# Cannot start elasticsearch under user **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [April 5, 2020, 6:37pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587 "2020-04-05T18:37:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gefela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@gefela](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/gefela)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2020, 6:37pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/1 "2020-04-05T18:37:14Z")
When I try to start elasticsearch , I get the following [gefela@gefela bin] ./elasticsearch ./elasticsearch-env: line 75: /etc/sysconfig/elasticsearch: Permission denied [gefela@gefela bin] ^C What do I need to do to fix this ? ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/2 "2020-04-05T18:49:04Z")
I'd follow the installation guide. ---
**Author:** ![gefela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@gefela](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/gefela)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 11:17am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/3 "2020-04-13T11:17:26Z")
I have read it the installation guide but it does not give me the reason why it is failing .. ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 3:26pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/4 "2020-04-13T15:26:12Z")
How did you install elasticsearch? What are the exact commands you are running? ---
**Author:** ![gefela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@gefela](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/gefela)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/5 "2020-04-13T18:00:53Z")
This is the commands thatI used to configure elasticsearch wget [https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86\_64.rpm](https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86_64.rpm) wget [https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86\_64.rpm.sha512](https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86_64.rpm.sha512) shasum -a 512 -c elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86\_64.rpm.sha512 sudo rpm --install elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86\_64.rpm yum remove elasticsearch-oss sudo rpm --install elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86\_64.rpm wget [https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86\_64.rpm](https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86_64.rpm) wget [https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86\_64.rpm.sha512](https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86_64.rpm.sha512) shasum -a 512 -c elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86\_64.rpm.sha512 sudo rpm --install elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86\_64.rpm wget [https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86\_64.rpm](https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86_64.rpm) wget [https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86\_64.rpm.sha512](https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86_64.rpm.sha512) shasum -a 512 -c elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86\_64.rpm.sha512 sudo rpm --install elasticsearch-7.6.2-x86\_64.rpm sudo systemctl enable elasticsearch.service cd /usr/share/elasticsearch/ ./elasticsearch-users useradd gefela -p password nano /etc/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.yml systemctl restart elasticsearch cd /etc/elasticsearch/ cd /usr/share/elasticsearch/bin/ ./elasticsearch su elasticsearch chown -R elasticsearch:elasticsearch /etc/elasticsearch/ chown -R elasticsearch:elasticsearch /usr/share/elasticsearch/ ./elasticsearch ---
**Author:** ![gefela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@gefela](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/gefela)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 6:03pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/6 "2020-04-13T18:03:01Z")
./elasticsearch OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM warning: Option UseConcMarkSweepGC was deprecated in version 9.0 and will likely be removed in a future release. [2020-04-13T19:02:11,853][ERROR][o.e.b.ElasticsearchUncaughtExceptionHandler] [gefela] uncaught exception in thread [main] org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.StartupException: java.lang.RuntimeException: can not run elasticsearch as root at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.init(Elasticsearch.java:174) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.execute(Elasticsearch.java:161) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.cli.EnvironmentAwareCommand.execute(EnvironmentAwareCommand.java:86) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.cli.Command.mainWithoutErrorHandling(Command.java:125) ~[elasticsearch-cli-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.cli.Command.main(Command.java:90) ~[elasticsearch-cli-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.main(Elasticsearch.java:126) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.main(Elasticsearch.java:92) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] Caused by: java.lang.RuntimeException: can not run elasticsearch as root at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Bootstrap.initializeNatives(Bootstrap.java:105) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Bootstrap.setup(Bootstrap.java:172) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Bootstrap.init(Bootstrap.java:349) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.init(Elasticsearch.java:170) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] ... 6 more uncaught exception in thread [main] java.lang.RuntimeException: can not run elasticsearch as root at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Bootstrap.initializeNatives(Bootstrap.java:105) at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Bootstrap.setup(Bootstrap.java:172) at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Bootstrap.init(Bootstrap.java:349) at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.init(Elasticsearch.java:170) at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.execute(Elasticsearch.java:161) at org.elasticsearch.cli.EnvironmentAwareCommand.execute(EnvironmentAwareCommand.java:86) at org.elasticsearch.cli.Command.mainWithoutErrorHandling(Command.java:125) at org.elasticsearch.cli.Command.main(Command.java:90) at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.main(Elasticsearch.java:126) at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.main(Elasticsearch.java:92) For complete error details, refer to the log at /var/log/elasticsearch/gefela.l ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2020, 9:30pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/7 "2020-04-13T21:30:53Z")
Could you run the process as `elasticsearch` user? ---
**Author:** ![gefela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@gefela](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/gefela)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 6:48am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/8 "2020-04-14T06:48:21Z")
It is still giving me the error message .. [gefela@gefela ~] cd /usr/share/elasticsearch/bin [gefela@gefela bin] sudo ./elasticsearch [sudo] password for gefela: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM warning: Option UseConcMarkSweepGC was deprecated in version 9.0 and will likely be removed in a future release. [2020-04-14T07:43:51,602][ERROR][o.e.b.ElasticsearchUncaughtExceptionHandler] [gefela] uncaught exception in thread [main] org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.StartupException: java.lang.RuntimeException: can not run elasticsearch as root at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.init(Elasticsearch.java:174) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.execute(Elasticsearch.java:161) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.cli.EnvironmentAwareCommand.execute(EnvironmentAwareCommand.java:86) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.cli.Command.mainWithoutErrorHandling(Command.java:125) ~[elasticsearch-cli-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.cli.Command.main(Command.java:90) ~[elasticsearch-cli-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.main(Elasticsearch.java:126) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.main(Elasticsearch.java:92) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] Caused by: java.lang.RuntimeException: can not run elasticsearch as root at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Bootstrap.initializeNatives(Bootstrap.java:105) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Bootstrap.setup(Bootstrap.java:172) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Bootstrap.init(Bootstrap.java:349) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.init(Elasticsearch.java:170) ~[elasticsearch-7.6.2.jar:7.6.2] ... 6 more uncaught exception in thread [main] java.lang.RuntimeException: can not run elasticsearch as root at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Bootstrap.initializeNatives(Bootstrap.java:105) at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Bootstrap.setup(Bootstrap.java:172) at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Bootstrap.init(Bootstrap.java:349) at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.init(Elasticsearch.java:170) at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.execute(Elasticsearch.java:161) at org.elasticsearch.cli.EnvironmentAwareCommand.execute(EnvironmentAwareCommand.java:86) at org.elasticsearch.cli.Command.mainWithoutErrorHandling(Command.java:125) at org.elasticsearch.cli.Command.main(Command.java:90) at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.main(Elasticsearch.java:126) at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.main(Elasticsearch.java:92) For complete error details, refer to the log at /var/log/elasticsearch/gefela.log [gefela@gefela bin] sudo whoami root [gefela@gefela bin] [gefela@gefela bin]$ ./elasticsearch ./elasticsearch-env: line 75: /etc/sysconfig/elasticsearch: Permission denied ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 7:24am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/9 "2020-04-14T07:24:23Z")
```auto [gefela@gefela ~] cd /usr/share/elasticsearch/bin [gefela@gefela bin] sudo ./elasticsearch ``` Means that you are running as `root`. ---
**Author:** ![gefela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@gefela](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/gefela)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 7:30am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/10 "2020-04-14T07:30:31Z")
I have run it as a user ... [gefela@gefela ~] cd /usr/share/elasticsearch/bin/ [gefela@gefela bin] ./elasticsearch ./elasticsearch-env: line 75: /etc/sysconfig/elasticsearch: Permission denied [gefela@gefela bin]$ ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 7:47am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/11 "2020-04-14T07:47:34Z")
But why are you trying to launch the binary manually? [Documentation](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/rpm.html) says: ``` sudo -i service elasticsearch start ``` ---
**Author:** ![gefela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@gefela](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/gefela)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 7:50am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/12 "2020-04-14T07:50:50Z")
I have done it but still giving error message [gefela@gefela bin]$ sudo -i service elasticsearch start Starting elasticsearch (via systemctl): Job for elasticsearch.service failed because the control process exited with error code. gefela@gefela bin] sudo systemctl status elasticsearch.service ● elasticsearch.service - Elasticsearch Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/elasticsearch.service; enabled; vend\> Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Tue 2020-04-14 08:47:59 BST; 43s ago Docs: http://www.elastic.co Process: 8267 ExecStart=/usr/share/elasticsearch/bin/elasticsearch -p {PID\_D\> Main PID: 8267 (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE) Apr 14 08:47:59 gefela elasticsearch[8267]: at org.elasticsearch.bootst\> Apr 14 08:47:59 gefela elasticsearch[8267]: at org.elasticsearch.cli.En\> Apr 14 08:47:59 gefela elasticsearch[8267]: at [org.elasticsearch.cli.Co](http://org.elasticsearch.cli.Co)\> Apr 14 08:47:59 gefela elasticsearch[8267]: at [org.elasticsearch.cli.Co](http://org.elasticsearch.cli.Co)\> Apr 14 08:47:59 gefela elasticsearch[8267]: at org.elasticsearch.bootst\> Apr 14 08:47:59 gefela elasticsearch[8267]: at org.elasticsearch.bootst\> Apr 14 08:47:59 gefela elasticsearch[8267]: For complete error details, refer t\> Apr 14 08:47:59 gefela systemd[1]: elasticsearch.service: Main process exited, \> Apr 14 08:47:59 gefela systemd[1]: elasticsearch.service: Failed with result 'e\> Apr 14 08:47:59 gefela systemd[1]: Failed to start Elasticsearch. lines 1-17/17 (END) ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 7:52am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/13 "2020-04-14T07:52:02Z")
What are elasticsearch logs in that case? ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 7:52am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/14 "2020-04-14T07:52:17Z")
Please format your code, logs or configuration files using `` icon as explained in [this guide](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/about-the-elasticsearch-category/21) and not the citation button. It will make your post more readable. Or use markdown style like: ```` ``` CODE ``` ```` This is the icon to use if you are not using markdown format: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/7/e/7e6e239431ec2d71cbf1beef741f2e93e7cc762c.jpg) There's a live preview panel for exactly this reasons. Lots of people read these forums, and many of them will simply skip over a post that is difficult to read, because it's just too large an investment of their time to try and follow a wall of badly formatted text. If your goal is to get an answer to your questions, it's in your interest to make it as easy to read and understand as possible. ---
**Author:** ![gefela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@gefela](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/gefela)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 11:45am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/15 "2020-04-14T11:45:43Z")
I have managed to get a resolution for this by using this guide .. > How do I make elasticsearch ,logstash and kibana start at boot time ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 1:02pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/16 "2020-04-14T13:02:57Z")
Once its installed as a service, it will start automatically. ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2020, 4:51pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/17 "2020-04-14T16:51:20Z")
Did you make it work? Again, the installation guides are telling how to make the service automatically starting. See for example [https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/kibana/current/rpm.html](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/kibana/current/rpm.html) for Kibana. If you have any question regarding Kibana, please open a question in #kibana ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 4:57pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/cannot-start-elasticsearch-under-user/226587/18 "2020-05-12T16:57:59Z")
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