# :error =\> can't convert nil into String
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-cant-convert-nil-into-string/96500
**Category:** Logstash
**Created:** [August 9, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-cant-convert-nil-into-string/96500 "2017-08-09T19:37:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ashvita](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ashvita)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-cant-convert-nil-into-string/96500/1 "2017-08-09T19:37:24Z")
Hi,
I am getting this error when I am running 2nd config file in same folder of logstash
An unexpected error occurred! :error =\> can't convert nil into String, :backtrace =\> ["org/jruby/RubyFileTest.java:95:in `directory?'", "org/jruby/RubyFileTest.java:87:in`directory?'", "/home/elk/logstash-5.5.1/logstash-core/lib/logstash/settings.rb:460:in `value'", "org/jruby/RubyKernel.java:1858:in`tap'", "/home/elk/logstash-5.5.1/logstash-core/lib/logstash/settings.rb:459:in `value'", "/home/elk/logstash-5.5.1/logstash-core/lib/logstash/settings.rb:59:in`get\_value'", "/home/elk/logstash-5.5.1/logstash-core/lib/logstash/environment.rb:75:in `LogStash'", "org/jruby/RubyProc.java:281:in`call'", "/home/elk/logstash-5.5.1/logstash-core/lib/logstash/settings.rb:123:in `post_process'", "org/jruby/RubyArray.java:1613:in`each'", "/home/elk/logstash-5.5.1/logstash-core/lib/logstash/settings.rb:122:in `post_process'", "/home/elk/logstash-5.5.1/logstash-core/lib/logstash/runner.rb:216:in`execute'", "/home/elk/logstash-5.5.1/vendor/bundle/jruby/1.9/gems/clamp-0.6.5/lib/clamp/command.rb:67:in `run'", "/home/elk/logstash-5.5.1/logstash-core/lib/logstash/runner.rb:209:in`run'", "/home/elk/logstash-5.5.1/vendor/bundle/jruby/1.9/gems/clamp-0.6.5/lib/clamp/command.rb:132:in `run'", "/home/elk/logstash-5.5.1/lib/bootstrap/environment.rb:71:in`(root)'"]
Below is my config file-
input{
kafka{
bootstrap\_servers =\> "10.100.208.97:9092"
topics =\> ['AnomalyStreamer']
}
}
output{
elasticsearch{
hosts =\> ['localhost:9200']
index =\> "anamoly"
user =\> logstash\_internal
password =\> changeme
}
```
stdout{ codec => rubydebug}
```
}
This is the command using which I run the 2nd config file-
bin/logstash -f anamoly.conf --path.data
---
### Author:  [@magnusbaeck](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/magnusbaeck)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2017, 6:12am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-cant-convert-nil-into-string/96500/2 "2017-08-10T06:12:55Z")
Does your command really end with `--path.data`? No directory path at the very end?
---
### Author:  [@ashvita](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ashvita)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-cant-convert-nil-into-string/96500/3 "2017-08-10T17:48:30Z")
It has a directory which I am sorry I didn't mention here.
bin/logstash -f cpu.conf --path.data /home/elk/logstash-5.5.1
ERROR StatusLogger No log4j2 configuration file found. Using default configuration: logging only errors to the console.
Sending Logstash's logs to /home/elk/logstash-5.5.1/logs which is now configured via log4j2.properties
[2017-08-10T10:44:14,216][FATAL][logstash.runner] Logstash could not be started because there is already another instance using the configured data directory. If you wish to run multiple instances, you must change the "path.data" setting.
Now I am getting this error.
---
### Author:  [@ashvita](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ashvita)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-cant-convert-nil-into-string/96500/4 "2017-08-10T18:34:28Z")
Oh I got my error! Thank ypu!
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [September 7, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-cant-convert-nil-into-string/96500/5 "2017-09-07T18:34:32Z")
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