# ElasticSearch 5.6 License Renewal
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-5-6-license-renewal/206420
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Created:** [November 4, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-5-6-license-renewal/206420 "2019-11-04T14:33:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@PascalFCS](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/PascalFCS)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-5-6-license-renewal/206420/1 "2019-11-04T14:33:29Z")
Hi,
I am using the basic license, which should not expire, but it did. I noticed, when my filebeat nodes couldn't connect to Elasticsearch anymore.
GET /\_xpack/license
gives me:
{
"license": {
"status": "expired",
"uid": "[redacted]",
"type": "basic",
"issue\_date": "2018-10-22T00:00:00.000Z",
"issue\_date\_in\_millis": 1540166400000,
"expiry\_date": "2019-10-22T23:59:59.999Z",
"expiry\_date\_in\_millis": 1571788799999,
"max\_nodes": 100,
"issued\_to": "[redacted]",
"issuer": "Web Form",
"start\_date\_in\_millis": 1540166400000
}
}
Looking for a solution on google, i found out that the documentation of version 5.6 does not have any information about license renewal. but version 6.5 has:
[https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/6.5/update-license.html](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/6.5/update-license.html)
POST /\_license
{
"licenses": [
{
"uid":"893361dc-9749-4997-93cb-802e3d7fa4xx",
"type":"basic",
"issue\_date\_in\_millis":1411948800000,
"expiry\_date\_in\_millis":1914278399999,
"max\_nodes":1,
"issued\_to":"issuedTo",
"issuer":"issuer",
"signature":"xx"
}
]
}
Unfortunately, the POST command fails, depending on what i put in signature. On the reference site, it doesn't say what you're supposed to put in the signature. I have tried the following:
If i leave it empty, or put my initials (2 characters) it says:
{
"error": {
"root\_cause": [
{
"type": "buffer\_underflow\_exception",
"reason": null
}
],
"type": "buffer\_underflow\_exception",
"reason": null
},
"status": 500
}
If i put a random string longer than 5 characters like "aaaaa" it says:
{
"error": {
"root\_cause": [
{
"type": "illegal\_argument\_exception",
"reason": "Last unit does not have enough valid bits"
}
],
"type": "illegal\_argument\_exception",
"reason": "Last unit does not have enough valid bits"
},
"status": 400
}
If i delete the whole line, it says:
{
"error": {
"root\_cause": [
{
"type": "null\_pointer\_exception",
"reason": null
}
],
"type": "null\_pointer\_exception",
"reason": null
},
"status": 500
}
If i convert a string like "Peter Peterson" in Base64: "UGV0ZXIgUGV0ZXJzb24=" it says:
{
"error": {
"root\_cause": [
{
"type": "exception",
"reason": "Unknown license version found, please upgrade all nodes to the latest elasticsearch-license plugin"
}
],
"type": "exception",
"reason": "Unknown license version found, please upgrade all nodes to the latest elasticsearch-license plugin"
},
"status": 500
}
On the reference page, under the example POST-Command, it says:
"These values are invalid; you must substitute the appropriate content from your license file"
I don't have a license file, at least that i know of.
I don't know where to go from here. How do i renew this license?
---
### Author:  [@Bernt\_Rostad](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Bernt_Rostad)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-5-6-license-renewal/206420/2 "2019-11-04T15:13:57Z")
> [@PascalFCS](#):
>
> I am using the basic license, which should not expire, but it did.
I can see that you're using Elasticsearch version 5.6 and for versions below 6.3 you do have to renew the basic license every year. From 6.3 and in newer versions the [license for free features never expires](https://www.elastic.co/blog/doubling-down-on-open).
Thus you have two options:
1. Ask Elastic for a new basic license for your 5.6 cluster or
2. Upgrade your 5.6 cluster to at least version 6.3.
I would highly recommend the second option, not only to avoid having to renew the license next year again but because version 5.6 has reached its [end of life](https://www.elastic.co/support/eol) which means no new patches or security fixes will be released for that version.
> [@PascalFCS](#):
>
> Looking for a solution on google, i found out that the documentation of version 5.6 does not have any information about license renewal. but version 6.5 has:
That documentation is for installing a [gold or platinum license](https://www.elastic.co/subscriptions) to get access to the paid features in x-pack. What you're asking about is the free, basic license.
Good luck!
---
### Author:  [@PascalFCS](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/PascalFCS)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2019, 8:46am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-5-6-license-renewal/206420/3 "2019-11-05T08:46:35Z")
Hello Bernt,
thanks for your help. I was able to get a license via [https://license.elastic.co/registration/](https://license.elastic.co/registration/) and install it.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2019, 8:46am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-5-6-license-renewal/206420/4 "2019-12-03T08:46:35Z")
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