> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.towbar.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# MariaDB

> Declare a MariaDB 11.8 resource with explicit initialization variables and native recovery.

Towbar's `mariadb` preset runs the reviewed MariaDB 11.8 image on amd64 or
arm64. It listens on port `3306`, stores data in `/var/lib/mysql`, and verifies
readiness with an authenticated `mariadb-admin ping`.

## Declare the resource

```yaml title=".towbar/resources/mariadb.resource.yml" highlight={3,14-19,21} theme={"system"}
id: mariadb
name: MariaDB
type: mariadb
container:
  network: application
  networkAlias: mariadb
  resources:
    cpus: 1
    memory: 1g
access:
  sshTunnel:
    hostPort: 13307
secrets:
  runtime:
    - MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD
    - MYSQL_DATABASE
    - MYSQL_USER
    - MYSQL_PASSWORD
environments:
  production:
    server: 192.0.2.10
```

Towbar requires `MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD` for its managed health and recovery
commands. MariaDB accepts the `MYSQL_*` compatibility names shown here during
first initialization.

| Variable              | Purpose                                                   |
| --------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| `MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD` | Root credential used by Towbar's authenticated operations |
| `MYSQL_DATABASE`      | Application database created on an empty volume           |
| `MYSQL_USER`          | Non-root application user                                 |
| `MYSQL_PASSWORD`      | Password for the application user                         |

## Connect from an app

Containers on the same network can reach `mariadb:3306`. Save application
credentials and its connection URL with the app, not in the resource manifest.
The optional tunnel binds port `13307` to server loopback for access over SSH.

## Initialization and credential changes

These variables initialize an empty data directory. They do not reconcile an
existing MariaDB installation. Make later database and user changes with SQL,
verify them, and then replace the saved Towbar values.

## Back up and restore

Towbar exports with `mariadb-dump` and imports with the MariaDB client into a
fresh target volume. Recovery requires MariaDB major version 11. Continue with
[Database backups](/docs/backups) and [Database restores](/docs/restores).