Hi, Mondi! The msg you are getting is telling that user devuser does not have permission to write to the root (/) HDFS folder.  This is normal, and just like a Linux FS.  If you create a folder in HDFS and make your local unix account the owner, you can use that folder as you.   If you want to create objects in hdfs /, you need to become the superuser, hdfs.  Example:         # create your folder $ sudo -u hdfs hdfs dfs -mkdir /user/devuser # make devuser the owner: $ sudo -u hdfs hdfs -chown devuser /user/devuser     You first elevate to hdfs, then run the hdfs dfs command.  This wil create your personal directory in /user and make you the owner.  Now, when you run hdfs commands as devuser, you will have permission to modify objects in that folder.   CAREFUL: elevating to hdfs is like becoming root in linux.  You can do a lot of damage if you make a mistake.     ... View more