Introduction

The max_connections setting in MySQL defines the maximum number of simultaneous database connections allowed on the server. If this limit is too low, users may face “Too many connections” errors. By default, MySQL sets this value to 151 connections.

Prerequisites

Before making changes, ensure you have:

a. Root access to the server (SSH or WHM Terminal)

b. Basic knowledge of MySQL configuration

c. Access to MySQL configuration file (/etc/my.cnf)

Implementation

Step 1: Login to Server

Access the server via SSH or WHM Terminal as root user

Step 2: Check Current Value

Run the below command to verify current connections limit:

mysql -e "show variables like 'max_connections';"

Step 3: Edit MySQL Configuration

Open the MySQL config file:

vi /etc/my.cnf

Step 4: Modify max_connections

Find or add the following line:

max_connections=151

Change it to your required value (example):

max_connections=200

Step 5: Save Changes

Save and exit the file

Step 6: Restart MySQL Service

Apply changes by restarting MySQL:

/usr/local/cpanel/scripts/restartsrv_mysql

Step 7: Verify Changes

Check again to confirm the update:

mysql -e "show variables like 'max_connections';"

Conclusion

You can increase or modify MySQL max_connections by editing the configuration file and restarting the MySQL service. Adjust this value based on your server capacity and traffic to avoid connection errors while maintaining performance.