How to Connect MariaDB to Tableau in PostgreSQL

Galaxy Glossary

How do I connect MariaDB to Tableau without errors?

Establishes a live or extract connection between a MariaDB database and Tableau for interactive visualization.

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Description

Example H2

Example H3

Why connect MariaDB to Tableau?

Connecting lets analysts create interactive dashboards on real-time or extracted data from MariaDB without manual CSV exports.

What driver does Tableau use for MariaDB?

Tableau treats MariaDB as MySQL. Install the latest MySQL ODBC or MySQL Connector/C 8.0 64-bit before launching Tableau.

How do I configure the connection in Tableau Desktop?

1. Open Tableau → Connect > To a Server > MySQL.
2. Enter Server, Port (3306), Database, Username, and Password.
3.(Optional) Click Require SSL and add certificates.

Can I use a custom connection string?

Yes. Click Advanced > Custom SQL and paste a URI such as:
mariadb://analytics:Pa$$w0rd@db.company.internal:3306/ecommerce?ssl=true&allowPublicKeyRetrieval=true

How do I run Initial SQL?

Use the Initial SQL box to set session variables:
SET time_zone = '+00:00'; SELECT 1;

Example: build a lifetime customer value chart

1. Drag Customers and Orders into the canvas.
2. Use Custom SQL (see query below).
3.Create a bar chart of SUM(lifetime_value) by name.

Best practices for reliable connections

• Use a readonly user with limited privileges.
• Enable SSL and verify certificates.
• Prefer extracts for slow or highly concurrent databases.
• Schedule incremental refreshes to reduce load.

Common mistakes and quick fixes

Wrong driver version — Use 8.0 or higher to support modern auth.
Skipping SSL — Enable SSL to avoid handshake failures on managed MariaDB hosts.

Why How to Connect MariaDB to Tableau in PostgreSQL is important

How to Connect MariaDB to Tableau in PostgreSQL Example Usage


SELECT c.id,
       c.name,
       SUM(o.total_amount) AS lifetime_value
FROM Customers c
JOIN Orders   o ON o.customer_id = c.id
GROUP BY c.id, c.name
ORDER BY lifetime_value DESC;

How to Connect MariaDB to Tableau in PostgreSQL Syntax


mariadb://<user>:<password>@<host>:3306/<database>[?ssl=true][&allowPublicKeyRetrieval=true]

Example for ecommerce:
  mariadb://analytics:Pa$$w0rd@db.company.internal:3306/ecommerce?ssl=true

Tableau Desktop fields:
  • Server: db.company.internal
  • Port: 3306
  • Database: ecommerce
  • Username: analytics
  • Password: ********
  • Require SSL: ✓
  • Initial SQL (optional):
      SET sql_mode='STRICT_ALL_TABLES';

Common Mistakes

Using the MySQL 5.x ODBC driver. Why wrong: TLS 1.2 and caching_sha2_password fail. Fix: Install MySQL Connector/C 8.0 64-bit before opening Tableau.
Leaving SSL unchecked on cloud MariaDB. Why wrong: Managed hosts often refuse non-SSL. Fix: Click “Require SSL” and provide CA cert or set <code>?ssl=true</code> in the URI.