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First Steps

This guide walks you through your first session with Konnect — connecting a data source, asking your first question, and creating your first dashboard.


After installing Konnect, open your browser to http://localhost:7080. You’ll land on the Manufacturing IDE — the main workspace.

The IDE has three key areas:

  • Left panel — Data Sources explorer and Kai (AI assistant)
  • Centre panel — Dashboard workspace for charts and visualisations
  • Sidebar — Navigation to other pages (MQTT, OPC-UA, Data Sources, etc.)

You can connect a data source through the UI or by asking Kai.

  1. Click Data Sources in the sidebar navigation.
  2. Click Add Connection.
  3. Select your database type (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, SQLite, or DuckDB).
  4. Enter your connection details:
    • Host — e.g., host.docker.internal (for databases on your host machine) or the Docker service name
    • Port — e.g., 5432 for PostgreSQL
    • Database — the database name
    • Username and Password
  5. Click Test Connection to verify.
  6. Click Save.

Option B: Ask Kai to discover data sources

Section titled “Option B: Ask Kai to discover data sources”

If your data sources are running as Docker containers on the same network, Kai can discover them automatically. In the chat panel, type:

Scan for available data sources

Kai will scan running Docker containers and identify databases, MQTT brokers, and other services.

Tip: If you’re using the Docker Compose setup from the Installation guide, your PostgreSQL database and MQTT broker are already on the same network and will be auto-discovered.


With a data source connected, click on the Kai chat panel in the left sidebar (or press the Chat button in the header).

Try one of these example questions:

QuestionWhat it does
Show me all tables in the databaseLists discovered tables and schemas
What columns are in the [table_name] table?Shows the structure of a specific table
Show me the last 10 rows from [table_name]Queries recent data
Create a line chart of temperature over the last 8 hoursGenerates a chart on the dashboard

Kai will:

  1. Analyse your question
  2. Select the right tools (database query, analytics, etc.)
  3. Query your connected data sources
  4. Return an answer — with data tables, charts, or both

Ask Kai to build a dashboard for you:

Build a dashboard with temperature, pressure, and flow rate from the last 24 hours

Kai will create multiple charts and place them on your dashboard workspace. You can also:

  • Drag data sources from the left panel onto the dashboard to create charts manually.
  • Click on a chart to cycle through different visualisation styles (line, bar, scatter, gauge, etc.).
  • Create tabs — click the + button to add a new dashboard tab for a different view.

Now that you have a working setup, here’s what to try next:

TaskGuide
Connect an MQTT brokerMQTT Integration →
Connect an OPC-UA serverOPC-UA Integration →
Learn the full IDE layoutOrientation & Navigation →
Ask Kai about analyticsChat & AI Assistant →
Run direct SQL queriesSQL Query Editor →
Export a PDF reportDashboards & Charts →