# Error: Could not find or load main class org.elasticsearch.tools.JavaVersionChecker **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [April 12, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213 "2017-04-12T18:23:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Xceasar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/3da27b/32.png) [@Xceasar](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Xceasar)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213/1 "2017-04-12T18:23:19Z")
i tried to install elasticsearch 5.3 inside my docker, after adding a new user elsearch with following commands: groupadd elsearch useradd elsearch -g elsearch -p elasticsearch chown -R elsearch:elsearch /root/elasticsearch-5.3.0/ su elsearch cd /root/elasticsearch-5.3.0/bin/ and i tried to run elasticsearch: ./elasticsearch i get error: Error: Could not find or load main class org.elasticsearch.tools.JavaVersionChecker Elasticsearch requires at least Java 8 but your Java version from /usr/bin/java does not meet this requirement and i run java -version: java version "1.8.0\_121" Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0\_121-b13) Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.121-b13, mixed mode) the system of docker is ubuntu 14.04 uname -a Linux ced2897c0f3f 4.8.0-46-generic #49~16.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Fri Mar 31 14:51:03 UTC 2017 x86\_64 x86\_64 x86\_64 GNU/Linux free -m total used free shared buffers cached Mem: 7886 5457 2428 456 467 1852 -/+ buffers/cache: 3138 4747 Swap: 8093 0 8093 what's wrong... somebody help? ---
**Author:** ![msimos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@msimos](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/msimos)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213/2 "2017-04-12T21:23:50Z")
Hi, I am not sure how your running Elasticsearch "inside your docker" is the right way. You should build a separate container. Refer to our documentation here: [https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/docker.html](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/docker.html) From your docker container I would check: sudo update-alternatives --config java And see where /usr/bin/java points to. You may need to fix where /usr/bin/java points to, if it doesn't point to the same java version. ---
**Author:** ![jasontedor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/jasontedor/32/66992_2.png) [@jasontedor](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/jasontedor)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213/3 "2017-04-12T23:33:03Z")
It's not clear to me how you've built your Docker image but all Elasticsearch distributions since 5.3.0 ship with a jar that contains `org.elasticsearch.tools.JavaVersionChecker` but it's clear that somehow you've lost that jar file. This is the root of your problem. Without more details, we can not help. ---
**Author:** ![Siva\_Prakash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Siva\_Prakash](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Siva_Prakash)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 11:36am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213/4 "2017-05-04T11:36:04Z")
Same Jar file is working in MAC. but it is not working in Centos 7. alternatives --config java There are 3 programs which provide 'java'. ## Selection Command - 1 java-1.8.0-openjdk.x86\_64 (/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.8.0-openjdk-1.8.0.102-4.b14.el7.x86\_64/jre/bin/java) 2 java-1.7.0-openjdk.x86\_64 (/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.111-2.6.7.8.el7.x86\_64/jre/bin/java) - 3 /usr/java/jdk1.8.0\_73/jre/bin/java Enter to keep the current selection[+], or type selection number: 1 I Try to install zip (5.3.2) file in centos 7 machine: Virtualization: vmware Operating System: CentOS Linux 7 (Core) CPE OS Name: cpe:/o:centos:centos:7 Kernel: Linux 3.10.0-514.el7.x86\_64 Architecture: x86-64 I changed to openjdk version "1.8.0\_102" OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0\_102-b14) OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.102-b14, mixed mode) still i got this error: [siva@kfos-vmelk-1 bin]$ ./elasticsearch Error: Could not find or load main class org.elasticsearch.tools.JavaVersionChecker Elasticsearch requires at least Java 8 but your Java version from /bin/java does not meet this requirement ---
**Author:** ![jasontedor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/jasontedor/32/66992_2.png) [@jasontedor](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/jasontedor)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 11:48am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213/5 "2017-05-04T11:48:56Z")
The problem might not appear be your Java version, the problem appears to be with your Elasticsearch installation first. Can you please list the contents of `../lib` (from the directory where you were executing elasticsearch which you show as `bin`, go down one directory, and then into the `lib` directory. Please show the entire contents here. ---
**Author:** ![Siva\_Prakash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Siva\_Prakash](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Siva_Prakash)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 8:22pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213/6 "2017-05-04T20:22:29Z")
/root/elk/5.3.2/elasticsearch-5.3.2/lib [root@kfos-vmelk-1 lib]# ls elasticsearch-5.3.2.jar jackson-dataformat-yaml-2.8.6.jar log4j-1.2-api-2.7.jar lucene-grouping-6.4.2.jar lucene-queryparser-6.4.2.jar securesm-1.1.jar HdrHistogram-2.1.6.jar java-version-checker-5.3.2.jar log4j-api-2.7.jar lucene-highlighter-6.4.2.jar lucene-sandbox-6.4.2.jar snakeyaml-1.15.jar hppc-0.7.1.jar jna-4.2.2.jar log4j-core-2.7.jar lucene-join-6.4.2.jar lucene-spatial3d-6.4.2.jar spatial4j-0.6.jar jackson-core-2.8.6.jar joda-time-2.9.5.jar lucene-analyzers-common-6.4.2.jar lucene-memory-6.4.2.jar lucene-spatial-6.4.2.jar t-digest-3.0.jar jackson-dataformat-cbor-2.8.6.jar jopt-simple-5.0.2.jar lucene-backward-codecs-6.4.2.jar lucene-misc-6.4.2.jar lucene-spatial-extras-6.4.2.jar jackson-dataformat-smile-2.8.6.jar jts-1.13.jar lucene-core-6.4.2.jar lucene-queries-6.4.2.jar lucene-suggest-6.4.2.jar [root@kfos-vmelk-1 lib]# ---
**Author:** ![Siva\_Prakash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Siva\_Prakash](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Siva_Prakash)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213/7 "2017-05-04T20:24:10Z")
same issue in 5.4.0 aswell: 7-05-05T01:48:39,567][WARN][o.e.b.ElasticsearchUncaughtExceptionHandler] [] 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:127) ~[elasticsearch-5.4.0.jar:5.4.0] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.execute(Elasticsearch.java:114) ~[elasticsearch-5.4.0.jar:5.4.0] at org.elasticsearch.cli.EnvironmentAwareCommand.execute(EnvironmentAwareCommand.java:67) ~[elasticsearch-5.4.0.jar:5.4.0] at org.elasticsearch.cli.Command.mainWithoutErrorHandling(Command.java:122) ~[elasticsearch-5.4.0.jar:5.4.0] at org.elasticsearch.cli.Command.main(Command.java:88) ~[elasticsearch-5.4.0.jar:5.4.0] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.main(Elasticsearch.java:91) ~[elasticsearch-5.4.0.jar:5.4.0] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.main(Elasticsearch.java:84) ~[elasticsearch-5.4.0.jar:5.4.0] Caused by: java.lang.RuntimeException: can not run elasticsearch as root at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Bootstrap.initializeNatives(Bootstrap.java:106) ~[elasticsearch-5.4.0.jar:5.4.0] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Bootstrap.setup(Bootstrap.java:204) ~[elasticsearch-5.4.0.jar:5.4.0] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Bootstrap.init(Bootstrap.java:360) ~[elasticsearch-5.4.0.jar:5.4.0] at org.elasticsearch.bootstrap.Elasticsearch.init(Elasticsearch.java:123) ~[elasticsearch-5.4.0.jar:5.4.0] ... 6 more [root@kfos-vmelk-1 bin]# su siva [siva@kfos-vmelk-1 bin]$ pwd /root/elk/5.4/elasticsearch-5.4.0/bin [siva@kfos-vmelk-1 bin]$ ./elasticsearch Error: Could not find or load main class org.elasticsearch.tools.JavaVersionChecker Elasticsearch requires at least Java 8 but your Java version from /bin/java does not meet this requirement root@kfos-vmelk-1 elasticsearch-5.4.0]# cd lib/ [root@kfos-vmelk-1 lib]# ls elasticsearch-5.4.0.jar jackson-dataformat-yaml-2.8.6.jar log4j-1.2-api-2.8.2.jar lucene-grouping-6.5.0.jar lucene-queryparser-6.5.0.jar securesm-1.1.jar HdrHistogram-2.1.9.jar java-version-checker-5.4.0.jar log4j-api-2.8.2.jar lucene-highlighter-6.5.0.jar lucene-sandbox-6.5.0.jar snakeyaml-1.15.jar hppc-0.7.1.jar jna-4.4.0.jar log4j-core-2.8.2.jar lucene-join-6.5.0.jar lucene-spatial3d-6.5.0.jar spatial4j-0.6.jar jackson-core-2.8.6.jar joda-time-2.9.5.jar lucene-analyzers-common-6.5.0.jar lucene-memory-6.5.0.jar lucene-spatial-6.5.0.jar t-digest-3.0.jar jackson-dataformat-cbor-2.8.6.jar jopt-simple-5.0.2.jar lucene-backward-codecs-6.5.0.jar lucene-misc-6.5.0.jar lucene-spatial-extras-6.5.0.jar jackson-dataformat-smile-2.8.6.jar jts-1.13.jar lucene-core-6.5.0.jar lucene-queries-6.5.0.jar lucene-suggest-6.5.0.jar ---
**Author:** ![jasontedor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/jasontedor/32/66992_2.png) [@jasontedor](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/jasontedor)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2017, 8:35pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213/8 "2017-05-04T20:35:11Z")
> [@Siva\_Prakash](#): > > java-version-checker-5.4.0.jar Okay, the jar that we are looking for is there in both cases. Would you please run `bash -x ./elasticsearch` from the `bin` folder and share the results of the output here? ---
**Author:** ![Siva\_Prakash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Siva\_Prakash](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Siva_Prakash)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 7:53pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213/9 "2017-05-05T19:53:44Z")
bash -x ./elasticsearch - ES\_JAVA\_OPTS=-Des.insecure.allow.root=true - echo distribution - grep [project.name](http://project.name) - test -n '' - test -n '' - test -n '' - test -n '' - test -n '' - test -n '' - test -n '' - test -n '' - CDPATH= - SCRIPT=./elasticsearch - '[' -h ./elasticsearch ']' ++ dirname ./elasticsearch - ES\_HOME=./.. ++ cd ./.. ++ pwd - ES\_HOME=/root/elk/5.3.2/elasticsearch-5.3.2 - '[' -z '' ']' - for jvm\_options in '"$ES\_HOME"/config/jvm.options' /etc/elasticsearch/jvm.options - '[' -r /root/elk/5.3.2/elasticsearch-5.3.2/config/jvm.options ']' - for jvm\_options in '"$ES\_HOME"/config/jvm.options' /etc/elasticsearch/jvm.options - '[' -r /etc/elasticsearch/jvm.options ']' ++ parse\_jvm\_options '' ++ '[' -f '' ']' - ES\_JAVA\_OPTS=' -Des.insecure.allow.root=true' - '[' x = x ']' ++ dirname ./elasticsearch - for include in /usr/share/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh /usr/local/share/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh /opt/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh '~/.elasticsearch.in.sh' '"$ES\_HOME/bin/elasticsearch.in.sh"' '"`dirname "$0"`"/elasticsearch.in.sh' - '[' -r /usr/share/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh ']' - for include in /usr/share/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh /usr/local/share/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh /opt/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh '~/.elasticsearch.in.sh' '"$ES\_HOME/bin/elasticsearch.in.sh"' '"`dirname "$0"`"/elasticsearch.in.sh' - '[' -r /usr/local/share/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh ']' - for include in /usr/share/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh /usr/local/share/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh /opt/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh '~/.elasticsearch.in.sh' '"$ES\_HOME/bin/elasticsearch.in.sh"' '"`dirname "$0"`"/elasticsearch.in.sh' - '[' -r /opt/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh ']' - for include in /usr/share/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh /usr/local/share/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh /opt/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh '~/.elasticsearch.in.sh' '"$ES\_HOME/bin/elasticsearch.in.sh"' '"`dirname "$0"`"/elasticsearch.in.sh' - '[' -r /home/siva/.elasticsearch.in.sh ']' - for include in /usr/share/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh /usr/local/share/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh /opt/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh '~/.elasticsearch.in.sh' '"$ES\_HOME/bin/elasticsearch.in.sh"' '"`dirname "$0"`"/elasticsearch.in.sh' - '[' -r /root/elk/5.3.2/elasticsearch-5.3.2/bin/elasticsearch.in.sh ']' - for include in /usr/share/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh /usr/local/share/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh /opt/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.in.sh '~/.elasticsearch.in.sh' '"$ES\_HOME/bin/elasticsearch.in.sh"' '"`dirname "$0"`"/elasticsearch.in.sh' - '[' -r ./elasticsearch.in.sh ']' - . ./elasticsearch.in.sh ++ '[' x '!=' x ']' ++ ES\_CLASSPATH='/root/elk/5.3.2/elasticsearch-5.3.2/lib/elasticsearch-5.3.2.jar:/root/elk/5.3.2/elasticsearch-5.3.2/lib/\*' - break - '[' -x /bin/java ']' - JAVA=/bin/java - '[' '!' -x /bin/java ']' - '[' -z '/root/elk/5.3.2/elasticsearch-5.3.2/lib/elasticsearch-5.3.2.jar:/root/elk/5.3.2/elasticsearch-5.3.2/lib/\*' ']' - '[' x '!=' x ']' - '[' x '!=' x ']' - /bin/java -cp '/root/elk/5.3.2/elasticsearch-5.3.2/lib/elasticsearch-5.3.2.jar:/root/elk/5.3.2/elasticsearch-5.3.2/lib/\*' org.elasticsearch.tools.JavaVersionChecker Error: Could not find or load main class org.elasticsearch.tools.JavaVersionChecker - '[' 1 -ne 0 ']' - echo 'Elasticsearch requires at least Java 8 but your Java version from /bin/java does not meet this requirement' Elasticsearch requires at least Java 8 but your Java version from /bin/java does not meet this requirement - exit 1 ---
**Author:** ![jasontedor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/jasontedor/32/66992_2.png) [@jasontedor](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/jasontedor)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213/10 "2017-05-05T20:18:54Z")
Okay, what does `readlink -f /bin/java` and `/bin/java -version` show? ---
**Author:** ![Siva\_Prakash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Siva\_Prakash](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Siva_Prakash)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213/11 "2017-05-05T20:20:51Z")
[siva@kfos-vmelk-1 bin]$ readlink -f /bin/java **/usr/java/jdk1.8.0\_73/jre/bin/java** [siva@kfos-vmelk-1 bin]$ /bin/java -version **java version "1.8.0\_73"** **Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0\_73-b02)** **Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.73-b02, mixed mode)** ---
**Author:** ![jasontedor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/jasontedor/32/66992_2.png) [@jasontedor](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/jasontedor)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213/12 "2017-05-06T02:20:13Z")
> [@Siva\_Prakash](#): > > /bin/java -cp '/root/elk/5.3.2/elasticsearch-5.3.2/lib/elasticsearch-5.3.2.jar:/root/elk/5.3.2/elasticsearch-5.3.2/lib/\*' org.elasticsearch.tools.JavaVersionChecker I noticed this, this is in `/root/`; are you sure that you have the right permissions? I can reproduce your issue if I do this: ```auto 22:13:58 [jason@totoro:~/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-5.3.2/bin] $ chmod 000 ../lib 22:14:22 [jason@totoro:~/elasticsearch/elasticsearch-5.3.2/bin] $ ./elasticsearch Error: Could not find or load main class org.elasticsearch.tools.JavaVersionChecker Elasticsearch requires at least Java 8 but your Java version from /usr/java/latest/bin/java does not meet this requirement ``` You can not run Elasticsearch as root anyway, so let's get it out of the root folder and make sure you have the right permissions. I think the best way to make sure that you have the right permissions is to untar the tar archive again somewhere else. 💥 ---
**Author:** ![Siva\_Prakash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Siva\_Prakash](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Siva_Prakash)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 6:05pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213/13 "2017-05-06T18:05:20Z")
Thanks jasontedor. Its Working for me inside the VM... but not able to access from the other system? do i need to change any IP Configurations? ---
**Author:** ![jasontedor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/jasontedor/32/66992_2.png) [@jasontedor](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/jasontedor)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213/14 "2017-05-06T18:30:23Z")
You're welcome! You probably do, but for that we would need more details. Would you mind opening a new topic with more details of the problem and someone will take a look? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2017, 6:34pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/error-could-not-find-or-load-main-class-org-elasticsearch-tools-javaversionchecker/82213/15 "2017-06-03T18:34:24Z")
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