Read the log file for clues: /usr/local/var/mysql/$(hostname).err
Review configuration files in case you have an old one interfering with the installation.
ls -l /etc/my.cnf
ls -l /etc/mysql/my.cnf
ls -l /opt/homebrew/etc/my.cnf
ls -l /usr/local/etc/my.cnf
ls -l /usr/local/var/mysql/.my.cnf
ls -l ~/.my.cnf
ls -l ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.mariadb*
Remove log files. Sometimes the log files of InnoDB (ib_logfile0, ib_logfile1) can become corrupted or mismatched with what MariaDB expects. Remove them and restart. MariaDB will recreate them.
cd /usr/local/var/mysql
rm ib_logfile0
rm ib_logfile1
error 256. If brew services says mariadb failed with error 256 try this:
mysql.server start
mysql.server stop
Try recovery mode. The level ranges from 1 to 6. Levels 4 or higher may incur data lost so you should check that page linked. Higher levels will restrict functionality, with levels 4, 5, 6 starting in read-only mode. Read only mode is still useful to export your data.
Make a backup copy of your data before you use levels 4, 5, 6 !
Latest commits to the database could be lost!
$(brew --prefix)/opt/mariadb/bin/mariadbd-safe --innodb-force-recovery=1
Make a backup and reinstall
When you fully remove Homebrew you are also removing mariadb data. To safeguard against this let’s relocate the database to a folder in the current user account, and run the database under the current user. This is acceptable for local installations. If you need a dedicated user customize the user.
First, backup:
# start in mode 1 then raise up to 6.
# 4 and higher is unsafe, but sometimes necessary.
$(brew --prefix)/opt/mariadb/bin/mariadbd-safe --innodb-force-recovery=6
mysqldump -u myUser
--password=myPassword
--single-transaction
-B myDatabaseName
> "mysql_$(date +%m_%d_%y)_myDatabaseName"
The following can be pasted on the terminal, but I suggest you paste one by one and follow what’s happening
# ignore comments
setopt INTERACTIVE_COMMENTS
your current macOS user and new location
export CURRENT_USER=$(whoami)
export SAFE_PLACE="/Users/$CURRENT_USER/MySafePlace"
the folder holding the internal database files
mkdir -p "$SAFE_PLACE/database"
Verify the variables are set correctly
echo "Current user is: $CURRENT_USER"
echo "Safe place location is: $SAFE_PLACE"
brew services stop mariadb
Check for running MySQL/MariaDB processes
ps aux | grep "([m]aria|[m]ysql)"
Use this to find a process parent if you need
ps -o ppid= -p <PID_OF_CHILD>
Crash resistant options
cat << EOF > "$SAFE_PLACE/my.cnf"
[mysqld]
default_storage_engine = InnoDB
each table goes in a separate file
innodb_file_per_table = 1
flush transaction logs after each commit
innodb_flush_log_at_trx_commit = 1
doublewrite buffer
innodb_doublewrite = 1
EOF
Create load configuration
cat << EOF > ~/Library/LaunchAgents/mariadb.plist
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
<key>KeepAlive</key>
<true/>
<key>Label</key>
<string>mariadb-load</string>
<key>LimitLoadToSessionType</key>
<array>
<string>Aqua</string>
<string>Background</string>
<string>LoginWindow</string>
<string>StandardIO</string>
<string>System</string>
</array>
<key>ProgramArguments</key>
<array>
<string>/opt/homebrew/opt/mariadb/bin/mariadbd-safe</string>
<string>--defaults-extra-file=$SAFE_PLACE/my.cnf</string>
<string>--datadir=$SAFE_PLACE/database</string>
<string>--user=$CURRENT_USER</string>
<string>--log-error=$SAFE_PLACE/mariadb-error.log</string>
</array>
<key>RunAtLoad</key>
<true/>
<key>WorkingDirectory</key>
<string>/opt/homebrew/var</string>
<key>StandardErrorPath</key>
<string>$SAFE_PLACE/mariadb-stderr.log</string>
<key>StandardOutPath</key>
<string>$SAFE_PLACE/mariadb-stdout.log</string>
</dict>
</plist>
EOF
Set permissions for the plist files
chmod 644 ~/Library/LaunchAgents/mariadb.plist
Install system tables
mariadb-install-db
--user=$CURRENT_USER
--basedir=$(brew --prefix mariadb)
--datadir=$SAFE_PLACE/database
Launch MariaDB
launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/mariadb.plist
if you need to unload
launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/mariadb.plist
Connect to MariaDB
sudo mysql -u root
Once inside the database, import the backup we did before, and restore the user permissions.
SOURCE my_backup_file;
CREATE USER 'myDatabaseName'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'myPassword';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON myDatabaseName.* TO 'myUser'@'localhost' WITH GRANT OPTION;
If you need to tail the log files:
tail -f "$SAFE_PLACE/mariadb-error.log"
tail -f "$SAFE_PLACE/mariadb-stdout.log"
tail -f "$SAFE_PLACE/mariadb-stderr.log"
A note for macOS 15.0 (Sequoia) users: mariadb versions 11.5.2 and above no longer experience corruption after restarting. Details.
