# Logstash + sincedb\_path and start\_position

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-sincedb-path-and-start-position/52890>\
**Category:** Logstash\
**Created:** [June 15, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-sincedb-path-and-start-position/52890 "2016-06-15T15:56:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sarthak2016](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d26b3c/32.png) [@sarthak2016](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/sarthak2016)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-sincedb-path-and-start-position/52890/1 "2016-06-15T15:56:36Z")

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Hello All,

If possible, can someone please help me to undestand sincedb\_path =\> '/dev/null' and start\_position =\> beginning or start\_position =\> end, In which scenario we need to use sincedb\_path or start\_position into input block

Thanks for your help in Advance  
SAM

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**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 15, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-sincedb-path-and-start-position/52890/2 "2016-06-15T22:40:30Z")

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[https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/logstash/current/plugins-inputs-file.html#\_tracking\_of\_current\_position\_in\_watched\_files](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/logstash/current/plugins-inputs-file.html#_tracking_of_current_position_in_watched_files) has a good explanation on these, but if you have more questions then let us know 🙂

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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 6, 2017, 4:52am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/logstash-sincedb-path-and-start-position/52890/3 "2017-07-06T04:52:37Z")

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