diff --git a/src/common/serialization_helper/thrift_helper.h b/src/common/serialization_helper/thrift_helper.h
index 4afcc4cc25..dbe7566f3e 100644
--- a/src/common/serialization_helper/thrift_helper.h
+++ b/src/common/serialization_helper/thrift_helper.h
@@ -280,6 +280,103 @@ inline uint32_t rpc_address::write(apache::thrift::protocol::TProtocol *oprot) c
     }
 }
 
+inline uint32_t host_port::read(apache::thrift::protocol::TProtocol *iprot)
+{
+    std::string host;
+    int16_t port;
+    int8_t type_enum_number;
+
+    uint32_t xfer = 0;
+    auto binary_proto = dynamic_cast<apache::thrift::protocol::TBinaryProtocol *>(iprot);
+    if (binary_proto != nullptr) {
+        // the protocol is binary protocol
+        xfer += iprot->readString(host);
+        xfer += iprot->readI16(port);
+        xfer += iprot->readByte(type_enum_number);
+    } else {
+        // the protocol is json protocol
+        std::string fname;
+        xfer += iprot->readStructBegin(fname);
+
+        int16_t fid;
+        ::apache::thrift::protocol::TType ftype;
+        while (true) {
+            xfer += iprot->readFieldBegin(fname, ftype, fid);
+            if (ftype == ::apache::thrift::protocol::T_STOP) {
+                break;
+            }
+            switch (fid) {
+            case 1:
+                if (ftype == ::apache::thrift::protocol::T_STRING) {
+                    xfer += iprot->readString(host);
+                } else {
+                    xfer += iprot->skip(ftype);
+                }
+                break;
+            case 2:
+                if (ftype == ::apache::thrift::protocol::T_I16) {
+                    xfer += iprot->readI16(port);
+                } else {
+                    xfer += iprot->skip(ftype);
+                }
+                break;
+            case 3:
+                if (ftype == ::apache::thrift::protocol::T_BYTE) {
+                    xfer += iprot->readByte(type_enum_number);
+                } else {
+                    xfer += iprot->skip(ftype);
+                }
+                break;
+            default:
+                xfer += iprot->skip(ftype);
+                break;
+            }
+            xfer += iprot->readFieldEnd();
+        }
+        xfer += iprot->readStructEnd();
+    }
+
+    _host = host;
+    _port = static_cast<uint16_t>(port);
+    _type = static_cast<dsn_host_type_t>(type_enum_number);
+
+    return xfer;
+}
+
+inline uint32_t host_port::write(apache::thrift::protocol::TProtocol *oprot) const
+{
+    uint32_t xfer = 0;
+    auto binary_proto = dynamic_cast<apache::thrift::protocol::TBinaryProtocol *>(oprot);
+    if (binary_proto != nullptr) {
+        // the protocol is binary protocol
+        CHECK(_type == HOST_TYPE_INVALID || _type == HOST_TYPE_IPV4,
+              "only invalid or ipv4 can be serialized to binary");
+        xfer += oprot->writeString(_host);
+        xfer += oprot->writeI16(static_cast<int16_t>(_port));
+        xfer += oprot->writeByte(static_cast<int8_t>(_type));
+    } else {
+        // the protocol is json protocol
+        xfer += oprot->writeStructBegin("host_port");
+
+        xfer += oprot->writeFieldBegin("_host", ::apache::thrift::protocol::T_STRING, 1);
+        xfer += oprot->writeString(_host);
+        xfer += oprot->writeFieldEnd();
+
+        xfer += oprot->writeFieldBegin("_port", ::apache::thrift::protocol::T_I16, 2);
+        xfer += oprot->writeI16(static_cast<int16_t>(_port));
+        xfer += oprot->writeFieldEnd();
+
+        xfer += oprot->writeFieldBegin("_type", ::apache::thrift::protocol::T_BYTE, 3);
+        xfer += oprot->writeByte(static_cast<int8_t>(_type));
+        xfer += oprot->writeFieldEnd();
+
+        xfer += oprot->writeFieldStop();
+        xfer += oprot->writeStructEnd();
+    }
+
+    return xfer;
+}
+
 inline uint32_t gpid::read(apache::thrift::protocol::TProtocol *iprot)
 {
     apache::thrift::protocol::TBinaryProtocol *binary_proto =
diff --git a/src/runtime/rpc/rpc_host_port.h b/src/runtime/rpc/rpc_host_port.h
index 033ba089cb..8f212aa169 100644
--- a/src/runtime/rpc/rpc_host_port.h
+++ b/src/runtime/rpc/rpc_host_port.h
@@ -74,11 +74,15 @@ class host_port
     // Trere may be multiple rpc_addresses for one host_port.
     error_s resolve_addresses(std::vector<rpc_address> &addresses) const;
 
+    // for serialization in thrift format
+    uint32_t read(::apache::thrift::protocol::TProtocol *iprot);
+    uint32_t write(::apache::thrift::protocol::TProtocol *oprot) const;
+
 private:
     std::string _host;
     uint16_t _port = 0;
     dsn_host_type_t _type = HOST_TYPE_INVALID;
-    ref_ptr<rpc_group_host_port> _group_host_port;
+    rpc_group_host_port* _group_host_port = nullptr;
 };
 
 inline bool operator==(const host_port &hp1, const host_port &hp2)