How To Install MariaDB on Debian 9 (Stretch)

MariaDB is an enhanced, drop-in replacement for MySQL. MariaDB can be a better choice for database professionals looking for a robust, scalable, and reliable SQL server. MariaDB has a number of updated features over MySQL.

This article will help you to Install MariaDB 10.4 on Debian 9 (Stretch) via apt package manager.

Step 1 – Prerequsiteis

You can find the MariaDB Apt configuration file from the official website. Import the package singin key for MaraiDB packages on your system.

sudo apt-get install software-properties-common dirmngr
sudo apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com:80 0xF1656F24C74CD1D8

After this, create a new Apt configuration file for MariaDB with the following command. You can use any text editor than vim.

sudo vim /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mariadb.list

# MariaDB 10.4 for Debain 9
deb [arch=amd64,i386,ppc64el] http://sfo1.mirrors.digitalocean.com/mariadb/repo/10.4/debian stretch main
deb-src http://sfo1.mirrors.digitalocean.com/mariadb/repo/10.4/debian stretch main

Step 2 – Install MariaDB on Debian 9

After adding the repository to your system and use the following commands to install MariaDB-server on your Ubuntu system. This will remove any previous version of MariaDB packages and install the latest packages on the system. Make sure you have proper backups of databases before running the below commands.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install mariadb-server

This will also install other required dependencies on your system.

While installing MariaDB using above command installer will prompt for MariaDB root account password. Enter a strong password as below.

This will also ask for confirm password. Enter the same as above.

Step 3 – Verify MariaDB Setup

After the successful installation of MariaDB on the Debian 9 (Stretch) system. The installer will also start service during the install process. You can verify service by running the below command.

MariaDB also creates a reference for service with name MySQL. You can change MariaDB with MySQL as per your choice.

sudo systemctl status mariadb

You will see the running status like:

Then connect to MariaDB shell by running below command. You need to enter the password configured in the above step.

mysql -u root -p

Enter password:
Welcome to the MariaDB monitor.  Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MariaDB connection id is 8
Server version: 10.1.26-MariaDB-0+deb9u1 Debian 9.1

Copyright (c) 2000, 2017, Oracle, MariaDB Corporation Ab and others.

Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. Type '\c' to clear the current input statement.

MariaDB [(none)]>

Step 4 – Manage MariaDB Service

Sometimes you need to stop or start MariaDB service. Use the following commands to stop, start, check status and restart MariaDB service.

sudo systemctl stop mariadb.service      # To Stop MariaDB service 
sudo systemctl start mariadb.service     # To Start MariaDB service 
sudo systemctl status mariadb.service    # To Check MariaDB service status 
sudo systemctl restart mariadb.service   # To Stop then Start MariaDB service