Install MariaDB on VPS

The Problem

A default MariaDB install leaves the root account insecure and nothing configured for your specific application, the same gaps as a fresh MySQL install.

About this problem

MariaDB is a drop-in replacement for MySQL started by MySQL's original developers, and it's now the default database on several major Linux distributions — but like MySQL, a fresh install still needs the security hardening script run and an application-specific database and user created before it's genuinely ready.

This comes up most often on distros (like current Debian/Ubuntu LTS releases) where MariaDB is the default `mysql-server` package, surprising people who expected MySQL by name.

What's Included

• Installing MariaDB server and running the security hardening script
• Creating a dedicated database and user for your application with least-privilege access
• Tuning key settings against your VPS's available RAM
• Confirming your application connects successfully with the new credentials

What's NOT Included

• Migrating existing data from another server (see the database migration service)
• Setting up replication or Galera clustering
• Ongoing database administration after initial setup

How It Works

1. Install the MariaDB server package and confirm the service is running.
2. Run mariadb-secure-installation (or mysql_secure_installation, both work) to lock down default accounts.
3. Create a dedicated database and a scoped user rather than using root for the application.
4. Adjust key my.cnf/mariadb.conf.d settings for buffer pool size and max connections.
5. Test a real connection from the application side using the new credentials.

In practice: you buy the service, send over whatever access or details the job needs, I investigate and do the work, and you confirm it's resolved before we call it done.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MariaDB the same as MySQL?

They share the same original codebase and are largely compatible at the SQL level, but have diverged over time with some different features — for most standard applications they're interchangeable.

Why does installing mysql-server give me MariaDB?

On several current Linux distributions, the mysql-server package name now actually installs MariaDB as the default implementation — this is intentional by the distro maintainers, not an error.

Can I migrate from MySQL to MariaDB without issues?

In most cases yes, since the on-disk format and SQL dialect are very close, but it's worth checking for any MySQL-specific features your application relies on before switching.

Does WordPress work with MariaDB?

Yes, WordPress officially supports MariaDB and it's commonly used as the default database for WordPress hosting.

How do I secure a fresh MariaDB installation?

Running the included secure-installation script to remove test databases and anonymous accounts, then creating a dedicated least-privilege user for each application, same approach as MySQL.

Why is my MariaDB connection refused?

Usually either the service isn't running, it's bound only to localhost when a remote connection is needed, or a firewall rule is blocking the port — each is checked in turn.