Button to send command, best if able to support "grafana server" sending - Asking for hints

Grafana Dashboards
1

Hi all I’m gently asking for hints for this use case:
I need to send command to sensors/actuators from some dashboards.
The devices support mqtt (they are tasmota based and not exposed on internet).

Currently I’m using the “canvas button” sending an http/post to a script that will convert it in the mqtt publish needed. It’s quite ok, but it has some drawbacks:

  • The canvas needs a query to be showed (i’ve designed a light query but it costs computational effort anyway)
  • The button needs a full url that will be embedded in every dashboard (maintenance effort in the time)

The configuration:

image
image1077×537 53 KB

So I’m gently asking:

  • Is there some other (cleaner) way to implement the button ? (I’ve already tested the old button plugin but I was not able to configure the url/payload)
  • Is there a way to set at higher level (organization or system) some data such as the command url and then use them in the dashboard in order to have a single copy of the data to be maintained ?

Last: this way use this communication path:
browser (grafana) → http/post → server script (not grafana server) → mqtt publish

that have the drawback that you have to open the service script to be callable from pages (grafana dashboard) that comes from other domain: you have to “allow-origin” weakening the security.

Is there a solution that can be embedded in grafana, that means implement the path:
browser (grafana) → http/post → grafana (embedded server script) → mqtt publish

Any hints are welcome
Thanks a lot

2

how about using business text plugin and import the following type of library, add a button and ypur js script to do what you need

const mqtt = require("mqtt");
const client = mqtt.connect("mqtt://test.mosquitto.org");

client.on("connect", () => {
  client.subscribe("presence", (err) => {
    if (!err) {
      client.publish("presence", "Hello mqtt");
    }
  });
});

client.on("message", (topic, message) => {
  // message is Buffer
  console.log(message.toString());
  client.end();
});
3

It will be a solution implementing the simplified path:
browser (grafana) → mqtt publish

spreading in every dashboard mqtt connection information and assuming that it is exposed on internet.

I take note of the hint (thanks) but if is possibile i prefer to go deep in analyzing the solution with path like:
browser (grafana) → http/post → grafana (embedded server script) → mqtt publish

Thanks again

4

so which path do you exactly want again? straight browser to mqqt if at possible sounds like a huge security hole esp when exposed to the internet, you might be looking for a new job

the second approach should be possible with my previous post, read the docu

5

I’m sorry but I’m not able to figure out how to implement the path (i avoid tools just node):
browser → grafana → mqtt (just like a influxdb datasource with influx access server supported)

Can you kindly post few more info ?
Thanks

6

check the docu out

7

Have you considered using Grafana’s built-in HTTP API with webhooks to simplify the process? It might reduce the maintenance effort and grinchcostume eliminate the need for queries just to display the button.