How do you calculate mysql max_connections variable?

Going to post this as an answer, with the relevant information. The basic formulas are:

Available RAM = Global Buffers + (Thread Buffers x max_connections)

max_connections = (Available RAM - Global Buffers) / Thread Buffers

To get the list of buffers and their values:

SHOW VARIABLES LIKE '%buffer%';

Here's a list of the buffers and whether they're Global or Thread:

Global Buffers: key_buffer_size, innodb_buffer_pool_size, innodb_log_buffer_size, innodb_additional_mem_pool_size, net_buffer_size, query_cache_size

Thread Buffers: sort_buffer_size, myisam_sort_buffer_size, read_buffer_size, join_buffer_size, read_rnd_buffer_size, thread_stack

WARNING! This is from 2011 using MySQL 5.1.x. Use at your own risk

---- ORIGINAL POST ----

Here's another alternative formula in stored procedure form:

DELIMITER //
CREATE PROCEDURE sproc_show_max_memory ( OUT max_memory DECIMAL(7,4))
BEGIN
SELECT ( @@key_buffer_size + @@query_cache_size + @@tmp_table_size + @@innodb_buffer_pool_size + @@innodb_additional_mem_pool_size + @@innodb_log_buffer_size + @@max_connections * ( @@read_buffer_size + @@read_rnd_buffer_size + @@sort_buffer_size + @@join_buffer_size + @@binlog_cache_size + @@thread_stack ) ) / 1073741824 AS MAX_MEMORY_GB INTO max_memory;
END//
DELIMITER ;
CALL sproc_show_max_memory(@show_max_memory);
SELECT @show_max_memory;

I’m assuming your using a MySQL database > version 5.1.x and you’re a privileged user. But you play with the max connections by inserting whatever number you want and see the results.