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Using Grafana API - Comprehensive Tutorial

Introduction to Grafana API

The Grafana API is a powerful tool that allows developers to programmatically interact with Grafana. This can include creating and managing dashboards, querying data sources, and handling user management. Understanding how to use the Grafana API can significantly enhance your ability to automate and integrate Grafana into your workflow.

Prerequisites

Before diving into the Grafana API, ensure you have the following:

  • Grafana installed and running.
  • A valid API key for authentication (if required).
  • Basic knowledge of REST APIs and JSON format.

Authentication

To interact with the Grafana API, you need to authenticate your requests. Grafana supports various authentication methods, including API keys and basic authentication. Here’s how to use an API key:

Generating an API Key

To generate an API key:

  1. Log in to your Grafana instance.
  2. Navigate to Configuration > API Keys.
  3. Click on Add API Key.
  4. Fill in the details and choose the appropriate role (Admin, Editor, Viewer).
  5. Click Generate and save the key securely.

Making Your First API Call

Once you have your API key, you can start making requests. Here’s an example using cURL to fetch all dashboards:

Example cURL Command

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
-H "Content-Type: application/json"
-X GET http://YOUR_GRAFANA_URL/api/search

Expected Response

[ { "id": 1, "uid": "abc123", "title": "My Dashboard", ... }, ... ]

Common API Endpoints

The Grafana API provides several endpoints for different resources. Here are some commonly used ones:

  • /api/search: Search for dashboards.
  • /api/dashboards/db: Manage dashboards in JSON format.
  • /api/orgs: Manage organizations in Grafana.
  • /api/users: Manage users and permissions.

Creating a Dashboard

Creating a dashboard programmatically involves sending a POST request with the dashboard definition in JSON format. Here’s how to do it:

Example Dashboard JSON

{ "dashboard": { "title": "New Dashboard", "panels": [ { "type": "graph", "title": "My Panel", ... } ] }, "overwrite": false }

cURL Command to Create Dashboard

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
-H "Content-Type: application/json"
-X POST -d @dashboard.json http://YOUR_GRAFANA_URL/api/dashboards/db

Updating a Dashboard

To update an existing dashboard, you can follow a similar process as creating one, but specify the dashboard UID:

cURL Command to Update Dashboard

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
-H "Content-Type: application/json"
-X PUT -d @updated_dashboard.json http://YOUR_GRAFANA_URL/api/dashboards/db

Deleting a Dashboard

To delete a dashboard, you can send a DELETE request to the appropriate endpoint:

cURL Command to Delete Dashboard

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
-X DELETE http://YOUR_GRAFANA_URL/api/dashboards/uid/YOUR_DASHBOARD_UID

Conclusion

The Grafana API is a versatile tool that allows for extensive management and automation of Grafana features. By understanding how to authenticate and interact with various endpoints, you can enhance your Grafana experience and integrate it into your applications seamlessly. Explore the API further to unlock its full potential!