//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
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//// descriptions here generic enough to work for all Beats that include
//// this file. When using cross references, make sure that the cross
//// references resolve correctly for any files that include this one.
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//// resolve Beat names: beatname_uc and beatname_lc.
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[[configuration-path]]
== Configure project paths

++++
<titleabbrev>Project paths</titleabbrev>
++++

The `path` section of the +{beatname_lc}.yml+ config file contains configuration
options that define where {beatname_uc} looks for its files. For example, {beatname_uc}
looks for the Elasticsearch template file in the configuration path and writes
log files in the logs path.
ifdef::has_registry[]
{beatname_uc} looks for its registry files in the data path.
endif::[]

Please see the <<directory-layout>> section for more details.

Here is an example configuration:

[source,yaml]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
path.home: /usr/share/beat
path.config: /etc/beat
path.data: /var/lib/beat
path.logs: /var/log/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note that it is possible to override these options by using command line flags.

[float]
=== Configuration options

You can specify the following options in the `path` section of the +{beatname_lc}.yml+ config file:

[float]
==== `home`

The home path for the {beatname_uc} installation. This is the default base path for all
other path settings and for miscellaneous files that come with the distribution (for example, the
sample dashboards). If not set by a CLI flag or in the configuration file, the default
for the home path is the location of the {beatname_uc} binary.

Example:

[source,yaml]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
path.home: /usr/share/beats
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[float]
==== `config`

The configuration path for the {beatname_uc} installation. This is the default base path
for configuration files, including the main YAML configuration file and the
Elasticsearch template file. If not set by a CLI flag or in the configuration file, the default for the
configuration path is the home path.

Example:

[source,yaml]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
path.config: /usr/share/beats/config
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[float]
==== `data`

The data path for the {beatname_uc} installation. This is the default base path for all
the files in which {beatname_uc} needs to store its data. If not set by a CLI
flag or in the configuration file, the default for the data path is a `data`
subdirectory inside the home path.


Example:

[source,yaml]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
path.data: /var/lib/beats
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TIP: When running multiple {beatname_uc} instances on the same host, make sure they
each have a distinct `path.data` value.

[float]
==== `logs`

The logs path for a {beatname_uc} installation. This is the default location for {beatname_uc}'s
log files. If not set by a CLI flag or in the configuration file, the default
for the logs path is a `logs` subdirectory inside the home path.

Example:

[source,yaml]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
path.logs: /var/log/beats
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
