"MySQL server has gone away" error

[dstover]

I am getting a somewhat random "MySQL server has gone away" error sometimes when running Perl programs that I have either written from scratch or modified the original code. I am using standard Perl in my subroutines and and connecting disconnecting when needed using DBI. It looks from the front end that the objects built into OTRS are trying to do a database call and finding no connection. Is there some reason I shouldn't use standard Perl along with the usage of internal OTRS DB objects and so on? I have looked at the settings on MySQL and found nothing out of the ordinary. I have also tried different settings based on Internet research and still the problem crops up at random.

Any advice would be appreciated...Dan.