# Why is there any ERR: 401

**URL:** <https://community.influxdata.com/t/why-is-there-any-err-401/58577>\
**Category:** InfluxDB 2\
**Created:** [May 31, 2026, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.influxdata.com/t/why-is-there-any-err-401/58577 "2026-05-31T20:39:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![janvi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a587f6/32.png) [@janvi](https://community.influxdata.com/u/janvi)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.influxdata.com/t/why-is-there-any-err-401/58577/1 "2026-05-31T20:39:53Z")

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just installed v2.8 but probably I did not understood the use of influx. Can anybody see my problem:

```auto
jv@JamesWebb:~$ ssh jv@10.10.20.164
jv@10.10.20.164's password: 
Permission denied, please try again.
jv@10.10.20.164's password: 
Linux raspberry 6.12.47+rpt-rpi-2712 #1 SMP PREEMPT Debian 1:6.12.47-1+rpt1 (2025-09-16) aarch64

The programs included with the Debian GNU/Linux system are free software;
the exact distribution terms for each program are described in the
individual files in /usr/share/doc/*/copyright.

Debian GNU/Linux comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY, to the extent
permitted by applicable law.
Last login: Fri May 29 17:36:08 2026 from 10.10.20.158
jv@raspberry:~ $ influx v1 shell
InfluxQL Shell dev
Connected to InfluxDB OSS v2.8.0
> create database test
ERR: 401 Unauthorized: unauthorized access
> show databases
ERR: 401 Unauthorized: unauthorized access
> exit
Goodbye!
jv@raspberry:~ $ 

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cbowden](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex023/user_avatar/community.influxdata.com/cbowden/32/20322_2.png) [@cbowden](https://community.influxdata.com/u/cbowden)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://community.influxdata.com/t/why-is-there-any-err-401/58577/2 "2026-06-01T15:48:02Z")

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Make sure you’re following the [setup steps in the documentation for InfluxDB v2](https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb/v2/get-started/setup/)! You’ll need to create an API token to authenticate with before you can start writing/creating things.