diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 6f6361ef706..9453e1114b4 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -22,4 +22,4 @@ result*.html
 tests/test_results/
 venv
 mlrun/utils/version/version.json
-mlrun/api/migrations/mlrun.db
+mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/mlrun.db
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ba41a98cefe..79231d4f7d1 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -69,14 +69,37 @@ install-requirements: ## Install all requirements needed for development
 		-r dockerfiles/mlrun-api/requirements.txt \
 		-r docs/requirements.txt
 
-.PHONY: create-migration
-create-migration: export MLRUN_HTTPDB__DSN="sqlite:///$(PWD)/mlrun/api/migrations/mlrun.db?check_same_thread=false"
-create-migration: ## Create a DB migration (MLRUN_MIGRATION_MESSAGE must be set)
+.PHONY: create-migration-sqlite
+create-migration-sqlite: export MLRUN_HTTPDB__DSN="sqlite:///$(PWD)/mlrun/api/migrations/mlrun.db?check_same_thread=false"
+create-migration-sqlite: ## Create a DB migration (MLRUN_MIGRATION_MESSAGE must be set)
 ifndef MLRUN_MIGRATION_MESSAGE
 	$(error MLRUN_MIGRATION_MESSAGE is undefined)
 endif
-	alembic -c ./mlrun/api/alembic.ini upgrade head
-	alembic -c ./mlrun/api/alembic.ini revision --autogenerate -m "$(MLRUN_MIGRATION_MESSAGE)"
+	alembic -c ./mlrun/api/alembic_sqlite.ini upgrade head
+	alembic -c ./mlrun/api/alembic_sqlite.ini revision --autogenerate -m "$(MLRUN_MIGRATION_MESSAGE)"
+
+.PHONY: create-migration-mysql
+create-migration-mysql: export MLRUN_HTTPDB__DSN="mysql+pymysql://root:pass@localhost:3306/mlrun"
+create-migration-mysql: ## Create a DB migration (MLRUN_MIGRATION_MESSAGE must be set)
+ifndef MLRUN_MIGRATION_MESSAGE
+	$(error MLRUN_MIGRATION_MESSAGE is undefined)
+endif
+	docker run \
+		--name=migration-db \
+		--rm \
+		-v $(pwd):/mlrun \
+		-p 3306:3306 \
+		-e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD="pass" \
+		-e MYSQL_ROOT_HOST=% \
+		-e MYSQL_DATABASE="mlrun" \
+		-d \
+		mysql/mysql-server:5.7 \
+		--character-set-server=utf8 \
+		--collation-server=utf8_bin
+	alembic -c ./mlrun/api/alembic_mysql.ini upgrade head
+	alembic -c ./mlrun/api/alembic_mysql.ini revision --autogenerate -m "$(MLRUN_MIGRATION_MESSAGE)"
+	docker kill migration-db
+	docker rm migration-db
 
 .PHONY: bump-version
 bump-version: ## Bump version in all needed places in code
@@ -489,7 +512,7 @@ test-migrations: clean ## Run mlrun db migrations tests
 		--durations=100 \
 		-rf \
 		--test-alembic \
-		migrations/tests/*
+		migrations_sqlite/tests/*
 
 .PHONY: test-system-dockerized
 test-system-dockerized: build-test-system ## Run mlrun system tests in docker container
diff --git a/dockerfiles/mlrun-api/requirements.txt b/dockerfiles/mlrun-api/requirements.txt
index 73120968302..03ae51266b8 100644
--- a/dockerfiles/mlrun-api/requirements.txt
+++ b/dockerfiles/mlrun-api/requirements.txt
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@ dask-kubernetes~=0.11.0
 # 3.0 iguazio system is running k8s 1.17 so ideally we would use 17.X, but kfp limiting to <12.0
 kubernetes-asyncio~=11.0
 apscheduler~=3.6
+sqlite3-to-mysql~=1.4
diff --git a/mlrun/api/alembic.ini b/mlrun/api/alembic.ini
index 1a591ea6a02..4e6efb1848a 100644
--- a/mlrun/api/alembic.ini
+++ b/mlrun/api/alembic.ini
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 [alembic]
 # path to migration scripts
-script_location = %(here)s/migrations
+script_location = %(here)s/migrations_sqlite
 
 # template used to generate migration files
 # file_template = %%(rev)s_%%(slug)s
diff --git a/mlrun/api/alembic_mysql.ini b/mlrun/api/alembic_mysql.ini
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0c923b54160
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mlrun/api/alembic_mysql.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+# A generic, single database configuration.
+
+[alembic]
+# path to migration scripts
+script_location = %(here)s/migrations_mysql
+
+# template used to generate migration files
+# file_template = %%(rev)s_%%(slug)s
+
+# timezone to use when rendering the date
+# within the migration file as well as the filename.
+# string value is passed to dateutil.tz.gettz()
+# leave blank for localtime
+# timezone =
+
+# max length of characters to apply to the
+# "slug" field
+# truncate_slug_length = 40
+
+# set to 'true' to run the environment during
+# the 'revision' command, regardless of autogenerate
+# revision_environment = false
+
+# set to 'true' to allow .pyc and .pyo files without
+# a source .py file to be detected as revisions in the
+# versions/ directory
+# sourceless = false
+
+# version location specification; this defaults
+# to alembic/versions.  When using multiple version
+# directories, initial revisions must be specified with --version-path
+# version_locations = %(here)s/bar %(here)s/bat alembic/versions
+
+# the output encoding used when revision files
+# are written from script.py.mako
+# output_encoding = utf-8
+
+# this is overridden anyway in the alembic env.py by what ever is configured in mlrun.mlconf
+sqlalchemy.url = sqlite:///test.db
+
+
+[post_write_hooks]
+# post_write_hooks defines scripts or Python functions that are run
+# on newly generated revision scripts.  See the documentation for further
+# detail and examples
+
+# format using "black" - use the console_scripts runner, against the "black" entrypoint
+# hooks=black
+# black.type=console_scripts
+# black.entrypoint=black
+# black.options=-l 79
+
+# Logging configuration
+[loggers]
+keys = root,sqlalchemy,alembic
+
+[handlers]
+keys = console
+
+[formatters]
+keys = generic
+
+[logger_root]
+level = WARN
+handlers = console
+qualname =
+
+[logger_sqlalchemy]
+level = WARN
+handlers =
+qualname = sqlalchemy.engine
+
+[logger_alembic]
+level = INFO
+handlers =
+qualname = alembic
+
+[handler_console]
+class = StreamHandler
+args = (sys.stderr,)
+level = NOTSET
+formatter = generic
+
+[formatter_generic]
+format = %(levelname)-5.5s [%(name)s] %(message)s
+datefmt = %H:%M:%S
diff --git a/mlrun/api/db/sqldb/models.py b/mlrun/api/db/sqldb/models.py
index 2cbb1f4098c..47afc49a626 100644
--- a/mlrun/api/db/sqldb/models.py
+++ b/mlrun/api/db/sqldb/models.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 from sqlalchemy.orm import class_mapper, relationship
 
 from mlrun.api import schemas
+from mlrun.api.utils.db.sql_collation import SQLCollationUtil
 
 Base = declarative_base()
 NULL = None  # Avoid flake8 issuing warnings when comparing in filter
@@ -81,8 +82,8 @@ class Label(Base, BaseModel):
         )
 
         id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
-        name = Column(String)
-        value = Column(String)
+        name = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        value = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
         parent = Column(Integer, ForeignKey(f"{table}.id"))
 
     return Label
@@ -96,8 +97,8 @@ class Tag(Base, BaseModel):
         )
 
         id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
-        project = Column(String)
-        name = Column(String)
+        project = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        name = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
         obj_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey(f"{table}.id"))
 
     return Tag
@@ -113,10 +114,13 @@ class Tag(Base, BaseModel):
         )
 
         id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
-        project = Column(String)
-        name = Column(String)
+        project = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        name = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
         obj_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey(f"{table}.id"))
-        obj_name = Column(String, ForeignKey(f"{table}.name"))
+        obj_name = Column(
+            String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            ForeignKey(f"{table}.name"),
+        )
 
     return Tag
 
@@ -135,9 +139,9 @@ class Artifact(Base, HasStruct):
         Tag = make_tag(__tablename__)
 
         id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
-        key = Column(String)
-        project = Column(String)
-        uid = Column(String)
+        key = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        project = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        uid = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
         updated = Column(TIMESTAMP)
         # TODO: change to JSON, see mlrun/api/schemas/function.py::FunctionState for reasoning
         body = Column(BLOB)
@@ -156,9 +160,9 @@ class Function(Base, HasStruct):
         Tag = make_tag_v2(__tablename__)
 
         id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
-        name = Column(String)
-        project = Column(String)
-        uid = Column(String)
+        name = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        project = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        uid = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
         # TODO: change to JSON, see mlrun/api/schemas/function.py::FunctionState for reasoning
         body = Column(BLOB)
         updated = Column(TIMESTAMP)
@@ -171,8 +175,8 @@ class Log(Base, BaseModel):
         __tablename__ = "logs"
 
         id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
-        uid = Column(String)
-        project = Column(String)
+        uid = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        project = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
         # TODO: change to JSON, see mlrun/api/schemas/function.py::FunctionState for reasoning
         body = Column(BLOB)
 
@@ -189,10 +193,10 @@ class Run(Base, HasStruct):
         Tag = make_tag(__tablename__)
 
         id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
-        uid = Column(String)
-        project = Column(String)
+        uid = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        project = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
         iteration = Column(Integer)
-        state = Column(String)
+        state = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
         # TODO: change to JSON, see mlrun/api/schemas/function.py::FunctionState for reasoning
         body = Column(BLOB)
         start_time = Column(TIMESTAMP)
@@ -208,14 +212,18 @@ class Schedule(Base, BaseModel):
         Label = make_label(__tablename__)
 
         id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
-        project = Column(String, nullable=False)
-        name = Column(String, nullable=False)
-        kind = Column(String)
-        desired_state = Column(String)
-        state = Column(String)
+        project = Column(
+            String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()), nullable=False
+        )
+        name = Column(
+            String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()), nullable=False
+        )
+        kind = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        desired_state = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        state = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
         creation_time = Column(TIMESTAMP)
-        cron_trigger_str = Column(String)
-        last_run_uri = Column(String)
+        cron_trigger_str = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        last_run_uri = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
         # TODO: change to JSON, see mlrun/api/schemas/function.py::FunctionState for reasoning
         struct = Column(BLOB)
         labels = relationship(Label, cascade="all, delete-orphan")
@@ -253,7 +261,7 @@ class User(Base, BaseModel):
         __table_args__ = (UniqueConstraint("name", name="_users_uc"),)
 
         id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
-        name = Column(String)
+        name = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
 
     class Project(Base, BaseModel):
         __tablename__ = "projects"
@@ -261,16 +269,16 @@ class Project(Base, BaseModel):
         __table_args__ = (UniqueConstraint("name", name="_projects_uc"),)
 
         id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
-        name = Column(String)
-        description = Column(String)
-        owner = Column(String)
-        source = Column(String)
+        name = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        description = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        owner = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        source = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
         # the attribute name used to be _spec which is just a wrong naming, the attribute was renamed to _full_object
         # leaving the column as is to prevent redundant migration
         # TODO: change to JSON, see mlrun/api/schemas/function.py::FunctionState for reasoning
         _full_object = Column("spec", BLOB)
         created = Column(TIMESTAMP, default=datetime.utcnow)
-        state = Column(String)
+        state = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
         users = relationship(User, secondary=project_users)
 
         Label = make_label(__tablename__)
@@ -294,8 +302,8 @@ class Feature(Base, BaseModel):
         id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
         feature_set_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("feature_sets.id"))
 
-        name = Column(String)
-        value_type = Column(String)
+        name = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        value_type = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
 
         Label = make_label(__tablename__)
         labels = relationship(Label, cascade="all, delete-orphan")
@@ -308,8 +316,8 @@ class Entity(Base, BaseModel):
         id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
         feature_set_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("feature_sets.id"))
 
-        name = Column(String)
-        value_type = Column(String)
+        name = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        value_type = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
 
         Label = make_label(__tablename__)
         labels = relationship(Label, cascade="all, delete-orphan")
@@ -324,12 +332,12 @@ class FeatureSet(Base, BaseModel):
         )
 
         id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
-        name = Column(String)
-        project = Column(String)
+        name = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        project = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
         created = Column(TIMESTAMP, default=datetime.now(timezone.utc))
         updated = Column(TIMESTAMP, default=datetime.now(timezone.utc))
-        state = Column(String)
-        uid = Column(String)
+        state = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        uid = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
 
         _full_object = Column("object", JSON)
 
@@ -360,12 +368,12 @@ class FeatureVector(Base, BaseModel):
         )
 
         id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
-        name = Column(String)
-        project = Column(String)
+        name = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        project = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
         created = Column(TIMESTAMP, default=datetime.now(timezone.utc))
         updated = Column(TIMESTAMP, default=datetime.now(timezone.utc))
-        state = Column(String)
-        uid = Column(String)
+        state = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
+        uid = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
 
         _full_object = Column("object", JSON)
 
@@ -391,7 +399,7 @@ class MarketplaceSource(Base, BaseModel):
         __table_args__ = (UniqueConstraint("name", name="_marketplace_sources_uc"),)
 
         id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
-        name = Column(String)
+        name = Column(String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()))
         index = Column(Integer)
         created = Column(TIMESTAMP, default=datetime.now(timezone.utc))
         updated = Column(TIMESTAMP, default=datetime.now(timezone.utc))
diff --git a/mlrun/api/initial_data.py b/mlrun/api/initial_data.py
index 67e7a55cdf0..30868997932 100644
--- a/mlrun/api/initial_data.py
+++ b/mlrun/api/initial_data.py
@@ -15,19 +15,29 @@
 from mlrun.config import config
 from mlrun.utils import logger
 
-from .utils.alembic import AlembicUtil
+from .utils.db.alembic import AlembicUtil
+from .utils.db.mysql import MySQLUtil
+from .utils.db.sqlite_migration import SQLiteMigrationUtil
 
 
 def init_data(from_scratch: bool = False) -> None:
     logger.info("Creating initial data")
 
+    alembic_config_file_name = "alembic.ini"
+    if MySQLUtil.get_mysql_dsn_data():
+        alembic_config_file_name = "alembic_mysql.ini"
+
     # run schema migrations on existing DB or create it with alembic
     dir_path = pathlib.Path(os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__)))
-    alembic_config_path = dir_path / "alembic.ini"
+    alembic_config_path = dir_path / alembic_config_file_name
 
     alembic_util = AlembicUtil(alembic_config_path)
     alembic_util.init_alembic(from_scratch=from_scratch)
 
+    if not from_scratch:
+        sqlite_migration_util = SQLiteMigrationUtil()
+        sqlite_migration_util.transfer()
+
     db_session = create_session()
     try:
         init_db(db_session)
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations/env.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_mysql/env.py
similarity index 100%
rename from mlrun/api/migrations/env.py
rename to mlrun/api/migrations_mysql/env.py
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations/script.py.mako b/mlrun/api/migrations_mysql/script.py.mako
similarity index 100%
rename from mlrun/api/migrations/script.py.mako
rename to mlrun/api/migrations_mysql/script.py.mako
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations_mysql/versions/c4af40b0bf61_init.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_mysql/versions/c4af40b0bf61_init.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..69a13c2c903
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mlrun/api/migrations_mysql/versions/c4af40b0bf61_init.py
@@ -0,0 +1,656 @@
+"""init
+
+Revision ID: c4af40b0bf61
+Revises:
+Create Date: 2021-09-30 10:55:51.956636
+
+"""
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from alembic import op
+
+from mlrun.api.utils.db.sql_collation import SQLCollationUtil
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = "c4af40b0bf61"
+down_revision = None
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.create_table(
+        "artifacts",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "key",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "uid",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("updated", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column("body", sa.BLOB(), nullable=True),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_artifacts_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("uid", "project", "key", name="_artifacts_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "feature_sets",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("created", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column("updated", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "state",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "uid",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("object", sa.JSON(), nullable=True),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_feature_sets_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("name", "project", "uid", name="_feature_set_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "feature_vectors",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("created", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column("updated", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "state",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "uid",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("object", sa.JSON(), nullable=True),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_feature_vectors_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("name", "project", "uid", name="_feature_vectors_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "functions",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "uid",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("body", sa.BLOB(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column("updated", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_functions_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("name", "project", "uid", name="_functions_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "logs",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "uid",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("body", sa.BLOB(), nullable=True),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_logs_pk"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "marketplace_sources",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("index", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column("created", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column("updated", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column("object", sa.JSON(), nullable=True),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_marketplace_sources_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("name", name="_marketplace_sources_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "projects",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "description",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "owner",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "source",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("spec", sa.BLOB(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column("created", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "state",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_projects_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("name", name="_projects_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "runs",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "uid",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("iteration", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "state",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("body", sa.BLOB(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column("start_time", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_runs_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("uid", "project", "iteration", name="_runs_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "schedules_v2",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=False,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=False,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "kind",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "desired_state",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "state",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("creation_time", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "cron_trigger_str",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "last_run_uri",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("struct", sa.BLOB(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column("concurrency_limit", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_schedules_v2_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("project", "name", name="_schedules_v2_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "users",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_users_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("name", name="_users_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "artifacts_labels",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["parent"], ["artifacts.id"], name="_artifacts_labels_paren_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_artifacts_labels_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("name", "parent", name="_artifacts_labels_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "artifacts_tags",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("obj_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["obj_id"], ["artifacts.id"], name="_artifacts_tags_obj_id_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_artifacts_tags_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("project", "name", "obj_id", name="_artifacts_tags_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "entities",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("feature_set_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value_type",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["feature_set_id"], ["feature_sets.id"], name="_entities_feature_set_id_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_entities_pk"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "feature_sets_labels",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["parent"], ["feature_sets.id"], name="_feature_sets_labels_parent_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_feature_sets_labels_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("name", "parent", name="_feature_sets_labels_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "feature_sets_tags",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("obj_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "obj_name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["obj_id"], ["feature_sets.id"], name="_feature_sets_tags_obj_id_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["obj_name"], ["feature_sets.name"], name="_feature_sets_tags_obj_name_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_feature_sets_tags_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint(
+            "project", "name", "obj_name", name="_feature_sets_tags_uc"
+        ),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "feature_vectors_labels",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["parent"], ["feature_vectors.id"], name="_feature_vectors_labels_parent_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_feature_vectors_labels_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("name", "parent", name="_feature_vectors_labels_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "feature_vectors_tags",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("obj_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "obj_name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["obj_id"], ["feature_vectors.id"], name="_feature_vectors_tags_obj_id_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["obj_name"],
+            ["feature_vectors.name"],
+            name="_feature_vectors_tags_obj_name_fk",
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_feature_vectors_tags_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint(
+            "project", "name", "obj_name", name="_feature_vectors_tags_uc"
+        ),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "features",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column("feature_set_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value_type",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["feature_set_id"], ["feature_sets.id"], name="_features_feature_set_id_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_features_pk"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "functions_labels",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["parent"], ["functions.id"], name="_functions_labels_parent_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_functions_labels_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("name", "parent", name="_functions_labels_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "functions_tags",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("obj_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "obj_name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["obj_id"], ["functions.id"], name="_functions_tags_obj_id_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["obj_name"], ["functions.name"], name="_functions_tags_obj_name_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_functions_tags_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("project", "name", "obj_name", name="_functions_tags_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "project_users",
+        sa.Column("project_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column("user_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["project_id"], ["projects.id"], name="_project_users_project_id_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["user_id"], ["users.id"], name="_project_users_user_id_fk"
+        ),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "projects_labels",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["parent"], ["projects.id"], name="_projects_labels_parent_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_projects_labels_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("name", "parent", name="_projects_labels_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "runs_labels",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["parent"], ["runs.id"], name="_runs_labels_parent_fk"),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_runs_labels_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("name", "parent", name="_runs_labels_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "runs_tags",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("obj_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["obj_id"], ["runs.id"], name="_runs_tags_obj_id_fk"),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_runs_tags_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("project", "name", "obj_id", name="_runs_tags_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "schedules_v2_labels",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["parent"], ["schedules_v2.id"], name="_schedules_v2_labels_parent_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_schedules_v2_labels_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("name", "parent", name="_schedules_v2_labels_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "entities_labels",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["parent"], ["entities.id"], name="_entities_labels_parent_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_entities_labels_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("name", "parent", name="_entities_labels_uc"),
+    )
+    op.create_table(
+        "features_labels",
+        sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(length=255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(
+            ["parent"], ["features.id"], name="_features_labels_parent_fk"
+        ),
+        sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id", name="_features_labels_pk"),
+        sa.UniqueConstraint("name", "parent", name="_features_labels_uc"),
+    )
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.drop_table("features_labels")
+    op.drop_table("entities_labels")
+    op.drop_table("schedules_v2_labels")
+    op.drop_table("runs_tags")
+    op.drop_table("runs_labels")
+    op.drop_table("projects_labels")
+    op.drop_table("project_users")
+    op.drop_table("functions_tags")
+    op.drop_table("functions_labels")
+    op.drop_table("features")
+    op.drop_table("feature_vectors_tags")
+    op.drop_table("feature_vectors_labels")
+    op.drop_table("feature_sets_tags")
+    op.drop_table("feature_sets_labels")
+    op.drop_table("entities")
+    op.drop_table("artifacts_tags")
+    op.drop_table("artifacts_labels")
+    op.drop_table("users")
+    op.drop_table("schedules_v2")
+    op.drop_table("runs")
+    op.drop_table("projects")
+    op.drop_table("marketplace_sources")
+    op.drop_table("logs")
+    op.drop_table("functions")
+    op.drop_table("feature_vectors")
+    op.drop_table("feature_sets")
+    op.drop_table("artifacts")
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/env.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/env.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fdc14548104
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/env.py
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+from logging.config import fileConfig
+
+from alembic import context
+from sqlalchemy import engine_from_config, pool
+
+from mlrun import mlconf
+from mlrun.api.db.sqldb import models
+
+# this is the Alembic Config object, which provides
+# access to the values within the .ini file in use.
+config = context.config
+
+# Interpret the config file for Python logging.
+# This line sets up loggers basically.
+fileConfig(config.config_file_name, disable_existing_loggers=False)
+
+# add your model's MetaData object here
+# for 'autogenerate' support
+target_metadata = models.Base.metadata
+
+# other values from the config, defined by the needs of env.py,
+# can be acquired:
+# my_important_option = config.get_main_option("my_important_option")
+# ... etc.
+
+# this will overwrite the ini-file sqlalchemy.url path
+# with the path given in the mlconf
+config.set_main_option("sqlalchemy.url", mlconf.httpdb.dsn)
+
+
+def run_migrations_offline():
+    """Run migrations in 'offline' mode.
+
+    This configures the context with just a URL
+    and not an Engine, though an Engine is acceptable
+    here as well.  By skipping the Engine creation
+    we don't even need a DBAPI to be available.
+
+    Calls to context.execute() here emit the given string to the
+    script output.
+
+    """
+    url = config.get_main_option("sqlalchemy.url")
+    context.configure(
+        url=url,
+        target_metadata=target_metadata,
+        literal_binds=True,
+        dialect_opts={"paramstyle": "named"},
+        render_as_batch=True,
+    )
+
+    with context.begin_transaction():
+        context.run_migrations()
+
+
+def run_migrations_online():
+    """Run migrations in 'online' mode.
+
+    In this scenario we need to create an Engine
+    and associate a connection with the context.
+
+    """
+    connectable = context.config.attributes.get("connection", None)
+
+    if connectable is None:
+        connectable = engine_from_config(
+            config.get_section(config.config_ini_section),
+            prefix="sqlalchemy.",
+            poolclass=pool.NullPool,
+        )
+
+    with connectable.connect() as connection:
+        context.configure(connection=connection, target_metadata=target_metadata)
+
+        with context.begin_transaction():
+            context.run_migrations()
+
+
+if context.is_offline_mode():
+    run_migrations_offline()
+else:
+    run_migrations_online()
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/script.py.mako b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/script.py.mako
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2c0156303a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/script.py.mako
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+"""${message}
+
+Revision ID: ${up_revision}
+Revises: ${down_revision | comma,n}
+Create Date: ${create_date}
+
+"""
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+${imports if imports else ""}
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = ${repr(up_revision)}
+down_revision = ${repr(down_revision)}
+branch_labels = ${repr(branch_labels)}
+depends_on = ${repr(depends_on)}
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    ${upgrades if upgrades else "pass"}
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    ${downgrades if downgrades else "pass"}
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations/tests/test_migrations.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/tests/test_migrations.py
similarity index 100%
rename from mlrun/api/migrations/tests/test_migrations.py
rename to mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/tests/test_migrations.py
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/11f8dd2dc9fe_init.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/11f8dd2dc9fe_init.py
similarity index 50%
rename from mlrun/api/migrations/versions/11f8dd2dc9fe_init.py
rename to mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/11f8dd2dc9fe_init.py
index 2022f13ff90..9017b0f8496 100644
--- a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/11f8dd2dc9fe_init.py
+++ b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/11f8dd2dc9fe_init.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from alembic import op
 
+from mlrun.api.utils.db.sql_collation import SQLCollationUtil
+
 # revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
 revision = "11f8dd2dc9fe"
 down_revision = None
@@ -20,9 +22,17 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "artifacts",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("key", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("project", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("uid", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "key", sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()), nullable=True
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "uid", sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()), nullable=True
+        ),
         sa.Column("updated", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
         sa.Column("body", sa.BLOB(), nullable=True),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
@@ -31,9 +41,19 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "functions",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("project", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("uid", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "uid", sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()), nullable=True
+        ),
         sa.Column("body", sa.BLOB(), nullable=True),
         sa.Column("updated", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
@@ -42,31 +62,67 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "logs",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("uid", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("project", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "uid", sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()), nullable=True
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("body", sa.BLOB(), nullable=True),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
     )
     op.create_table(
         "projects",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("description", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("owner", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("source", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "description",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "owner",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "source",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("spec", sa.BLOB(), nullable=True),
         sa.Column("created", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("state", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "state",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
         sa.UniqueConstraint("name", name="_projects_uc"),
     )
     op.create_table(
         "runs",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("uid", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("project", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "uid", sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()), nullable=True
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("iteration", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("state", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "state",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("body", sa.BLOB(), nullable=True),
         sa.Column("start_time", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
@@ -74,28 +130,64 @@ def upgrade():
     )
     op.create_table(
         "schedules_v2",
-        sa.Column("project", sa.String(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("kind", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("desired_state", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("state", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=False,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=False,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "kind",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "desired_state",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "state",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("creation_time", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("cron_trigger_str", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "cron_trigger_str",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("struct", sa.BLOB(), nullable=True),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("project", "name"),
     )
     op.create_table(
         "users",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
         sa.UniqueConstraint("name", name="_users_uc"),
     )
     op.create_table(
         "artifacts_labels",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("value", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["parent"], ["artifacts.id"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
@@ -104,8 +196,16 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "artifacts_tags",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("project", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("obj_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["obj_id"], ["artifacts.id"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
@@ -114,8 +214,16 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "functions_labels",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("value", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["parent"], ["functions.id"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
@@ -124,10 +232,22 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "functions_tags",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("project", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("obj_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("obj_name", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "obj_name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["obj_id"], ["functions.id"],),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["obj_name"], ["functions.name"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
@@ -143,8 +263,16 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "runs_labels",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("value", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["parent"], ["runs.id"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
@@ -153,8 +281,16 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "runs_tags",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("project", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("obj_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["obj_id"], ["runs.id"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/1c954f8cb32d_schedule_last_run_uri.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/1c954f8cb32d_schedule_last_run_uri.py
similarity index 64%
rename from mlrun/api/migrations/versions/1c954f8cb32d_schedule_last_run_uri.py
rename to mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/1c954f8cb32d_schedule_last_run_uri.py
index 1ca62fd3f67..3c61f6c65bf 100644
--- a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/1c954f8cb32d_schedule_last_run_uri.py
+++ b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/1c954f8cb32d_schedule_last_run_uri.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from alembic import op
 
+from mlrun.api.utils.db.sql_collation import SQLCollationUtil
+
 # revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
 revision = "1c954f8cb32d"
 down_revision = "f7b5a1a03629"
@@ -17,7 +19,13 @@
 
 def upgrade():
     with op.batch_alter_table("schedules_v2") as batch_op:
-        batch_op.add_column(sa.Column("last_run_uri", sa.String(), nullable=True))
+        batch_op.add_column(
+            sa.Column(
+                "last_run_uri",
+                sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+                nullable=True,
+            )
+        )
 
 
 def downgrade():
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/2b6d23c715aa_adding_feature_sets.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/2b6d23c715aa_adding_feature_sets.py
similarity index 56%
rename from mlrun/api/migrations/versions/2b6d23c715aa_adding_feature_sets.py
rename to mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/2b6d23c715aa_adding_feature_sets.py
index f93b165d9be..eaf82ae6151 100644
--- a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/2b6d23c715aa_adding_feature_sets.py
+++ b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/2b6d23c715aa_adding_feature_sets.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from alembic import op
 
+from mlrun.api.utils.db.sql_collation import SQLCollationUtil
+
 # revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
 revision = "2b6d23c715aa"
 down_revision = "b68e8e897a28"
@@ -20,12 +22,26 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "feature_sets",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("project", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("created", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
         sa.Column("updated", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("state", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("uid", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "state",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "uid", sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()), nullable=True
+        ),
         sa.Column("status", sa.JSON(), nullable=True),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
         sa.UniqueConstraint("name", "project", "uid", name="_feature_set_uc"),
@@ -34,16 +50,32 @@ def upgrade():
         "entities",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
         sa.Column("feature_set_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("value_type", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value_type",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["feature_set_id"], ["feature_sets.id"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
     )
     op.create_table(
         "feature_sets_labels",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("value", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["parent"], ["feature_sets.id"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
@@ -52,10 +84,22 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "feature_sets_tags",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("project", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("obj_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("obj_name", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "obj_name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["obj_id"], ["feature_sets.id"],),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["obj_name"], ["feature_sets.name"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
@@ -67,8 +111,16 @@ def upgrade():
         "features",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
         sa.Column("feature_set_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("value_type", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value_type",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["feature_set_id"], ["feature_sets.id"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
     )
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/863114f0c659_refactoring_feature_set.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/863114f0c659_refactoring_feature_set.py
similarity index 100%
rename from mlrun/api/migrations/versions/863114f0c659_refactoring_feature_set.py
rename to mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/863114f0c659_refactoring_feature_set.py
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/b68e8e897a28_schedule_labels.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/b68e8e897a28_schedule_labels.py
similarity index 72%
rename from mlrun/api/migrations/versions/b68e8e897a28_schedule_labels.py
rename to mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/b68e8e897a28_schedule_labels.py
index f019c56e2d9..8110f1a8a31 100644
--- a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/b68e8e897a28_schedule_labels.py
+++ b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/b68e8e897a28_schedule_labels.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from alembic import op
 
+from mlrun.api.utils.db.sql_collation import SQLCollationUtil
+
 # revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
 revision = "b68e8e897a28"
 down_revision = "cf21882f938e"
@@ -20,8 +22,16 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "schedules_v2_labels",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("value", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["parent"], ["schedules_v2.id"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/bcd0c1f9720c_adding_project_labels.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/bcd0c1f9720c_adding_project_labels.py
similarity index 72%
rename from mlrun/api/migrations/versions/bcd0c1f9720c_adding_project_labels.py
rename to mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/bcd0c1f9720c_adding_project_labels.py
index ba40a996175..a89d1ed405e 100644
--- a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/bcd0c1f9720c_adding_project_labels.py
+++ b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/bcd0c1f9720c_adding_project_labels.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from alembic import op
 
+from mlrun.api.utils.db.sql_collation import SQLCollationUtil
+
 # revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
 revision = "bcd0c1f9720c"
 down_revision = "f4249b4ba6fa"
@@ -20,8 +22,16 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "projects_labels",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("value", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["parent"], ["projects.id"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/cf21882f938e_schedule_id.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/cf21882f938e_schedule_id.py
similarity index 100%
rename from mlrun/api/migrations/versions/cf21882f938e_schedule_id.py
rename to mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/cf21882f938e_schedule_id.py
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/d781f58f607f_tag_object_name_string.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/d781f58f607f_tag_object_name_string.py
similarity index 64%
rename from mlrun/api/migrations/versions/d781f58f607f_tag_object_name_string.py
rename to mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/d781f58f607f_tag_object_name_string.py
index ad89d4e7c0c..e60ccd68bed 100644
--- a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/d781f58f607f_tag_object_name_string.py
+++ b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/d781f58f607f_tag_object_name_string.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from alembic import op
 
+from mlrun.api.utils.db.sql_collation import SQLCollationUtil
+
 # revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
 revision = "d781f58f607f"
 down_revision = "deac06871ace"
@@ -17,11 +19,20 @@
 
 def upgrade():
     with op.batch_alter_table("feature_sets_tags") as batch_op:
-        batch_op.alter_column(column_name="obj_name", type_=sa.String())
+        batch_op.alter_column(
+            column_name="obj_name",
+            type_=sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+        )
     with op.batch_alter_table("feature_vectors_tags") as batch_op:
-        batch_op.alter_column(column_name="obj_name", type_=sa.String())
+        batch_op.alter_column(
+            column_name="obj_name",
+            type_=sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+        )
     with op.batch_alter_table("functions_tags") as batch_op:
-        batch_op.alter_column(column_name="obj_name", type_=sa.String())
+        batch_op.alter_column(
+            column_name="obj_name",
+            type_=sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+        )
 
 
 def downgrade():
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/deac06871ace_adding_marketplace_sources_table.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/deac06871ace_adding_marketplace_sources_table.py
similarity index 83%
rename from mlrun/api/migrations/versions/deac06871ace_adding_marketplace_sources_table.py
rename to mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/deac06871ace_adding_marketplace_sources_table.py
index 1b510b1bb14..ce66b294506 100644
--- a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/deac06871ace_adding_marketplace_sources_table.py
+++ b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/deac06871ace_adding_marketplace_sources_table.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from alembic import op
 
+from mlrun.api.utils.db.sql_collation import SQLCollationUtil
+
 # revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
 revision = "deac06871ace"
 down_revision = "e1dd5983c06b"
@@ -20,7 +22,11 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "marketplace_sources",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("index", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
         sa.Column("created", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
         sa.Column("updated", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/e1dd5983c06b_schedule_concurrency_limit.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/e1dd5983c06b_schedule_concurrency_limit.py
similarity index 100%
rename from mlrun/api/migrations/versions/e1dd5983c06b_schedule_concurrency_limit.py
rename to mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/e1dd5983c06b_schedule_concurrency_limit.py
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/f4249b4ba6fa_adding_feature_vectors.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/f4249b4ba6fa_adding_feature_vectors.py
similarity index 58%
rename from mlrun/api/migrations/versions/f4249b4ba6fa_adding_feature_vectors.py
rename to mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/f4249b4ba6fa_adding_feature_vectors.py
index c25e1daa71d..43bb57aa24d 100644
--- a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/f4249b4ba6fa_adding_feature_vectors.py
+++ b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/f4249b4ba6fa_adding_feature_vectors.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from alembic import op
 
+from mlrun.api.utils.db.sql_collation import SQLCollationUtil
+
 # revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
 revision = "f4249b4ba6fa"
 down_revision = "863114f0c659"
@@ -20,12 +22,26 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "feature_vectors",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("project", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("created", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
         sa.Column("updated", sa.TIMESTAMP(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("state", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("uid", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "state",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "uid", sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()), nullable=True
+        ),
         sa.Column("object", sa.JSON(), nullable=True),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
         sa.UniqueConstraint("name", "project", "uid", name="_feature_vectors_uc"),
@@ -33,8 +49,16 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "feature_vectors_labels",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("value", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["parent"], ["feature_vectors.id"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
@@ -43,10 +67,22 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "feature_vectors_tags",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("project", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "project",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("obj_id", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("obj_name", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "obj_name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["obj_id"], ["feature_vectors.id"],),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["obj_name"], ["feature_vectors.name"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
diff --git a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/f7b5a1a03629_adding_feature_labels.py b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/f7b5a1a03629_adding_feature_labels.py
similarity index 66%
rename from mlrun/api/migrations/versions/f7b5a1a03629_adding_feature_labels.py
rename to mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/f7b5a1a03629_adding_feature_labels.py
index 3b64a68d9a5..3c5e5d89be8 100644
--- a/mlrun/api/migrations/versions/f7b5a1a03629_adding_feature_labels.py
+++ b/mlrun/api/migrations_sqlite/versions/f7b5a1a03629_adding_feature_labels.py
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 import sqlalchemy as sa
 from alembic import op
 
+from mlrun.api.utils.db.sql_collation import SQLCollationUtil
+
 # revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
 revision = "f7b5a1a03629"
 down_revision = "2b6d23c715aa"
@@ -20,8 +22,16 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "entities_labels",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("value", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["parent"], ["entities.id"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
@@ -30,8 +40,16 @@ def upgrade():
     op.create_table(
         "features_labels",
         sa.Column("id", sa.Integer(), nullable=False),
-        sa.Column("name", sa.String(), nullable=True),
-        sa.Column("value", sa.String(), nullable=True),
+        sa.Column(
+            "name",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
+        sa.Column(
+            "value",
+            sa.String(255, collation=SQLCollationUtil.collation()),
+            nullable=True,
+        ),
         sa.Column("parent", sa.Integer(), nullable=True),
         sa.ForeignKeyConstraint(["parent"], ["features.id"],),
         sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint("id"),
diff --git a/mlrun/api/utils/db/__init__.py b/mlrun/api/utils/db/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d
diff --git a/mlrun/api/utils/alembic.py b/mlrun/api/utils/db/alembic.py
similarity index 85%
rename from mlrun/api/utils/alembic.py
rename to mlrun/api/utils/db/alembic.py
index 663e238b607..042013eefec 100644
--- a/mlrun/api/utils/alembic.py
+++ b/mlrun/api/utils/db/alembic.py
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 from mlrun import mlconf
 from mlrun.utils import logger
 
+from .mysql import MySQLUtil
+
 
 class AlembicUtil(object):
     def __init__(self, alembic_config_path: pathlib.Path):
@@ -51,7 +53,10 @@ def _get_db_file_path() -> str:
         Get the db file path from the dsn.
         Converts the dsn to the file path. e.g.:
         sqlite:////mlrun/db/mlrun.db?check_same_thread=false -> /mlrun/db/mlrun.db
+        if mysql is used returns empty string
         """
+        if "mysql" in mlconf.httpdb.dsn:
+            return ""
         return mlconf.httpdb.dsn.split("?")[0].split("sqlite:///")[-1]
 
     def _get_current_revision(self) -> typing.Optional[str]:
@@ -89,11 +94,17 @@ def _get_revision_history_list(self) -> typing.List[str]:
     def _parse_revision_history(output: str) -> typing.List[str]:
         return [line.split(" ")[2].replace(",", "") for line in output.splitlines()]
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def _backup_revision(db_file_path: str, current_version: str):
+    def _backup_revision(self, db_file_path: str, current_version: str):
         if db_file_path == ":memory:":
             return
 
+        if "mysql" in mlconf.httpdb.dsn:
+            self._backup_revision_mysql(db_file_path, current_version)
+        else:
+            self._backup_revision_sqlite(db_file_path, current_version)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _backup_revision_sqlite(db_file_path: str, current_version: str):
         db_dir_path = pathlib.Path(os.path.dirname(db_file_path))
         backup_path = db_dir_path / f"{current_version}.db"
 
@@ -102,6 +113,15 @@ def _backup_revision(db_file_path: str, current_version: str):
         )
         shutil.copy2(db_file_path, backup_path)
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _backup_revision_mysql(db_file_path: str, current_version: str):
+        db_dir_path = pathlib.Path(os.path.dirname(db_file_path))
+        backup_path = db_dir_path / f"{current_version}.db"
+
+        mysql_util = MySQLUtil()
+        mysql_util.dump_database_to_file(backup_path)
+        mysql_util.close()
+
     @staticmethod
     def _downgrade_to_revision(
         db_file_path: str, current_revision: str, fallback_version: str
diff --git a/mlrun/api/utils/db/mysql.py b/mlrun/api/utils/db/mysql.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..20861055332
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mlrun/api/utils/db/mysql.py
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+import os
+import pathlib
+import re
+import typing
+
+import pymysql
+
+
+class MySQLUtil(object):
+    dsn_env_var = "MLRUN_HTTPDB__DSN"
+    dsn_regex = (
+        r"mysql\+pymysql://(?P<username>.+)@(?P<host>.+):(?P<port>\d+)/(?P<database>.+)"
+    )
+    check_tables = [
+        "projects",
+        # check functions as well just in case the previous version used a projects leader
+        "functions",
+    ]
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        mysql_dsn_data = self.get_mysql_dsn_data()
+        if not mysql_dsn_data:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"Invalid mysql dsn: {self.get_dsn()}")
+
+        self._connection = pymysql.connect(
+            host=mysql_dsn_data["host"],
+            user=mysql_dsn_data["username"],
+            port=int(mysql_dsn_data["port"]),
+            database=mysql_dsn_data["database"],
+        )
+
+    def close(self):
+        self._connection.close()
+
+    def check_db_has_data(self):
+        with self._connection.cursor() as cursor:
+            for check_table in self.check_tables:
+                cursor.execute(f"SELECT COUNT(*) FROM `{check_table}`;")
+                if cursor.fetchone()[0] > 0:
+                    return True
+        return False
+
+    def dump_database_to_file(self, filepath: pathlib.Path):
+        with self._connection.cursor() as cursor:
+            database_dump = self._get_database_dump(cursor)
+
+        with open(str(filepath), "w") as f:
+            f.writelines(database_dump)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_dsn() -> str:
+        return os.environ.get(MySQLUtil.dsn_env_var, "")
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_mysql_dsn_data() -> typing.Optional[dict]:
+        match = re.match(MySQLUtil.dsn_regex, MySQLUtil.get_dsn())
+        if not match:
+            return None
+
+        return match.groupdict()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _get_database_dump(cursor) -> str:
+        cursor.execute("SHOW TABLES")
+        data = ""
+        table_names = []
+        for table_name in cursor.fetchall():
+            table_names.append(table_name[0])
+
+        for table_name in table_names:
+            data += f"DROP TABLE IF EXISTS `{table_name}`;"
+
+            cursor.execute(f"SHOW CREATE TABLE `{table_name}`;")
+            table_definition = cursor.fetchone()[1]
+            data += f"\n{table_definition};\n\n"
+
+            cursor.execute(f"SELECT * FROM `{table_name}`;")
+            for row in cursor.fetchall():
+                values = ", ".join([f'"{field}"' for field in row])
+                data += f"INSERT INTO `{table_name}` VALUES({values});\n"
+            data += "\n\n"
+
+        return data
diff --git a/mlrun/api/utils/db/sql_collation.py b/mlrun/api/utils/db/sql_collation.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..904839eb467
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mlrun/api/utils/db/sql_collation.py
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+from .mysql import MySQLUtil
+
+
+class SQLCollationUtil(object):
+    class Collations(object):
+
+        # with sqlite we use the default collation
+        sqlite = None
+        mysql = "utf8_bin"
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def collation():
+        mysql_dsn_data = MySQLUtil.get_mysql_dsn_data()
+        if mysql_dsn_data:
+            return SQLCollationUtil.Collations.mysql
+
+        return SQLCollationUtil.Collations.sqlite
diff --git a/mlrun/api/utils/db/sqlite_migration.py b/mlrun/api/utils/db/sqlite_migration.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a211728f78c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mlrun/api/utils/db/sqlite_migration.py
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import typing
+
+import sqlite3_to_mysql
+
+from mlrun import mlconf
+from mlrun.utils import logger
+
+from .mysql import MySQLUtil
+
+
+class SQLiteMigrationUtil(object):
+    def __init__(self):
+        self._mysql_dsn_data = MySQLUtil.get_mysql_dsn_data()
+        self._migrator = self._create_migrator()
+        self._mysql_util = None
+        if self._mysql_dsn_data:
+            self._mysql_util = MySQLUtil()
+
+    def transfer(self):
+
+        # if some data is missing, don't transfer the data
+        if not self._migrator:
+            return
+
+        db_has_data = False
+        if self._mysql_util:
+            if self._mysql_util.check_db_has_data():
+                db_has_data = True
+            self._mysql_util.close()
+
+        # if mysqldb already has data, don't transfer the data
+        if db_has_data:
+            return
+
+        self._migrator.transfer()
+
+    def _create_migrator(self) -> typing.Optional[sqlite3_to_mysql.SQLite3toMySQL]:
+        sqlite_file = self._get_old_db_file_path()
+        if not sqlite_file or not self._mysql_dsn_data:
+            return None
+
+        logger.info(
+            "Creating SQLite to MySQL Converter",
+            sqlite_file=sqlite_file,
+            mysql_dsn_data=self._mysql_dsn_data,
+        )
+
+        return sqlite3_to_mysql.SQLite3toMySQL(
+            sqlite_file=sqlite_file,
+            mysql_user=self._mysql_dsn_data["username"],
+            mysql_database=self._mysql_dsn_data["database"],
+            mysql_host=self._mysql_dsn_data["host"],
+            mysql_port=int(self._mysql_dsn_data["port"]),
+            quiet=True,
+        )
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _get_old_db_file_path() -> str:
+        """
+        Get the db file path from the old_dsn.
+        Converts the dsn to the file path. e.g.:
+        sqlite:////mlrun/db/mlrun.db?check_same_thread=false -> /mlrun/db/mlrun.db
+        """
+        if not mlconf.httpdb.old_dsn:
+            return ""
+        return mlconf.httpdb.old_dsn.split("?")[0].split("sqlite:///")[-1]
diff --git a/mlrun/config.py b/mlrun/config.py
index 9741a01ed1d..7a89526d3b9 100644
--- a/mlrun/config.py
+++ b/mlrun/config.py
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@
         "port": 8080,
         "dirpath": expanduser("~/.mlrun/db"),
         "dsn": "sqlite:////mlrun/db/mlrun.db?check_same_thread=false",
+        "old_dsn": "",
         "debug": False,
         "user": "",
         "password": "",
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 84122ce1047..d9f1f321e74 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -62,3 +62,4 @@ v3iofs~=0.1.7
 cryptography~=3.0, <3.4
 storey~=0.8.0; python_version >= '3.7'
 deepdiff~=5.0
+PyMySQL~=1.0
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 15286db89ea..25ad17137ca 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -123,8 +123,10 @@ def load_deps(path):
         "mlrun.api.db",
         "mlrun.api.db.sqldb",
         "mlrun.api.db.filedb",
-        "mlrun.api.migrations",
-        "mlrun.api.migrations.versions",
+        "mlrun.api.migrations_sqlite",
+        "mlrun.api.migrations_sqlite.versions",
+        "mlrun.api.migrations_mysql",
+        "mlrun.api.migrations_mysql.versions",
         "mlrun.api.schemas",
         "mlrun.api.utils",
         "mlrun.api.utils.auth",
diff --git a/tests/api/utils/test_alembic_util.py b/tests/api/utils/test_alembic_util.py
index c036f3391d3..72239911c1a 100644
--- a/tests/api/utils/test_alembic_util.py
+++ b/tests/api/utils/test_alembic_util.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 import alembic.config
 import pytest
 
-import mlrun.api.utils.alembic
+import mlrun.api.utils.db.alembic
 from mlrun import mlconf
 
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def test_no_database_exists(
     mock_alembic, mock_database, mock_shutil_copy, from_scratch
 ):
     mock_database(db_file_exists=False)
-    alembic_util = mlrun.api.utils.alembic.AlembicUtil(pathlib.Path(""))
+    alembic_util = mlrun.api.utils.db.alembic.AlembicUtil(pathlib.Path(""))
     alembic_util.init_alembic(from_scratch=from_scratch)
     assert mock_alembic.stamp_calls == []
     assert mock_alembic.upgrade_calls == ["head"]
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def test_database_exists_no_revision(
     mock_alembic, mock_database, mock_shutil_copy, from_scratch
 ):
     mock_database()
-    alembic_util = mlrun.api.utils.alembic.AlembicUtil(pathlib.Path(""))
+    alembic_util = mlrun.api.utils.db.alembic.AlembicUtil(pathlib.Path(""))
     alembic_util.init_alembic(from_scratch=from_scratch)
 
     # from scratch should skip stamp even if no revision exists
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def test_database_exists_known_revision(
     mock_alembic, mock_database, mock_shutil_copy, mock_db_file_name, from_scratch
 ):
     mock_database(current_revision=Constants.initial_revision)
-    alembic_util = mlrun.api.utils.alembic.AlembicUtil(pathlib.Path(""))
+    alembic_util = mlrun.api.utils.db.alembic.AlembicUtil(pathlib.Path(""))
     alembic_util.init_alembic(from_scratch=from_scratch)
     assert mock_alembic.stamp_calls == []
     assert mock_alembic.upgrade_calls == ["head"]
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ def test_database_exists_unknown_revision_successful_downgrade(
     mock_alembic, mock_database, mock_shutil_copy, mock_db_file_name, from_scratch
 ):
     mock_database(current_revision=Constants.unknown_revision)
-    alembic_util = mlrun.api.utils.alembic.AlembicUtil(pathlib.Path(""))
+    alembic_util = mlrun.api.utils.db.alembic.AlembicUtil(pathlib.Path(""))
     alembic_util.init_alembic(from_scratch=from_scratch)
     assert mock_alembic.stamp_calls == []
     assert mock_alembic.upgrade_calls == ["head"]
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def test_database_exists_unknown_revision_failed_downgrade(
     mock_database(
         current_revision=Constants.unknown_revision, db_backup_exists=False,
     )
-    alembic_util = mlrun.api.utils.alembic.AlembicUtil(pathlib.Path(""))
+    alembic_util = mlrun.api.utils.db.alembic.AlembicUtil(pathlib.Path(""))
     with pytest.raises(
         RuntimeError,
         match=f"Cannot fall back to revision {Constants.latest_revision}, "