--- title: "MySQL with Database Observability | Grafana Labs" description: "Set up Database Observability for MySQL" --- > For a curated documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt). For the complete documentation index, see [llms-full.txt](/llms-full.txt). # MySQL with Database Observability Database Observability gives you deep visibility into MySQL query performance. This slide’s path is for a database you run yourself. | | | |----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | **What it monitors** | Query performance, explain plans, wait events, query samples, table schemas | | **How it works** | Grafana Alloy reads from MySQL Performance Schema (enabled by default in 8.0+) | | **What you see** | Top queries by duration, explain plans with cost highlighting, wait events, query samples | | **This path** | Self-managed MySQL 8.0 or later | | **Managed services** | Amazon RDS, Amazon Aurora, Google Cloud SQL, and Azure Database each have a [setup guide](/docs/grafana-cloud/monitor-applications/database-observability/set-up/mysql/) | ## What you’ll get - **Queries Overview dashboard** showing RED metrics for tracked queries - **Explain plans** revealing full table scans, missing indexes, and expensive joins - **Wait events** showing lock contention, I/O bottlenecks, and resource waits - **Query samples** with individual execution timing - **Table schemas** highlighting index coverage and constraints ## Before you start A few things to keep in mind: - **MySQL 8.0 or later** is required. MariaDB isn’t supported. - Query statistics need `PROCESS`, `REPLICATION CLIENT`, and `SELECT` on `performance_schema`. - Schema details and explain plans also need `SELECT` and `SHOW VIEW` on each schema you monitor, or on all schemas if you want every schema. The path below grants all schemas. - Amazon RDS, Amazon Aurora, Google Cloud SQL, and Azure Database use a [separate setup guide](/docs/grafana-cloud/monitor-applications/database-observability/set-up/mysql/), not this path. The path below walks you through each step. * * * Learning path #### MySQL Database Observability Set up Grafana Cloud Database Observability for MySQL to monitor query performance, explain plans, wait events, and query samples. 16 min Intermediate Docs & blog posts #### Open in Grafana Cloud Complete this learning path directly in your Grafana Cloud stack with an interactive learning experience. [Open in Grafana Cloud]() [View on website](/docs/learning-paths/mysql-db-olly/) [Path completed](/docs/learning-hub/intro-to-db-olly/02-database-observability/10-resources/)