Title: WordPress Network error "error establishing database connection"
Last modified: August 20, 2016

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# WordPress Network error "error establishing database connection"

 *  [sherpabizdev](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sherpabizdev/)
 * (@sherpabizdev)
 * [14 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-network-error-error-establishing-database-connection/)
 * After running WP 3.1.3 for just a few weeks on a new site, I decided to activate
   the “network” settings. I am using subdomains and am hosting at Hostgator. All
   seemed to go fine. I can still access my original site at [http://99andunder.com](http://99andunder.com).
   I can also use the network admin features to create a new site (seemingly) successfully.
 * However, the new site (such as sf2.99andunder.com) is inaccessible. I get the
   error in my browser “Error establishing a database connection.” I have read a
   few other related threads and tried disabling all plugins before creating a new
   site, but still the same error. Am not a database expert, so I have not mucked
   w/MySQL settings.
 * Any advice? I am happy to post whatever config or file information is needed.
   Thanks in advance.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  Moderator [t-p](https://wordpress.org/support/users/t-p/)
 * (@t-p)
 * [14 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-network-error-error-establishing-database-connection/#post-2205463)
 * -First, try contacting the hosting provider if the database server is online /
   if they have any other problem at their end, or they made any changes to your
   account, or if there are any limitations/restrictions, etc .
 * – double check your wp-config.php file settings for the database name, database
   username and database password. This is where most errors occur.
 * -Then check that you don’t need to change the database host from “localhost” 
   to something else. You can get that info from your hosting provider.
 * -Check you have actually created a database with the same database name as is
   in your wp-config.php file.
 * -Last, but not least, if all that information is correct your database probably
   has a problem with it, and you may need to contact your hosting provider.
 * There are also many threads on this topic on these forums: [http://wordpress.org/search/Error+establishing+a+database+connection?forums=1](http://wordpress.org/search/Error+establishing+a+database+connection?forums=1)
 *  Thread Starter [sherpabizdev](https://wordpress.org/support/users/sherpabizdev/)
 * (@sherpabizdev)
 * [14 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-network-error-error-establishing-database-connection/#post-2205632)
 * Thanks for the reply t-p. Is your advice generic for any WordPress installation,
   or specific to my problem of converting to a network installation?
 * My primary domain works fine ([http://99andunder.com](http://99andunder.com))
   but any subdomain I create (like sfbay.99andunder.com) is unreachable.
 * Thanks again for your help. Any additional clarification would be great.
 * Andy
 *  Moderator [t-p](https://wordpress.org/support/users/t-p/)
 * (@t-p)
 * [14 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-network-error-error-establishing-database-connection/#post-2205645)
 * generic
 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [14 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-network-error-error-establishing-database-connection/#post-2205649)
 * Try posting in the Multisite forum.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘WordPress Network error "error establishing database connection"’ is 
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## Tags

 * [database](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/database/)
 * [subdomain](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/subdomain/)

 * In: [Installing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/installation/)
 * 4 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * Last activity: [14 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wordpress-network-error-error-establishing-database-connection/#post-2205649)
 * Status: not resolved

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