Error establishing a database connection.

  • I run a very simple, straightforward blog with very few mods, widgets or plugins:
    https://thefinancialbrand.com

    Out of the blue and without explanation, I now have an intermittent problem with an “Error establishing a database connection.” Sometimes, the site loads fine. Other times, it loads very slooowly. And other times, the site completely fails to load, and the browser only displays the “Error establishing a database connection.”

    My host is Media Temple. I seriously doubt there are any problems with their service being down.

    Searching the forum for this error shows that it is fairly common:
    https://www.ads-software.com/support/topic/204580
    https://www.ads-software.com/support/topic/331655

    Some people run into this when installing, while many others (like myself) encounter the intermittent error out of the blue long after having established a stable, functioning blog.

    I see people talking about MySQL databases, wp-config.php files, wp-db.php files and using the PHPadminControl to fix the problem. I see others saying one needs to ask their host for their DB_NAME, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD and DB_HOST.

    I don’t know about any of this stuff. I’ve never tinkered around with any of those files. I’ve never needed to manipulate their contents. I’ve never needed any of this information to make my website work… flawlessly in 2+ years. WHY NOW??? WHAT THE HECK CHANGED???

    Can someone please provide a straightforward and basic explanation, along with a simple step-by-step suggestion about what I should do?

    Thank you.

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  • you don’t need to edit any of that stuff most likely…you would edit that if you had no connection. Seeing as how you usually have a connection, your connection settings must be appropriate

    Thing is, it probably is your host. Are you on a shared host? they could be putting more people on a server, someone else could be eating resources, etc.

    I’ve run into this problem in the past, until I was moved to a new server.

    Other folks may have some suggestions for ya, just giving ya my experience…

    Thread Starter jeffrypilcher

    (@jeffrypilcher)

    Media Temple acknowledged the problem was indeed with them:

    “We took a closer look at your database server around the time you reported this issue and found that another user on your host server had been overusing resources. We had removed the user after several complaints, which should have resolved the connection issue you were experiencing.”

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
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