# INSTALLATION ERROR: No custom admin password found variable needed etc
**URL:** https://forum.opensearch.org/t/installation-error-no-custom-admin-password-found-variable-needed-etc/18193
**Category:** OpenSearch
**Tags:** troubleshoot
**Created:** [February 29, 2024, 11:39pm UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/installation-error-no-custom-admin-password-found-variable-needed-etc/18193 "2024-02-29T23:39:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@OP1](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/OP1)
#### Post date: [February 29, 2024, 11:39pm UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/installation-error-no-custom-admin-password-found-variable-needed-etc/18193/1 "2024-02-29T23:39:12Z")
**Versions** (relevant - OpenSearch/Dashboard/Server OS/Browser):
Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS
Opensearch 2.12.0
**Describe the issue** :
Hello OS Forum,
Scroll Down to OpenSearch part for context : [Ubuntu installation](https://go2docs.graylog.org/5-0/downloading_and_installing_graylog/ubuntu_installation.html?tocpath=Downloading%20and%20Installing%20Graylog%7CInstalling%20Graylog%7C _____ 3)
**Error: No custom admin password found. Please provide a password via the environment variable OPENSEARCH\_INITIAL\_ADMIN\_PASSWORD.**
This is my first time trying to install. I’ve ran into an issue trying to install OpenSearch via Graylog installation instructions. To confirm this is a requirement for my Graylog installation. It looks like OpenSearch has installed partially
It says to check a specified log. This what I’m seeing (last line which I assume is the issue) I’m stuck at how to correctly perform this step. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance!
```auto
### OpenSearch Security Demo Installer
### **Warning: Do not use on production or public reachable systems**
OpenSearch install type: rpm/deb on Linux 6.5.0-1014-aws amd64
OpenSearch config dir: /etc/opensearch/
OpenSearch config file: /etc/opensearch/opensearch.yml
OpenSearch bin dir: /usr/share/opensearch/bin/
OpenSearch plugins dir: /usr/share/opensearch/plugins/
OpenSearch lib dir: /usr/share/opensearch/lib/
Detected OpenSearch Version: 2.12.0
Detected OpenSearch Security Version: 2.12.0.0
No custom admin password found. Please provide a password via the environment variable OPENSEARCH_INITIAL_ADMIN_PASSWORD.
```
---
### Author:  [@Gsmitt](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/Gsmitt)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 3:05am UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/installation-error-no-custom-admin-password-found-variable-needed-etc/18193/2 "2024-03-01T03:05:16Z")
Hey @OP1
That link is for Graylog.
You may want to look at this document.
> **[Debian](https://opensearch.org/docs/2.12/install-and-configure/install-opensearch/debian/)**
>
> Documentation for OpenSearch, the Apache 2.0 search, analytics, and visualization suite with advanced security, alerting, SQL support, automated index management, deep performance analysis, and more.
---
### Author:  [@OP1](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/OP1)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 3:16am UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/installation-error-no-custom-admin-password-found-variable-needed-etc/18193/3 "2024-03-01T03:16:21Z")
Correct. I was supplying the link just for context.
---
### Author:  [@pablo](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/pablo)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 9:43am UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/installation-error-no-custom-admin-password-found-variable-needed-etc/18193/4 "2024-03-01T09:43:07Z")
@OP1 As per the logs you must provide initial admin password by setting env variable OPENSEARCH\_INITIAL\_ADMIN\_PASSWORD.
This has been introduced in 2.12.0
---
### Author:  [@OP1](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/OP1)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 9:56am UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/installation-error-no-custom-admin-password-found-variable-needed-etc/18193/5 "2024-03-01T09:56:18Z")
Understood. But I’m confused on how to actually perform the task or exactly where. That’s my concern. Sorry I’m new to the process.
---
### Author:  [@OP1](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/OP1)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 12:38pm UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/installation-error-no-custom-admin-password-found-variable-needed-etc/18193/6 "2024-03-01T12:38:15Z")
@pablo Understood. But I’m confused on how to actually perform the task or exactly where. That’s my concern. Sorry I’m new to the process.
---
### Author:  [@pablo](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/pablo)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 12:47pm UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/installation-error-no-custom-admin-password-found-variable-needed-etc/18193/7 "2024-03-01T12:47:02Z")
@OP1 As far as I can see, the Graylog documentation directs me to OpenSearch Docuemntation for OpenSearch installation steps.
Please have a look at the documentation shared by @Gsmitt and “Install OpenSearch from a package” section.
> **[Debian](https://opensearch.org/docs/latest/install-and-configure/install-opensearch/debian/#install-opensearch-from-a-package)**
>
> Documentation for OpenSearch, the Apache 2.0 search, analytics, and visualization suite with advanced security, alerting, SQL support, automated index management, deep performance analysis, and more.
---
### Author:  [@OP1](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/OP1)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 1:01pm UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/installation-error-no-custom-admin-password-found-variable-needed-etc/18193/9 "2024-03-01T13:01:32Z")
@pablo This is what I’m getting back
---
### Author:  [@pablo](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/pablo)
#### Post date: [March 1, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/installation-error-no-custom-admin-password-found-variable-needed-etc/18193/10 "2024-03-01T14:11:30Z")
@OP1 Did you download the .deb file from the OpenSearch Download site?
> **[Opensearch 2.12.0](https://opensearch.org/downloads.html)**
>
> OpenSearch is a community-driven, Apache 2.0-licensed open source search and analytics suite that makes it easy to ingest, search, visualize, and analyze data.
Also, the password is too simple. OpenSearch 2.12.0 requires a strong password.
> **[Enhancing security in OpenSearch 2.12.0: The end of the default admin password](https://opensearch.org/blog/replacing-default-admin-credentials/)**
>
> OpenSearch is a community-driven, Apache 2.0-licensed open source search and analytics suite that makes it easy to ingest, search, visualize, and analyze data.
---
### Author:  [@Gsmitt](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/Gsmitt)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2024, 3:09am UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/installation-error-no-custom-admin-password-found-variable-needed-etc/18193/11 "2024-03-02T03:09:20Z")
Hey @OP1
The error shows “No such file or directory”, that means you need to get the package.
```auto
curl -SLO https://artifacts.opensearch.org/releases/bundle/opensearch/2.12.0/opensearch-2.12.0-linux-x64.deb
```
Then execute.
```auto
sudo dpkg -i opensearch-2.12.0-linux-x64.deb
```
---
### Author:  [@Gsmitt](https://forum.opensearch.org/u/Gsmitt)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2024, 12:51am UTC](https://forum.opensearch.org/t/installation-error-no-custom-admin-password-found-variable-needed-etc/18193/12 "2024-03-07T00:51:38Z")
Hey @pablo
Ok I get now, tested this in my lab.
For some reason my command on ubuntu 22.0.4 did not work.
```auto
export OPENSEARCH_INITIAL_ADMIN_PASSWORD=yourStrongPassword123!
```
Once i download my deb package I configured my env file.
```auto
vi /etc/environment
```
Added config
```auto
OPENSEARCH_INITIAL_ADMIN_PASSWORD=yourStrongPassword123!
```
Logged out and back in with my user.
I also noticed that password is used my my cURL commands now.