Home Gaming Error establishing database connection…

Error establishing database connection…

2 min read
74

TopMen

It wasn’t too long ago that we underwent a bit of a redesign, and moved our servers from the Germany back to South Africa. It was an attempt to make the site a little more modern, a little more fresh and  being locally hosted, a little faster for you. For a very, very short while, it seemed to go okay. Yes, there were (and yes, still are!) issues with the site’s layout and formatting but it mostly worked. And then something funny started happening with our server.

I’m sure many of you, over the past few weeks, have been slapped in the face with a message about being unable to establish a database connection. Or perhaps you’ve hit our Cloudflare cache and been kicked in the nuts with week old news. If you have been able to access the site, it’s been slower than Darryn before his morning cup of tea.

It sucks, and we’re really sorry.

Why it’s happening

There’s something quite wrong with out shiny new server. It has 12 CPUS and more RAM than you could ostensibly use, yet there’s something amiss with it. For some reason, our SQL database is hogging up all the CPU, almost all the time. We’ve tried all manner of things; fixes, patches, new configurations, enabling plugins, disabling plugins, sacrificing goats to deities and yes, turning it off and back on again – all to no avail.

It not only locks you out of the site, but us too – so we’re trying to get articles up on to the site without really knowing if they’re there, if they’re scheduled to go live or if they’ve been lost to the ether. We also have no real way of editing them, so excuse us if there are even more  typos than usual.

It’s got us staring at the server’s resources, while trying to put content up.

What we’re doing about it

We’re building a new server, and having people who do server migrations and are SQL and Apache experts set the whole thing up. Hopefully, within the next week, we’ll have it completely sorted. We have top men working on it. TOP MEN!

From there, once everything is working, we’ll do our utmost to start addressing the lingering complaints and issues with our site layout.

You guys rock

Those of you who’ve tried to stick it out through the headaches and frustration of trying to connect, it’s difficult to put into words quite how much we appreciate it. Without you – the guys who come and read the stuff we put up every day – we are nothing.

Thanks for struggling through it all. Thanks for your patience and understanding. And for keeping us alive. We’re really sorry it’s happened at all, and hope it’ll soon be all behind us.

Last Updated: October 2, 2014

74 Comments

  1. Trebzz

    October 2, 2014 at 09:35

    First comment 😛 Hope this gets sorted out soon and keep up the good work

    Reply

  2. Admiral Chief 0

    October 2, 2014 at 09:35

    WE ARE BEHIND YOU ALL THE WAY LAGZ!

    Reply

  3. Alien Emperor Trevor

    October 2, 2014 at 09:39

    You don’t seem to have tried the most basic fix, HIT IT!

    Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      October 2, 2014 at 09:54

      Trust me, I hit it all day long.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief 0

        October 2, 2014 at 09:56

        That is what he said folks

        Reply

      • HvR

        October 2, 2014 at 09:56

        The server or a cabbage intern

        Reply

        • Kensei Seraph - Staff

          October 2, 2014 at 10:02

          What if the server and the cabbage intern are one and the same.

          Reply

          • HvR

            October 2, 2014 at 10:04

            Well there’s yar problem……

      • Sageville

        October 2, 2014 at 10:03

        I bet you say that to all the boys?

        Reply

      • RinceThis

        October 2, 2014 at 15:18

        Liar 😛

        Reply

    • The D

      October 2, 2014 at 09:56

      Our attempts to reboot with our size 9 Doc Martin’s have been futile at best.

      Reply

      • HvR

        October 2, 2014 at 09:57

        Pfftt size 9. Maybe you guys should employ a real man.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief 0

          October 2, 2014 at 09:58

          The only way Darryn fits in the size 9 is if he stuffs his underwear in there

          Reply

          • HvR

            October 2, 2014 at 10:09

            And the tissue padding from his bra

        • The D

          October 2, 2014 at 09:58

          We would, but that requires talking to circus clowns. Who we fear.

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            October 2, 2014 at 10:04

            Don’t listen to them, anything larger than size 9 is clown shoe size.

          • Kensei Seraph - Staff

            October 2, 2014 at 10:05

            You’re a puny size 8 aren’t you?

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            October 2, 2014 at 10:06

            I prefer “petite”

          • HvR

            October 2, 2014 at 10:06

            Hehehe … Tiny Toes Trevor

          • RinceThis

            October 2, 2014 at 15:17

            lol

          • ReaperOfSquirrels

            October 2, 2014 at 10:19

            Screw you, I’m no clown! Frikken clowns…. -.-

      • Hammersteyn

        October 2, 2014 at 09:58

        That’s a massage at best

        Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        October 2, 2014 at 10:00

        I question your commitment to the cause. Don’t go soft on us!

        Reply

      • Sageville

        October 2, 2014 at 10:03

        Size 9?

        Cute.

        Reply

    • Sir Rants A Lot Llew

      October 2, 2014 at 09:59

      • Sir Rants A Lot Llew

        October 2, 2014 at 10:02

        * and in this case possibly by Geoff…..
        *runs*

        Reply

  4. Anon A Mouse

    October 2, 2014 at 09:41

    Must say it looks far better at my side from what it looked like previous days, it’s just taking ages to load. I’m trying my utmost to bite me lip and look past the errors most of the time, but I’m running out of lip. That all being said technology can be a bitch sometimes and rather you than me. Good luck and all.

    Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    October 2, 2014 at 09:42

    My F5 button doesn’t work anymore so I’m back to clicking the reload button 😛

    Reply

  6. Alien Emperor Trevor

    October 2, 2014 at 09:44

    The first LG server was fine, but now the sequel is giving problems. tee hee.

    Reply

    • Mike

      October 2, 2014 at 09:56

      Yeah the sequel has some bugs, but I’m sure patches will sort those out while we do beta testing. Damn LG is taking tips from EA. Micro transactions and DLC incoming.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        October 2, 2014 at 09:58

        If they charge MTs for comments I’ll be bankrupt in a month, & Colin will be paid off.

        Reply

        • Mike

          October 2, 2014 at 09:58

          Just get a season pass for comments.

          Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          October 2, 2014 at 09:59

          Would they pay for upvotes, my OCD would make me rich

          Reply

  7. Hammersteyn

    October 2, 2014 at 09:45

  8. HvR

    October 2, 2014 at 09:56

    *Grabs pitch-fork*
    Grumble grumble…. was working fine ….. grumble grumble …. Error 34 ….. grumble grumble …. DRM’s fault ….. grumble grumble …… fc*k EA

    Reply

  9. Sir Rants A Lot Llew

    October 2, 2014 at 09:57

    Good luck gents. Ghost issues like this are the pits especially when you can’t figure out why things are doing what they aren’t supposed to.

    Hope the new server helps you guys out

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief 0

      October 2, 2014 at 09:58

      Back home?

      Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot Llew

        October 2, 2014 at 10:00

        yar

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief 0

          October 2, 2014 at 10:01

          YOU SHOULD BE GAMING!

          Reply

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew

            October 2, 2014 at 10:16

            I am. Diabs

  10. Kensei Seraph - Staff

    October 2, 2014 at 10:00

    And here I thought it was just the amazing internet here at work.
    The same internet line that take over 1 hour 30 minutes to download a 7 mb file.

    Reply

  11. Rock789

    October 2, 2014 at 10:09

    Good luck guys. A server having a hissy fit is never a pretty sight (I’m an SQL Analyst and work on servers everyday – never a pretty site when one decides to give us jip just for sh%ts and giggles when it’s been working fine all along…).

    Reply

    • Kensei Seraph - Staff

      October 2, 2014 at 10:11

      I see what you did there and despite the above average pun I agree.

      Reply

      • Rock789

        October 2, 2014 at 10:13

        🙂

        Reply

  12. HvR

    October 2, 2014 at 10:12

    Are you guys using Windows Server 2012 R2 and installing the latest updates.

    Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      October 2, 2014 at 10:19

      is a Linux-based server, and we’re throwing rocks at it.

      Reply

      • HvR

        October 2, 2014 at 10:21

        Dammit, was hoping to get in a few MS insults

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          October 2, 2014 at 10:45

          Can always wait for an Xbone article, then you can insult console gamers as well. It’s a TWO-FOR!

          Reply

      • Jedi Consular Kromas

        October 2, 2014 at 10:23

        Yeah I am converting one of our sites from a Samsung OfficeServe PBX to FreePbx. I hate my life right now. 🙁

        Reply

      • Admiral Chief 0

        October 2, 2014 at 10:49

        Maybe use Svr2012 R2, that OS is AWESOME

        Reply

  13. ReaperOfSquirrels

    October 2, 2014 at 10:20

    Good luck guys! We’ll be here all the way!

    Reply

  14. DarthZA

    October 2, 2014 at 10:27

    SQL by default is a hungry beast that will take as much as it can, even if it doesn’t need it. SQL should be releasing the resources as your pc makes demand for it. If not, you can limit how much SQL can use.

    Reply

  15. CAE9872

    October 2, 2014 at 10:28

    Well touch wood (NO NOT THAT ONE!!!) my side has been all good so far…

    Hope it all gets sorted for those with issues though because there is nothing more frustrating than IT issues…

    Reply

  16. cookiemonster

    October 2, 2014 at 10:54

    Yeaaaaaaaa. …you rock

    Reply

  17. Skoobaz

    October 2, 2014 at 11:13

    All good. Keep up the great work!

    Reply

  18. Jonah Cash

    October 2, 2014 at 11:27

    All good!! Everyone understands adversity…. And fuck those that don’t!! Lucky bastards!!!

    Reply

  19. Viking Of Science

    October 2, 2014 at 11:33

    And here I thought it was just me, and I was going insane…. :/

    Reply

  20. Corrie Botha

    October 2, 2014 at 11:34

    “There’s something quite wrong with out shiny new server. It has 12 CPUS and more RAM than you could ostensibly use”

    Buuuuuut can it run Crysis?

    Reply

  21. Doug

    October 2, 2014 at 11:35

    What SQL application are you guys using? And what are them server specs. An article on it could be pretty cool. Its always nice to see what people are using and how they are using it.

    Reply

  22. Lardus-Resident Perve

    October 2, 2014 at 12:47

    Moved the server from Germany? There is the problem! Everyone knows :
    http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/deutschland-%C3%BCber-alles-in-der-welt.png

    Reply

  23. oVg Definitive and Remastered

    October 2, 2014 at 12:47

    It was easier playing Destiny off-line than logging onto Lazygamer yesterday.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      October 2, 2014 at 15:18

      LooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooL

      Reply

    • RinceThis

      October 2, 2014 at 15:19

      BOOOOOOOOM!

      Reply

  24. Brady miaau

    October 2, 2014 at 14:28

    Good luck and thanks for all the fish.

    Or something 🙂

    Good luck. DBA’s can sometimes be well worth the money

    Reply

  25. OSiRiS

    October 2, 2014 at 14:51

    Have you checked if the databases and tables arent possibly defragmented? Stupid question but do you guys use cursors in your scripts? Have you guys run optimizations on your tables and databases? How many primary datafiles ( .mdf ) filed do you have per database? I used to make secondary datafiles ( .ndf ) for every cpu thread per database so the drive I/O wouldnt go through the roof as a database grows

    Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      October 2, 2014 at 15:07

      My brain just died.

      Reply

      • Brady miaau

        October 2, 2014 at 15:45

        Essentially your experts should be looking at that sort of stuff.

        It is why you pay an expert, after all.
        There, IT contractors everywhere, justified. I hope.

        Reply

  26. RinceThis

    October 2, 2014 at 15:18

    LG BF4 version?

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      October 2, 2014 at 15:56

      Buwhahahaha

      Reply

  27. RinceThis

    October 2, 2014 at 15:20

    I bet Zoe convinced Gavin to upgrade to the ‘stable’ IOS 8…

    Reply

    • Brady miaau

      October 2, 2014 at 15:45

      Running the site from a smartphone should really have been a warning signal, dont you think?

      And I think your comment was very amusing

      Reply

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