2.2.1 Copied Panel is Blank

What

If a copied dashboard panel is blank, compare its required variables with those defined in the destination dashboard. When a variable is missing, recreate its definition, save the dashboard, and reload the panel. Missing variables are one possible cause, not a diagnosis of every blank panel.

When/Why

This most often happens when the source dashboard has variables that the panel depends on, but the destination dashboard does not. For example, if a panel relies on $host for the server address and the destination dashboard does not define $host, the panel can paste successfully but render blank.

How

You need access to the source dashboard and permission to edit the destination dashboard. See Access the FileWave Dashboard for Read-Write Access. The video below demonstrates the missing-variable case:

The copied panel can refer to variables that exist only in its source dashboard. In the interface shown below, open Dashboard Settings → Variables in the source dashboard and compare the definitions with the destination dashboard. Recreate missing definitions there rather than changing the working source dashboard:

  then 

Match each variable's Name and Type, not just its current displayed value. For the example reference $host, the variable Name is host, without the dollar sign. The pictured variable is a Query variable: reproduce its query, data source, refresh setting, and relevant selection options. If moving between environments, select the appropriate destination data source rather than copying a sample server address. Check Preview of values for the expected host before saving.

Save the variable changes and the dashboard, then reload it. If a missing variable was the cause, select the expected host and confirm the copied panel now shows the expected data. The screenshot below shows the result for this example:

If the panel remains blank, compare its data source and time range with the working source panel. Use Grafana's panel inspect view to check the query request, returned data, and any error before making further changes. A query that returns no rows needs a different investigation from an undefined variable.