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

Table of Contents

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.

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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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do I need a separate Tableau connector for MariaDB?

No. Choose the built-in MySQL connector; MariaDB uses the same protocol.

Can Tableau Server refresh a MariaDB extract?

Yes. Install the same MySQL driver on every Tableau Server node and configure the refresh schedule.

How do I speed up slow live queries?

Create covering indexes in MariaDB, use Initial SQL to set optimizer_switch, or switch to extracts with incremental refresh.

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