# Cannot read input from file using Logstash
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-read-input-from-file-using-logstash/235329
**Category:** Logstash
**Created:** [June 2, 2020, 12:11pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-read-input-from-file-using-logstash/235329 "2020-06-02T12:11:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@NITISH\_GUPTA](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/NITISH_GUPTA)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2020, 12:11pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-read-input-from-file-using-logstash/235329/1 "2020-06-02T12:11:35Z")
Logstash is successfully starting and running but there is no update on the elasticsearch cluster. I also tried output to stdout but nothing was displayed.
Below is the following config file of logstash.
```auto
input {
file {
path => ["C:\Users\nitis\Downloads\sample.log"]
start_position => "beginning"
}
}
output
{
elasticsearch {
hosts => ["http://localhost:9200"]
index => "testindex2"
}
}
```
Request for help.
---
### Author:  [@ptamba](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ptamba)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2020, 12:57pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-read-input-from-file-using-logstash/235329/2 "2020-06-02T12:57:05Z")
is the file read by logstash updated ?
there is a [sincedb\_path](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/logstash/current/plugins-inputs-file.html#plugins-inputs-file-sincedb_path) that keep tracks the file reading, which defaults to /plugins/input/file . you might want to check that file first to see whether logstash has previously read the file
---
### Author:  [@abrx](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/abrx)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2020, 1:10pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-read-input-from-file-using-logstash/235329/3 "2020-06-02T13:10:47Z")
In addition of the since\_sb check, you should check that logstash user has sufficient permissions to the file AND parents folders (exampe of root:root folder)
---
### Author:  [@Badger](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Badger)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2020, 1:11pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-read-input-from-file-using-logstash/235329/4 "2020-06-02T13:11:48Z")
Do not use backslash in the path option of a file input. Use forward slash (or \\).
---
### Author:  [@NITISH\_GUPTA](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/NITISH_GUPTA)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2020, 1:19pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-read-input-from-file-using-logstash/235329/5 "2020-06-02T13:19:43Z")
I have three since\_db files but all are of zero KB.
What does that mean ?
And how to resolve this.
I am new to Elastic stack and just learning to read a log file using logstash and redirecting it to elasticsearch cluster index
I also tried input from stdin and stored it in an index.
That worked for me.
Also I wanted to know , what does the message field of doc displays in case of a file. In stdin , it displayed the inputted text. Please throw some light
---
### Author:  [@NITISH\_GUPTA](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/NITISH_GUPTA)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2020, 1:22pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-read-input-from-file-using-logstash/235329/6 "2020-06-02T13:22:21Z")
Logstash automatically does that.
So it doesn't matter. I saw that in the logs during startup of logstash
---
### Author:  [@NITISH\_GUPTA](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/NITISH_GUPTA)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2020, 1:23pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-read-input-from-file-using-logstash/235329/7 "2020-06-02T13:23:12Z")
And how to check that?
---
### Author:  [@NITISH\_GUPTA](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/NITISH_GUPTA)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2020, 5:57am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-read-input-from-file-using-logstash/235329/8 "2020-06-04T05:57:40Z")
Hey anyone , please reply and help.
---
### Author:  [@tamilsweet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/tamilsweet)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2020, 6:04am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-read-input-from-file-using-logstash/235329/9 "2020-06-04T06:04:54Z")
Add stdout to Logstash output to verify if content is read from the file properly. Make sure to start Logstash using -e command line flag.
Ref: [https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/logstash/current/plugins-outputs-stdout.html](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/logstash/current/plugins-outputs-stdout.html)
```auto
output
{
elasticsearch {
hosts => ["http://localhost:9200"]
index => "testindex2"
}
stdout { }
}
```
Once you verify that the content are read from file, then you can debug in Elasticsearch side.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2020, 6:04am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-read-input-from-file-using-logstash/235329/10 "2020-07-02T06:04:56Z")
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