How to manage MySQL or MariaDB service in Linux

MySQL and MariaDB are both popular yet similar open-source relational database management systems. This is because MariaDB is a fork of MySQL. As such, managing either is a similar experience and process.

There are a few ways that MySQL and MariaDB services can be managed in Linux, though systemd is the popular choice. Other alternatives are using SysVinit and service command, though, on most Linux systems, these are available alongside systemd.

Some primary management tasks for MySQL and MariaDB are to start, stop and restart the service. You can also set MySQL and MariaDB to either automatically start or not during system boot. All these can be managed via systemd using the systemctl command.

1. Check the status of the MySQL service.

   $ sudo systemctl status mysql
   [sudo] password for user: 
   ● mysql.service - MySQL Community Server
        Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/mysql.service; enabled; preset: enable>
        Active: active (running) since Tue 2023-02-07 08:39:17 +08; 37min ago
       Process: 866 ExecStartPre=/usr/share/mysql/mysql-systemd-start pre (code=ex>
      Main PID: 1068 (mysqld)
        Status: "Server is operational"
         Tasks: 38 (limit: 2225)
        Memory: 360.7M
           CPU: 4.988s
        CGroup: /system.slice/mysql.service
                └─1068 /usr/sbin/mysqld
   
   Feb 07 08:39:16 host systemd[1]: Starting MySQL Community Server...
   Feb 07 08:39:17 host systemd[1]: Started MySQL Community Server.

   MariaDB also uses mysql for service name, though mariadb service is also available and can be used.

   Replace mysql with mysqld for RedHat-based platforms.

2. Stop the MySQL service.

   $ sudo systemctl stop mysql

3. Start the MySQL service.

   $ sudo systemctl start mysql

4. Restart the MySQL service.

   $ sudo systemctl restart mysql

5. Disable the MySQL service from starting on system boot.

   $ sudo systemctl disable mysql
   Synchronizing state of mysql.service with SysV service script with /lib/systemd/systemd-sysv-install.
   Executing: /lib/systemd/systemd-sysv-install disable mysql
   Removed "/etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/mysql.service".

6. Enable the MySQL service to start on system boot.

   $ sudo systemctl enable mysql
   Synchronizing state of mysql.service with SysV service script with /lib/systemd/systemd-sysv-install.
   Executing: /lib/systemd/systemd-sysv-install enable mysql
   Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/mysql.service → /lib/systemd/system/mysql.service.