# Unexpected exception \[\_license\] error **URL:** \ **Category:** Elasticsearch\ **Created:** [November 20, 2020, 11:26am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unexpected-exception-license-error/256106 "2020-11-20T11:26:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThreatInter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@ThreatInter](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/ThreatInter)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2020, 11:26am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unexpected-exception-license-error/256106/1 "2020-11-20T11:26:39Z")
Hello, everyone! We have strange error in our elasticsearch log: ```auto [2020-11-20T15:41:59,294][ERROR][c.a.o.s.f.OpenDistroSecurityFilter] [] Unexpected exception [_license] InvalidIndexNameException[Invalid index name [_license], must not start with '_'.] org.elasticsearch.indices.InvalidIndexNameException: Invalid index name [_license], must not start with '_'. ``` Seems that index which would contain "\_license" string in its name doesn't exists. Does anyone know how to deal with this? ---
**Author:** ![dadoonet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/dadoonet/32/137187_2.png) [@dadoonet](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/dadoonet)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2020, 11:49am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unexpected-exception-license-error/256106/2 "2020-11-20T11:49:29Z")
You are trying to connect I guess an elastic tool like beats, ... with OpenDistro which is not elastic distribution. I believe this message comes from here. But may be you should tell what your architecture is so we can confirm... ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2020, 11:49am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/unexpected-exception-license-error/256106/3 "2020-12-18T11:49:52Z")
This topic was automatically closed 28 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.