# Claude Desktop
This guide helps you set up the `mcp-grafana` server for Claude Desktop.
## Prerequisites
- Claude Desktop installed
- Grafana 9.0+ with a service account token
- `mcp-grafana` binary in your PATH
## Installation
### Option 1: Go install
```bash
GOBIN="$HOME/go/bin" go install github.com/grafana/mcp-grafana/cmd/mcp-grafana@latest
```
### Option 2: Download binary
Get the latest release from [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/grafana/mcp-grafana/releases) and add to your PATH.
### Option 3: Docker
No installation needed - use Docker in the configuration below.
## Configuration
Edit your Claude Desktop configuration file:
| OS | Path |
| :------ | :---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| macOS | `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` |
| Windows | `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` |
| Linux | `~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` |
### Binary configuration
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"grafana": {
"command": "mcp-grafana",
"args": [],
"env": {
"GRAFANA_URL": "http://localhost:3000",
"GRAFANA_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_TOKEN": "<your-token>"
}
}
}
}
```
If you get `ENOENT`, use the full path:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"grafana": {
"command": "/Users/yourname/go/bin/mcp-grafana",
"args": [],
"env": {
"GRAFANA_URL": "http://localhost:3000",
"GRAFANA_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_TOKEN": "<your-token>"
}
}
}
}
```
### Docker configuration
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"grafana": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"--rm",
"-i",
"-e",
"GRAFANA_URL",
"-e",
"GRAFANA_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_TOKEN",
"mcp/grafana"
],
"env": {
"GRAFANA_URL": "http://host.docker.internal:3000",
"GRAFANA_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_TOKEN": "<your-token>"
}
}
}
}
```
## Debug mode
Add `-debug` to args for verbose logging:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"grafana": {
"command": "mcp-grafana",
"args": ["-debug"],
"env": {
"GRAFANA_URL": "http://localhost:3000",
"GRAFANA_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_TOKEN": "<your-token>"
}
}
}
}
```
## Verify configuration
1. Fully quit Claude Desktop (Cmd+Q on macOS)
2. Restart Claude Desktop
3. Open a new conversation
4. Ask: "List my Grafana dashboards"
If it works, you'll see dashboard names. If not, check logs at `~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log` (macOS).
## Read-only mode
Prevent accidental modifications:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"grafana": {
"command": "mcp-grafana",
"args": ["--disable-write"],
"env": {
"GRAFANA_URL": "http://localhost:3000",
"GRAFANA_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_TOKEN": "<your-token>"
}
}
}
}
```
## TLS client certificates
For Grafana instances requiring mTLS:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"grafana": {
"command": "mcp-grafana",
"args": [
"--tls-cert-file",
"/path/to/client.crt",
"--tls-key-file",
"/path/to/client.key",
"--tls-ca-file",
"/path/to/ca.crt"
],
"env": {
"GRAFANA_URL": "https://secure-grafana.example.com",
"GRAFANA_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_TOKEN": "<your-token>"
}
}
}
}
```
