The application logs contain many entries of the following:
ERROR 1153 (OSSO1): Got a packet bigger than ‘max_allowed_packet’ bytes

The application tried to INSERT a row that exceeded max_allowed_packet. 

The network caused an error Inducing the max_allowed_packet error. 

The application did not use the COMPRESS () function for a large result set. 

The application tried to SELECT many rows together that exceeded max    allowed_packet. 

The application tried to SELECT a row that exceeded max_allowed_packet. 

The operating system caused an error inducing the max_allowed_packet error.