> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mariadb.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/clients-and-utilities/legacy-clients-and-utilities/mysql_install_db.md).

# mysql\_install\_db

`mysql_install_db` initializes the MariaDB data directory and creates the system tables in the mysql database.

From [MariaDB 10.5](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/10.5/what-is-mariadb-105.md), the client is called `mariadb-install-db`. It can still be accessed under its original `mysql_install_db` name via a symlink in Linux, or an alternate binary in Windows.

See [mariadb-install-db](/docs/server/clients-and-utilities/deployment-tools/mariadb-install-db.md) for details on Linux/Unix. For the Windows tool, see [Installing System Tables on Windows](/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/installing-system-tables-mariadb-install-db/mariadb-install-db-exe.md).

<sub>*This page is licensed: CC BY-SA / Gnu FDL*</sub>

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