# Start elasticsearch as a single node

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/start-elasticsearch-as-a-single-node/261317>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [January 16, 2021, 9:37am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/start-elasticsearch-as-a-single-node/261317 "2021-01-16T09:37:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mohammad\_Mousavi](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/mohammad_mousavi/32/56508_2.png) [@Mohammad\_Mousavi](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Mohammad_Mousavi)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 9:37am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/start-elasticsearch-as-a-single-node/261317/1 "2021-01-16T09:37:54Z")

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Hi, I have a cluster with 3 nodes. it's configured for 1 shard and 2 replica so all 3 nodes have all data.  
I have a back up of one of them, ( backup from VM ). I'm going to restore and start this backup as a single node. The elasticsearch config in backup VM is for cluster env. How can I change it to be able to start as a single node ?  
In fact I want to start a single node from a backup that was in a cluster.  
I've commented the `discovery.seed_hosts` part and added `cluster.initial_master_nodes: ["Node-1"]` and `discovery.type: single-node`.  
It did not work. I've added `node.local: true` , it did not work too.  
I get the error `master_not_discovered_exception`.  
Elasticsearch v7.4.2  
Thank you,

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**Author:** ![DavidTurner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/davidturner/32/22453_2.png) [@DavidTurner](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/DavidTurner)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2021, 10:30am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/start-elasticsearch-as-a-single-node/261317/2 "2021-01-16T10:30:50Z")

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> [@Mohammad\_Mousavi](#):
>
> I have a back up of one of them, ( backup from VM ).

This is unfortunately of no use. See the warning in the [docs](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/backup-cluster.html) for more details:

> **WARNING** :  
> You cannot back up an Elasticsearch cluster by simply copying the data directories of all of its nodes [...] The only reliable way to back up a cluster is by using the snapshot and restore functionality.

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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:** [February 13, 2021, 10:31am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/start-elasticsearch-as-a-single-node/261317/3 "2021-02-13T10:31:05Z")

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