The variations of performance and metabolites at an early stage were investigated for the successful start-up technology in continuous fermentative hydrogen production. Unsuccessful start-up was observed when the operation mode was changed from batch to continuous mode after the yield was reached to 0.5 mol $H_2$/mol $hexose_{added}$ by batch mode. $H_2$ production continued till 12 hours accompanied by butyrate production, but did not last with propionate production increase. It was suspected that the failure was due to the regrowth of propionic acid bacteria during batch mode which were inhibited by heat-shock but not completely killed. Thus, successful start-up was tried by early switchover from batch to continuous operation; continuous operation was started after the $H_2$ yield was reached to 0.2 mol $H_2$/mol $hexose_{added}$ by batch mode. Although $H_2$ production rate decreased at an early stage, stable $H_2$ yield of 0.8 mol $H_2$/mol $hexose_{added}$ was achieved after 10 days by lowering down propionate production. And it was also concluded that the reason for $H_2$ production decrease at an early stage was due to alcohol production by self detoxification mechanism against VFAs accumulation.