# mysql\_install\_db

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

From [MariaDB 10.5](https://app.gitbook.com/s/aEnK0ZXmUbJzqQrTjFyb/community-server/old-releases/10.5/what-is-mariadb-105), 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](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/clients-and-utilities/deployment-tools/mariadb-install-db) for details.

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