Modeling An Atomic Version Of Texel: An Asynchronous Consensus Algorithm Without Rounds

I had written nigh my preliminary impressions nigh Texel, an asynchronous consensus algorithm without rounds.

Over the in conclusion couplet of nights, I convey modeled a shared retention version of the algorithm inwards TLA+, so that I tin sympathize the algorithm amend in addition to larn to a greater extent than nigh the approach. I started amongst a really crude oil atomic version of the algorithm, where a node tin atomically read the state of all other nodes in addition to update its ain state. This is non practical, but it is proficient for highlighting the core of the Texel algorithm. In this post, I volition beak nigh this atomic Texel model.

After I got this model down, it was slow for me to refine the atomicity. In the refined model, a procedure tin atomically read from 1 other procedure in addition to update its state. That refined model is simply 1 footstep removed from the message passing Texel algorithm presented inwards the paper, in addition to demonstrates the tricky issues that arise when multiple nodes are concurrently trying to update their states. In that read-write atomicity model, nosotros regard the demand for reading states from a consistent-cut, in addition to why approximately concurrent experiments should endure aborted to satisfy that condition. But that read-write atomicity Texel specification is the theme of my side past times side post. Today nosotros simply focus on the atomic Texel model.

The atomic Texel model

north stands for number of nodes, in addition to F denotes the number of nodes that tin crash. At model checking time, TLA+ toolkit asks yous to acquire into values for north in addition to F. I tried for N=4, in addition to F=0 in addition to F=1. I also tried for N=7, in addition to F=0,1,2. My Texel model satisfies both understanding in addition to progress ever for N>=3F+1. Progress is ever satisfied, because Choose is deterministic. A node volition pick out "a" when both "a" in addition to "b" meets SupDecision criteria, which is a supporting value that a node tin adopt based on its querying of other nodes. A supporting value is 1 that is shared past times at to the lowest degree F+1 nodes. Note that, for N>=3F+1, it is ever possible to give away a supporting value for binary consensus, fifty-fifty when upward to F nodes fail.

I purpose f to continue runway of actual number of nodes that crash. The model ensures that f=<F. The variable determination tracks of the determination of each node. I hardwire it for N=4 inwards my run. When I travail for N=7, I modify this initial assignment.


In my specification, each node has iii actions.

Line 23 gives the start out action. A node reads the state of other nodes to give away a supporting value in addition to adopts it equally its ain determination value. But the determination is non finalized until, the node sets its finality flag t for the determination to TRUE.

Line 24 starts the minute action. If f, the actual number of crashes is nonetheless less than F, the allowed number of crashes, so the node tin crash past times setting its determination to crash permanently.

Line 28 starts the 3rd action. If a node finds that its electrical flow determination is shared past times at to the lowest degree N-F processes, so that determination is "anchored", in addition to the node tin finalize its determination past times setting its t=TRUE.



Here are the Agreement in addition to Progress properties I check. Agreement says that if ii nodes j in addition to k finalized their decisions, so their decisions cannot differ. Progress says that eventually whatsoever non-crashed node volition finalize its decision.

For N>=3F+1, both Agreement in addition to Progress are satisfied. Since the atomicity is likewise crude oil (a node tin read the states of all other nodes atomically), Agreement holds without installing extra mechanisms for reading states from a consistent-cut in addition to aborting other nodes' concurrent experiments, because each experimentation is done atomically in addition to thus inwards an interleaving manner. Progress holds because the CHOOSE inwards SupDecision is deterministic, in addition to helps the nodes to converge to 1 the binary consensus values.

This is a really uncomplicated model, but it helped me to come upward up amongst the refined read-write atomicity Texel specification quickly, in addition to inwards that refined model it becomes slow to regard what could popular off incorrect when nosotros don't convey additional mechanisms inwards house to enable nodes read from concurrent states.

MAD questions

1. How does Texel compare amongst Paxos in addition to Ben-Or in addition to how does failure-detectors jibe inwards this picture?

In Paxos, at that spot are rounds, in addition to the rounds are client-restricted. This agency that a higher circular preempts the lower rounds. A leader leads the residual of the nodes through a round, in addition to this agency that the nodes are held hostage past times a leader which may endure dead. Hence, failure-detectors demand to endure utilized so that the nodes create non expression forever for a dead leader inwards an asynchronous model. However, if the failure detectors at nodes are trigger happy, the nodes volition suspect whoever is the leader currently for no reason, in addition to volition start out their ain rounds, which preempts the leader's round. This leads to the dueling leaders problem, in addition to violation of liveness fifty-fifty when nosotros convey a jump on F, (i.e., F< N/2).

In Texel, at that spot is no demand for a failure detector if nosotros convey a jump on F (i.e., F<N/3). This is because Texel is a decentralized consensus algorithm, in addition to the nodes create non demand to rely/wait on a leader to atomic number 82 a round; instead all nodes create their ain polling in addition to deciding. But equally nosotros volition beak over inwards the read-write Texel model (wait for the side past times side post), if the nodes are really snoopy in addition to continue interfering amongst each others’ experiments, so liveness is nonetheless violated. This is where having a leader to atomic number 82 a circular (as inwards Paxos) provides advantage: the leader past times Definition reads from a consistent state, equally for that circular the other nodes are passive.

What if nosotros had non-client restricted rounds equally inwards Fast-Paxos? That is an opportunistic-leader-based solution, in addition to progress is non guaranteed if multiple opportunistic-leaders clash. Then nosotros demand to default to Paxos.... which is bailiwick to the failure-detectors trial equally higher upward for progress! Back to foursquare one.

In the Ben-Or algorithm, at that spot is no demand for failure detectors if nosotros convey a jump on F (i.e., F<N/2), because that is also a decentralized algorithm. Ben-Or has rounds but the rounds are non client-restricted in addition to create non preempt each other. Also it seems similar a node does non interfere/cancel other nodes' progress inwards querying/experimenting. Ben-Or does non convey the disadvantages of Paxos or Texel. So what gives? Ben-Or is a probabilistic algorithm. By using randomization, the organisation eventually in addition to probabilistically converges to a consensus decision.

(While writing the read-write model of Texel algorithm, I works life several parallels betwixt Ben-Or in addition to Texel. Those volition also endure interesting to investigate to a greater extent than closely.)

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