Investigating `RemoteClusterSecurityEsqlIT` Test Failures

by Rajiv Sharma 58 views

Hey guys, we've got a recurring issue with the RemoteClusterSecurityEsqlIT.testCrossClusterEnrichWithOnlyRemotePrivs test in Elasticsearch. This test seems to be failing intermittently across various builds and pull requests, and we need to dig into it to figure out what's going on. Let's break down the problem, look at the failure history, and see if we can get to the bottom of this.

The Issue at a Glance

The core problem is that the testCrossClusterEnrichWithOnlyRemotePrivs test is failing with an AssertionError. The test expects a certain set of items in a specific order, but it's not finding them. Specifically, it's expecting the iterable to contain the values <1>, <3>, "usa", and "germany", but it's encountering "japan" instead. This suggests there's some inconsistency in the data being returned or processed during the test.

Failure Details

The error message we're seeing is:

java.lang.AssertionError:
Expected: iterable with items [<1>, <3>, "usa", "germany"] in any order
 but: not matched: "japan"

This error indicates that the test is failing because the expected data set does not match the actual data set. The assertion is looking for specific values related to countries and numbers, but it encounters "japan" when it's not expected.

Reproduction

To reproduce this issue, you can use the following Gradle command:

gradlew ":x-pack:plugin:security:qa:multi-cluster:javaRestTest" --tests "org.elasticsearch.xpack.remotecluster.RemoteClusterSecurityEsqlIT.testCrossClusterEnrichWithOnlyRemotePrivs" -Dtests.seed=F98E4E885D67FEE5 -Dtests.locale=gv -Dtests.timezone=Pacific/Kosrae -Druntime.java=24

This command runs the specific test in the x-pack security plugin, targeting the RemoteClusterSecurityEsqlIT class and the testCrossClusterEnrichWithOnlyRemotePrivs method. The additional parameters like -Dtests.seed, -Dtests.locale, -Dtests.timezone, and -Druntime.java ensure that the test runs in a consistent environment, making it easier to reproduce the failure.

Failure History and Trends

Looking at the failure history, this test has been flaky across multiple builds and pull requests. This flakiness makes it a high priority to investigate, as intermittent failures can mask underlying issues and cause headaches during development and release cycles.

Build Scans

Here’s a rundown of the builds where this test has failed:

These build scans provide a detailed view of each test execution, including logs, timing information, and dependencies. By examining these scans, we can potentially identify patterns or specific conditions that trigger the failure.

Failure Rates

The dashboard provides a clear picture of the failure rates associated with this test:

  • [main] 12 failures in testCrossClusterEnrichWithOnlyRemotePrivs (1.5% fail rate in 792 executions)
  • [main] 7 failures in step pr-upgrade-part-4 (2.5% fail rate in 279 executions)
  • [main] 4 failures in step part-4 (1.6% fail rate in 243 executions)
  • [main] 7 failures in pipeline elasticsearch-pull-request (2.3% fail rate in 299 executions)

These failure rates, though seemingly small, are significant because they indicate a non-deterministic issue. A 1.5% to 2.5% failure rate means the test is failing often enough to be a concern, but not consistently enough to be easily diagnosed.

Applicable Branches

This issue is primarily affecting the main branch, which suggests it’s related to recent changes or integrations in the main development line. This means we need to focus our efforts on understanding what has changed recently that could be causing this test to fail.

Potential Causes and Investigation

To figure out why this test is failing, we need to consider a few potential causes. Given the nature of the error, here are some areas to investigate:

  1. Data Inconsistencies: The test involves cross-cluster data enrichment, meaning it pulls data from one cluster to another. If the data in the remote cluster is inconsistent or changing unexpectedly, it could lead to the assertion failure. We need to verify the data integrity and consistency in the remote clusters involved in the test.
  2. Timing Issues: Asynchronous operations or race conditions could be at play. The test might be making assertions before the data has fully propagated or been processed, leading to incorrect results. We should look for any asynchronous code paths in the test and the code it exercises.
  3. Privilege Issues: The test name testCrossClusterEnrichWithOnlyRemotePrivs suggests it’s testing scenarios where only remote privileges are granted. If there are issues with how these privileges are being applied or checked, it could lead to the test failing. We need to review the privilege setup and enforcement logic.
  4. Environment Differences: Although the reproduction command includes specific parameters to standardize the environment, there might be subtle differences that are affecting the test. These could include differences in the underlying hardware, network configuration, or other system-level settings. We should try to identify any environmental factors that could be contributing to the flakiness.

Steps to Investigate

Here’s a plan of action to investigate this issue:

  1. Review Recent Changes: Start by reviewing the recent changes in the main branch, especially those related to security, remote clusters, and data enrichment. Look for any code changes that might have introduced a regression or a bug.
  2. Examine Test Logs: Dive into the logs from the failed test runs. Look for any exceptions, warnings, or other clues that might indicate what’s going wrong. Pay close attention to the timing of events and any error messages related to data access or privilege checks.
  3. Reproduce Locally: While the issue is marked as “N/A” for local reproduction, it’s worth trying to reproduce it locally. This might involve setting up a similar multi-cluster environment and running the test with the provided Gradle command. Local reproduction can provide a more controlled environment for debugging.
  4. Add Logging and Debugging: Add more logging to the test and the code it exercises. This can help to trace the flow of data and identify where the discrepancy is occurring. Consider using debugging tools to step through the code and inspect variables at runtime.
  5. Isolate the Problem: Try to isolate the problem by simplifying the test or running it in isolation. This can help to narrow down the scope of the issue and make it easier to identify the root cause.

Addressing the Root Cause

Once we’ve identified the root cause, we can take steps to address it. This might involve:

  • Fixing Bugs: If there’s a bug in the code, we’ll need to fix it. This could involve modifying the data processing logic, improving error handling, or correcting privilege checks.
  • Improving Test Stability: If the test is flaky due to timing issues or race conditions, we might need to make it more robust. This could involve adding retries, increasing timeouts, or using more deterministic data sets.
  • Addressing Environmental Issues: If the issue is related to the environment, we’ll need to address those issues. This might involve updating configurations, standardizing environments, or adding more checks to the test to ensure it’s running in a compatible environment.

Conclusion

The RemoteClusterSecurityEsqlIT.testCrossClusterEnrichWithOnlyRemotePrivs test is failing intermittently, and it’s crucial to address this flakiness. By systematically investigating the failure history, examining the test logs, and considering potential causes, we can identify the root cause and implement a solution. Let's get to work and make sure our tests are rock solid!

  • What is the core issue with the RemoteClusterSecurityEsqlIT.testCrossClusterEnrichWithOnlyRemotePrivs test?
  • What is the specific error message seen in the test failure?
  • How can the issue be reproduced using Gradle?
  • What are the failure rates associated with this test in different contexts?
  • Which branches are primarily affected by this issue?
  • What are the potential causes of the test failure?
  • What steps should be taken to investigate the issue?
  • What actions might be necessary to address the root cause?

RemoteClusterSecurityEsqlIT Test Failing: Investigation Needed