Knowledgebase

If your website shows an error like “Error establishing a database connection”, it means your site cannot communicate with its MySQL database. Since most modern websites rely on databases for content and functionality, this is a critical issue. At DediRock, we regularly help customers resolve MySQL connection errors so their sites get back online quickly.

1. What Causes MySQL Database Connection Errors?

These errors usually happen when:

• Incorrect database username, password, hostname, or database name

• Database server is down or overloaded

• Corrupted database tables

• Exceeded hosting resource limits (connections, memory)

• Wrong port or socket configuration

• Firewall rules blocking access

2. Common Error Messages You Might See

• Error establishing a database connection

• Can’t connect to local MySQL server through socket

• Access denied for user 'username'@'hostname'

• Too many connections

Each message gives a clue to the root cause.

3. Steps to Troubleshoot and Fix

Step 1: Verify Database Credentials

• Log in to your DediRock Client Portal.

• Check your database name, user, password, and hostname in your control panel.

• Make sure your website’s configuration file (e.g., wp-config.php for WordPress) matches these details.

Step 2: Check if the Database Server is Running

• In cPanel → MySQL Databases, verify the status of the database.

• On VPS/Dedicated Servers, restart MySQL using SSH:

   

  systemctl restart mysqld

Step 3: Repair Corrupted Database Tables

• Log into phpMyAdmin via your control panel.

• Select your database → Check All → With Selected → Repair Table.

• For WordPress, you can also add this to wp-config.php:

   

  define('WP_ALLOW_REPAIR', true);

  Then visit: https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin/maint/repair.php

Step 4: Check Resource Limits

• Too many connections can prevent new ones.

• In shared hosting, wait a few minutes and try again.

• On VPS/Dedicated, increase limits in my.cnf:

   

  max_connections = 250

Step 5: Review Firewall and Port Settings

• Ensure port 3306 (default for MySQL) is open.

• If connecting remotely, whitelist your IP in your DediRock hosting control panel.

4. When to Contact Support

If you’ve tried these steps and still face issues:

• Open a Support Ticket.

• Include the exact error message and recent changes you made.

• Our DediRock support team can check logs, repair databases, and restart services if needed.

Final Thoughts

MySQL database errors can take your site offline, but most are caused by incorrect credentials, overloaded servers, or corrupted tables. With the right troubleshooting approach, you can quickly restore functionality.