Inability to manage users and user groups across multiple engines

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 85 views

Introduction

AWS ElastiCache is a web service that makes it easy to deploy, manage, and scale popular open-source in-memory caching engines. It supports several caching engines, including Memcached, Redis, and Redis (cluster mode). However, the current implementation of the User and UserGroup classes in ElastiCache does not support the engine property, which is a crucial aspect of managing users and user groups in a multi-engine environment. In this article, we will discuss the importance of supporting the engine property for User and UserGroup classes and propose a solution to address this limitation.

The Problem

At present, the User and UserGroup classes in ElastiCache do not support the engine property. This limitation makes it challenging to manage users and user groups in a multi-engine environment, where different engines have different security and access control requirements. For instance, the Memcached engine does not support Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), whereas the Redis engine supports IAM, Password Users, and No Password Users. Similarly, the Valkey engine supports IAM and Password Users but does not support No Password Users.

The Impact of Not Supporting the `engine` Property

The absence of the engine property in the User and UserGroup classes has several implications:

Inability to manage users and user groups across multiple engines: Without the engine property, it is challenging to manage users and user groups that span multiple engines. This can lead to inconsistencies and errors in user access control.
Limited security and access control: Different engines have different security and access control requirements. By not supporting the engine property, ElastiCache users are limited in their ability to implement robust security and access control measures.
Inefficient use of resources: Without the engine property, ElastiCache users may end up creating duplicate users and user groups across multiple engines, leading to inefficient use of resources.

Proposed Solution

To address the limitation of not supporting the engine property in the User and UserGroup classes, we propose the following solution:

Add engine property to User and UserGroup class: We suggest adding the engine property to the User and UserGroup classes to enable users to specify the engine type when creating or managing users and user groups.
Implement engine-specific security and access control: We propose implementing engine-specific security and access control measures to ensure that users and user groups are managed consistently across multiple engines.

Alternatives Considered

We considered using escape hatches as an alternative solution. However, escape hatches are not a suitable replacement for the engine property, as they can lead to inconsistencies and errors in user access control.

Additional Context

The blocker CFn bug has been resolved, and the Memcached engine does not support RBAC. The Redis engine supports IAM, Password Users, and No Password Users, while the Valkey engine supports IAM and Password Users but does not support No Password Users.

Conclusion

In conclusion, supporting the engine property for User and UserGroup classes is crucial for managing users and user groups in a multi-engine environment. By adding the engine property to the User and UserGroup classes, ElastiCache users can implement robust security and access control measures, manage users and user groups efficiently, and avoid inconsistencies and errors in user access control.

Implementation Plan

To implement the proposed solution, we will follow these steps:

Add engine property to User and UserGroup class: We will add the engine property to the User and UserGroup classes to enable users to specify the engine type when creating or managing users and user groups.
Implement engine-specific security and access control: We will implement engine-specific security and access control measures to ensure that users and user groups are managed consistently across multiple engines.
Test and validate the implementation: We will thoroughly test and validate the implementation to ensure that it meets the requirements and does not introduce any inconsistencies or errors.

Timeline

We estimate that the implementation will take approximately 2-3 weeks to complete, depending on the complexity of the implementation and the availability of resources.

Resources

We will require the following resources to implement the proposed solution:

Development team: We will require a development team with expertise in ElastiCache, AWS CloudFormation, and programming languages such as Java, Python, or C++.
Testing and validation team: We will require a testing and validation team to thoroughly test and validate the implementation.
Project management: We will require a project manager to oversee the implementation and ensure that it is completed on time and within budget.

Conclusion

Q: What is the current limitation in AWS ElastiCache regarding the `engine` property for User and UserGroup classes?

A: The current limitation in AWS ElastiCache is that the User and UserGroup classes do not support the engine property. This means that users cannot specify the engine type when creating or managing users and user groups, which can lead to inconsistencies and errors in user access control.

Q: Why is it important to support the `engine` property for User and UserGroup classes?

A: Supporting the engine property for User and UserGroup classes is crucial for managing users and user groups in a multi-engine environment. By adding the engine property to the User and UserGroup classes, ElastiCache users can implement robust security and access control measures, manage users and user groups efficiently, and avoid inconsistencies and errors in user access control.

Q: What are the benefits of supporting the `engine` property for User and UserGroup classes?

A: The benefits of supporting the engine property for User and UserGroup classes include:

Improved security and access control: By supporting the engine property, ElastiCache users can implement engine-specific security and access control measures to ensure that users and user groups are managed consistently across multiple engines.
Efficient user and user group management: Supporting the engine property enables ElastiCache users to manage users and user groups efficiently, without having to create duplicate users and user groups across multiple engines.
Reduced inconsistencies and errors: By supporting the engine property, ElastiCache users can avoid inconsistencies and errors in user access control, which can lead to security vulnerabilities and other issues.

Q: How will supporting the `engine` property for User and UserGroup classes be implemented?

A: To implement the proposed solution, we will follow these steps:

Add engine property to User and UserGroup class: We will add the engine property to the User and UserGroup classes to enable users to specify the engine type when creating or managing users and user groups.
Implement engine-specific security and access control: We will implement engine-specific security and access control measures to ensure that users and user groups are managed consistently across multiple engines.
Test and validate the implementation: We will thoroughly test and validate the implementation to ensure that it meets the requirements and does not introduce any inconsistencies or errors.

Q: What resources will be required to implement the proposed solution?

A: We will require the following resources to implement the proposed solution:

Development team: We will require a development team with expertise in ElastiCache, AWS CloudFormation, and programming languages such as Java, Python, or C++.
Testing and validation team: We will require a testing and validation team to thoroughly test and validate the implementation.
Project management: We will require a project manager to oversee the implementation and ensure that it is completed on time and within budget.

Q: What is the estimated timeline for implementing the proposed solution?

A: We estimate that the implementation will take approximately 2-3 weeks to complete, depending on the complexity of the implementation and the availability of resources.

Q: What are the potential risks and challenges associated with implementing the proposed solution?

A: The potential risks and challenges associated with implementing the proposed solution include:

Complexity of implementation: The implementation may be complex, requiring significant expertise in ElastiCache, AWS CloudFormation, and programming languages.
Availability of resources: The availability of resources, including development team, testing and validation team, and project management, may impact the timeline and success of the implementation.
Inconsistencies and errors: The implementation may introduce inconsistencies and errors in user access control, which can lead to security vulnerabilities and other issues.

Q: How will the proposed solution be tested and validated?

A: We will thoroughly test and validate the implementation to ensure that it meets the requirements and does not introduce any inconsistencies or errors. The testing and validation process will include:

Unit testing: We will perform unit testing to ensure that the implementation meets the requirements and does not introduce any inconsistencies or errors.
Integration testing: We will perform integration testing to ensure that the implementation integrates correctly with other components and systems.
System testing: We will perform system testing to ensure that the implementation meets the requirements and does not introduce any inconsistencies or errors in a production-like environment.

Q: What is the expected outcome of the proposed solution?

A: The expected outcome of the proposed solution is to support the engine property for User and UserGroup classes in AWS ElastiCache, enabling users to specify the engine type when creating or managing users and user groups. This will improve security and access control, enable efficient user and user group management, and reduce inconsistencies and errors in user access control.