MongoDB: How often should you open and close the database? Why?

Question

For every request I was opening the database, querying, closing the database.

I was sporadically running into a connection already opened issue.

I ended up changing the configuration to just open mongo and keep it open.

What are the downsides to this method?

Thanks!

(note: using node.js)

Answer 1

I looks as if you should open the connection once and keep reusing it, at least with the node-native-driver. Comments on the subject by the driver's developer found here: https://github.com/mongodb/node-mongodb-native/issues/84