Most OpenStack services use an SQL database to store information. The database typically runs on the controller node. The procedures in this guide use MariaDB or MySQL depending on the distribution. OpenStack services also support other SQL databases including PostgreSQL. Install the packages: The Python MySQL library is compatible with MariaDB. # apt-get install mariadb-server python-mysqldb # apt-get install mysql-server python-mysqldb # yum install mariadb mariadb-server MySQL-python # zypper install mariadb-client mariadb python-mysql Choose a suitable password for the database root account. Create and edit the /etc/mysql/conf.d/mysqld_openstack.cnf file and complete the following actions: Create and edit the /etc/my.cnf.d/mariadb_openstack.cnf file and complete the following actions: In the [mysqld] section, set the bind-address key to the management IP address of the controller node to enable access by other nodes via the management network: [mysqld] ... bind-address = 10.0.0.11 In the [mysqld] section, set the following keys to enable useful options and the UTF-8 character set: [mysqld] ... default-storage-engine = innodb innodb_file_per_table collation-server = utf8_general_ci init-connect = 'SET NAMES utf8' character-set-server = utf8 Restart the database service: # service mysql restart Start the database service and configure it to start when the system boots: # systemctl enable mariadb.service # systemctl start mariadb.service # systemctl enable mysql.service # systemctl start mysql.service Secure the database service: Secure the database service including choosing a suitable password for the root account: # mysql_secure_installation NOTE: RUNNING ALL PARTS OF THIS SCRIPT IS RECOMMENDED FOR ALL MariaDB SERVERS IN PRODUCTION USE! PLEASE READ EACH STEP CAREFULLY! In order to log into MariaDB to secure it, we'll need the current password for the root user. If you've just installed MariaDB, and you haven't set the root password yet, the password will be blank, so you should just press enter here. Enter current password for root (enter for none): OK, successfully used password, moving on... Setting the root password ensures that nobody can log into the MariaDB root user without the proper authorisation. Set root password? [Y/n] Y New password: Re-enter new password: Password updated successfully! Reloading privilege tables.. ... Success! By default, a MariaDB installation has an anonymous user, allowing anyone to log into MariaDB without having to have a user account created for them. This is intended only for testing, and to make the installation go a bit smoother. You should remove them before moving into a production environment. Remove anonymous users? [Y/n] Y ... Success! Normally, root should only be allowed to connect from 'localhost'. This ensures that someone cannot guess at the root password from the network. Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n] Y ... Success! By default, MariaDB comes with a database named 'test' that anyone can access. This is also intended only for testing, and should be removed before moving into a production environment. Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n] Y - Dropping test database... ... Success! - Removing privileges on test database... ... Success! Reloading the privilege tables will ensure that all changes made so far will take effect immediately. Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n] Y ... Success! Cleaning up... All done! If you've completed all of the above steps, your MariaDB installation should now be secure. Thanks for using MariaDB!