> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/grafana/grafana/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Installing Grafana

> Learn how to install Grafana using Docker, APT, or standalone binaries

# Installing Grafana

Grafana is available in two editions: **Grafana Enterprise** (recommended) and **Grafana Open Source**. Grafana Enterprise is free and includes all OSS features, with the option to upgrade to the full Enterprise feature set.

This guide covers multiple installation methods to help you get Grafana running quickly.

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

* A supported operating system (Linux, macOS, Windows, or Docker)
* Appropriate system permissions for installation
* Network access to download Grafana packages

## Installation Methods

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Docker" icon="docker" href="#docker-installation">
    Run Grafana in a container with persistent storage
  </Card>

  <Card title="Debian/Ubuntu" icon="ubuntu" href="#debian-ubuntu-installation">
    Install using APT package manager
  </Card>

  <Card title="Standalone Binary" icon="download" href="#standalone-binary-installation">
    Run Grafana as a standalone application
  </Card>

  <Card title="Docker Compose" icon="docker" href="#docker-compose-installation">
    Deploy Grafana with docker-compose
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Docker Installation

Docker is the fastest way to get Grafana running.

### Quick Start

Run the latest Grafana Enterprise version:

```bash theme={null}
docker run -d -p 3000:3000 --name=grafana grafana/grafana-enterprise
```

Access Grafana at `http://localhost:3000` with default credentials `admin`/`admin`.

<Accordion title="Docker Run Command Explanation">
  * `docker run` - Creates and starts a new container
  * `-d` - Runs container in detached mode (background)
  * `-p 3000:3000` - Maps container port 3000 to host port 3000
  * `--name=grafana` - Assigns a name to the container for easy reference
  * `grafana/grafana-enterprise` - The Docker image to use
</Accordion>

### Persistent Storage with Docker Volumes

By default, Grafana data is lost when the container is removed. Use Docker volumes to persist your data:

```bash theme={null}
# Create a persistent volume
docker volume create grafana-storage

# Verify volume creation
docker volume inspect grafana-storage

# Start Grafana with persistent storage
docker run -d -p 3000:3000 --name=grafana \
  --volume grafana-storage:/var/lib/grafana \
  grafana/grafana-enterprise
```

### Using Bind Mounts

For direct access to Grafana data on your host filesystem:

```bash theme={null}
# Create a directory for data
mkdir data

# Start Grafana with bind mount
docker run -d -p 3000:3000 --name=grafana \
  --user "$(id -u)" \
  --volume "$PWD/data:/var/lib/grafana" \
  grafana/grafana-enterprise
```

### Environment Variables

Configure Grafana using environment variables:

```bash theme={null}
docker run -d -p 3000:3000 --name=grafana \
  -e "GF_SERVER_ROOT_URL=http://my.grafana.server/" \
  -e "GF_LOG_LEVEL=debug" \
  -e "GF_SECURITY_ADMIN_PASSWORD=mySecurePassword" \
  grafana/grafana-enterprise
```

### Installing Plugins

Install plugins at container startup:

```bash theme={null}
docker run -d -p 3000:3000 --name=grafana \
  -e "GF_PLUGINS_PREINSTALL=grafana-clock-panel,grafana-simple-json-datasource" \
  grafana/grafana-enterprise
```

<Note>
  To specify a plugin version, use the format: `plugin-name@version`. Example: `grafana-clock-panel@1.0.1`
</Note>

### Managing Docker Containers

```bash theme={null}
# View running containers
docker ps

# Stop Grafana
docker stop grafana

# Start existing container
docker start grafana

# View logs
docker logs grafana

# Remove container
docker rm grafana
```

## Docker Compose Installation

Docker Compose simplifies multi-container deployments.

### Prerequisites

Verify Docker Compose is installed:

```bash theme={null}
docker compose version
```

### Basic Configuration

Create a `docker-compose.yaml` file:

```yaml docker-compose.yaml theme={null}
services:
  grafana:
    image: grafana/grafana-enterprise
    container_name: grafana
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - '3000:3000'
    volumes:
      - grafana-storage:/var/lib/grafana
    environment:
      - GF_SERVER_ROOT_URL=http://my.grafana.server/
      - GF_PLUGINS_PREINSTALL=grafana-clock-panel

volumes:
  grafana-storage: {}
```

### Start and Manage

```bash theme={null}
# Start Grafana
docker compose up -d

# View logs
docker compose logs -f grafana

# Stop Grafana
docker compose down

# Restart Grafana
docker compose restart grafana
```

## Debian Ubuntu Installation

Install Grafana on Debian or Ubuntu using the APT package manager.

### Install from APT Repository

This method provides automatic updates when you run `apt-get update`.

#### Step 1: Install Prerequisites

```bash theme={null}
sudo apt-get install -y apt-transport-https wget gnupg
```

#### Step 2: Add Grafana GPG Key

```bash theme={null}
sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings
sudo wget -O /etc/apt/keyrings/grafana.asc https://apt.grafana.com/gpg-full.key
sudo chmod 644 /etc/apt/keyrings/grafana.asc
```

#### Step 3: Add Grafana Repository

For stable releases:

```bash theme={null}
echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/grafana.asc] https://apt.grafana.com stable main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/grafana.list
```

For beta releases:

```bash theme={null}
echo "deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/grafana.asc] https://apt.grafana.com beta main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/grafana.list
```

#### Step 4: Update Package List

```bash theme={null}
sudo apt-get update
```

#### Step 5: Install Grafana

For Grafana Enterprise (recommended):

```bash theme={null}
sudo apt-get install grafana-enterprise
```

For Grafana OSS:

```bash theme={null}
sudo apt-get install grafana
```

#### Step 6: Start Grafana Service

```bash theme={null}
# Start Grafana server
sudo systemctl start grafana-server

# Enable Grafana to start on boot
sudo systemctl enable grafana-server

# Check service status
sudo systemctl status grafana-server
```

Access Grafana at `http://localhost:3000` with default credentials `admin`/`admin`.

### Install Using DEB Package

For manual installation without automatic updates:

1. Navigate to the [Grafana download page](https://grafana.com/grafana/download)
2. Select your desired version and edition
3. Copy and run the installation commands provided

Example:

```bash theme={null}
wget https://dl.grafana.com/enterprise/release/grafana-enterprise_11.0.0_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i grafana-enterprise_11.0.0_amd64.deb
```

## Standalone Binary Installation

Run Grafana as a standalone binary without package managers.

### Step 1: Download Binary

Download the appropriate binary from the [Grafana download page](https://grafana.com/grafana/download).

### Step 2: Create Grafana User

```bash theme={null}
sudo useradd -r -s /bin/false grafana
```

### Step 3: Extract and Move Binary

```bash theme={null}
# Extract the downloaded archive
tar -zxvf grafana-*.tar.gz

# Move to installation directory
sudo mv grafana-*/ /usr/local/grafana

# Set ownership
sudo chown -R grafana:users /usr/local/grafana
```

### Step 4: Create Systemd Service

Create `/etc/systemd/system/grafana-server.service`:

```ini /etc/systemd/system/grafana-server.service theme={null}
[Unit]
Description=Grafana Server
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=grafana
Group=users
ExecStart=/usr/local/grafana/bin/grafana server --config=/usr/local/grafana/conf/grafana.ini --homepath=/usr/local/grafana
Restart=on-failure

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
```

### Step 5: Initialize Data Directory

Start Grafana manually once to create the data directory:

```bash theme={null}
/usr/local/grafana/bin/grafana server --homepath /usr/local/grafana
```

Press `CTRL+C` to stop, then set ownership:

```bash theme={null}
sudo chown -R grafana:users /usr/local/grafana
```

### Step 6: Enable and Start Service

```bash theme={null}
# Reload systemd
sudo systemctl daemon-reload

# Enable service
sudo systemctl enable grafana-server

# Start service
sudo systemctl start grafana-server

# Check status
sudo systemctl status grafana-server
```

## First Login

After installation:

1. Open your browser and navigate to `http://localhost:3000`
2. Login with default credentials:
   * Username: `admin`
   * Password: `admin`
3. You'll be prompted to change the password on first login

<Warning>
  Change the default admin password immediately to secure your Grafana instance.
</Warning>

## Configuration

Grafana configuration is stored in `grafana.ini`. Common configuration locations:

* **Docker**: Use environment variables prefixed with `GF_`
* **APT install**: `/etc/grafana/grafana.ini`
* **Standalone**: `/usr/local/grafana/conf/grafana.ini`

Example environment variable mapping:

```bash theme={null}
# Set server root URL
GF_SERVER_ROOT_URL=http://my.grafana.server/

# Set security admin password
GF_SECURITY_ADMIN_PASSWORD=mySecurePassword

# Enable debug logging
GF_LOG_LEVEL=debug
```

## Uninstalling Grafana

### Docker

```bash theme={null}
docker stop grafana
docker rm grafana
docker volume rm grafana-storage  # Remove data
```

### Debian/Ubuntu

```bash theme={null}
# Stop service
sudo systemctl stop grafana-server

# Remove package
sudo apt-get remove grafana-enterprise
# OR
sudo apt-get remove grafana

# Remove repository (optional)
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/grafana.list
```

### Standalone Binary

```bash theme={null}
# Stop service
sudo systemctl stop grafana-server
sudo systemctl disable grafana-server

# Remove files
sudo rm /etc/systemd/system/grafana-server.service
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/grafana

# Reload systemd
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
```

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Create Your First Dashboard" icon="chart-line" href="/getting-started/first-dashboard">
    Learn how to build visualizations
  </Card>

  <Card title="Add Data Sources" icon="database" href="/getting-started/adding-datasources">
    Connect Grafana to your data
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Port 3000 Already in Use">
    If port 3000 is already occupied, map to a different port:

    ```bash theme={null}
    docker run -d -p 3001:3000 --name=grafana grafana/grafana-enterprise
    ```

    Access Grafana at `http://localhost:3001`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Permission Denied Errors">
    Ensure the Grafana user has proper permissions:

    ```bash theme={null}
    sudo chown -R grafana:grafana /var/lib/grafana
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Service Won't Start">
    Check service logs:

    ```bash theme={null}
    # Systemd
    sudo journalctl -u grafana-server -f

    # Docker
    docker logs grafana
    ```
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>