---
slug: /en/operations/clickhouse-keeper
sidebar_position: 66
sidebar_label: ClickHouse Keeper
---
# ClickHouse Keeper
import SelfManaged from '@site/docs/en/_snippets/_self_managed_only_automated.md';
ClickHouse Keeper provides the coordination system for data [replication](../engines/table-engines/mergetree-family/replication.md) and [distributed DDL](../sql-reference/distributed-ddl.md) queries execution. ClickHouse Keeper is compatible with ZooKeeper.
## Implementation details {#implementation-details}
ZooKeeper is one of the first well-known open-source coordination systems. It's implemented in Java, and has quite a simple and powerful data model. ZooKeeper's coordination algorithm, ZooKeeper Atomic Broadcast (ZAB), doesn't provide linearizability guarantees for reads, because each ZooKeeper node serves reads locally. Unlike ZooKeeper ClickHouse Keeper is written in C++ and uses the [RAFT algorithm](https://raft.github.io/) [implementation](https://github.com/eBay/NuRaft). This algorithm allows linearizability for reads and writes, and has several open-source implementations in different languages.
By default, ClickHouse Keeper provides the same guarantees as ZooKeeper (linearizable writes, non-linearizable reads). It has a compatible client-server protocol, so any standard ZooKeeper client can be used to interact with ClickHouse Keeper. Snapshots and logs have an incompatible format with ZooKeeper, but the `clickhouse-keeper-converter` tool enables the conversion of ZooKeeper data to ClickHouse Keeper snapshots. The interserver protocol in ClickHouse Keeper is also incompatible with ZooKeeper so a mixed ZooKeeper / ClickHouse Keeper cluster is impossible.
ClickHouse Keeper supports Access Control Lists (ACLs) the same way as [ZooKeeper](https://zookeeper.apache.org/doc/r3.1.2/zookeeperProgrammers.html#sc_ZooKeeperAccessControl) does. ClickHouse Keeper supports the same set of permissions and has the identical built-in schemes: `world`, `auth` and `digest`. The digest authentication scheme uses the pair `username:password`, the password is encoded in Base64.
:::note
External integrations are not supported.
:::
## Configuration {#configuration}
ClickHouse Keeper can be used as a standalone replacement for ZooKeeper or as an internal part of the ClickHouse server. In both cases the configuration is almost the same `.xml` file. The main ClickHouse Keeper configuration tag is ``. Keeper configuration has the following parameters:
- `tcp_port` — Port for a client to connect (default for ZooKeeper is `2181`).
- `tcp_port_secure` — Secure port for an SSL connection between client and keeper-server.
- `server_id` — Unique server id, each participant of the ClickHouse Keeper cluster must have a unique number (1, 2, 3, and so on).
- `log_storage_path` — Path to coordination logs, just like ZooKeeper it is best to store logs on non-busy nodes.
- `snapshot_storage_path` — Path to coordination snapshots.
Other common parameters are inherited from the ClickHouse server config (`listen_host`, `logger`, and so on).
Internal coordination settings are located in the `.` section:
- `operation_timeout_ms` — Timeout for a single client operation (ms) (default: 10000).
- `min_session_timeout_ms` — Min timeout for client session (ms) (default: 10000).
- `session_timeout_ms` — Max timeout for client session (ms) (default: 100000).
- `dead_session_check_period_ms` — How often ClickHouse Keeper checks for dead sessions and removes them (ms) (default: 500).
- `heart_beat_interval_ms` — How often a ClickHouse Keeper leader will send heartbeats to followers (ms) (default: 500).
- `election_timeout_lower_bound_ms` — If the follower does not receive a heartbeat from the leader in this interval, then it can initiate leader election (default: 1000).
- `election_timeout_upper_bound_ms` — If the follower does not receive a heartbeat from the leader in this interval, then it must initiate leader election (default: 2000).
- `rotate_log_storage_interval` — How many log records to store in a single file (default: 100000).
- `reserved_log_items` — How many coordination log records to store before compaction (default: 100000).
- `snapshot_distance` — How often ClickHouse Keeper will create new snapshots (in the number of records in logs) (default: 100000).
- `snapshots_to_keep` — How many snapshots to keep (default: 3).
- `stale_log_gap` — Threshold when leader considers follower as stale and sends the snapshot to it instead of logs (default: 10000).
- `fresh_log_gap` — When node became fresh (default: 200).
- `max_requests_batch_size` - Max size of batch in requests count before it will be sent to RAFT (default: 100).
- `force_sync` — Call `fsync` on each write to coordination log (default: true).
- `quorum_reads` — Execute read requests as writes through whole RAFT consensus with similar speed (default: false).
- `raft_logs_level` — Text logging level about coordination (trace, debug, and so on) (default: system default).
- `auto_forwarding` — Allow to forward write requests from followers to the leader (default: true).
- `shutdown_timeout` — Wait to finish internal connections and shutdown (ms) (default: 5000).
- `startup_timeout` — If the server doesn't connect to other quorum participants in the specified timeout it will terminate (ms) (default: 30000).
- `four_letter_word_white_list` — White list of 4lw commands (default: `conf,cons,crst,envi,ruok,srst,srvr,stat,wchc,wchs,dirs,mntr,isro`).
Quorum configuration is located in the `.` section and contain servers description.
The only parameter for the whole quorum is `secure`, which enables encrypted connection for communication between quorum participants. The parameter can be set `true` if SSL connection is required for internal communication between nodes, or left unspecified otherwise.
The main parameters for each `` are:
- `id` — Server identifier in a quorum.
- `hostname` — Hostname where this server is placed.
- `port` — Port where this server listens for connections.
:::note
In the case of a change in the topology of your ClickHouse Keeper cluster (e.g., replacing a server), please make sure to keep the mapping of `server_id` to `hostname` consistent and avoid shuffling or reusing an existing `server_id` for different servers (e.g., it can happen if your rely on automation scripts to deploy ClickHouse Keeper)
:::
Examples of configuration for quorum with three nodes can be found in [integration tests](https://github.com/ClickHouse/ClickHouse/tree/master/tests/integration) with `test_keeper_` prefix. Example configuration for server #1:
```xml
2181
1
/var/lib/clickhouse/coordination/log
/var/lib/clickhouse/coordination/snapshots
10000
30000
trace
1
zoo1
9444
2
zoo2
9444
3
zoo3
9444
```
## How to run {#how-to-run}
ClickHouse Keeper is bundled into the ClickHouse server package, just add configuration of `` and start ClickHouse server as always. If you want to run standalone ClickHouse Keeper you can start it in a similar way with:
```bash
clickhouse-keeper --config /etc/your_path_to_config/config.xml
```
If you don't have the symlink (`clickhouse-keeper`) you can create it or specify `keeper` as an argument to `clickhouse`:
```bash
clickhouse keeper --config /etc/your_path_to_config/config.xml
```
## Four Letter Word Commands {#four-letter-word-commands}
ClickHouse Keeper also provides 4lw commands which are almost the same with Zookeeper. Each command is composed of four letters such as `mntr`, `stat` etc. There are some more interesting commands: `stat` gives some general information about the server and connected clients, while `srvr` and `cons` give extended details on server and connections respectively.
The 4lw commands has a white list configuration `four_letter_word_white_list` which has default value `conf,cons,crst,envi,ruok,srst,srvr,stat,wchs,dirs,mntr,isro,rcvr,apiv,csnp,lgif`.
You can issue the commands to ClickHouse Keeper via telnet or nc, at the client port.
```
echo mntr | nc localhost 9181
```
Bellow is the detailed 4lw commands:
- `ruok`: Tests if server is running in a non-error state. The server will respond with `imok` if it is running. Otherwise it will not respond at all. A response of `imok` does not necessarily indicate that the server has joined the quorum, just that the server process is active and bound to the specified client port. Use "stat" for details on state wrt quorum and client connection information.
```
imok
```
- `mntr`: Outputs a list of variables that could be used for monitoring the health of the cluster.
```
zk_version v21.11.1.1-prestable-7a4a0b0edef0ad6e0aa662cd3b90c3f4acf796e7
zk_avg_latency 0
zk_max_latency 0
zk_min_latency 0
zk_packets_received 68
zk_packets_sent 68
zk_num_alive_connections 1
zk_outstanding_requests 0
zk_server_state leader
zk_znode_count 4
zk_watch_count 1
zk_ephemerals_count 0
zk_approximate_data_size 723
zk_open_file_descriptor_count 310
zk_max_file_descriptor_count 10240
zk_followers 0
zk_synced_followers 0
```
- `srvr`: Lists full details for the server.
```
ClickHouse Keeper version: v21.11.1.1-prestable-7a4a0b0edef0ad6e0aa662cd3b90c3f4acf796e7
Latency min/avg/max: 0/0/0
Received: 2
Sent : 2
Connections: 1
Outstanding: 0
Zxid: 34
Mode: leader
Node count: 4
```
- `stat`: Lists brief details for the server and connected clients.
```
ClickHouse Keeper version: v21.11.1.1-prestable-7a4a0b0edef0ad6e0aa662cd3b90c3f4acf796e7
Clients:
192.168.1.1:52852(recved=0,sent=0)
192.168.1.1:52042(recved=24,sent=48)
Latency min/avg/max: 0/0/0
Received: 4
Sent : 4
Connections: 1
Outstanding: 0
Zxid: 36
Mode: leader
Node count: 4
```
- `srst`: Reset server statistics. The command will affect the result of `srvr`, `mntr` and `stat`.
```
Server stats reset.
```
- `conf`: Print details about serving configuration.
```
server_id=1
tcp_port=2181
four_letter_word_white_list=*
log_storage_path=./coordination/logs
snapshot_storage_path=./coordination/snapshots
max_requests_batch_size=100
session_timeout_ms=30000
operation_timeout_ms=10000
dead_session_check_period_ms=500
heart_beat_interval_ms=500
election_timeout_lower_bound_ms=1000
election_timeout_upper_bound_ms=2000
reserved_log_items=1000000000000000
snapshot_distance=10000
auto_forwarding=true
shutdown_timeout=5000
startup_timeout=240000
raft_logs_level=information
snapshots_to_keep=3
rotate_log_storage_interval=100000
stale_log_gap=10000
fresh_log_gap=200
max_requests_batch_size=100
quorum_reads=false
force_sync=false
compress_logs=true
compress_snapshots_with_zstd_format=true
configuration_change_tries_count=20
```
- `cons`: List full connection/session details for all clients connected to this server. Includes information on numbers of packets received/sent, session id, operation latencies, last operation performed, etc...
```
192.168.1.1:52163(recved=0,sent=0,sid=0xffffffffffffffff,lop=NA,est=1636454787393,to=30000,lzxid=0xffffffffffffffff,lresp=0,llat=0,minlat=0,avglat=0,maxlat=0)
192.168.1.1:52042(recved=9,sent=18,sid=0x0000000000000001,lop=List,est=1636454739887,to=30000,lcxid=0x0000000000000005,lzxid=0x0000000000000005,lresp=1636454739892,llat=0,minlat=0,avglat=0,maxlat=0)
```
- `crst`: Reset connection/session statistics for all connections.
```
Connection stats reset.
```
- `envi`: Print details about serving environment
```
Environment:
clickhouse.keeper.version=v21.11.1.1-prestable-7a4a0b0edef0ad6e0aa662cd3b90c3f4acf796e7
host.name=ZBMAC-C02D4054M.local
os.name=Darwin
os.arch=x86_64
os.version=19.6.0
cpu.count=12
user.name=root
user.home=/Users/JackyWoo/
user.dir=/Users/JackyWoo/project/jd/clickhouse/cmake-build-debug/programs/
user.tmp=/var/folders/b4/smbq5mfj7578f2jzwn602tt40000gn/T/
```
- `dirs`: Shows the total size of snapshot and log files in bytes
```
snapshot_dir_size: 0
log_dir_size: 3875
```
- `isro`: Tests if server is running in read-only mode. The server will respond with "ro" if in read-only mode or "rw" if not in read-only mode.
```
rw
```
- `wchs`: Lists brief information on watches for the server.
```
1 connections watching 1 paths
Total watches:1
```
- `wchc`: Lists detailed information on watches for the server, by session. This outputs a list of sessions (connections) with associated watches (paths). Note, depending on the number of watches this operation may be expensive (ie impact server performance), use it carefully.
```
0x0000000000000001
/clickhouse/task_queue/ddl
```
- `wchp`: Lists detailed information on watches for the server, by path. This outputs a list of paths (znodes) with associated sessions. Note, depending on the number of watches this operation may be expensive (i. e. impact server performance), use it carefully.
```
/clickhouse/task_queue/ddl
0x0000000000000001
```
- `dump`: Lists the outstanding sessions and ephemeral nodes. This only works on the leader.
```
Sessions dump (2):
0x0000000000000001
0x0000000000000002
Sessions with Ephemerals (1):
0x0000000000000001
/clickhouse/task_queue/ddl
```
- `csnp`: Schedule a snapshot creation task. Return the last committed log index of the scheduled snapshot if success or `Failed to schedule snapshot creation task.` if failed. Note that `lgif` command can help you determine whether the snapshot is done.
```
100
```
- `lgif`: Keeper log information. `first_log_idx` : my first log index in log store; `first_log_term` : my first log term; `last_log_idx` : my last log index in log store; `last_log_term` : my last log term; `last_committed_log_idx` : my last committed log index in state machine; `leader_committed_log_idx` : leader's committed log index from my perspective; `target_committed_log_idx` : target log index should be committed to; `last_snapshot_idx` : the largest committed log index in last snapshot.
```
first_log_idx 1
first_log_term 1
last_log_idx 101
last_log_term 1
last_committed_log_idx 100
leader_committed_log_idx 101
target_committed_log_idx 101
last_snapshot_idx 50
```
## Migration from ZooKeeper {#migration-from-zookeeper}
Seamlessly migration from ZooKeeper to ClickHouse Keeper is impossible you have to stop your ZooKeeper cluster, convert data and start ClickHouse Keeper. `clickhouse-keeper-converter` tool allows converting ZooKeeper logs and snapshots to ClickHouse Keeper snapshot. It works only with ZooKeeper > 3.4. Steps for migration:
1. Stop all ZooKeeper nodes.
2. Optional, but recommended: find ZooKeeper leader node, start and stop it again. It will force ZooKeeper to create a consistent snapshot.
3. Run `clickhouse-keeper-converter` on a leader, for example:
```bash
clickhouse-keeper-converter --zookeeper-logs-dir /var/lib/zookeeper/version-2 --zookeeper-snapshots-dir /var/lib/zookeeper/version-2 --output-dir /path/to/clickhouse/keeper/snapshots
```
4. Copy snapshot to ClickHouse server nodes with a configured `keeper` or start ClickHouse Keeper instead of ZooKeeper. The snapshot must persist on all nodes, otherwise, empty nodes can be faster and one of them can become a leader.
[Original article](https://clickhouse.com/docs/en/operations/clickhouse-keeper/)
## Recovering after losing quorum
Because ClickHouse Keeper uses Raft it can tolerate certain amount of node crashes depending on the cluster size. \
E.g. for a 3-node cluster, it will continue working correctly if only 1 node crashes.
Cluster configuration can be dynamically configured but there are some limitations. Reconfiguration relies on Raft also
so to add/remove a node from the cluster you need to have a quorum. If you lose too many nodes in your cluster at the same time without any chance
of starting them again, Raft will stop working and not allow you to reconfigure your cluster using the conventional way.
Nevertheless, ClickHouse Keeper has a recovery mode which allows you to forcefully reconfigure your cluster with only 1 node.
This should be done only as your last resort if you cannot start your nodes again, or start a new instance on the same endpoint.
Important things to note before continuing:
- Make sure that the failed nodes cannot connect to the cluster again.
- Do not start any of the new nodes until it's specified in the steps.
After making sure that the above things are true, you need to do following:
1. Pick a single Keeper node to be your new leader. Be aware that the data of that node will be used for the entire cluster so we recommend to use a node with the most up to date state.
2. Before doing anything else, make a backup of the `log_storage_path` and `snapshot_storage_path` folders of the picked node.
3. Reconfigure the cluster on all of the nodes you want to use.
4. Send the four letter command `rcvr` to the node you picked which will move the node to the recovery mode OR stop Keeper instance on the picked node and start it again with the `--force-recovery` argument.
5. One by one, start Keeper instances on the new nodes making sure that `mntr` returns `follower` for the `zk_server_state` before starting the next one.
6. While in the recovery mode, the leader node will return error message for `mntr` command until it achieves quorum with the new nodes and refuse any requests from the client and the followers.
7. After quorum is achieved, the leader node will return to the normal mode of operation, accepting all the requests using Raft - verify with `mntr` which should return `leader` for the `zk_server_state`.