# Cannot start elasticsearch 5.x **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [July 17, 2016, 8:18pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-5-x/55699 "2016-07-17T20:18:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zozo6015](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/zozo6015/32/12117_2.png) [@zozo6015](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/zozo6015)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 8:18pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-5-x/55699/1 "2016-07-17T20:18:28Z")
Hello, I am running elk stack in docker environment running on coreos but I cannot stat the elasticsearch because vm.max\_map\_count needs value 2147483648 but the default is 65530. I have tried creating a config file with that value but I get the following error: -- Unit systemd-sysctl.service has begun starting up. Jul 17 20:12:26 [core.z0z0.tk](http://core.z0z0.tk) systemd-sysctl[741]: Couldn't write '2147483648' to 'vm/max\_map\_count', ignoring: Invalid argument Jul 17 20:12:26 [core.z0z0.tk](http://core.z0z0.tk) systemd[1]: systemd-sysctl.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE Jul 17 20:12:26 [core.z0z0.tk](http://core.z0z0.tk) sudo[717]: pam\_unix(sudo:session): session closed for user root Jul 17 20:12:26 [core.z0z0.tk](http://core.z0z0.tk) systemd[1]: Failed to start Apply Kernel Variables. -- Subject: Unit systemd-sysctl.service has failed -- Defined-By: systemd -- Support: [http://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/systemd-devel](http://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/systemd-devel) I know this is not exactly elasticsearch related but maybe there is someone who came up with a solution for this issue. Thanks in advance Peter ---
**Author:** ![jprante](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/jprante/32/44941_2.png) [@jprante](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/jprante)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-5-x/55699/2 "2016-07-17T21:10:14Z")
Please show how you have configured the ES configuration, there is something wrong. While `vm.max_map_count` is ok with 65530, ES specific value should be 2^18 (262144), not 2^31 (2147483648). 2^31 is impossible to set by sysctl because this number does not fit into a positive integer value, the maximum integer is 2^31-1 and should not be tried for `vm.max_map_count`. [https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/master/\_maximum\_map\_count\_check.html](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/master/_maximum_map_count_check.html) ---
**Author:** ![zozo6015](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/zozo6015/32/12117_2.png) [@zozo6015](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/zozo6015)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-5-x/55699/3 "2016-07-17T22:59:09Z")
elasticsearch config is almost the default one: [cluster.name](http://cluster.name): cluster network.host: 0.0.0.0 http.port: 9200 discovery.zen.minimum\_master\_nodes: 1 ---
**Author:** ![jprante](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/jprante/32/44941_2.png) [@jprante](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/jprante)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 7:15am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-5-x/55699/4 "2016-07-19T07:15:25Z")
I mean the startup configuration where kernel and Java configuration is set, not the Elasticsearch config file in the config directory. ---
**Author:** ![tomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@tomer](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/tomer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 9:31am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-5-x/55699/5 "2017-02-12T09:31:19Z")
Hi jprante, since I am facing the same problem. Where can i find the kernel and Java configuration is set. I am using Centos. Many Thanks, Tomer Zaks ---
**Author:** ![tomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@tomer](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/tomer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 9:33am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-5-x/55699/6 "2017-02-12T09:33:51Z")
When I open my system log I get: ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/2X/a/ab592adc5cfefa189438450d05ddd48f4b7d1f21.png) I have elastic Search 5.2 installed ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-5-x/55699/7 "2017-07-05T22:03:20Z")