# Install Grafana and configure the TimescaleDB data source

## In this learning path

- [Introduction](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/timescaledb-on-gcp/)
- [Get started with TimescaleDB on Google Axion C4A](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/timescaledb-on-gcp/background/)
- [Create a firewall rule for Grafana/TimescaleDB](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/timescaledb-on-gcp/firewall-setup/)
- [Create a Google Axion C4A Arm virtual machine on GCP](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/timescaledb-on-gcp/instance/)
- [Set up TimescaleDB on Arm64](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/timescaledb-on-gcp/setup-timescaledb/)
- [Ingest real-time sensor data on Arm64](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/timescaledb-on-gcp/sensor-data-ingestion/)
- [Install Grafana and configure the TimescaleDB data source](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/timescaledb-on-gcp/grafana-timescaledb-setup/)
- [Build a live sensor temperature dashboard](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/timescaledb-on-gcp/live-sensor-dashboard/)
- [Next Steps](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/timescaledb-on-gcp/_next-steps/)

## Install and configure Grafana
In this section, you install Grafana on a SUSE Arm64 virtual machine, access its web interface, and connect it to TimescaleDB. Grafana acts as the visualization layer that queries TimescaleDB and displays time-series data in dashboards.

This setup enables real-time monitoring and analytics of sensor data stored in TimescaleDB.

```
Python Sensor Ingest Script
        |
        v
TimescaleDB (PostgreSQL)
        |
        v
Grafana Dashboard
```

## Install Grafana on SUSE
Grafana is available via RPM packages and works natively on Arm64.

```
cd $HOME
sudo zypper addrepo https://rpm.grafana.com grafana
sudo zypper refresh
sudo zypper install -y grafana
```

### Enable and start Grafana
```
sudo systemctl start grafana-server
sudo systemctl enable grafana-server
```

Verify the service is running:
```
sudo systemctl status grafana-server
```

The output is similar to:
```
__output__ ● grafana-server.service - Grafana instance
__output__ Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/grafana-server.service; enabled; vendor preset: disabled)
__output__ Active: active (running) since Tue 2026-02-17 08:57:45 UTC; 1h 31min ago
```

## Access the Grafana web UI
Open your browser and navigate to:
```
http://<VM-PUBLIC-IP>:3000
```

### Default login credentials
| Field      | Value   |
|------------|---------|
| Username   | admin   |
| Password   | admin   |

You will be prompted to change the password on first login. Provide and save off a new password. Re-login if needed using the new password:

![Grafana login page](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/timescaledb-on-gcp/images/grafana-login-page.webp "Grafana login page")

You will be presented with the main dashboard for Grafana:

![Grafana main dashboard](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/timescaledb-on-gcp/images/grafana-dashboard.webp "Grafana main dashboard")

## Add TimescaleDB as a data source
### Step 1: Open data sources
From the Grafana sidebar, navigate to **Connections** → **Data sources** → **Add data source**.

### Step 2: Choose PostgreSQL
Select PostgreSQL (TimescaleDB is PostgreSQL-compatible).

![Add PostgreSQL data source](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/timescaledb-on-gcp/images/psql-data-source.png "Add PostgreSQL data source")

### Step 3: Configure connection settings
Fill the form exactly as below:

| Field            | Value                        |
|------------------|------------------------------|
| Host URL         | `localhost:5432`             |
| Database name    | `sensors`                    |
| Username         | `postgres`                   |
| Password         | `<postgres password saved>`   |
| TLS/SSL Mode     | `disable`                    |

![PostgreSQL data source settings](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/timescaledb-on-gcp/images/data-source-details.png "PostgreSQL data source settings")

Scroll down and select **Save & Test**.

You should see “Database connection OK.”

![Grafana PostgreSQL data source save and test](https://learn.arm.com/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/timescaledb-on-gcp/images/data-source-save-test.png "Grafana PostgreSQL data source save and test")

## What you’ve accomplished and what’s next
In this section, you:

- Installed Grafana on SUSE Arm64 and started the service
- Accessed the Grafana web UI and updated the default password
- Connected Grafana to TimescaleDB as a PostgreSQL data source

In the next section, you’ll create a live dashboard to visualize real-time sensor temperature data.