# Can i run logstash without conf file, all conf data in command line?
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-i-run-logstash-without-conf-file-all-conf-data-in-command-line/111205
**Category:** Logstash
**Created:** [December 12, 2017, 1:14am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-i-run-logstash-without-conf-file-all-conf-data-in-command-line/111205 "2017-12-12T01:14:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@rkhapre](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/rkhapre)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2017, 1:14am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-i-run-logstash-without-conf-file-all-conf-data-in-command-line/111205/1 "2017-12-12T01:14:27Z")
Hi All
Can i run logstash without conf file, all conf data in command line?
I am using multiple conf files, for which it is hard for me to maintain these small conf files in server.
I am looking a way wherein i can use command line flag to provide all the string of conf file itself
I checked the documentation, it says there is a command for it " **`-e, --config.string CONFIG_STRING`**"
instead of calling the conf files by providing location in command line, can i paste directly the input,filter and output of conf file in command?
logstash.bat --debug -e " here copy paste conf file data"
but this is not working for me. Please let me know if my assumption for --e command is correct?
---
### Author:  [@warkolm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/warkolm)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2017, 3:10am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-i-run-logstash-without-conf-file-all-conf-data-in-command-line/111205/2 "2017-12-12T03:10:23Z")
> [@rkhapre](#):
>
> logstash.bat --debug -e " here copy paste conf file data"
>
> but this is not working for me. Please let me know if my assumption for --e command is correct?
Please be more explicit, not working how? Are you getting errors? What are they? What version are you on?
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### Author:  [@rkhapre](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/rkhapre)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2017, 9:25am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-i-run-logstash-without-conf-file-all-conf-data-in-command-line/111205/3 "2017-12-12T09:25:01Z")
I am using logstash 5.2.2
I get error as
`Unknown command '{'`
which is starting point of conf file.
Do i have to provide the escape in each string?.
All i am interested is, if this is possible with command line, if yes please suggest example
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### Author:  [@warkolm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/warkolm)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2017, 9:08pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-i-run-logstash-without-conf-file-all-conf-data-in-command-line/111205/4 "2017-12-13T21:08:47Z")
Please show the command you are running.
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### Author:  [@Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Christian_Dahlqvist)
#### Post date: [December 14, 2017, 7:10am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-i-run-logstash-without-conf-file-all-conf-data-in-command-line/111205/5 "2017-12-14T07:10:51Z")
If you have multiple logically separated configs, Logstash 6.x now supports [configuration of multiple pipelines](https://www.elastic.co/blog/logstash-multiple-pipelines), which can simplify deployments and cut down on the amount of conditionals required to control flow.
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### Author:  [@rkhapre](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/rkhapre)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2017, 10:28am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-i-run-logstash-without-conf-file-all-conf-data-in-command-line/111205/6 "2017-12-17T10:28:52Z")
Thanks for your replies.
Sorry my late response, actually i dont want to use any physical files, i want to run the pipeline just with service.
Is that possible?
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### Author:  [@Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Christian_Dahlqvist)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2017, 11:46am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-i-run-logstash-without-conf-file-all-conf-data-in-command-line/111205/7 "2017-12-17T11:46:27Z")
I have never tried passing anything complex that way. I think that option was added as an easy way to get started, not necessarily to handle large and complex configurations.
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### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2018, 11:46am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/can-i-run-logstash-without-conf-file-all-conf-data-in-command-line/111205/8 "2018-01-14T11:46:41Z")
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