Connection to MySQL 8.0.36 via multiple plugins to multiple DB servers

I've been working at this all day and am about to give up. Figured it might be worth an ask here.

All servers are running the latest stable version of Ubuntu.

I have a database on a server located at *.*.*.*, and my firewall is set up to only allow the user created for rust to access it via that IP.

The rust server is located at *.*.*.*. I have tried multiple mysql enabled plugins including PlayerDatabase and MStats.

My DB is managed through Cloudpanel, and it seems like I get a connection. There is an issue with the connection though. The plugin can create the tables and everything, but cant seem to insert into the tables at all. it throws this error:

MySql handle raised an exception in 'MStats v1.10.6' plugin (FormatException: Guid should contain 32 digits with 4 dashes (xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx).) at System.Guid+GuidResult.SetFailure (System.Guid+ParseFailureKind failure, System.String failureMessageID, System.Object failureMessageFormatArgument, System.String failureArgumentName, System.Exception innerException) [0x00033] in <ff4e3fe86250407285eaebda8f185c35>:0
at System.Guid+GuidResult.SetFailure (System.Guid+ParseFailureKind failure, System.String failureMessageID) [0x00000] in <ff4e3fe86250407285eaebda8f185c35>:0
at System.Guid.TryParseGuidWithNoStyle (System.ReadOnlySpan`1[T] guidString, System.Guid+GuidResult& result) [0x0000f] in <ff4e3fe86250407285eaebda8f185c35>:0
at System.Guid.TryParseGuid (System.ReadOnlySpan`1[T] guidString, System.Guid+GuidStyles flags, System.Guid+GuidResult& result) [0x000e6] in <ff4e3fe86250407285eaebda8f185c35>:0
at System.Guid..ctor (System.String g) [0x00024] in <ff4e3fe86250407285eaebda8f185c35>:0
at MySql.Data.Types.MySqlGuid.MySql.Data.Types.IMySqlValue.ReadValue (MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlPacket packet, System.Int64 length, System.Boolean nullVal) [0x00052] in <8d7380b3d3cf4bd8be324c584f371b44>:0
at MySql.Data.MySqlClient.NativeDriver.ReadColumnValue (System.Int32 index, MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlField field, MySql.Data.Types.IMySqlValue valObject) [0x00050] in <8d7380b3d3cf4bd8be324c584f371b44>:0
at MySql.Data.MySqlClient.Driver.ReadColumnValue (System.Int32 index, MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlField field, MySql.Data.Types.IMySqlValue value) [0x00000] in <8d7380b3d3cf4bd8be324c584f371b44>:0
at MySql.Data.MySqlClient.ResultSet.ReadColumnData (System.Boolean outputParms) [0x00004] in <8d7380b3d3cf4bd8be324c584f371b44>:0
at MySql.Data.MySqlClient.ResultSet.NextRow (System.Data.CommandBehavior behavior) [0x0007a] in <8d7380b3d3cf4bd8be324c584f371b44>:0
at MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlDataReader.Read () [0x00022] in <8d7380b3d3cf4bd8be324c584f371b44>:0
at MySql.Data.MySqlClient.Driver.LoadCharacterSets (MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlConnection connection) [0x00079] in <8d7380b3d3cf4bd8be324c584f371b44>:0
at MySql.Data.MySqlClient.Driver.Configure (MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlConnection connection) [0x00060] in <8d7380b3d3cf4bd8be324c584f371b44>:0
at MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlConnection.Open () [0x00198] in <8d7380b3d3cf4bd8be324c584f371b44>:0
at Oxide.Core.MySql.Libraries.MySql+MySqlQuery.Handle () [0x00059] in <021a1dba6a754e42a6cc7771fdfee190>:0

I've tried a number of things to fix this, including a fresh install of MySQL server on the local machine (*.*.*.*) with nothing managing it. Same issue. I've tried setting a variable in MySQL "skip-character-set-client-handshake". but it does nothing. :( (in all the my.cnf files I could find)

If anyone has any idea of what is happening, please let me know. I'm not an expert with this stuff, but I can get around okay.

For now I have solved the issue by using MariaDB. Really annoying. I guess I'll put MariaDB on my production server as well.