Running into an issue which I'm sure is an easy fix, but I just can't find my way to it. New installation of mariadb-server 11.4 on Ubuntu.

Have the installed default f file in /etc/mysql/mariadb.conf.d/50-serverf

Starting the server via sudo systemctl start mariadb does NOT read this f file. I'm specifically attempting to change the datadir, but I've even gone as far as adding an intentional syntax error in the file to prove that it's not being read/processed.

Starting the mariadb client via mariadb reads the f file without a problem, it indicates the syntax error on line 4 as expected.

But starting via systemctl, doesn't change the datadir nor raises an error.

I've additionally added a /etc/mysql/myf file just to be sure:

[mariadbd]
!includedir /etc/mysql/mariadb.conf.d/

mariadbd --verbose --help returns

Default options are read from the following files in the given order:
/etc/myf /etc/mysql/myf ~/.myf
The following groups are read: mysqld server mysqld-11.4 mariadb mariadb-11.4 mariadbd mariadbd-11.4 client-server galera
.....
datadir                                                      /var/lib/mysql/

And lastly, the 50-serverf file is default other than the datadir line

#
# These groups are read by MariaDB server.
# Use it for options that only the server (but not clients) should see
xxxx # intentional syntax error

# this is read by the standalone daemon and embedded servers
[server]

# this is only for the mariadbd daemon
[mariadbd]

#
# * Basic Settings
#

#user                    = mysql
pid-file                = /run/mysqld/mysqld.pid
basedir                 = /usr
datadir                 = /mysql/data
#tmpdir                  = /tmp

<< remainder cut >>

Any suggestions?