How to Set Up MariaDB on Windows

Why choose MariaDB on Windows?

MariaDB offers an open-source, MySQL-compatible engine with high performance, strong security, and rich ecosystem. Installing it on Windows lets developers build, test, and run production workloads without switching OS.

What are the prerequisites?

Have administrator rights, PowerShell, and at least 200 MB free disk space.Disable conflicting MySQL services to avoid port 3306 collisions.

How do I download the Windows installer?

Navigate to mariadb.org/download, pick the latest GA release, select "Windows (x64) MSI", and save the file (e.g., mariadb-10.11.6-winx64.msi).

Which setup options should I pick?

In the wizard, choose “Developer Default” to install the server, client, and common tools. Tick “Add to PATH” so mysql.exe is callable everywhere.Set the root password and enable "Use UTF-8 as default".

How do I start the MariaDB service?

Open PowerShell as admin and run net start MariaDB. Verify with sc query MariaDB; the state should be RUNNING. The service auto-starts on boot.

How can I secure the root account?

Run mysql_secure_installation. Remove anonymous users, disallow remote root login, and reload privilege tables.These steps harden local deployments instantly.

How do I create an ecommerce database quickly?

Connect with mysql -u root -p, then execute the schema in the next section.“

Schema for Customers, Orders, Products, and OrderItems

CREATE DATABASE shop;\nUSE shop;\nCREATE TABLE Customers (id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY, name VARCHAR(100), email VARCHAR(100), created_at DATETIME DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP);\nCREATE TABLE Orders (id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY, customer_id INT, order_date DATE, total_amount DECIMAL(10,2), FOREIGN KEY (customer_id) REFERENCES Customers(id));\nCREATE TABLE Products (id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY, name VARCHAR(120), price DECIMAL(10,2), stock INT);\nCREATE TABLE OrderItems (id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY, order_id INT, product_id INT, quantity INT, FOREIGN KEY (order_id) REFERENCES Orders(id), FOREIGN KEY (product_id) REFERENCES Products(id));

How do I test connectivity from an IDE like Galaxy?

Use host localhost, port 3306, user root, and the password you set.Galaxys autocomplete and AI copilot will now reference shop tables instantly.

Best practices for Windows installations

Keep Windows Defender exclusions minimal; only exclude C:\Program Files\MariaDB for performance. Schedule automatic upgrades with the MSI’s built-in “Check for updates” task.

What’s next?

Enable remote access by editing my.ini (bind-address=0.0.0.0) and creating a dedicated SQL user. Always use SSL/TLS for production traffic.

.