You can literally just type 'apt-get install mariadb-server' into Ubuntu (once you've added the sources) and you won't even know MySQL is gone. You can even still type 'mysql -p' to log in to MariaDB locally.
# cat /etc/apt/preferences
Package: *
Pin: origin repo.percona.com
Pin-Priority: 1003
Package: *
Pin: origin ftp.osuosl.org
Pin-Priority: 1002
# tail /etc/apt/sources.list
deb ftp://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/mariadb/repo/5.5/ubuntu precise main
deb-src ftp://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/mariadb/repo/5.5/ubuntu precise mainThis simple command replaces mysql in one shot? I might test it tonight if so. Do I have to run mysql_upgrade?
Got a good recommendation for a guide?
https://downloads.mariadb.org/mariadb/repositories/#mirror=o...
Just pick your distro and you're good to go. I didn't have to run anything else.