how to install grafana on amazon linux

3 min read 08-12-2024

Grafana is a powerful open-source analytics and monitoring platform that allows you to visualize metrics from various data sources. This guide will walk you through the process of installing Grafana on an Amazon Linux instance. We'll cover both the official package method and a manual installation using a downloaded package, offering flexibility depending on your preferences and server setup.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

An Amazon Linux EC2 instance: You'll need an active Amazon Machine Image (AMI) running Amazon Linux 2 or later. Ensure it has internet access for downloading packages.
A user with sudo privileges: You'll need administrative access to install software.
Basic Linux command-line familiarity: This guide assumes a basic understanding of Linux commands.

Method 1: Installation using the Amazon Linux Package Manager (yum)

This is the recommended method for its simplicity and ease of updates.

Step 1: Update the system packages

Before installing Grafana, update your system's package list:

sudo yum update -y

Step 2: Add the Grafana repository

Grafana isn't included in the default Amazon Linux repositories. We'll need to add the official Grafana repository. The exact command might vary slightly depending on the Grafana version you wish to install. Check the official Grafana documentation for the most up-to-date repository details. For example, a command might look like this (replace with the correct repo URL for your desired version):

sudo curl -fsSL https://packages.grafana.com/gpg.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-grafana
sudo curl -fsSL https://packages.grafana.com/grafana.repo | sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/grafana.repo

Step 3: Install Grafana

Now, install Grafana using yum:

sudo yum install grafana -y

Step 4: Start and enable Grafana

Start the Grafana service and enable it to start automatically on boot:

sudo systemctl start grafana-server
sudo systemctl enable grafana-server

Step 5: Verify the installation

Check the status of the Grafana service:

sudo systemctl status grafana-server

You should see an "active (running)" status.

Method 2: Manual Installation from a Downloaded Package

This method provides more control but requires more manual steps. Download the latest Grafana package from the official Grafana website (https://grafana.com/grafana/download) that matches your Amazon Linux architecture.

Step 1: Download the Grafana package

Download the appropriate package (e.g., grafana-x.x.x-1.x86_64.rpm) to your EC2 instance, replacing x.x.x with the version number. You can use wget or curl:

wget https://dl.grafana.com/oss/release/grafana-x.x.x-1.x86_64.rpm  # Replace with the correct URL

Step 2: Install the package

Install the downloaded package using rpm:

sudo rpm -ivh grafana-x.x.x-1.x86_64.rpm  # Replace with the correct filename

Step 3: Start and enable Grafana (same as Method 1)

sudo systemctl start grafana-server
sudo systemctl enable grafana-server

Step 4: Verify the installation (same as Method 1)

sudo systemctl status grafana-server

Accessing Grafana

After a successful installation, access Grafana through your web browser using the public IP address of your EC2 instance and port 3000: http://<your_ec2_ip>:3000. The default username and password are both admin. Remember to change this immediately after logging in for security reasons.

Configuring Grafana and Adding Data Sources

After logging in, you'll need to configure Grafana to connect to your data sources (e.g., Prometheus, Elasticsearch, InfluxDB). Consult the Grafana documentation for detailed instructions on configuring data sources and creating dashboards.

Security Considerations

Change the default admin password: This is crucial for security.
Configure firewall rules: Allow only necessary traffic to port 3000. Consider using a bastion host for secure access.
Regularly update Grafana: Stay up-to-date with security patches.

This guide provides a comprehensive approach to installing Grafana on Amazon Linux. Remember to consult the official Grafana documentation for the most up-to-date instructions and best practices. Choosing between the yum and manual installation methods depends on your comfort level and server management preferences. The yum method is generally preferred for its simplicity and ease of updates.