diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/nc/NCAppRuntimeContext.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/nc/NCAppRuntimeContext.java
index f532352..1a89168 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/nc/NCAppRuntimeContext.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/nc/NCAppRuntimeContext.java
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@
                 new DatasetLifecycleManager(storageProperties, localResourceRepository, txnSubsystem.getLogManager(),
                         virtualBufferCache, indexCheckpointManagerProvider, ioManager.getIODevices().size());
         final String nodeId = getServiceContext().getNodeId();
-        final Set<Integer> nodePartitions = metadataProperties.getNodeActivePartitions(nodeId);
+        final Set<Integer> nodePartitions = metadataProperties.getNodePartitions(nodeId);
         replicaManager = new ReplicaManager(this, nodePartitions);
         isShuttingdown = false;
         activeManager = new ActiveManager(threadExecutor, getServiceContext().getNodeId(),
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/nc/ReplicaManager.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/nc/ReplicaManager.java
index 7c4b59c..7b52df6 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/nc/ReplicaManager.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/nc/ReplicaManager.java
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 package org.apache.asterix.app.nc;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.HashSet;
@@ -31,7 +30,6 @@
 
 import org.apache.asterix.common.api.IDatasetLifecycleManager;
 import org.apache.asterix.common.api.INcApplicationContext;
-import org.apache.asterix.common.cluster.ClusterPartition;
 import org.apache.asterix.common.replication.IPartitionReplica;
 import org.apache.asterix.common.storage.IReplicaManager;
 import org.apache.asterix.common.storage.ReplicaIdentifier;
@@ -188,11 +186,8 @@
     }
 
     private void setNodeOwnedPartitions(INcApplicationContext appCtx) {
-        ClusterPartition[] clusterPartitions =
-                appCtx.getMetadataProperties().getNodePartitions().get(appCtx.getServiceContext().getNodeId());
-        if (clusterPartitions != null) {
-            nodeOwnedPartitions.addAll(Arrays.stream(clusterPartitions).map(ClusterPartition::getPartitionId)
-                    .collect(Collectors.toList()));
-        }
+        Set<Integer> nodePartitions =
+                appCtx.getMetadataProperties().getNodePartitions(appCtx.getServiceContext().getNodeId());
+        nodeOwnedPartitions.addAll(nodePartitions);
     }
 }
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/nc/task/UpdateNodeStatusTask.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/nc/task/UpdateNodeStatusTask.java
index fe579ad..17eff4a 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/nc/task/UpdateNodeStatusTask.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/nc/task/UpdateNodeStatusTask.java
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
     private static final Logger LOGGER = LogManager.getLogger();
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 2L;
     private final NodeStatus status;
-    private Set<Integer> activePartitions;
+    private final Set<Integer> activePartitions;
 
     public UpdateNodeStatusTask(NodeStatus status, Set<Integer> activePartitions) {
         this.status = status;
@@ -61,6 +61,6 @@
 
     @Override
     public String toString() {
-        return "{ \"class\" : \"" + getClass().getSimpleName() + "\" }";
+        return "UpdateNodeStatusTask{" + "status=" + status + ", activePartitions=" + activePartitions + '}';
     }
 }
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/NcLifecycleCoordinator.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/NcLifecycleCoordinator.java
index 22a0a84..06005a9 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/NcLifecycleCoordinator.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/NcLifecycleCoordinator.java
@@ -168,8 +168,9 @@
 
     protected List<INCLifecycleTask> buildNCRegTasks(String nodeId, NodeStatus nodeStatus, SystemState state,
             Set<Integer> activePartitions) {
-        LOGGER.info("Building registration tasks for node {} with status {} and system state: {}", nodeId, nodeStatus,
-                state);
+        LOGGER.info(
+                "Building registration tasks for node {} with status {} and system state: {} and active partitions {}",
+                nodeId, nodeStatus, state, activePartitions);
         final boolean isMetadataNode = nodeId.equals(metadataNodeId);
         switch (nodeStatus) {
             case ACTIVE:
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/message/NCLifecycleTaskReportMessage.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/message/NCLifecycleTaskReportMessage.java
index 1309369..b2a2dd7 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/message/NCLifecycleTaskReportMessage.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/message/NCLifecycleTaskReportMessage.java
@@ -76,4 +76,10 @@
     public Set<Integer> getActivePartitions() {
         return activePartitions;
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return "NCLifecycleTaskReportMessage{" + "nodeId='" + nodeId + '\'' + ", success=" + success + ", exception="
+                + exception + ", localCounters=" + localCounters + ", activePartitions=" + activePartitions + '}';
+    }
 }
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/message/RegistrationTasksRequestMessage.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/message/RegistrationTasksRequestMessage.java
index fb50b3e..9e95ac6 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/message/RegistrationTasksRequestMessage.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/message/RegistrationTasksRequestMessage.java
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
  */
 package org.apache.asterix.app.replication.message;
 
-import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 
@@ -39,18 +38,18 @@
 
     private static final Logger LOGGER = LogManager.getLogger();
     private static final long serialVersionUID = 2L;
-    protected final SystemState state;
-    protected final String nodeId;
-    protected final NodeStatus nodeStatus;
-    protected final Map<String, Object> secrets;
-    protected final Set<Integer> activePartitions;
+    private final SystemState state;
+    private final String nodeId;
+    private final NodeStatus nodeStatus;
+    private final Map<String, Object> secrets;
+    private final Set<Integer> activePartitions;
 
     public RegistrationTasksRequestMessage(String nodeId, NodeStatus nodeStatus, SystemState state,
             Map<String, Object> secretsEphemeral, Set<Integer> activePartitions) {
         this.state = state;
         this.nodeId = nodeId;
         this.nodeStatus = nodeStatus;
-        this.secrets = new HashMap<>(secretsEphemeral);
+        this.secrets = secretsEphemeral;
         this.activePartitions = activePartitions;
     }
 
@@ -59,6 +58,7 @@
         try {
             RegistrationTasksRequestMessage msg = new RegistrationTasksRequestMessage(cs.getId(), nodeStatus,
                     systemState, secretsEphemeral, activePartitions);
+            LOGGER.info("sending {} to CC", msg);
             ((INCMessageBroker) cs.getContext().getMessageBroker()).sendMessageToCC(ccId, msg);
         } catch (Exception e) {
             LOGGER.log(Level.ERROR, "Unable to send RegistrationTasksRequestMessage to CC", e);
@@ -95,4 +95,10 @@
     public Set<Integer> getActivePartitions() {
         return activePartitions;
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return "RegistrationTasksRequestMessage{" + "state=" + state + ", nodeId='" + nodeId + '\'' + ", nodeStatus="
+                + nodeStatus + ", activePartitions=" + activePartitions + '}';
+    }
 }
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/message/RegistrationTasksResponseMessage.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/message/RegistrationTasksResponseMessage.java
index f0a4a7c..f0f0470 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/message/RegistrationTasksResponseMessage.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/replication/message/RegistrationTasksResponseMessage.java
@@ -59,13 +59,9 @@
             Throwable exception = null;
             try {
                 for (INCLifecycleTask task : tasks) {
-                    if (LOGGER.isInfoEnabled()) {
-                        LOGGER.log(Level.INFO, "Starting startup task: " + task);
-                    }
+                    LOGGER.log(Level.INFO, "Starting startup task: {}", task);
                     task.perform(getCcId(), cs);
-                    if (LOGGER.isInfoEnabled()) {
-                        LOGGER.log(Level.INFO, "Completed startup task: " + task);
-                    }
+                    LOGGER.log(Level.INFO, "Completed startup task: {}", task);
                 }
             } catch (Throwable e) { //NOSONAR all startup failures should be reported to CC
                 LOGGER.log(Level.ERROR, "Failed during startup task", e);
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/hyracks/bootstrap/NCApplication.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/hyracks/bootstrap/NCApplication.java
index be1cc7c..f60349f 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/hyracks/bootstrap/NCApplication.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/hyracks/bootstrap/NCApplication.java
@@ -300,12 +300,12 @@
         final NodeStatus currentStatus = ncs.getNodeStatus();
         final SystemState systemState = isPendingStartupTasks(currentStatus, ncs.getPrimaryCcId(), ccId)
                 ? getCurrentSystemState() : SystemState.HEALTHY;
-        final Map httpSecrets =
+        final Map<String, Object> httpSecrets =
                 apiServer != null ? Collections.singletonMap(SYS_AUTH_HEADER, apiServer.ctx().get(SYS_AUTH_HEADER))
                         : Collections.emptyMap();
         RegistrationTasksRequestMessage.send(ccId, (NodeControllerService) ncServiceCtx.getControllerService(),
                 currentStatus, systemState, httpSecrets,
-                runtimeContext.getMetadataProperties().getNodeActivePartitions(nodeId));
+                runtimeContext.getMetadataProperties().getNodePartitions(nodeId));
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/config/MetadataProperties.java b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/config/MetadataProperties.java
index 31708d3..252017f 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/config/MetadataProperties.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/config/MetadataProperties.java
@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@
         return accessor.getClusterPartitions();
     }
 
-    public Set<Integer> getNodeActivePartitions(String nodeId) {
-        return accessor.getActivePartitions(nodeId);
+    public Set<Integer> getNodePartitions(String nodeId) {
+        return accessor.getNodePartitions(nodeId);
     }
 
     public Map<String, String> getTransactionLogDirs() {
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/config/NodeProperties.java b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/config/NodeProperties.java
index afb103d..522cabd 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/config/NodeProperties.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/config/NodeProperties.java
@@ -46,8 +46,7 @@
         STARTING_PARTITION_ID(
                 OptionTypes.INTEGER,
                 -1,
-                "The first partition id to assign to iodevices on this node (-1 == auto-assign)"),
-        ACTIVE_PARTITIONS(OptionTypes.STRING_ARRAY, null, "List of node active partitions");
+                "The first partition id to assign to iodevices on this node (-1 == auto-assign)");
 
         private final IOptionType type;
         private final Object defaultValue;
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/config/PropertiesAccessor.java b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/config/PropertiesAccessor.java
index 5ba378d..80f9a17 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/config/PropertiesAccessor.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/config/PropertiesAccessor.java
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 import org.apache.asterix.common.cluster.ClusterPartition;
 import org.apache.asterix.common.exceptions.AsterixException;
 import org.apache.asterix.common.exceptions.ErrorCode;
+import org.apache.asterix.common.utils.PrintUtil;
 import org.apache.commons.lang3.mutable.MutableInt;
 import org.apache.hyracks.algebricks.common.utils.Pair;
 import org.apache.hyracks.api.config.IApplicationConfig;
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@
     /**
      * Constructor which wraps an IApplicationConfig.
      */
-    private PropertiesAccessor(IApplicationConfig cfg) throws AsterixException, IOException {
+    private PropertiesAccessor(IApplicationConfig cfg) throws AsterixException {
         this.cfg = cfg;
         nodePartitionsMap = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
         clusterPartitions = Collections.synchronizedSortedMap(new TreeMap<>());
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@
         for (String ncName : cfg.getNCNames()) {
             configureNc(configManager, ncName, uniquePartitionId);
         }
+        LOGGER.info("configured partitions: {} from config {}", () -> PrintUtil.toString(nodePartitionsMap), () -> cfg);
         for (String section : cfg.getSectionNames()) {
             if (section.startsWith(AsterixProperties.SECTION_PREFIX_EXTENSION)) {
                 String className = AsterixProperties.getSectionId(AsterixProperties.SECTION_PREFIX_EXTENSION, section);
@@ -194,22 +196,16 @@
         return clusterPartitions;
     }
 
-    public Set<Integer> getActivePartitions(String nodeId) {
-        // by default, node actives partitions are the partitions assigned to the node
-        String[] activePartitions = cfg.getStringArray(NodeProperties.Option.ACTIVE_PARTITIONS);
-        if (activePartitions == null) {
-            ClusterPartition[] nodeClusterPartitions = nodePartitionsMap.get(nodeId);
-            return Arrays.stream(nodeClusterPartitions).map(ClusterPartition::getPartitionId)
-                    .collect(Collectors.toSet());
-        }
-        return Arrays.stream(activePartitions).map(Integer::parseInt).collect(Collectors.toSet());
+    public Set<Integer> getNodePartitions(String nodeId) {
+        ClusterPartition[] nodeClusterPartitions = nodePartitionsMap.get(nodeId);
+        return Arrays.stream(nodeClusterPartitions).map(ClusterPartition::getPartitionId).collect(Collectors.toSet());
     }
 
     public List<AsterixExtension> getExtensions() {
         return extensions;
     }
 
-    public static PropertiesAccessor getInstance(IApplicationConfig cfg) throws IOException, AsterixException {
+    public static PropertiesAccessor getInstance(IApplicationConfig cfg) throws AsterixException {
         PropertiesAccessor accessor = instances.get(cfg);
         if (accessor == null) {
             accessor = new PropertiesAccessor(cfg);
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/utils/NcLocalCounters.java b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/utils/NcLocalCounters.java
index 5cf6724..8956b93 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/utils/NcLocalCounters.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/utils/NcLocalCounters.java
@@ -59,4 +59,10 @@
     public long getMaxJobId() {
         return maxJobId;
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public String toString() {
+        return "NcLocalCounters{" + "maxResourceId=" + maxResourceId + ", maxTxnId=" + maxTxnId + ", maxJobId="
+                + maxJobId + '}';
+    }
 }