> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.elastiflow.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.elastiflow.com/additional-resources-reference-articles/faq/ca_cert_file_path_incorrect.md).

# CA Certificate Path Incorrect

The collector's log indicates that the certificate file path for an output is incorrect with an error including `file_if_set` validation.

### SYMPTOM

The collector's log indicates a message similar to the following:

```json
{"level":"panic","ts":"2023-08-25T11:34:48.953Z","logger":"flowcoll","caller":"elasticsearch/instance_registration.go:33","msg":"failed to instantiate config","code":"elasticsearch/conf-error","reason":"ENV: 'EF_OUTPUT_ELASTICSEARCH_TLS_CA_CERT_FILEPATH' Value: '/root/http_ca.crt' Error: failed 'file_if_set' validation"
```

Note the message `Error: failed 'file_if_set' validation`.

### PROBLEM

The collector cannot find a file at the path specified for the output. For Elasticsearch this would be `EF_OUTPUT_ELASTICSEARCH_TLS_CA_CERT_FILEPATH`. If this setting is not blank, it must be set to a valid certificate file or the collector will not run.

### SOLUTION

You must do ONE of the following:

* Set `EF_OUTPUT_<output name>_TLS_CA_CERT_FILEPATH` to the full path of a valid certificate file.
* Set `EF_OUTPUT_<output name>_TLS_SKIP_VERIFICATION` to `true`

### REFERENCE

* Cribl Output
  * [EF\_OUTPUT\_CRIBL\_TLS\_CA\_CERT\_FILEPATH](https://github.com/elastiflow/documentation/blob/main/docs/config_ref/common/output_cribl/README.md#ef_output_cribl_tls_ca_cert_filepath)
  * [EF\_OUTPUT\_CRIBL\_TLS\_SKIP\_VERIFICATION](https://github.com/elastiflow/documentation/blob/main/docs/config_ref/common/output_cribl/README.md#ef_output_cribl_tls_skip_verification)
* Elasticsearch Output
  * [EF\_OUTPUT\_ELASTICSEARCH\_TLS\_CA\_CERT\_FILEPATH](https://github.com/elastiflow/documentation/blob/main/docs/config_ref/common/output_elasticsearch/README.md#ef_output_elasticsearch_tls_ca_cert_filepath)
  * [EF\_OUTPUT\_ELASTICSEARCH\_TLS\_SKIP\_VERIFICATION](https://github.com/elastiflow/documentation/blob/main/docs/config_ref/common/output_elasticsearch/README.md#ef_output_elasticsearch_tls_skip_verification)
* Generic HTTP Output
  * [EF\_OUTPUT\_GENERIC\_HTTP\_TLS\_CA\_CERT\_FILEPATH](https://github.com/elastiflow/documentation/blob/main/docs/config_ref/common/output_http/README.md#ef_output_generic_http_tls_ca_cert_filepath)
  * [EF\_OUTPUT\_GENERIC\_HTTP\_TLS\_SKIP\_VERIFICATION](https://github.com/elastiflow/documentation/blob/main/docs/config_ref/common/output_http/README.md#ef_output_generic_http_tls_skip_verification)
* Kafka Output
  * [EF\_OUTPUT\_KAFKA\_TLS\_CA\_CERT\_FILEPATH](https://github.com/elastiflow/documentation/blob/main/docs/config_ref/common/output_kafka/README.md#ef_output_kafka_tls_ca_cert_filepath)
  * [EF\_OUTPUT\_KAFKA\_TLS\_SKIP\_VERIFICATION](https://github.com/elastiflow/documentation/blob/main/docs/config_ref/common/output_kafka/README.md#ef_output_kafka_tls_skip_verification)
* OpenSearch Output
  * [EF\_OUTPUT\_OPENSEARCH\_TLS\_CA\_CERT\_FILEPATH](https://github.com/elastiflow/documentation/blob/main/docs/config_ref/common/output_opensearch/README.md#ef_output_opensearch_tls_ca_cert_filepath)
  * [EF\_OUTPUT\_OPENSEARCH\_TLS\_SKIP\_VERIFICATION](https://github.com/elastiflow/documentation/blob/main/docs/config_ref/common/output_opensearch/README.md#ef_output_opensearch_tls_skip_verification)
* Splunk HEC Output
  * [EF\_OUTPUT\_SPLUNK\_HEC\_TLS\_CA\_CERT\_FILEPATH](https://github.com/elastiflow/documentation/blob/main/docs/config_ref/common/output_splunk_hec/README.md#ef_output_splunk_hec_tls_ca_cert_filepath)
  * [EF\_OUTPUT\_SPLUNK\_HEC\_TLS\_SKIP\_VERIFICATION](https://github.com/elastiflow/documentation/blob/main/docs/config_ref/common/output_splunk_hec/README.md#ef_output_splunk_hec_tls_skip_verification)


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