Unable to Access Azure MariaDB after Retirement – Need Database Dump

Question

Unable to Access Azure MariaDB after Retirement – Need Database Dump

Ari Gabay 51

Hello,

My MariaDB server on Azure has already been retired as part of the permanent shutdown on September 20, 2025. I was not able to complete the migration in time, and now I cannot access my database at all.

It is critical for me to recover the data. I need either:

A temporary reactivation of the MariaDB instance so that I can take a dump myself, or

A database dump file that Azure can provide from the latest available backup.

Please let me know the next steps urgently.

My case number is: 2509300050001154. I hold a Developer Support Plan.

Thank you for your assistance.

Best regards,
Ari Gabay.

VRISHABHANATH PATIL 2,305 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-03T10:13:22.1966667+00:00

Hi @Ari Gabay

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A and thank you for posting your questions here.

It appears you are facing a challenging situation due to the retirement of your Azure Database for MariaDB instance prior to completing a data backup. Regrettably, once the retirement process has concluded, Azure generally does not offer mechanisms to reactivate retired instances or recover associated data, as all resources are permanently deleted in accordance with established platform policies.

We will review this with the highest priority and get back to you as soon as possible.

Thanks,
Vrishabh
Ari Gabay 51 Reputation points

2025-10-03T11:51:37.15+00:00

Hello Vrishabh,

Thank you for your quick response.

I fully understand the platform retirement policy. However, this is a critical data-loss incident. While the server was active, automated backups were configured (backupRetentionDays = 7). Based on the recorded details, backups were likely available up until the retirement window.

I am requesting an exception-based recovery in one of the following ways:

A temporary reactivation of the retired MariaDB instance solely for a dump/export.

A database dump (or point-in-time restore to a temporary target) from the last available backup/snapshot your team can access.

My case number is 2509300050001154, and I hold an Azure Developer Support Plan.

For privacy reasons, details such as Subscription ID, Resource ID, and Server FQDN can be shared privately upon request.

If recovery is not technically possible, I kindly ask for a written confirmation stating:

When all backups/snapshots for this resource were permanently purged.

Whether any internal snapshots/log backups still exist (even if not customer-accessible).

And a definitive confirmation that no exception-path recovery is feasible.

Given the business impact and compliance needs, I request escalation to engineering for a final check.

Thank you,
Ari Gabay
VRISHABHANATH PATIL 2,305 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-13T07:14:43.67+00:00

Hi Ari Gabay,

Thank you for your patience! With the assistance of the product group team, we have re-enabled the server until this weekend so you can take a backup and then delete the server from your end. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate your understanding throughout this process.

Please let us know once you’ve completed the requested operations, or if you need any further assistance.
VRISHABHANATH PATIL 2,305 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-14T03:41:06.17+00:00

Hi Ari Gabay,

We wanted to check in regarding the server operations. Have you been able to take the backup and delete the server as requested?

Please let us know if the actions have been completed or if you need any further assistance.
VRISHABHANATH PATIL 2,305 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-17T04:20:32.6233333+00:00

Hi Ari Gabay,

Just checking in have you been able to take the backup and delete the server as requested.

1 answer

Your answer

VRISHABHANATH PATIL 2,305 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-03T10:13:22.1966667+00:00

Hi @Ari Gabay

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A and thank you for posting your questions here.

It appears you are facing a challenging situation due to the retirement of your Azure Database for MariaDB instance prior to completing a data backup. Regrettably, once the retirement process has concluded, Azure generally does not offer mechanisms to reactivate retired instances or recover associated data, as all resources are permanently deleted in accordance with established platform policies.

We will review this with the highest priority and get back to you as soon as possible.

Thanks,
Vrishabh
Ari Gabay 51 Reputation points

2025-10-03T11:51:37.15+00:00

Hello Vrishabh,

Thank you for your quick response.

I fully understand the platform retirement policy. However, this is a critical data-loss incident. While the server was active, automated backups were configured (backupRetentionDays = 7). Based on the recorded details, backups were likely available up until the retirement window.

I am requesting an exception-based recovery in one of the following ways:

A temporary reactivation of the retired MariaDB instance solely for a dump/export.

A database dump (or point-in-time restore to a temporary target) from the last available backup/snapshot your team can access.

My case number is 2509300050001154, and I hold an Azure Developer Support Plan.

For privacy reasons, details such as Subscription ID, Resource ID, and Server FQDN can be shared privately upon request.

If recovery is not technically possible, I kindly ask for a written confirmation stating:

When all backups/snapshots for this resource were permanently purged.

Whether any internal snapshots/log backups still exist (even if not customer-accessible).

And a definitive confirmation that no exception-path recovery is feasible.

Given the business impact and compliance needs, I request escalation to engineering for a final check.

Thank you,
Ari Gabay
VRISHABHANATH PATIL 2,305 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-13T07:14:43.67+00:00

Hi Ari Gabay,

Thank you for your patience! With the assistance of the product group team, we have re-enabled the server until this weekend so you can take a backup and then delete the server from your end. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate your understanding throughout this process.

Please let us know once you’ve completed the requested operations, or if you need any further assistance.
VRISHABHANATH PATIL 2,305 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-14T03:41:06.17+00:00

Hi Ari Gabay,

We wanted to check in regarding the server operations. Have you been able to take the backup and delete the server as requested?

Please let us know if the actions have been completed or if you need any further assistance.
VRISHABHANATH PATIL 2,305 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-17T04:20:32.6233333+00:00

Hi Ari Gabay,

Just checking in have you been able to take the backup and delete the server as requested.

Answer 1

Hello Ari Gabay,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A and thank you for posting your questions here.

I understand that you are unable to Access Azure MariaDB after Retirement – Need Database Dump.

Request short‑term re‑enablement of the retired MariaDB server to take a dump via your Azure Portal. (Yes, outcome not guaranteed.) You can prepare extraction tooling like mysqldump (and optionally mydumper) on a jump host with outbound access and SSL.

If your MariaDB server re‑enabled, dump fast (parallelize if large), verify the file(s), copy to redundant storage, then restore to Azure Database for MySQL – Flexible Server and cut over. - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/mariadb/migrate/whats-happening-to-mariadb and if not re‑enabled, pivot to external backup discovery (Storage accounts, DMS/ADF artifacts, app replicas, staging DBs) to restore what you find. Also, if no copies exist, record as irrecoverable per Microsoft guidance; rebuild from upstream systems. - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/mariadb/migrate/whats-happening-to-mariadb

NOTE: All the links serve as reference and more details.

I hope this is helpful! Do not hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions or clarifications.

Please don't forget to close up the thread here by upvoting and accept it as an answer if it is helpful.

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Unable to Access Azure MariaDB after Retirement – Need Database Dump

1 answer

Your answer