--- keywords: - Infrastructure as Code - Quickstart - Grafana Cloud - Terraform title: Creating and managing a Grafana Cloud stack using Terraform weight: 100 canonical: https://grafana.com/docs/grafana/latest/as-code/infrastructure-as-code/terraform/terraform-cloud-stack/ --- # Creating and managing a Grafana Cloud stack using Terraform Learn how to add a data source, a dashboard, and a folder to a Grafana Cloud stack using Terraform. ## Prerequisites Before you begin, you should have the following available: - A Grafana Cloud account, as shown in [Get started](/docs/grafana-cloud/get-started/) - [Terraform](https://www.terraform.io/downloads) installed on your machine {{< admonition type="note" >}} All of the following Terraform configuration files should be saved in the same directory. {{< /admonition >}} ## Create a Cloud stack 1. Create a Terraform configuration file. This Terraform configuration will create a Grafana Cloud stack and a second token needed for your Grafana instance. Create a file named `cloud-stack.tf` and add the following: ```terraform terraform { required_providers { grafana = { source = "grafana/grafana" version = ">= 2.9.0" } } } // Step 1: Create a stack provider "grafana" { alias = "cloud" cloud_access_policy_token = "<cloud-access-token>" } resource "grafana_cloud_stack" "my_stack" { provider = grafana.cloud name = "<stack-name>" slug = "<stack-name>" region_slug = "<region>" # Example "us","eu" etc delete_protection = true } // Step 2: Create a service account and key for the stack resource "grafana_cloud_stack_service_account" "cloud_sa" { provider = grafana.cloud stack_slug = grafana_cloud_stack.my_stack.slug name = "<service-account-name>" role = "Admin" is_disabled = false } resource "grafana_cloud_stack_service_account_token" "cloud_sa" { provider = grafana.cloud stack_slug = grafana_cloud_stack.my_stack.slug name = "terraform serviceaccount key" service_account_id = grafana_cloud_stack_service_account.cloud_sa.id } // Step 3: Create resources within the stack provider "grafana" { alias = "my_stack" url = grafana_cloud_stack.my_stack.url auth = grafana_cloud_stack_service_account_token.cloud_sa.key } resource "grafana_folder" "my_folder" { provider = grafana.my_stack title = "Test Folder" } ``` 1. Replace the following field values: - `<cloud-access-token>` with your Grafana Cloud Access Policy Token. To create a new one, refer [Grafana Cloud Access Policies](https://grafana.com/docs/grafana-cloud/account-management/authentication-and-permissions/access-policies/) Add all stacks to the realms list. The scopes needed for the example are: - dashboards:read - orgs:read - stack-dashboards:read - stacks:read - dashboards:write - orgs:write - stack-dashboards:write - stacks:write - stack-service-accounts:write - dashboards:delete - stack-dashboards:delete - stacks:delete - `<stack-name>` with the name of your stack. - `<region>` with the region in which you want to create the stack. For example `us`, `eu`. - `<service-account-name>` with a name for the serviceaccount that will be created to use for operations within the stack/instance. The first provider block, `grafana.cloud`, uses the Cloud Access Policy Token from the Cloud Portal and is referenced as a parameter when creating the Cloud stack and the token in the Grafana instance to provide the necessary authentication. The second provider block, `grafana.my_stack`, is referenced as a parameter when creating resources inside the Grafana instance. ## Add a data source This guide uses the InfluxDB data source. The required arguments for [grafana_data_source (Resource)](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/grafana/grafana/latest/docs/resources/data_source) vary depending on the type of data source you select. 1. Create a file named `datasource.tf` and add the following: ```terraform resource "grafana_data_source" "<data-source-name>" { provider = grafana.my_stack type = "influxdb" name = "<data-source-name>" url = "<data-source-url>" username = "<username>" password = "<password>" database_name = "<db-name>" } ``` 1. Replace the following field values: - `<data-source-name>` with the name of the data source to be added in Grafana. - `<data-source-url>` with URL of your data source. - `<username>` with the username for authenticating with your data source. - `<password>` with password for authenticating with your data source. - `<db-name>` with name of your database. ## Add a folder This Terraform configuration creates a folder in your Grafana instance using [grafana_folder (Resource)](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/grafana/grafana/latest/docs/resources/folder). 1. Create a file named `folder.tf` and add the following: ```terraform resource "grafana_folder" "<folder-name>" { provider = grafana.my_stack title = "<folder-name>" } ``` 1. Replace the following field value: - `<folder-name>` with a name for the folder. ## Add a dashboard to the folder This Terraform configuration creates a dashboard inside the folder created above in your Grafana instance using [grafana_dashboard (Resource)](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/grafana/grafana/latest/docs/resources/dashboard). 1. Create a file named `dashboard.tf` and add the following: ```terraform # Using a JSON file resource "grafana_dashboard" "dashboard" { provider = grafana.my_stack config_json = file("<file-name>.json") folder = grafana_folder.<folder-name>.id } ``` 1. Replace the following field value: - `<file-name>` with the name of the JSON file that has the source code for the dashboard. The dashboard is represented by its JSON source code and referenced in the `config_json` parameter. ## Apply the Terraform configuration In a terminal, run the following commands from the directory where all of the configuration files are located. 1. Initialize a working directory containing Terraform configuration files. ```shell terraform init ``` 1. Preview the changes that Terraform will make. ```shell terraform plan ``` 1. Apply the configuration files. ```shell terraform apply ``` ## Validation Once you apply the changes in the Terraform configurations, you should be able to verify the following: - The new Grafana stack is created and visible in the Cloud Portal  - A service account key token is added in your Grafana instance. In the following image, the service account key token named "terraform serviceaccount key" was added by the [grafana_cloud_stack_service_account_token (Resource)](#create-a-cloud-stack).  - A new data source (InfluxDB in this example) is visible in the grafana instance.  - A new folder in Grafana. In the following image, a folder named "Demos" was added by the [grafana_folder (Resource)](./#add-a-folder).  - A new dashboard in the Grafana instance. In the following image a dashboard named "InfluxDB Cloud Demos" was created inside the "Demos" folder.  ## Conclusion In this guide, you created a Grafana Cloud stack along with a data source, folder, and dashboard imported from a JSON file using Terraform. To learn more about managing Grafana Cloud using Terraform, see [Grafana provider's documentation](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/grafana/grafana/latest/docs).