"SMF was unable to connect to the database"

[tbk22]

Connection Problems
Sorry, SMF was unable to connect to the database. This may be caused by the server being busy. Please try again later.

Since morning I am getting this error... I haven't changed anything on the forum.

It's a pretty big forum and last backup is some weeks old, Is there any way to get around this or solve this?

I know probably this was already asked some times but I really need help with this

Also I am still using SMF 2 RC3 since I had 1 mod working for this version that I didn't want to loose

[Illori]

have you contacted your host to find out if there are any issues with the database?

[Looking]

I hope you don't have 'Gocrappy' hosting.

[mkly]

I started having the same problem this morning.  Are you hosted by Yahoo?

[tbk22]

have you contacted your host to find out if there are any issues with the database?

No, now that you talk about it completely forgot that , but how could that influence this error?

I hope you don't have 'Gocrappy' hosting.

No, I have a decent host with cpanel

I started having the same problem this morning.  Are you hosted by Yahoo?

No

[Arantor]

No, now that you talk about it completely forgot that , but how could that influence this error?

Because the host is where the database is and it's possible that they took the database down for maintenance... which would mean the SMF software couldn't connect to it.

No, I have a decent host with cpanel

cPanel is no indication in itself of a good host.

[tbk22]

Because the host is where the database is and it's possible that they took the database down for maintenance... which would mean the SMF software couldn't connect to it.

I will talk to them then

cPanel is no indication in itself of a good host.

I know I know, you misunderstood me, I was saying that in the sense that Godaddy has a very obscure self made CMS as a control panel. My host is "normal" in that sense

[tbk22]

I just got a response back and they did nothing.

Today I changed the cpanel access password but I think that doesn't influence anything about the databases, or does it?

And what could be other causes of this problem?

I really need to solve this fast and don't seem to be able to discover why this is happening

[Illori]

then ask your host to check that your connection info for your database is correct, they should be able to do that for you.

[tbk22]

Just solved it

It seems changing cpanel password automatically changed the default database user password too

Reverted back to the old password and everything is okay now

[v1sper]

Hi

I just wanted to provide more feedback for solving this problem. I stumbled on this thread while I was trying to solve my own problem as it's quite high in the google hits when you search for "Sorry, SMF was unable to connect to the database. This may be caused by the server being busy. Please try again later."

The specific MySQL error was "The MySQL server was lost".

To solve this on my site I had to change the following in settings.php:

Code Select Expand

$db_server = 'localhost';
to

Code Select Expand

$db_server = 'mydomain.com.mysql';
(The correct path to $db_server may wary, check with your host).

I hope this will help others 

[FLORAMARILLA]

Hi

I just wanted to provide more feedback for solving this problem. I stumbled on this thread while I was trying to solve my own problem as it's quite high in the google hits when you search for "Sorry, SMF was unable to connect to the database. This may be caused by the server being busy. Please try again later."

The specific MySQL error was "The MySQL server was lost".

To solve this on my site I had to change the following in settings.php:

Code Select Expand

$db_server = 'localhost';
to

Code Select Expand

$db_server = 'mydomain.com.mysql';
(The correct path to $db_server may wary, check with your host).

I hope this will help others 

I'm having the same problem,the only thing I have to do is change localhost to my website??

[Illori]

you have a thread already on your issue, please stick to that thread for further help on your problem.

[lexton64]

I had a similar problem, reset the database name and username and password.
Worth saving these settings incase it stuffs up.


Solved my problem, somehow the Setting.php file had returned to its default. Which is strange, as the site was working. It just stopped. Well, it's all good now.

[lexton64]

And it has occurred twice since then. The settings.php is not empty, it contains the original default info. Any suggestions?

[Arantor]

If it's only occurring sporadically, it means the details are correct but the server can't connect... you know, like it says it could be down to the server being too busy to accept the connection.

This is much more common on poor shared hosting.