Resolving Gremlin Network Errors After Upgrading to Node.js 23

Handling Gremlin Connection Issues in Node.js 23

When developing applications that use the Gremlin package to connect to databases like Amazon Neptune, ensuring compatibility with your Node.js version is crucial. Many developers face unexpected issues when upgrading to newer versions of Node.js, and this can interrupt the stability of your application.

In the case of upgrading to Node.js 23, some users have encountered a specific error involving a network issue or a non-101 status code. This problem is not present in earlier versions, such as Node.js 20.18, where the connection works as expected. The change in Node.js core components could be the root of this issue.

Addressing this error is important for anyone who wants to benefit from the latest features of Node.js 23, without reverting to older versions. Identifying and resolving compatibility problems with network requests, like those affecting the Gremlin connection, is essential for smooth operation.

In this guide, we'll explore the error in detail, understand its cause, and provide a solution for resolving the network issue when using Node.js 23 with the Gremlin package for Amazon Neptune.

Resolving Gremlin Network Errors in Node.js 23

The first script aims to establish a remote connection between a Node.js application and Amazon Neptune using the Gremlin package. The core of the solution lies in using the DriverRemoteConnection and creating a traversal object with Graph.traversal().withRemote(). The script checks if a traversal object exists and, if not, initializes one with a connection to Neptune. This ensures that only one connection is opened, improving performance. The try-catch block is a safeguard to handle connection errors gracefully, logging the error and exiting the process if something goes wrong.

The second solution builds upon the first by integrating the WebSocket protocol. The addition of new WebSocket() establishes a more stable connection with Amazon Neptune, which is required in environments that rely on real-time data exchanges. By explicitly using WebSocket in the connection, we address the potential source of the non-101 status code error that occurs in Node.js 23. This WebSocket integration is essential because newer Node.js versions might handle network requests differently, especially with changes in the internal undici library used for HTTP requests.

The third solution incorporates a retry logic mechanism. This approach is especially useful for network resilience. If the initial connection attempt fails, the script retries the connection up to a specified number of attempts, improving the robustness of the application. The retry pattern helps manage temporary network instability or server-side issues, preventing the application from failing due to a single connection issue. This is done with an asynchronous function that loops until either a connection is made or the retry limit is reached, providing a clear exit strategy if Neptune remains unreachable.

All three scripts use best practices to manage security and performance. For example, rejectUnauthorized: false disables SSL certificate validation, which might be necessary in certain development or testing environments but should be handled cautiously in production environments. The use of environment variables for the Neptune endpoint improves the security of the application, as sensitive data is not hard-coded. Each of these approaches offers different solutions based on varying environments, ensuring the application can handle connectivity issues gracefully and maintain compatibility with the latest Node.js versions.

import { DriverRemoteConnection } from 'gremlin';
import { Graph } from 'gremlin/lib/structure/graph';
let g: any = null;
export function getGremlinTraversal() {
  if (!g) {
    const neptuneEndpoint = process.env.NEPTUNE_DB_ENDPOINT || '';
    try {
      const dc = new DriverRemoteConnection(neptuneEndpoint, { rejectUnauthorized: false });
      const graph = new Graph();
      g = graph.traversal().withRemote(dc);
    } catch (err) {
      console.error('Connection Error:', err.message);
      process.exit(1);
    }
  }
  return g;
}

import { DriverRemoteConnection } from 'gremlin';
import { Graph } from 'gremlin/lib/structure/graph';
import { WebSocket } from 'ws';
let g: any = null;
export function getGremlinTraversal() {
  if (!g) {
    const neptuneEndpoint = process.env.NEPTUNE_DB_ENDPOINT || '';
    try {
      const ws = new WebSocket(neptuneEndpoint, { rejectUnauthorized: false });
      const dc = new DriverRemoteConnection(neptuneEndpoint, { webSocket: ws });
      const graph = new Graph();
      g = graph.traversal().withRemote(dc);
    } catch (err) {
      console.error('WebSocket Error:', err.message);
      process.exit(1);
    }
  }
  return g;
}

import { DriverRemoteConnection } from 'gremlin';
import { Graph } from 'gremlin/lib/structure/graph';
let g: any = null;
async function retryConnection(retries: number) {
  let attempt = 0;
  while (attempt < retries) {
    try {
      const neptuneEndpoint = process.env.NEPTUNE_DB_ENDPOINT || '';
      const dc = new DriverRemoteConnection(neptuneEndpoint, { rejectUnauthorized: false });
      const graph = new Graph();
      g = graph.traversal().withRemote(dc);
      break;
    } catch (err) {
      attempt++;
      console.error(`Attempt ${attempt}: Connection Error`, err.message);
      if (attempt >= retries) process.exit(1);
    }
  }
}
export function getGremlinTraversal() {
  if (!g) { retryConnection(3); }
  return g;
}

Exploring Network Protocol Changes in Node.js 23

One key aspect to consider when upgrading to Node.js 23 is how internal libraries, like undici, handle network requests. The error encountered when connecting to Amazon Neptune, involving a non-101 status code, can often be linked to changes in how Node.js manages WebSocket and HTTP connections. These protocol adjustments are meant to enhance performance and security, but they can introduce compatibility issues, particularly with packages like Gremlin that depend heavily on real-time data streams.

While downgrading to Node.js 20.18 may temporarily resolve the issue, understanding and adapting to the network-related changes in newer versions is critical for long-term stability. The undici library, responsible for managing HTTP and WebSocket requests, has undergone significant improvements, including stricter SSL enforcement and enhanced error-handling processes. Developers working with Amazon Neptune or similar databases need to ensure their connection protocols are aligned with these changes to avoid disruptions in communication.

Additionally, security practices in Node.js have been strengthened, particularly in how certificates are validated in WebSocket connections. As noted in the solutions provided earlier, using rejectUnauthorized: false can bypass SSL validation, which is useful in development but potentially risky in production environments. Developers should aim to adapt their systems to new security standards while maintaining reliable connectivity to external services like Amazon Neptune, ensuring both security and performance are balanced.