Database Error: Could not connect to server

[gsande +]

Today, when trying to access the site front-end, I received the following error:

Database Error:
Could not connect to server

I tried to login on the administrative Control Panel, and received the same exact error message.

Last night, I installed the TemplateCodes templates, but that was all working fine, and then today, I'm not able to access the site - either front end or back end.

fyi- I did change the ftp password last night as well, and I saw in another post that may be a related cause.

Appreciate any input.
Thanks
Gary

[Eric Barnes +]

Hi Gary,

It sounds like either the database server is down or the database connection info has changed. I would recommend opening connections/classifieds.php to get your db details, then visit your web hosts control panel and confirm they are the same.

[Mike-N-Tosh +]

If your site was working just fine and then it's suddenly giving that error, then there are only 4 things that could cause that:
1. The mySQL server is not available
2. Your hosting service changed the settings for the mySQL server
3. You modified the connections/classifieds.php file (connection configuration file)
4. You've been hacked

Changing your ftp password should have nothing to do with that at all as it is a completely separate functionality of the hosting server and changing that password is only connected to one ftp account and ftp protocols are not used with the script.

[Eric Barnes +]

I thought the same as you Mike although some hosts do have some crazy setups. So maybe they use the same username for ftp as they do for the db username.

[gsande +]

Thanks Eric and Mike,

I'm working through these options, but don't have an answer (or a fix) yet.
I appreciate your input, since I'm still a "newbie" 68 Classifieds, but I won't be (new) for long!
I'll reply back if/when I get to the bottom of this regarding the cause.
Thanks
Gary

[richartj +]

I have this problem today!!

Please help!

I think I've been hacked, but it's hard to tell.

I replaced the connections folder with my backup and still get the same message. I can connect using phpmyadmin so I know the database is up and running.

Any suggestions?

[Lhotch +]

Originally Posted by richartj

Any suggestions?

Contact your host and see if they have made any changes to the way your scripts connect to the database, for example do you still use "localhost" as the name fo the database server or did they change it? Check your permissions for your 68C database, does the username and password in your connections file actually have righst to access the database.

[richartj +]

Larry,

You hit the nail on the head!

Thank you so much!

I've been at my "real" job all day and just got back to this problem. I had the IP address in the connection script. When I changed it from the IP address to locahost it started working as before.

Any idea how/why this would change? The site's been up and running fine for months, then today - I had this issue.

Any idea of what I should set that to? Should I keep it set to localhost ? or do I change it to the actual domain name?

Thanks for your help,

TJ

[Lhotch +]

Originally Posted by richartj

I've been at my "real" job all day and just got back to this problem. I had the IP address in the connection script. When I changed it from the IP address to locahost it started working as before.

Any idea how/why this would change? The site's been up and running fine for months, then today - I had this issue.

Any idea of what I should set that to? Should I keep it set to localhost ? or do I change it to the actual domain name?

Thanks for your help,

TJ

Best bet is to ask the host what to set it to. Using an IP probably isnt a good idea, many hosts move stuff around and use DNS to make sure things go where they need to.