# Trouble adding the 3rd Master node to the cluster **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [April 6, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/trouble-adding-the-3rd-master-node-to-the-cluster/226768 "2020-04-06T20:00:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![shabab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@shabab](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/shabab)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/trouble-adding-the-3rd-master-node-to-the-cluster/226768/1 "2020-04-06T20:00:37Z")
Hey All, I have having issue adding 3rd master to my existing cluster, current setup below 2 Master Nodes working fine 2 Data Nodes working not able to add the 3rd Master node to the existing cluster, I have validated the .yml configuration is same across all the three master nodes, two are working fine but the 3rd one is not able to join the same cluster ---
**Author:** ![elasticforme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f05b48/32.png) [@elasticforme](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/elasticforme)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 8:11pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/trouble-adding-the-3rd-master-node-to-the-cluster/226768/2 "2020-04-06T20:11:46Z")
I think you have to setup following in new node elasticsearch.yml file. cluster.initial\_master\_nodes: ["one of the existing master"] then it will join the existing cluster ---
**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:** [April 6, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/trouble-adding-the-3rd-master-node-to-the-cluster/226768/3 "2020-04-06T20:40:59Z")
No @elasticforme that's not correct. From [the docs](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/current/discovery-settings.html#initial_master_nodes) for `cluster.initial_master_nodes`: > You should not use this setting when restarting a cluster or adding a new node to an existing cluster. ---
**Author:** ![elasticforme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f05b48/32.png) [@elasticforme](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/elasticforme)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2020, 8:46pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/trouble-adding-the-3rd-master-node-to-the-cluster/226768/4 "2020-04-06T20:46:34Z")
Then we must check log file. Shabab, what is your log file says? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/trouble-adding-the-3rd-master-node-to-the-cluster/226768/5 "2020-05-04T20:55:21Z")
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