# java.lang.IllegalStateException: Unable to access 'path.data' (/var/lib/elasticsearch)

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/java-lang-illegalstateexception-unable-to-access-path-data-var-lib-elasticsearch/238456>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [June 24, 2020, 12:10pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/java-lang-illegalstateexception-unable-to-access-path-data-var-lib-elasticsearch/238456 "2020-06-24T12:10:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![natarajjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@natarajjk](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/natarajjk)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2020, 12:10pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/java-lang-illegalstateexception-unable-to-access-path-data-var-lib-elasticsearch/238456/1 "2020-06-24T12:10:49Z")

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Can some let me know why i am getting this error on ELK 7.8.0

Jun 24 08:59:02 [nagiosclient.sg.com](http://nagiosclient.sg.com) systemd[1]: Starting Elasticsearch...  
Jun 24 08:59:06 [nagiosclient.sg.com](http://nagiosclient.sg.com) systemd-entrypoint[11107]: uncaught exception in thread [main]  
Jun 24 08:59:06 [nagiosclient.sg.com](http://nagiosclient.sg.com) systemd-entrypoint[11107]: java.lang.IllegalStateException: Unable to access 'path.data' (/var/lib/elasticsearch)  
Jun 24 08:59:06 [nagiosclient.sg.com](http://nagiosclient.sg.com) systemd-entrypoint[11107]: Likely root cause: java.nio.file.AccessDeniedException: /var/lib/elasticsearch  
Jun 24 08:59:06 [nagiosclient.sg.com](http://nagiosclient.sg.com) systemd[1]: elasticsearch.service: main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE  
Jun 24 08:59:06 [nagiosclient.sg.com](http://nagiosclient.sg.com) systemd[1]: Failed to start Elasticsearch.  
Jun 24 08:59:06 [nagiosclient.sg.com](http://nagiosclient.sg.com) systemd[1]: Unit elasticsearch.service entered failed state.  
Jun 24 08:59:06 [nagiosclient.sg.com](http://nagiosclient.sg.com) systemd[1]: elasticsearch.service failed.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![warkolm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/warkolm/32/39224_2.png) [@warkolm](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/warkolm)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2020, 1:22am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/java-lang-illegalstateexception-unable-to-access-path-data-var-lib-elasticsearch/238456/2 "2020-06-25T01:22:43Z")

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How did you install Elasticsearch?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![natarajjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@natarajjk](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/natarajjk)\
**Post date:** [June 25, 2020, 4:35am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/java-lang-illegalstateexception-unable-to-access-path-data-var-lib-elasticsearch/238456/3 "2020-06-25T04:35:54Z")

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Hi Mark - Thanks for you response..  
However i am able to solve this issue by creating directory /var/lib/elasticsearch manually.

solution : mkdir /var/lib/elasticsearch and restart elasticsearch

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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:** [July 23, 2020, 4:48am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/java-lang-illegalstateexception-unable-to-access-path-data-var-lib-elasticsearch/238456/4 "2020-07-23T04:48:28Z")

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