# Elasticsearch Bootstrap check failed

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-bootstrap-check-failed/251702>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [October 12, 2020, 2:28am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-bootstrap-check-failed/251702 "2020-10-12T02:28:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![RAM\_NATHAN](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ram_nathan/32/50393_2.png) [@RAM\_NATHAN](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/RAM_NATHAN)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 2:28am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-bootstrap-check-failed/251702/1 "2020-10-12T02:28:08Z")

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Im getting below error during elasticsearch start

node validation exception  
[1] bootstrap checks failed  
[1]: max virtual memory areas vm.max\_map\_count [65530] is too low, increase to at least [262144]

Im having /etc/sysctl.conf with content as below

vm.max\_map\_count=262144

If I run sysctl -p, Im getting  
vm.max\_map\_count = 262144

I assume that elasticsearch should start without any error if sysctl.conf is present

But it didnt work that way. Do I need system reboot?

Can you please help?

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**Author:** ![kavierkoo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/kavierkoo/32/86555_2.png) [@kavierkoo](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/kavierkoo)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 12:25pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-bootstrap-check-failed/251702/2 "2020-10-12T12:25:45Z")

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> To set this value permanently, update the `vm.max_map_count` setting in `/etc/sysctl.conf` . To verify after **rebooting** , run `sysctl vm.max_map_count` .

> **[Virtual memory | Elasticsearch Guide \[8.11\] | Elastic](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/vm-max-map-count.html)**

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 12:25pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-bootstrap-check-failed/251702/3 "2020-11-09T12:25:47Z")

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