Configuring role-based access control (RBAC) in Grafana - Grafana Tutorial

Welcome to this tutorial on configuring role-based access control (RBAC) in Grafana. RBAC allows you to manage user permissions and access control in Grafana, providing a secure way to control who can view and modify dashboards, data sources, and other resources.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following:

• Grafana installed and running on your system.
• Admin access to Grafana.

Step 1: Creating Roles

The first step is to define roles that represent different levels of access. Roles can be created using the Grafana web interface or through the API. Here's an example API command to create a role:

curl -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{ "name": "Editor", "permissions": ["dashboard:edit", "datasource:edit"] }' http://localhost:3000/api/admin/roles

Step 2: Assigning Roles to Users

Once you have created the roles, you can assign them to users. This can also be done through the Grafana web interface or API. Here's an example API command to assign a role to a user:

curl -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{ "loginOrEmail": "user@example.com", "role": "Editor" }' http://localhost:3000/api/admin/users/1/permissions

Step 3: Testing the RBAC Configuration

After assigning roles to users, it's important to test the RBAC configuration to ensure it works as expected. Log in as different users with different roles and verify their access to various resources.

Common Mistakes with RBAC in Grafana

• Forgetting to create the necessary roles before assigning them to users.
• Assigning incorrect or overlapping permissions to roles.
• Not testing the RBAC configuration thoroughly, leading to unexpected access control issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I create custom roles in Grafana?

   Yes, you can create custom roles in Grafana using the Grafana web interface or the API.

2. How can I remove a role from a user?

   To remove a role from a user, you can use the Grafana web interface or the API to delete the role assignment for that user.

3. Can I assign multiple roles to a single user?

   Yes, you can assign multiple roles to a single user in Grafana.

4. What happens if a user has conflicting roles assigned?

   If a user has conflicting roles assigned, the role with higher privileges takes precedence.

5. Can RBAC be used to control access to data sources?

   Yes, RBAC can be used to control access to data sources in Grafana.

Summary

In this tutorial, you learned how to configure role-based access control (RBAC) in Grafana. By creating roles and assigning them to users, you can control access to dashboards, data sources, and other resources in Grafana. Remember to test your RBAC configuration to ensure it meets your access control requirements.