Starting the MariaDB Server Instance Configuration Wizard
The MariaDB Server Instance Configuration Wizard is normally started as part of the installation process. You should only need to run the MariaDB Server Instance Configuration Wizard again when you need to change the configuration parameters of your server.
If you chose not to open a port prior to installing MariaDB on Windows Vista or newer, you can choose to use the MariaDB Server Configuration Wizard after installation. However, you must open a port in the Windows Firewall. To do this see the instructions given in , "Downloading and Starting the MariaDB Installation Wizard". Rather than opening a port, you also have the option of adding MariaDB as a program that bypasses the Windows Firewall. One or the other option is sufficient-you need not do both. Additionally, when running the MariaDB Server Configuration Wizard on Windows Vista or newer, ensure that you are logged in as a user with administrative rights.
You can launch the MariaDB Configuration Wizard by clicking the MariaDB Server Instance Config Wizard entry in the MariaDB section of the Windows Start menu.
Alternatively, you can navigate to the bin directory of your MariaDB installation and launch the MySQLInstanceConfig.exe file directly.
The MariaDB Server Instance Configuration Wizard places the my.ini file in the installation directory for the MariaDB server. This helps associate configuration files with particular server instances.
To ensure that the MariaDB server knows where to look for the my.ini file, an argument similar to this is passed to the MariaDB server as part of the service installation:
--defaults-file='C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6\my.ini'
Here, C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6 is replaced with the installation path to the MariaDB Server. The --defaults-file option instructs the MariaDB server to read the specified file for configuration options when it starts.
Apart from making changes to the my.ini file by running the MariaDB Server Instance Configuration Wizard again, you can modify it by opening it with a text editor and making any necessary changes. You can also modify the server configuration with the http://www.mysql.com/products/administrator/ utility. For more information about server configuration, see , "Server Command Options".
MySQL clients and utilities such as the mysql and mysqldump command-line clients are not able to locate the my.ini file located in the server installation directory. To configure the client and utility applications, create a new my.ini file in the Windows installation directory (for example, C:\WINDOWS).
Under Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista, MariaDB Server Instance Configuration Wizard will configure MariaDB to work as a Windows service. To start and stop MariaDB you use the Services application that is supplied as part of the Windows Administrator Tools.