Key Takeaways
- MySQL 8.4 (LTS) is now supported on newly launched Debian 12 servers.
- It enables support for modern frameworks like CraftCMS 5.x and WordPress 6.4+, ensuring long-term application stability.
- You can choose MySQL 8.4 as your database engine when launching a new server. This choice is permanent for the server’s lifecycle.
- This update is designed for CMS developers, agencies, and anyone standardized on MySQL workflows or managing high-traffic production apps.
As digital innovation accelerates and modern applications evolve, the need for robust, reliable, and scalable databases has never been more pronounced. This is particularly true for web frameworks like CraftCMS 5.x, which have become a key aspect of web development for agencies, developers, and large enterprises alike.
In response to this demand, Cloudways is excited to announce the integration of MySQL 8.4 (Long-Term Support) with our newly launched Debian 12 servers. This new feature offers our users the flexibility to choose between MariaDB 10.11 and MySQL 8.4 during server creation, marking a significant leap in providing modern and powerful database solutions.
This update gives customers greater flexibility to choose the database engine that best fits their application requirements, compatibility needs, and long-term support expectations.
As one of the most widely used open-source relational database management systems in the world, MySQL brings strong ecosystem support and proven reliability. With the introduction of MySQL 8.4, Cloudways customers can benefit from improved performance, enhanced security, modern SQL features, and long-term stability for production workloads.
What’s New with MySQL on Cloudways?
The launch of MySQL 8.4 is a crucial development for anyone working with applications that rely on MySQL as their database engine. As web frameworks and content management systems evolve, the database engine powering these systems must keep pace (for instance, CraftCMS now recommends using MySQL for high-traffic sites).
By adding MySQL 8.4 support, Cloudways removes a major roadblock for its Customers.
Additionally, MySQL 8.4 is available as part of Cloudways’ new Debian 12 server package, enabling users to select it as the core database engine during server creation. Once selected, the database choice is permanent for the server’s lifecycle. This helps to ensure consistency and stability for the deployed applications.
Why Does It Matter?
The importance of MySQL 8.4 cannot be overstated. As modern applications and CMS platforms evolve, database compatibility is no longer optional. It has become an essential requirement that significantly affects application compatibility and viability.
Key reasons why MySQL 8.4 is a game-changer:
- Seamless Upgrades: Modern CMS, such as WordPress 6.9 and CraftCMS 5.x, now either require or support MySQL 8.4. This integration is a critical step in ensuring hassle-free upgrades and new deployments.
- Long-Term Stability: MySQL 8.4 is a Long-Term Support (LTS) release, ensuring fewer forced upgrades and greater stability for mission-critical applications. This feature eliminates the need for constant database version updates, offering peace of mind for agencies, developers, eCommerce businesses, and SMBs running high-traffic, high-load applications.
How MySQL on Cloudways Works
Setting up MySQL 8.4 is straightforward during server creation. When users spin up a new server, they will be presented with a choice of two database engines: MariaDB 10.11 (default) or MySQL 8.4.
Note that this choice cannot be “undone” after server provisioning. This guarantees that the entire server environment remains unchanged and free of potential compatibility issues.
Important Notes on Compatibility:
- Database Choice is Permanent: Once the server is created with MySQL or MariaDB, users cannot switch between them. This helps to ensure there is no risk of data corruption, especially during critical operations like cloning, staging, or recovery.
- Cloning & Staging: You can only clone or stage a server to another server that uses the same database engine. If you’re working with MySQL 8.4, you’ll need to ensure that the destination server uses the same database type.
Who Should Use MySQL 8.4?
Cloudways MySQL hosting is built for developers, digital agencies, and growing businesses who need flexible, high-performance, and fully managed database infrastructure.
Whether you’re building modern applications, managing multiple client sites, or running a production SaaS app, Cloudways gives you the tools and reliability to focus on growth, not server management. MySQL 8.4 is a game-changer for anyone building modern web applications.
This feature is specifically designed for:
- Developers & Agencies working with CMS: MySQL 8.4 is especially a good fit (the Long Term Support version means you don’t have to update databases every few months) for projects that use the latest CMS versions (WordPress 6.6+, CraftCMS 5.x+, Laravel, and Magento).
- Teams Standardized on MySQL Workflows: Agencies and developers that have chosen MySQL 8.4 as their standard database solution can now seamlessly integrate and deploy their workflows with Cloudways, knowing their preferred database engine is supported.
- High-Traffic or Long-Term Production Applications: MySQL 8.4 provides greater stability for mission-critical applications, offering a solid database solution for projects expecting significant user traffic and request volumes or long-term maintenance.
Why Cloudways?
By integrating MySQL 8.4 on Cloudways alongside MariaDB, we allow developers to use the database engine that best suits their needs, all while maintaining Cloudways’ reputation as a Platform of Choice for developers and agencies.
Future-Proof Your Tech Stack
With MySQL 8.4 now integrated into Cloudways’ suite of database options, agencies and developers can rest easy knowing their tech stacks are future-proofed. As MySQL continues to evolve and modern web applications demand cutting-edge database engines, Cloudways remains committed to providing the flexibility and stability developers need to build and scale their projects.
This launch signifies more than just a new version of a database engine; it’s a critical piece of the puzzle for agencies and developers striving for efficiency, scalability, and stability in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Stay tuned as we continue to innovate and bring new solutions to the table. And as always, if you have any questions or feedback, feel free to reach out through our support channels. We’re here to help you grow and succeed.
Zafar Iqbal
Zafar Iqbal is a Senior Technical Writer who's spent the last decade making server products, WordPress, and SaaS platforms actually make sense to people. As someone who lives at the intersection of tech and marketing, he loves turning complicated technical concepts into insights that help people make the right business decisions. When he's not demystifying managed hosting infrastructure, he's tinkering with his hobby projects.
