# Unable to properly use Logstash
**URL:** https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-properly-use-logstash/216726
**Category:** Logstash
**Created:** [January 27, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-properly-use-logstash/216726 "2020-01-27T21:21:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@plisovyi](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/plisovyi)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2020, 9:21pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-properly-use-logstash/216726/1 "2020-01-27T21:21:41Z")
Hi,
I am unable to launch Logstash. Elasticsearch and Kibana are both running
When I execute the following command:
> bin\logstash.bat -f .\config\logstash-sample.conf
I get this:
```
> Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM warning: Option UseConcMarkSweepGC was deprecated in version 9.0 and will likely be removed in a future release.
> Unrecognized option: -
> Error: Could not create the Java Virtual Machine.
> Error: A fatal exception has occurred. Program will exit.
```
I have the following Java version when I run Java -version
```
> java version "11.0.6" 2020-01-14 LTS
> Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment 18.9 (build 11.0.6+8-LTS)
> Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM 18.9 (build 11.0.6+8-LTS, mixed mode)
```
I am using logstash-7.5.2 and run it on Windows 10.
I am very new to elk and tried to search all the forums but have not been able to locate an answer...
Thank you in advance
---
### Author:  [@Badger](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Badger)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-properly-use-logstash/216726/2 "2020-01-27T23:52:54Z")
It is possible that the - in -f is an en-dash (or another variant of dash). It has to be a hyphen. Try typing the entire command in, do not copy and paste it from a web site.
---
### Author:  [@plisovyi](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/plisovyi)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-properly-use-logstash/216726/3 "2020-01-28T18:53:47Z")
HI @Badger
Thank you for the feedback. I have tried to type it out and it still produces the same result.
I have tried to create my own config file, still the same result.
And I have also tried another Windows computer, to no alas.
> bin\logstash.bat -f .\config\logstash-sample.conf
Even when I just type
> bin\logstash.bat .\config\logstash-sample.conf
It still produces the same result. I am really not sure what could be the source of this problem... Any other ideas?
---
### Author:  [@benoitdupont](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/benoitdupont)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-properly-use-logstash/216726/4 "2020-01-28T19:11:39Z")
Can you try the following command to see if it comes from the .bat or from your configuration ?
`bin\logstash.bat -e 'input { stdin { } } output { stdout {} }'`
---
### Author:  [@plisovyi](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/plisovyi)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2020, 9:02pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-properly-use-logstash/216726/5 "2020-01-28T21:02:37Z")
> [@benoitdupont](#):
>
> bin\logstash.bat -e 'input { stdin { } } output { stdout {} }'
Hi @benoitdupont
I ran it and it produced the same output:
> Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM warning: Option UseConcMarkSweepGC was deprecated in version 9.0 and will likely be removed in a future release.
> Unrecognized option: -
> Error: Could not create the Java Virtual Machine.
> Error: A fatal exception has occurred. Program will exit.
---
### Author:  [@benoitdupont](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/benoitdupont)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2020, 9:20pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-properly-use-logstash/216726/6 "2020-01-28T21:20:41Z")
Hm OK, have you tried to download and extract again logstash? If it still fails, it narrows the search by excluding the bat
---
### Author:  [@yaauie](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/yaauie)
#### Post date: [January 28, 2020, 9:23pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-properly-use-logstash/216726/7 "2020-01-28T21:23:22Z")
It is also possible that the flag is originating from the `jvm.options` file in the config directory.
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)
#### Post date: [February 25, 2020, 9:23pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-properly-use-logstash/216726/8 "2020-02-25T21:23:32Z")
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