Need Help ASAP: High website traffic error message

I guess I should clarify...   the website is active and the database is running.  I seem to be able to fully use CMSB..  But as I click around the links on the site, about 10% of the time I get the error message listed above.  It also happens as I am clicking around the CMSB menu.

Hi Wizzle, 

Check Max Connections" under: Admin > General > Database Server (at the bottom of the page).

For example, on our website it shows:

Database Server: MySQL v5.6.23 (Max Connections: 151)

If it's too low you might be getting more traffic than your host allows.

Apache/1.3.37 
PHP Version PHP v5.3.6 - phpinfo >>

 Database Server MySQL v5.1.55 (Max Connections: 151)

I had already looked at this, but I really don't know if 151 is low or not.   This site is a local business that teaches classes on the weekends... I can't imagine that it would have more traffic than the hosting account can handle.  Any other ideas I should try?

Client is getting really irritated.  The problem may be that Yahoo Small Business just converted over to become Aabaco small business, but my client is convinced that it has something to do with cmsb.

Hi Wizzle

I'd like to take a closer look at this for you. Could you send me a second level support request:

https://www.interactivetools.com/support/email_support_form.php

Could you also mention this forum post in the comments of the support request? That way, I can keep this thread up to date for anyone else following along.

Thanks!

https://www.interactivetools.com/support/email_support_form.php

ok Thanks!!!

I just sent the 2nd level support request.

Hi Wizzle, 

Also,  have you checked with your host about this issue?  A quick google search shows other people on the same host with the same error.

A quick way to demonstrate it is related the to MySQL is to have a standalone script that does nothing but try to connect to MySQL.  Here's a test script that checks that.  Try running it when MySQL is down for the CMS and see what results you get: 

<?php // _test_mysql.php
  $hostname   = "localhost";
  $mysql_user = "dbuser";
  $mysql_pass = "password"; 
  $link       = mysql_connect($hostname, $mysql_user, $mysql_pass);
  if (!$link) { echo('Could not connect to MySQL: ' . mysql_error()); }
  else { echo 'Connection OK'; }
?> 

Hope that helps!

Seems like that's the issue Dave.  Thanks for that quick script.  I got "Connection OK" most of the time, but every few reloads I get "Could not connect to MySQL: Can't connect to MySQL server on 'mysql' (60)"

I guess it's time to convince the client to move to a new web host.  He has been doing his own website via yahoo small business web building app for years and he's afraid that if he ditches yahoo as his host then he will lose search rankings.  

Have you tried contacting their hosting support yet?  You could try sending them a link to that test script and let them know about the error it returns.  That might be able to help them isolate the issue.  But if that doesn't work, then yes, switching hosts will be the only remaining option.

I called the other day... after waiting on hold for 35 minutes, the guy tried to convince me that the problem was the internet connection at my house...  after I showed him how that can't possibly be the case, he then jumped onto "it must be the cms you are using and we don't do support for 3rd party software".

I suppose now that I can show direct problems with connect to the mysql I should call them again and give it one more shot.