Error
Error Code:
1203
MariaDB Error 1203: User Connection Limit Exceeded
Description
This error indicates that a specific MariaDB user has reached the maximum number of simultaneous connections allowed by the server. It commonly occurs when an application or client attempts to establish a new connection while the user already has too many active sessions, preventing further access to the database.
Error Message
User %s already has more than 'max_user_connections' active connections
Known Causes
3 known causesApplication Connection Leaks
Client applications fail to properly close database connections, leading to an accumulation of open connections for a single user over time.
High Concurrent User Activity
A large number of users or processes attempt to connect simultaneously with the same MariaDB user account, quickly exceeding the connection limit.
Insufficient Server Configuration
The `max_user_connections` variable is set too low for the expected workload, causing the limit to be hit prematurely during normal operations.
Solutions
4 solutions available1. Temporarily Increase max_user_connections easy
Quickly raise the connection limit to alleviate immediate pressure.
1
Connect to your MariaDB server as a user with sufficient privileges (e.g., root).
2
Execute the following SQL command to dynamically set the `max_user_connections` variable. Replace `N` with a value higher than the current limit (e.g., 200 if the default is 100).
SET GLOBAL max_user_connections = N;3
Verify the change by querying the current value of `max_user_connections`.
SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES LIKE 'max_user_connections';4
Note: This change is temporary and will revert to the value set in `my.cnf` (or `my.ini`) upon server restart. For a permanent solution, see the 'Permanently Configure max_user_connections' solution.
2. Identify and Terminate Idle Connections medium
Find and close unnecessary connections to free up resources.
1
Connect to your MariaDB server as a user with sufficient privileges.
2
View all active connections and their associated user and host.
SHOW PROCESSLIST;3
Analyze the output of `SHOW PROCESSLIST`. Look for connections with a long `Time` value or those that appear to be idle (e.g., command is 'Sleep'). Identify the `Id` of the connection(s) you wish to terminate.
4
Terminate an identified connection by executing the `KILL` command with the connection's `Id`. Replace `connection_id` with the actual ID.
KILL connection_id;5
Re-run `SHOW PROCESSLIST` to confirm the connection has been terminated.
3. Permanently Configure max_user_connections medium
Adjust the `my.cnf` or `my.ini` file for a persistent increase in connection limits.
1
Locate your MariaDB configuration file. This is typically `my.cnf` on Linux/macOS or `my.ini` on Windows. Common locations include `/etc/my.cnf`, `/etc/mysql/my.cnf`, or within the MariaDB installation directory.
2
Open the configuration file in a text editor with administrative privileges.
3
Under the `[mysqld]` section, add or modify the `max_user_connections` directive. Set it to your desired value. For example, to set it to 200:
[mysqld]
max_user_connections = 2004
Save the changes to the configuration file.
5
Restart the MariaDB server for the changes to take effect.
sudo systemctl restart mariadb # For systemd-based systems
sudo service mysql restart # For older init systems6
After restarting, connect to MariaDB and verify the new setting:
SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES LIKE 'max_user_connections';4. Optimize Application Connection Handling advanced
Improve how your application manages database connections to reduce unnecessary usage.
1
Review your application's code to identify how database connections are opened, used, and closed. Look for potential issues such as:
2
Unclosed connections: Ensure that every connection opened is explicitly closed when no longer needed. This is often done in `finally` blocks or using context managers in programming languages.
3
Connection pooling: Implement or properly configure a connection pool. Connection pooling reuses existing database connections instead of establishing new ones for each request, significantly reducing overhead and the number of active connections.
4
Inefficient queries: Long-running or inefficient queries can hold connections open for extended periods. Optimize your SQL queries to execute faster.
5
Excessive connection creation: If your application creates a new connection for every single operation, consider consolidating operations or using a connection pool.
6
Consult your application's documentation and best practices for database interaction for specific implementation guidance.