mysql
> CREATE USER 'grafana'@'GRAFANA SERVER IP ADDRESS' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
> GRANT SELECT ON zabbix.* TO 'grafana'@'GRAFANA SERVER IP ADDRESS';
> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
> select host, user from mysql.user;
> QUIT;
Also allow remote connections on MySQL
sudo nano /etc/mysql/my.cnf
Change or Add the bind address value to the end of the file.
[mysqld]
bind-address    = 0.0.0.0
Restart MySQL
Restart the MySQL and check the status.
sudo service mysql restart
sudo service mysql status
I then go back into Grafana, finish and save the MySQL data source for Zabbix.
Install Zabbix Data Source Plugin
Now it's time to install the Zabbix Data Source plugin that will connect to the Zabbix API, and also use the new MySQL data source we just created.
It is easiest to use the Grafana UI to install the Zabbix data source plugin and set it up. You can also do it manually by continuing to use the methods below which is more useful for older versions of Grafana.
SSH onto the Grafana Server and add the Zabbix Data Source plugin using the CLI
grafana-cli plugins install alexanderzobnin-zabbix-app
Since Grafana v7, unsigned plugins won't be visible unless you explicitly allow them in the Grafana.ini file.
Open /etc/grafana/grafana.ini, and uncomment the line
;allow_loading_unsigned_plugins
and change to
allow_loading_unsigned_plugins = alexanderzobnin-zabbix-datasource
And then restart the Grafana server
sudo service grafana-server restart
I then use the Grafana UI to enable the Zabbix Data Source Plugin, and then configure it.
The required API URL will be,
https://[your zabbix server ip or domain name]/zabbix/api_jsonrpc.php
Also select the 'Direct DB Access' to be the new MySQL data source you just created.
Save and Continue
Troubleshooting
If you upgraded to Grafana 8.3, then the Zabbix query editor options may disappear and stop working.
The steps to get it working again are,
Delete your Zabbix data source using Grafana UI --> Configuration --> Data Sources
Disable and uninstall the Zabbix plugin using Grafana UI --> Configuration --> Plugins
SSH onto your server and restart the Grafana service.
sudo service grafana-server restart
Re-install the Zabbix plugin using Grafana UI --> Configuration --> Plugins
Enable plugin using Grafana UI --> Configuration --> Plugins
Recreate the Zabbix data source using Grafana UI --> Configuration --> Data Sources
Visit the Grafana UI --> Explore tab using Grafana UI
Grafana 10 and Ubuntu 22.04 Notes
The Zabbix plugin can be found in Administration → Plugins. Make sure the State option to the right of the screen has All selected.
The [Install] button has been moved to the right of the screen.
After installing, you will need to Enable it by pressing the Enable button also at the right of the screen.
Then go into Connections → Data sources, press the [Add new data source] button and find Zabbix at the bottom and press it.
If you still cannot find the Zabbix plugins config option, then you will need to install it from the command line.
grafana-cli plugins install alexanderzobnin-zabbix-app
And then restart, and check status.
sudo service grafana-server restart
sudo service grafana-server status
Then revisit Administration → Plugins.
Search for Zabbix. Click it and the [Enable] button should appear.
Press the [Enable] button.
Zabbix Course
If you want to try a more detailed course on Zabbix, then you can visit my Zabbix tutorials.
Useful Links
Zabbix Data Source Plugin
Zabbix Data Source Plugin GitHub