How to Install MariaDB on Debian 11 (Legacy Guide)

Support status: Debian 11 Bullseye LTS ended on August 31, 2026. Debian’s release information lists third-party Extended LTS after that date, with coverage depending on the provider and package. Keep this guide for existing systems that must remain on Bullseye; for a new server, use our MariaDB 12.3 guide for Debian 13. See Debian’s release status.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

1. A Debian 11 system with root or sudo access.
2. An SSH client to connect to your server.
3. A stable internet connection.

Step 1: Update Your System

Refresh package metadata and install only packages available from your configured sources. Debian project LTS has ended; any further security updates require a third-party Extended LTS service:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

This command will refresh your system’s package repository and upgrade installed packages.

Step 2: Install MariaDB

Debian 11 includes MariaDB in its default repositories, simplifying the installation process. Use the following command to install MariaDB:

sudo apt install mariadb-server

During the installation, you’ll be prompted to confirm the package installation. Type ‘y’ and press Enter.

Step 3: Start and Enable MariaDB

After installation, start the MariaDB service and enable it to start at boot with the following commands:

sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb

You can verify that MariaDB is running with this command:

sudo systemctl status mariadb

Step 4: Secure Your MariaDB Installation

MariaDB comes with a script that helps you secure your database installation. Run the following command:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

You’ll be prompted to set a root password, remove anonymous users, disallow root login remotely, and remove the test database. Follow the prompts and answer ‘Y’ or ‘N’ as needed.

Step 5: Log In to MariaDB

Now that your MariaDB installation is secure, you can log in to the database server using the following command:

sudo mysql -u root -p

Enter the root password you set during the installation when prompted.

Step 6: Create a New Database and User

To create a new database and user, follow these steps:

1. Log in to MariaDB as the root user.

2. Create a new database (replace mydatabase with your preferred name):

   CREATE DATABASE mydatabase;
   

3. Create a runtime application account with row-level privileges. Use a separate migration account for schema changes; replace myuser and the password placeholder with the intended account name and a unique secret from a password manager:

   CREATE USER 'myuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'replace-with-a-unique-secret';
   GRANT SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE ON mydatabase.* TO 'myuser'@'localhost';
   

4. Exit the MariaDB prompt:

   exit;
   

Step 7: Test Your MariaDB Installation

You can test your new database and user by logging in with the created credentials:

mysql -u myuser -p

Enter the password when prompted, and you should now have access to the database you created.

Conclusion

You’ve successfully installed MariaDB on your Debian 11 system, secured the installation, and created a new database and user. MariaDB is a powerful and reliable database system that can serve as the foundation for various web applications and services. You are now ready to build and manage your databases with MariaDB on Debian 11.