# Visualize

## InfluxDB 2.0 built-in visualization tools.

If InfluxDB version 2.0 is used as TSDB, to visualize data stored in the TSDB you can use its built-in visualization tools. For details, refer to InfluxDB documentation at https://v2.docs.influxdata.com/v2.0/visualize-data/.

## Visualization with Grafana.

The open source platform Grafana can be used to visualize data in different ways:

- via ogamma Visual Logger for OPC REST API endpoint at path `/grafana/query`, with SimpleJson or Infinity data source plugin for Grafana. The `SimpleJson` can be used in Grafana versions up to version 9.x. In the later versions of Grafana (10.x or higer) it is not supported anymore. With those versions, the `Infinity` plugin can be used, via the same ogamma Visual Logger for OPC REST API endpoint.

  In this case, ogamma Visual Logger for OPC can receive data from OPC UA Servers either directly via live connection, or data can be read from the TSDB.

  - Getting data from the OPC UA Server directly

    This is done when value in the column `Get History from` of the `Logged Variables` table for a variable is set to `OPC UA server`. In turn can be done in 2 ways:

    - using `Read` OPC UA service call. Applicable when the option in the `Read Type` column of the `Logged Variables` table for the variable is set to `Read`.

    - using `HistoryRead` OPC UA Service call. Applicable for variables, that have `Historyzing` attribute set to `true`, and value of the column `Read Type` is set to `HistoryReadRaw`.

  - Data is read from the time-series database. Applicable when value in the column `Log to TSDB` for a variable is set to `true` (which is default value when variables are added to the `Logged Variables` table).

- Via native datasource plugins of Grafana. In this case data that is already stored in the TSDB by ogamma Visual Logger for OPC, is read by the plugin, without participation of the ogamma Visual Logger for OPC.

  Grafana has following plugins that can read data from databases supported by the ogamma Visual Logger for OPC:

  - PostgreSQL/TimescaleDB plugin

  - MySQL plugin

  - MS SQL plugin

  - SQLite plugin

  - For InfluxDB there are 2 plugins: InfluxDB plugin (currently active and recommended), and deprecated FlightSQL plugin

  - Pluign for Kafka

  - MQTT plugin

Next sections describe how to install and use Grafana.

## Install Grafana

The easiest way to install and run Grafana is running it as a Docker container, following instructions at this page: https://grafana.com/docs/grafana/latest/setup-grafana/installation/docker/.

Alternatively, Grafana can be installed in Linux or Windows machines following instructions from Grafana web site.

Once Grafana is installed and runs, its GUI can be accessed from wbe browser via endpoint URL http://localhost:3000.

## Setup Grafana data source plugins to get data via ogamma Visual Logger for OPC REST API endpoint

Data from OPC UA Servers can be visualized in Grafana using 2 types of data sources: `SimpleJson` or `Infinity`.

### Installing of the `Infinity` plugin.

This section is applicable for Grafana version 11.

- In Grafana web GUI select menu `Connections / Data Sources` in the left side panel.

- Click on the button `Add new data source`.

- In the opened `Add data source panel`, enter name of the plugin `Infinity`.

- Click on the found plugin `yesoreyoram-infinity-datasource`. As a result, new data source will be created.

- Enter arbitrary name of the plugin instance, base URL (ogamma Visual Logger for OPC REST API endpoint, `http://ogamma-logger:4880/grafana` in case when both ogamma Visual Logger for OPC and Grafana are running in Docker), and click on the button `Save & Test`. Ignore the warning that health checks were not performed.

### Installing of the `SimpleJson` data source plugin.

Note that this plugin is deprecated and not supported in Grafana versions 10.x and later. Use the Infinity plugin instead iwth latest versions of Grafana.

- Install `SimpleJson` data source plugin (instructions are available at https://github.com/grafana/simple-json-datasource).

- Add data source of `SimpleJson` type, and configure it to connect to the Grafana endpoint of the ogamma Visual Logger for OPC. The REST API URL is http://localhost:3000/grafana in case when accessed from the local machine. Replace `localhost` by the host name when applicable.

  - In Grafana from the left side menu bar, select icon `Configuration`. Note that in the latest versions of Grafana data sources are organized diferently, under `Connections` menu.

  - Click on `Data Sources`;

  - Click on button `Add data source`;

  - From the list of data sources, select `SimpleJson`;

  - Configure settings:

    - In the field HTTP/URL enter URL of the ogamma Visual Logger for OPC. If ogamma Visual Logger and Grafana are installed in the same machine, `localhost` can be used as a host name:

          http://localhost:4880/grafana

      If both ogamma Visual Logger for OPC and Grafana are running within Docker container, using file docker-compose.yml and grafana.yml from GitHub project `https://github.com/onewayautomation/ogamma-logger`, and field `access` is set to `server`, then host name should be set to `ogamma-logger`:

          http://ogamma-logger:4880/grafana

      Note

      Adjust host name according to your setup.

    - Click on button `Save and Test`. If settings are correct, message should appear saying that data source is working.

## Using Grafana data sources to read data from databases directly.

Refer to the documentation for the applicable data source.

As example, to install the `PostgreSQL` data source:

- Open `Data Sources` page in Grafana, and click on button `Add Data Sources`.

- Select `PostgreSQL` and edit connection settings as shown in the screenshot:

Note

Using the PostgreSQL data source plugin is applicable only when time-series database type in ogamma Visual Logger for OPC is `PostgreSQL`.

## Setup Grafana dashboards.

### Create new dashboard.

To create new dashboard, from the left side menu bar click on icon with plus sign, select `Dashboard`, and click on button `Add Query` (it suggests to add new panel into new dashboard right away):

Note that in the latest verions of the Grafana the GUI migh look differently.

### Reading values from `Infinity` data source plugin.

In the dashboard edit panel:

- Select the data source by name: see the screenshot below.

- Enter query options as shown in the screenshoot:

  In the field `Body Content` enter JSON formatted query payload. Change the value of the JSON member `target` (`9718` in the example below) to the variable Id accordingly to the value of the `id` column of the variable line from the `Logged Variables` table:

      {
        "range": {
          "from": "${__from:date:iso}",
          "to": "${__to:date:iso}"
        },
        "targets": [{"target": 9718}]
      }

  Note

  If the column `id` is not visible in the `Logged Variables` table, use column selector to make it visible:

- Now we need to configure parsing options:

  - Expand line `Parsing options & Result fields`.

  - In the field `Rows/Root` enter `datapoints` (this is name of the JSON member with data values in the http POST response).

  - In the table `Columns - optional` add 2 lines instructing the plugin how to interpret data values entries:

    > - `Selector`: 0, `as`: Alias (label), `format as`: Number

    > - `Selector`: 1, `as`: Time, `format as`: Time (UNix ms)

Now the dashboard panel should have data values received from the ogamma Visual Logger for OPC REST API endpoint.

### Reading values from `SimpleJson` data source plugin.

In this case requests to get data values sent to the ogamma Visual Logger for OPC through its REST endpoint by Grafana’s SimpleJson plugin. Then, depending on settings in columns `Get History From` and `Read Type`, data values are read by ogamma Visual Logger either from TSDB, or from OPC UA Server by calling Read or HistoryRead request.

Configure settings in the new panel selecting `SimpleJson` as data source:

### Reading values stored in PostgreSQL database.

It is possible also to read already logged data values from PostgreSQL database, using PostgreSQL data source plugin for Grafana (installation is not required, included into Grafana by default):

Example of the SQL query can be found below:

    SELECT
        $__time(time),
        value
      FROM
        values
      WHERE
        $__timeFilter(time) and sourceid='2'

Here `time`, `value` and `sourceid` are column names in the `values` table. You can figure out corresponding to the OPC UA variable `sourceid` from Logged Variables data grid on the configuration GUI (column `id`).

Tip

For details on how to configure Grafana dahsboards and panels please refer to its documentation here

Typical Grafana dashboard is illustrated below: