Apache Spark org.apache.spark.sql.execution.streaming.state.StateStoreWriteAheadLogWriteWriteVersionMismatchException

What is Apache Spark org.apache.spark.sql.execution.streaming.state.StateStoreWriteAheadLogWriteWriteVersionMismatchException

Understanding Apache Spark

Apache Spark is an open-source unified analytics engine designed for large-scale data processing. It provides high-level APIs in Java, Scala, Python, and R, and an optimized engine that supports general execution graphs. Spark is known for its speed, ease of use, and sophisticated analytics capabilities, making it a popular choice for big data processing.

Identifying the Symptom

When working with Apache Spark's Structured Streaming, you might encounter the following error: org.apache.spark.sql.execution.streaming.state.StateStoreWriteAheadLogWriteWriteVersionMismatchException. This exception indicates a problem with the write-ahead log (WAL) version compatibility, which is crucial for maintaining fault tolerance in streaming applications.

What You Observe

Upon running your streaming query, the process may fail, and the above exception is thrown. This typically halts the streaming job, preventing data from being processed further.

Explaining the Issue

The StateStoreWriteAheadLogWriteWriteVersionMismatchException occurs when there is a mismatch between the write-ahead log version used by the streaming query and the version expected by the StateStore. The StateStore is responsible for maintaining state information across micro-batches in a streaming query.

Root Cause Analysis

This issue often arises when there is an upgrade or downgrade in the Spark version or when the WAL files are corrupted or incompatible due to changes in the underlying storage format.

Steps to Fix the Issue

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

Step 1: Verify Spark Version Compatibility

Ensure that the Spark version you are using is compatible with the write-ahead log version. Check the official Spark documentation for version compatibility details.

Step 2: Upgrade or Downgrade the Write-Ahead Log

If there is a version mismatch, you may need to upgrade or downgrade the write-ahead log. This can be done by adjusting the Spark configuration settings to match the expected version. For example:

spark.sql.streaming.stateStore.providerClass=org.apache.spark.sql.execution.streaming.state.HDFSBackedStateStoreProviderspark.sql.streaming.stateStore.minDeltasForSnapshot=10

These settings ensure that the StateStore uses the correct provider and snapshot settings.

Step 3: Clean Up Incompatible WAL Files

If the issue persists, consider cleaning up the existing WAL files to remove any corrupted or incompatible data. This can be done by deleting the WAL directory:

hdfs dfs -rm -r /path/to/wal-directory

Ensure that you have backups of any critical data before performing this operation.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the StateStoreWriteAheadLogWriteWriteVersionMismatchException and ensure your streaming queries run smoothly. For further assistance, consider reaching out to the Apache Spark community or consulting additional resources.