Current github code ( My code is actually the download from your main site )

https://github.com/ezsystems/ezpublish/blob/master/update/common/scripts/4.4/updatesectionidentifier.php

When trying to do an upgrade from 4.3 to 4.4.

The script was failing, telling me that I had no connection to the database.

After discovering that the wrong credentials were being used. I narrowed it down to the script not loading "ActiveAccessExtensions".

To get it to work:

I set 'use-extensions' = true instead of false.
Then it worked as expected.

Just to be clear, via "ActiveAccessExtensions" I define my database settings.

Hope this helps.

Please feel free to get hold of me via my contact details if you have any further queries.

Chris