redis-exp-lock-js

Uses Redis to provide a mechanism for distributed mutual exclusion. If you want to prevent multiple nodes on a network from accessing a resource at the same time, this is for you. This lock implementation uses a finite but configurable expiration time.

Unlike most SETNX-based solutions, this uses Redis's Lua functionality. The result is cleaner code and fewer race conditions. Lock expiration is handled by the Redis server itself, using the EXPIRE command, thus eliminating the need for precise time synchronization between your application hosts.

Example

redis = require('redis');
redisExpLock = require('redis-exp-lock');
 
// Configure a lock function
withLock = redisExpLock({redis: redis.createClient()});
 
// Use the lock function to provide mutual exclusion.
withLock(function(err, critSecDone) {
  if (err) throw err;
  doStuffThatShouldNotBeInterrupted();
  critSecDone();
});

How to use the library

Installation

npm install redis-exp-lock

Setup

Requiring the module will result in a lock configuration function.

redisExpLock = require('redis-exp-lock')

Calling the lock configuration function yields a lock function that will peform the actual locking. The lock configuration function takes one optional configuration argument, an object with any of the following fields:

redis

The Redis client.

lifetime

The lifetime of the lock, in milliseconds. A lock's lifetime begins counting down as soon as the Redis server receives an EXPIRE command from the lock function. Defaults to 1000 milliseconds (one second).

maxRetries

In the event that the lock has been acquired by another process, the lock function can automatically attempt to re-acquire the lock, up to a configurable number of attempts. Defaults to zero (no automatic retries).

retryTimeout

The amount of time the lock function will wait before attempting to re-acquire the lock. Defaults to five milliseconds.

Acquiring and releasing the lock

The lock function takes two or three arguments:

• A Redis key where the lock will be stored. This is most likely the name of the resource you are trying to lock.
• An optional settings object, with overrides to the original lock configuration.
• A callback that takes two arguments:
  • An error object. This is null if the lock attempt was successful.
  • A release function, to be called in your application code after the critical section has completed. This will cause the lock to be released. Since the release function is itself asynchronous, you can pass it a callback that will be invoked when the release has been confirmed.

withLock = redisExpLock({redis: redis.createClient(), maxRetries: 2});
 
withLock('bankAccount', function(err, critSecDone) {
  if (err) return;
  bankAccount.addMoney(100000);
 
  critSecDone(function(err) {
    if (err) return;
    console.log("Lock successfully released!");
  });
});

Algorithm

Lock acquisition

Locks are acquired by setting a Redis key with a UUID generated immediately prior to the lock attempt. A Lua script provides the following atomic sequence:

1. Use SETNX to set the value of the given key to the UUID.
2. If SETNX was successful, use PEXPIRE to set a lifetime on the key, managed by Redis.

Since the Redis server manages the lifetime, there is no need for any client-side logic for managing lock expiration, and thus no need to ensure that clients are time-synchronized.

Lock release

Locks are released by deleting the Redis key, if and only if the key's value matches the UUID generated during a successful lock attempt. A Lua script provides the following atomic sequence:

1. GET the value of the key.
2. If the value of the key is the same as the UUID, then use DEL to remove the key.

Without using a Lua script to ensure atomicity, it's possible to encounter subtle race conditions, in which another client acquires the lock between the two steps above.