Another Database Error Question

I was involved in redesigning a website for a non-profit. They hired someone else who switched over the site for wordpress and left. I picked up the pieces, designed it, and maintained it for a while.

Now the site is having a “Error establishing a database connection.”

The problem is this, I am not very experienced in mysql databases, other than backing up… etc.. The database is located in a completely different server. (I got this info from the config.php file) Not on the non-profit’s server.

I tried to sign in remotely using Cocoa and got the message “too many connections.”

I know the name and password is correct, because the site has been up and running for a while.

I am wondering if someone can deduce what the problem exactly is? Perhaps it was a hack? I believe the person maintaining it now did not update the wordpress version. Or the database on the other server was tinkered with or it went down?

We are trying to contact the original guy who has the information to the server the mysql database is on. Otherwise, is there anything I can do? (I was asked to take a look at the problem, since they couldn’t get in touch with the first guy…) Sigh.

I am thinking that my hands are tied.

Thank you for your help in advance.