Rate Limiting Advanced plugin

The Rate Limiting Advanced plugin for Konnect Enterprise is a re-engineered version of the Kong Gateway (OSS) Rate Limiting plugin.

As compared to the standard Rate Limiting plugin, Rate Limiting Advanced provides:

Additional configurations: limit, window_size, and sync_rate
Support for Redis Sentinel, Redis cluster, and Redis SSL
Increased performance: Rate Limiting Advanced has better throughput performance with better accuracy. Configure sync_rate to periodically sync with backend storage.
More limiting algorithms to choose from: These algorithms are more accurate and they enable configuration with more specificity. Learn more about our algorithms in How to Design a Scalable Rate Limiting Algorithm.

Configuration Reference

This plugin is partially compatible with DB-less mode.

In DB-less mode, you configure Kong Gateway declaratively. Therefore, the Admin API is mostly read-only. The only tasks it can perform are all related to handling the declarative config, including:

Setting a target's health status in the load balancer
Validating configurations against schemas
Uploading the declarative configuration using the /config endpoint

The cluster strategy is not supported in DB-less and hybrid modes. For Kong Gateway in DB-less or hybrid mode, use the redis strategy.

Enable the plugin on a service

Admin API

Kubernetes

Declarative (YAML)

Konnect Cloud

Manager

For example, configure this plugin on a service by making the following request:

curl -X POST http://{HOST}:8001/services/{SERVICE}/plugins \
    --data "name=rate-limiting-advanced"  \
    --data "config.limit=5" \
    --data "config.window_size=30" \
    --data "config.identifier=consumer" \
    --data "config.dictionary_name=kong_rate_limiting_counters" \
    --data "config.sync_rate=-1" \
    --data "config.namespace=random_auto_generated_string" \
    --data "config.strategy=cluster" \
    --data "config.hide_client_headers=false" \
    --data "config.window_type=sliding" \
    --data "config.retry_after_jitter_max=0"

SERVICE is the id or name of the service that this plugin configuration will target.

First, create a KongPlugin resource:

apiVersion: configuration.konghq.com/v1
kind: KongPlugin
metadata:
  name: <rate-limiting-advanced-example>
config: 
  limit:
  - 5
  window_size:
  - 30
  identifier: consumer
  dictionary_name: kong_rate_limiting_counters
  sync_rate: -1
  namespace: random_auto_generated_string
  strategy: cluster
  hide_client_headers: false
  window_type: sliding
  retry_after_jitter_max: 0
plugin: rate-limiting-advanced

Next, apply the KongPlugin resource to a Service by annotating the Service as follows:

apiVersion: v1
kind: Service
metadata:
  name: {SERVICE}
  labels:
    app: {SERVICE}
  annotations:
    konghq.com/plugins: <rate-limiting-advanced-example>
spec:
  ports:
  - port: 80
    targetPort: 80
    protocol: TCP
    name: {SERVICE}
  selector:
    app: {SERVICE}

{SERVICE} is the id or name of the service that this plugin configuration will target.

Note: The KongPlugin resource only needs to be defined once and can be applied to any service, consumer, or route in the namespace. If you want the plugin to be available cluster-wide, create the resource as a KongClusterPlugin instead of KongPlugin.

For example, configure this plugin on a service by adding this section to your declarative configuration file:

plugins:
- name: rate-limiting-advanced
  service: {SERVICE}
  config: 
    limit:
    - 5
    window_size:
    - 30
    identifier: consumer
    dictionary_name: kong_rate_limiting_counters
    sync_rate: -1
    namespace: random_auto_generated_string
    strategy: cluster
    hide_client_headers: false
    window_type: sliding
    retry_after_jitter_max: 0

SERVICE is the id or name of the service that this plugin configuration will target.

Configure this plugin on a service:

In Konnect Cloud, select the service on the ServiceHub page.
Scroll down to Versions and select the version.
Scroll down to Plugins and click New Plugin.
Find and select the Rate Limiting Advanced plugin.
Enter the following parameters, updating the default or sample values as needed:
- Config.Limit: 5
- Config.Window Size: 30
- Config.Identifier: consumer
- Config.Dictionary Name: kong_rate_limiting_counters
- Config.Sync Rate: -1
- Config.Namespace: random_auto_generated_string
- Config.Strategy: cluster
- Config.Window Type: sliding
- Config.Retry After Jitter Max: 0
Click Create.

Configure this plugin on a service:

In Kong Manager, select the workspace.
From the Dashboard, scroll down to Services and click View for the service row.
Scroll down to plugins and click Add Plugin.
Find and select the Rate Limiting Advanced plugin.

Note: If the plugin is greyed out, then it is not available for your product tier. See Kong Gateway tiers.
If the option is available, select Scoped.
Add the service name and ID to the Service field if it is not already prefilled.
Enter the following parameters, updating the default or sample values as needed:
- Config.Limit: 5
- Config.Window Size: 30
- Config.Identifier: consumer
- Config.Dictionary Name: kong_rate_limiting_counters
- Config.Sync Rate: -1
- Config.Namespace: random_auto_generated_string
- Config.Strategy: cluster
- Config.Window Type: sliding
- Config.Retry After Jitter Max: 0
Click Create.

Enable the plugin on a route

Admin API

Kubernetes

Declarative (YAML)

Konnect Cloud

Manager

For example, configure this plugin on a route with:

$ curl -X POST http://{HOST}:8001/routes/{ROUTE}/plugins \
    --data "name=rate-limiting-advanced"  \
    --data "config.limit=5" \
    --data "config.window_size=30" \
    --data "config.identifier=consumer" \
    --data "config.dictionary_name=kong_rate_limiting_counters" \
    --data "config.sync_rate=-1" \
    --data "config.namespace=random_auto_generated_string" \
    --data "config.strategy=cluster" \
    --data "config.hide_client_headers=false" \
    --data "config.window_type=sliding" \
    --data "config.retry_after_jitter_max=0"

ROUTE is the id or name of the route that this plugin configuration will target.

First, create a KongPlugin resource:

apiVersion: configuration.konghq.com/v1
kind: KongPlugin
metadata:
  name: <rate-limiting-advanced-example>
config: 
  limit:
  - 5
  window_size:
  - 30
  identifier: consumer
  dictionary_name: kong_rate_limiting_counters
  sync_rate: -1
  namespace: random_auto_generated_string
  strategy: cluster
  hide_client_headers: false
  window_type: sliding
  retry_after_jitter_max: 0
plugin: rate-limiting-advanced

Then, apply it to an ingress (Route or Routes) by annotating the ingress as follows:

apiVersion: networking/v1beta1
kind: Ingress
metadata:
  name: {ROUTE}
  annotations:
    kubernetes.io/ingress.class: kong
    konghq.com/plugins: <rate-limiting-advanced-example>
spec:
  rules:
  - host: examplehostname.com
    http:
      paths:
      - path: /bar
        backend:
          serviceName: echo
          servicePort: 80

ROUTE is the id or name of the route that this plugin configuration will target.

For example, configure this plugin on a route by adding this section to your declarative configuration file:

plugins:
- name: rate-limiting-advanced
  route: <route>
  config: 
    limit:
    - 5
    window_size:
    - 30
    identifier: consumer
    dictionary_name: kong_rate_limiting_counters
    sync_rate: -1
    namespace: random_auto_generated_string
    strategy: cluster
    hide_client_headers: false
    window_type: sliding
    retry_after_jitter_max: 0

ROUTE is the id or name of the route that this plugin configuration will target.

Configure this plugin on a route:

In Konnect Cloud, select the service from the ServiceHub page.
Scroll down to Versions and select the version.
Select the route.
Scroll down to Plugins and click Add Plugin.
Find and select the Rate Limiting Advanced plugin.
Enter the following parameters, updating the default or sample values as needed:
- Config.Limit: 5
- Config.Window Size: 30
- Config.Identifier: consumer
- Config.Dictionary Name: kong_rate_limiting_counters
- Config.Sync Rate: -1
- Config.Namespace: random_auto_generated_string
- Config.Strategy: cluster
- Config.Window Type: sliding
- Config.Retry After Jitter Max: 0
Click Create.

Configure this plugin on a route:

In Kong Manager, select the workspace.
From the Dashboard, select Routes in the left navigation.
Click View for the route row.
Scroll down to plugins and click Add Plugin.
Find and select the Rate Limiting Advanced plugin.

Note: If the plugin is greyed out, then it is not available for your product tier. See Kong Gateway tiers.
If the option is available, select Scoped.
Add the Route ID if it is not already prefilled.
Enter the following parameters, updating the default or sample values as needed:
- Config.Limit: 5
- Config.Window Size: 30
- Config.Identifier: consumer
- Config.Dictionary Name: kong_rate_limiting_counters
- Config.Sync Rate: -1
- Config.Namespace: random_auto_generated_string
- Config.Strategy: cluster
- Config.Window Type: sliding
- Config.Retry After Jitter Max: 0
Click Create.

Enabling the plugin on a consumer

Admin API

Kubernetes

Declarative (YAML)

Manager

For example, configure this plugin on a consumer with:

$ curl -X POST http://{HOST}:8001/consumers/{CONSUMER}/plugins \
    --data "name=rate-limiting-advanced"  \
    --data "config.limit=5" \
    --data "config.window_size=30" \
    --data "config.identifier=consumer" \
    --data "config.dictionary_name=kong_rate_limiting_counters" \
    --data "config.sync_rate=-1" \
    --data "config.namespace=random_auto_generated_string" \
    --data "config.strategy=cluster" \
    --data "config.hide_client_headers=false" \
    --data "config.window_type=sliding" \
    --data "config.retry_after_jitter_max=0"

CONSUMER is the id or username of the consumer that this plugin configuration will target.

You can combine consumer.id, service.id, or route.id in the same request, to further narrow the scope of the plugin.

First, create a KongPlugin resource:

apiVersion: configuration.konghq.com/v1
kind: KongPlugin
metadata:
  name: <rate-limiting-advanced-example>
config: 
  limit:
  - 5
  window_size:
  - 30
  identifier: consumer
  dictionary_name: kong_rate_limiting_counters
  sync_rate: -1
  namespace: random_auto_generated_string
  strategy: cluster
  hide_client_headers: false
  window_type: sliding
  retry_after_jitter_max: 0
plugin: rate-limiting-advanced

Then, apply it to a consumer by annotating the KongConsumer resource as follows:

apiVersion: configuration.konghq.com/v1
kind: KongConsumer
metadata:
  name: {CONSUMER}
  annotations:
    konghq.com/plugins: <rate-limiting-advanced-example>
    kubernetes.io/ingress.class: kong

CONSUMER is the id or username of the consumer that this plugin configuration will target.

Note: The KongPlugin resource only needs to be defined once and can be applied to any Service, Consumer, or Route in the namespace. If you want the plugin to be available cluster-wide, create the resource as a KongClusterPlugin instead of KongPlugin.

For example, configure this plugin on a consumer by adding this section to your declarative configuration file:

plugins:
- name: rate-limiting-advanced
  consumer: {CONSUMER}
  config: 
    limit:
    - 5
    window_size:
    - 30
    identifier: consumer
    dictionary_name: kong_rate_limiting_counters
    sync_rate: -1
    namespace: random_auto_generated_string
    strategy: cluster
    hide_client_headers: false
    window_type: sliding
    retry_after_jitter_max: 0

CONSUMER is the id or username of the consumer that this plugin configuration will target.

Configure this plugin on a consumer:

In Kong Manager, select the workspace.
From the Dashboard, scroll down to Consumers and click View for the consumer row.
Select the Plugins tab.
Click Add Plugin.
Find and select the Rate Limiting Advanced plugin.

Note: If the plugin is greyed out, then it is not available for your product tier. See Kong Gateway tiers.
If the option is available, select Global.
Enter the following parameters, updating the default or sample values as needed:
- Config.Limit: 5
- Config.Window Size: 30
- Config.Identifier: consumer
- Config.Dictionary Name: kong_rate_limiting_counters
- Config.Sync Rate: -1
- Config.Namespace: random_auto_generated_string
- Config.Strategy: cluster
- Config.Window Type: sliding
- Config.Retry After Jitter Max: 0
Click Create.

Enable the plugin globally

A plugin which is not associated to any service, route, or consumer is considered global, and will be run on every request. Read the Plugin Reference and the Plugin Precedence sections for more information.

Admin API

Kubernetes

Declarative (YAML)

Kong Manager

For example, configure this plugin globally with:

$ curl -X POST http://{HOST}:8001/plugins/ \
    --data "name=rate-limiting-advanced"  \
    --data "config.limit=5" \
    --data "config.window_size=30" \
    --data "config.identifier=consumer" \
    --data "config.dictionary_name=kong_rate_limiting_counters" \
    --data "config.sync_rate=-1" \
    --data "config.namespace=random_auto_generated_string" \
    --data "config.strategy=cluster" \
    --data "config.hide_client_headers=false" \
    --data "config.window_type=sliding" \
    --data "config.retry_after_jitter_max=0"

Create a KongClusterPlugin resource and label it as global:

apiVersion: configuration.konghq.com/v1
kind: KongClusterPlugin
metadata:
  name: <global-rate-limiting-advanced>
  annotations:
    kubernetes.io/ingress.class: kong
  labels:
    global: \"true\"
config: 
  limit:
  - 5
  window_size:
  - 30
  identifier: consumer
  dictionary_name: kong_rate_limiting_counters
  sync_rate: -1
  namespace: random_auto_generated_string
  strategy: cluster
  hide_client_headers: false
  window_type: sliding
  retry_after_jitter_max: 0
plugin: rate-limiting-advanced

For example, configure this plugin using the plugins: entry in the declarative configuration file:

plugins:
- name: rate-limiting-advanced
  config: 
    limit:
    - 5
    window_size:
    - 30
    identifier: consumer
    dictionary_name: kong_rate_limiting_counters
    sync_rate: -1
    namespace: random_auto_generated_string
    strategy: cluster
    hide_client_headers: false
    window_type: sliding
    retry_after_jitter_max: 0

Configure this plugin globally:

In Kong Manager, select the workspace.
From the Dashboard, select Plugins in the left navigation.
Click New Plugin.
Find and select the Rate Limiting Advanced plugin.

Note: If the plugin is greyed out, then it is not available for your product tier. See Kong Gateway tiers.
If the option is available, set the plugin scope to Global.
Enter the following parameters, updating the default/sample values as needed:
- Config.Limit: 5
- Config.Window Size: 30
- Config.Identifier: consumer
- Config.Dictionary Name: kong_rate_limiting_counters
- Config.Sync Rate: -1
- Config.Namespace: random_auto_generated_string
- Config.Strategy: cluster
- Config.Window Type: sliding
- Config.Retry After Jitter Max: 0
Click Create.

Parameters

Here's a list of all the parameters which can be used in this plugin's configuration:

Form Parameter	Description
`name` Type: string required	The name of the plugin to use, in this case `rate-limiting-advanced`.
`service.id` Type: string	The ID of the Service the plugin targets.
`route.id` Type: string	The ID of the Route the plugin targets.
`consumer.id` Type: string	The ID of the Consumer the plugin targets.
`enabled` Type: boolean required Default value: `true`	Whether this plugin will be applied.
`config.limit` required Type: array of number elements	One or more requests-per-window limits to apply. There must be a matching number of window limits and sizes specified.
`config.window_size` required Type: array of number elements	One or more window sizes to apply a limit to (defined in seconds). There must be a matching number of window limits and sizes specified.
`config.identifier` required Type: string Default value: `consumer`	How to define the rate limit key. Can be `ip`, `credential`, `consumer`, `service`, `header`, or `path`.
`config.path` semi-optional Type: string	Request path to use as the rate limit key when the `path` identifier is defined.
`config.header_name` semi-optional Type: string	Header name to use as the rate limit key when the `header` identifier is defined.
`config.dictionary_name` required Type: string Default value: `kong_rate_limiting_counters`	The shared dictionary where counters will be stored until the next sync cycle.
`config.sync_rate` required Type: number	How often to sync counter data to the central data store. A value of 0 results in synchronous behavior; a value of -1 ignores sync behavior entirely and only stores counters in node memory. A value greater than 0 will sync the counters in the specified number of seconds. The minimum allowed interval is 0.02 seconds (20ms).
`config.namespace` required Type: string Default value: `random_auto_generated_string`	The rate limiting library namespace to use for this plugin instance. Counter data and sync configuration is shared in a namespace.
`config.strategy` required Type: string Default value: `cluster`	The rate-limiting strategy to use for retrieving and incrementing the limits. Available values are: `cluster`: Counters are stored in the Kong datastore and shared across the nodes. `redis`: Counters are stored on a Redis server and shared across the nodes. `local`: Counters are stored locally in-memory on the node (same effect as setting `sync_rate` to `-1`). In DB-less and hybrid modes, the `cluster` config strategy is not supported. In Konnect Cloud, the default strategy is `redis`. For details on which strategy should be used, refer to the implementation considerations.
`config.hide_client_headers` optional Type: boolean Default value: `false`	Optionally hide informative response headers. Available options: `true` or `false`.
`config.redis.host` semi-optional Type: string	Host to use for Redis connection when the `redis` strategy is defined.
`config.redis.port` semi-optional Type: integer Default value: `6379`	Specifies the Redis server port when using the `redis` strategy. Must be a value between 0 and 65535. Default: 6379.
`config.redis.ssl` optional Type: boolean Default value: `false`	If set to true, then uses SSL to connect to Redis. Note: This parameter is only available for Kong Gateway versions 2.2.x and later.
`config.redis.ssl_verify` optional Type: boolean Default value: `false`	If set to true, then verifies the validity of the server SSL certificate. Note that you need to configure the lua_ssl_trusted_certificate to specify the CA (or server) certificate used by your redis server. You may also need to configure lua_ssl_verify_depth accordingly. Note: This parameter is only available for Kong Gateway versions 2.2.x and later.
`config.redis.server_name` optional Type: string	Specifies the server name for the new TLS extension Server Name Indication (SNI) when connecting over SSL. Note: This parameter is only available for Kong Gateway versions 2.2.x and later.
`config.redis.timeout` semi-optional Type: number Default value: `2000`	Connection timeout (in milliseconds) to use for Redis connection when the `redis` strategy is defined. This field is deprecated and replaced with `redis.connect_timeout`, `redis.send_timeout`, and `redis.read_timeout`. The `redis.timeout` field will continue to work in a backwards compatible way, but it is recommended to use the replacement fields. If set to something other than the default, a deprecation warning will be logged in the log file, stating the field’s deprecation and planned removal in v3.x.x.
`config.redis.connect_timeout` semi-optional Type: number Default value: `2000`	Connection timeout to use for Redis connection when the `redis` strategy is defined.
`config.redis.send_timeout` semi-optional Type: number Default value: `2000`	Send timeout to use for Redis connection when the `redis` strategy is defined.
`config.redis.read_timeout` semi-optional Type: number Default value: `2000`	Read timeout to use for Redis connection when the `redis` strategy is defined.
`config.redis.password` semi-optional Type: string	Password to use for Redis connection when the `redis` strategy is defined. If undefined, no AUTH commands are sent to Redis.
`config.redis.database` semi-optional Type: integer Default value: `0`	Database to use for Redis connection when the `redis` strategy is defined.
`config.redis.sentinel_master` semi-optional Type: string	Sentinel master to use for Redis connections when the `redis` strategy is defined. Defining this value implies using Redis Sentinel.
`config.redis.sentinel_password` semi-optional Type: string	Sentinel password to authenticate with a Redis Sentinel instance. If undefined, no AUTH commands are sent to Redis Sentinels. Note: This parameter is only available for Kong Gateway versions 1.3.0.2 and later.
`config.redis.sentinel_role` semi-optional Type: string	Sentinel role to use for Redis connections when the `redis` strategy is defined. Defining this value implies using Redis Sentinel. Available options: `master`, `slave`, `any`.
`config.redis.sentinel_addresses` semi-optional Type: array of string elements	Sentinel addresses to use for Redis connections when the `redis` strategy is defined. Defining this value implies using Redis Sentinel. Each string element must be a hostname. The minimum length of the array is 1 element.
`config.redis.cluster_addresses` semi-optional Type: array of string elements	Cluster addresses to use for Redis connections when the `redis` strategy is defined. Defining this value implies using Redis cluster. Each string element must be a hostname. The minimum length of the array is 1 element.
`config.window_type` required Type: string Default value: `sliding`	Sets the time window type to either `sliding` (default) or `fixed`.
`config.retry_after_jitter_max` required Type: number Default value: `0`	The upper bound of a jitter (random delay) in seconds to be added to the `Retry-After` header of denied requests (status = `429`) in order to prevent all the clients from coming back at the same time. The lower bound of the jitter is `0`; in this case, the `Retry-After` header is equal to the `RateLimit-Reset` header.

Notes:

The plugin does not support the cluster strategy in hybrid mode. The redis strategy must be used instead.
Redis configuration values are ignored if the cluster strategy is used.
PostgreSQL 9.5+ is required when using the cluster strategy with postgres as the backing Kong cluster data store.
The dictionary_name directive was added to prevent the usage of the kong shared dictionary, which could lead to no memory errors.

Headers sent to the client

When this plugin is enabled, Kong sends some additional headers back to the client indicating the allowed limits, how many requests are available, and how long it will take until the quota will be restored.

For example:

RateLimit-Limit: 6
RateLimit-Remaining: 4
RateLimit-Reset: 47

The plugin also sends headers indicating the limits in the time frame and the number of remaining minutes:

X-RateLimit-Limit-Minute: 10
X-RateLimit-Remaining-Minute: 9

You can optionally hide the limit and remaining headers with the hide_client_headers option.

If more than one limit is being set, the plugin returns a combination of more time limits:

X-RateLimit-Limit-Second: 5
X-RateLimit-Remaining-Second: 4
X-RateLimit-Limit-Minute: 10
X-RateLimit-Remaining-Minute: 9

If any of the limits configured has been reached, the plugin returns an HTTP/1.1 429 status code to the client with the following JSON body:

{ "message": "API rate limit exceeded" }

The Retry-After header will be present on 429 errors to indicate how long the service is expected to be unavailable to the client. When using window_type=sliding and RateLimit-Reset, Retry-After may increase due to the rate calculation for the sliding window.

The headers RateLimit-Limit, RateLimit-Remaining, and RateLimit-Reset are based on the Internet-Draft RateLimit Header Fields for HTTP and may change in the future to respect specification updates.

Multiple Limits and Window Sizes

An arbitrary number of limits/window sizes can be applied per plugin instance. This allows you to create multiple rate limiting windows (e.g., rate limit per minute and per hour, and per any arbitrary window size). Because of limitations with Kong’s plugin configuration interface, each nth limit will apply to each nth window size. For example:

curl -X POST http://kong:8001/services/{SERVICE}/plugins \
  --data name=rate-limiting-advanced \
  --data config.limit=10 \
  --data config.limit=100 \
  --data config.window_size=60 \
  --data config.window_size=3600 \
  --data config.sync_rate=10

This example applies rate limiting policies, one of which will trip when 10 hits have been counted in 60 seconds, or the other when 100 hits have been counted in 3600 seconds. For more information, see the Enterprise Rate Limiting Library.

The number of configured window sizes and limits parameters must be equal (as shown above); otherwise, an error occurs:

You must provide the same number of windows and limits

Fallback to IP

When the selected strategy cannot be retrieved, the rate-limiting-advanced plugin will fall back to limit using IP as the identifier. This can happen for several reasons, such as the selected header was not sent by the client or the configured service was not found.

About this Plugin
Made by	Kong Inc.
Categories	Traffic Control
DB-less compatible?	Partially
Konnect tier
Konnect Cloud	Available
Compatible protocols	`http` `https` `grpc` `grpcs`
Version Compatibility
Kong Gateway 2.6.x 2.5.x 2.4.x 2.3.x 2.2.x 2.1.x 1.5.x 1.3-x 0.36-x