGroup(group_name)
+    def balance_rs_group(group_name, *args)
+      request = ::Hbase::BalancerUtils.create_balance_request(args)
+      @admin.balanceRSGroup(group_name, request)
     end
 
     #--------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/balance_rsgroup.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/balance_rsgroup.rb
index a223e055bbf..aff9fa7ce94 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/balance_rsgroup.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/balance_rsgroup.rb
@@ -22,22 +22,32 @@ module Shell
         <<-EOF
 Balance a RegionServer group
 
+Parameter can be "force" or "dry_run":
+ - "dry_run" will run the balancer to generate a plan, but will not actually execute that plan.
+   This is useful for testing out new balance configurations. See the active HMaster logs for the results of the dry_run.
+ - "ignore_rit" tells master whether we should force the balancer to run even if there is region in transition.
+   WARNING: For experts only. Forcing a balance may do more damage than repair when assignment is confused
+
 Example:
 
   hbase> balance_rsgroup 'my_group'
+  hbase> balance_rsgroup 'my_group', 'ignore_rit'
+  hbase> balance_rsgroup 'my_group', 'dry_run'
+  hbase> balance_rsgroup 'my_group', 'dry_run', 'ignore_rit'
 
 EOF
       end
 
-      def command(group_name)
+      def command(group_name, *args)
         # Returns true if balancer was run, otherwise false.
-        ret = rsgroup_admin.balance_rs_group(group_name)
-        if ret
-          puts 'Ran the balancer.'
+        resp = rsgroup_admin.balance_rs_group(group_name, args)
+        if resp.isBalancerRan
+          formatter.row(["Balancer ran"])
+          formatter.row(["Moves calculated: #{resp.getMovesCalculated}, moves executed: #{resp.getMovesExecuted}"])
         else
-          puts "Couldn't run the balancer."
+          formatter.row(["Balancer did not run. See logs for details."])
         end
-        ret
+        resp.isBalancerRan
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/balancer.rb b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/balancer.rb
index c4acdc0ecde..d5304e0007f 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/balancer.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/main/ruby/shell/commands/balancer.rb
@@ -22,31 +22,32 @@ module Shell
     class Balancer < Command
       def help
         <<-EOF
-Trigger the cluster balancer. Returns true if balancer ran and was able to
-tell the region servers to unassign all the regions to balance  (the re-assignment itself is async).
-Otherwise false (Will not run if regions in transition).
-Parameter tells master whether we should force balance even if there is region in transition.
+Trigger the cluster balancer. Returns true if balancer ran, otherwise false (Will not run if regions in transition).
 
-WARNING: For experts only. Forcing a balance may do more damage than repair
-when assignment is confused
+Parameter can be "force" or "dry_run":
+ - "dry_run" will run the balancer to generate a plan, but will not actually execute that plan.
+   This is useful for testing out new balance configurations. See the active HMaster logs for the results of the dry_run.
+ - "ignore_rit" tells master whether we should force the balancer to run even if there is region in transition.
+   WARNING: For experts only. Forcing a balance may do more damage than repair when assignment is confused
 
 Examples:
 
   hbase> balancer
-  hbase> balancer "force"
+  hbase> balancer "ignore_rit"
+  hbase> balancer "dry_run"
+  hbase> balancer "dry_run", "ignore_rit"
 EOF
       end
 
-      def command(force = nil)
-        force_balancer = 'false'
-        if force == 'force'
-          force_balancer = 'true'
-        elsif !force.nil?
-          raise ArgumentError, "Invalid argument #{force}."
+      def command(*args)
+        resp = admin.balancer(args)
+        if resp.isBalancerRan
+          formatter.row(["Balancer ran"])
+          formatter.row(["Moves calculated: #{resp.getMovesCalculated}, moves executed: #{resp.getMovesExecuted}"])
+        else
+          formatter.row(["Balancer did not run. See logs for details."])
         end
-        did_balancer_run = !!admin.balancer(force_balancer)
-        formatter.row([did_balancer_run.to_s])
-        did_balancer_run
+        resp.isBalancerRan
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/admin_test.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/admin_test.rb
index 534a9d7064d..a12b3b3bdb2 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/admin_test.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/admin_test.rb
@@ -192,7 +192,13 @@ module Hbase
       did_balancer_run = command(:balancer)
       assert(did_balancer_run == true)
       output = capture_stdout { command(:balancer, 'force') }
-      assert(output.include?('true'))
+      assert(output.include?('Balancer ran'))
+
+      command(:balance_switch, false)
+      output = capture_stdout { command(:balancer) }
+      assert(output.include?('Balancer did not run'))
+      output = capture_stdout { command(:balancer, 'dry_run') }
+      assert(output.include?('Balancer ran'))
     end
 
     #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/balancer_utils_test.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/balancer_utils_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9d70540750e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/hbase/balancer_utils_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+#
+#
+# Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+# or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+# distributed with this work for additional information
+# regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+# to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+# "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+# with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+#
+
+java_import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest
+
+module Hbase
+  class BalancerUtilsTest < Test::Unit::TestCase
+    include TestHelpers
+
+    def create_balance_request(*args)
+       ::Hbase::BalancerUtils.create_balance_request(args)
+    end
+
+    define_test "should raise ArgumentError on unknown string argument" do
+      assert_raise(ArgumentError) do
+        request = create_balance_request('foo')
+      end
+    end
+
+    define_test "should raise ArgumentError on non-array argument" do
+      assert_raise(ArgumentError) do
+        request = create_balance_request({foo: 'bar' })
+      end
+    end
+
+    define_test "should raise ArgumentError on non-string array item" do
+      assert_raise(ArgumentError) do
+        request = create_balance_request('force', true)
+      end
+    end
+
+    define_test "should parse empty args" do
+      request = create_balance_request()
+      assert(!request.isDryRun())
+      assert(!request.isIgnoreRegionsInTransition())
+    end
+
+    define_test "should parse 'force' string" do
+      request = create_balance_request('force')
+      assert(!request.isDryRun())
+      assert(request.isIgnoreRegionsInTransition())
+    end
+    
+    define_test "should parse 'ignore_rit' string" do
+      request = create_balance_request('ignore_rit')
+      assert(!request.isDryRun())
+      assert(request.isIgnoreRegionsInTransition())
+    end
+
+    define_test "should parse 'dry_run' string" do
+      request = create_balance_request('dry_run')
+      assert(request.isDryRun())
+      assert(!request.isIgnoreRegionsInTransition())
+    end
+
+    define_test "should parse multiple string args" do
+      request = create_balance_request('dry_run', 'ignore_rit')
+      assert(request.isDryRun())
+      assert(request.isIgnoreRegionsInTransition())
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/rsgroup_shell_test.rb b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/rsgroup_shell_test.rb
index f7c53000c85..b305c2e58d5 100644
--- a/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/rsgroup_shell_test.rb
+++ b/hbase-shell/src/test/ruby/shell/rsgroup_shell_test.rb
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ module Hbase
 
       # just run it to verify jruby->java api binding
       @hbase.rsgroup_admin.balance_rs_group(group_name)
+      @hbase.rsgroup_admin.balance_rs_group(group_name, 'force')
+      @hbase.rsgroup_admin.balance_rs_group(group_name, 'dry_run')
 
       @shell.command(:disable, table_name)
       @shell.command(:drop, table_name)
diff --git a/hbase-thrift/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/thrift2/client/ThriftAdmin.java b/hbase-thrift/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/thrift2/client/ThriftAdmin.java
index fd551b720ff..0aa9862c031 100644
--- a/hbase-thrift/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/thrift2/client/ThriftAdmin.java
+++ b/hbase-thrift/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/thrift2/client/ThriftAdmin.java
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import java.util.concurrent.Future;
 import java.util.regex.Pattern;
 import org.apache.commons.lang3.NotImplementedException;
 import org.apache.hadoop.conf.Configuration;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceRequest;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.CacheEvictionStats;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.ClusterMetrics;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.HConstants;
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableExistsException;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableName;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.TableNotFoundException;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Admin;
+import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.BalanceResponse;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.ColumnFamilyDescriptor;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.CompactType;
 import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.CompactionState;
@@ -786,6 +788,11 @@ public class ThriftAdmin implements Admin {
     throw new NotImplementedException("balance not supported in ThriftAdmin");
   }
 
+  @Override
+  public BalanceResponse balance(BalanceRequest request) throws IOException {
+    throw new NotImplementedException("balance not supported in ThriftAdmin");
+  }
+
   @Override
   public boolean isBalancerEnabled() {
     throw new NotImplementedException("isBalancerEnabled not supported in ThriftAdmin");