Consensus Protocols in NewSQL

1. Introduction

Consensus protocols are essential for maintaining consistency in distributed database systems. In NewSQL databases, these protocols ensure that all nodes in a distributed environment agree on the state of the data.

2. Key Concepts

• Consensus: The process through which multiple nodes agree on a single data value.
• Distributed Systems: Systems with multiple nodes that communicate and coordinate their actions by passing messages.
• Consistency: The property that ensures that all nodes have the same view of the data.

3. Types of Consensus Protocols

4. Implementation Steps

            graph TD;
                A[Start] --> B{Is consensus needed?};
                B -- Yes --> C[Select Consensus Protocol];
                B -- No --> D[Proceed with Operations];
                C --> E[Implement Protocol Logic];
                E --> F{Is consensus achieved?};
                F -- Yes --> G[Commit Changes];
                F -- No --> H[Retry];
                H --> E;
        

5. Best Practices

• Choose the right consensus protocol based on your application's requirements.
• Test your implementation under various failure scenarios.
• Monitor the performance of your consensus process.

6. FAQ