# No paths were defined for prospector accessing config

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/no-paths-were-defined-for-prospector-accessing-config/113460>\
**Category:** Beats\
**Tags:** filebeat\
**Created:** [December 28, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/no-paths-were-defined-for-prospector-accessing-config/113460 "2017-12-28T14:49:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Nonow53](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/nonow53/32/81767_2.png) [@Nonow53](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Nonow53)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/no-paths-were-defined-for-prospector-accessing-config/113460/1 "2017-12-28T14:49:27Z")

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Hi,

I try the Quick Start guide for Filebeat ([https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/beats/filebeat/6.1/filebeat-modules-quickstart.html#setting-variables](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/beats/filebeat/6.1/filebeat-modules-quickstart.html#setting-variables)) but I encounter a problem when I launch the folloing command :  
.\filebeat.exe -v -d "\*" -modules system

I obtain the following error ☹

CRIT Exiting: Error in initing prospector: No paths were defined for prospector accessing config

I check my configuration file filebeat.yml and it seems correct.

Thanks for your help.

Arnaud

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nonow53](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/nonow53/32/81767_2.png) [@Nonow53](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Nonow53)\
**Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/no-paths-were-defined-for-prospector-accessing-config/113460/2 "2017-12-28T14:50:17Z")

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filebeat.prospectors:

- type: log
  - C:\Users\agiffard\elasticsearch-6.1.1\logs\*.log

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ruflin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ruflin/32/3116_2.png) [@ruflin](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ruflin)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 2:32am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/no-paths-were-defined-for-prospector-accessing-config/113460/3 "2017-12-29T02:32:15Z")

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It seems you are missing a `paths` part [https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/beats/filebeat/6.1/filebeat-configuration.html](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/beats/filebeat/6.1/filebeat-configuration.html)? Please post your config with ticks around so it's formatted correctly.

Note: The getting started guide you linked is for modules.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nonow53](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/nonow53/32/81767_2.png) [@Nonow53](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Nonow53)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 8:33am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/no-paths-were-defined-for-prospector-accessing-config/113460/4 "2017-12-29T08:33:41Z")

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filebeat.prospectors:

- type: log  
enabled: true  
paths:
  - C:\Users\agiffard\elasticsearch-6.1.1\logs\*.log

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nonow53](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/nonow53/32/81767_2.png) [@Nonow53](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Nonow53)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 8:34am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/no-paths-were-defined-for-prospector-accessing-config/113460/5 "2017-12-29T08:34:18Z")

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Yes, I made a mistake when I copy my configuration file.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nonow53](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/nonow53/32/81767_2.png) [@Nonow53](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Nonow53)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 8:36am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/no-paths-were-defined-for-prospector-accessing-config/113460/6 "2017-12-29T08:36:34Z")

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Okay, I'm getting started on Filebeat, you want to say Filebeat works without work on modules ?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ruflin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/ruflin/32/3116_2.png) [@ruflin](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ruflin)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2018, 11:18pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/no-paths-were-defined-for-prospector-accessing-config/113460/7 "2018-01-03T23:18:18Z")

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Yes, you can either use modules which are config options which work out of the box or create your own prospectors.

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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:** [January 31, 2018, 11:18pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/no-paths-were-defined-for-prospector-accessing-config/113460/8 "2018-01-31T23:18:38Z")

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