MariaDB or MySQL: which to choose

For a typical web hosting server, both work well. The most important rule is to choose before the first account is created, because switching later is hard.

Check which database server you have now

Before you change anything, confirm what the server runs and whether it already holds data:

mysql -V                              # version and family (MySQL or MariaDB)
grep mysql-version /var/cpanel/cpanel.config
mysql -e "SHOW DATABASES;" | wc -l    # more than a handful means real data

In WHM, the same information is on the MySQL/MariaDB Upgrade page. If the server already runs the database you want, there is nothing to change.

Which versions cPanel offers

cPanel supports a list of MySQL and MariaDB versions that changes with each cPanel release, and older versions are removed when they reach end of life. Check the current list in the cPanel documentation, or on an installed server in WHM > SQL Services > MySQL/MariaDB Upgrade. Choose a long-term support release, so you are not forced to upgrade soon.

Option 1: choose the database before installing cPanel (recommended)

On a fresh AlmaLinux 9 server, before you run the cPanel installer:

mkdir -p /root/cpanel_profile
echo "mysql-version=10.11" > /root/cpanel_profile/cpanel.config

# Then install cPanel as usual
cd /home && curl -o latest -L https://securedownloads.cpanel.net/latest && sh latest

Replace 10.11 with the MariaDB version you want, from the list your cPanel version supports. Use 8.0 or another supported MySQL version if you prefer MySQL. If you do not set a version, the installer uses its current default. Our cPanel install guide covers the rest of the setup.

Option 2: switch a brand-new server from MySQL 8 to MariaDB

First, confirm that the server has no databases apart from the system ones:

mysql -e "SHOW DATABASES;"
# Expect only: information_schema, mysql, performance_schema, sys (and cPanel's own if present)

Then, as root:

# 1. Stop MySQL and remove the packages
systemctl stop mysqld
dnf -y remove "mysql-community-*"

# 2. Move the old data folder aside instead of deleting it
mv /var/lib/mysql /var/lib/mysql.removed-$(date +%F)

# 3. Tell cPanel which version to install
sed -i "s/^mysql-version=.*/mysql-version=10.11/" /var/cpanel/cpanel.config
grep mysql-version /var/cpanel/cpanel.config

# 4. Install MariaDB through cPanel
/usr/local/cpanel/bin/whmapi1 start_background_mysql_upgrade version=10.11

Follow the progress in the upgrade log. The folder name includes the date and time of the run:

ls -d /var/cpanel/logs/mysql_upgrade.*
tail -f /var/cpanel/logs/mysql_upgrade.*/unattended_background_upgrade.log

When the log says the upgrade is complete, check the result:

mysql -V
systemctl status mariadb
mysql -e "SELECT VERSION();"

Once MariaDB works and WHM shows the new version, you can delete the old folder you moved aside in step 2.

Option 3: a server that already has accounts

Do not use Option 2 on a server with live sites. Removing MySQL deletes their databases, and MySQL 8 data files cannot be opened by MariaDB. The safe way is:

1. Order a new server and install cPanel with MariaDB, using Option 1.
2. Use WHM > Transfers > Transfer Tool to copy the accounts. The databases are exported and imported as SQL, which works between MySQL and MariaDB.
3. Test the sites on the new server, then change DNS.
4. Keep the old server until everything has run cleanly for a few days.

If you would rather not run two servers, keep MySQL. A move that saves nothing but risks data is not worth it.

Upgrading MariaDB or MySQL later

Upgrades within the same family are supported in WHM. Before you upgrade:

• ✓ Take a full backup of every database, and check that it restores.
• ✓ Read the release notes for the new version, especially changes to SQL modes and removed features.
• ✓ Check that your applications support the new version.
• ✓ Run the upgrade in WHM > SQL Services > MySQL/MariaDB Upgrade during a quiet period.

Upgrades are one-way. You cannot go back to an older version without restoring from a backup. See our cPanel backup and restore guide.

Before you install cPanel on AlmaLinux 9

• ✓ Start from a minimal, fresh AlmaLinux 9 install with no web or database server.
• ✓ Set a fully qualified hostname, for example server1.example.com.
• ✓ Update the system with dnf update -y and reboot if a new kernel was installed.
• ✓ Make sure DNS resolution works, for example with getent hosts securedownloads.cpanel.net.
• ✓ Choose the database version as shown in Option 1.

Troubleshooting

To make the new database fast, see our database performance guide.