[Feature request] Default grafana dashboard shows confusing "node count" panel

[dentiny]

Search before asking

• I searched the issues and found no similar issues.

KubeRay Component

dashboard

KubeRay Version

v1.6.2

Ray Version

unrelated

Environment

• Kubernetes version: v1.33.4
• Kubernetes cluster type: Crusoe Managed Kubernetes (CMK)
• Helm chart version (if applicable): kuberay-operator 1.6.2
• Installation method (Helm / Kustomize / YAML): Helm through Argo CD/ApplicationSet; Ray PodMonitors and custom dashboard resources through Kustomize
• OS: Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS, kernel 5.15.0-181-generic

What happened + What you expected to happen

Hi team, the first panel of the default dashboard is called "Node Count", which indicated the number of nodes in the ray cluster. But checking the dashboard query it's showing autoscaling related attributes and shows empty panel.

Considering (1) it's confusing to have an empty "empty node" panel with ray cluster working; and (2) autoscaler is an opt-in but not must-have feature, I'm wondering if we could

• either display k8s node count in the ray cluster
• or add a autoscaling section and put the panel there, by default folded (since it's opt-in feature)

Reproduction script

N/A

Anything else

No response

Are you willing to submit a PR?

• Yes I am willing to submit a PR!

[Smallfu666]

Thanks for flagging this — I looked at config/grafana/default_grafana_dashboard.json and the "Node Count" panel's query targets autoscaler-reported metrics, so it renders empty when the autoscaler isn't enabled (which matches what you're seeing).

I'd be happy to open a PR. Before I do, which direction do you prefer?

1. Repoint the default panel to a metric that's always populated (e.g. k8s node / pod count for the cluster), so the first panel is meaningful out of the box; or
2. Keep the autoscaler metrics but move them into a separate collapsed "Autoscaling" row (since it's opt-in), leaving a populated panel at the top.

Happy to go with whichever you think fits the dashboard's intent. I can also add before/after screenshots and make sure scripts/dashboard-lint.sh passes.

[machichima]

@dentiny Could you please provide your raycluster yaml? Thank you!