Summary

In this chapter, we explored the visual aspect of network observability, highlighting the significance of how data is showcased. We expanded on the art of crafting intuitive and insightful dashboards in Grafana, building upon the foundational knowledge of databases that was explored in the previous chapters. Through a series of practical steps, we demonstrated how to connect to various data sources within Grafana, construct diverse panels, and seamlessly integrate metrics and logs to present a holistic view of network device health as an example.

Then, we journeyed through the creation of a Grafana dashboard, from the basics of setting up and customizing panels to the more advanced techniques of manipulating data with GraphQL queries and transformations. The power of annotations was also introduced, adding a layer of depth to our visualizations by marking critical events and changes over time.

Next, we’ll transition from crafting easy-to-read visualizations to...