kolla-ansible/doc/kibana-guide.rst

Kibana in Kolla

Default index pattern

After successful Kibana deployment, it can be accessed on <kolla_internal_vip_address>:<kibana_server_port> or <kolla_external_vip_address>:<kibana_server_port> in any web browser after authenticating with <kibana_user> and <kibana_password>.

The values <kolla_internal_vip_address>, <kolla_external_vip_address>, <kibana_server_port> and <kibana_user> can be found in <kolla_install_path>/kolla/ansible/group_vars/all.yml or if the default values are overridden, in /etc/kolla/globals.yml. The value <kibana_password> can be found in /etc/kolla/passwords.yml. By default kibana_server_port is set to 5601.

When Kibana is opened for the first time, it requires creating a default index pattern. To view, analyse and search logs, at least one index pattern has to be created. To match indices stored in ElasticSearch, we suggest to use following configuration:

1. Index contains time-based events - check
2. Use event times to create index names [DEPRECATED] - not checked
3. Index name or pattern - log-*
4. Do not expand index pattern when searching (Not recommended) - not checked
5. Time-field name - Timestamp

After setting parameters, one can create an index with Create button.

Note

This step is necessary until the default Kibana dashboard is implemented in Kolla.

Search logs - Discover tab

Logs search is available under Discover tab. In the menu on the left side, one can choose any field that will be included in a new search. To do this, add button has to be pressed. This button appears after pointing any field from available ones. After adding a specific field, it is marked as selected field in the menu on the left. Search panel is updated automatically. To remove field from a current search, remove button has to be pressed. This button appears after pointing any field from selected ones. Current search can be saved by using 'Save search' option in the menu on the right.

Visualize data - Visualize tab

In the visualization tab a wide range of charts is available. If any visualization has not been saved yet, after choosing this tab Create a new visualization panel is opened. If a visualization has already been saved, after choosing this tab, lately modified visualization is opened. In this case, one can create a new visualization by choosing add visualization option in the menu on the right. In order to create new visualization, one of the available options has to be chosen (pie chart, area chart). Each visualization can be created from a saved or a new search. After choosing any kind of search, a design panel is opened. In this panel, a chart can be generated and previewed. In the menu on the left, metrics for a chart can be chosen. The chart can be generated by pressing a green arrow on the top of the left-side menu.

Note

After creating a visualization, it can be saved by choosing save visualization option in the menu on the right. If it is not saved, it will be lost after leaving a page or creating another visualization.

Organize visualizations and searches - Dashboard tab

In the Dashboard tab all of saved visualizations and searches can be organized in one Dashboard. To add visualization or search, one can choose add visualization option in the menu on the right and then choose an item from all saved ones. The order and size of elements can be changed directly in this place by moving them or resizing. The color of charts can also be changed by checking a colorful dots on the legend near each visualization.

Note

After creating a dashboard, it can be saved by choosing save dashboard option in the menu on the right. If it is not saved, it will be lost after leaving a page or creating another dashboard.

If a Dashboard has already been saved, it can be opened by choosing open dashboard option in the menu on the right.

Exporting and importing created items - Settings tab

Once visualizations, searches or dashboards are created, they can be exported to a JSON format by choosing Settings tab and then Objects tab. Each of the item can be exported separately by selecting it in the menu. All of the items can also be exported at once by choosing export everything option. In the same tab (Settings - Objects) one can also import saved items by choosing import option.