Simultaneously ping may cause server hangs

[ryojikamei]

Problem description

When two nodes send messages to each other almost simultaneously, one of two server may hang.

Reproduction steps

1. Git clone the example code: https://github.com/ryojikamei/repro1
2. cd repro1
3. node dist/run_2nodes.js
   Run it two or three times and we will have problems.

Environment

• OS name, version and architecture: Linux Ubuntu 22.04.1 amd64
• Node version: 18.20.3
• Node installation method: n
• Package name and version: @grpc/grpc-js 1.11.1

Additional context

This example uses a duplex stream, but I remember that the same problem can occur when written in unary.
But, I am unable to prepare a reproducible code in unary. That is somewhat difficult to reproduce.

[murgatroid99]

I ran your code several times, and the only errors I see are ECONNREFUSED errors when one client tries to connect before the other server starts. Then the client that failed never recovers, but that's just because you're not creating a new call when you try again. Specifically in this line, you only create a new call if one doesn't already exist, but you don't delete the existing one when it fails.

[ryojikamei]

run.log

[ryojikamei]

Thank you for your response.

you don't delete the existing one when it fails.

I was under the impression that once a channel failed to communicate, it would be automatically recovered, but I was wrong, and that I would have to manually recreate the channel, is that correct?

According to the above log, server-7022 has received a second ping. However, it does not attempt to return the pong. I have no idea why it behaves this way, but anyway, I will try to re-write code to always recreate the channel when it fails.

[murgatroid99]

I did not say that you should recreate the channel. The call is a separate object from the channel. The channel (or more accurately the client that owns a channel) is the object you create here and the call is the object you create here. You should persist the client object for as long as possible, and you need to create a new call every time there is an error. A call represents a single request, and an error indicates that the request is finished.

[ryojikamei]

20240801.txt

Thank you very much. Now it works. I was not aware of the difference between call and channel correctly.
I have been struggling with this issue for two months and as a result, I could not see my mistake. My apologies. Please close this issue.

P.S. I have googled documentation on the difference between a call and a channel, but so far have not found a single hit. I assume that the official reference document is probably the only source of information. At least in my native language, I found zero information.

[murgatroid99]

I suggest starting with the gRPC core concepts document.