Avatar/MySQL Problems

[RobAC]

A few days ago, I had posted about receiving database error notifications.

I also sent a ticket into the hosting company to see what their response was. They responded with the folllowing:

Rob, We have the mysql server restart once an hour I believe to clear up connections left open by bad coding. Its down for a few seconds when this occurs. This may be the cause of those error emails.

Sure enough....each error notification I receive such as this one below:

Database error in vBulletin: Link-ID == false, connect failed
mysql error:
mysql error number:
Date: Friday 23rd of March 2001 09:00:03 PM
Script: /forums/avatar.php?userid=35
Referer: http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...?threadid=1343


.....happens on the hour. It doesn't happen every hour, but when it does happen, it happens on the hour. Also, each message outlines Script: /forums/avatar.php?....etc.

I just turned on the Avatar option for my boards a few days ago and ever since then, I started receiving these notificaitons. Has anyone else had this problem? What can I do?

Update:

Interestingly this just happened to me as I was replying back to to a thread at the top of the hour I received this message back:

Warning: MySQL: Link to server lost, unable to reconnect in /forums/admin/db_mysql.php on line 37
There seems to have been a slight problem with the database. Please try again by pressing the refresh button in your browser.
An E-Mail has been dispatched to our Technical Staff, who you can also contact if the problem persists.
We apologise for any inconvenience.

Line 37 is this: $this->link_id=mysql_pconnect($this->server,$this->user,$this->password);

[JamesUS]

That really is something your host need to deal with. Restarting mysql hourly shouldn't be necessary. I guess it was restarted in the middle of that last script's execution so the script got its connetion cut off.