Vertex Synapse Datasource for Grafana

Query Vertex Synapse hypergraph data using Storm queries in Grafana.

Features

• Execute Storm queries via /api/v1/storm (streaming) and /api/v1/storm/call (single result) endpoints
• Secure API key authentication (backend-only) - works with both Cortex and Optic HTTP API endpoints
• Automatic Grafana time range injection as Storm variables
• Support for essential Storm data types: nodes, objects, lists, primitives

Installation

Manual Installation

1. Download the latest vertex-synapse-datasource.zip from releases or build it:

   ./package.sh

2. Copy the zip file to your Grafana server and extract it:

   unzip vertex-synapse-datasource.zip -d /var/lib/grafana/plugins/

3. Configure Grafana to allow unsigned plugins by setting the environment variable:

   GF_PLUGINS_ALLOW_LOADING_UNSIGNED_PLUGINS=vertex-synapse-datasource

4. Restart Grafana:

   # For systemd
   sudo systemctl restart grafana-server
   
   # For init.d
   sudo service grafana-server restart

Docker Compose (Development)

# Start services
docker compose up -d

# Create Grafana API user and get API key
docker compose run --rm create-apikey

# Access Grafana at http://localhost:3000 (admin/admin)
# Configure datasource with the API key from above

Configuration

1. In Grafana, go to Configuration > Data Sources
2. Click "Add data source"
3. Search for "Vertex Synapse" and select it
4. Configure the following settings:
   • Name: A name for your data source
   • URL: The URL of your Vertex Synapse API (e.g., http://synapse:4443)
   • API Key: Your Synapse API key (recommended: use Grafana secrets)

Usage

Query Editor

Use the query editor to write and execute Storm queries:

# Basic queries
inet:fqdn                           # List all domains
inet:ipv4 +#malware                 # Find malicious IPs

# Time filtering (uses Grafana time picker)
inet:flow +:time@=$timeRange        # Flows in selected time range
inet:dns:a +:seen@=($timeFrom, $timeTo)  # DNS records seen in range

# Storm Call API (toggle "Use Call API")
return($lib.view.list())            # Return view list
return(({'key': 'value'}))          # Return object

Time Variables

Automatically injected from Grafana time picker:

• $timeRange - Tuple for @= queries: ['start', 'end']
• $timeFrom, $timeTo - ISO 8601 strings
• $dateFrom, $dateTo - Date strings (YYYY-MM-DD)
• $timeFromMs, $timeToMs - Unix milliseconds

Additional Resources

• Synapse Documentation - Official Synapse documentation
• Vertex Synapse Grafana Plugin - Source code and issue tracking