Linkerd linkerd-grafana dashboards not loading

Grafana is unable to retrieve data from Prometheus.

Understanding Linkerd and Its Purpose

Linkerd is a powerful service mesh for Kubernetes, designed to manage, secure, and monitor communication between microservices. It provides features like observability, reliability, and security without requiring changes to the application code. A key component of Linkerd's observability is its integration with monitoring tools like Prometheus and Grafana, which allow users to visualize metrics and gain insights into their service mesh's performance.

Identifying the Symptom: Grafana Dashboards Not Loading

One common issue users may encounter is when the Linkerd Grafana dashboards fail to load. This symptom is typically observed when accessing the Grafana interface, where dashboards either display errors or fail to show any data. This can be frustrating as it hinders the ability to monitor the health and performance of the service mesh.

Exploring the Issue: Grafana's Inability to Retrieve Data

The root cause of this issue often lies in Grafana's inability to retrieve data from Prometheus. This can occur due to misconfigured data source settings in Grafana or connectivity issues between Grafana and Prometheus. Without access to the necessary metrics, Grafana cannot populate the dashboards, leading to the observed symptom.

Common Causes

  • Incorrect Prometheus URL or credentials in Grafana's data source configuration.
  • Prometheus service not running or inaccessible due to network policies or firewall rules.
  • Outdated or incompatible versions of Grafana or Prometheus.

Steps to Resolve the Issue

To resolve the issue of Grafana dashboards not loading, follow these steps:

Step 1: Verify Prometheus is Running

Ensure that the Prometheus service is running and accessible. You can check the status of Prometheus by executing the following command:

kubectl get pods -n linkerd

Look for the Prometheus pod and ensure it is in the Running state.

Step 2: Check Grafana Data Source Configuration

Access the Grafana UI and navigate to Configuration > Data Sources. Verify that the Prometheus data source is correctly configured with the appropriate URL and credentials. The URL should point to the Prometheus service endpoint, typically http://prometheus.linkerd-viz.svc.cluster.local:9090.

Step 3: Test Connectivity

Test the connectivity between Grafana and Prometheus. You can use the following command to port-forward Prometheus and test access:

kubectl port-forward -n linkerd svc/prometheus 9090:9090

Then, open a browser and navigate to http://localhost:9090 to ensure Prometheus is accessible.

Step 4: Update Grafana and Prometheus

If the issue persists, consider updating Grafana and Prometheus to the latest compatible versions. Check the Linkerd upgrade guide for instructions on updating components.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of Linkerd Grafana dashboards not loading. Ensuring proper configuration and connectivity between Grafana and Prometheus is crucial for effective monitoring of your service mesh. For more detailed information, refer to the Linkerd Observability documentation.

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