[antirez]

Note: you have the same issue with all the other dist locks with auto-release. If you have a mission critical use case you could:

1. Try real time kernel extensions.

2. Try a time bomb or watchdog process as you suggested.

3. Put monitoring systems to avoid load to go over a certain level.

4. Tune the Linux scheduler params.

5. Use TTLs that are comparatively very large compared to the work you need to do with the lock hold.