diff --git a/jilo-web.conf.php b/jilo-web.conf.php
index ebe503d..b581160 100644
--- a/jilo-web.conf.php
+++ b/jilo-web.conf.php
@@ -3,8 +3,12 @@
 $config = [
     'domain'			=> 'localhost',
     'folder'			=> '/jilo-web/',
-    'database'			=> '/home/yasen/work/code/git/lindeas-code/jilo-web/jilo-web.db',
-    'jilo_database'		=> '/home/yasen/work/code/git/lindeas-code/jilo/jilo.db',
+    'jilo_database'		=> '../../jilo/jilo.db',
+
+    'db_type'			=> 'sqlite',
+
+    'sqlite_file'		=> '../jilo-web.db',
+
     'registration_enabled'	=> true,
     'login_message'		=> '',
     'version'			=> '0.1.1',
diff --git a/public_html/classes/database.php b/public_html/classes/database.php
index 57a0c57..b5b3519 100644
--- a/public_html/classes/database.php
+++ b/public_html/classes/database.php
@@ -3,25 +3,68 @@
 class Database {
     private $pdo;
 
-    public function __construct($dbFile) {
+    public function __construct($options) {
+        // pdo needed
+        if ( !extension_loaded('pdo') ) {
+            throw new Exception('PDO extension not loaded.');
+        }
 
-        // pdo and pdo_sqlite needed
-        if ( !extension_loaded('pdo_sqlite') ) {
+        // options check
+        if (empty($options['type'])) {
+            throw new Exception('Database type is not set.');
+        }
+
+        // database type
+        switch ($options['type']) {
+            case 'sqlite':
+                $this->connectSqlite($options);
+                break;
+            case 'mysql' || 'mariadb':
+                $this->connectMysql($options);
+                break;
+            default:
+                throw newException("Database type \"{$options['type']}\" is not supported.");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private function connectSqlite($options) {
+        // pdo_sqlite extension is needed
+        if (!extension_loaded('pdo_sqlite')) {
             throw new Exception('PDO extension for SQLite not loaded.');
         }
 
-        // database file check
-        if (empty($dbFile) || !file_exists($dbFile)) {
-            throw new Exception('Database file is not found.');
+        // SQLite options
+        if (empty($options['dbFile']) || !file_exists($options['dbFile'])) {
+            throw new Exception('SQLite database file not found.');
         }
 
-        // connect to database
-        // FIXME: add mysql/mariadb option
+        // connect to SQLite
         try {
-            $this->pdo = new PDO("sqlite:" . $dbFile);
+            $this->pdo = new PDO("sqlite:" . $options['dbFile']);
             $this->pdo->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);
         } catch (PDOException $e) {
-            throw new Exception('DB connection failed: ' . $e->getMessage());
+            throw new Exception('SQLite connection failed: ' . $e->getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+
+    private function connectMysql($options) {
+        // pdo_mysql extension is needed
+        if (!extension_loaded('pdo_mysql')) {
+            throw new Exception('PDO extension for MySQL not loaded.');
+        }
+
+        // MySQL options
+        if (empty($options['host']) || empty($options['dbname']) || empty($options['user'])) {
+            throw new Exception('MySQL connection data is missing.');
+        }
+
+        // Connect to MySQL
+        try {
+            $dsn = "mysql:host={$options['host']};port={$options['port']};dbname={$options['dbname']};charset=utf8";
+            $this->pdo = new PDO($dsn, $options['user'], $options['password'] ?? '');
+            $this->pdo->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);
+        } catch (PDOException $e) {
+            throw new Exception('MySQL connection failed: ' . $e->getMessage());
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/public_html/helpers/database.php b/public_html/helpers/database.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8122fe2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/public_html/helpers/database.php
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+<?php
+
+// connect to database
+function connectDB($config) {
+    // sqlite database file
+    if ($config['db_type'] === 'sqlite') {
+        try {
+            $db = new Database([
+                'type'		=> $config['db_type'],
+                'dbFile'	=> $config['sqlite_file'],
+            ]);
+            $pdo = $db->getConnection();
+        } catch (Exception $e) {
+            $error = 'Error: ' . $e->getMessage();
+            include 'templates/block-message.php';
+            exit();
+        }
+    // mysql/mariadb database
+    } elseif ($config['db_type'] === 'mysql' || $config['db_type'] === 'mariadb') {
+        try {
+            $db = new Database([
+                'type'		=> $config['db_type'],
+                'host'		=> $config['sql_host'] ?? 'localhost',
+                'port'		=> $config['sql_port'] ?? '3306',
+                'dbname'	=> $config['sql_database'],
+                'user'		=> $config['sql_username'],
+                'password'	=> $config['sql_password'],
+            ]);
+            $pdo = $db->getConnection();
+        } catch (Exception $e) {
+            $error = 'Error: ' . $e->getMessage();
+            include 'templates/block-message.php';
+            exit();
+        }
+    // unknown database
+    } else {
+        $error = "Error: unknow database type \"{$config['db_type']}\"";
+        include 'templates/block-message.php';
+        exit();
+    }
+    return $db;
+}
+?>
diff --git a/public_html/index.php b/public_html/index.php
index ba7ee55..070210f 100644
--- a/public_html/index.php
+++ b/public_html/index.php
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ if ($config_file) {
 
 $app_root = $config['folder'];
 
+session_name('jilo');
 session_start();
 
 if (isset($_GET['page'])) {
diff --git a/public_html/pages/components.php b/public_html/pages/components.php
index cf4a780..f6a1a13 100644
--- a/public_html/pages/components.php
+++ b/public_html/pages/components.php
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 require_once 'classes/database.php';
 require 'classes/component.php';
 
+// connect to database
+require 'helpers/database.php';
+$db = connectDB($config);
+
 // FIXME move thi sto a special function
 $time_range_specified = false;
 if (!isset($_REQUEST['from_time']) || (isset($_REQUEST['from_time']) && $_REQUEST['from_time'] == '')) {
@@ -32,15 +36,6 @@ if (isset($_REQUEST['name']) && $_REQUEST['name'] != '') {
     $component_id = 'component_id';
 }
 
-// connect to database
-try {
-    $db = new Database($config['jilo_database']);
-} catch (Exception $e) {
-    $error = 'Error: ' . $e->getMessage();
-    include 'templates/block-message.php';
-    exit();
-}
-
 
 //
 // Component events listings
diff --git a/public_html/pages/conferences.php b/public_html/pages/conferences.php
index c1f0fd1..83e7c56 100644
--- a/public_html/pages/conferences.php
+++ b/public_html/pages/conferences.php
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 require_once 'classes/database.php';
 require 'classes/conference.php';
 
+// connect to database
+require 'helpers/database.php';
+$db = connectDB($config);
+
 // FIXME move thi sto a special function
 $time_range_specified = false;
 if (!isset($_REQUEST['from_time']) || (isset($_REQUEST['from_time']) && $_REQUEST['from_time'] == '')) {
@@ -33,15 +37,6 @@ if (isset($_REQUEST['id']) && $_REQUEST['id'] != '') {
     unset($conferenceName);
 }
 
-// connect to database
-try {
-    $db = new Database($config['jilo_database']);
-} catch (Exception $e) {
-    $error = 'Error: ' . $e->getMessage();
-    include 'templates/block-message.php';
-    exit();
-}
-
 
 //
 // Conference listings
diff --git a/public_html/pages/front.php b/public_html/pages/front.php
index e50636b..d76b3bc 100644
--- a/public_html/pages/front.php
+++ b/public_html/pages/front.php
@@ -5,13 +5,9 @@ require 'classes/conference.php';
 require 'classes/participant.php';
 
 // connect to database
-try {
-    $db = new Database($config['jilo_database']);
-} catch (Exception $e) {
-    $error = 'Error: ' . $e->getMessage();
-    include 'templates/block-message.php';
-    exit();
-}
+require 'helpers/database.php';
+$db = connectDB($config);
+
 
 //
 // dashboard widget listings
diff --git a/public_html/pages/login.php b/public_html/pages/login.php
index 3ab3ee5..0188f64 100644
--- a/public_html/pages/login.php
+++ b/public_html/pages/login.php
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@ require 'classes/user.php';
 unset($error);
 
 try {
-    $db = new Database($config['database']);
+
+    // connect to database
+    require 'helpers/database.php';
+    $db = connectDB($config);
+
     $user = new User($db);
 
     if ( $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST' ) {
diff --git a/public_html/pages/participants.php b/public_html/pages/participants.php
index f7b3b70..255b46d 100644
--- a/public_html/pages/participants.php
+++ b/public_html/pages/participants.php
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 require_once 'classes/database.php';
 require 'classes/participant.php';
 
+// connect to database
+require 'helpers/database.php';
+$db = connectDB($config);
+
 // FIXME move thi sto a special function
 $time_range_specified = false;
 if (!isset($_REQUEST['from_time']) || (isset($_REQUEST['from_time']) && $_REQUEST['from_time'] == '')) {
@@ -37,15 +41,6 @@ if (isset($_REQUEST['id']) && $_REQUEST['id'] != '') {
     unset($participantName);
 }
 
-// connect to database
-try {
-    $db = new Database($config['jilo_database']);
-} catch (Exception $e) {
-    $error = 'Error: ' . $e->getMessage();
-    include 'templates/block-message.php';
-    exit();
-}
-
 
 //
 // Participant listings
diff --git a/public_html/pages/register.php b/public_html/pages/register.php
index b356805..1b7a560 100644
--- a/public_html/pages/register.php
+++ b/public_html/pages/register.php
@@ -8,7 +8,11 @@ if ($config['registration_enabled'] === true) {
     unset($error);
 
     try {
-        $db = new Database($config['database']);
+
+        // connect to database
+        require 'helpers/database.php';
+        $db = connectDB($config);
+
         $user = new User($db);
 
         if ( $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST' ) {