Database error on website

Question

I got this error trying to access our SCADA website:

A Database Error Occurred

Unable to connect to your database server using the provided settings.

Filename: core/Loader.php

Line Number: 341

I scanned into the Loader.php file and on line 341 found this code: $CI->db =& DB($params, $active_record);

This is the complete block with the error code:

public function database($params = '', $return = FALSE, $active_record = NULL)
    {
        // Grab the super object
        $CI =& get_instance();

        // Do we even need to load the database class?
        if (class_exists('CI_DB') AND $return == FALSE AND $active_record == NULL AND isset($CI->db) AND is_object($CI->db))
        {
            return FALSE;
        }

        require_once(BASEPATH.'database/DB.php');

        if ($return === TRUE)
        {
            return DB($params, $active_record);
        }

        // Initialize the db variable.  Needed to prevent
        // reference errors with some configurations
        $CI->db = '';

        // Load the DB class
        $CI->db =& DB($params, $active_record);
    }

Answer 1

The file you mention is just where the call happened when the issue happened.

The real issue is either:

1. Your settings in application/configuration/database.php or
2. Your Database server is down, inaccessible or the credentials have changed