Add multiple interfaces instantly

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1

I’m using Grafana (12.0.2) with the Zabbix (7.0.13) plugin as a datasource.
I’m monitoring several switches, and each switch has multiple interfaces (with items like “Interface X: Bits received”).
Right now in Grafana, I have to manually add every interface to a panel.
How can I automate this process so Grafana automatically creates a panel (or series) for each interface of a selected host, using variables and repeating panels?

I wish to be able to add all of them into a single time series panel.
Please give me the step-by-step setup for the variables and panels, and include any regex needed to clean the interface names.

2

To automate the process of creating panels for each interface of a selected host in Grafana using the Zabbix plugin, you can leverage Grafana's variable and repeating panel features. Here's a step-by-step guide to set this up:

Step 1: Create a Variable for Interfaces

  1. Navigate to Dashboard Settings:

  2. Open your dashboard and click on the gear icon in the top-right corner to access Dashboard settings.

  3. Add a New Variable:

  4. Go to the Variables tab and click Add variable.
  5. Name: Enter a name for your variable, e.g., interface.
  6. Type: Select Query.
  7. Data Source: Choose your Zabbix data source.
  8. Query: Use a query to list all interfaces for a selected host. You might use something like: item.get[host="$host", application="Interfaces", output="extend"]
  9. Regex: If you need to clean up the interface names, you can use a regex here. For example, to remove "Interface" from the names, you might use: /Interface (.*):.*/$1/
  10. Selection Options: Enable Multi-value and Include All option.
  11. Click Add to save the variable.

Step 2: Create a Time Series Panel with Repeating Panels

  1. Add a New Panel:

  2. Click Add panel and select Time series.

  3. Configure the Panel:

  4. Title: Set a dynamic title using the variable, e.g., Interfaces for $host.
  5. Query:
    • Use the Zabbix query editor to select the metrics for the interfaces.
    • In the Item field, use the variable you created: $interface.

  6. Repeat Options:

    • Open the Panel options section.
    • Under Repeat options, select the interface variable in the Repeat by variable drop-down list.
    • Choose Horizontal or Vertical for the Repeat direction based on your layout preference.

  7. Save and Apply:

  8. Click Apply to save the panel.
  9. Save the dashboard to ensure all changes are stored.

Step 3: Test and Adjust

  • Select Host and Interfaces:
  • Use the drop-down menu at the top of the dashboard to select a host and interfaces.

  • The dashboard should automatically create a panel for each selected interface.

  • Adjust as Needed:

  • If the layout or data isn't displaying as expected, revisit the variable and panel settings to make necessary adjustments.

By following these steps, you should be able to automate the creation of panels for each interface of a selected host, making your monitoring setup more efficient and scalable. If you encounter any issues, feel free to ask for further assistance!

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