Warning: mysql_connect(): MySQL server has gone away in /home/retired/public_html/includes/support.php on line 17

Warning: mysql_connect(): Error while reading greeting packet. PID=108674 in /home/retired/public_html/includes/support.php on line 17

Warning: mysql_connect(): MySQL server has gone away in /home/retired/public_html/includes/support.php on line 17
I cannot connect to the database because: MySQL server has gone away