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Consistent Hashing In Distributed Systems

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Distributed System is made up of a number of independent computers that operate as a single, integrated system to offer end customers a common set of services. A distributed system’s computers can be situated in several physical places and can communicate with one another over a network. Although the underlying hardware and software components of a distributed system are physically separate, the major objective of a distributed system is to deliver a seamless and transparent experience to end users. Each node in a distributed system runs independently, yet they all work together to create a single, cohesive system that can be accessed from anywhere.

Consistent Hashing in Distributed Systems

Consistent hashing is a technique used in computer systems to distribute keys (e.g., cache keys) uniformly across a cluster of nodes (e.g., cache servers). The goal is to minimize the number of keys that need to be moved when nodes are added or removed from the cluster, thus reducing the impact of these changes on the overall system. This is achieved by ensuring that each key is assigned to a node based on a hash function, which provides a consistent mapping between keys and nodes.  Each node in consistent hashing receives a set of keys based on a hash algorithm. When a new key is added, it is given to the node whose range the key’s hash value falls within. Only the keys that fall within its range must be remapped to another node in order to add or delete a node. Consistent hashing ensures that keys are distributed equally among nodes, which can enhance system performance and scalability. It is commonly used in databases, distributed systems, and distributed caching systems.  

Use  of Consistent Hashing in Distributed Systems  

Consistent hashing is a popular technique used in distributed systems to address the challenge of efficiently distributing keys or data elements across multiple nodes in a network. Consistent hashing’s primary objective is to reduce the number of remapping operations necessary when adding or removing nodes from the network, which contributes to the stability and dependability of the system.

Consistent hashing can be used in distributed systems to share the burden among nodes and lessen the effects of node failures.  For example, when a new node is added to the network, only a small number of keys are remapped to the new node, which helps to reduce the overhead associated with the addition. Similarly, when a node fails, only a small number of keys are affected, which helps to minimize the impact of the failure on the system as a whole.  Consistent hashing is also useful in ensuring data availability and consistency in a distributed system. For example, when a key is assigned to a node, it can be replicated across multiple nodes to ensure that the data is available even if one node fails. This helps to ensure that data is always available and up-to-date, even in the event of node failures or network partitions. 

Phases of Consistent Hashing in Distributed Systems  

The following are the phases involved in the process of consistent hashing in a distributed system: 

  1. Hash Function Selection: The first step in consistent hashing is to choose the hash function that will be used to associate keys with network nodes. For each key, this hash function ought to yield a different value and be deterministic. Keys will be consistently and predictably mapped to nodes using the chosen hash function.
  2. Node Assignment: Based on the hash function’s findings, nodes in the network are given keys in this phase. The nodes are organized in a circle, and the keys are given to the node that is situated closest to the key’s hash value in the circle.
  3. Key Replication: It’s critical to make sure that data is accessible in distributed systems even in the case of node failures. Keys can be copied across a number of network nodes to accomplish this. In the event that one node fails, this helps to guarantee that data is always accessible.
  4. Node Addition/Removal: In order to keep the system balanced as nodes are added to or removed from the network, it may be necessary to remap the keys to new nodes. Consistent hashing reduces the effect of new or removed nodes by merely remapping a small portion of keys to the new node. 
  5. Load balancing: Consistent hashing aids in distributing the load among the network’s nodes. To keep the system balanced and effective when a node is overloaded, portions of its keys can be remapped to other nodes.
  6. Failure Recovery: Keys assigned to a node can be remapped to other nodes in the network in the event of a node failure. This makes it possible to keep data current and constantly accessible, even in the event that a node fails.

Advantages of Consistent Hashing in Distributed Systems  

The following are some of the key advantages of using consistent hashing in distributed systems: 

  1. Load balancing: Consistent hashing helps to evenly distribute the network’s workload among its nodes, preserving the system’s effectiveness and responsiveness even as the amount of data increases and changes over time.
  2. Scalability: Consistent hashing is extremely scalable, which means that it can adapt to changes in the number of nodes or the amount of data being processed with little to no influence on the performance of the entire system.
  3. Minimal Remapping: Consistent hashing reduces the number of keys that must be remapped when a node is added or removed, ensuring that the system is robust and consistent even as the network changes over time. 
  4. Increased Failure Tolerance: Consistent hashing makes data always accessible and current, even in the case of node failures. The stability and dependability of the system as a whole are enhanced by the capacity to replicate keys across several nodes and remap them to different nodes in the event of failure.
  5. Simplified Operations: The act of adding or removing nodes from the network is made easier by consistent hashing, which makes it simpler to administer and maintain a sizable and intricate distributed system.

Disadvantages of Consistent Hashing in Distributed Systems  

  1. Hash Function Complexity: The effectiveness of consistent hashing depends on the use of a suitable hash function. The hash function must produce a unique value for each key and be deterministic in order to be useful. The system’s overall effectiveness and efficiency may be affected by how complicated the hash function is.
  2. Performance Cost: The computing resources needed to map keys to nodes, replicate keys, and remap keys in the event of node additions or removals can result in some performance overhead when using consistent hashing.
  3. Lack of Flexibility: In some circumstances, the system’s ability to adapt to changing requirements or shifting network conditions may be constrained by the rigid limits of consistent hashing. 
  4. High Resource Use: As nodes are added to or deleted from the network, consistent hashing may occasionally result in high resource utilization. This can have an effect on the system’s overall performance and efficacy.
  5. The complexity of Management: Managing and maintaining a distributed system that uses consistent hashing can be difficult and demanding, and it often calls for particular expertise and abilities.

Related Posts: Hashing in Distributed Systems


Distributed System is made up of a number of independent computers that operate as a single, integrated system to offer end customers a common set of services. A distributed system’s computers can be situated in several physical places and can communicate with one another over a network. Although the underlying hardware and software components of a distributed system are physically separate, the major objective of a distributed system is to deliver a seamless and transparent experience to end users. Each node in a distributed system runs independently, yet they all work together to create a single, cohesive system that can be accessed from anywhere.

Consistent Hashing in Distributed Systems

Consistent hashing is a technique used in computer systems to distribute keys (e.g., cache keys) uniformly across a cluster of nodes (e.g., cache servers). The goal is to minimize the number of keys that need to be moved when nodes are added or removed from the cluster, thus reducing the impact of these changes on the overall system. This is achieved by ensuring that each key is assigned to a node based on a hash function, which provides a consistent mapping between keys and nodes.  Each node in consistent hashing receives a set of keys based on a hash algorithm. When a new key is added, it is given to the node whose range the key’s hash value falls within. Only the keys that fall within its range must be remapped to another node in order to add or delete a node. Consistent hashing ensures that keys are distributed equally among nodes, which can enhance system performance and scalability. It is commonly used in databases, distributed systems, and distributed caching systems.  

Use  of Consistent Hashing in Distributed Systems  

Consistent hashing is a popular technique used in distributed systems to address the challenge of efficiently distributing keys or data elements across multiple nodes in a network. Consistent hashing’s primary objective is to reduce the number of remapping operations necessary when adding or removing nodes from the network, which contributes to the stability and dependability of the system.

Consistent hashing can be used in distributed systems to share the burden among nodes and lessen the effects of node failures.  For example, when a new node is added to the network, only a small number of keys are remapped to the new node, which helps to reduce the overhead associated with the addition. Similarly, when a node fails, only a small number of keys are affected, which helps to minimize the impact of the failure on the system as a whole.  Consistent hashing is also useful in ensuring data availability and consistency in a distributed system. For example, when a key is assigned to a node, it can be replicated across multiple nodes to ensure that the data is available even if one node fails. This helps to ensure that data is always available and up-to-date, even in the event of node failures or network partitions. 

Phases of Consistent Hashing in Distributed Systems  

The following are the phases involved in the process of consistent hashing in a distributed system: 

  1. Hash Function Selection: The first step in consistent hashing is to choose the hash function that will be used to associate keys with network nodes. For each key, this hash function ought to yield a different value and be deterministic. Keys will be consistently and predictably mapped to nodes using the chosen hash function.
  2. Node Assignment: Based on the hash function’s findings, nodes in the network are given keys in this phase. The nodes are organized in a circle, and the keys are given to the node that is situated closest to the key’s hash value in the circle.
  3. Key Replication: It’s critical to make sure that data is accessible in distributed systems even in the case of node failures. Keys can be copied across a number of network nodes to accomplish this. In the event that one node fails, this helps to guarantee that data is always accessible.
  4. Node Addition/Removal: In order to keep the system balanced as nodes are added to or removed from the network, it may be necessary to remap the keys to new nodes. Consistent hashing reduces the effect of new or removed nodes by merely remapping a small portion of keys to the new node. 
  5. Load balancing: Consistent hashing aids in distributing the load among the network’s nodes. To keep the system balanced and effective when a node is overloaded, portions of its keys can be remapped to other nodes.
  6. Failure Recovery: Keys assigned to a node can be remapped to other nodes in the network in the event of a node failure. This makes it possible to keep data current and constantly accessible, even in the event that a node fails.

Advantages of Consistent Hashing in Distributed Systems  

The following are some of the key advantages of using consistent hashing in distributed systems: 

  1. Load balancing: Consistent hashing helps to evenly distribute the network’s workload among its nodes, preserving the system’s effectiveness and responsiveness even as the amount of data increases and changes over time.
  2. Scalability: Consistent hashing is extremely scalable, which means that it can adapt to changes in the number of nodes or the amount of data being processed with little to no influence on the performance of the entire system.
  3. Minimal Remapping: Consistent hashing reduces the number of keys that must be remapped when a node is added or removed, ensuring that the system is robust and consistent even as the network changes over time. 
  4. Increased Failure Tolerance: Consistent hashing makes data always accessible and current, even in the case of node failures. The stability and dependability of the system as a whole are enhanced by the capacity to replicate keys across several nodes and remap them to different nodes in the event of failure.
  5. Simplified Operations: The act of adding or removing nodes from the network is made easier by consistent hashing, which makes it simpler to administer and maintain a sizable and intricate distributed system.

Disadvantages of Consistent Hashing in Distributed Systems  

  1. Hash Function Complexity: The effectiveness of consistent hashing depends on the use of a suitable hash function. The hash function must produce a unique value for each key and be deterministic in order to be useful. The system’s overall effectiveness and efficiency may be affected by how complicated the hash function is.
  2. Performance Cost: The computing resources needed to map keys to nodes, replicate keys, and remap keys in the event of node additions or removals can result in some performance overhead when using consistent hashing.
  3. Lack of Flexibility: In some circumstances, the system’s ability to adapt to changing requirements or shifting network conditions may be constrained by the rigid limits of consistent hashing. 
  4. High Resource Use: As nodes are added to or deleted from the network, consistent hashing may occasionally result in high resource utilization. This can have an effect on the system’s overall performance and efficacy.
  5. The complexity of Management: Managing and maintaining a distributed system that uses consistent hashing can be difficult and demanding, and it often calls for particular expertise and abilities.

Related Posts: Hashing in Distributed Systems

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