Read-only operations processing in a paxos replication system

A computing system for managing replication and storage of data by processing read-only operations without storing the operations persistently in a distributed computer system being operated under a Paxos-type protocol, the system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• one or more computer-readable storage media coupled to the one or more processors, and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the computing system to perform the following:
• in a distributed computing system, identifying a plurality of computer systems that serve as quorum members for storing replication data, and identifying one of the quorum members as a quorum leader designated to control process ordering for data to be replicated and stored among the quorum members;
• the quorum leader receiving a read-only request;
• the quorum leader determining an appropriate order defined by a determined execution slot for processing an operation for the read-only request, the quorum leader determining the appropriate order without clock-based synchronization by performing the
• determining a highest write request that is committed in sequence by reason of at least half the quorum members having logged the write request and having agreed to put the write request in the execution slot;
• and
• the quorum leader noting that the highest write request has been committed in sequence by at least half the quorum members;
• the quorum leader adding a no-earlier-than indication to the operation for the read-only request indicating that the operation is to be executed no earlier than the determined execution slot number;
• the quorum leader determining that one of the quorum members should serve as an appropriate replica that is determined to be best able to process the read-only request;
• the quorum leader sending the read-only request and the determined execution slot number and no-earlier-than indication to the appropriate replica;
• and
• executing the read-only request at the determined appropriate replica by processing the operation for the read-only request, based on the slot number and the no-earlier-than indication, and without storing the operation persistently.

A computing system for managing replication and storage of data by processing read-only operations without storing the operations persistently in a distributed computer system being operated under a Paxos-type protocol, the system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• one or more computer-readable storage media coupled to the one or more processors, and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the computing system to perform the following:
• in a distributed computing system, identifying a plurality of computer systems that serve as quorum members for storing replication data, and identifying one of the quorum members as a quorum leader designated to control process ordering for data to be replicated and stored among the quorum members;
• the quorum leader receiving a read-only request;
• the quorum leader determining an appropriate order defined by a determined execution slot for processing an operation for the read-only request, the quorum leader determining the appropriate order without clock-based synchronization by performing the
• determining a highest write request that is committed in sequence by reason of at least half the quorum members having logged the write request and having agreed to put the write request in the execution slot;
• and
• the quorum leader noting that the highest write request has been committed in sequence by at least half the quorum members;
• the quorum leader adding a no-earlier-than indication to the operation for the read-only request indicating that the operation is to be executed no earlier than the determined execution slot number;
• the quorum leader determining that one of the quorum members should serve as an appropriate replica that is determined to be best able to process the read-only request;
• the quorum leader then sending messages to the quorum members to determine whether the quorum members have recognized a new quorum leader, and
• if not, sending the read-only request and the determined execution slot number and no-earlier-than indication to the appropriate replica, and then executing the read-only request at the determined appropriate replica by processing the read-only operation of the request, based on the slot number and the no-earlier-than indication, and without storing the operation persistently;
• and
• if so, discarding any pending read-only request and the quorum leader then acting as a regular quorum member.