diff --git a/seafile-test.nix b/seafile-test.nix
index 3dd349b..62aeded 100644
--- a/seafile-test.nix
+++ b/seafile-test.nix
@@ -28,8 +28,30 @@
     domainName = "seaf.local";
     db = {
       type = "mysql";
-      passwordFile = toString (pkgs.writeText "testPW" "lol");
+      passwordFile = toString (pkgs.writeText "testPW" "test");
     };
   };
 
+  # db backend
+  services.mysql =
+    {
+      enable = true;
+      package = pkgs.mariadb;
+      ensureDatabases = [ "ccnet" "seafile" "seahub" ];
+      ensureUsers = [
+        rec {
+          name = config.services.seafile-server.db.user;
+          ensurePermissions = {
+            "ccnet.*" = "ALL PRIVILEGES";
+            "seafile.*" = "ALL PRIVILEGES";
+            "seahub.*" = "ALL PRIVILEGES";
+          };
+        }
+      ];
+      # set a password for the seafile user
+      initialScript = pkgs.writeText "mariadb-init.sql" ''
+        CREATE USER ${config.services.seafile-server.db.user}@localhost IDENTIFIED VIA mysql_native_password USING PASSWORD("test");
+      '';
+    };
+
 }