Deploy Metabase with the Metabase template

Stand up Metabase, an open-source BI tool, on a single Quake AI instance using the validated OpenTofu template metabase. You apply the template, complete the setup wizard, connect a warehouse, and build a first dashboard.

Metabase is the analyst-facing layer over a warehouse you already run. This is a self-hosted tool you operate, not a managed BI service.

Prerequisites#

You need:

• OpenTofu 1.6.0 or later installed locally.
• Your OpenStack credentials sourced into the shell (source openrc.sh). See the OpenStack CLI guide.
• An SSH keypair that already exists in your project.
• A copy of the metabase template directory from the template reference page.
• Your workstation's public IP address if you plan to open port 3000 for first-boot setup (curl -sS https://api.ipify.org).

A self-managed PostgreSQL warehouse is optional for this walkthrough but required for real dashboards. Deploy the warehouse first if you do not have one.

Step 1: Set the variables and apply the template#

The UI listens on port 3000 over plain HTTP. The security group restricts port 3000 to editor_allowed_cidr, which defaults to the private network only. To reach the UI from your workstation for setup, set editor_allowed_cidr to your public IP.

cp terraform.tfvars.example terraform.tfvars

key_name            = "YOUR_KEY_NAME"
editor_allowed_cidr = "YOUR_IP/32"

tofu init
tofu plan
tofu apply

When the apply finishes, record floating_ip and ui_url from tofu output.

Step 2: Complete the setup wizard#

cloud-init takes a minute or two after the instance reaches ACTIVE. Open ui_url (for example http://YOUR_FLOATING_IP:3000) in your browser.

When the setup screen appears, enter an email, company name, and admin password. Metabase creates the admin account and opens the home screen.

Step 3: Connect a warehouse and save a question#

1. Open Admin > Databases > Add database.
2. Choose PostgreSQL and enter the private IP, database name, user, and password for your self-managed PostgreSQL warehouse.
3. Click Save. Metabase syncs schemas and tables.
4. Open New > Question, pick a table, and save a simple count or filter question.

You now have a self-hosted BI layer over a warehouse on Quake AI.

Step 4 (optional): Serve the UI over HTTPS#

Put Caddy or Nginx in front of Metabase on ports 80 and 443, point a DNS A record at the floating IP, and proxy to 127.0.0.1:3000. See How to point a domain at a Quake AI resource.

Tear down#

tofu destroy

See also#

• Metabase template reference
• Self-service BI stack
• self-managed PostgreSQL