# Unable to setup coordinating only node using command line parameters **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [November 12, 2020, 9:37am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-setup-coordinating-only-node-using-command-line-parameters/255182 "2020-11-12T09:37:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anon17386273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@anon17386273](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/anon17386273)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2020, 9:37am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-setup-coordinating-only-node-using-command-line-parameters/255182/1 "2020-11-12T09:37:34Z")
I know i can use elasticsearch.yml but I wanted to use the following command to start a coordinating only node but failed. Is it a bug? `./bin/elasticsearch -E"node.roles="` Any help is appreciated ---
**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:** [November 12, 2020, 10:48am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-setup-coordinating-only-node-using-command-line-parameters/255182/2 "2020-11-12T10:48:08Z")
I also cannot think of a way to specify an empty list on the command line like that. Please open an issue on Github. Not sure it counts as a bug but seems like a reasonable feature request. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 10:48am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unable-to-setup-coordinating-only-node-using-command-line-parameters/255182/3 "2020-12-10T10:48:31Z")
Closed on December 10, 2020, 10:48am UTC This topic was automatically closed 28 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.