# External Cloudant intermittent error 401
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/external-cloudant-intermittent-error-401/23255
**Category:** General
**Created:** [18 March 2020 04:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/external-cloudant-intermittent-error-401/23255 "2020-03-18T04:25:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@piptan](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/piptan)
#### Post date: [18 March 2020 04:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/external-cloudant-intermittent-error-401/23255/1 "2020-03-18T04:25:16Z")
Hi,
I can successfully access external Cloudant DB from my node. But, from time to time, I receive error "couch returned 401". All I have to do to fix this is to go to External Cloudant server properties 's edit page and re-enter the password, then Deploy. It will work for let's say about 12 hours, then the problem recurs.
I use node-red on IBM Cloud and external Cloudant is also on IBM Cloud but on a different project.
To configure this, I simply use Cloudant node (both in and out - in for reading and out - for updating, the problem occurs on both) , select External Cloudant service, enter Properties - Host, User name, Password and Server name.
User name and Password entered are according to Service Credetial created on External Cloudant. It should not be a problem because it at least works for about almost 12 hours.
What could cause the problem ? Thank you.
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### Author:  [@piptan](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/piptan)
#### Post date: [7 April 2020 07:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/external-cloudant-intermittent-error-401/23255/2 "2020-04-07T07:28:46Z")
Moving to node-red-contrib-cloudantplus fixed my problem.
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### Author:  [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [21 April 2020 07:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/external-cloudant-intermittent-error-401/23255/3 "2020-04-21T07:28:46Z")
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