Techniques and architectures for managing database failure in a single-node database architecture

In a computing environment having multiple application servers each having at least one connection agent and at least one pause agent and a database node, detecting an error condition between a first application server from the multiple application servers and the database node. Indicating that the database node is unavailable to stop attempts to access the database node by a first application server. The attempts to access the database node are paused without an indication of the database node being unavailable to a source of the attempt to access the database node. Checking periodically, with the first application server, availability of the database node. Indicating that the database node is available in response to a pre-selected number of successful attempts to contact the database node with the first application server.