Connecting to the database is intermittent (very flaky)??

I have a site running on MODx and lately (just brought to my attention) most of the site pages will not connect to the database. Sometimes the home page also throws the error. Refreshing the site sometimes brings back the home page but not other pages. Sometimes they do load but everything is very flaky.

I get the following error message:

« MODx Parse Error »
MODx encountered the following error while attempting to parse the requested resource:
« PHP Parse Error »

PHP error debug
  Error: mysql_connect() [function.mysql-connect]: Unknown MySQL server host ’dbmy4int.dotsterhost.com’ (1)
  Error type/ Nr.: Warning - 2
  File: /usr/local/pem/vhosts/128296/webspace/httpdocs/sitename/manager/includes/extenders/dbapi.mysql.class.inc.php
  Line: 87
  Line 87 source: if (!$this->conn = ($persist ? mysql_pconnect($host, $uid, $pwd) : mysql_connect($host, $uid, $pwd, true))) {

Parser timing
  MySQL: 0.0000 s (0 Requests)
  PHP: 0.0137 s
  Total: 0.0137 s
Error while inserting event log into database.

I asked the host tech support guy and the database is there and active. He has no ideas but passed on this issue as an unresolved ticket item.

Any ideas here?

Thanks!

Max

Seems like some kind of DNS problem on the hosting service, or that’s the best guess I can venture on an error like that.

I think you are right.

The host support ticket takes at least 24 hours though. The site will flicker on and off (connecting to the database or not) much like a lamp with a loose lightbulb...

Time for a new host: http://modxcms.com/community/partners/hosting.html

Could also be a very short time-out configured somewhere. In any case, 24 hours for tech support???

I agree with Ryan, you should look for a new hosting company. I start to worry if I don’t get a response from support in 4 minutes on my main server and 10 minutes on my experiment server. I would hate to think what would happen after 10 let alone 20 hours... but 24!!??

The solution to the problem at hand should be an easy fix when support gets back with you. I would seriously consider getting a different hosting company. Oh, just to clarify this is your host: http://www.dotsterhost.com/ ??

AMDbuilder

Thanks guys...
I plan on checking in with the support ticket etc. I did test the site this morning and all seems well again, so maybe they did do something. I have done nothing other than checking that all the Modx files were there via my FTP client.

I did not choose this host though.

Max

The support guy did tell me that they did not change their servers or change the character limit on database names (I had another issue with this with another host who "upgraded" their servers). He did say he had another client who’s site had the same flaky responsiveness when connecting to the database. This is why he wanted a senior tech to look into both sites. Who knows how many sites had the same issues though...

Sunday AM is probably one of the least loaded times for what I suspect is an overloaded server. I’d bet you a case of {insert favorite beverage here} the problems return during peak hours.

Quote from: rthrash at Jun 07, 2009, 12:46 PM

Sunday AM is probably one of the least loaded times for what I suspect is an overloaded server. I’d bet you a case of {insert favorite beverage here} the problems return during peak hours.

Ryan,

Groan...

Good point though! I guess checking at 5PM on Monday will be a good test...

Try 3PM on Wednesday.