# Elasticsearch throw an exception unknown setting \[path.conf\] when start

**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-throw-an-exception-unknown-setting-path-conf-when-start/178190
**Category:** Elasticsearch
**Created:** [April 24, 2019, 8:40am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-throw-an-exception-unknown-setting-path-conf-when-start/178190 "2019-04-24T08:40:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Yuefeng\_Yang](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/yuefeng_yang/32/44696_2.png) [@Yuefeng\_Yang](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Yuefeng_Yang)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2019, 8:40am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-throw-an-exception-unknown-setting-path-conf-when-start/178190/1 "2019-04-24T08:40:02Z")

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Elasticsearch version : 7.0.0

start cmd :  
./bin/elasticsearch -Epath.conf=config/instance1 -p /Users/yf/es/instance1.pid

I want to self define config dir with -Epath.conf , but throw an exception

"java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: unknown setting [path.conf] please check that any required plugins are installed, or check the breaking changes documentation for removed settings"

can anyone help me?thanks

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### Author: ![DavidTurner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/davidturner/32/22453_2.png) [@DavidTurner](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/DavidTurner)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2019, 8:44am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-throw-an-exception-unknown-setting-path-conf-when-start/178190/2 "2019-04-24T08:44:50Z")

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You can set a custom configuration directory using the [`ES_PATH_CONF` environment variable](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/settings.html). AFAIK the `-Epath.conf` method for configuring Elasticsearch was removed in version 6.

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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Yuefeng\_Yang](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/yuefeng_yang/32/44696_2.png) [@Yuefeng\_Yang](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Yuefeng_Yang)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2019, 8:56am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-throw-an-exception-unknown-setting-path-conf-when-start/178190/3 "2019-04-24T08:56:34Z")

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It works.great! thanks very much.😀

start cmd :  
ES\_PATH\_CONF=config/instance1 ./bin/elasticsearch -p /Users/yf/es/instance1.pid

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### Author: ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2019, 8:56am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/elasticsearch-throw-an-exception-unknown-setting-path-conf-when-start/178190/4 "2019-05-22T08:56:34Z")

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