How To Install MariaDB On Ubuntu VPS Server

MariaDB is one of the most popular open-source relational database systems used for:

• websites
• WordPress hosting
• SaaS applications
• APIs
• CRM systems
• enterprise applications

It is a powerful alternative to MySQL and is widely used in Linux VPS hosting environments.

In this guide,
you will learn how to install MariaDB on an Ubuntu VPS server step-by-step.

What Is MariaDB?

MariaDB is a relational database management system developed as a fork of MySQL.

It provides:

• high performance
• scalability
• compatibility
• open-source flexibility
• enterprise reliability

MariaDB is commonly used with:

• PHP
• WordPress
• Laravel
• WHMCS
• Node.js
• business applications

Why Use MariaDB?

MariaDB is popular because it offers:

• fast database performance
• strong MySQL compatibility
• active development
• scalability
• enterprise-grade reliability
• open-source infrastructure

Many Linux hosting providers prefer MariaDB for VPS hosting environments.

Prerequisites

Before starting,
ensure you have:

• Ubuntu VPS server
• root or sudo access
• SSH access enabled

Recommended operating system:

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

Step 1 — Connect To Your VPS Server

Connect to your VPS using SSH.

Command:

ssh root@your-server-ip

Example:

ssh root@192.168.1.10

Step 2 — Update Server Packages

Update existing packages.

Command:

apt update && apt upgrade -y

This improves:

• security
• compatibility
• system stability

Step 3 — Install MariaDB Server

Install MariaDB package.

Command:

apt install mariadb-server -y

MariaDB packages will install automatically.

Step 4 — Start MariaDB Service

Start MariaDB service.

Command:

systemctl start mariadb

Enable automatic startup on boot.

Command:

systemctl enable mariadb

Step 5 — Verify MariaDB Status

Check if MariaDB is running correctly.

Command:

systemctl status mariadb

If successful,
you should see:

active (running)

Step 6 — Secure MariaDB Installation

Run MariaDB security script.

Command:

mysql_secure_installation

This helps:

• remove anonymous users
• disable remote root login
• remove test databases
• improve database security

Step 7 — Login To MariaDB

Access MariaDB terminal.

Command:

mysql -u root -p

Enter your MariaDB root password.

Step 8 — Create A New Database

Create a database.

Command:

CREATE DATABASE mydatabase;

Step 9 — Create Database User

Create a new user.

Command:

CREATE USER 'myuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'StrongPassword';

Step 10 — Grant Database Permissions

Grant privileges to the user.

Command:

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON mydatabase.* TO 'myuser'@'localhost';

Reload privileges.

Command:

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Step 11 — Exit MariaDB Terminal

Exit database shell.

Command:

EXIT;

Important MariaDB Commands

Start MariaDB

systemctl start mariadb

Stop MariaDB

systemctl stop mariadb

Restart MariaDB

systemctl restart mariadb

Check MariaDB Status

systemctl status mariadb

MariaDB Configuration File

Main MariaDB configuration file:

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

How To Enable Remote MariaDB Access

Edit configuration file.

Command:

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

Find:

bind-address = 127.0.0.1

Change to:

bind-address = 0.0.0.0

Restart MariaDB.

Command:

systemctl restart mariadb

Configure Firewall For MariaDB

Allow MariaDB port.

Command:

ufw allow 3306/tcp

Reload firewall.

Command:

ufw reload

Common MariaDB Errors

Access Denied Error

Possible causes:

• incorrect password
• invalid user permissions
• authentication configuration issues

MariaDB Service Not Starting

Check logs.

Command:

journalctl -xe

Port 3306 Already In Use

Check active services.

Command:

netstat -tulpn | grep 3306

MariaDB vs MySQL

MariaDB provides:

• better open-source flexibility
• active community development
• strong compatibility with MySQL
• excellent performance

It is widely used as a MySQL replacement.

Why Businesses Use MariaDB

Businesses use MariaDB because it offers:

• scalable database infrastructure
• enterprise reliability
• strong performance
• open-source flexibility
• excellent Linux compatibility

It powers:

• websites
• SaaS platforms
• enterprise systems
• hosting environments

Why Choose DJ Technologies VPS Hosting

DJ Technologies Linux VPS hosting provides:

• NVMe SSD infrastructure
• enterprise virtualization
• premium low latency network
• scalable cloud resources
• optimized database environments
• advanced infrastructure security
• high performance VPS hosting
• 24×7 technical support

Our VPS infrastructure is optimized for:

• MariaDB hosting
• database servers
• SaaS applications
• business platforms
• scalable cloud workloads

Final Thoughts

MariaDB is one of the best database systems for Linux VPS hosting environments.

Its:

• scalability
• compatibility
• performance
• enterprise reliability

make it ideal for:

• websites
• business applications
• WordPress hosting
• SaaS platforms
• enterprise infrastructure.