diff --git a/src/meta/server_state.cpp b/src/meta/server_state.cpp
index 2ba5c1aaf4..b6178264a7 100644
--- a/src/meta/server_state.cpp
+++ b/src/meta/server_state.cpp
@@ -1085,7 +1085,7 @@ void server_state::create_app(dsn::message_ex *msg)
 
     auto level = _meta_svc->get_function_level();
     if (level <= meta_function_level::fl_freezed) {
-        dwarn_f("current meta function level is freezed since there are too few alive nodes");
+        derror_f("current meta function level is freezed since there are too few alive nodes");
         response.err = ERR_STATE_FREEZED;
         will_create_app = false;
     } else if (request.options.partition_count <= 0 ||
@@ -2925,7 +2925,7 @@ bool server_state::validate_target_max_replica_count(int32_t max_replica_count)
     bool is_valid = validate_target_max_replica_count_internal(
         max_replica_count, alive_node_count, hint_message);
     if (!is_valid) {
-        dwarn_f("target max replica count is invalid: message={}", hint_message);
+        derror_f("target max replica count is invalid: message={}", hint_message);
     }
 
     return is_valid;
diff --git a/src/meta/test/meta_app_operation_test.cpp b/src/meta/test/meta_app_operation_test.cpp
index 25795984bc..d3e0d2fa06 100644
--- a/src/meta/test/meta_app_operation_test.cpp
+++ b/src/meta/test/meta_app_operation_test.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 // under the License.
 
 #include <gtest/gtest.h>
+#include <dsn/dist/fmt_logging.h>
 #include <dsn/service_api_c.h>
 
 #include "meta_service_test_app.h"
@@ -107,10 +108,38 @@ class meta_app_operation_test : public meta_test_base
 
 TEST_F(meta_app_operation_test, create_app)
 {
-    // Test cases:
+    // Test cases: (assert min_allowed_replica_count <= max_allowed_replica_count)
+    // - wrong partition_count (< 0)
+    // - wrong partition_count (= 0)
+    // - wrong replica_count (< 0)
+    // - wrong replica_count (= 0)
+    // - wrong replica_count (> max_allowed_replica_count > alive_node_count)
+    // - wrong replica_count (> alive_node_count > max_allowed_replica_count)
+    // - wrong replica_count (> alive_node_count = max_allowed_replica_count)
+    // - wrong replica_count (= max_allowed_replica_count, and > alive_node_count)
+    // - wrong replica_count (< max_allowed_replica_count, and > alive_node_count)
+    // - wrong replica_count (= alive_node_count, and > max_allowed_replica_count)
+    // - wrong replica_count (< alive_node_count, and > max_allowed_replica_count)
+    // - valid replica_count (= max_allowed_replica_count, and = alive_node_count)
+    // - valid replica_count (= max_allowed_replica_count, and < alive_node_count)
+    // - valid replica_count (< max_allowed_replica_count, and = alive_node_count)
+    // - valid replica_count (< max_allowed_replica_count < alive_node_count)
+    // - valid replica_count (< alive_node_count < max_allowed_replica_count)
+    // - valid replica_count (< alive_node_count = max_allowed_replica_count)
+    // - wrong replica_count (< min_allowed_replica_count < alive_node_count)
+    // - wrong replica_count (< alive_node_count < min_allowed_replica_count)
+    // - wrong replica_count (< min_allowed_replica_count = alive_node_count)
+    // - wrong replica_count (< min_allowed_replica_count, and > alive_node_count)
+    // - wrong replica_count (< min_allowed_replica_count, and = alive_node_count)
+    // - wrong replica_count (= min_allowed_replica_count, and > alive_node_count)
+    // - valid replica_count (= min_allowed_replica_count, and < alive_node_count)
+    // - cluster freezed (alive_node_count = 0)
+    // - cluster freezed (alive_node_count = 1 < min_live_node_count_for_unfreeze)
+    // - cluster freezed (alive_node_count = 2 < min_live_node_count_for_unfreeze)
+    // - cluster not freezed (alive_node_count = min_live_node_count_for_unfreeze)
+    // - create succeed with single-replica
+    // - create succeed with double-replica
     // - create app succeed
-    // - wrong partition_count
-    // - wrong replica_count
     // - create failed with table existed
     // - wrong app_status creating
     // - wrong app_status recalling
@@ -123,44 +152,58 @@ TEST_F(meta_app_operation_test, create_app)
         int32_t partition_count;
         int32_t replica_count;
         uint64_t min_live_node_count_for_unfreeze;
-        int32_t unalive_node_count;
+        int alive_node_count;
         int32_t min_allowed_replica_count;
         bool success_if_exist;
         app_status::type before_status;
         error_code expected_err;
-    } tests[] = {{APP_NAME, -1, 3, 2, 0, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
-                 {APP_NAME, 0, 3, 2, 0, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, -1, 1, 0, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 0, 1, 0, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 16, 2, 0, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 15, 2, 0, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 1, 1, 3, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_STATE_FREEZED},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 1, 1, 2, 3, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
-                 {APP_NAME + "_1", 4, 1, 1, 2, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 2, 1, 3, 2, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_STATE_FREEZED},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 2, 1, 2, 2, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 2, 1, 1, 3, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
-                 {APP_NAME + "_2", 4, 2, 1, 1, 2, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 3, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_STATE_FREEZED},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 2, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_STATE_FREEZED},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 0, 5, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
-                 {APP_NAME + "_3", 4, 3, 2, 0, 3, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 0, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 0, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 0, 1, false, app_status::AS_CREATING, ERR_BUSY_CREATING},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 0, 1, false, app_status::AS_RECALLING, ERR_BUSY_CREATING},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 0, 1, false, app_status::AS_DROPPING, ERR_BUSY_DROPPING},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 0, 1, false, app_status::AS_DROPPED, ERR_OK},
-                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 0, 1, true, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK}};
+    } tests[] = {{APP_NAME, -1, 3, 2, 3, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 0, 3, 2, 3, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, -1, 1, 3, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 0, 1, 3, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 16, 2, 14, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 17, 2, 16, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 16, 2, 15, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 15, 2, 14, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 14, 2, 13, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 16, 2, 16, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 16, 2, 17, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME + "_1", 4, 15, 2, 15, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK},
+                 {APP_NAME + "_2", 4, 15, 2, 16, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK},
+                 {APP_NAME + "_3", 4, 14, 2, 14, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK},
+                 {APP_NAME + "_4", 4, 14, 2, 16, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK},
+                 {APP_NAME + "_5", 4, 13, 2, 14, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK},
+                 {APP_NAME + "_6", 4, 14, 2, 15, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 5, 4, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 4, 5, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 4, 4, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 2, 4, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME + "_7", 4, 3, 2, 4, 3, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 1, 1, 0, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_STATE_FREEZED},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 2, 2, 1, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_STATE_FREEZED},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 3, 2, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_STATE_FREEZED},
+                 {APP_NAME + "_8", 4, 3, 3, 3, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK},
+                 {APP_NAME + "_9", 4, 1, 1, 1, 1, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK},
+                 {APP_NAME + "_10", 4, 2, 1, 2, 2, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 3, 3, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 3, 3, false, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_INVALID_PARAMETERS},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 3, 3, false, app_status::AS_CREATING, ERR_BUSY_CREATING},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 3, 3, false, app_status::AS_RECALLING, ERR_BUSY_CREATING},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 3, 3, false, app_status::AS_DROPPING, ERR_BUSY_DROPPING},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 3, 3, false, app_status::AS_DROPPED, ERR_OK},
+                 {APP_NAME, 4, 3, 2, 3, 3, true, app_status::AS_INVALID, ERR_OK}};
 
     clear_nodes();
-    std::vector<rpc_address> nodes = ensure_enough_alive_nodes(3);
+
+    const int total_node_count = 20;
+    std::vector<rpc_address> nodes = ensure_enough_alive_nodes(total_node_count);
 
     // the meta function level will become freezed once
     // alive_nodes * 100 < total_nodes * node_live_percentage_threshold_for_update
     // even if alive_nodes >= min_live_node_count_for_unfreeze
-    set_node_live_percentage_threshold_for_update(30);
+    set_node_live_percentage_threshold_for_update(0);
 
     auto reserved_min_allowed_replica_count = FLAGS_min_allowed_replica_count;
 
@@ -168,7 +211,11 @@ TEST_F(meta_app_operation_test, create_app)
         FLAGS_min_allowed_replica_count = test.min_allowed_replica_count;
         set_min_live_node_count_for_unfreeze(test.min_live_node_count_for_unfreeze);
 
-        for (int32_t i = 0; i < test.unalive_node_count; i++) {
+        dassert_f(total_node_count >= test.alive_node_count,
+                  "total_node_count({}) should be >= alive_node_count({})",
+                  total_node_count,
+                  test.alive_node_count);
+        for (int i = 0; i < total_node_count - test.alive_node_count; i++) {
             _ms->set_node_state({nodes[i]}, false);
         }