Can’t select database

DevKinsta Application Support
1

Hi I downloaded DevKinsta, and started working on a new site.

Today I wanted to continue that work. But I get an error message:

" Unknown database 'Shop_America_FI'

Can’t select database

We were able to connect to the database server (which means your username and password is okay) but not able to select the Shop_America_FI database.

  • Are you sure it exists?
  • Does the user root have permission to use the Shop_America_FI database?
  • On some systems the name of your database is prefixed with your username, so it would be like username_Shop_America_FI. Could that be the problem?

If you don’t know how to set up a database you should contact your host. If all else fails you may find help at the WordPress Support Forums."

I check the details of the database name, username and password and they match in the wp-config.php file in my local folder on my desktop.

I tried opening the database manager via the DevKinsta application but I get this error message:
MySQL » devkinsta_db » Database: Shop_America_FIDatabase: Shop_America_FI
Invalid database.

I don’t know what to do. I already put quite some work in it. And now it seems lost… I hope someone recognizes the problem and can help me with this.

PS I already restarted Docker, and the DevKinsta application without any difference.

2

Hey @gerjo01 :wave:

Please open Docker Desktop and delete devkinsta_adminer container. After that try to restart DevKinsta and open a database. :slight_smile:

4

Hi Peter, I may have done it wrong, but this is what I did. I opened Docker - went to Dashboard - I deleted the devkinsta_adminer. Then I reopened DevKinsta.

I tried to go to WP admin (via the button on the top right) and nothing, same errors: Can’t select database and invalid database if I go to the Database manager. It’s almost like there is no database anymore. But I do see the site in a screenshop on the DevKinsta dashboard. The local files are also there and the WPCONFIG file shows the right database name, username and password.

I really wanted to use this application to build a new website, test it, and then upgrade my Kinsta plan, since it would be site number 6. But it’s becoming a major headache this way. I really hope the work is not lost

5

@gerjo01 thanks for your reply!

Can you see your site if you open it in browser? I hope there is a problem only with adminer.

6

Hi Peter,

Screenshot 2021-01-27 at 15.19.48
Screenshot 2021-01-27 at 15.19.481398×662 121 KB
no it won’t open. It says:

Unknown database 'Shop_America_FI'

Can’t select database

We were able to connect to the database server (which means your username and password is okay) but not able to select the Shop_America_FI database.

  • Are you sure it exists?
  • Does the user root have permission to use the Shop_America_FI database?
  • On some systems the name of your database is prefixed with your username, so it would be like username_Shop_America_FI. Could that be the problem?

If you don’t know how to set up a database you should contact your host. If all else fails you may find help at the WordPress Support Forums.

When I click Open Site

7

@gerjo01 have you deleted manually database through Docker?

Can you try to check databases through terminal please?

docker exec -it devkinsta_db bash
mysql -p
#here copy your db password
show databases;
8

@peterkota is this what you’re looking for:

Screenshot 2021-01-27 at 16.12.48

9

yes, and type in this sql console: show databases;

10

@peterkota Screenshot 2021-01-27 at 16.15.52

11

@gerjo01 as I see the databases don’t exist. :slightly_frowning_face:
Can you remember the steps what you’ve made before? Have you pulled your sites from Kinsta? Have you deleted some Docker stuff manually?

12

@peterkota I don’t really remember, because I don’t understand how to use Docker. Do I need to sign up, do I need to save something after I completed my work? I just closed everything once I was done.

I remember getting all these instructions to ente code when I first opened Docker. in like a sort of onboarding, I didn’t understand why, or what that was for. Then I started working in DevKinsta, that looked like my Kinsta area, and familiar, and I was able to install a theme and plugins. Then I stopped, by closing everything. Since it was saved in the Wordpress backend I thought everything was safe. When I tried to return to it this morning I got all this. but I don’t understand what I needed to do with Docker, and I didn’t saw anything in the user manual about it.

My idea is to create a new WordPress site, by download an existing one from My Kinsta, work on a new theme, change language, pricing etc and then add it My Kinsta again and connect it to a new URL, and upgrade to the 10 sites packages. But this ordeal made me quite scared. I liked the idea of DevKinsta so much I could work at it locally. But not understanding how to keep your data safe, and something like this happening makes me scared I’m going to lose many hours (again).

How can I avoid this from happening again? Do I need to delete everything and start over again?

This is what I see in DevKinsta:

Screenshot 2021-01-27 at 16.42.19
Screenshot 2021-01-27 at 16.42.191042×537 39.9 KB

13

@gerjo01 I’m sorry for that, We’ll try to investigate the cause of the issue.

In normal case you shouldn’t do anything in Docker.

I’ll get back to you if We find something.

14

There’s no need to sign up for Docker. Changes to the site are saved and stored instantly so there’s no need to complete any other action.

Are you pulling an existing site on Kinsta? Please do and let us know if that helps.

15

Right now I am just really scared I lose everything again, because there is no answer to why the database just disappeared like that.

16

I understand and very sorry for the trouble here. We’ll continue to investigate on our end.

17

Is the database stored locally? Where can I check if the database is safe and stored? Even when I close DevKinsta/Docker/the laptop?

18

That’s correct. The database is stored locally once the site is pulled from Kinsta onto your computer. You can access the local database via Adminer. Information is stored automatically as you edit the site locally.

19

Update:
I deleted everything, docker, DevKinsta.
Then re-installed.
Tried to import site from Kinsta, but I couldn’t get to it. Again all these database errors, before I realized the database login details are now ofcourse different so I changed them in wp-config but then still no luck I expect due to iThemes security (different login URL) and 2 factor authenticator. I just couldn’t reach the local site.

Then I thought I want to do this anyway to play around with a new theme and layout. So I decided to go from scratch with a new install, so I did.

Now I get the following error while trying to install the WooCommerce plugin:
Installation failed: 504 Gateway Time-out 504 Gateway Time-out nginx

DevKinsta so far is not as easy play as is Live Kinsta hosting. While I was expecting it to be just a pleasant and clean as my experience with normal Kinsta kosting.

I’m also petrified to close it since I still have little trust my database will be saved correctly. For that would a back up plugin work with a local site? Like Backup buddy? In case something does go wrong again?

And what do I do about the 504 time out error?

20

I understand and very sorry for the trouble you’re having here.

You can use a backup plugin locally if you wish, but recommend disabling or deleting it before pushing to Kinsta. Backups are already made on Kinsta itself automatically for you.

I do want to reiterate though the data will exist before and after closing DevKinsta. It’s generally safe to close out/exit DevKinsta and Docker and re-open with everything being there prior to exiting. The behavior is similar to your site on Kinsta itself in that changes to the database occur instantly. That said, if there are issues with the database where it’s deleted or removed as it occurred here then that’s a separate issue in which we are investigating.