This document provides instructions for configuring the InfluxDB data source and explains the available configuration options.
## Before you begin
To configure the InfluxDB data source you must have the `Administrator` role.
InfluxData provides three query languages. Some key points to consider:
- Flux is a functional data scripting language for InfluxDB 2.x. Refer to [Query InfluxDB with Flux](https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb/cloud/query-data/get-started/query-influxdb/) for a basic guide on working with Flux.
- InfluxQL is SQL-like query language developed by InfluxData. It doesn't support more advanced functions such as JOINs.
- **Product** - Select the product version of your Influx instance.
- **Query language** - Select the query language for your InfluxDB instance. This will determine the connection details needed in **Database Settings**. The three options are:
- **Flux** - Flux is a data scripting language developed by InfluxData that allows you to query, analyze, and act on data. Refer to [Get started with Flux](https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb/cloud/query-data/get-started/) for guidance on using Flux.
- **InfluxQL** - SQL-like language for querying InfluxDB, with statements such as SELECT, FROM, WHERE, and GROUP BY that are familiar to SQL users.
- **SQL** - Native SQL language starting with **InfluxDB v.3.0**. Refer to InfluxData's [SQL reference documentation](https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb/cloud-serverless/reference/sql/) for a list of supported statements, operators, and functions.
{{<admonitiontype="note">}}
_For InfluxQL only._ **Database + Retention Policy (DBRP) Mapping** must be configured before data can be queried for the following product versions: _Influx OSS 1.x_, _Influx OSS 2.x_, _Influx Enterprise 1.x_, _Influx Cloud (TSM)_, _Influx Cloud Serverless_
Refer to [Manage DBRP Mappings](https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb/cloud/query-data/influxql/dbrp/) for guidance on setting this up via the CLI or API
{{</admonition>}}
#### Advanced HTTP Settings (Optional)
Advanced HTTP Settings are optional settings that can be configured for more control over your data source.
- **Header** - Add a custom HTTP header. Select an option from the drop-down. Allows custom headers to be passed based on the needs of your InfluxDB instance.
- **TLS client auth** - When enabled, add the `Server name`, `Client cert` and `Client key`. The client provides a certificate that the server validates to establish the client’s trusted identity. The client key encrypts the data between client and server.
- **Server name** - Name of the server. Example: `server1.domain.com`
- **Client cert** - Add the client certificate.
- **Client key** - Add the client key.
- **CA cert** - Authenticate with a CA certificate. When enabled, follow the instructions of your CA (Certificate Authority) to download the certificate file.
Setting the database for this data source **does not deny access to other databases**. The InfluxDB query syntax allows switching the database in the query. For example: `SHOW MEASUREMENTS ON _internal` or `SELECT * FROM "_internal".."database" LIMIT 10`
These settings identify the Influx database your data source will connect to. The required information will vary by the query language selected in **URL and Authentication**. Each query language uses a different set of connection details.
- **Bucket** or **Database** - Sets the ID of the bucket to query. Refer to [View buckets](https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb/v2.0/organizations/buckets/view-buckets/) in InfluxData's documentation on how to locate the list of available buckets and their corresponding IDs.
- **Organization** - Sets the [Influx organization](https://v2.docs.influxdata.com/v2.0/organizations/) used for Flux queries. Also used for the `v.organization` query macro.
- **Password** or **Token** - Specify the token used to query the bucket defined in **Database**. Retrieve this from the [Tokens page](https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb/v2.0/security/tokens/view-tokens/) in the InfluxDB UI.
- **User** - Add the username used to sign in to InfluxDB.
- **Default bucket** is optional. The [Influx bucket](https://v2.docs.influxdata.com/v2.0/organizations/buckets/) used for the `v.defaultBucket` macro in Flux queries.
- With Influx 2.0 products, use the [influx authentication token to function](https://v2.docs.influxdata.com/v2.0/security/tokens/create-token/). Token must be set as `Authorization` header with the value `Token <generated-token>`.
- For Influx 1.8, the token is `username:password`.
#### Advanced Database Settings (Optional)
Advanced Database Settings are optional settings that give you more control over the query experience.
- **Min time interval** - Sets the minimum time interval for auto group-by. Grafana recommends setting this to match the data write frequency. For example, if your data is written every minute, it’s recommended to set this interval to 1 minute, so that each group contains data from each new write. The default is `10s`. Refer to [Min time interval](#min-time-interval) for format examples.
- **Max series** - Sets a limit on the maximum number of series or tables that Grafana processes. Set a lower limit to prevent system overload, or increase it if you have many small time series and need to display more of them. The default is `1000`.
- **HTTP method** - Sets the HTTP method used to query your data source. The POST method allows for larger queries that would return an error using the GET method. The default method is `POST`.
- **Autocomplete range** - Sets a time range limit for the query editor's autocomplete to reduce the execution time of tag filter queries. As a result, any tags not present within the defined time range will be filtered out. For example, setting the value to 12h will include only tag keys/values from the past 12 hours. This feature is recommended for use with very large databases, where significant performance improvements can be observed.
_For Grafana Cloud only._ Private data source connect (PDC) allows you to establish a private, secured connection between a Grafana Cloud instance, or stack, and data sources secured within a private network. Click the drop-down to locate the URL for PDC. For more information regarding Grafana PDC refer to [Private data source connect (PDC)](https://grafana.com/docs/grafana-cloud/connect-externally-hosted/private-data-source-connect/).
