MSI packages for Mariadb are available starting with 5.2.6

Installation process

GUI installation steps

This is the typical mode of installation. To start the installer, just click on mariadb-<major>.<minor>.<patch>.msi

Welcome

License Agreement

Click on "I accept the terms"

Custom Setup

Here, you can choose what features to install. By default, all features are installed with the exception of the debug symbols. If "Database instance" feature is selected, installer will create a database instance, by default running as a service. In this case there installer will present additional dialogs to control various database properties. Note, that you do not necessarily have to create an instance on this stage. For example, if you already had running MySQL or MariaDB databases running as services, you can just upgrade them during the installation. Also, you can create additional database instances post installation, with mysql_install_db.exe utility.

NOTE: By default, if you install database instance, data directory will be in the "data" folder under installation root. To change data directory location, select "Database instance" in the feature tree, and use "Browse" button to point to another place.

Database authentication/security related properties

This dialog is shown if you selected "Database instance" feature. Here, you can define password for the database user "root" and specify whether root can access database from remote machines. "Create anonymous account" setting allows for anonymous (non-authenticated) users. It is off by default and it is not recommended to change this setting.