MariaDB and XtraDB/InnoDB plugins

In my vps, I thought of switching from MySQL to MariaDB (using Monty's repository for Debian Squeeze). Copying over my.cnf from MySQL to MariaDB, I saw that the new config file (the one from the MariaDB package) does not mention any plugins commands like the old one from MySQL, where I loaded the InnoDB plugin. Now, I understand that XtraDB has become the default ACID storage engine in MariaDB, in place of InnoDB. Since I find MariaDB site's documentation lacking in this area, do I need to put something extra in the new my.cnf to activate XtraDB or is it active by default? show plugins returns this:

```
MariaDB [(none)]> show plugins;
+--------------------------------+--------+--------------------+---------+---------+
| Name | Status | Type | Library | License |
+--------------------------------+--------+--------------------+---------+---------+
| binlog | ACTIVE | STORAGE ENGINE | NULL | GPL |
| mysql_native_password | ACTIVE | AUTHENTICATION | NULL | GPL |
| mysql_old_password | ACTIVE | AUTHENTICATION | NULL | GPL |
| MyISAM | ACTIVE | STORAGE ENGINE | NULL | GPL |
| partition | ACTIVE | STORAGE ENGINE | NULL | GPL |
| ARCHIVE | ACTIVE | STORAGE ENGINE | NULL | GPL |
| BLACKHOLE | ACTIVE | STORAGE ENGINE | NULL | GPL |
| CSV | ACTIVE | STORAGE ENGINE | NULL | GPL |
| FEDERATED | ACTIVE | STORAGE ENGINE | NULL | GPL |
| MEMORY | ACTIVE | STORAGE ENGINE | NULL | GPL |
| Aria | ACTIVE | STORAGE ENGINE | NULL | GPL |
| MRG_MYISAM | ACTIVE | STORAGE ENGINE | NULL | GPL |
| PBXT | ACTIVE | STORAGE ENGINE | NULL | GPL

As shown from your SHOW PLUGINS;, InnoDB is present. XtraDB is also present.

If you want to be sure, you must run SHOW ENGINES;. That will show what storage engine is the default. The fact that the XtraDB plugins are active shows that XtraDB must be in use.

StackExchange Database Administrators Q#25460, answer score: 2