/**
   * Prepare the merged region and region files.
   *
   * @param server Hosting server instance. Can be null when testing
   * @param services Used to online/offline regions.
   * @return merged region
   * @throws IOException If thrown, transaction failed. Call {@link #rollback(Server,
   *     RegionServerServices)}
   */
  HRegion createMergedRegion(final Server server, final RegionServerServices services)
      throws IOException {
    LOG.info(
        "Starting merge of "
            + region_a
            + " and "
            + region_b.getRegionNameAsString()
            + ", forcible="
            + forcible);
    if ((server != null && server.isStopped()) || (services != null && services.isStopping())) {
      throw new IOException("Server is stopped or stopping");
    }

    if (rsCoprocessorHost != null) {
      if (rsCoprocessorHost.preMerge(this.region_a, this.region_b)) {
        throw new IOException(
            "Coprocessor bypassing regions " + this.region_a + " " + this.region_b + " merge.");
      }
    }

    // If true, no cluster to write meta edits to or to use coordination.
    boolean testing =
        server == null
            ? true
            : server.getConfiguration().getBoolean("hbase.testing.nocluster", false);

    HRegion mergedRegion = stepsBeforePONR(server, services, testing);

    @MetaMutationAnnotation List<Mutation> metaEntries = new ArrayList<Mutation>();
    if (rsCoprocessorHost != null) {
      if (rsCoprocessorHost.preMergeCommit(this.region_a, this.region_b, metaEntries)) {
        throw new IOException(
            "Coprocessor bypassing regions " + this.region_a + " " + this.region_b + " merge.");
      }
      try {
        for (Mutation p : metaEntries) {
          HRegionInfo.parseRegionName(p.getRow());
        }
      } catch (IOException e) {
        LOG.error(
            "Row key of mutation from coprocessor is not parsable as region name."
                + "Mutations from coprocessor should only be for hbase:meta table.",
            e);
        throw e;
      }
    }

    // This is the point of no return. Similar with SplitTransaction.
    // IF we reach the PONR then subsequent failures need to crash out this
    // regionserver
    this.journal.add(JournalEntry.PONR);

    // Add merged region and delete region_a and region_b
    // as an atomic update. See HBASE-7721. This update to hbase:meta makes the region
    // will determine whether the region is merged or not in case of failures.
    // If it is successful, master will roll-forward, if not, master will
    // rollback
    if (!testing && useCoordinationForAssignment) {
      if (metaEntries.isEmpty()) {
        MetaTableAccessor.mergeRegions(
            server.getConnection(),
            mergedRegion.getRegionInfo(),
            region_a.getRegionInfo(),
            region_b.getRegionInfo(),
            server.getServerName(),
            region_a.getTableDesc().getRegionReplication());
      } else {
        mergeRegionsAndPutMetaEntries(
            server.getConnection(),
            mergedRegion.getRegionInfo(),
            region_a.getRegionInfo(),
            region_b.getRegionInfo(),
            server.getServerName(),
            metaEntries,
            region_a.getTableDesc().getRegionReplication());
      }
    } else if (services != null && !useCoordinationForAssignment) {
      if (!services.reportRegionStateTransition(
          TransitionCode.MERGE_PONR,
          mergedRegionInfo,
          region_a.getRegionInfo(),
          region_b.getRegionInfo())) {
        // Passed PONR, let SSH clean it up
        throw new IOException(
            "Failed to notify master that merge passed PONR: "
                + region_a.getRegionInfo().getRegionNameAsString()
                + " and "
                + region_b.getRegionInfo().getRegionNameAsString());
      }
    }
    return mergedRegion;
  }