Connecting Metabase to Data Platform via Trino#

#Objective

This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough to set up a connection between Metabase and Data Platform using Trino. The instructions include configuration details, common troubleshooting tips, and relevant screenshots to ensure a seamless setup.

Before you begin: You will need the connection details for Trino on OVHcloud Data Platform (such as host, port, catalog, username (API Key), and password (Secret Key)). The easiest way is to create a Trino consumer, which generates a connection string containing all of these values. Alternatively, assemble them manually by following Integrating Trino with External Tools.

#Steps to Connect Metabase to Data Platform via Trino

#Step 1: Set Up a Self-Hosted Metabase with Docker-Compose

1. Prepare the Environment

Ensure you have Docker and Docker Compose installed on your server or local machine.

2. Create a Docker Compose File

Create a docker-compose.yml file in your working directory and add the following configuration:

version: "3.8"
services:
  metabase:
    image: metabase/metabase:latest
    container_name: metabase
    platform: linux/amd64
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    volumes:
      - ./data/metabase:/metabase-data # Align with other paths
      - ./data/metabase/plugins:/plugins
    environment:
      - MB_DB_FILE=/metabase-data/metabase.db

3. Create the Directory Structure

Before running docker-compose up, you need to create the directory structure that the docker-compose.yml file expects. This ensures that Metabase can properly store its data and plugins.

Create the following directories in your working directory:

mkdir -p ./data/metabase
mkdir -p ./data/metabase/plugins

docker-compose up -d

docker logs -f metabase

This command will display real-time logs, allowing you to verify that the service has started successfully.

#Step 2: Download and Add the Starburst Plugin

Visit the Starburst plugin page and download the latest JDBC driver for Starburst. This driver enables Metabase to connect to Trino (formerly Starburst/PrestoSQL).

Locate the downloaded JDBC file (e.g., starburst-6.1.0.metabase-driver.jar) and copy it to the Metabase plugin directory (./data/metabase/plugins as configured in docker-compose.yml).

Ensure the Metabase container has access to the plugin directory, and restart Metabase if necessary, using:

docker-compose restart metabase

#Step 3: Configure Trino in Metabase

1. Go to Admin Settings > Databases.
2. Click on Add Database.

3. Choose Starburst as the database type from the available options.

#Step 4: Provide Connection Details

Using the Trino connection details from your Trino consumer connection string (or built manually via the integration guide), fill in the Metabase connection form with the following values:

• Host: The Trino host, e.g., {ProjectName}-query.eu.dataplatform.ovh.net.
• Port: The Trino port, typically 443.
• Catalog: The Trino catalog name you wish to connect to.
• Schema (optional): Enter the desired schema name, or leave it blank to allow access to all schemas within the catalog. (Note: In Metabase, 'Schema' refers to a logical grouping of tables, not a single table.)
• Username: Your Trino API Key.
• Password: Your Trino Secret Key.

#Step 5: Advanced Settings

Expand the Advanced Options and configure the following:

• Enable SSL: Check this option to use secure communication. This is highly recommended for production environments.

• Extra JDBC Parameters: Include any additional necessary parameters for your specific setup. Leave blank if unsure.

#Step 6: Finalize and Test the Connection

After entering all the necessary details, click the Save button to finalize the database connection. Metabase will attempt to connect to your OVHcloud Data Platform Trino instance using the provided credentials.

You can now exit the Admin panel.

#Step 7: Allow Time for Database Synchronization

After saving the connection, Metabase will begin synchronizing with your OVHcloud Data Platform database. This process can take some time, especially if you have a large number of tables.

Recommendation: Allow Metabase sufficient time to complete the synchronization process. The duration depends on the size and complexity of your database. You can monitor the progress in the background or check the Metabase logs (docker logs -f metabase) for completion.

#Step 8: Explore and Utilize Metabase Features

Once the database synchronization is complete, you can fully explore and utilize Metabase's features:

• Data Exploration: Browse your OVHcloud Data Platform databases and tables directly within Metabase.
• Querying: Use the Metabase query builder to create custom SQL queries and retrieve specific data.
• Dashboard Creation: Build interactive dashboards with visualizations to monitor key metrics and trends.
• Reporting: Generate and schedule reports to share insights with your team.
• Alerting: Set up alerts to notify you of important changes in your data.

With the connection successfully established, you can now leverage Metabase's powerful features to analyze and visualize your data stored in OVHcloud Data Platform via Trino.

#Go further

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