Install & Uninstall MariaDB (MySQL) on Kali Linux: Complete Tutorial

Video Tutorial

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of installing and configuring MariaDB (a drop-in replacement for MySQL) on Kali Linux. MariaDB is a popular open-source relational database server that maintains full compatibility with MySQL while offering enhanced features and performance.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have:

• A running Kali Linux system
• Sudo privileges
• An active internet connection

🚀 Step 1: Update Your System

First, let’s make sure your system is up to date:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

📦 Step 2: Install MariaDB

Install MariaDB server and client packages:

sudo apt install mariadb-server mariadb-client -y

🔒 Step 3: Secure Your Installation

After installation, run the security script to configure basic security settings:

sudo mariadb-secure-installation

During this process, you’ll be prompted to:

• Set a root password
• Remove anonymous users
• Disallow root login remotely
• Remove test database
• Reload privilege tables

🏃‍♂️ Step 4: Start and Enable MariaDB Service

Start the MariaDB service and enable it to run on boot:

sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb

Verify the service status:

sudo systemctl status mariadb

🔍 Step 5: Verify Installation

Test your MariaDB installation by connecting to the server:

sudo mysql -u root -p

If everything is working correctly, you’ll see the MariaDB prompt.

📝 Basic MariaDB Commands

Here are some useful commands to get started:

-- Show databases
SHOW DATABASES;

-- Create a new database
CREATE DATABASE mydatabase;

-- Create a new user
CREATE USER 'myuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'mypassword';

-- Grant privileges
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON mydatabase.* TO 'myuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

🗑️ Uninstalling MariaDB

If you need to remove MariaDB from your system, follow these steps:

1. Stop the MariaDB service:

   sudo systemctl stop mariadb
   

2. Remove MariaDB packages:

   sudo apt remove --purge mariadb-server mariadb-client mariadb-common -y
   

3. Remove configuration files and data directories:

   sudo rm -rf /etc/mysql
   sudo rm -rf /var/lib/mysql
   

4. Remove any remaining MariaDB packages:

   sudo apt autoremove -y
   

5. Clean up any remaining configuration files:

   sudo apt clean
   

📚 Resources

• MariaDB Official Documentation
• MariaDB Knowledge Base
• MySQL Documentation (compatible with MariaDB)