Improving Robustness in Distributed Systems
Learn strategies to improve the robustness of distributed systems through cluster configurations, Erlang implementation, and network parameters alignment. Gain insights on system view enforcement and multi-homing solutions.
Improving Robustness in Distributed Systems
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Presentation Transcript
Improving Robustness in Distributed Systems Per Bergqvistper@synapse.se Erlang User Conference 2001 (courtesy CellPoint Systems AB)
Design base • Cluster of cooperating hosts • Erlang and C • COTS hardware based • Unix based (i.e. Solaris or Linux) • 10/100/1000 base-T back plane(”system area network”)
Cluster • Shared, distributed, system configuration • Each host have ONE cluster controller • Dispatch and supervise worker tasks • Master cluster controller: holds configuration database (persistent replica) • Slave cluster controller: gets configuration from master cluster controllers • Cluster is DOWN when all master cluster controllers are inaccessible
Typical system Traffic Firewall Switch Control
Cluster Key Benefits • Single system view • Enforces decoupling of parts of O&M from actual traffic processing
Implementing a cluster • Cluster->Host->Node->NodeData • Cluster global parameters • Subscription mechanisms for conf. changes • Mnesia as configuration database on master cluster controllers • Homebrewn configuration distribution to slave controllers (NOT using mnesia) • (Worker) node supervision
Mnesia gotchas • First distributed node startup • Disallow writes when all replicas not accessible • Use timeout on table load and force load
... BUT ... • TCP based distribution • Network partitioning
Network parameters • Align TCP retransmission intervals w/ Erlang heartbeats • Align TCP and IP rerouting parameters
Typical system II: Dual back plane Firewall Switch Traffic Control
Host A Host C Host B Erlang multi-homing problem
Multi-home Erlang w/ TCP • Add an alias interface to loop back i/f • Patch tcp distribution to bind to alias • Publish alias interface on (all wanted) via real hw i/f’s • Method 1: Static routes and gratuitous/proxy arp • Method 2: Use new (routing) protocol
ARP method • Implement a utility to:- broadcast unsolicited ARP responses- respond to ARP requests for the alias i/f address • Add static routes on all far end systems • NOTE: all real i/f needs to be on same IP subnet
New routing protocol • Broadcast (Ethernet frames) what you have, including interface priority • Let the far end select path based on what/when they receive • Far end dynamically sets up host routes • Use short retransmission intervals
Erlang multi-homing resolved ? Host A Host C Host B
Summing up • Erlang can support multihoming with some additional work • By using loop back alias i/f, link failure becomes a routing problem (peer-peer association is kept intact) • Solaris TCP/IP stack parameters are:- hard to find (only in out-of-date app. notes)- hard to set ”right”- host global • A distribution mechanism with built-in support for multi-homing preferred
Erlang Distribution over SCTP Per Bergqvist et alper@synapse.se Erlang User Conference 2002