Essential Grafana CLI Commands for Effective Dashboard Management

Grafana, a leading open-source visualization tool, helps monitor and analyze system metrics through intuitive dashboards. The Grafana CLI simplifies tasks like provisioning, plugin management, and configuration adjustments. Below is a list of essential Grafana CLI commands explained to help you manage your Grafana setup efficiently.

1. grafana-cli plugins list-remote

Command:

grafana-cli plugins list-remote

Lists all available plugins in the Grafana plugin repository. Use this to explore new plugins for extended functionality.

2. grafana-cli plugins install

Command:

grafana-cli plugins install grafana-piechart-panel

Installs a specific plugin, such as the Pie Chart Panel. Replace grafana-piechart-panel with the plugin you want to install.

3. grafana-cli plugins update-all

Command:

grafana-cli plugins update-all

Updates all installed plugins to their latest versions. This ensures you’re using the most secure and feature-rich versions.

4. grafana-cli plugins uninstall

Command:

grafana-cli plugins uninstall grafana-piechart-panel

Uninstalls a specific plugin from your Grafana instance. Use this to remove unused or problematic plugins.

5. grafana-cli admin reset-admin-password

Command:

grafana-cli admin reset-admin-password newpassword

Resets the Grafana admin password to newpassword. Useful if you’ve lost or forgotten your admin credentials.

6. grafana-cli plugins ls

Command:

grafana-cli plugins ls

Lists all the plugins currently installed in your Grafana instance.

7. grafana-cli install

Command:

grafana-cli install latest

Installs the latest version of Grafana. Use this for fresh installations or to quickly set up a test environment.

8. grafana-cli --help

Command:

grafana-cli --help

Displays a list of all available commands and options in the Grafana CLI. Use this to explore additional functionality.

9. systemctl restart grafana-server

Command:

systemctl restart grafana-server

Restarts the Grafana server to apply configuration changes or updates. Note that this is a system command rather than a Grafana CLI-specific command.

10. grafana-cli plugins update

Command:

grafana-cli plugins update grafana-piechart-panel

Updates a specific plugin to its latest version. Replace grafana-piechart-panel with the plugin name you want to update.

11. grafana-cli upgrade

Command:

grafana-cli upgrade

Upgrades Grafana to the latest version. Use this to keep your Grafana instance up-to-date with the latest features and security fixes.

12. grafana-cli update-check

Command:

grafana-cli update-check

Checks for the latest version of Grafana and reports whether your current version is up-to-date.

13. grafana-cli admin activate-user

Command:

grafana-cli admin activate-user user@example.com

Activates a specific user account. Useful in multi-admin setups where user accounts need manual activation.

14. grafana-cli admin disable-user

Command:

grafana-cli admin disable-user user@example.com

Disables a specific user account. Helps maintain security by deactivating unused accounts.

15. grafana-cli install specific-version

Command:

grafana-cli install 8.5.0

Installs a specific version of Grafana. Replace 8.5.0 with the desired version. This is helpful when testing compatibility or rolling back to a stable release.

16. grafana-cli dashboards import

Command:

grafana-cli dashboards import --path ./dashboard.json

Imports a dashboard JSON file into your Grafana instance. Simplifies the process of migrating or sharing dashboards.

17. grafana-cli dashboards export

Command:

grafana-cli dashboards export --id 1 --output ./dashboard.json

Exports a dashboard to a JSON file for backup or sharing purposes. Replace 1 with the dashboard ID.

18. grafana-cli backup

Command:

grafana-cli backup --output /backups

Creates a backup of your Grafana instance, including configurations and dashboards.

19. grafana-cli restore

Command:

grafana-cli restore --backup /backups/latest.tar.gz

Restores a Grafana instance from a backup. Useful for disaster recovery or migrating instances.

20. grafana-cli monitor

Command:

grafana-cli monitor --interval 10s

Monitors the Grafana server for performance and uptime. Replace 10s with the desired monitoring interval.

The Grafana CLI is a handy tool for managing plugins, configuring users, and maintaining dashboards. By using these commands effectively, you can streamline Grafana management and focus on gaining actionable insights from your data.