These are the facts as I understand them right now:

• We are regularly getting refused connections from the mysql server, saying that we have exceeded 'max_user_connections' for our account.

• According to the mysql server, the value of 'max_user_connections' is set to 100.

• According to the MySQL manual, when you get too many connection messages, you can use the SHOW PROCESSLIST query to see all of your connections. I have verified this using MySQL on my own system at home.

• When we connect to the mysql server and do a SHOW PROCESSLIST query, it shows that we only have one connection.

• When we connect to the mysql server via the command line, the web server is completely locked out. We also cannot make a second connection to the mysql server from the command line.

Therefore, I have come to the following conclusion.

• Either the mysql server is broken, and is only allowing us one concurrent connection at a time, instead of 100, or whatever number that we are allowed to have, or,

• The mysql server is broken, and is not reporting the correct information from the SHOW PROCESSLIST query.

The first scenario is much more likely. Further evidence supporting my hypothesis that the error occurs when more than one user hits the web server simultaneously can be found by examining a sample from the access_log and error_log files. Do we have access to them?

In either event, it is my opinion that the mysql server is broken. This is not something we "mention" to them as "feedback", this is something that the ISP needs to fix, or at the very least, provide us a better explanation, using data that we don't have access to.

This, of course, is purely a technical assessment. I have no knowledge of our interpersonal relationship with the ISP.

This is not something we "mention" to them as "feedback", this is something that the ISP needs to fix, or at the very least, provide us a better explanation, using data that we don't have access to.

Unfortunately, according to Kristen, they've had it with us.

I checked the error log files, and there are four connection_refuseds -- for each db_status I ran during the fifteen minutes down. The access_log isn't behaving for me right now, so I'll grab it from work.

Unfortunately, according to Kristen, they've had it with us.

Huh. I don't see us as being particularly difficult customers. Does the Phoenix really take up that much more space or whatever than other sites?

Rob, what do you make of the inability to open two mysql command line connections at once?

I don't see us as being particularly difficult customers

Me neither, but I don't know what it's like on their side.

Um, the title graphic for the Message Center (the one that says Message Center in the Buffied font) has changed into a black dot.

Are we having fun yet?

The graphic looks fine to me.

Huh. It's working for me in another browser, but I can't get Mozilla to show it. Off to clear the cache. (edit: And that did it.)

It seems to be getting worse for me.

So, I suppose today is not a good day to die?

By which I mean, running deathmatches is not so good today?

Unfortunately, according to Kristen, they've had it with us.

Okay, I understand that they've told Kristen that they've had it with us, and absolutely refuse to give us any more help, and Kristen has offered an explanation as to why that is, but here's what I don't understand--

We have paid them for a service. There are certain things we have a right to expect in return for that payment, like equipment and software that works. Why do we not have the right to ask/demand that they provide these basic minimums? Why is "we've had it with you" an acceptable answer from them?

I appreciate everything Kristen and our code peeps have done for us, but I just don't understand how this response from the ISP is acceptable when it seems to me that what we're asking for is not only reasonable, but seems to be something that should be included in the purchase price.

When I buy a new car, if I find out that after a few months that it will only drive a mile before it shuts down, and I have to restart it before I can go any further, and I also find out that it happens because of something the manufacturer did, I don't have to just suck it up and find a new car--I have a right to demand the manufacturer make it better.

Now, those are just my thoughts, and again, I appreciate Kristen, and ita, and everybody else, and the things they've done for us. If my thoughts are inappropriate (heh) or unwanted, I'll come back and delete them.