What is MariaDB?#

MariaDB is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) that serves as a drop-in replacement for MySQL. It is known for its high performance, stability, and advanced security features.

How to install MariaDB?#

You can install MariaDB using your system’s package manager. Below are the steps for the most common Linux distributions.

Debian#

1. Update the package list

   sudo apt update

2. Install software-properties-common

   sudo apt install software-properties-common -y

3. Add the official MariaDB repository

   sudo apt-key adv --fetch-keys 'https://mariadb.org/mariadb_release_signing_key.asc'
   sudo add-apt-repository 'deb [arch=amd64] http://mariadb.mirror.server/location mariadb-11.4 main'

4. Install MariaDB

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install mariadb-server -y

5. Secure the installation

   sudo mysql_secure_installation

   Follow the prompts to:

   • Set a strong root password
   • Remove anonymous users
   • Disallow remote root login
   • Remove the test database

Ubuntu#

1. Update packages

   sudo apt update

2. Install MariaDB

   sudo apt install mariadb-server mariadb-client -y

3. Start and enable MariaDB

   sudo systemctl start mariadb
   sudo systemctl enable mariadb

4. Run security configuration

   sudo mysql_secure_installation

Fedora#

1. Install MariaDB

   sudo dnf install mariadb-server -y

2. Start and enable the service

   sudo systemctl enable mariadb
   sudo systemctl start mariadb

3. Run security script

   sudo mysql_secure_installation

Verify the Installation#

Check that MariaDB is running:

sudo systemctl status mariadb

Login to the MariaDB shell:

sudo mysql -u root -p

If you can log in and run:

SHOW DATABASES;

then MariaDB is installed successfully.

Enable Remote Access (Optional)#

1. Edit the MariaDB configuration file:

   sudo nano /etc/mysql/mariadb.conf.d/50-server.cnf

2. Find the line:

   bind-address = 127.0.0.1

   and change it to:

   bind-address = 0.0.0.0

3. Restart the service:

   sudo systemctl restart mariadb

Security Best Practices#

• Always use strong passwords for all accounts.
• Disable remote root login.
• Use SSL/TLS for encrypted connections.
• Regularly update MariaDB to the latest stable release.
• Apply CNIL and GDPR recommendations if handling personal data.

Next Steps#

• Learn how to create databases and users
• Configure user privileges
• Enable data encryption at rest and in transit
• Integrate MariaDB with your web applications (Symfony, Laravel, etc.)

✅ MariaDB is now ready to use on your system!