How to edit the my.cnf file

[HAL 9000]

I searched the on-line manual, but am not too clear on how to go about editing the my.cnf file. I need to look at the settings for the wait_timeout variable and possibly edit the value if it's set too low. I couldn't find this in the admin control panel.
Thanks for your help.

[Steve Machol]

That is a server issue, not a vB one. Unless you have root access to your server, then you can't do this. And if you do have root access and don't know how to do this, then I strongly recommend you find a good server person to do this for you since it's very easy to mess things up.

[HAL 9000]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for your reply. I have full control over all the files on my server folders. It's been a little over a year since I set up my forum. The design that I created is great, the members are coming in and registering fine, and I am loving it.
I have recently had some emails regarding database errors. I submitted a tread and it was suggested that I contact my server provider. I am working with them, Yahoo Small Business tech support. I was also instructed to read up on possible solutions through this site. A few threads stated that the setting for wait_timeout variable should be set in the range of 7200, 14400, and 28800.
I remember editing an initial file in Notepad and uploading it to my server when I was first setting it up. I thought that the wait_timeout variable was something that I could easily change in my admin control panel.
If that is not the case, is the file to be viewed and edited, editable using Notepad? Do I need to download it to my C: drive, edit it and then upload it back to my forum?

Thanks for your patience with these questions.

[Steve Machol]

Full control over your files on the server is not that same thing as root control of the server itself. Only you host can change my.cnf.

[HAL 9000]

Thanks again. Is it possible for me to view this file and see what is in it?

[Steve Machol]

Not directly. However you should be able to see what the variables are here:

Admin CP -> Maintenance -> Diagnostics -> System Information -> MySQL Variables -> Submit

[HAL 9000]

Steve,
I appreciate you so much. It may be set correctly, but I just need to know what it is set to for my peace of mind.
Thanks

[Steve Machol]

No problem.

[HAL 9000]

It was set to 28800 which is great. Also thanks for showing me a way to see those variables for future reference.
I appreciate your support in this.
Thanks!

[Lynne]

It was set to 28800 which is great. Also thanks for showing me a way to see those variables for future reference.
I appreciate your support in this.
Thanks!

It might or might not be great. If you post in the Server Configuration forum for help tuning your server, I recall the idea was to set it to the lowest number that doesn't cause any problems on your forum. I seem to recall they say to start around 180 and if that doesn't work out, to increase it by 60 until you come to a good number for your particular forum/server. I ended up setting it to 420 for my forum and I seem to recall that the server over at vb.org has theirs set to a lower number. Bigger is not necessarily better in this instance.

[HAL 9000]

It seems that when I call in to Yahoo tech support to address this issue, that the problem goes away for a few weeks. Then I start getting admin emails of database errors again. I'm not sure what to think now.

[peterska2]

That all depends on the errors. You should start a new thread for the new issue and include details of the error as well as any other relevant information