MySQL max_connections ignores cnf file

[David Favor]

Changing max_connections in /etc/mysql/mysql.conf.d/mysqld.cnf caps out at 214 connections.

The max_connections setting can be adjusted down + has no effect when value is set to more than 214.

This problem seems to have occurred when systemd was introduced.

Changing /lib/systemd/system/mysql.service LimitNOFILE=value (any value) followed by...

systemctl daemon-reload
systemctl restart mysqld

Also has no effect, as many articles state.

Due to this problem, Ubuntu MySQL is unusable for sites with slightest bit of traffic.

This ticket aims to have someone describe the correct way to effect max_connections to increase past 214 connections.

Temporary fix is...

mysql --defaults-extra-file=/etc/mysql/debian.cnf -e 'SET GLOBAL max_connections=1000'