Database connection pool exhausted
A service that talks to a database starts intermittently failing requests with 'timeout acquiring connection from pool' errors, getting worse over a couple of hours after a deploy this morning. The database itself looks healthy (low CPU, normal query times). Traffic is normal. The pool dashboard shows in-use connections pinned at the max while idle connections sit at zero. How do you triage?
What a strong answer looks like
Stop the bleeding first (mitigate), then form hypotheses from real signals. Separate root cause from symptom, communicate status as you go, and close with what prevents a repeat.
0:00 of about 20 min
Which questions mattered is sealed until you submit. Telling you now would just be handing over the edge cases.
Run or narrate your approach, then ask the coach.