Critical error: unable to connect to UDB database

[treehstn]

Hi,

I have not worked on my website in a couple of years and need to get it updated and running again.  I can see that my database tables for coppermine are using the prefix cpg14x_ so I'm sure that I had version 1.4 working at some time.  I need to upgrade to 1.5 and continue adding photos.

When I try to view coppermine in a web browser I get this message:

Coppermine critical error:
Unable to connect to UDB database !

MySQL said:

I get the same message when running the version checker.  I've checked the includes/config.inc.php file and believe all of the login information to be correct.  I'm using the following safe mode work around since I'm using hostgator for my hosting service (I commented this out and got the same result):

// Silly safe mode
define('SILLY_SAFE_MODE', 1);

The said site is http://www.glassresearch.net/coppermine/

I've searched the forum and have not found anything that has worked on correcting this issue.  Any help or direction would be much appreciated.

[treehstn]

I'm pretty sure that I have the dbserver, dbuser, dbpass, and dbname all correct since I verified it all using myphpadmin.

Could the smf bridge have anything to do with this?  It's been so long since I've worked with my site I can't remember what affects what enough to troubleshoot this.

[Jeff Bailey]

Looks like your using v1.4.19. If you can find out what the actual error is you'll probably be able to fix the problem (update password, repair table ... )

Use PHPMyAdmin to change the debug mode.
1.5.x docs: http://documentation.coppermine-gallery.net/en/errors.htm#errors_debug_mode_manual

[treehstn]

I set the debug mode as instructed and it didn't put any more information on the page... I'm not finding anywhere in my hostgator files where it's saving any mysql error logs or any other logs that might be helpful...

[phill104]

You should contact hostgator to check that all the credentials are correct and that there is no fault on their end

Another option would be to download your db and files to your local machine and using a tool such as WAMP test everything is working obviously not forgetting to change the db details in config.inc.php. If all is working as expected do the upgrade locally while you try and find out what is wrong with your hosting.

If your hostgator account is still requiring safe mode then it could also be they have not upgraded PHP as most recent hostgator accounts I have seen no longer are setup that way. So again, it might be worth having a word with their support.

[treehstn]

I have another option... I have a domain on hostgator that really is empty.  Would I be correct in testing if I loaded clean updated mambo, coppermine and smf installs on that domain then imported my tables?  I'm thinking that would test the programs themselves.  Hostgator would still be in the mix so it would be a limited test.

I'd have to figure out how to import the tables that have all my data in them....

[phill104]

Am I by that post assuming that you have SMF, Mambo and Coppermine all on the same db and if so do they also have connection problems?

As for Mambo I thought that had all but died out and most of those behind it had forked into Joomla.

[treehstn]

Mambo is working fine.  SMF and coppermine are having issues.  But keep in mind it's been several years since I've worked on the site and there was a server change in there too.  I can't be sure I even had smf and coppermine working correctly since migrating to hostgator.  I just can't remember.

[treehstn]

You can see the main site at http://www.glassresearch.net

[phill104]

So both SMF and CPG are having problems which suggests that db connection details are incorrect. Check the configuration.php file in mambo and compare the db settings.

As for using spare space at hostgator you could do that but much better to work locally as everything will be so much faster. Take a look at wampserver.com/en/ . With that you can install a completer webserver on your desktop and with just a few clicks set it up with the same php and MySQL versions and setting as your live hosting. Then import everything locally for testing.

[treehstn]

Will do... I'll check those settings

[treehstn]

Oh good grief... I just figured out that hostgator changed my server path.  Instead of it being /home/.....   it is /home1/....

Now I have to figure out where in all of mambo, smf and coppermine I need to change that path!  Check out the error message in smf now:

http://www.glassresearch.net/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=53

[treehstn]

I was only able to find a couple of instances with the wrong server path and updating them made no difference with the issue.... Any other ideas for me to try or research?

[phill104]

The path shouldn't cause the unable to connect to DB error you are getting.

[Niecher]

Hello treehstn,

I suggest, create a new file config.inc.php and upload it via ftp overwriting the previous one.

Regards.

[treehstn]

Recreating the config.inc.php file had no effect.

[phill104]

You will need to speak to your host as there is not a lot else we can do. But please try your setup locally as I have suggested above and if it works there then you have more ammo to go to your host with.

[treehstn]

Phill... I'm working today on getting all the files and db downloaded and then will run everything local to test as you suggest... will post back with my findings.  Thank you!

[Niecher]

Hello treehstn,

There seems to be a strange behavior in your config.inc.php file. Here.

Regards.

[treehstn]

I overwrote the config.inc.php file with a brand new one from the install files.  It didn't make any impact on the connection issue so I put it back to what it was.