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MariaDB

MariaDB is a fast, open-source relational database server forked from MySQL by its original developers.

  • Databases
  • Home Automation
  • Network Services
  • Other
  • Tools & Utilities
MariaDB is a fast, open-source relational database server forked from MySQL by its original developers. It serves as a drop-in replacement for MySQL with additional features and is widely used for self-hosted web applications, home automation backends, and other services that need a persistent relational data store.

Platform availability

Available on 5 of 9 platforms

Health score?A 0-100 score computed nightly from four factors: maintained (40%: recent commits and steady activity), popular (25%: GitHub stars, log scale), easy to install (20%: platforms, install notes, setup guides, Docker image) and light to run (15%: minimum RAM, ARM support). When the source code has been checked, a fifth factor, security check (20%: automated scan for committed secrets, unsafe desktop-app settings, known-vulnerable dependencies and project hygiene; any serious finding caps it at 20), is added. Factors without data are left out and the rest are rescaled.

79/100 Good

Maintained
100last commit 9 days ago
Popular
49268 GitHub stars
Easy to install
755 install platforms, install notes, Docker image
Light to run
No data

Based on 3 of 4 factors.

Availability: platform listings confirmed today, links checked 16 days ago

GitHub stars
268
Open issues
0
Last commit
2026-10-06
Latest release
11.8.8-r0-ls234
License
GPL-3.0
Activity
rising

Checked 9 days ago - source: GitHub (linuxserver/docker-mariadb)

Resources & Compatibility

ARM (e.g. Raspberry Pi) is supported.

Checked 16 days ago - source: Docker Hub image tags and published docs

First-install notes

  • Set a root password before first start Add a MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD setting (an environment variable) before starting MariaDB the first time, because it creates the admin login and helps keep the database from being left open. Without it, you may not have a reliable way to log in as the root admin later. source
  • Open port 3306 for database connections Expose port 3306 on the host (for example with -p 3306:3306), because other programs connect to MariaDB through that port. If it is not open, apps on your network cannot reach the database. source
  • Keep database files on a volume Mount a Docker volume to /var/lib/mysql so your databases and settings are saved outside the container. If you recreate the container without that storage, you can lose all your data. source

Fetched 16 days ago - each note links to its source

Alternatives (8)

  • Apache Cassandra
  • CockroachDB - CockroachDB is a distributed SQL database for developers and operators of transactional applications that need horizontal scaling and resil…
  • CouchDB - Apache CouchDB is a document database that stores JSON data and speaks HTTP, with built-in replication, change tracking, and flexible views…
  • IBM DB2 - DB2 offers industry leading performance, scale, and reliability on your choice of platform from Linux to z/OS.
  • Microsoft SQL Server - SQL Server delivers on Microsoft’s Data Platform vision by helping your organization manage your data by enabling you to store data from st…
  • MongoDB - MongoDB is a cross-platform, open-source document-oriented NoSQL database that stores data in flexible, JSON-like BSON documents instead of…
  • PostgreSQL - PostgreSQL (Postgres) is an open source object-relational database known for reliability and data integrity.
  • SQLite - SQLite is a lightweight, embedded relational database engine that stores an entire database in a single file on your device.

Checked 14 days ago - source: AlternativeTo

Common questions

What should I set before first start so I have a reliable MariaDB admin login?

Set the MARIADB_ROOT_PASSWORD environment variable before starting MariaDB the first time. It creates the admin login and helps keep the database from being left open.

Which host port should be exposed for MariaDB client connections?

Expose port 3306 on the host, for example with -p 3306:3306. If it is not open, apps on your network cannot reach the database.

Which directory should be mounted to prevent data loss when recreating the container?

Mount a Docker volume to /var/lib/mysql so your databases and settings are saved outside the container. If you recreate the container without that storage, you can lose all your data.

Is it safe to update a Dockerized MariaDB used by self-hosted apps?

The provided Reddit thread reports conflicting advice: some say updating can break things, while others say it should be updated. It does not give a final recommendation.

What common connection problems does the MariaDB troubleshooting guide address?

It addresses diagnosing and fixing common MariaDB Server connection problems, such as Can't connect to local server and access-denied errors.

Answers sourced from github.com, mariadb.com, www.reddit.com

Community

Collected 10 days ago - public community threads