core/rawdb, cmd, ethdb, eth: implement freezer tail deletion (#23954)

* core/rawdb, cmd, ethdb, eth: implement freezer tail deletion

* core/rawdb: address comments from martin and sina

* core/rawdb: fixes cornercase in tail deletion

* core/rawdb: separate metadata into a standalone file

* core/rawdb: remove unused code

* core/rawdb: add random test

* core/rawdb: polish code

* core/rawdb: fsync meta file before manipulating the index

* core/rawdb: fix typo

* core/rawdb: address comments

core/blockchain.go

@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) setHeadBeyondRoot(head uint64, root common.Hash, repair bo
 		if num+1 <= frozen {
 			// Truncate all relative data(header, total difficulty, body, receipt
 			// and canonical hash) from ancient store.
-			if err := bc.db.TruncateAncients(num); err != nil {
+			if err := bc.db.TruncateHead(num); err != nil {
 				log.Crit("Failed to truncate ancient data", "number", num, "err", err)
 			}
 			// Remove the hash <-> number mapping from the active store.
@@ -991,7 +991,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain [
 				size += int64(batch.ValueSize())
 				if err = batch.Write(); err != nil {
 					fastBlock := bc.CurrentFastBlock().NumberU64()
-					if err := bc.db.TruncateAncients(fastBlock + 1); err != nil {
+					if err := bc.db.TruncateHead(fastBlock + 1); err != nil {
 						log.Error("Can't truncate ancient store after failed insert", "err", err)
 					}
 					return 0, err
@@ -1009,7 +1009,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain [
 		if !updateHead(blockChain[len(blockChain)-1]) {
 			// We end up here if the header chain has reorg'ed, and the blocks/receipts
 			// don't match the canonical chain.
-			if err := bc.db.TruncateAncients(previousFastBlock + 1); err != nil {
+			if err := bc.db.TruncateHead(previousFastBlock + 1); err != nil {
 				log.Error("Can't truncate ancient store after failed insert", "err", err)
 			}
 			return 0, errSideChainReceipts

core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go

@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ type NumberHash struct {
 	Hash   common.Hash
 }
 
-// ReadAllHashes retrieves all the hashes assigned to blocks at a certain heights,
+// ReadAllHashesInRange retrieves all the hashes assigned to blocks at certain
-// both canonical and reorged forks included.
+// heights, both canonical and reorged forks included.
 // This method considers both limits to be _inclusive_.
 func ReadAllHashesInRange(db ethdb.Iteratee, first, last uint64) []*NumberHash {
 	var (
@@ -776,7 +776,7 @@ func WriteBlock(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, block *types.Block) {
 	WriteHeader(db, block.Header())
 }
 
-// WriteAncientBlock writes entire block data into ancient store and returns the total written size.
+// WriteAncientBlocks writes entire block data into ancient store and returns the total written size.
 func WriteAncientBlocks(db ethdb.AncientWriter, blocks []*types.Block, receipts []types.Receipts, td *big.Int) (int64, error) {
 	var (
 		tdSum      = new(big.Int).Set(td)

core/rawdb/database.go

@@ -99,6 +99,11 @@ func (db *nofreezedb) Ancients() (uint64, error) {
 	return 0, errNotSupported
 }
 
+// Tail returns an error as we don't have a backing chain freezer.
+func (db *nofreezedb) Tail() (uint64, error) {
+	return 0, errNotSupported
+}
+
 // AncientSize returns an error as we don't have a backing chain freezer.
 func (db *nofreezedb) AncientSize(kind string) (uint64, error) {
 	return 0, errNotSupported
@@ -109,8 +114,13 @@ func (db *nofreezedb) ModifyAncients(func(ethdb.AncientWriteOp) error) (int64, e
 	return 0, errNotSupported
 }
 
-// TruncateAncients returns an error as we don't have a backing chain freezer.
+// TruncateHead returns an error as we don't have a backing chain freezer.
-func (db *nofreezedb) TruncateAncients(items uint64) error {
+func (db *nofreezedb) TruncateHead(items uint64) error {
+	return errNotSupported
+}
+
+// TruncateTail returns an error as we don't have a backing chain freezer.
+func (db *nofreezedb) TruncateTail(items uint64) error {
 	return errNotSupported
 }
 
@@ -211,7 +221,7 @@ func NewDatabaseWithFreezer(db ethdb.KeyValueStore, freezer string, namespace st
 				// Block #1 is still in the database, we're allowed to init a new feezer
 			}
 			// Otherwise, the head header is still the genesis, we're allowed to init a new
-			// feezer.
+			// freezer.
 		}
 	}
 	// Freezer is consistent with the key-value database, permit combining the two

core/rawdb/freezer.go

@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ const (
 	freezerTableSize = 2 * 1000 * 1000 * 1000
 )
 
-// freezer is an memory mapped append-only database to store immutable chain data
+// freezer is a memory mapped append-only database to store immutable chain data
 // into flat files:
 //
 // - The append only nature ensures that disk writes are minimized.
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ type freezer struct {
 	// 64-bit aligned fields can be atomic. The struct is guaranteed to be so aligned,
 	// so take advantage of that (https://golang.org/pkg/sync/atomic/#pkg-note-BUG).
 	frozen    uint64 // Number of blocks already frozen
+	tail      uint64 // Number of the first stored item in the freezer
 	threshold uint64 // Number of recent blocks not to freeze (params.FullImmutabilityThreshold apart from tests)
 
 	// This lock synchronizes writers and the truncate operation, as well as
@@ -226,6 +227,11 @@ func (f *freezer) Ancients() (uint64, error) {
 	return atomic.LoadUint64(&f.frozen), nil
 }
 
+// Tail returns the number of first stored item in the freezer.
+func (f *freezer) Tail() (uint64, error) {
+	return atomic.LoadUint64(&f.tail), nil
+}
+
 // AncientSize returns the ancient size of the specified category.
 func (f *freezer) AncientSize(kind string) (uint64, error) {
 	// This needs the write lock to avoid data races on table fields.
@@ -261,7 +267,7 @@ func (f *freezer) ModifyAncients(fn func(ethdb.AncientWriteOp) error) (writeSize
 		if err != nil {
 			// The write operation has failed. Go back to the previous item position.
 			for name, table := range f.tables {
-				err := table.truncate(prevItem)
+				err := table.truncateHead(prevItem)
 				if err != nil {
 					log.Error("Freezer table roll-back failed", "table", name, "index", prevItem, "err", err)
 				}
@@ -281,8 +287,8 @@ func (f *freezer) ModifyAncients(fn func(ethdb.AncientWriteOp) error) (writeSize
 	return writeSize, nil
 }
 
-// TruncateAncients discards any recent data above the provided threshold number.
+// TruncateHead discards any recent data above the provided threshold number.
-func (f *freezer) TruncateAncients(items uint64) error {
+func (f *freezer) TruncateHead(items uint64) error {
 	if f.readonly {
 		return errReadOnly
 	}
@@ -293,7 +299,7 @@ func (f *freezer) TruncateAncients(items uint64) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 	for _, table := range f.tables {
-		if err := table.truncate(items); err != nil {
+		if err := table.truncateHead(items); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -301,6 +307,26 @@ func (f *freezer) TruncateAncients(items uint64) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// TruncateTail discards any recent data below the provided threshold number.
+func (f *freezer) TruncateTail(tail uint64) error {
+	if f.readonly {
+		return errReadOnly
+	}
+	f.writeLock.Lock()
+	defer f.writeLock.Unlock()
+
+	if atomic.LoadUint64(&f.tail) >= tail {
+		return nil
+	}
+	for _, table := range f.tables {
+		if err := table.truncateTail(tail); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	atomic.StoreUint64(&f.tail, tail)
+	return nil
+}
+
 // Sync flushes all data tables to disk.
 func (f *freezer) Sync() error {
 	var errs []error
@@ -344,19 +370,30 @@ func (f *freezer) validate() error {
 
 // repair truncates all data tables to the same length.
 func (f *freezer) repair() error {
-	min := uint64(math.MaxUint64)
+	var (
+		head = uint64(math.MaxUint64)
+		tail = uint64(0)
+	)
 	for _, table := range f.tables {
 		items := atomic.LoadUint64(&table.items)
-		if min > items {
+		if head > items {
-			min = items
+			head = items
+		}
+		hidden := atomic.LoadUint64(&table.itemHidden)
+		if hidden > tail {
+			tail = hidden
 		}
 	}
 	for _, table := range f.tables {
-		if err := table.truncate(min); err != nil {
+		if err := table.truncateHead(head); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if err := table.truncateTail(tail); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
-	atomic.StoreUint64(&f.frozen, min)
+	atomic.StoreUint64(&f.frozen, head)
+	atomic.StoreUint64(&f.tail, tail)
 	return nil
 }
 

core/rawdb/freezer_batch.go

@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ func (batch *freezerTableBatch) commit() error {
 	dataSize := int64(len(batch.dataBuffer))
 	batch.dataBuffer = batch.dataBuffer[:0]
 
-	// Write index.
+	// Write indices.
 	_, err = batch.t.index.Write(batch.indexBuffer)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err

core/rawdb/freezer_meta.go

@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+// Copyright 2022 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>
+
+package rawdb
+
+import (
+	"io"
+	"os"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
+)
+
+const freezerVersion = 1 // The initial version tag of freezer table metadata
+
+// freezerTableMeta wraps all the metadata of the freezer table.
+type freezerTableMeta struct {
+	// Version is the versioning descriptor of the freezer table.
+	Version uint16
+
+	// VirtualTail indicates how many items have been marked as deleted.
+	// Its value is equal to the number of items removed from the table
+	// plus the number of items hidden in the table, so it should never
+	// be lower than the "actual tail".
+	VirtualTail uint64
+}
+
+// newMetadata initializes the metadata object with the given virtual tail.
+func newMetadata(tail uint64) *freezerTableMeta {
+	return &freezerTableMeta{
+		Version:     freezerVersion,
+		VirtualTail: tail,
+	}
+}
+
+// readMetadata reads the metadata of the freezer table from the
+// given metadata file.
+func readMetadata(file *os.File) (*freezerTableMeta, error) {
+	_, err := file.Seek(0, io.SeekStart)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var meta freezerTableMeta
+	if err := rlp.Decode(file, &meta); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &meta, nil
+}
+
+// writeMetadata writes the metadata of the freezer table into the
+// given metadata file.
+func writeMetadata(file *os.File, meta *freezerTableMeta) error {
+	_, err := file.Seek(0, io.SeekStart)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return rlp.Encode(file, meta)
+}
+
+// loadMetadata loads the metadata from the given metadata file.
+// Initializes the metadata file with the given "actual tail" if
+// it's empty.
+func loadMetadata(file *os.File, tail uint64) (*freezerTableMeta, error) {
+	stat, err := file.Stat()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	// Write the metadata with the given actual tail into metadata file
+	// if it's non-existent. There are two possible scenarios here:
+	// - the freezer table is empty
+	// - the freezer table is legacy
+	// In both cases, write the meta into the file with the actual tail
+	// as the virtual tail.
+	if stat.Size() == 0 {
+		m := newMetadata(tail)
+		if err := writeMetadata(file, m); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		return m, nil
+	}
+	m, err := readMetadata(file)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	// Update the virtual tail with the given actual tail if it's even
+	// lower than it. Theoretically it shouldn't happen at all, print
+	// a warning here.
+	if m.VirtualTail < tail {
+		log.Warn("Updated virtual tail", "have", m.VirtualTail, "now", tail)
+		m.VirtualTail = tail
+		if err := writeMetadata(file, m); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+	return m, nil
+}

core/rawdb/freezer_meta_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+// Copyright 2022 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>
+
+package rawdb
+
+import (
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestReadWriteFreezerTableMeta(t *testing.T) {
+	f, err := ioutil.TempFile(os.TempDir(), "*")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create file %v", err)
+	}
+	err = writeMetadata(f, newMetadata(100))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to write metadata %v", err)
+	}
+	meta, err := readMetadata(f)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to read metadata %v", err)
+	}
+	if meta.Version != freezerVersion {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected version field")
+	}
+	if meta.VirtualTail != uint64(100) {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected virtual tail field")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInitializeFreezerTableMeta(t *testing.T) {
+	f, err := ioutil.TempFile(os.TempDir(), "*")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create file %v", err)
+	}
+	meta, err := loadMetadata(f, uint64(100))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to read metadata %v", err)
+	}
+	if meta.Version != freezerVersion {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected version field")
+	}
+	if meta.VirtualTail != uint64(100) {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected virtual tail field")
+	}
+}

core/rawdb/freezer_table.go

@@ -47,20 +47,19 @@ var (
 )
 
 // indexEntry contains the number/id of the file that the data resides in, aswell as the
-// offset within the file to the end of the data
+// offset within the file to the end of the data.
 // In serialized form, the filenum is stored as uint16.
 type indexEntry struct {
-	filenum uint32 // stored as uint16 ( 2 bytes)
+	filenum uint32 // stored as uint16 ( 2 bytes )
-	offset  uint32 // stored as uint32 ( 4 bytes)
+	offset  uint32 // stored as uint32 ( 4 bytes )
 }
 
 const indexEntrySize = 6
 
 // unmarshalBinary deserializes binary b into the rawIndex entry.
-func (i *indexEntry) unmarshalBinary(b []byte) error {
+func (i *indexEntry) unmarshalBinary(b []byte) {
 	i.filenum = uint32(binary.BigEndian.Uint16(b[:2]))
 	i.offset = binary.BigEndian.Uint32(b[2:6])
-	return nil
 }
 
 // append adds the encoded entry to the end of b.
@@ -75,14 +74,14 @@ func (i *indexEntry) append(b []byte) []byte {
 // bounds returns the start- and end- offsets, and the file number of where to
 // read there data item marked by the two index entries. The two entries are
 // assumed to be sequential.
-func (start *indexEntry) bounds(end *indexEntry) (startOffset, endOffset, fileId uint32) {
+func (i *indexEntry) bounds(end *indexEntry) (startOffset, endOffset, fileId uint32) {
-	if start.filenum != end.filenum {
+	if i.filenum != end.filenum {
 		// If a piece of data 'crosses' a data-file,
 		// it's actually in one piece on the second data-file.
 		// We return a zero-indexEntry for the second file as start
 		return 0, end.offset, end.filenum
 	}
-	return start.offset, end.offset, end.filenum
+	return i.offset, end.offset, end.filenum
 }
 
 // freezerTable represents a single chained data table within the freezer (e.g. blocks).
@@ -93,6 +92,14 @@ type freezerTable struct {
 	// 64-bit aligned fields can be atomic. The struct is guaranteed to be so aligned,
 	// so take advantage of that (https://golang.org/pkg/sync/atomic/#pkg-note-BUG).
 	items      uint64 // Number of items stored in the table (including items removed from tail)
+	itemOffset uint64 // Number of items removed from the table
+
+	// itemHidden is the number of items marked as deleted. Tail deletion is
+	// only supported at file level which means the actual deletion will be
+	// delayed until the entire data file is marked as deleted. Before that
+	// these items will be hidden to prevent being visited again. The value
+	// should never be lower than itemOffset.
+	itemHidden uint64
 
 	noCompression bool // if true, disables snappy compression. Note: does not work retroactively
 	readonly      bool
@@ -101,14 +108,11 @@ type freezerTable struct {
 	path          string
 
 	head   *os.File            // File descriptor for the data head of the table
+	index  *os.File            // File descriptor for the indexEntry file of the table
+	meta   *os.File            // File descriptor for metadata of the table
 	files  map[uint32]*os.File // open files
 	headId uint32              // number of the currently active head file
 	tailId uint32              // number of the earliest file
-	index  *os.File            // File descriptor for the indexEntry file of the table
-
-	// In the case that old items are deleted (from the tail), we use itemOffset
-	// to count how many historic items have gone missing.
-	itemOffset uint32 // Offset (number of discarded items)
 
 	headBytes  int64         // Number of bytes written to the head file
 	readMeter  metrics.Meter // Meter for measuring the effective amount of data read
@@ -124,46 +128,8 @@ func NewFreezerTable(path, name string, disableSnappy, readonly bool) (*freezerT
 	return newTable(path, name, metrics.NilMeter{}, metrics.NilMeter{}, metrics.NilGauge{}, freezerTableSize, disableSnappy, readonly)
 }
 
-// openFreezerFileForAppend opens a freezer table file and seeks to the end
-func openFreezerFileForAppend(filename string) (*os.File, error) {
-	// Open the file without the O_APPEND flag
-	// because it has differing behaviour during Truncate operations
-	// on different OS's
-	file, err := os.OpenFile(filename, os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE, 0644)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	// Seek to end for append
-	if _, err = file.Seek(0, io.SeekEnd); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return file, nil
-}
-
-// openFreezerFileForReadOnly opens a freezer table file for read only access
-func openFreezerFileForReadOnly(filename string) (*os.File, error) {
-	return os.OpenFile(filename, os.O_RDONLY, 0644)
-}
-
-// openFreezerFileTruncated opens a freezer table making sure it is truncated
-func openFreezerFileTruncated(filename string) (*os.File, error) {
-	return os.OpenFile(filename, os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE|os.O_TRUNC, 0644)
-}
-
-// truncateFreezerFile resizes a freezer table file and seeks to the end
-func truncateFreezerFile(file *os.File, size int64) error {
-	if err := file.Truncate(size); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	// Seek to end for append
-	if _, err := file.Seek(0, io.SeekEnd); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 // newTable opens a freezer table, creating the data and index files if they are
-// non existent. Both files are truncated to the shortest common length to ensure
+// non-existent. Both files are truncated to the shortest common length to ensure
 // they don't go out of sync.
 func newTable(path string, name string, readMeter metrics.Meter, writeMeter metrics.Meter, sizeGauge metrics.Gauge, maxFilesize uint32, noCompression, readonly bool) (*freezerTable, error) {
 	// Ensure the containing directory exists and open the indexEntry file
@@ -172,28 +138,40 @@ func newTable(path string, name string, readMeter metrics.Meter, writeMeter metr
 	}
 	var idxName string
 	if noCompression {
-		// Raw idx
+		idxName = fmt.Sprintf("%s.ridx", name) // raw index file
-		idxName = fmt.Sprintf("%s.ridx", name)
 	} else {
-		// Compressed idx
+		idxName = fmt.Sprintf("%s.cidx", name) // compressed index file
-		idxName = fmt.Sprintf("%s.cidx", name)
 	}
 	var (
 		err   error
-		offsets *os.File
+		index *os.File
+		meta  *os.File
 	)
 	if readonly {
 		// Will fail if table doesn't exist
-		offsets, err = openFreezerFileForReadOnly(filepath.Join(path, idxName))
+		index, err = openFreezerFileForReadOnly(filepath.Join(path, idxName))
-	} else {
-		offsets, err = openFreezerFileForAppend(filepath.Join(path, idxName))
-	}
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
+		// Will fail if the table is legacy(no metadata)
+		meta, err = openFreezerFileForReadOnly(filepath.Join(path, fmt.Sprintf("%s.meta", name)))
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	} else {
+		index, err = openFreezerFileForAppend(filepath.Join(path, idxName))
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		meta, err = openFreezerFileForAppend(filepath.Join(path, fmt.Sprintf("%s.meta", name)))
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
 	// Create the table and repair any past inconsistency
 	tab := &freezerTable{
-		index:         offsets,
+		index:         index,
+		meta:          meta,
 		files:         make(map[uint32]*os.File),
 		readMeter:     readMeter,
 		writeMeter:    writeMeter,
@@ -220,7 +198,7 @@ func newTable(path string, name string, readMeter metrics.Meter, writeMeter metr
 	return tab, nil
 }
 
-// repair cross checks the head and the index file and truncates them to
+// repair cross-checks the head and the index file and truncates them to
 // be in sync with each other after a potential crash / data loss.
 func (t *freezerTable) repair() error {
 	// Create a temporary offset buffer to init files with and read indexEntry into
@@ -258,11 +236,27 @@ func (t *freezerTable) repair() error {
 	t.index.ReadAt(buffer, 0)
 	firstIndex.unmarshalBinary(buffer)
 
+	// Assign the tail fields with the first stored index.
+	// The total removed items is represented with an uint32,
+	// which is not enough in theory but enough in practice.
+	// TODO: use uint64 to represent total removed items.
 	t.tailId = firstIndex.filenum
-	t.itemOffset = firstIndex.offset
+	t.itemOffset = uint64(firstIndex.offset)
 
+	// Load metadata from the file
+	meta, err := loadMetadata(t.meta, t.itemOffset)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	t.itemHidden = meta.VirtualTail
+
+	// Read the last index, use the default value in case the freezer is empty
+	if offsetsSize == indexEntrySize {
+		lastIndex = indexEntry{filenum: t.tailId, offset: 0}
+	} else {
 		t.index.ReadAt(buffer, offsetsSize-indexEntrySize)
 		lastIndex.unmarshalBinary(buffer)
+	}
 	if t.readonly {
 		t.head, err = t.openFile(lastIndex.filenum, openFreezerFileForReadOnly)
 	} else {
@@ -278,7 +272,6 @@ func (t *freezerTable) repair() error {
 
 	// Keep truncating both files until they come in sync
 	contentExp = int64(lastIndex.offset)
-
 	for contentExp != contentSize {
 		// Truncate the head file to the last offset pointer
 		if contentExp < contentSize {
@@ -295,9 +288,16 @@ func (t *freezerTable) repair() error {
 				return err
 			}
 			offsetsSize -= indexEntrySize
-			t.index.ReadAt(buffer, offsetsSize-indexEntrySize)
+
+			// Read the new head index, use the default value in case
+			// the freezer is already empty.
 			var newLastIndex indexEntry
+			if offsetsSize == indexEntrySize {
+				newLastIndex = indexEntry{filenum: t.tailId, offset: 0}
+			} else {
+				t.index.ReadAt(buffer, offsetsSize-indexEntrySize)
 				newLastIndex.unmarshalBinary(buffer)
+			}
 			// We might have slipped back into an earlier head-file here
 			if newLastIndex.filenum != lastIndex.filenum {
 				// Release earlier opened file
@@ -325,12 +325,21 @@ func (t *freezerTable) repair() error {
 		if err := t.head.Sync(); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		if err := t.meta.Sync(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 	// Update the item and byte counters and return
-	t.items = uint64(t.itemOffset) + uint64(offsetsSize/indexEntrySize-1) // last indexEntry points to the end of the data file
+	t.items = t.itemOffset + uint64(offsetsSize/indexEntrySize-1) // last indexEntry points to the end of the data file
 	t.headBytes = contentSize
 	t.headId = lastIndex.filenum
 
+	// Delete the leftover files because of head deletion
+	t.releaseFilesAfter(t.headId, true)
+
+	// Delete the leftover files because of tail deletion
+	t.releaseFilesBefore(t.tailId, true)
+
 	// Close opened files and preopen all files
 	if err := t.preopen(); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -346,6 +355,7 @@ func (t *freezerTable) repair() error {
 func (t *freezerTable) preopen() (err error) {
 	// The repair might have already opened (some) files
 	t.releaseFilesAfter(0, false)
+
 	// Open all except head in RDONLY
 	for i := t.tailId; i < t.headId; i++ {
 		if _, err = t.openFile(i, openFreezerFileForReadOnly); err != nil {
@@ -361,16 +371,19 @@ func (t *freezerTable) preopen() (err error) {
 	return err
 }
 
-// truncate discards any recent data above the provided threshold number.
+// truncateHead discards any recent data above the provided threshold number.
-func (t *freezerTable) truncate(items uint64) error {
+func (t *freezerTable) truncateHead(items uint64) error {
 	t.lock.Lock()
 	defer t.lock.Unlock()
 
-	// If our item count is correct, don't do anything
+	// Ensure the given truncate target falls in the correct range
 	existing := atomic.LoadUint64(&t.items)
 	if existing <= items {
 		return nil
 	}
+	if items < atomic.LoadUint64(&t.itemHidden) {
+		return errors.New("truncation below tail")
+	}
 	// We need to truncate, save the old size for metrics tracking
 	oldSize, err := t.sizeNolock()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -382,17 +395,24 @@ func (t *freezerTable) truncate(items uint64) error {
 		log = t.logger.Warn // Only loud warn if we delete multiple items
 	}
 	log("Truncating freezer table", "items", existing, "limit", items)
-	if err := truncateFreezerFile(t.index, int64(items+1)*indexEntrySize); err != nil {
+
+	// Truncate the index file first, the tail position is also considered
+	// when calculating the new freezer table length.
+	length := items - atomic.LoadUint64(&t.itemOffset)
+	if err := truncateFreezerFile(t.index, int64(length+1)*indexEntrySize); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	// Calculate the new expected size of the data file and truncate it
+	var expected indexEntry
+	if length == 0 {
+		expected = indexEntry{filenum: t.tailId, offset: 0}
+	} else {
 		buffer := make([]byte, indexEntrySize)
-	if _, err := t.index.ReadAt(buffer, int64(items*indexEntrySize)); err != nil {
+		if _, err := t.index.ReadAt(buffer, int64(length*indexEntrySize)); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-	var expected indexEntry
 		expected.unmarshalBinary(buffer)
-
+	}
 	// We might need to truncate back to older files
 	if expected.filenum != t.headId {
 		// If already open for reading, force-reopen for writing
@@ -421,7 +441,110 @@ func (t *freezerTable) truncate(items uint64) error {
 		return err
 	}
 	t.sizeGauge.Dec(int64(oldSize - newSize))
+	return nil
+}
 
+// truncateTail discards any recent data before the provided threshold number.
+func (t *freezerTable) truncateTail(items uint64) error {
+	t.lock.Lock()
+	defer t.lock.Unlock()
+
+	// Ensure the given truncate target falls in the correct range
+	if atomic.LoadUint64(&t.itemHidden) >= items {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if atomic.LoadUint64(&t.items) < items {
+		return errors.New("truncation above head")
+	}
+	// Load the new tail index by the given new tail position
+	var (
+		newTailId uint32
+		buffer    = make([]byte, indexEntrySize)
+	)
+	if atomic.LoadUint64(&t.items) == items {
+		newTailId = t.headId
+	} else {
+		offset := items - atomic.LoadUint64(&t.itemOffset)
+		if _, err := t.index.ReadAt(buffer, int64((offset+1)*indexEntrySize)); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		var newTail indexEntry
+		newTail.unmarshalBinary(buffer)
+		newTailId = newTail.filenum
+	}
+	// Update the virtual tail marker and hidden these entries in table.
+	atomic.StoreUint64(&t.itemHidden, items)
+	if err := writeMetadata(t.meta, newMetadata(items)); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	// Hidden items still fall in the current tail file, no data file
+	// can be dropped.
+	if t.tailId == newTailId {
+		return nil
+	}
+	// Hidden items fall in the incorrect range, returns the error.
+	if t.tailId > newTailId {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid index, tail-file %d, item-file %d", t.tailId, newTailId)
+	}
+	// Hidden items exceed the current tail file, drop the relevant
+	// data files. We need to truncate, save the old size for metrics
+	// tracking.
+	oldSize, err := t.sizeNolock()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	// Count how many items can be deleted from the file.
+	var (
+		newDeleted = items
+		deleted    = atomic.LoadUint64(&t.itemOffset)
+	)
+	for current := items - 1; current >= deleted; current -= 1 {
+		if _, err := t.index.ReadAt(buffer, int64((current-deleted+1)*indexEntrySize)); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		var pre indexEntry
+		pre.unmarshalBinary(buffer)
+		if pre.filenum != newTailId {
+			break
+		}
+		newDeleted = current
+	}
+	// Commit the changes of metadata file first before manipulating
+	// the indexes file.
+	if err := t.meta.Sync(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	// Truncate the deleted index entries from the index file.
+	err = copyFrom(t.index.Name(), t.index.Name(), indexEntrySize*(newDeleted-deleted+1), func(f *os.File) error {
+		tailIndex := indexEntry{
+			filenum: newTailId,
+			offset:  uint32(newDeleted),
+		}
+		_, err := f.Write(tailIndex.append(nil))
+		return err
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	// Reopen the modified index file to load the changes
+	if err := t.index.Close(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	t.index, err = openFreezerFileForAppend(t.index.Name())
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	// Release any files before the current tail
+	t.tailId = newTailId
+	atomic.StoreUint64(&t.itemOffset, newDeleted)
+	t.releaseFilesBefore(t.tailId, true)
+
+	// Retrieve the new size and update the total size counter
+	newSize, err := t.sizeNolock()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	t.sizeGauge.Dec(int64(oldSize - newSize))
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -436,6 +559,11 @@ func (t *freezerTable) Close() error {
 	}
 	t.index = nil
 
+	if err := t.meta.Close(); err != nil {
+		errs = append(errs, err)
+	}
+	t.meta = nil
+
 	for _, f := range t.files {
 		if err := f.Close(); err != nil {
 			errs = append(errs, err)
@@ -490,6 +618,19 @@ func (t *freezerTable) releaseFilesAfter(num uint32, remove bool) {
 	}
 }
 
+// releaseFilesBefore closes all open files with a lower number, and optionally also deletes the files
+func (t *freezerTable) releaseFilesBefore(num uint32, remove bool) {
+	for fnum, f := range t.files {
+		if fnum < num {
+			delete(t.files, fnum)
+			f.Close()
+			if remove {
+				os.Remove(f.Name())
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // getIndices returns the index entries for the given from-item, covering 'count' items.
 // N.B: The actual number of returned indices for N items will always be N+1 (unless an
 // error is returned).
@@ -498,7 +639,7 @@ func (t *freezerTable) releaseFilesAfter(num uint32, remove bool) {
 // it will return error.
 func (t *freezerTable) getIndices(from, count uint64) ([]*indexEntry, error) {
 	// Apply the table-offset
-	from = from - uint64(t.itemOffset)
+	from = from - t.itemOffset
 	// For reading N items, we need N+1 indices.
 	buffer := make([]byte, (count+1)*indexEntrySize)
 	if _, err := t.index.ReadAt(buffer, int64(from*indexEntrySize)); err != nil {
@@ -583,18 +724,21 @@ func (t *freezerTable) retrieveItems(start, count, maxBytes uint64) ([]byte, []i
 	t.lock.RLock()
 	defer t.lock.RUnlock()
 
-	// Ensure the table and the item is accessible
+	// Ensure the table and the item are accessible
 	if t.index == nil || t.head == nil {
 		return nil, nil, errClosed
 	}
-	itemCount := atomic.LoadUint64(&t.items) // max number
+	var (
+		items  = atomic.LoadUint64(&t.items)      // the total items(head + 1)
+		hidden = atomic.LoadUint64(&t.itemHidden) // the number of hidden items
+	)
 	// Ensure the start is written, not deleted from the tail, and that the
 	// caller actually wants something
-	if itemCount <= start || uint64(t.itemOffset) > start || count == 0 {
+	if items <= start || hidden > start || count == 0 {
 		return nil, nil, errOutOfBounds
 	}
-	if start+count > itemCount {
+	if start+count > items {
-		count = itemCount - start
+		count = items - start
 	}
 	var (
 		output     = make([]byte, maxBytes) // Buffer to read data into
@@ -670,10 +814,10 @@ func (t *freezerTable) retrieveItems(start, count, maxBytes uint64) ([]byte, []i
 	return output[:outputSize], sizes, nil
 }
 
-// has returns an indicator whether the specified number data
+// has returns an indicator whether the specified number data is still accessible
-// exists in the freezer table.
+// in the freezer table.
 func (t *freezerTable) has(number uint64) bool {
-	return atomic.LoadUint64(&t.items) > number
+	return atomic.LoadUint64(&t.items) > number && atomic.LoadUint64(&t.itemHidden) <= number
 }
 
 // size returns the total data size in the freezer table.
@@ -727,6 +871,9 @@ func (t *freezerTable) Sync() error {
 	if err := t.index.Sync(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if err := t.meta.Sync(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	return t.head.Sync()
 }
 
@@ -744,13 +891,20 @@ func (t *freezerTable) dumpIndexString(start, stop int64) string {
 }
 
 func (t *freezerTable) dumpIndex(w io.Writer, start, stop int64) {
+	meta, err := readMetadata(t.meta)
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, "Failed to decode freezer table %v\n", err)
+		return
+	}
+	fmt.Fprintf(w, "Version %d deleted %d, hidden %d\n", meta.Version, atomic.LoadUint64(&t.itemOffset), atomic.LoadUint64(&t.itemHidden))
+
 	buf := make([]byte, indexEntrySize)
 
 	fmt.Fprintf(w, "| number | fileno | offset |\n")
 	fmt.Fprintf(w, "|--------|--------|--------|\n")
 
 	for i := uint64(start); ; i++ {
-		if _, err := t.index.ReadAt(buf, int64(i*indexEntrySize)); err != nil {
+		if _, err := t.index.ReadAt(buf, int64((i+1)*indexEntrySize)); err != nil {
 			break
 		}
 		var entry indexEntry

core/rawdb/freezer_table_test.go

@@ -18,13 +18,18 @@ package rawdb
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
+	"encoding/binary"
 	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"reflect"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"testing"
+	"testing/quick"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/davecgh/go-spew/spew"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/metrics"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
@@ -204,7 +209,7 @@ func TestFreezerRepairDanglingHeadLarge(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	// Remove everything but the first item, and leave data unaligned
 	// 0-indexEntry, 1-indexEntry, corrupt-indexEntry
-	idxFile.Truncate(indexEntrySize + indexEntrySize + indexEntrySize/2)
+	idxFile.Truncate(2*indexEntrySize + indexEntrySize/2)
 	idxFile.Close()
 
 	// Now open it again
@@ -387,7 +392,7 @@ func TestFreezerTruncate(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 		defer f.Close()
-		f.truncate(10) // 150 bytes
+		f.truncateHead(10) // 150 bytes
 		if f.items != 10 {
 			t.Fatalf("expected %d items, got %d", 10, f.items)
 		}
@@ -504,7 +509,7 @@ func TestFreezerReadAndTruncate(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 
 		// Now, truncate back to zero
-		f.truncate(0)
+		f.truncateHead(0)
 
 		// Write the data again
 		batch := f.newBatch()
@@ -565,18 +570,19 @@ func TestFreezerOffset(t *testing.T) {
 		// Update the index file, so that we store
 		// [ file = 2, offset = 4 ] at index zero
 
-		tailId := uint32(2)     // First file is 2
-		itemOffset := uint32(4) // We have removed four items
 		zeroIndex := indexEntry{
-			filenum: tailId,
+			filenum: uint32(2), // First file is 2
-			offset:  itemOffset,
+			offset:  uint32(4), // We have removed four items
 		}
 		buf := zeroIndex.append(nil)
+
 		// Overwrite index zero
 		copy(indexBuf, buf)
+
 		// Remove the four next indices by overwriting
 		copy(indexBuf[indexEntrySize:], indexBuf[indexEntrySize*5:])
 		indexFile.WriteAt(indexBuf, 0)
+
 		// Need to truncate the moved index items
 		indexFile.Truncate(indexEntrySize * (1 + 2))
 		indexFile.Close()
@@ -623,13 +629,12 @@ func TestFreezerOffset(t *testing.T) {
 		// Update the index file, so that we store
 		// [ file = 2, offset = 1M ] at index zero
 
-		tailId := uint32(2)           // First file is 2
-		itemOffset := uint32(1000000) // We have removed 1M items
 		zeroIndex := indexEntry{
-			offset:  itemOffset,
+			offset:  uint32(1000000), // We have removed 1M items
-			filenum: tailId,
+			filenum: uint32(2),       // First file is 2
 		}
 		buf := zeroIndex.append(nil)
+
 		// Overwrite index zero
 		copy(indexBuf, buf)
 		indexFile.WriteAt(indexBuf, 0)
@@ -659,6 +664,171 @@ func TestFreezerOffset(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestTruncateTail(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	rm, wm, sg := metrics.NewMeter(), metrics.NewMeter(), metrics.NewGauge()
+	fname := fmt.Sprintf("truncate-tail-%d", rand.Uint64())
+
+	// Fill table
+	f, err := newTable(os.TempDir(), fname, rm, wm, sg, 40, true, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Write 7 x 20 bytes, splitting out into four files
+	batch := f.newBatch()
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(0, getChunk(20, 0xFF)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(1, getChunk(20, 0xEE)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(2, getChunk(20, 0xdd)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(3, getChunk(20, 0xcc)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(4, getChunk(20, 0xbb)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(5, getChunk(20, 0xaa)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(6, getChunk(20, 0x11)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.commit())
+
+	// nothing to do, all the items should still be there.
+	f.truncateTail(0)
+	fmt.Println(f.dumpIndexString(0, 1000))
+	checkRetrieve(t, f, map[uint64][]byte{
+		0: getChunk(20, 0xFF),
+		1: getChunk(20, 0xEE),
+		2: getChunk(20, 0xdd),
+		3: getChunk(20, 0xcc),
+		4: getChunk(20, 0xbb),
+		5: getChunk(20, 0xaa),
+		6: getChunk(20, 0x11),
+	})
+
+	// truncate single element( item 0 ), deletion is only supported at file level
+	f.truncateTail(1)
+	fmt.Println(f.dumpIndexString(0, 1000))
+	checkRetrieveError(t, f, map[uint64]error{
+		0: errOutOfBounds,
+	})
+	checkRetrieve(t, f, map[uint64][]byte{
+		1: getChunk(20, 0xEE),
+		2: getChunk(20, 0xdd),
+		3: getChunk(20, 0xcc),
+		4: getChunk(20, 0xbb),
+		5: getChunk(20, 0xaa),
+		6: getChunk(20, 0x11),
+	})
+
+	// Reopen the table, the deletion information should be persisted as well
+	f.Close()
+	f, err = newTable(os.TempDir(), fname, rm, wm, sg, 40, true, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	checkRetrieveError(t, f, map[uint64]error{
+		0: errOutOfBounds,
+	})
+	checkRetrieve(t, f, map[uint64][]byte{
+		1: getChunk(20, 0xEE),
+		2: getChunk(20, 0xdd),
+		3: getChunk(20, 0xcc),
+		4: getChunk(20, 0xbb),
+		5: getChunk(20, 0xaa),
+		6: getChunk(20, 0x11),
+	})
+
+	// truncate two elements( item 0, item 1 ), the file 0 should be deleted
+	f.truncateTail(2)
+	checkRetrieveError(t, f, map[uint64]error{
+		0: errOutOfBounds,
+		1: errOutOfBounds,
+	})
+	checkRetrieve(t, f, map[uint64][]byte{
+		2: getChunk(20, 0xdd),
+		3: getChunk(20, 0xcc),
+		4: getChunk(20, 0xbb),
+		5: getChunk(20, 0xaa),
+		6: getChunk(20, 0x11),
+	})
+
+	// Reopen the table, the above testing should still pass
+	f.Close()
+	f, err = newTable(os.TempDir(), fname, rm, wm, sg, 40, true, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer f.Close()
+
+	checkRetrieveError(t, f, map[uint64]error{
+		0: errOutOfBounds,
+		1: errOutOfBounds,
+	})
+	checkRetrieve(t, f, map[uint64][]byte{
+		2: getChunk(20, 0xdd),
+		3: getChunk(20, 0xcc),
+		4: getChunk(20, 0xbb),
+		5: getChunk(20, 0xaa),
+		6: getChunk(20, 0x11),
+	})
+
+	// truncate all, the entire freezer should be deleted
+	f.truncateTail(7)
+	checkRetrieveError(t, f, map[uint64]error{
+		0: errOutOfBounds,
+		1: errOutOfBounds,
+		2: errOutOfBounds,
+		3: errOutOfBounds,
+		4: errOutOfBounds,
+		5: errOutOfBounds,
+		6: errOutOfBounds,
+	})
+}
+
+func TestTruncateHead(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	rm, wm, sg := metrics.NewMeter(), metrics.NewMeter(), metrics.NewGauge()
+	fname := fmt.Sprintf("truncate-head-blow-tail-%d", rand.Uint64())
+
+	// Fill table
+	f, err := newTable(os.TempDir(), fname, rm, wm, sg, 40, true, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Write 7 x 20 bytes, splitting out into four files
+	batch := f.newBatch()
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(0, getChunk(20, 0xFF)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(1, getChunk(20, 0xEE)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(2, getChunk(20, 0xdd)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(3, getChunk(20, 0xcc)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(4, getChunk(20, 0xbb)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(5, getChunk(20, 0xaa)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(6, getChunk(20, 0x11)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.commit())
+
+	f.truncateTail(4) // Tail = 4
+
+	// NewHead is required to be 3, the entire table should be truncated
+	f.truncateHead(4)
+	checkRetrieveError(t, f, map[uint64]error{
+		0: errOutOfBounds, // Deleted by tail
+		1: errOutOfBounds, // Deleted by tail
+		2: errOutOfBounds, // Deleted by tail
+		3: errOutOfBounds, // Deleted by tail
+		4: errOutOfBounds, // Deleted by Head
+		5: errOutOfBounds, // Deleted by Head
+		6: errOutOfBounds, // Deleted by Head
+	})
+
+	// Append new items
+	batch = f.newBatch()
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(4, getChunk(20, 0xbb)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(5, getChunk(20, 0xaa)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.AppendRaw(6, getChunk(20, 0x11)))
+	require.NoError(t, batch.commit())
+
+	checkRetrieve(t, f, map[uint64][]byte{
+		4: getChunk(20, 0xbb),
+		5: getChunk(20, 0xaa),
+		6: getChunk(20, 0x11),
+	})
+}
+
 func checkRetrieve(t *testing.T, f *freezerTable, items map[uint64][]byte) {
 	t.Helper()
 
@@ -915,3 +1085,212 @@ func TestFreezerReadonly(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Writing to readonly table should fail")
 	}
 }
+
+// randTest performs random freezer table operations.
+// Instances of this test are created by Generate.
+type randTest []randTestStep
+
+type randTestStep struct {
+	op     int
+	items  []uint64 // for append and retrieve
+	blobs  [][]byte // for append
+	target uint64   // for truncate(head/tail)
+	err    error    // for debugging
+}
+
+const (
+	opReload = iota
+	opAppend
+	opRetrieve
+	opTruncateHead
+	opTruncateHeadAll
+	opTruncateTail
+	opTruncateTailAll
+	opCheckAll
+	opMax // boundary value, not an actual op
+)
+
+func getVals(first uint64, n int) [][]byte {
+	var ret [][]byte
+	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
+		val := make([]byte, 8)
+		binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(val, first+uint64(i))
+		ret = append(ret, val)
+	}
+	return ret
+}
+
+func (randTest) Generate(r *rand.Rand, size int) reflect.Value {
+	var (
+		deleted uint64   // The number of deleted items from tail
+		items   []uint64 // The index of entries in table
+
+		// getItems retrieves the indexes for items in table.
+		getItems = func(n int) []uint64 {
+			length := len(items)
+			if length == 0 {
+				return nil
+			}
+			var ret []uint64
+			index := rand.Intn(length)
+			for i := index; len(ret) < n && i < length; i++ {
+				ret = append(ret, items[i])
+			}
+			return ret
+		}
+
+		// addItems appends the given length items into the table.
+		addItems = func(n int) []uint64 {
+			var first = deleted
+			if len(items) != 0 {
+				first = items[len(items)-1] + 1
+			}
+			var ret []uint64
+			for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
+				ret = append(ret, first+uint64(i))
+			}
+			items = append(items, ret...)
+			return ret
+		}
+	)
+
+	var steps randTest
+	for i := 0; i < size; i++ {
+		step := randTestStep{op: r.Intn(opMax)}
+		switch step.op {
+		case opReload, opCheckAll:
+		case opAppend:
+			num := r.Intn(3)
+			step.items = addItems(num)
+			if len(step.items) == 0 {
+				step.blobs = nil
+			} else {
+				step.blobs = getVals(step.items[0], num)
+			}
+		case opRetrieve:
+			step.items = getItems(r.Intn(3))
+		case opTruncateHead:
+			if len(items) == 0 {
+				step.target = deleted
+			} else {
+				index := r.Intn(len(items))
+				items = items[:index]
+				step.target = deleted + uint64(index)
+			}
+		case opTruncateHeadAll:
+			step.target = deleted
+			items = items[:0]
+		case opTruncateTail:
+			if len(items) == 0 {
+				step.target = deleted
+			} else {
+				index := r.Intn(len(items))
+				items = items[index:]
+				deleted += uint64(index)
+				step.target = deleted
+			}
+		case opTruncateTailAll:
+			step.target = deleted + uint64(len(items))
+			items = items[:0]
+			deleted = step.target
+		}
+		steps = append(steps, step)
+	}
+	return reflect.ValueOf(steps)
+}
+
+func runRandTest(rt randTest) bool {
+	fname := fmt.Sprintf("randtest-%d", rand.Uint64())
+	f, err := newTable(os.TempDir(), fname, metrics.NewMeter(), metrics.NewMeter(), metrics.NewGauge(), 50, true, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic("failed to initialize table")
+	}
+	var values [][]byte
+	for i, step := range rt {
+		switch step.op {
+		case opReload:
+			f.Close()
+			f, err = newTable(os.TempDir(), fname, metrics.NewMeter(), metrics.NewMeter(), metrics.NewGauge(), 50, true, false)
+			if err != nil {
+				rt[i].err = fmt.Errorf("failed to reload table %v", err)
+			}
+		case opCheckAll:
+			tail := atomic.LoadUint64(&f.itemHidden)
+			head := atomic.LoadUint64(&f.items)
+
+			if tail == head {
+				continue
+			}
+			got, err := f.RetrieveItems(atomic.LoadUint64(&f.itemHidden), head-tail, 100000)
+			if err != nil {
+				rt[i].err = err
+			} else {
+				if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, values) {
+					rt[i].err = fmt.Errorf("mismatch on retrieved values %v %v", got, values)
+				}
+			}
+
+		case opAppend:
+			batch := f.newBatch()
+			for i := 0; i < len(step.items); i++ {
+				batch.AppendRaw(step.items[i], step.blobs[i])
+			}
+			batch.commit()
+			values = append(values, step.blobs...)
+
+		case opRetrieve:
+			var blobs [][]byte
+			if len(step.items) == 0 {
+				continue
+			}
+			tail := atomic.LoadUint64(&f.itemHidden)
+			for i := 0; i < len(step.items); i++ {
+				blobs = append(blobs, values[step.items[i]-tail])
+			}
+			got, err := f.RetrieveItems(step.items[0], uint64(len(step.items)), 100000)
+			if err != nil {
+				rt[i].err = err
+			} else {
+				if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, blobs) {
+					rt[i].err = fmt.Errorf("mismatch on retrieved values %v %v %v", got, blobs, step.items)
+				}
+			}
+
+		case opTruncateHead:
+			f.truncateHead(step.target)
+
+			length := atomic.LoadUint64(&f.items) - atomic.LoadUint64(&f.itemHidden)
+			values = values[:length]
+
+		case opTruncateHeadAll:
+			f.truncateHead(step.target)
+			values = nil
+
+		case opTruncateTail:
+			prev := atomic.LoadUint64(&f.itemHidden)
+			f.truncateTail(step.target)
+
+			truncated := atomic.LoadUint64(&f.itemHidden) - prev
+			values = values[truncated:]
+
+		case opTruncateTailAll:
+			f.truncateTail(step.target)
+			values = nil
+		}
+		// Abort the test on error.
+		if rt[i].err != nil {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	f.Close()
+	return true
+}
+
+func TestRandom(t *testing.T) {
+	if err := quick.Check(runRandTest, nil); err != nil {
+		if cerr, ok := err.(*quick.CheckError); ok {
+			t.Fatalf("random test iteration %d failed: %s", cerr.Count, spew.Sdump(cerr.In))
+		}
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}

core/rawdb/freezer_test.go

@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ func TestFreezerConcurrentModifyRetrieve(t *testing.T) {
 	wg.Wait()
 }
 
-// This test runs ModifyAncients and TruncateAncients concurrently with each other.
+// This test runs ModifyAncients and TruncateHead concurrently with each other.
 func TestFreezerConcurrentModifyTruncate(t *testing.T) {
 	f, dir := newFreezerForTesting(t, freezerTestTableDef)
 	defer os.RemoveAll(dir)
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ func TestFreezerConcurrentModifyTruncate(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for i := 0; i < 1000; i++ {
 		// First reset and write 100 items.
-		if err := f.TruncateAncients(0); err != nil {
+		if err := f.TruncateHead(0); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal("truncate failed:", err)
 		}
 		_, err := f.ModifyAncients(func(op ethdb.AncientWriteOp) error {
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ func TestFreezerConcurrentModifyTruncate(t *testing.T) {
 			wg.Done()
 		}()
 		go func() {
-			truncateErr = f.TruncateAncients(10)
+			truncateErr = f.TruncateHead(10)
 			wg.Done()
 		}()
 		go func() {

core/rawdb/freezer_utils.go

@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+// Copyright 2022 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package rawdb
+
+import (
+	"io"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+)
+
+// copyFrom copies data from 'srcPath' at offset 'offset' into 'destPath'.
+// The 'destPath' is created if it doesn't exist, otherwise it is overwritten.
+// Before the copy is executed, there is a callback can be registered to
+// manipulate the dest file.
+// It is perfectly valid to have destPath == srcPath.
+func copyFrom(srcPath, destPath string, offset uint64, before func(f *os.File) error) error {
+	// Create a temp file in the same dir where we want it to wind up
+	f, err := ioutil.TempFile(filepath.Dir(destPath), "*")
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	fname := f.Name()
+
+	// Clean up the leftover file
+	defer func() {
+		if f != nil {
+			f.Close()
+		}
+		os.Remove(fname)
+	}()
+	// Apply the given function if it's not nil before we copy
+	// the content from the src.
+	if before != nil {
+		if err := before(f); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	// Open the source file
+	src, err := os.Open(srcPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if _, err = src.Seek(int64(offset), 0); err != nil {
+		src.Close()
+		return err
+	}
+	// io.Copy uses 32K buffer internally.
+	_, err = io.Copy(f, src)
+	if err != nil {
+		src.Close()
+		return err
+	}
+	// Rename the temporary file to the specified dest name.
+	// src may be same as dest, so needs to be closed before
+	// we do the final move.
+	src.Close()
+
+	if err := f.Close(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	f = nil
+
+	if err := os.Rename(fname, destPath); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// openFreezerFileForAppend opens a freezer table file and seeks to the end
+func openFreezerFileForAppend(filename string) (*os.File, error) {
+	// Open the file without the O_APPEND flag
+	// because it has differing behaviour during Truncate operations
+	// on different OS's
+	file, err := os.OpenFile(filename, os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE, 0644)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	// Seek to end for append
+	if _, err = file.Seek(0, io.SeekEnd); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return file, nil
+}
+
+// openFreezerFileForReadOnly opens a freezer table file for read only access
+func openFreezerFileForReadOnly(filename string) (*os.File, error) {
+	return os.OpenFile(filename, os.O_RDONLY, 0644)
+}
+
+// openFreezerFileTruncated opens a freezer table making sure it is truncated
+func openFreezerFileTruncated(filename string) (*os.File, error) {
+	return os.OpenFile(filename, os.O_RDWR|os.O_CREATE|os.O_TRUNC, 0644)
+}
+
+// truncateFreezerFile resizes a freezer table file and seeks to the end
+func truncateFreezerFile(file *os.File, size int64) error {
+	if err := file.Truncate(size); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	// Seek to end for append
+	if _, err := file.Seek(0, io.SeekEnd); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}

core/rawdb/freezer_utils_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+// Copyright 2022 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package rawdb
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"io/ioutil"
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestCopyFrom(t *testing.T) {
+	var (
+		content = []byte{0x1, 0x2, 0x3, 0x4, 0x5, 0x6, 0x7, 0x8}
+		prefix  = []byte{0x9, 0xa, 0xb, 0xc, 0xd, 0xf}
+	)
+	var cases = []struct {
+		src, dest   string
+		offset      uint64
+		writePrefix bool
+	}{
+		{"foo", "bar", 0, false},
+		{"foo", "bar", 1, false},
+		{"foo", "bar", 8, false},
+		{"foo", "foo", 0, false},
+		{"foo", "foo", 1, false},
+		{"foo", "foo", 8, false},
+		{"foo", "bar", 0, true},
+		{"foo", "bar", 1, true},
+		{"foo", "bar", 8, true},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		ioutil.WriteFile(c.src, content, 0644)
+
+		if err := copyFrom(c.src, c.dest, c.offset, func(f *os.File) error {
+			if !c.writePrefix {
+				return nil
+			}
+			f.Write(prefix)
+			return nil
+		}); err != nil {
+			os.Remove(c.src)
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to copy %v", err)
+		}
+
+		blob, err := ioutil.ReadFile(c.dest)
+		if err != nil {
+			os.Remove(c.src)
+			os.Remove(c.dest)
+			t.Fatalf("Failed to read %v", err)
+		}
+		want := content[c.offset:]
+		if c.writePrefix {
+			want = append(prefix, want...)
+		}
+		if !bytes.Equal(blob, want) {
+			t.Fatal("Unexpected value")
+		}
+		os.Remove(c.src)
+		os.Remove(c.dest)
+	}
+}

core/rawdb/table.go

@@ -74,6 +74,12 @@ func (t *table) Ancients() (uint64, error) {
 	return t.db.Ancients()
 }
 
+// Tail is a noop passthrough that just forwards the request to the underlying
+// database.
+func (t *table) Tail() (uint64, error) {
+	return t.db.Tail()
+}
+
 // AncientSize is a noop passthrough that just forwards the request to the underlying
 // database.
 func (t *table) AncientSize(kind string) (uint64, error) {
@@ -89,10 +95,16 @@ func (t *table) ReadAncients(fn func(reader ethdb.AncientReader) error) (err err
 	return t.db.ReadAncients(fn)
 }
 
-// TruncateAncients is a noop passthrough that just forwards the request to the underlying
+// TruncateHead is a noop passthrough that just forwards the request to the underlying
 // database.
-func (t *table) TruncateAncients(items uint64) error {
+func (t *table) TruncateHead(items uint64) error {
-	return t.db.TruncateAncients(items)
+	return t.db.TruncateHead(items)
+}
+
+// TruncateTail is a noop passthrough that just forwards the request to the underlying
+// database.
+func (t *table) TruncateTail(items uint64) error {
+	return t.db.TruncateTail(items)
 }
 
 // Sync is a noop passthrough that just forwards the request to the underlying

ethdb/database.go

@@ -87,6 +87,10 @@ type AncientReader interface {
 	// Ancients returns the ancient item numbers in the ancient store.
 	Ancients() (uint64, error)
 
+	// Tail returns the number of first stored item in the freezer.
+	// This number can also be interpreted as the total deleted item numbers.
+	Tail() (uint64, error)
+
 	// AncientSize returns the ancient size of the specified category.
 	AncientSize(kind string) (uint64, error)
 }
@@ -107,8 +111,16 @@ type AncientWriter interface {
 	// The integer return value is the total size of the written data.
 	ModifyAncients(func(AncientWriteOp) error) (int64, error)
 
-	// TruncateAncients discards all but the first n ancient data from the ancient store.
+	// TruncateHead discards all but the first n ancient data from the ancient store.
-	TruncateAncients(n uint64) error
+	// After the truncation, the latest item can be accessed it item_n-1(start from 0).
+	TruncateHead(n uint64) error
+
+	// TruncateTail discards the first n ancient data from the ancient store. The already
+	// deleted items are ignored. After the truncation, the earliest item can be accessed
+	// is item_n(start from 0). The deleted items may not be removed from the ancient store
+	// immediately, but only when the accumulated deleted data reach the threshold then
+	// will be removed all together.
+	TruncateTail(n uint64) error
 
 	// Sync flushes all in-memory ancient store data to disk.
 	Sync() error