Why do u need to add the connector libaries each time you upgrade....?

the mysql connector for tomcat should be installed in tomcat/libs - dont need to touch it when dropping in a new WAR

The connecter for that you would normally be in OPENVPMS/current-release/libs, I assume is the one you are referring to.  I have that saved in a OPENVPMS/connectors directory and just copy it in when I unzip a new distro.

That being said the I no longer use a current directory.  I have a structure as follows

../OPENVPMS/

../OPENVPMS/connectors

../OPENVPMS/customizations

../OPENVPMS/Customizations/reports

../OPENVPMS/Customizations/images

../OPENVPMS/Customizations/archetypes

../OPENVPMS/Customizations/login

../OPENVPMS/Customizations/properties

../OPENVPMS/Openvpms-1.7.1

../OPENVPMS/Openvpms-1.6.1 

In this way my unzips never override previous releases...I can delete previous releases safely without deleting my customizations.

To be honest the idea of deleting or backing up the current-release directory each time you update is crazy - due to the fact that you can accidently delete customized reports etc.

Mariadb lags behind mysql development usually by a few months.  I really think using a 3rd party library to connect to a mysql community database throws an additional layer of potential error into the package. 

Sincerely 

Ben