Hello! I can see in the logs:
2017-11-06 17:10:13 139930521723456 [Warning] WSREP: access file(/var/lib/mysql//gvwstate.dat) failed(No such file or directory) This issue might ultimately be related to https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=874025 or upstream https://github.com/codership/galera/issues/313 I don't think this is related to the Debian packaging in any way. You hypothesis of issues with systemd script are not supported by any evidence. You workaround does not sound like something that would be recommended to do, and I don't understand why killing the original process even can help, interesting. I suggest you seek support from the upstream mailing list or buy support from Codership, the company behind Galera.