I'm getting this error message = User has exceeded the max_questions / max_connections / max_updates resource, what should I do?

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What does the error: User has exceeded the max_questions / max_connections / max_updates resource mean?

This type of message indicates that MySQL resources are being used too intensively from time to time. This limit is imposed to prevent any abusive use of resources by a client, which could cause the MySQL server to slow down considerably.

In concrete terms, the message means that you have made more than N (N being the value indicated) requests per hour. N is very high and corresponds in principle to more than 5 requests per second! The MySQL server then protects itself by blocking any connection from you for the remaining hour.

For example, if you make N requests in the last 45 minutes, the MySQL server will block you for the next 15 minutes. It will then automatically lift the block.

This limit cannot be increased under any circumstances on a shared server, as we consider that at more than 5 MySQL requests per second, your site is well beyond the scope of shared hosting.

Find out more about the quotas for shared web hosting packages here

How can this error be resolved?

• This overrun is very occasional and is due to exceptional operations on your part (maintenance on your database, etc.).

In this case, try to divide your interventions into more basic ones, or to intervene at night so as not to disturb your visitors in the event of a blockage.

Large databases should preferably be restored from your Manager, Hosting, Databases section, so as not to be subject to the limitation.

• This overrun is due to a lack of optimisation of your site.

Check whether you are using scripts that are very database-intensive, such as statistics tools, visit audit tools, etc.: deactivate these scripts/modules if they are not optimised. In this case, deactivate these scripts/modules. Also check whether the programming of the site can be challenged by minimising the number of requests.

• This overrun is quite simply due to the large number of visits to your site. So you're simply a victim of your own success, which is good news!
  

The shared structure is no longer suited to your needs, and you need to consider a dedicated server solution.

Find out more about our Dedicated Server VPS packages, how they work and all the information you need in our help section, in the"Dedicated Servers" section.

Find out how to switch from shared web hosting to a dedicated server