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AWS aurora-dsql: Retry guidance for server unavailable (SQLSTATE XX000) errors

Service: aurora-dsql · 2026-09-27 · Documentation low

File: aurora-dsql/latest/userguide/troubleshooting.md

Summary

Documents handling of transient 'server unavailable (SQLSTATE XX000)' errors: retry the whole transaction with exponential backoff and jitter, avoid reconnecting, design idempotent transactions, and verify writes when commit outcome is uncertain.

Security assessment

The guidance addresses reliability and data-integrity (duplicate/uncertain writes on retry), not an attack vector or a fixed flaw. There is no mention of authentication, encryption, or access control, so it is at most tangentially security-relevant hardening advice.

Evidence

+Design transactions to be idempotent when possible. For non-idempotent transactions, confirm whether Aurora DSQL applied the write before you retry the transaction.

Diff

diff --git a/aurora-dsql/latest/userguide/troubleshooting.md b/aurora-dsql/latest/userguide/troubleshooting.md
index 64163aa26..eab0c755c 100644
--- a//aurora-dsql/latest/userguide/troubleshooting.md
+++ b//aurora-dsql/latest/userguide/troubleshooting.md
@@ -116,0 +117,14 @@ To create an index on a table with existing rows, you must use the `CREATE INDEX
+### Error: server unavailable (`SQLSTATE XX000`)
+
+A server unavailable error indicates a temporary service condition. Your connection remains active, so you can retry without reconnecting.
+
+Always retry the entire transaction from the beginning, including the `COMMIT` command, with exponential backoff and jitter.
+
+###### Uncertain commit outcome
+
+If the error occurs while committing a transaction, the transaction might have committed even though your application received an error.
+
+Design transactions to be idempotent when possible. For non-idempotent transactions, confirm whether Aurora DSQL applied the write before you retry the transaction.
+
+Monitor the rate of server unavailable errors. Expect occasional retries. If the errors become sustained or affect application performance, contact AWS Support.
+