Regarding switching to MariaDB, that is supported, but you need to replace mysql with mariadb in one go:
# apt-get install mariadb-client-core-10.0 mariadb-server-core-10.0 should give you: The following packages will be REMOVED: mysql-client-core-5.7 mysql-server-core-5.7 The following NEW packages will be installed: libreadline5 mariadb-client-core-10.0 mariadb-common mariadb-server-core-10.0 ** Changed in: akonadi (Ubuntu) Status: New => Confirmed -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1576930 Title: Excessive consumption RAM of mysqld daemon in Kubuntu 16.04 To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/akonadi/+bug/1576930/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs