Database Observability

---
name: database-observability
license: Apache-2.0
description: Set up Grafana Cloud Database Observability for MySQL and PostgreSQL — enables `pg_stat_statements` / Performance Schema, creates a least-privilege monitoring user, configures the `database_observability.postgres` / `database_observability.mysql` Alloy components, ships query samples + visual explain plans + RED metrics + schema details to Grafana Cloud, and correlates slow queries with application traces via `db.statement` / `db.system` OTel attributes. Use when monitoring database performance, diagnosing slow queries, setting up DB observability for RDS / Aurora / Cloud SQL / Azure Database / self-managed instances, correlating DB metrics with APM, or alerting on query latency — even when the user says "my database is slow", "find the slow queries", or "monitor RDS" without saying "observability".
---

# Grafana Cloud Database Observability

> **Docs**: https://grafana.com/docs/grafana-cloud/monitor-applications/database-observability/

Query-level insights (RED metrics, query samples, explain plans) for MySQL and PostgreSQL without application code changes. GA since April 2026.

## Common Workflows

### PostgreSQL setup

```sql
-- 1. Enable pg_stat_statements (requires restart)
--    In postgresql.conf:  shared_preload_libraries = 'pg_stat_statements'
--    Then restart PostgreSQL.

-- 2. Create a least-privilege monitoring user
CREATE USER grafana_monitoring WITH PASSWORD 'secret';
GRANT pg_monitor TO grafana_monitoring;
GRANT CONNECT ON DATABASE mydb TO grafana_monitoring;