We have two important announcements for the MySQL Galera Cluster community.
First, we are excited to announce a new, seamless In-Place Migration path to MariaDB Galera Cluster. This migration process has been rigorously tested and confirmed to be straightforward and, in the vast majority of scenarios, achieves minimal operational interruption.
Second, with this fully supported migration path now available, we are formally announcing the End-of-Life (EOL) date for continued maintenance and regular binary releases of MySQL Galera Cluster. Support for all current MySQL Galera Cluster versions ends on September 30, 2026. This extended timeline gives your team ample opportunity to leverage the new in-place migration method and secure your future with MariaDB Galera Cluster.
A New Chapter for Galera Cluster
Following MariaDB Plc’s acquisition of Codership, the creators of Galera Cluster, in May 2025, the core Galera development team formally joined MariaDB. This move commits us to fully investing in the future of the Galera technology and securing its position as the leading synchronous replication solution.
Since the acquisition, we have provided continued maintenance and regular binary releases for MySQL Galera Cluster. However, by bringing the architects of Galera Cluster under the same roof as our own database experts, we can now accelerate clustering innovation at a pace we haven’t been able to do previously.
As we look to the future, we are focusing all innovation and new feature development exclusively on MariaDB Galera Cluster. This consolidation allows the combined engineering team to deliver more powerful and advanced clustering features, ensuring industry-leading high availability for MariaDB. We commit to maintaining the existing MySQL Galera Cluster release series with ongoing updates until the EOL date, but all new features and capabilities will only be available in the MariaDB version. To access the latest innovations, migrating to MariaDB Galera Cluster is the recommended path.
Your Migration Path: Near-Zero Downtime Options
To facilitate your transition, we have released comprehensive documentation detailing two distinct migration methodologies:
- In-Place Migration (Near-Zero Downtime): Engineered for highly fluid and efficient upgrades, this method allows for near-zero interruption within your existing cluster environment. Read In-Place Migration Documentation
- Replication Method: An alternative approach leveraging standard replication techniques. Read Standard Replication Migration Documentation
Key Considerations Before Migration
While the in-place methodology is designed for maximum efficiency, all users should be aware of critical architectural and structural differences between the two platforms. MariaDB Galera Cluster offers a richer set of enterprise-grade features, but the following key considerations require systematic pre-migration steps:
- System Tables: MariaDB utilizes a distinct system table structure.
- Data Dictionary: The data dictionary differs fundamentally between the platforms.
- User Account Mapping: User accounts and user privileges are not mapped directly one-to-one, and you must therefore systematically recreate them within the MariaDB environment.
A full, detailed migration procedure, along with a list of necessary pre-migration steps and potential caveats, is available on this dedicated migration resource page.
The End-of-Life (EOL) Timeline for MySQL Galera Cluster
With multiple, well-validated migration pathways now available, we are formally announcing the EOL timeline for MySQL Galera Cluster.
We commit to the continued maintenance, including bug fixes, of all current versions of MySQL Galera Cluster until September 30, 2026.
This extended support period is designed to give your team ample time to thoroughly test, validate, and execute the migration with confidence.
Secure Your Future: Migrate to MariaDB Galera Cluster Today
Thank you for being a part of the MySQL Galera Cluster community. We look forward to welcoming you to MariaDB Galera Cluster – the officially supported, full-featured, and continuously innovated solution for mission-critical, clustered environments.
We encourage you to begin exploring the MySQL Galera Cluster migration documentation today. Don’t wait until the EOL date approaches to secure your future.
MariaDB’s dedicated Support and Consulting teams are fully prepared to provide assistance with any aspect of your migration efforts. Contact us if you need help with migrating or if you’d like more information about MariaDB’s enterprise clustering and replication solutions available with MariaDB Enterprise Platform.
