🛠️ [GUIDE] How to Set Up a MariaDB Database Server on Ubuntu

[hrace009]

Overview
MariaDB is a powerful, open-source drop-in replacement for MySQL. It’s secure, fast, and widely supported. This guide walks you through installing and configuring MariaDB on a Linux server (Ubuntu/Debian-based).

Requirements​

• A Linux VPS or Dedicated Server (Ubuntu 20.04 or newer recommended)
• Root or sudo access
• Basic knowledge of terminal/SSH

Step 1: Update Your System​

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This ensures all packages are up-to-date before installation.

Step 2: Install MariaDB Server​

sudo apt install mariadb-server -y

After installation, MariaDB should start automatically.
To check status:

sudo systemctl status mariadb

Step 3: Secure Your MariaDB Installation​

Run the built-in security script:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Answer the prompts:

• Set root password: Yes
• Remove anonymous users: Yes
• Disallow root login remotely: Yes
• Remove test database: Yes
• Reload privileges: Yes

Step 4: Basic Configuration​

Login to MariaDB shell:

sudo mariadb -u root -p

Create a new database and user:

CREATE DATABASE hracedb;
CREATE USER 'hraceuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'strongpassword';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON hracedb.* TO 'hraceuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Step 5: Enable and Start MariaDB​

Ensure MariaDB runs on boot:

sudo systemctl enable mariadb
sudo systemctl start mariadb

Step 6: (Optional) Remote Access Setup​

To allow remote access:

1. Edit the config:

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

2. Change bind address:

   bind-address = 0.0.0.0

3. Restart mariadb:

   sudo systemctl restart mariadb

4. Allow port 3306 on your firewall:

   sudo ufw allow 3306

Step 7: Test the Connection​

Use a local or remote MySQL client to test:

mysql -u user -p -h <your-server-ip> db

Tips​

• Use fail2ban or iptables to secure remote access
• Backup databases regularly with mysqldump
• Use strong passwords for all DB users

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References​

• MariaDB Docs
• DigitalOcean MariaDB Guide

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Need Help?​

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