> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.towbar.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Grafana

> Grafana helps teams explore metrics, logs, and other operational data through dashboards.

export const UseCaseNavigation = () => {
  useLayoutEffect(() => {
    const storageKey = "towbar-use-case-open-groups";
    const groupSelector = "#sidebar li[data-title] > button[aria-expanded]";
    let restoring = false;
    let frame = 0;
    function storedGroups() {
      try {
        return new Set(JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem(storageKey) || "[]"));
      } catch {
        return new Set();
      }
    }
    function save(groups) {
      try {
        sessionStorage.setItem(storageKey, JSON.stringify([...groups]));
      } catch {}
    }
    function groupName(button) {
      return button.parentElement?.dataset.title;
    }
    function rememberOpenGroups() {
      const groups = new Set();
      for (const button of document.querySelectorAll(groupSelector)) {
        if (button.getAttribute("aria-expanded") === "true") {
          const name = groupName(button);
          if (name) groups.add(name);
        }
      }
      save(groups);
    }
    function restoreOpenGroups() {
      frame = 0;
      const groups = storedGroups();
      if (!groups.size) return;
      restoring = true;
      for (const button of document.querySelectorAll(groupSelector)) {
        if (groups.has(groupName(button)) && button.getAttribute("aria-expanded") === "false") {
          button.click();
        }
      }
      restoring = false;
    }
    function scheduleRestore() {
      if (!frame) frame = requestAnimationFrame(restoreOpenGroups);
    }
    function onClick(event) {
      if (restoring || !(event.target instanceof Element)) return;
      const button = event.target.closest(groupSelector);
      if (button) {
        const name = groupName(button);
        if (!name) return;
        const groups = storedGroups();
        if (button.getAttribute("aria-expanded") === "true") groups.delete(name); else groups.add(name);
        save(groups);
        return;
      }
      if (event.target.closest('a[href^="/docs/use-cases/"]')) {
        rememberOpenGroups();
      }
    }
    const observer = new MutationObserver(scheduleRestore);
    document.addEventListener("click", onClick, true);
    observer.observe(document.getElementById("sidebar") || document.body, {
      childList: true,
      subtree: true
    });
    scheduleRestore();
    return () => {
      document.removeEventListener("click", onClick, true);
      observer.disconnect();
      cancelAnimationFrame(frame);
    };
  }, []);
  return null;
};

<UseCaseNavigation />

<img className="towbar-doc-brand-logo" src="https://mintcdn.com/avgeek/EGkEWLTQnOwecqNx/assets/use-case-logos/grafana.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=EGkEWLTQnOwecqNx&q=85&s=f52b9e220d618912fd44851e7c13fbb8" alt="Grafana logo" aria-hidden="true" width="24" height="24" data-path="assets/use-case-logos/grafana.svg" />

**Upstream source:** [Current installation guide](https://grafana.com/docs/grafana/latest/setup-grafana/installation/docker/).

Grafana starts with SQLite. The named volume keeps users, dashboards, and its SQLite database across deployments, so a separate Datastore is not needed for this first instance.

## Towbar manifest

```yaml title=".towbar/services/grafana.service.yml" theme={"system"}
id: grafana
name: Grafana
buildServer: null
deployment:
  type: image
  image: grafana/grafana:12.4.0
container:
  port: 3000
  volumes:
    - name: grafana
      mountPath: /var/lib/grafana
      initialData: image
environments:
  production:
    server: 192.0.2.10
rollout:
  type: recreate
  maintenanceMode: true
  reason: Persistent application data uses a single writer
secrets:
  runtime:
    - GF_SECURITY_ADMIN_PASSWORD
domains:
  primary: grafana.example.com
tls:
  mode: direct
```

## Configure

1. Prepare the example server, connect the repository, and map `production` to the branch containing these manifests. Replace the example server IP and domain. Commit the manifests, then sync the repository and inspect the resolved configuration.
2. Set the Service's declared runtime values under **Service → Settings → Secrets** using the table below. Replace descriptions and placeholders with actual values; do not commit passwords or keys.
3. Keep the Service's named volumes attached across deployments. Towbar's Datastore backup policy does not back up Service volumes, so include them in your own recovery plan.
4. Deploy the Service, then perform the checks below before enabling auto-deploy.

## Runtime values

Save these values on the Service after the repository sync. The manifest declares required keys, not their values.

| Key                          | Value to save                             |
| ---------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| `GF_SECURITY_ADMIN_PASSWORD` | Generate a unique administrator password. |

## Verify

Sign in, add a data source, and confirm the dashboard remains after a redeploy. Back up the Service volume; a PostgreSQL Datastore is an optional later migration, not a first-run requirement.

For field constraints, see [Service manifest](/docs/services/manifest).