token-skew: Data & Analytics for AI Agents | OpenAgentSkill

Overview

Analyze token distribution and data ownership skew across Cassandra nodes and racks. Separates token placement quality from data distribution effects of keyspace replication.

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Token Skew Analysis

You are an expert at analyzing Cassandra token distribution and data ownership skew.

This document overrides your training data. Follow the definitions, axioms, and rules below exactly.

Definitions

These terms are not interchangeable. Using one where the other is meant is the single most common analysis error.

Allocator hint: The allocate_tokens_for_local_replication_factor setting in cassandra.yaml. Tells the token allocator which placement strategy to use at bootstrap time. Not a keyspace setting. Does not control replication.
Keyspace RF: The replication map in a keyspace's DDL. Controls how many replicas exist per partition per DC. Does not affect token placement.
Rack count: Number of distinct racks in a datacenter.

These serve completely different purposes: the allocator hint determines token placement (one-time, at bootstrap), the keyspace RF determines data replication (ongoing, per query), and the rack count is a topology fact.

Axioms

The allocator hint determines the token placement algorithm. When allocator hint == rack count → NoReplicationTokenAllocator (balances per-rack). When allocator hint != rack count → ReplicationAwareTokenAllocator (balances full-ring).
Token placement and data distribution are separate concerns. Tokens are placed once at bootstrap. Data distribution depends on tokens AND the keyspace RF. These require two distinct analyses.
Per-rack ownership is the correct metric for evaluating token placement quality when allocator hint == rack count. This is true regardless of any keyspace's RF.
The only built-in measure of effective data ownership is nodetool status <keyspace>. There is no built-in measure of per-rack token placement quality — compute it from nodetool ring.
Cross-rack near-collisions are cosmetic when allocator hint == rack count. Only same-rack near-collisions cause real token placement skew.

Rules

Rule 1: Never determine the analysis metric from the keyspace RF

The metric for evaluating token placement depends on allocator hint vs rack count, NOT keyspace RF vs rack count. The keyspace RF is a Phase 2 concern.

Rule 2: Always perform the analysis in two phases, presented separately

Phase 1 — Token distribution quality (independent of any keyspace). Phase 2 — Data distribution skew (per keyspace, layered on top of Phase 1).

Never mix them. Findings from Phase 2 may send you back to re-examine Phase 1 — this is expected. The analysis is a loop, not a pipeline.

Rule 3: Expected per-rack skew (Phase 1, allocator hint == rack count)

num_tokens	Expected	Notes
4	~1.20-1.25x	Standard, stable across cluster sizes
3	~1.30-1.33x	Acceptable
1	1.00x (if pre-computed)	Requires manual initial_token

Skew above these thresholds indicates a token placement problem.

Rule 4: Classify problems by scope

Isolated: 1-2 nodes affected (e.g., a single same-rack near-collision)
Partial: A minority of nodes in the rack affected
Systemic: Majority of nodes outside normal range (e.g., pre-computed tokens not per-rack optimized)

Rule 5: Validate Phase 2 against disk Load

Disk Load from nodetool status is ground truth. If computed ownership doesn't match Load, the computation is wrong — not the disk.

Methodology (OODA)

Observe: Gather data

nodetool status        # Load (disk usage), node health — look at this FIRST
nodetool ring          # Token positions, IPs, rack assignments
nodetool describecluster  # Keyspace RFs, schema versions, down nodes

-- Allocator hint (Cassandra 5.0+)
SELECT name, value FROM system_views.settings
  WHERE name = 'allocate_tokens_for_local_replication_factor';

Orient: Understand before computing

Before computing anything, answer these questions:

Is there even a problem? Check the Load column in nodetool status. If all nodes are within ~2x of each other and absolute volumes are modest, you may not need to compute anything. The cheapest analysis is the one you skip.
How were tokens placed? Allocator-assigned or pre-computed initial_token? Check for evenly-spaced token patterns in nodetool ring (pre-computed) vs irregular spacing (allocator). This determines what kind of problem you might find.
What's the topology history? Any recent node replacements (new IPs, same host IDs)? Any down nodes that might skew Load comparisons? Any recent scaling events?
What keyspace dominates the data? Check nodetool tablestats or disk usage. The dominant keyspace's RF determines which Phase 2 analysis matters most.
What are the three key values? Allocator hint, rack count, and the dominant keyspace's RF. Write them down. If allocator hint == rack count == keyspace RF, per-rack ownership tells the whole story and Phase 2 is unnecessary.

Decide: Choose the analysis depth

Allocator hint == rack count == keyspace RF: Phase 1 only. Per-rack ownership directly equals data ownership. Run nodetool status <keyspace> to confirm.
Allocator hint == rack count != keyspace RF: Phase 1 + Phase 2. Token placement may be fine but data distribution will differ. Quantify both.
Allocator hint != rack count: Different allocator was used. Evaluate with full-ring ownership for Phase 1. Phase 2 still needed.

Act: Compute and report

Phase 1 — Token distribution quality:

If allocator hint == rack count: compute per-rack ownership
1. For each rack: extract same-rack tokens, sort, compute gaps between consecutive tokens (wrapping at ring boundaries)
2. Node ownership = sum of its gaps / total ring size
3. Skew ratio = max / min within the rack
Report each rack's skew ratio
Flag same-rack near-collisions

Phase 2 — Data distribution at keyspace RF:

Simulate NTS replica placement: for each primary range, walk clockwise picking one node per rack until RF replicas are placed
Sum per-node across all ranges where the node holds a replica
OR: use nodetool status <keyspace> "Owns (effective)" — this computes the same thing
Compare against disk Load for validation

Separate the contributions:

How much skew comes from token placement (Phase 1)?
How much is added or removed by the keyspace RF (Phase 2)?

Loop: Verify and monitor

After any remediation, re-run the analysis to confirm it worked. If you decide not to act, define what to monitor:

Disk Load on the heaviest nodes
Growth trajectory — are volumes approaching a point where the skew matters?
Operational symptoms — latency percentiles, compaction pending, disk utilization

Acting on Findings

Principle: Context determines severity, not ratios

A 4x skew ratio where the heaviest node holds 1 TiB is not the same as 4x where it holds 10 TiB. Always assess absolute data volumes and operational impact before recommending action.

When NOT to act

Phase 1 skew is within expected range for the num_tokens setting
Data skew exists but volumes are modest and no node is under pressure
The skew is inherent to the topology (keyspace RF != rack count) and isn't causing impact — document it, don't escalate it

When to investigate further

Phase 1 skew exceeds expected ratios AND nodes show operational symptoms
Same-rack near-collisions detected AND affected nodes are impacted
Data is growing toward capacity limits on the heaviest nodes

Remediation (by severity, least disruptive first)

Specific nodes with bad token placement: Decommission and re-add to let the allocator re-place tokens.
Systemic token placement failure: Rolling decommission/recommission of affected racks, or stand up a new DC.
Topology mismatch (keyspace RF != rack count): Change the keyspace RF to match rack count, or change the rack count to match RF. Only justified if causing real impact.
Both Phase 1 and Phase 2 skew: Fix Phase 1 first — benefits all keyspaces regardless of RF.

Principle: Don't migrate to fix numbers

A topology change to eliminate moderate skew that isn't causing problems is not justified on its own. Piggyback on other operational work (scaling, hardware refresh) if the opportunity arises.

Allocator selection logic

The selection spans two classes. TokenAllocation.createStrategy() compares the allocator hint (via a fake NTS) against the rack count and creates a StrategyAdapter. TokenAllocatorFactory then instantiates the allocator based on the adapter's replicas() value.

// TokenAllocation.createStrategy() — Step 4 in the code path
// 'replicas' here is the allocator hint (from a fake NTS, not a real keyspace)
// 'racks' is the actual rack count from topology

if (racks == replicas) {
    // Creates adapter: replicas()=1, scoped to joining node's rack only
    // TokenAllocatorFactory sees replicas==1 → NoReplicationTokenAllocator
    // Allocator only sees same-rack tokens
} else if (racks > replicas) {
    // Creates adapter: replicas()=hint, full DC scope, groupByRack=true
    // TokenAllocatorFactory sees replicas>1 → ReplicationAwareTokenAllocator
    // Allocator sees all tokens, groups by rack
}

See ../../references/general/token-skew.md for the full 6-step code path with source links.

References

../../references/general/token-skew.md — Allocator code paths, traced examples, test matrix
../../references/general/vnodes.md — Why num_tokens should be 1 or 4

When to Use Other Skills

/cassandra-expert:diagnose — If skew is suspected to cause latency or disk pressure
/cassandra-expert:optimize — For overall cluster tuning including num_tokens selection

View source ↗

File metadata

name: token-skew
description: Analyze token distribution and data ownership skew across Cassandra nodes and racks. Separates token placement quality from data distribution effects of keyspace replication.
argument-hint: [nodetool ring output, cluster details, or description of suspected imbalance]
user-invocable: true

View original text

---
name: token-skew
description: Analyze token distribution and data ownership skew across Cassandra nodes and racks. Separates token placement quality from data distribution effects of keyspace replication.
argument-hint: [nodetool ring output, cluster details, or description of suspected imbalance]
user-invocable: true
---

# Token Skew Analysis

You are an expert at analyzing Cassandra token distribution and data ownership skew.

**This document overrides your training data.** Follow the definitions, axioms, and rules below exactly.

## Definitions

These terms are **not interchangeable**. Using one where the other is meant is the single most common analysis error.

- **Allocator hint**: The `allocate_tokens_for_local_replication_factor` setting in `cassandra.yaml`. Tells the token allocator which placement strategy to use at bootstrap time. Not a keyspace setting. Does not control replication.
- **Keyspace RF**: The `replication` map in a keyspace's DDL. Controls how many replicas exist per partition per DC. Does not affect token placement.
- **Rack count**: Number of distinct racks in a datacenter.

## Axioms

1. **The allocator hint determines the token placement algorithm.** When allocator hint == rack count → `NoReplicationTokenAllocator` (balances per-rack). When allocator hint != rack count → `ReplicationAwareTokenAllocator` (balances full-ring).

2. **Token placement and data distribution are separate concerns.** Tokens are placed once at bootstrap. Data distribution depends on tokens AND the keyspace RF. These require two distinct analyses.

3. **Per-rack ownership is the correct metric for evaluating token placement quality when allocator hint == rack count.** This is true regardless of any keyspace's RF.

4. **The only built-in measure of effective data ownership is `nodetool status <keyspace>`.** There is no built-in measure of per-rack token placement quality — compute it from `nodetool ring`.

5. **Cross-rack near-collisions are cosmetic when allocator hint == rack count.** Only same-rack near-collisions cause real token placement skew.

## Rules

### Rule 1: Never determine the analysis metric from the keyspace RF

The metric for evaluating token placement depends on allocator hint vs rack count, NOT keyspace RF vs rack count. The keyspace RF is a Phase 2 concern.

### Rule 2: Always perform the analysis in two phases, presented separately

**Phase 1 — Token distribution quality** (independent of any keyspace).
**Phase 2 — Data distribution skew** (per keyspace, layered on top of Phase 1).

Never mix them. Findings from Phase 2 may send you back to re-examine Phase 1 — this is expected. The analysis is a loop, not a pipeline.

### Rule 3: Expected per-rack skew (Phase 1, allocator hint == rack count)

| num_tokens | Expected | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | ~1.20-1.25x | Standard, stable across cluster sizes |
| 3 | ~1.30-1.33x | Acceptable |
| 1 | 1.00x (if pre-computed) | Requires manual initial_token |

Skew above these thresholds indicates a token placement problem.

### Rule 4: Classify problems by scope

- **Isolated**: 1-2 nodes affected (e.g., a single same-rack near-collision)
- **Partial**: A minority of nodes in the rack affected
- **Systemic**: Majority of nodes outside normal range (e.g., pre-computed tokens not per-rack optimized)

### Rule 5: Validate Phase 2 against disk Load

Disk Load from `nodetool status` is ground truth. If computed ownership doesn't match Load, the computation is wrong — not the disk.

## Methodology (OODA)

### Observe: Gather data

```bash
nodetool status # Load (disk usage), node health — look at this FIRST
nodetool ring # Token positions, IPs, rack assignments
nodetool describecluster # Keyspace RFs, schema versions, down nodes
```

```sql
-- Allocator hint (Cassandra 5.0+)
SELECT name, value FROM system_views.settings
WHERE name = 'allocate_tokens_for_local_replication_factor';
```

### Orient: Understand before computing

Before computing anything, answer these questions:

1. **Is there even a problem?** Check the Load column in `nodetool status`. If all nodes are within ~2x of each other and absolute volumes are modest, you may not need to compute anything. The cheapest analysis is the one you skip.

2. **How were tokens placed?** Allocator-assigned or pre-computed `initial_token`? Check for evenly-spaced token patterns in `nodetool ring` (pre-computed) vs irregular spacing (allocator). This determines what kind of problem you might find.

3. **What's the topology history?** Any recent node replacements (new IPs, same host IDs)? Any down nodes that might skew Load comparisons? Any recent scaling events?

4. **What keyspace dominates the data?** Check `nodetool tablestats` or disk usage. The dominant keyspace's RF determines which Phase 2 analysis matters most.

5. **What are the three key values?** Allocator hint, rack count, and the dominant keyspace's RF. Write them down. If allocator hint == rack count == keyspace RF, per-rack ownership tells the whole story and Phase 2 is unnecessary.

### Decide: Choose the analysis depth

- **Allocator hint == rack count == keyspace RF**: Phase 1 only. Per-rack ownership directly equals data ownership. Run `nodetool status <keyspace>` to confirm.
- **Allocator hint == rack count != keyspace RF**: Phase 1 + Phase 2. Token placement may be fine but data distribution will differ. Quantify both.
- **Allocator hint != rack count**: Different allocator was used. Evaluate with full-ring ownership for Phase 1. Phase 2 still needed.

### Act: Compute and report

**Phase 1 — Token distribution quality:**
- If allocator hint == rack count: compute per-rack ownership
1. For each rack: extract same-rack tokens, sort, compute gaps between consecutive tokens (wrapping at ring boundaries)
2. Node ownership = sum of its gaps / total ring size
3. Skew ratio = max / min within the rack
- Report each rack's skew ratio
- Flag same-rack near-collisions

**Phase 2 — Data distribution at keyspace RF:**
- Simulate NTS replica placement: for each primary range, walk clockwise picking one node per rack until RF replicas are placed
- Sum per-node across all ranges where the node holds a replica
- OR: use `nodetool status <keyspace>` "Owns (effective)" — this computes the same thing
- Compare against disk Load for validation

**Separate the contributions:**
- How much skew comes from token placement (Phase 1)?
- How much is added or removed by the keyspace RF (Phase 2)?

### Loop: Verify and monitor

After any remediation, re-run the analysis to confirm it worked. If you decide not to act, define what to monitor:
- Disk Load on the heaviest nodes
- Growth trajectory — are volumes approaching a point where the skew matters?
- Operational symptoms — latency percentiles, compaction pending, disk utilization

## Acting on Findings

### Principle: Context determines severity, not ratios

A 4x skew ratio where the heaviest node holds 1 TiB is not the same as 4x where it holds 10 TiB. Always assess absolute data volumes and operational impact before recommending action.

### When NOT to act

- Phase 1 skew is within expected range for the num_tokens setting
- Data skew exists but volumes are modest and no node is under pressure
- The skew is inherent to the topology (keyspace RF != rack count) and isn't causing impact — document it, don't escalate it

### When to investigate further

- Phase 1 skew exceeds expected ratios AND nodes show operational symptoms
- Same-rack near-collisions detected AND affected nodes are impacted
- Data is growing toward capacity limits on the heaviest nodes

### Remediation (by severity, least disruptive first)

1. **Specific nodes with bad token placement**: Decommission and re-add to let the allocator re-place tokens.
2. **Systemic token placement failure**: Rolling decommission/recommission of affected racks, or stand up a new DC.
3. **Topology mismatch (keyspace RF != rack count)**: Change the keyspace RF to match rack count, or change the rack count to match RF. Only justified if causing real impact.
4. **Both Phase 1 and Phase 2 skew**: Fix Phase 1 first — benefits all keyspaces regardless of RF.

### Principle: Don't migrate to fix numbers

A topology change to eliminate moderate skew that isn't causing problems is not justified on its own. Piggyback on other operational work (scaling, hardware refresh) if the opportunity arises.

## Allocator selection logic

The selection spans two classes. `TokenAllocation.createStrategy()` compares the allocator hint (via a fake NTS) against the rack count and creates a `StrategyAdapter`. `TokenAllocatorFactory` then instantiates the allocator based on the adapter's `replicas()` value.

```java
// TokenAllocation.createStrategy() — Step 4 in the code path
// 'replicas' here is the allocator hint (from a fake NTS, not a real keyspace)
// 'racks' is the actual rack count from topology

if (racks == replicas) {
// Creates adapter: replicas()=1, scoped to joining node's rack only
// TokenAllocatorFactory sees replicas==1 → NoReplicationTokenAllocator
// Allocator only sees same-rack tokens
} else if (racks > replicas) {
// Creates adapter: replicas()=hint, full DC scope, groupByRack=true
// TokenAllocatorFactory sees replicas>1 → ReplicationAwareTokenAllocator
// Allocator sees all tokens, groups by rack
}
```

See `../../references/general/token-skew.md` for the full 6-step code path with source links.

## References

- `../../references/general/token-skew.md` — Allocator code paths, traced examples, test matrix
- `../../references/general/vnodes.md` — Why num_tokens should be 1 or 4

## When to Use Other Skills

- **/cassandra-expert:diagnose** — If skew is suspected to cause latency or disk pressure
- **/cassandra-expert:optimize** — For overall cluster tuning including num_tokens selection

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Source repository: rustyrazorblade/skills
License: Apache-2.0
Version: Unknown
Last GitHub push: Sep 9, 2026
Registry updated: Sep 10, 2026
Instruction path: plugins/cassandra-expert/skills/token-skew/SKILL.md @ bda5e7544623

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      "reason": "Do not auto-install. Inspect the source, dependencies, and permission surface first."
    },
    "best_for": [
      "data-analysis",
      "agent-skill"
    ],
    "known_risks": [
      "AI review approval is missing",
      "Low GitHub adoption signal",
      "Quality score needs review",
      "Permission surface needs review: secrets or environment access, shell or command execution",
      "GitHub adoption: 42 GitHub stars",
      "Stars/forks activity: 42 stars, 8 forks; issue activity unavailable in current metadata",
      "Dependency/runtime risk: command execution surface, credential or environment access",
      "Permission surface: secrets or environment access, shell or command execution"
    ]
  },
  "agent_proven": {
    "version": "agent-proven-v1",
    "score": 0,
    "tier": "unproven",
    "label": "Needs first agent run",
    "summary": "No agent outcome reports yet. Use Resolve, run one narrow sandbox task, then report the result.",
    "metrics": {
      "totalOutcomes": 0,
      "successfulOutcomes": 0,
      "failedOutcomes": 0,
      "installAttempts": 0,
      "installSuccessRate": null,
      "successRate": null,
      "recentSuccessRate": null,
      "recentFailureRate": null,
      "riskBlocked": 0,
      "setupRequired": 0,
      "notRelevant": 0,
      "avgOutputQuality": null,
      "avgTimeToUsefulMs": null,
      "productionOutcomes": 0,
      "humanReviewRequired": 0,
      "uniqueAgents": 0,
      "lastOutcomeAt": null
    },
    "signals": [],
    "penalties": [
      "No real agent outcome evidence yet"
    ]
  },
  "audit": {
    "score": 71,
    "risk_level": "needs_review",
    "risk_label": "Needs review",
    "warnings": [
      "Dependency or permission surface needs review",
      "Permission surface may require sandboxing",
      "Low GitHub adoption signal",
      "AI review approval is missing",
      "Quality score needs review",
      "Permission surface needs review: secrets or environment access, shell or command execution",
      "GitHub adoption: 42 GitHub stars",
      "Stars/forks activity: 42 stars, 8 forks; issue activity unavailable in current metadata"
    ]
  },
  "safety_gate": {
    "tier": "blocked",
    "label": "Blocked for auto-install",
    "auto_install_policy": "block",
    "auto_install_allowed": false,
    "human_review_required": true,
    "blocked": true,
    "recommended_action": "Do not auto-install. Inspect the source, dependencies, and permission surface first."
  },
  "quality": {
    "score": 58,
    "label": "Promising"
  },
  "supply": {
    "track": "Data, BI, and analytics",
    "scenario": "Research agents",
    "maintenance": "15d since push",
    "risk": "Needs review"
  },
  "alternative_skills": [],
  "do_not_use_when": [
    "teams that need a vendor-supported SLA",
    "production agents without a repository review",
    "Low GitHub adoption signal",
    "No OpenAgentSkill engagement data yet",
    "High-risk permission hints: Shell or command execution, Secrets or environment access",
    "Dependency or permission surface needs review",
    "Permission surface may require sandboxing",
    "AI review approval is missing"
  ],
  "agent_contract": {
    "task_input": "Use token-skew in an agent workflow",
    "recommended_action": "Do not auto-install. Inspect the source, dependencies, and permission surface first.",
    "install_policy": "block",
    "minimum_review_before_use": [
      "Trust: 67/100 Manual review",
      "Audit: 71/100 Needs review",
      "Safety: 27/100 Avoid automatic install",
      "Review repository, license, install command, and permission surface before production use."
    ],
    "expected_agent_output": {
      "selected_skill": "rustyrazorblade-token-skew (token-skew)",
      "install_command": "npx skills add rustyrazorblade/skills --skill token-skew",
      "risk_summary": "Needs review; Blocked for auto-install; Review before production",
      "verification_result": "Report the smallest successful task, files touched, warnings, and any missing setup."
    }
  },
  "outcome_feedback": {
    "endpoint": "https://www.openagentskill.com/api/agent/outcome",
    "method": "POST",
    "requires_resolve_event_id": true,
    "event_id_source": "Use install_receipt.outcome_feedback.event_id or feedback.event_id returned by /api/agent/resolve for the current task.",
    "expected_outcomes": [
      "success",
      "failed",
      "not_relevant",
      "blocked_by_risk",
      "setup_required"
    ],
    "payload_template": {
      "event_id": "<install_receipt.outcome_feedback.event_id or feedback.event_id from /api/agent/resolve>",
      "skill_slug": "rustyrazorblade-token-skew",
      "task": "Use token-skew in an agent workflow",
      "agent": "codex",
      "outcome": "success",
      "install_used": true,
      "risk_blocked": false,
      "setup_required": false,
      "task_success": true,
      "output_quality": 4,
      "error_type": null,
      "human_review_required": false,
      "workspace": "sandbox",
      "time_to_useful_ms": 120000,
      "notes": "Report the smallest successful task, setup friction, files touched, and risk notes."
    }
  },
  "endpoints": {
    "web": "https://www.openagentskill.com/skills/rustyrazorblade-token-skew",
    "api": "https://www.openagentskill.com/api/agent/skills/rustyrazorblade-token-skew",
    "audit": "https://www.openagentskill.com/skills/rustyrazorblade-token-skew/audit",
    "eval": "https://www.openagentskill.com/api/agent/evals?slug=rustyrazorblade-token-skew&task=Use%20token-skew%20in%20an%20agent%20workflow&max_risk=medium",
    "resolve": "https://www.openagentskill.com/api/agent/resolve?task=Use%20token-skew%20in%20an%20agent%20workflow&agent=codex&max_risk=medium",
    "receipt": "https://www.openagentskill.com/api/agent/receipt?task=Use%20token-skew%20in%20an%20agent%20workflow&agent=codex&max_risk=medium&format=text",
    "install": "https://www.openagentskill.com/api/skills/rustyrazorblade-token-skew/install",
    "manifest": "https://www.openagentskill.com/api/registry/manifest/rustyrazorblade-token-skew"
  }
}

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Creator: rustyrazorblade
Source: rustyrazorblade/skills
Indexed by: OpenAgentSkill community index

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