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  1. MariaDB Server
  2. MDEV-39303

innodb_force_recovery=6 startup fails: innodb_read_only=ON prevents an upgrade of the change buffer

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Details

    • Related to install and upgrade
    • InnoDB would fail to start up on data files from MariaDB Server 10.x or earlier when innodb_force_recovery=6 is specified.
    • Q2/2026 Server Maintenance

    Description

      After upgrading from MariaDB 10.6.XX to 11.4 or 11.8.XX, the server fails to start if ib_logfile0 is removed. Even when attempting recovery using innodb_force_recovery=6, the server still fails to start.

      This behavior appears related to changes introduced in later versions:

      Redo log format changes in 10.8
      Change buffer removal in 11.0 https://jira.mariadb.org/browse/MDEV-29694

      Additionally, the error message seems misleading, as it references innodb_read_only, while the actual configuration used is innodb_force_recovery=6.

       
      Steps to Reproduce
      Start MariaDB on version 10.6.25-21
       
      Stop the server:
       
      systemctl stop mariadb
       
      Upgrade to MariaDB 11.8.6-3
      Remove ib_logfile0 from the data directory
       
      Start MariaDB → startup fails
       
      Set in configuration:
       
      innodb_force_recovery=6
       
      Start MariaDB again → still fails
      
      

      The server fails to start with the following errors:

       
      [ERROR] InnoDB: File /var/lib/mysql/ib_logfile0 was not found
      [ERROR] InnoDB: Plugin initialization aborted with error Generic error
      [ERROR] Plugin 'InnoDB' registration as a STORAGE ENGINE failed.
      [ERROR] Unknown/unsupported storage engine: InnoDB
      
      

      With innodb_force_recovery=6:

       
      [Note] InnoDB: !!! innodb_force_recovery is set to 6 !!!
      [Note] InnoDB: Started in read only mode
      [ERROR] InnoDB: innodb_read_only=ON prevents an upgrade of the change buffer
      [ERROR] InnoDB: Plugin initialization aborted with error Read only transaction
      [ERROR] Plugin 'InnoDB' registration as a STORAGE ENGINE failed.
      
      

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              marko Marko Mäkelä
              pramod.mahto@mariadb.com Pramod Mahto
              Marko Mäkelä Marko Mäkelä
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                Updated:
                Resolved:

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