Is is possible to define variable for the instance and use it across multiple dashboards?

Grafana Dashboards
1

  • What Grafana version and what operating system are you using? * [Cloud Pro (Licensed) v9.3.2-67a213dc85 (67a213dc85)

  • What are you trying to achieve? Unfortunately we are not fully connected and automated, so some information is added manually by certain business groups. This information is then used in multiple dashboard. Right now, I ask them to go update the value of variable in each dashboard (e.g. Warehouse updates these same variables in 3 dashboards at the end of the day for inventory count). These variables are constant type and once set apply everywhere.
    Another example is, I show same data arranged differently for different business group. So I have to define same variable in multiple places. These are query types, e.g. looking for list of available machines.

  • How are you trying to achieve it?
    As described above, right now I have variable in each dashboard and when change is required I have to go update everyone of them

  • What happened?
    It’s cumbersome, sometimes I or responsible person forgets to change everywhere.

  • What did you expect to happen?
    An instance wide variable would be great. Infact then having a view to change these on in one place would be even better

2

See this post which covers the same topic. But to my knowledge it’s still not a feature in Grafana.

I posted a “workaround” if you have a database.

https://localhost:3000/t/can-i-add-custom-global-variable/58995

3

One of the options is to define the Environment variable for the instance. Then you can use them across dashboards using the Environment Data Source: GitHub - VolkovLabs/volkovlabs-env-datasource: Environment Data Source for @grafana.. It’s not a part of the Grafana Catalog.