mysql max_connections limit reset
Yes this is the default behavior. How ? The default value for max_connections is 151.

This is true for MySQL 5.7, MySQL 5.6, and MySQL 5.5

If /etc/my.cnf does not have max_connections, then 151 comes up as max_connections.

You can just run set global max_connections = 1000;. 

Your hosting company must put that entry in /etc/my.cnf for you 

[mysqld]
max_connections=1000


Otherwise, every restart of mysqld will reset max_connections to 151.

I have suggested this before


Jul 06, 2012 : How to resolve too many connections and fatal error in mysql running on vps