# Installing System Tables on Windows

The `mariadb-install-db.exe` utility is the Windows equivalent of [mariadb-install-db](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/clients-and-utilities/deployment-tools/mariadb-install-db).

## Functionality

The functionality of `mariadb-install-db.exe` is comparable with the shell script `mariadb-install-db` used on Unix, however it has been extended with both Windows specific functionality (creating a Windows service) and to generally useful functionality. For example, it can set the 'root' user password during database creation. It also creates the `my.ini` configuration file in the data directory and adds most important parameters to it (e.g port).

`mariadb-install-db.exe` is used by the MariaDB installer for Windows if the "Database instance" feature is selected. It obsoletes similar utilities and scripts that were used in the past such as `mysqld.exe` `--install`,`mysql_install_db.pl`, and `mysql_secure_installation.pl`.

| Parameter(s)                       | Description                                           |
| ---------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| `-?`, `--help`                     | Display help message and exit                         |
| `-d`, `--datadir=name`             | Data directory of the new database                    |
| `-S`, `--service=name`             | Name of the `Windows` service                         |
| `-p`, `--password=name`            | Password of the `root` user                           |
| `-P`, `--port=#`                   | `mysqld` port                                         |
| `-W`, `--socket=name`              | `named pipe` name                                     |
| `-D`, `--default-user`             | Create default user                                   |
| `-R`, `--allow-remote-root-access` | Allow remote access from network for user `root`      |
| `-N`, `--skip-networking`          | Do not use `TCP` connections, use `pipe` instead      |
| `-i`, `--innodb-page-size`         | `Innodb` page size, since `MariaDB 10.2.5`            |
| `-s`, `--silent`                   | Print less information                                |
| `-o`, `--verbose-bootstrap`        | Include `mysqld` bootstrap output                     |
| `-l`, `--large-pages`              | Use large pages, since `MariaDB 10.6.1`               |
| `-c`, `--config`                   | `my.ini` config template file, since `MariaDB 10.6.1` |

{% hint style="info" %}
**T**o create a Windows service, `mariadb-install-db.exe` should be run\
by a user with full administrator privileges (which means elevated command\
prompt on systems with UAC).
{% endhint %}

## Example

```
mariadb-install-db.exe --datadir=C:\db --service=MyDB --password=secret
```

will create the database in the directory `C:\db`, register the auto-start\
Windows service "MyDB", and set the root password to 'secret'.

To start the service from the command line, execute

```bash
sc start MyDB
```

## Removing Database Instances

If you run your database instance as service, to remove it completely from the\
command line, use

```bash
sc stop <servicename>
sc delete <servicename>
rmdir /s /q <path-to-datadir>
```

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

{% @marketo/form formId="4316" %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://mariadb.com/docs/server/server-management/install-and-upgrade-mariadb/installing-mariadb/installing-system-tables-mariadb-install-db/mariadb-install-db-exe.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.