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Uptime Kuma Docker Compose With MariaDB

A practical, security-conscious Docker Compose deployment for Uptime Kuma and MariaDB, including the complete YAML, secret files, persistence, initialization behavior, troubleshooting and SQLite trade-offs.
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Run Uptime Kuma and MariaDB as two services in one Docker Compose project. Uptime Kuma connects to the database at the Compose service name db on port 3306, while named volumes preserve both the application data and MariaDB files across restarts.

The configuration below uses Docker secrets for passwords, creates the MariaDB database and user on first launch, and mounts the persistent paths required by both containers.

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What this deployment contains

The stack has an app service running Uptime Kuma and a db service running MariaDB. Compose creates a private network for the project, so the application reaches MariaDB by DNS name db. Do not use localhost in Uptime Kuma’s database hostname: inside the app container, localhost refers to that same container, not the MariaDB service.

Prerequisites

  • Docker Engine with the Compose plugin and permission to run docker compose.
  • A host directory where the Compose file and secret files can be protected from other users.
  • TCP port 3001 available on the host, or another host port that you map to container port 3001.
  • Enough storage for two persistent volumes and a backup copy of each.

A secure Docker Compose file

Save this as compose.yaml. The Uptime Kuma image uses the major :2 tag in the official installation example; the MariaDB example uses mariadb:11.7. Review image releases and pin versions according to your change-control policy rather than silently accepting an unreviewed update.

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services:
  app:
    image: louislam/uptime-kuma:2
    ports:
      - "3001:3001"
    volumes:
      - uptime_kuma_data:/app/data
    environment:
      UPTIME_KUMA_DB_TYPE: mariadb
      UPTIME_KUMA_DB_HOSTNAME: db
      UPTIME_KUMA_DB_PORT: 3306
      UPTIME_KUMA_DB_NAME: kuma
      UPTIME_KUMA_DB_USERNAME: kuma
      UPTIME_KUMA_DB_PASSWORD_FILE: /run/secrets/db_password
    depends_on:
      - db
    secrets:
      - db_password

  db:
    image: mariadb:11.7
    environment:
      MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD_FILE: /run/secrets/db_root_password
      MYSQL_PASSWORD_FILE: /run/secrets/db_password
      MYSQL_USER: kuma
      MYSQL_DATABASE: kuma
    volumes:
      - mariadb_data:/var/lib/mysql
    secrets:
      - db_password
      - db_root_password

volumes:
  uptime_kuma_data:
  mariadb_data:

secrets:
  db_password:
    file: ./secrets/db_password
  db_root_password:
    file: ./secrets/db_root_password

There is deliberately no ports entry for MariaDB. The database is reachable by other services on Compose’s internal network, but is not published directly on the host. If another machine must connect for administration, add a controlled firewall rule and a host mapping only for that use case.

Prepare password files and start the stack

  1. Create the project directories. For example, make a directory for the Compose file and a secrets subdirectory beneath it.
  2. Create two different strong passwords. Put the application user’s password in secrets/db_password and the MariaDB root password in secrets/db_root_password. Keep each file to the password value, normally followed by a newline.
  3. Restrict host permissions. Set both files so only the account that runs Compose can read them, and do not commit them to source control or include them in support bundles.
  4. Launch the services. From the directory containing compose.yaml, run docker compose up -d.
  5. Watch startup output. Use docker compose logs -f db and, in another terminal, docker compose logs -f app. Wait for MariaDB to finish initialization before diagnosing an application connection error.
  6. Open the web interface. Browse to http://HOSTNAME-OR-IP:3001 (or the host port you selected) and complete Uptime Kuma’s first-run account setup.

depends_on expresses startup order, not database readiness. MariaDB may still be creating its system tables when the app container starts. A transient connection error can clear after the database reports that it is ready; if the app does not reconnect, restart only the app with docker compose restart app after confirming the database logs are healthy.

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Uptime Kuma database variables

These variables tell Uptime Kuma how to form its MariaDB connection. The values must match the database service’s initialization settings and the network name in the Compose project.

Variable Value in this example Purpose
UPTIME_KUMA_DB_TYPE mariadb Selects MariaDB instead of SQLite.
UPTIME_KUMA_DB_HOSTNAME db Compose DNS name of the MariaDB service.
UPTIME_KUMA_DB_PORT 3306 MariaDB’s normal container port.
UPTIME_KUMA_DB_NAME kuma Database schema Uptime Kuma uses.
UPTIME_KUMA_DB_USERNAME kuma Application database account.
UPTIME_KUMA_DB_PASSWORD_FILE /run/secrets/db_password Reads the password from a mounted secret instead of putting it directly in YAML.

Uptime Kuma also documents optional SSL and connection-pool settings. The environment-variable table includes UPTIME_KUMA_DB_POOL_MAX_CONNECTIONS, whose default is 10; increase it only when monitoring workload and MariaDB capacity justify more simultaneous connections. The documentation also provides _FILE forms for sensitive password, username and CA values. Use the exact variable names supported by the Uptime Kuma version you deploy when enabling certificate verification or supplying those values.

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MariaDB initialization variables

On an empty data directory, the MariaDB image uses these settings to create the database and application account:

Variable Value in this example Effect
MYSQL_DATABASE kuma Creates the named database.
MYSQL_USER kuma Creates the non-root application user.
MYSQL_PASSWORD_FILE /run/secrets/db_password Sets that user’s password from the mounted secret.
MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD_FILE /run/secrets/db_root_password Sets the root password from a separate secret.

Initialization is a first-start operation. Once mariadb_data contains a database directory, changing MYSQL_DATABASE, MYSQL_USER or either password file does not rewrite the existing data or create a replacement account. This behavior protects existing databases but often surprises people who edit Compose and expect credentials to change immediately. Change an existing account inside MariaDB using an administrative procedure, or deliberately migrate to a new empty volume after making and verifying a backup. Never remove a production volume merely to make an environment-variable change take effect.

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Persistence and backup design

Keep both named-volume mounts:

  • uptime_kuma_data:/app/data stores Uptime Kuma’s application state. Without it, recreating the app container can remove configuration, users and monitor data.
  • mariadb_data:/var/lib/mysql stores MariaDB’s database files. Without it, the database is recreated from scratch when the container is replaced.

Back up both volumes as one logical deployment. A database dump protects SQL records and is useful for migrations; a copy or snapshot of the Uptime Kuma data volume protects application-side files. Record which image versions and Compose file were used with each backup, and test restoration on an isolated project before upgrading. A backup that covers only MariaDB can still leave the restored Uptime Kuma instance without matching application data, while a backup of only /app/data cannot recreate the SQL database.

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Verify the connection before changing settings

Check service state and logs

Run docker compose ps to confirm both containers are running. MariaDB’s first boot takes longer than later starts because it initializes system tables and the requested database. Read the database log for its ready message, then inspect the app log for authentication or hostname errors. If the database repeatedly exits, fix that service first; Uptime Kuma cannot establish a connection to a stopped database.

Hostname or port errors

Use db as the hostname and 3306 as the container port. A host-published port, if you add one, is for clients outside the Compose network and is not required for the app. Using the host’s IP, 127.0.0.1 or localhost in UPTIME_KUMA_DB_HOSTNAME points to the wrong network location.

Access denied errors

Confirm that the content of secrets/db_password is the same value supplied to both UPTIME_KUMA_DB_PASSWORD_FILE and MYSQL_PASSWORD_FILE. Check for an accidental extra space or a different newline-handling method. If the volume was initialized previously, remember that editing the file does not change the already-created MariaDB account; update that account deliberately or restore a known-good volume.

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The app appears empty after recreation

Verify that the container still mounts the named volume at exactly /app/data and that the database service mounts mariadb_data at /var/lib/mysql. Running a different Compose project name can create new volumes with similar-looking service definitions, so inspect the volumes attached to the running containers before assuming data was deleted.

Security and maintenance practices

  • Prefer secrets or file variables for credentials. Compose’s environment and env_file features are convenient for non-secret configuration, but plain-text passwords in YAML or a broadly readable environment file can leak through source control and diagnostics.
  • Protect the secret directory. Restrict permissions, exclude it from backups that are shared casually, and rotate credentials through a planned database-account change rather than editing files and assuming initialization will rerun.
  • Keep MariaDB private. Publish only Uptime Kuma’s web port unless there is a specific administrative requirement for external database access.
  • Review image tags. The example’s :2 and :11.7 tags are deployment choices, not a guarantee that every future build is appropriate. Read release notes, back up both volumes and test an upgrade before changing tags in production.
  • Plan storage and recovery. Monitor free space, retain more than one backup generation and perform a restoration drill. Persistent volumes survive container replacement, but they are not a backup by themselves.

SQLite or MariaDB?

Uptime Kuma officially supports both SQLite and MariaDB. The choice is operational rather than a published speed ranking; the reviewed documentation does not provide a benchmark comparing them.

Decision factor SQLite MariaDB
Operational complexity One application service and one data file or directory. Requires a second database service, credentials and database backups.
Concurrency behavior Suitable for simpler deployments, but file locking and concurrent writes depend on the filesystem. Uses a server database designed for concurrent client connections.
Backup and restore Protect the Uptime Kuma data path and ensure the copy is consistent. Protect both the SQL database and /app/data; a logical dump can simplify migration.
Filesystem requirements Needs working POSIX file locks. Network filesystems such as NFS can cause problems. MariaDB files live in the database container’s data volume, but that volume still needs reliable storage and backups.
When a separate service is acceptable Best when minimizing moving parts is more important than a standalone database. Useful when you already operate MariaDB, need server-style database management or want to separate application and database lifecycles.

Choosing MariaDB does not eliminate persistence requirements: the database volume remains essential. Conversely, if you stay with SQLite, place /app/data on a local Docker volume or another filesystem with reliable POSIX locking rather than an NFS share that cannot provide the required semantics.

Upgrade and recovery checklist

  1. Confirm that both named volumes are included in a recent, restorable backup.
  2. Record the current image tags and save a copy of the working Compose file and secret-handling procedure.
  3. Review the release notes for both images and test the new tags in a separate project when possible.
  4. Stop or recreate services through Compose so volume mounts and environment values remain explicit; do not delete volumes as part of a routine image upgrade.
  5. After startup, verify MariaDB readiness, sign in to Uptime Kuma, inspect several monitors and confirm that historical data is present.
  6. If the upgrade fails, preserve the logs, stop further changes and restore the tested volume backup rather than repeatedly reinitializing the database.

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