As a further test, if you connect to mysql from the command line, what happens when you try to connect a second time from the command line, and try to do a show processlist?

Can't connect the second time. I get the max_connections error at the command line when I try and type in the password.

OK, cool. That's further evidence that the problem is on their end, not ours.

When I get home from work, I want to take the board down for a little while and see how many mysql sessions I can set up from the command line when no one's using the code.

Cereal: Do you know how many pageviews per second b.o averages? From what you say, it looks like the error occurs every time two people hit the site simultaneously.

If that's the case, turning off threadsuck until the issue is resolved might reduce the number of errors.

Is there any way to find out if other websites hosted by the same server we use are having similar problems?

None of the other users Kristen knows of are using MySQL. But there are others on the server, I'm pretty sure.

Fangeek doesn't host anyone else using MySQL. As far as I know, no one else is reporting the problems we are. Then again, I don't know that anyone else on Mercedes is running a fairly active discussion forum.

If no one else is using MySQL, can our hosts restart mysqld? I bet that will make the problem go away for a while.

I'm going to say it again. Asking IH for anything at this point, other than our final bill, not an option.

I don't understand that. And it seems to be awfully common in ISPs response to us.

Is there something defective with our money?

I mean, that's just crazy. We seem to be able to prove it's not on our end. Why won't any provider work with us to try and solve this problem?