Searching Leads to DB Error - Got a packet bigger than 'max_allowed_packet' bytes

[Kwesi]

Hi, I'm getting an error when I try using the search function. the error is pasted below.

Database error in vBulletin 3.6.3:

Invalid SQL:

                        SELECT
                        thread.threadid
                        FROM thread AS thread 
                        INNER JOIN post AS post ON(thread.threadid = post.threadid )
                        WHERE post.postid IN(26,44,47,51,59,151,165,191,216,251,326,352,362,372,381,385,1960681,,2060051    WHERE post.
061,2060067,20602219757,2219776

MySQL Error  : Got a packet bigger than 'max_allowed_packet' bytes
Error Number : 1153
Date         : Tuesday, December 12th 2006 @ 05:26:44 PM
Script       : http://www.pkmncommunity.com/search.php
Referrer     : http://www.pkmncommunity.com/search.php?searchid=700169
IP Address   : 11.11.111.11
Username     : Master Kwesi Nkromah
Classname    : vb_database 

I had to trim, over 300 pages (million+ characters) from the SQL query to make this error thing fit.
is there anything I can do to stop this error from occuring?

[Steve Machol]

It means that someone has tried to post something larger than your host allows for.

MySQL Error : Got a packet bigger than 'max_allowed_packet' bytes

You need to ask your host to increase the 'max_allowed_packet' variable in the my.cnf file and restart MySQL. The default is 1Mb, but most hosts run 8-16 Mb without problems.

[Freddie Bingham]

Do you know the word that is being searched for?

[Kwesi]

I'm on a dedicated server. I have the capability to change the value of the max allowed packet variable but i just need to know how. I just chose a random word like Pokemon... it's a Pokemon forum.

[Freddie Bingham]

You should disallow searching for the work 'Pokemon' within the admin cp.