# MariaDB 11.6 Changes & Improvements
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The most recent release of MariaDB 11.6 is:
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[MariaDB 11.6](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/11.6/what-is-mariadb-116.md) is a [rolling release](/docs/release-notes/community-server/about/release-model.md).
## Upgrading
* See [Upgrading Between Major MariaDB Versions](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/upgrading/platform-specific-upgrade-guides/upgrading-on-linux/upgrading-between-major-mariadb-versions.md) and [Upgrading from MariaDB 10.11 to MariaDB 11.0](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/upgrading/mariadb-community-server-upgrade-paths/upgrading-to-unmaintained-mariadb-releases/upgrading-from-mariadb-10-11-to-mariadb-11-0.md).
## Notable Items
### Vectors
* [Vectors](/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/vectors.md) are a feature that allow MariaDB Server to perform as a relational vector database. In [MariaDB 10.6](/docs/release-notes/community-server/10.6/what-is-mariadb-106.md), only available in the [Vector preview release](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/11.6/11.6.0-vector.md).
* Vector Search was added to [MariaDB 11.7](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/11.7/what-is-mariadb-117.md).
### Character Sets
* The default [character set](/docs/server/reference/data-types/string-data-types/character-sets.md) has been changed from `latin1` to `utf8mb4` ([MDEV-19123](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-19123))
### Backup and Restore
* Added the `--dir` option to [mariadb-import](/docs/server/clients-and-utilities/backup-restore-and-import-clients/mariadb-import.md), allowing one to restore all tables from a backup directory created using [mariadb-dump --dir](/docs/server/clients-and-utilities/backup-restore-and-import-clients/mariadb-dump.md) ([MDEV-33627](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-33627))
* Added the related `--database`, `--ignore-database`, `--table` and `--ignore-table` options.
* Refactor [mariadb-import](/docs/server/clients-and-utilities/backup-restore-and-import-clients/mariadb-import.md) threading
* Automatic SST user account management ([MDEV-31809](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-31809))
### Syntax
* Single-table [DELETEs](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-manipulation/changing-deleting-data/delete.md) now support table aliases ([MDEV-33988](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-33988))
### Authentication
* [New authentication plugin](/docs/server/reference/plugins/authentication-plugins/authentication-plugin-parsec.md) ([MDEV-32618](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-32618))
* Extend [Unix socket authentication](/docs/server/reference/plugins/authentication-plugins/authentication-plugin-unix-socket.md) to support authentication\_string ([MDEV-33479](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-33479))
### Replication
* New definition for Seconds\_Behind\_Master ([MDEV-33856](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-33856))
* Added three variables to [SHOW ALL REPLICAS STATUS](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/administrative-sql-statements/show/show-replica-status.md)
* New [Information Schema SLAVE\_STATUS Table](/docs/server/reference/system-tables/information-schema/information-schema-tables/information-schema-slave_status-table.md)
### General
* Set thread names for MariaDB Server threads ([MDEV-32537](https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-32537))
### Variables
* For a list of all new variables, see [System Variables Added in MariaDB 11.6](https://app.gitbook.com/s/SsmexDFPv2xG2OTyO5yV/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/system-variables/system-and-status-variables-added-by-major-release/system-variables-added-in-mariadb-11-6) and [Status Variables Added in MariaDB 11.6](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/optimization-and-tuning/system-variables/system-and-status-variables-added-by-major-release/system-and-status-variables-added-by-major-unmaintained-release/status-variables-added-in-mariadb-11-5.md).
## Security Vulnerabilities Fixed in [MariaDB 11.6](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/11.6/what-is-mariadb-116.md)
For a complete list of security vulnerabilities (CVEs) fixed across all\
versions of MariaDB, see the [Security Vulnerabilities Fixed in MariaDB](/docs/server/security/cve.md)\
page.\
Add listcve macro here - removed for performance reasons
## List of All [MariaDB 11.6](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/11.6/what-is-mariadb-116.md) Releases
| Date | Release | Status | Release Notes | Changelog |
| ----------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 21 Nov 2024 | [MariaDB 11.6.2](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/11.6/11.6.2.md) | Stable (GA) | [Release Notes](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/11.6/11.6.2.md) | [Changelog](/docs/release-notes/community-server/changelogs/11.6/mariadb-11-6-2-changelog.md) |
| 14 Aug 2024 | [MariaDB 11.6.1](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/11.6/11.6.1.md) | RC | [Release Notes](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/11.6/11.6.1.md) | [Changelog](/docs/release-notes/community-server/changelogs/11.6/mariadb-11-6-1-changelog.md) |
| 29 Jul 2024 | [MariaDB 11.6.0](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/11.6/11.6.0.md) Vector | Alpha | [Release Notes](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/11.6/11.6.0-vector.md) | |
| 26 Jun 2024 | [MariaDB 11.6.0](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/11.6/11.6.0.md) | Alpha | [Release Notes](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/11.6/11.6.0.md) | |
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Be notified of new MariaDB Server releases automatically by [subscribing](https://lists.mariadb.org/postorius/lists/announce.lists.mariadb.org/) to the MariaDB Foundation community announce 'at' lists.mariadb.org announcement list (this is a low traffic, announce-only list). MariaDB plc customers will be notified for all new releases, security issues and critical bug fixes for all MariaDB plc products thanks to the Notification Services.
MariaDB may already be included in your favorite OS distribution. More information can be found on the [Distributions which Include MariaDB](/docs/general-resources/distributions-including-mariadb.md) page.
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