This guide details the "Database connection error: could not connect to mysql" error that may occur when making changes to an Infomaniak hosting environment on which the Joomla web application is installed.

Introduction

• To get the site working again, you need to check and update certain information in the configuration.php file of Joomla:
  1. The database name — this is often a prefix that has been added to the existing database name and username (for example, dbname before, abcd_dbname after).
  2. The host server of the database (for example, mysql.domain.xyz before, abcd.myd.infomaniak.com after).
  3. The username that accesses the database (for example, dbuser before, abcd_dbuser after).
  4. The path to two directories, /tmp and /logs.

Get the updated information

For points 1, 2 and 3 of the preamble above:

1. Click here to access the hosting & website management section in your Infomaniak Manager (❓: help).
2. Click on the name of the relevant hosting.
3. Click on Database in the left-hand menu.
4. Find and save your current MySQL information (❓: help).

Regarding point 4 in the introduction above:

1. Click here to access the hosting & website management section in your Infomaniak Manager (❓: help).
2. Click on the name of the website in question.
3. Click on Manage advanced settings:
   
4. Click on the PHP / Apache tab:
   
5. Copy the path displayed in the first field under Auto Prepend File at the bottom:
   

Modify the configuration.php file for Joomla

Prerequisites

• Create an FTP account (❓: help).
• Connect via FTP (❓: help).

Then, edit the configuration.php file, which is located in the root directory of your Joomla:

1. Replace the old log and tmp paths with the new path:
   
2. Find the relevant paragraphs for the remaining information from the introduction above:
   
3. Save the file; your Joomla will now connect to the correct database.

Check the changes made

In the Joomla interface, you can check the paths of the /logs and /tmp folders:

• For the /logs folder: go to System / Configuration then Logs:
  
• For the /tmp folder: go to System / Configuration, then Server: