> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/databases/mariadb/mariadb-faq.md).

# FAQ

## Fundamentals

### Will DBaaS be offered on Cloud Cubes?

DBaaS is only available on Virtual Servers at this time. There may be support for Cloud Cubes in the future.

### What happens when the connection reaches its limits?

Depending on the library you are using, you may see an error message similar to the following:

`Too many connections`

### How do we prevent reaching the connection limit?

As each user has 250 connections and `max_connections` is set to 500, it is less probable that a user will use up all of their connections with MariaDB.

### Can I scale the deployment to increase its connection limit?

Unfortunately, it is not allowed to scale the deployment for increasing connection limits.

### What are the supported backup methods?

<code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code> provides an automated backup within the cloud infrastructure. You can use the `mariadb-dump` client to back up data to a different location. For more information, refer to the [<mark style="color:blue;">MariaDB Documentation</mark>](https://mariadb.com/kb/en/mariadb-dump/).

### What are the main considerations for latency and performance?

Achieving high availability and minimal latency are the main goals of the <code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code>. We recommend that you host your application servers closer to your database and in a [<mark style="color:blue;">geographic location</mark>](/cloud/databases/mariadb/api/v1-api.md#endpoints) appropriate for your user base to reduce the adverse effects of network latency on your application. For more information, refer to the [<mark style="color:blue;">MariaDB Documentation</mark>](https://mariadb.com/docs).

## MariaDB v2 API

### What is the MariaDB v2 API?

The MariaDB v2 API is a managed REST interface for provisioning and managing fully managed MariaDB clusters. It uses token-based authentication and supports clusters with a single primary instance and up to four secondary instances for high availability.

### How do I authenticate with the MariaDB v2 API?

The MariaDB v2 API requires token-based authentication. Include a Bearer token in the `Authorization` header of each request. You can generate a token using the [<mark style="color:blue;">Authentication API</mark>](https://api.ionos.com/docs/authentication/v1/#tag/tokens/operation/tokensGenerate).

### What is the Ensure operation?

`PUT /clusters/{clusterId}` is an idempotent "Ensure" operation. If a cluster with the provided ID does not exist, it is created. If it already exists, it is updated to match the provided payload. Any properties not included in the request are filled with defaults or left empty; previous values are not retained.

### What are the password requirements for MariaDB v2?

The initial database user password must meet the following requirements:

* At least 10 characters and no more than 63 characters.
* Contains at least one lowercase letter.
* Contains at least one uppercase letter.
* Contains at least one digit (0–9).
* Contains at least one special character from the set: `@$!%*?&`

### How does backup and Point-in-Time Recovery (PITR) work in MariaDB v2?

MariaDB v2 continuously archives binary logs and performs periodic full backups, enabling Point-in-Time Recovery (PITR). You can restore a cluster to any specific moment within the available backup window.

To restore from a backup when creating a new cluster, use `sourceBackupId` in the `restoreFromBackup` property. To optionally target a specific point in time, provide `recoveryTargetDatetime` as an ISO 8601 timestamp. For in-place restore on an existing cluster, provide `recoveryTargetDatetime` only; the restore source is inferred from the cluster's own backups. Note that in-place restore overwrites current data and may cause a brief period of downtime.

### How do I configure the backup location?

When creating or updating a cluster, set the `backup.location` property to an Object Storage location returned by `GET /backup-locations`. For added data safety, use a location different from the one hosting the cluster. You can also set `backup.retentionDays` to control how long backups are kept (1–365 days).

### How do filtering and pagination work in the MariaDB v2 API?

List endpoints support `offset` and `limit` query parameters for pagination (maximum 1000 items per page). You can also filter clusters by name (`filter.name`) and state (`filter.state`), and filter backups by cluster ID (`filter.clusterId`).

### How do I enable observability for a MariaDB v2 cluster?

Set `logsEnabled` to `true` to enable collection and reporting of logs, and set `metricsEnabled` to `true` to enable collection and reporting of metrics. Note that the observability service must be activated on your contract for these settings to take effect.

### What are maintenance windows?

A maintenance window is a weekly 4-hour slot during which <code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code> may apply updates or patches. You configure it with a `dayOfTheWeek` and a UTC start `time` in the `maintenanceWindow` property when you create or update a cluster. Only one maintenance window can be configured per cluster.

### How do I find the supported MariaDB versions?

Use `GET /versions` to retrieve all supported MariaDB versions, their support status (`BETA`, `SUPPORTED`, `RECOMMENDED`, or `DEPRECATED`), and the versions each can be upgraded to.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## 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, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/databases/mariadb/mariadb-faq.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

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.