BUG-5626: do not allow overriding of RaftActor.handleCommand()
[controller.git] / opendaylight / md-sal / sal-distributed-datastore / src / test / java / org / opendaylight / controller / cluster / datastore / ShardTest.java
index 49cfcbc9c257a31a5e7ad51585ebda185d8f9fd5..3e2313dc2780eab81c8a6c355751f8def2589905 100644 (file)
@@ -1,20 +1,28 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2014, 2015 Cisco Systems, Inc. and others.  All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * This program and the accompanying materials are made available under the
+ * terms of the Eclipse Public License v1.0 which accompanies this distribution,
+ * and is available at http://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-v10.html
+ */
+
 package org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore;
 
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertFalse;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertNotNull;
-import static org.junit.Assert.assertNull;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertSame;
 import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.doReturn;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.inOrder;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.mock;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.reset;
+import static org.mockito.Mockito.verify;
 import static org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.DataStoreVersions.CURRENT_VERSION;
 import akka.actor.ActorRef;
 import akka.actor.ActorSelection;
-import akka.actor.PoisonPill;
 import akka.actor.Props;
+import akka.actor.Status.Failure;
 import akka.dispatch.Dispatchers;
 import akka.dispatch.OnComplete;
 import akka.japi.Creator;
@@ -23,14 +31,11 @@ import akka.persistence.SaveSnapshotSuccess;
 import akka.testkit.TestActorRef;
 import akka.util.Timeout;
 import com.google.common.base.Function;
-import com.google.common.base.Optional;
 import com.google.common.util.concurrent.Futures;
 import com.google.common.util.concurrent.ListenableFuture;
 import com.google.common.util.concurrent.Uninterruptibles;
-import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.HashSet;
-import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
@@ -40,6 +45,7 @@ import org.junit.Test;
 import org.mockito.InOrder;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.DataPersistenceProvider;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.DelegatingPersistentDataProvider;
+import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.exceptions.NoShardLeaderException;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.identifiers.ShardIdentifier;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.jmx.mbeans.shard.ShardStats;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.messages.AbortTransaction;
@@ -51,7 +57,7 @@ import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.messages.CanCommitTransacti
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.messages.CommitTransaction;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.messages.CommitTransactionReply;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.messages.CreateTransaction;
-import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.messages.ForwardedReadyTransaction;
+import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.messages.CreateTransactionReply;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.messages.PeerAddressResolved;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.messages.ReadData;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.messages.ReadDataReply;
@@ -65,8 +71,6 @@ import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.messages.ShardLeaderStateCh
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.messages.UpdateSchemaContext;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.modification.DeleteModification;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.modification.MergeModification;
-import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.modification.Modification;
-import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.modification.ModificationPayload;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.modification.MutableCompositeModification;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.modification.WriteModification;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.datastore.utils.MockDataChangeListener;
@@ -79,78 +83,68 @@ import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.ReplicatedLogEntry;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.ReplicatedLogImplEntry;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.Snapshot;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.base.messages.ApplyJournalEntries;
-import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.base.messages.ApplySnapshot;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.base.messages.ApplyState;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.base.messages.ElectionTimeout;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.base.messages.FollowerInitialSyncUpStatus;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.client.messages.FindLeader;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.client.messages.FindLeaderReply;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.messages.RequestVote;
+import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.messages.ServerRemoved;
+import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.policy.DisableElectionsRaftPolicy;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.utils.InMemoryJournal;
-import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.utils.InMemorySnapshotStore;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.cluster.raft.utils.MessageCollectorActor;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.md.cluster.datastore.model.SchemaContextHelper;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.md.cluster.datastore.model.TestModel;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.md.sal.common.api.data.AsyncDataBroker;
 import org.opendaylight.controller.md.sal.common.api.data.ReadFailedException;
-import org.opendaylight.controller.protobuff.messages.cohort3pc.ThreePhaseCommitCohortMessages;
-import org.opendaylight.controller.protobuff.messages.transaction.ShardTransactionMessages.CreateTransactionReply;
-import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.common.QName;
 import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.YangInstanceIdentifier;
-import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.YangInstanceIdentifier.PathArgument;
 import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.schema.ContainerNode;
-import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.schema.DataContainerChild;
-import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.schema.MapEntryNode;
 import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.schema.MapNode;
 import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.schema.NormalizedNode;
 import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.schema.tree.DataTree;
-import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.schema.tree.DataTreeCandidate;
 import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.schema.tree.DataTreeCandidateNode;
 import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.schema.tree.DataTreeCandidateTip;
-import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.schema.tree.DataTreeCandidates;
 import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.schema.tree.DataTreeModification;
 import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.schema.tree.DataValidationFailedException;
 import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.schema.tree.ModificationType;
+import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.api.schema.tree.TreeType;
 import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.impl.schema.ImmutableNodes;
+import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.impl.schema.builder.impl.ImmutableContainerNodeBuilder;
 import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.data.impl.schema.tree.InMemoryDataTreeFactory;
-import org.opendaylight.yangtools.yang.model.api.SchemaContext;
 import scala.concurrent.Await;
 import scala.concurrent.Future;
 import scala.concurrent.duration.FiniteDuration;
 
 public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
-    private static final QName CARS_QNAME = QName.create("urn:opendaylight:params:xml:ns:yang:controller:md:sal:dom:store:test:cars", "2014-03-13", "cars");
+    private static final String DUMMY_DATA = "Dummy data as snapshot sequence number is set to 0 in InMemorySnapshotStore and journal recovery seq number will start from 1";
 
     @Test
     public void testRegisterChangeListener() throws Exception {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps(),  "testRegisterChangeListener");
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
             shard.tell(new UpdateSchemaContext(SchemaContextHelper.full()), ActorRef.noSender());
 
-            MockDataChangeListener listener = new MockDataChangeListener(1);
-            ActorRef dclActor = getSystem().actorOf(DataChangeListener.props(listener),
+            final MockDataChangeListener listener = new MockDataChangeListener(1);
+            final ActorRef dclActor = actorFactory.createActor(DataChangeListener.props(listener),
                     "testRegisterChangeListener-DataChangeListener");
 
             shard.tell(new RegisterChangeListener(TestModel.TEST_PATH,
-                    dclActor, AsyncDataBroker.DataChangeScope.BASE), getRef());
+                    dclActor, AsyncDataBroker.DataChangeScope.BASE, true), getRef());
 
-            RegisterChangeListenerReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("3 seconds"),
+            final RegisterChangeListenerReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("3 seconds"),
                     RegisterChangeListenerReply.class);
-            String replyPath = reply.getListenerRegistrationPath().toString();
+            final String replyPath = reply.getListenerRegistrationPath().toString();
             assertTrue("Incorrect reply path: " + replyPath, replyPath.matches(
                     "akka:\\/\\/test\\/user\\/testRegisterChangeListener\\/\\$.*"));
 
-            YangInstanceIdentifier path = TestModel.TEST_PATH;
+            final YangInstanceIdentifier path = TestModel.TEST_PATH;
             writeToStore(shard, path, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME));
 
             listener.waitForChangeEvents(path);
-
-            dclActor.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
@@ -169,7 +163,7 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
             // ElectionTimeout with the sending of the RegisterChangeListener message.
             final CountDownLatch onFirstElectionTimeout = new CountDownLatch(1);
             final CountDownLatch onChangeListenerRegistered = new CountDownLatch(1);
-            Creator<Shard> creator = new Creator<Shard>() {
+            final Creator<Shard> creator = new Creator<Shard>() {
                 boolean firstElectionTimeout = true;
 
                 @Override
@@ -178,10 +172,9 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
                     // this will cause all other messages to not be queued properly after that.
                     // The basic issue is that you cannot use TestActorRef with a persistent actor (at least when
                     // it does do a persist)
-                    return new Shard(shardID, Collections.<String,String>emptyMap(),
-                            dataStoreContextBuilder.persistent(false).build(), SCHEMA_CONTEXT) {
+                    return new Shard(newShardBuilder()) {
                         @Override
-                        public void onReceiveCommand(final Object message) throws Exception {
+                        public void handleCommand(final Object message) {
                             if(message instanceof ElectionTimeout && firstElectionTimeout) {
                                 // Got the first ElectionTimeout. We don't forward it to the
                                 // base Shard yet until we've sent the RegisterChangeListener
@@ -204,24 +197,24 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
                                 onFirstElectionTimeout.countDown();
                             } else {
-                                super.onReceiveCommand(message);
+                                super.handleCommand(message);
                             }
                         }
                     };
                 }
             };
 
-            MockDataChangeListener listener = new MockDataChangeListener(1);
-            ActorRef dclActor = getSystem().actorOf(DataChangeListener.props(listener),
+            setupInMemorySnapshotStore();
+
+            final MockDataChangeListener listener = new MockDataChangeListener(1);
+            final ActorRef dclActor = actorFactory.createActor(DataChangeListener.props(listener),
                     "testRegisterChangeListenerWhenNotLeaderInitially-DataChangeListener");
 
-            TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
-                    Props.create(new DelegatingShardCreator(creator)),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
+                    Props.create(new DelegatingShardCreator(creator)).withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
                     "testRegisterChangeListenerWhenNotLeaderInitially");
 
-            // Write initial data into the in-memory store.
-            YangInstanceIdentifier path = TestModel.TEST_PATH;
-            writeToStore(shard, path, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME));
+            final YangInstanceIdentifier path = TestModel.TEST_PATH;
 
             // Wait until the shard receives the first ElectionTimeout message.
             assertEquals("Got first ElectionTimeout", true,
@@ -229,17 +222,17 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
             // Now send the RegisterChangeListener and wait for the reply.
             shard.tell(new RegisterChangeListener(path, dclActor,
-                    AsyncDataBroker.DataChangeScope.SUBTREE), getRef());
+                    AsyncDataBroker.DataChangeScope.SUBTREE, false), getRef());
 
-            RegisterChangeListenerReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("5 seconds"),
+            final RegisterChangeListenerReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("5 seconds"),
                     RegisterChangeListenerReply.class);
             assertNotNull("getListenerRegistrationPath", reply.getListenerRegistrationPath());
 
             // Sanity check - verify the shard is not the leader yet.
-            shard.tell(new FindLeader(), getRef());
-            FindLeaderReply findLeadeReply =
+            shard.tell(FindLeader.INSTANCE, getRef());
+            final FindLeaderReply findLeadeReply =
                     expectMsgClass(duration("5 seconds"), FindLeaderReply.class);
-            assertNull("Expected the shard not to be the leader", findLeadeReply.getLeaderActor());
+            assertFalse("Expected the shard not to be the leader", findLeadeReply.getLeaderActor().isPresent());
 
             // Signal the onChangeListenerRegistered latch to tell the thread above to proceed
             // with the election process.
@@ -248,41 +241,35 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
             // Wait for the shard to become the leader and notify our listener with the existing
             // data in the store.
             listener.waitForChangeEvents(path);
-
-            dclActor.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testRegisterDataTreeChangeListener() throws Exception {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps(), "testRegisterDataTreeChangeListener");
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
             shard.tell(new UpdateSchemaContext(SchemaContextHelper.full()), ActorRef.noSender());
 
-            MockDataTreeChangeListener listener = new MockDataTreeChangeListener(1);
-            ActorRef dclActor = getSystem().actorOf(DataTreeChangeListenerActor.props(listener),
+            final MockDataTreeChangeListener listener = new MockDataTreeChangeListener(1);
+            final ActorRef dclActor = actorFactory.createActor(DataTreeChangeListenerActor.props(listener),
                     "testRegisterDataTreeChangeListener-DataTreeChangeListener");
 
-            shard.tell(new RegisterDataTreeChangeListener(TestModel.TEST_PATH, dclActor), getRef());
+            shard.tell(new RegisterDataTreeChangeListener(TestModel.TEST_PATH, dclActor, false), getRef());
 
-            RegisterDataTreeChangeListenerReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("3 seconds"),
+            final RegisterDataTreeChangeListenerReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("3 seconds"),
                     RegisterDataTreeChangeListenerReply.class);
-            String replyPath = reply.getListenerRegistrationPath().toString();
+            final String replyPath = reply.getListenerRegistrationPath().toString();
             assertTrue("Incorrect reply path: " + replyPath, replyPath.matches(
                     "akka:\\/\\/test\\/user\\/testRegisterDataTreeChangeListener\\/\\$.*"));
 
-            YangInstanceIdentifier path = TestModel.TEST_PATH;
+            final YangInstanceIdentifier path = TestModel.TEST_PATH;
             writeToStore(shard, path, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME));
 
             listener.waitForChangeEvents();
-
-            dclActor.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
@@ -292,15 +279,14 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
             final CountDownLatch onFirstElectionTimeout = new CountDownLatch(1);
             final CountDownLatch onChangeListenerRegistered = new CountDownLatch(1);
-            Creator<Shard> creator = new Creator<Shard>() {
+            final Creator<Shard> creator = new Creator<Shard>() {
                 boolean firstElectionTimeout = true;
 
                 @Override
                 public Shard create() throws Exception {
-                    return new Shard(shardID, Collections.<String,String>emptyMap(),
-                            dataStoreContextBuilder.persistent(false).build(), SCHEMA_CONTEXT) {
+                    return new Shard(newShardBuilder()) {
                         @Override
-                        public void onReceiveCommand(final Object message) throws Exception {
+                        public void handleCommand(final Object message) {
                             if(message instanceof ElectionTimeout && firstElectionTimeout) {
                                 firstElectionTimeout = false;
                                 final ActorRef self = getSelf();
@@ -315,91 +301,83 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
                                 onFirstElectionTimeout.countDown();
                             } else {
-                                super.onReceiveCommand(message);
+                                super.handleCommand(message);
                             }
                         }
                     };
                 }
             };
 
-            MockDataTreeChangeListener listener = new MockDataTreeChangeListener(1);
-            ActorRef dclActor = getSystem().actorOf(DataTreeChangeListenerActor.props(listener),
+            setupInMemorySnapshotStore();
+
+            final MockDataTreeChangeListener listener = new MockDataTreeChangeListener(1);
+            final ActorRef dclActor = actorFactory.createActor(DataTreeChangeListenerActor.props(listener),
                     "testDataTreeChangeListenerNotifiedWhenNotTheLeaderOnRegistration-DataChangeListener");
 
-            TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
-                    Props.create(new DelegatingShardCreator(creator)),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
+                    Props.create(new DelegatingShardCreator(creator)).withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
                     "testDataTreeChangeListenerNotifiedWhenNotTheLeaderOnRegistration");
 
-            YangInstanceIdentifier path = TestModel.TEST_PATH;
-            writeToStore(shard, path, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME));
+            final YangInstanceIdentifier path = TestModel.TEST_PATH;
 
             assertEquals("Got first ElectionTimeout", true,
-                    onFirstElectionTimeout.await(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS));
+                onFirstElectionTimeout.await(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS));
 
-            shard.tell(new RegisterDataTreeChangeListener(path, dclActor), getRef());
-            RegisterDataTreeChangeListenerReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("5 seconds"),
-                    RegisterDataTreeChangeListenerReply.class);
+            shard.tell(new RegisterDataTreeChangeListener(path, dclActor, false), getRef());
+            final RegisterDataTreeChangeListenerReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("5 seconds"),
+                RegisterDataTreeChangeListenerReply.class);
             assertNotNull("getListenerRegistratioznPath", reply.getListenerRegistrationPath());
 
-            shard.tell(new FindLeader(), getRef());
-            FindLeaderReply findLeadeReply =
+            shard.tell(FindLeader.INSTANCE, getRef());
+            final FindLeaderReply findLeadeReply =
                     expectMsgClass(duration("5 seconds"), FindLeaderReply.class);
-            assertNull("Expected the shard not to be the leader", findLeadeReply.getLeaderActor());
+            assertFalse("Expected the shard not to be the leader", findLeadeReply.getLeaderActor().isPresent());
 
-            writeToStore(shard, path, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME));
 
             onChangeListenerRegistered.countDown();
 
             // TODO: investigate why we do not receive data chage events
             listener.waitForChangeEvents();
-
-            dclActor.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testCreateTransaction(){
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            ActorRef shard = getSystem().actorOf(newShardProps(), "testCreateTransaction");
+            final ActorRef shard = actorFactory.createActor(newShardProps(), "testCreateTransaction");
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
             shard.tell(new UpdateSchemaContext(TestModel.createTestContext()), getRef());
 
-            shard.tell(new CreateTransaction("txn-1",
-                    TransactionType.READ_ONLY.ordinal() ).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            shard.tell(new CreateTransaction("txn-1", TransactionType.READ_ONLY.ordinal(), null,
+                    DataStoreVersions.CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
 
-            CreateTransactionReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("3 seconds"),
+            final CreateTransactionReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("3 seconds"),
                     CreateTransactionReply.class);
 
-            String path = reply.getTransactionActorPath().toString();
+            final String path = reply.getTransactionPath().toString();
             assertTrue("Unexpected transaction path " + path,
                     path.contains("akka://test/user/testCreateTransaction/shard-txn-1"));
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testCreateTransactionOnChain(){
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final ActorRef shard = getSystem().actorOf(newShardProps(), "testCreateTransactionOnChain");
+            final ActorRef shard = actorFactory.createActor(newShardProps(), "testCreateTransactionOnChain");
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
-            shard.tell(new CreateTransaction("txn-1",
-                    TransactionType.READ_ONLY.ordinal() , "foobar").toSerializable(),
-                    getRef());
+            shard.tell(new CreateTransaction("txn-1",TransactionType.READ_ONLY.ordinal(), "foobar",
+                    DataStoreVersions.CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
 
-            CreateTransactionReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("3 seconds"),
+            final CreateTransactionReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("3 seconds"),
                     CreateTransactionReply.class);
 
-            String path = reply.getTransactionActorPath().toString();
+            final String path = reply.getTransactionPath().toString();
             assertTrue("Unexpected transaction path " + path,
                     path.contains("akka://test/user/testCreateTransactionOnChain/shard-txn-1"));
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
@@ -410,12 +388,13 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
             final CountDownLatch recoveryComplete = new CountDownLatch(1);
             class TestShard extends Shard {
                 TestShard() {
-                    super(shardID, Collections.<String, String>singletonMap(shardID.toString(), null),
-                            newDatastoreContext(), SCHEMA_CONTEXT);
+                    super(Shard.builder().id(shardID).datastoreContext(newDatastoreContext()).
+                            peerAddresses(Collections.<String, String>singletonMap(shardID.toString(), null)).
+                            schemaContext(SCHEMA_CONTEXT));
                 }
 
-                Map<String, String> getPeerAddresses() {
-                    return getRaftActorContext().getPeerAddresses();
+                String getPeerAddress(String id) {
+                    return getRaftActorContext().getPeerAddress(id);
                 }
 
                 @Override
@@ -428,7 +407,7 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
                 }
             }
 
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     Props.create(new DelegatingShardCreator(new Creator<Shard>() {
                         @Override
                         public TestShard create() throws Exception {
@@ -436,102 +415,66 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
                         }
                     })), "testPeerAddressResolved");
 
-            //waitUntilLeader(shard);
             assertEquals("Recovery complete", true,
-                    Uninterruptibles.awaitUninterruptibly(recoveryComplete, 5, TimeUnit.SECONDS));
+                Uninterruptibles.awaitUninterruptibly(recoveryComplete, 5, TimeUnit.SECONDS));
 
-            String address = "akka://foobar";
+            final String address = "akka://foobar";
             shard.underlyingActor().onReceiveCommand(new PeerAddressResolved(shardID.toString(), address));
 
-            assertEquals("getPeerAddresses", address,
-                    ((TestShard)shard.underlyingActor()).getPeerAddresses().get(shardID.toString()));
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
+            assertEquals("getPeerAddress", address,
+                ((TestShard) shard.underlyingActor()).getPeerAddress(shardID.toString()));
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testApplySnapshot() throws Exception {
-        TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(), newShardProps(),
-                "testApplySnapshot");
-
-        DataTree store = InMemoryDataTreeFactory.getInstance().create();
-        store.setSchemaContext(SCHEMA_CONTEXT);
-
-        writeToStore(store, TestModel.TEST_PATH, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME));
-
-        YangInstanceIdentifier root = YangInstanceIdentifier.builder().build();
-        NormalizedNode<?,?> expected = readStore(store, root);
 
-        ApplySnapshot applySnapshot = new ApplySnapshot(Snapshot.create(
-                SerializationUtils.serializeNormalizedNode(expected),
-                Collections.<ReplicatedLogEntry>emptyList(), 1, 2, 3, 4));
+        final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(newShardProps(), "testApplySnapshot");
 
-        shard.underlyingActor().onReceiveCommand(applySnapshot);
+        ShardTestKit.waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
-        NormalizedNode<?,?> actual = readStore(shard, root);
-
-        assertEquals("Root node", expected, actual);
-
-        shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
-    }
+        final DataTree store = InMemoryDataTreeFactory.getInstance().create(TreeType.OPERATIONAL);
+        store.setSchemaContext(SCHEMA_CONTEXT);
 
-    @Test
-    public void testApplyState() throws Exception {
+        final ContainerNode container = ImmutableContainerNodeBuilder.create().withNodeIdentifier(
+                new YangInstanceIdentifier.NodeIdentifier(TestModel.TEST_QNAME)).
+                    withChild(ImmutableNodes.mapNodeBuilder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME).addChild(
+                        ImmutableNodes.mapEntry(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, 1)).build()).build();
 
-        TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(), newShardProps(), "testApplyState");
+        writeToStore(store, TestModel.TEST_PATH, container);
 
-        NormalizedNode<?, ?> node = ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME);
+        final YangInstanceIdentifier root = YangInstanceIdentifier.builder().build();
+        final NormalizedNode<?,?> expected = readStore(store, root);
 
-        ApplyState applyState = new ApplyState(null, "test", new ReplicatedLogImplEntry(1, 2,
-                newModificationPayload(new WriteModification(TestModel.TEST_PATH, node))));
+        final Snapshot snapshot = Snapshot.create(SerializationUtils.serializeNormalizedNode(expected),
+                Collections.<ReplicatedLogEntry>emptyList(), 1, 2, 3, 4);
 
-        shard.underlyingActor().onReceiveCommand(applyState);
+        shard.underlyingActor().getRaftActorSnapshotCohort().applySnapshot(snapshot.getState());
 
-        NormalizedNode<?,?> actual = readStore(shard, TestModel.TEST_PATH);
-        assertEquals("Applied state", node, actual);
+        final NormalizedNode<?,?> actual = readStore(shard, root);
 
-        shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
+        assertEquals("Root node", expected, actual);
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testApplyStateWithCandidatePayload() throws Exception {
+    public void testApplyState() throws Exception {
+        final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(newShardProps(), "testApplyState");
 
-        TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(), newShardProps(), "testApplyState");
+        ShardTestKit.waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
-        NormalizedNode<?, ?> node = ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME);
-        DataTreeCandidate candidate = DataTreeCandidates.fromNormalizedNode(TestModel.TEST_PATH, node);
+        final DataTree source = setupInMemorySnapshotStore();
+        final DataTreeModification writeMod = source.takeSnapshot().newModification();
+        ContainerNode node = ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME);
+        writeMod.write(TestModel.TEST_PATH, node);
+        writeMod.ready();
 
-        ApplyState applyState = new ApplyState(null, "test", new ReplicatedLogImplEntry(1, 2,
-                DataTreeCandidatePayload.create(candidate)));
+        final ApplyState applyState = new ApplyState(null, "test", new ReplicatedLogImplEntry(1, 2,
+                payloadForModification(source, writeMod)));
 
         shard.underlyingActor().onReceiveCommand(applyState);
 
-        NormalizedNode<?,?> actual = readStore(shard, TestModel.TEST_PATH);
+        final NormalizedNode<?,?> actual = readStore(shard, TestModel.TEST_PATH);
         assertEquals("Applied state", node, actual);
-
-        shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
-    }
-
-    DataTree setupInMemorySnapshotStore() throws DataValidationFailedException {
-        DataTree testStore = InMemoryDataTreeFactory.getInstance().create();
-        testStore.setSchemaContext(SCHEMA_CONTEXT);
-
-        writeToStore(testStore, TestModel.TEST_PATH, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME));
-
-        NormalizedNode<?, ?> root = readStore(testStore, YangInstanceIdentifier.builder().build());
-
-        InMemorySnapshotStore.addSnapshot(shardID.toString(), Snapshot.create(
-                SerializationUtils.serializeNormalizedNode(root),
-                Collections.<ReplicatedLogEntry>emptyList(), 0, 1, -1, -1));
-        return testStore;
-    }
-
-    private static DataTreeCandidatePayload payloadForModification(DataTree source, DataTreeModification mod) throws DataValidationFailedException {
-        source.validate(mod);
-        final DataTreeCandidate candidate = source.prepare(mod);
-        source.commit(candidate);
-        return DataTreeCandidatePayload.create(candidate);
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -541,151 +484,104 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
         final DataTreeModification writeMod = source.takeSnapshot().newModification();
         writeMod.write(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH, ImmutableNodes.mapNodeBuilder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME).build());
+        writeMod.ready();
+        InMemoryJournal.addEntry(shardID.toString(), 0, DUMMY_DATA);
 
         // Set up the InMemoryJournal.
-        InMemoryJournal.addEntry(shardID.toString(), 0, new ReplicatedLogImplEntry(0, 1, payloadForModification(source, writeMod)));
+        InMemoryJournal.addEntry(shardID.toString(), 1, new ReplicatedLogImplEntry(0, 1, payloadForModification(source, writeMod)));
 
-        int nListEntries = 16;
-        Set<Integer> listEntryKeys = new HashSet<>();
+        final int nListEntries = 16;
+        final Set<Integer> listEntryKeys = new HashSet<>();
 
         // Add some ModificationPayload entries
         for (int i = 1; i <= nListEntries; i++) {
             listEntryKeys.add(Integer.valueOf(i));
 
-            YangInstanceIdentifier path = YangInstanceIdentifier.builder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH)
+            final YangInstanceIdentifier path = YangInstanceIdentifier.builder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH)
                     .nodeWithKey(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, i).build();
 
             final DataTreeModification mod = source.takeSnapshot().newModification();
             mod.merge(path, ImmutableNodes.mapEntry(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, i));
-
-            InMemoryJournal.addEntry(shardID.toString(), i, new ReplicatedLogImplEntry(i, 1,
+            mod.ready();
+            InMemoryJournal.addEntry(shardID.toString(), i+1, new ReplicatedLogImplEntry(i, 1,
                 payloadForModification(source, mod)));
         }
 
-        InMemoryJournal.addEntry(shardID.toString(), nListEntries + 1,
-                new ApplyJournalEntries(nListEntries));
-
-        testRecovery(listEntryKeys);
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    public void testModicationRecovery() throws Exception {
-
-        // Set up the InMemorySnapshotStore.
-        setupInMemorySnapshotStore();
-
-        // Set up the InMemoryJournal.
-
-        InMemoryJournal.addEntry(shardID.toString(), 0, new ReplicatedLogImplEntry(0, 1, newModificationPayload(
-                  new WriteModification(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH,
-                          ImmutableNodes.mapNodeBuilder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME).build()))));
-
-        int nListEntries = 16;
-        Set<Integer> listEntryKeys = new HashSet<>();
-
-        // Add some ModificationPayload entries
-        for(int i = 1; i <= nListEntries; i++) {
-            listEntryKeys.add(Integer.valueOf(i));
-            YangInstanceIdentifier path = YangInstanceIdentifier.builder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH)
-                    .nodeWithKey(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, i).build();
-            Modification mod = new MergeModification(path,
-                    ImmutableNodes.mapEntry(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, i));
-            InMemoryJournal.addEntry(shardID.toString(), i, new ReplicatedLogImplEntry(i, 1,
-                    newModificationPayload(mod)));
-        }
-
-        InMemoryJournal.addEntry(shardID.toString(), nListEntries + 1,
-                new ApplyJournalEntries(nListEntries));
+        InMemoryJournal.addEntry(shardID.toString(), nListEntries + 2,
+            new ApplyJournalEntries(nListEntries));
 
         testRecovery(listEntryKeys);
     }
 
-    private static ModificationPayload newModificationPayload(final Modification... mods) throws IOException {
-        MutableCompositeModification compMod = new MutableCompositeModification();
-        for(Modification mod: mods) {
-            compMod.addModification(mod);
-        }
-
-        return new ModificationPayload(compMod);
-    }
-
     @Test
     public void testConcurrentThreePhaseCommits() throws Throwable {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
                     "testConcurrentThreePhaseCommits");
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
-         // Setup 3 simulated transactions with mock cohorts backed by real cohorts.
+            // Setup 3 simulated transactions with mock cohorts backed by real cohorts.
 
-            ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
+            final ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
 
-            String transactionID1 = "tx1";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort1", dataStore,
+            final String transactionID1 = "tx1";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort1", dataStore,
                     TestModel.TEST_PATH, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME), modification1);
 
-            String transactionID2 = "tx2";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort2", dataStore,
+            final String transactionID2 = "tx2";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort2", dataStore,
                     TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH,
                     ImmutableNodes.mapNodeBuilder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME).build(),
                     modification2);
 
-            String transactionID3 = "tx3";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification3 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort3 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort3", dataStore,
+            final String transactionID3 = "tx3";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification3 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort3 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort3", dataStore,
                     YangInstanceIdentifier.builder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH)
                         .nodeWithKey(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, 1).build(),
                     ImmutableNodes.mapEntry(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, 1),
                     modification3);
 
-            long timeoutSec = 5;
+            final long timeoutSec = 5;
             final FiniteDuration duration = FiniteDuration.create(timeoutSec, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
             final Timeout timeout = new Timeout(duration);
 
-            // Simulate the ForwardedReadyTransaction message for the first Tx that would be sent
-            // by the ShardTransaction.
-
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort1, modification1, true, false), getRef());
-            ReadyTransactionReply readyReply = ReadyTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(false, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort1, transactionID1, modification1), getRef());
+            final ReadyTransactionReply readyReply = ReadyTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
                     expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class));
             assertEquals("Cohort path", shard.path().toString(), readyReply.getCohortPath());
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message for the first Tx.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
-                    expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS));
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            final CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
+                    expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.class));
             assertEquals("Can commit", true, canCommitReply.getCanCommit());
 
-            // Send the ForwardedReadyTransaction for the next 2 Tx's.
-
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort2, modification2, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(false, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort2, transactionID2, modification2), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID3, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort3, modification3, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(false, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort3, transactionID3, modification3), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message for the next 2 Tx's. These should get queued and
             // processed after the first Tx completes.
 
-            Future<Object> canCommitFuture1 = Patterns.ask(shard,
-                    new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2).toSerializable(), timeout);
+            final Future<Object> canCommitFuture1 = Patterns.ask(shard,
+                    new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), timeout);
 
-            Future<Object> canCommitFuture2 = Patterns.ask(shard,
-                    new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID3).toSerializable(), timeout);
+            final Future<Object> canCommitFuture2 = Patterns.ask(shard,
+                    new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID3, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), timeout);
 
             // Send the CommitTransaction message for the first Tx. After it completes, it should
             // trigger the 2nd Tx to proceed which should in turn then trigger the 3rd.
 
-            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Wait for the next 2 Tx's to complete.
 
@@ -707,7 +603,7 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
                         try {
                             assertEquals("Commit response type", expRespType, resp.getClass());
                             onSuccess(resp);
-                        } catch (Exception e) {
+                        } catch (final Exception e) {
                             caughtEx.set(e);
                         }
                     }
@@ -719,7 +615,7 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
             class OnCommitFutureComplete extends OnFutureComplete {
                 OnCommitFutureComplete() {
-                    super(CommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+                    super(CommitTransactionReply.class);
                 }
 
                 @Override
@@ -733,18 +629,18 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
                 private final String transactionID;
 
                 OnCanCommitFutureComplete(final String transactionID) {
-                    super(CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+                    super(CanCommitTransactionReply.class);
                     this.transactionID = transactionID;
                 }
 
                 @Override
                 void onSuccess(final Object resp) throws Exception {
-                    CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply =
+                    final CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply =
                             CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(resp);
                     assertEquals("Can commit", true, canCommitReply.getCanCommit());
 
-                    Future<Object> commitFuture = Patterns.ask(shard,
-                            new CommitTransaction(transactionID).toSerializable(), timeout);
+                    final Future<Object> commitFuture = Patterns.ask(shard,
+                            new CommitTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), timeout);
                     commitFuture.onComplete(new OnCommitFutureComplete(), getSystem().dispatcher());
                 }
             }
@@ -755,7 +651,7 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
             canCommitFuture2.onComplete(new OnCanCommitFutureComplete(transactionID3),
                     getSystem().dispatcher());
 
-            boolean done = commitLatch.await(timeoutSec, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
+            final boolean done = commitLatch.await(timeoutSec, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
 
             if(caughtEx.get() != null) {
                 throw caughtEx.get();
@@ -763,7 +659,7 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
             assertEquals("Commits complete", true, done);
 
-            InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort1, cohort2, cohort3);
+            final InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort1, cohort2, cohort3);
             inOrder.verify(cohort1).canCommit();
             inOrder.verify(cohort1).preCommit();
             inOrder.verify(cohort1).commit();
@@ -779,41 +675,25 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
             verifyOuterListEntry(shard, 1);
 
             verifyLastApplied(shard, 2);
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
-    private static BatchedModifications newBatchedModifications(String transactionID, YangInstanceIdentifier path,
-            NormalizedNode<?, ?> data, boolean ready, boolean doCommitOnReady) {
-        return newBatchedModifications(transactionID, null, path, data, ready, doCommitOnReady);
-    }
-
-    private static BatchedModifications newBatchedModifications(String transactionID, String transactionChainID,
-            YangInstanceIdentifier path, NormalizedNode<?, ?> data, boolean ready, boolean doCommitOnReady) {
-        BatchedModifications batched = new BatchedModifications(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION, transactionChainID);
-        batched.addModification(new WriteModification(path, data));
-        batched.setReady(ready);
-        batched.setDoCommitOnReady(doCommitOnReady);
-        return batched;
-    }
-
     @Test
     public void testBatchedModificationsWithNoCommitOnReady() throws Throwable {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
                     "testBatchedModificationsWithNoCommitOnReady");
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
             final String transactionID = "tx";
-            FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
+            final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
 
             final AtomicReference<ShardDataTreeCohort> mockCohort = new AtomicReference<>();
-            ShardCommitCoordinator.CohortDecorator cohortDecorator = new ShardCommitCoordinator.CohortDecorator() {
+            final ShardCommitCoordinator.CohortDecorator cohortDecorator = new ShardCommitCoordinator.CohortDecorator() {
                 @Override
-                public ShardDataTreeCohort decorate(String txID, ShardDataTreeCohort actual) {
+                public ShardDataTreeCohort decorate(final String txID, final ShardDataTreeCohort actual) {
                     if(mockCohort.get() == null) {
                         mockCohort.set(createDelegatingMockCohort("cohort", actual));
                     }
@@ -827,33 +707,33 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
             // Send a BatchedModifications to start a transaction.
 
             shard.tell(newBatchedModifications(transactionID, TestModel.TEST_PATH,
-                    ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME), false, false), getRef());
+                    ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME), false, false, 1), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, BatchedModificationsReply.class);
 
             // Send a couple more BatchedModifications.
 
             shard.tell(newBatchedModifications(transactionID, TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH,
-                    ImmutableNodes.mapNodeBuilder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME).build(), false, false), getRef());
+                    ImmutableNodes.mapNodeBuilder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME).build(), false, false, 2), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, BatchedModificationsReply.class);
 
             shard.tell(newBatchedModifications(transactionID, YangInstanceIdentifier.builder(
                     TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH).nodeWithKey(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, 1).build(),
-                    ImmutableNodes.mapEntry(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, 1), true, false), getRef());
+                    ImmutableNodes.mapEntry(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, 1), true, false, 3), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
-                    expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS));
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            final CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
+                    expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.class));
             assertEquals("Can commit", true, canCommitReply.getCanCommit());
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message.
 
-            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.class);
 
-            InOrder inOrder = inOrder(mockCohort.get());
+            final InOrder inOrder = inOrder(mockCohort.get());
             inOrder.verify(mockCohort.get()).canCommit();
             inOrder.verify(mockCohort.get()).preCommit();
             inOrder.verify(mockCohort.get()).commit();
@@ -861,27 +741,25 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
             // Verify data in the data store.
 
             verifyOuterListEntry(shard, 1);
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testBatchedModificationsWithCommitOnReady() throws Throwable {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
                     "testBatchedModificationsWithCommitOnReady");
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
             final String transactionID = "tx";
-            FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
+            final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
 
             final AtomicReference<ShardDataTreeCohort> mockCohort = new AtomicReference<>();
-            ShardCommitCoordinator.CohortDecorator cohortDecorator = new ShardCommitCoordinator.CohortDecorator() {
+            final ShardCommitCoordinator.CohortDecorator cohortDecorator = new ShardCommitCoordinator.CohortDecorator() {
                 @Override
-                public ShardDataTreeCohort decorate(String txID, ShardDataTreeCohort actual) {
+                public ShardDataTreeCohort decorate(final String txID, final ShardDataTreeCohort actual) {
                     if(mockCohort.get() == null) {
                         mockCohort.set(createDelegatingMockCohort("cohort", actual));
                     }
@@ -895,22 +773,22 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
             // Send a BatchedModifications to start a transaction.
 
             shard.tell(newBatchedModifications(transactionID, TestModel.TEST_PATH,
-                    ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME), false, false), getRef());
+                    ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME), false, false, 1), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, BatchedModificationsReply.class);
 
             // Send a couple more BatchedModifications.
 
             shard.tell(newBatchedModifications(transactionID, TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH,
-                    ImmutableNodes.mapNodeBuilder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME).build(), false, false), getRef());
+                ImmutableNodes.mapNodeBuilder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME).build(), false, false, 2), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, BatchedModificationsReply.class);
 
             shard.tell(newBatchedModifications(transactionID, YangInstanceIdentifier.builder(
                     TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH).nodeWithKey(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, 1).build(),
-                    ImmutableNodes.mapEntry(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, 1), true, true), getRef());
+                ImmutableNodes.mapEntry(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, 1), true, true, 3), getRef());
 
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.class);
 
-            InOrder inOrder = inOrder(mockCohort.get());
+            final InOrder inOrder = inOrder(mockCohort.get());
             inOrder.verify(mockCohort.get()).canCommit();
             inOrder.verify(mockCohort.get()).preCommit();
             inOrder.verify(mockCohort.get()).commit();
@@ -918,77 +796,118 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
             // Verify data in the data store.
 
             verifyOuterListEntry(shard, 1);
+        }};
+    }
 
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
+    @Test(expected=IllegalStateException.class)
+    public void testBatchedModificationsReadyWithIncorrectTotalMessageCount() throws Throwable {
+        new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
+                    newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
+                    "testBatchedModificationsReadyWithIncorrectTotalMessageCount");
+
+            waitUntilLeader(shard);
+
+            final String transactionID = "tx1";
+            final BatchedModifications batched = new BatchedModifications(transactionID, DataStoreVersions.CURRENT_VERSION, null);
+            batched.setReady(true);
+            batched.setTotalMessagesSent(2);
+
+            shard.tell(batched, getRef());
+
+            final Failure failure = expectMsgClass(duration("5 seconds"), akka.actor.Status.Failure.class);
+
+            if(failure != null) {
+                throw failure.cause();
+            }
         }};
     }
 
-    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-    private static void verifyOuterListEntry(final TestActorRef<Shard> shard, Object expIDValue) throws Exception {
-        NormalizedNode<?, ?> outerList = readStore(shard, TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH);
-        assertNotNull(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME.getLocalName() + " not found", outerList);
-        assertTrue(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME.getLocalName() + " value is not Iterable",
-                outerList.getValue() instanceof Iterable);
-        Object entry = ((Iterable<Object>)outerList.getValue()).iterator().next();
-        assertTrue(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME.getLocalName() + " entry is not MapEntryNode",
-                entry instanceof MapEntryNode);
-        MapEntryNode mapEntry = (MapEntryNode)entry;
-        Optional<DataContainerChild<? extends PathArgument, ?>> idLeaf =
-                mapEntry.getChild(new YangInstanceIdentifier.NodeIdentifier(TestModel.ID_QNAME));
-        assertTrue("Missing leaf " + TestModel.ID_QNAME.getLocalName(), idLeaf.isPresent());
-        assertEquals(TestModel.ID_QNAME.getLocalName() + " value", expIDValue, idLeaf.get().getValue());
+    @Test
+    public void testBatchedModificationsWithOperationFailure() throws Throwable {
+        new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
+                    newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
+                    "testBatchedModificationsWithOperationFailure");
+
+            waitUntilLeader(shard);
+
+            // Test merge with invalid data. An exception should occur when the merge is applied. Note that
+            // write will not validate the children for performance reasons.
+
+            String transactionID = "tx1";
+
+            ContainerNode invalidData = ImmutableContainerNodeBuilder.create().withNodeIdentifier(
+                    new YangInstanceIdentifier.NodeIdentifier(TestModel.TEST_QNAME)).
+                        withChild(ImmutableNodes.leafNode(TestModel.JUNK_QNAME, "junk")).build();
+
+            BatchedModifications batched = new BatchedModifications(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION, null);
+            batched.addModification(new MergeModification(TestModel.TEST_PATH, invalidData));
+            shard.tell(batched, getRef());
+            Failure failure = expectMsgClass(duration("5 seconds"), akka.actor.Status.Failure.class);
+
+            Throwable cause = failure.cause();
+
+            batched = new BatchedModifications(transactionID, DataStoreVersions.CURRENT_VERSION, null);
+            batched.setReady(true);
+            batched.setTotalMessagesSent(2);
+
+            shard.tell(batched, getRef());
+
+            failure = expectMsgClass(duration("5 seconds"), akka.actor.Status.Failure.class);
+            assertEquals("Failure cause", cause, failure.cause());
+        }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testBatchedModificationsOnTransactionChain() throws Throwable {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
                     "testBatchedModificationsOnTransactionChain");
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
-            String transactionChainID = "txChain";
-            String transactionID1 = "tx1";
-            String transactionID2 = "tx2";
+            final String transactionChainID = "txChain";
+            final String transactionID1 = "tx1";
+            final String transactionID2 = "tx2";
 
-            FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
+            final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
 
             // Send a BatchedModifications to start a chained write transaction and ready it.
 
-            ContainerNode containerNode = ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME);
-            YangInstanceIdentifier path = TestModel.TEST_PATH;
+            final ContainerNode containerNode = ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME);
+            final YangInstanceIdentifier path = TestModel.TEST_PATH;
             shard.tell(newBatchedModifications(transactionID1, transactionChainID, path,
-                    containerNode, true, false), getRef());
+                    containerNode, true, false, 1), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Create a read Tx on the same chain.
 
-            shard.tell(new CreateTransaction(transactionID2, TransactionType.READ_ONLY.ordinal() ,
-                    transactionChainID).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            shard.tell(new CreateTransaction(transactionID2, TransactionType.READ_ONLY.ordinal(),
+                    transactionChainID, DataStoreVersions.CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
 
-            CreateTransactionReply createReply = expectMsgClass(duration("3 seconds"), CreateTransactionReply.class);
+            final CreateTransactionReply createReply = expectMsgClass(duration("3 seconds"), CreateTransactionReply.class);
 
-            getSystem().actorSelection(createReply.getTransactionActorPath()).tell(new ReadData(path), getRef());
-            ReadDataReply readReply = expectMsgClass(duration("3 seconds"), ReadDataReply.class);
+            getSystem().actorSelection(createReply.getTransactionPath()).tell(
+                    new ReadData(path, DataStoreVersions.CURRENT_VERSION), getRef());
+            final ReadDataReply readReply = expectMsgClass(duration("3 seconds"), ReadDataReply.class);
             assertEquals("Read node", containerNode, readReply.getNormalizedNode());
 
             // Commit the write transaction.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
-                    expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS));
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            final CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
+                    expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.class));
             assertEquals("Can commit", true, canCommitReply.getCanCommit());
 
-            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Verify data in the data store.
 
-            NormalizedNode<?, ?> actualNode = readStore(shard, path);
+            final NormalizedNode<?, ?> actualNode = readStore(shard, path);
             assertEquals("Stored node", containerNode, actualNode);
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
@@ -996,13 +915,12 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
     public void testOnBatchedModificationsWhenNotLeader() {
         final AtomicBoolean overrideLeaderCalls = new AtomicBoolean();
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            Creator<Shard> creator = new Creator<Shard>() {
+            final Creator<Shard> creator = new Creator<Shard>() {
                 private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
 
                 @Override
                 public Shard create() throws Exception {
-                    return new Shard(shardID, Collections.<String,String>emptyMap(),
-                            newDatastoreContext(), SCHEMA_CONTEXT) {
+                    return new Shard(newShardBuilder()) {
                         @Override
                         protected boolean isLeader() {
                             return overrideLeaderCalls.get() ? false : super.isLeader();
@@ -1017,114 +935,141 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
                 }
             };
 
-            TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     Props.create(new DelegatingShardCreator(creator)), "testOnBatchedModificationsWhenNotLeader");
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
             overrideLeaderCalls.set(true);
 
-            BatchedModifications batched = new BatchedModifications("tx", DataStoreVersions.CURRENT_VERSION, "");
+            final BatchedModifications batched = new BatchedModifications("tx", DataStoreVersions.CURRENT_VERSION, "");
 
             shard.tell(batched, ActorRef.noSender());
 
             expectMsgEquals(batched);
+        }};
+    }
 
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
+    @Test
+    public void testTransactionMessagesWithNoLeader() {
+        new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
+            dataStoreContextBuilder.customRaftPolicyImplementation(DisableElectionsRaftPolicy.class.getName()).
+                shardHeartbeatIntervalInMillis(50).shardElectionTimeoutFactor(1);
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
+                    newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
+                    "testTransactionMessagesWithNoLeader");
+
+            waitUntilNoLeader(shard);
+
+            shard.tell(new BatchedModifications("tx", DataStoreVersions.CURRENT_VERSION, ""), getRef());
+            Failure failure = expectMsgClass(Failure.class);
+            assertEquals("Failure cause type", NoShardLeaderException.class, failure.cause().getClass());
+
+            shard.tell(prepareForwardedReadyTransaction(mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class), "tx",
+                    DataStoreVersions.CURRENT_VERSION, true), getRef());
+            failure = expectMsgClass(Failure.class);
+            assertEquals("Failure cause type", NoShardLeaderException.class, failure.cause().getClass());
+
+            shard.tell(new ReadyLocalTransaction("tx", mock(DataTreeModification.class), true), getRef());
+            failure = expectMsgClass(Failure.class);
+            assertEquals("Failure cause type", NoShardLeaderException.class, failure.cause().getClass());
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testForwardedReadyTransactionWithImmediateCommit() throws Exception{
+    public void testReadyWithReadWriteImmediateCommit() throws Exception{
+        testReadyWithImmediateCommit(true);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testReadyWithWriteOnlyImmediateCommit() throws Exception{
+        testReadyWithImmediateCommit(false);
+    }
+
+    private void testReadyWithImmediateCommit(final boolean readWrite) throws Exception{
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
-                    "testForwardedReadyTransactionWithImmediateCommit");
+                    "testReadyWithImmediateCommit-" + readWrite);
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
-            ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
+            final ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
 
-            String transactionID = "tx1";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            NormalizedNode<?, ?> containerNode = ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME);
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort", dataStore,
+            final String transactionID = "tx1";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final NormalizedNode<?, ?> containerNode = ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME);
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort", dataStore,
                     TestModel.TEST_PATH, containerNode, modification);
 
-            FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
-
-            // Simulate the ForwardedReadyTransaction messages that would be sent
-            // by the ShardTransaction.
+            final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort, modification, true, true), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort, transactionID, modification, true), getRef());
 
-            expectMsgClass(duration, ThreePhaseCommitCohortMessages.CommitTransactionReply.class);
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.class);
 
-            InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort);
+            final InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort);
             inOrder.verify(cohort).canCommit();
             inOrder.verify(cohort).preCommit();
             inOrder.verify(cohort).commit();
 
-            NormalizedNode<?, ?> actualNode = readStore(shard, TestModel.TEST_PATH);
+            final NormalizedNode<?, ?> actualNode = readStore(shard, TestModel.TEST_PATH);
             assertEquals(TestModel.TEST_QNAME.getLocalName(), containerNode, actualNode);
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testReadyLocalTransactionWithImmediateCommit() throws Exception{
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
                     "testReadyLocalTransactionWithImmediateCommit");
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
-            ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
+            final ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
 
-            DataTreeModification modification = dataStore.getDataTree().takeSnapshot().newModification();
+            final DataTreeModification modification = dataStore.newModification();
 
-            ContainerNode writeData = ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME);
+            final ContainerNode writeData = ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME);
             new WriteModification(TestModel.TEST_PATH, writeData).apply(modification);
-            MapNode mergeData = ImmutableNodes.mapNodeBuilder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME).build();
+            final MapNode mergeData = ImmutableNodes.mapNodeBuilder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME).build();
             new MergeModification(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH, mergeData).apply(modification);
 
-            String txId = "tx1";
-            ReadyLocalTransaction readyMessage = new ReadyLocalTransaction(txId, modification, true);
+            final String txId = "tx1";
+            modification.ready();
+            final ReadyLocalTransaction readyMessage = new ReadyLocalTransaction(txId, modification, true);
 
             shard.tell(readyMessage, getRef());
 
-            expectMsgClass(CommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            expectMsgClass(CommitTransactionReply.class);
 
-            NormalizedNode<?, ?> actualNode = readStore(shard, TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH);
+            final NormalizedNode<?, ?> actualNode = readStore(shard, TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH);
             assertEquals(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME.getLocalName(), mergeData, actualNode);
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testReadyLocalTransactionWithThreePhaseCommit() throws Exception{
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
                     "testReadyLocalTransactionWithThreePhaseCommit");
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
-            ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
+            final ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
 
-            DataTreeModification modification = dataStore.getDataTree().takeSnapshot().newModification();
+            final DataTreeModification modification = dataStore.newModification();
 
-            ContainerNode writeData = ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME);
+            final ContainerNode writeData = ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME);
             new WriteModification(TestModel.TEST_PATH, writeData).apply(modification);
-            MapNode mergeData = ImmutableNodes.mapNodeBuilder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME).build();
+            final MapNode mergeData = ImmutableNodes.mapNodeBuilder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME).build();
             new MergeModification(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH, mergeData).apply(modification);
 
-            String txId = "tx1";
-            ReadyLocalTransaction readyMessage = new ReadyLocalTransaction(txId, modification, false);
+            final String txId = "tx1";
+                modification.ready();
+            final ReadyLocalTransaction readyMessage = new ReadyLocalTransaction(txId, modification, false);
 
             shard.tell(readyMessage, getRef());
 
@@ -1132,141 +1077,128 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(txId).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
-                    expectMsgClass(CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS));
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(txId, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            final CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
+                    expectMsgClass(CanCommitTransactionReply.class));
             assertEquals("Can commit", true, canCommitReply.getCanCommit());
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message.
 
-            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(txId).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            expectMsgClass(CommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(txId, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(CommitTransactionReply.class);
 
-            NormalizedNode<?, ?> actualNode = readStore(shard, TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH);
+            final NormalizedNode<?, ?> actualNode = readStore(shard, TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH);
             assertEquals(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME.getLocalName(), mergeData, actualNode);
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testCommitWithPersistenceDisabled() throws Throwable {
+    public void testReadWriteCommitWithPersistenceDisabled() throws Throwable {
+        testCommitWithPersistenceDisabled(true);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testWriteOnlyCommitWithPersistenceDisabled() throws Throwable {
+        testCommitWithPersistenceDisabled(true);
+    }
+
+    private void testCommitWithPersistenceDisabled(final boolean readWrite) throws Throwable {
         dataStoreContextBuilder.persistent(false);
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
-                    "testCommitWithPersistenceDisabled");
+                    "testCommitWithPersistenceDisabled-" + readWrite);
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
-            ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
+            final ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
 
             // Setup a simulated transactions with a mock cohort.
 
-            String transactionID = "tx";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            NormalizedNode<?, ?> containerNode = ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME);
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort", dataStore,
-                    TestModel.TEST_PATH, containerNode, modification);
-
-            FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
+            final String transactionID = "tx";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final NormalizedNode<?, ?> containerNode = ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME);
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort", dataStore,
+                TestModel.TEST_PATH, containerNode, modification);
 
-            // Simulate the ForwardedReadyTransaction messages that would be sent
-            // by the ShardTransaction.
+            final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort, modification, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort, transactionID, modification), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
-                    expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS));
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            final CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
+                    expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.class));
             assertEquals("Can commit", true, canCommitReply.getCanCommit());
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message.
 
-            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.class);
 
-            InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort);
+            final InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort);
             inOrder.verify(cohort).canCommit();
             inOrder.verify(cohort).preCommit();
             inOrder.verify(cohort).commit();
 
-            NormalizedNode<?, ?> actualNode = readStore(shard, TestModel.TEST_PATH);
+            final NormalizedNode<?, ?> actualNode = readStore(shard, TestModel.TEST_PATH);
             assertEquals(TestModel.TEST_QNAME.getLocalName(), containerNode, actualNode);
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
-    private static DataTreeCandidateTip mockCandidate(final String name) {
-        DataTreeCandidateTip mockCandidate = mock(DataTreeCandidateTip.class, name);
-        DataTreeCandidateNode mockCandidateNode = mock(DataTreeCandidateNode.class, name + "-node");
-        doReturn(ModificationType.WRITE).when(mockCandidateNode).getModificationType();
-        doReturn(Optional.of(ImmutableNodes.containerNode(CARS_QNAME))).when(mockCandidateNode).getDataAfter();
-        doReturn(YangInstanceIdentifier.builder().build()).when(mockCandidate).getRootPath();
-        doReturn(mockCandidateNode).when(mockCandidate).getRootNode();
-        return mockCandidate;
+    @Test
+    public void testReadWriteCommitWhenTransactionHasNoModifications() {
+        testCommitWhenTransactionHasNoModifications(true);
     }
 
-    private static DataTreeCandidateTip mockUnmodifiedCandidate(final String name) {
-        DataTreeCandidateTip mockCandidate = mock(DataTreeCandidateTip.class, name);
-        DataTreeCandidateNode mockCandidateNode = mock(DataTreeCandidateNode.class, name + "-node");
-        doReturn(ModificationType.UNMODIFIED).when(mockCandidateNode).getModificationType();
-        doReturn(YangInstanceIdentifier.builder().build()).when(mockCandidate).getRootPath();
-        doReturn(mockCandidateNode).when(mockCandidate).getRootNode();
-        return mockCandidate;
+    @Test
+    public void testWriteOnlyCommitWhenTransactionHasNoModifications() {
+        testCommitWhenTransactionHasNoModifications(false);
     }
 
-    @Test
-    public void testCommitWhenTransactionHasNoModifications(){
+    private void testCommitWhenTransactionHasNoModifications(final boolean readWrite){
         // Note that persistence is enabled which would normally result in the entry getting written to the journal
         // but here that need not happen
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {
             {
-                final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+                final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                         newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
-                        "testCommitWhenTransactionHasNoModifications");
+                        "testCommitWhenTransactionHasNoModifications-" + readWrite);
 
                 waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
-                String transactionID = "tx1";
-                MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
-                ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
+                final String transactionID = "tx1";
+                final MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
+                final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
                 doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort).canCommit();
                 doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort).preCommit();
                 doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort).commit();
                 doReturn(mockUnmodifiedCandidate("cohort1-candidate")).when(cohort).getCandidate();
 
-                FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
-
-                // Simulate the ForwardedReadyTransaction messages that would be sent
-                // by the ShardTransaction.
+                final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
 
-                shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                        cohort, modification, true, false), getRef());
+                shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort, transactionID, modification), getRef());
                 expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
                 // Send the CanCommitTransaction message.
 
-                shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID).toSerializable(), getRef());
-                CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
-                        expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS));
+                shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+                final CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
+                        expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.class));
                 assertEquals("Can commit", true, canCommitReply.getCanCommit());
 
-                shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID).toSerializable(), getRef());
-                expectMsgClass(duration, ThreePhaseCommitCohortMessages.CommitTransactionReply.class);
+                shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+                expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.class);
 
-                InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort);
+                final InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort);
                 inOrder.verify(cohort).canCommit();
                 inOrder.verify(cohort).preCommit();
                 inOrder.verify(cohort).commit();
 
                 shard.tell(Shard.GET_SHARD_MBEAN_MESSAGE, getRef());
-                ShardStats shardStats = expectMsgClass(duration, ShardStats.class);
+                final ShardStats shardStats = expectMsgClass(duration, ShardStats.class);
 
                 // Use MBean for verification
                 // Committed transaction count should increase as usual
@@ -1274,58 +1206,60 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
                 // Commit index should not advance because this does not go into the journal
                 assertEquals(-1, shardStats.getCommitIndex());
-
-                shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
-
             }
         };
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testCommitWhenTransactionHasModifications(){
+    public void testReadWriteCommitWhenTransactionHasModifications() {
+        testCommitWhenTransactionHasModifications(true);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testWriteOnlyCommitWhenTransactionHasModifications() {
+        testCommitWhenTransactionHasModifications(false);
+    }
+
+    private void testCommitWhenTransactionHasModifications(final boolean readWrite){
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {
             {
-                final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+                final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                         newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
-                        "testCommitWhenTransactionHasModifications");
+                        "testCommitWhenTransactionHasModifications-" + readWrite);
 
                 waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
-                String transactionID = "tx1";
-                MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
+                final String transactionID = "tx1";
+                final MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
                 modification.addModification(new DeleteModification(YangInstanceIdentifier.builder().build()));
-                ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
+                final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
                 doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort).canCommit();
                 doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort).preCommit();
                 doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort).commit();
                 doReturn(mockCandidate("cohort1-candidate")).when(cohort).getCandidate();
 
-                FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
-
-                // Simulate the ForwardedReadyTransaction messages that would be sent
-                // by the ShardTransaction.
+                final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
 
-                shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                        cohort, modification, true, false), getRef());
+                shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort, transactionID, modification), getRef());
                 expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
                 // Send the CanCommitTransaction message.
 
-                shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID).toSerializable(), getRef());
-                CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
-                        expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS));
+                shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+                final CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
+                        expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.class));
                 assertEquals("Can commit", true, canCommitReply.getCanCommit());
 
-                shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID).toSerializable(), getRef());
-                expectMsgClass(duration, ThreePhaseCommitCohortMessages.CommitTransactionReply.class);
+                shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+                expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.class);
 
-                InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort);
+                final InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort);
                 inOrder.verify(cohort).canCommit();
                 inOrder.verify(cohort).preCommit();
                 inOrder.verify(cohort).commit();
 
                 shard.tell(Shard.GET_SHARD_MBEAN_MESSAGE, getRef());
-                ShardStats shardStats = expectMsgClass(duration, ShardStats.class);
+                final ShardStats shardStats = expectMsgClass(duration, ShardStats.class);
 
                 // Use MBean for verification
                 // Committed transaction count should increase as usual
@@ -1333,69 +1267,66 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
                 // Commit index should advance as we do not have an empty modification
                 assertEquals(0, shardStats.getCommitIndex());
-
-                shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
-
             }
         };
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testCommitPhaseFailure() throws Throwable {
+        testCommitPhaseFailure(true);
+        testCommitPhaseFailure(false);
+    }
+
+    private void testCommitPhaseFailure(final boolean readWrite) throws Throwable {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
-                    "testCommitPhaseFailure");
+                    "testCommitPhaseFailure-" + readWrite);
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
             // Setup 2 simulated transactions with mock cohorts. The first one fails in the
             // commit phase.
 
-            String transactionID1 = "tx1";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
+            final String transactionID1 = "tx1";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort1).canCommit();
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(null)).when(cohort1).preCommit();
-            doReturn(Futures.immediateFailedFuture(new IllegalStateException("mock"))).when(cohort1).commit();
+            doReturn(Futures.immediateFailedFuture(new RuntimeException("mock"))).when(cohort1).commit();
             doReturn(mockCandidate("cohort1-candidate")).when(cohort1).getCandidate();
 
-            String transactionID2 = "tx2";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort2");
+            final String transactionID2 = "tx2";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort2");
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort2).canCommit();
 
-            FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
+            final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
             final Timeout timeout = new Timeout(duration);
 
-            // Simulate the ForwardedReadyTransaction messages that would be sent
-            // by the ShardTransaction.
-
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort1, modification1, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort1, transactionID1, modification1), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort2, modification2, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort2, transactionID2, modification2), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message for the first Tx.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
-                    expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS));
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            final CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
+                    expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.class));
             assertEquals("Can commit", true, canCommitReply.getCanCommit());
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message for the 2nd Tx. This should get queued and
             // processed after the first Tx completes.
 
-            Future<Object> canCommitFuture = Patterns.ask(shard,
-                    new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2).toSerializable(), timeout);
+            final Future<Object> canCommitFuture = Patterns.ask(shard,
+                    new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), timeout);
 
             // Send the CommitTransaction message for the first Tx. This should send back an error
             // and trigger the 2nd Tx to proceed.
 
-            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, akka.actor.Status.Failure.class);
 
             // Wait for the 2nd Tx to complete the canCommit phase.
@@ -1410,67 +1341,65 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
             assertEquals("2nd CanCommit complete", true, latch.await(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS));
 
-            InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort1, cohort2);
+            final InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort1, cohort2);
             inOrder.verify(cohort1).canCommit();
             inOrder.verify(cohort1).preCommit();
             inOrder.verify(cohort1).commit();
             inOrder.verify(cohort2).canCommit();
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testPreCommitPhaseFailure() throws Throwable {
+        testPreCommitPhaseFailure(true);
+        testPreCommitPhaseFailure(false);
+    }
+
+    private void testPreCommitPhaseFailure(final boolean readWrite) throws Throwable {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
-                    "testPreCommitPhaseFailure");
+                    "testPreCommitPhaseFailure-" + readWrite);
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
-            String transactionID1 = "tx1";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
+            final String transactionID1 = "tx1";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort1).canCommit();
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFailedFuture(new IllegalStateException("mock"))).when(cohort1).preCommit();
 
-            String transactionID2 = "tx2";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort2");
+            final String transactionID2 = "tx2";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort2");
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort2).canCommit();
 
-            FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
+            final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
             final Timeout timeout = new Timeout(duration);
 
-            // Simulate the ForwardedReadyTransaction messages that would be sent
-            // by the ShardTransaction.
-
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort1, modification1, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort1, transactionID1, modification1), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort2, modification2, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort2, transactionID2, modification2), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message for the first Tx.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
-                    expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS));
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            final CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
+                expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.class));
             assertEquals("Can commit", true, canCommitReply.getCanCommit());
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message for the 2nd Tx. This should get queued and
             // processed after the first Tx completes.
 
-            Future<Object> canCommitFuture = Patterns.ask(shard,
-                    new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2).toSerializable(), timeout);
+            final Future<Object> canCommitFuture = Patterns.ask(shard,
+                    new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), timeout);
 
             // Send the CommitTransaction message for the first Tx. This should send back an error
             // and trigger the 2nd Tx to proceed.
 
-            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, akka.actor.Status.Failure.class);
 
             // Wait for the 2nd Tx to complete the canCommit phase.
@@ -1485,134 +1414,129 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
             assertEquals("2nd CanCommit complete", true, latch.await(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS));
 
-            InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort1, cohort2);
+            final InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort1, cohort2);
             inOrder.verify(cohort1).canCommit();
             inOrder.verify(cohort1).preCommit();
             inOrder.verify(cohort2).canCommit();
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testCanCommitPhaseFailure() throws Throwable {
+        testCanCommitPhaseFailure(true);
+        testCanCommitPhaseFailure(false);
+    }
+
+    private void testCanCommitPhaseFailure(final boolean readWrite) throws Throwable {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
-                    "testCanCommitPhaseFailure");
+                    "testCanCommitPhaseFailure-" + readWrite);
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
             final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
 
-            String transactionID1 = "tx1";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
+            final String transactionID1 = "tx1";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFailedFuture(new IllegalStateException("mock"))).when(cohort).canCommit();
 
-            // Simulate the ForwardedReadyTransaction messages that would be sent
-            // by the ShardTransaction.
-
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort, modification, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort, transactionID1, modification), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, akka.actor.Status.Failure.class);
 
             // Send another can commit to ensure the failed one got cleaned up.
 
             reset(cohort);
 
-            String transactionID2 = "tx2";
+            final String transactionID2 = "tx2";
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort).canCommit();
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort, modification, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort, transactionID2, modification), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            CanCommitTransactionReply reply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
-                    expectMsgClass(CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS));
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            final CanCommitTransactionReply reply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
+                    expectMsgClass(CanCommitTransactionReply.class));
             assertEquals("getCanCommit", true, reply.getCanCommit());
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testCanCommitPhaseFalseResponse() throws Throwable {
+        testCanCommitPhaseFalseResponse(true);
+        testCanCommitPhaseFalseResponse(false);
+    }
+
+    private void testCanCommitPhaseFalseResponse(final boolean readWrite) throws Throwable {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
-                    "testCanCommitPhaseFalseResponse");
+                    "testCanCommitPhaseFalseResponse-" + readWrite);
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
             final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
 
-            String transactionID1 = "tx1";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
+            final String transactionID1 = "tx1";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.FALSE)).when(cohort).canCommit();
 
-            // Simulate the ForwardedReadyTransaction messages that would be sent
-            // by the ShardTransaction.
-
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort, modification, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort, transactionID1, modification), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
             CanCommitTransactionReply reply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
-                    expectMsgClass(CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS));
+                    expectMsgClass(CanCommitTransactionReply.class));
             assertEquals("getCanCommit", false, reply.getCanCommit());
 
             // Send another can commit to ensure the failed one got cleaned up.
 
             reset(cohort);
 
-            String transactionID2 = "tx2";
+            final String transactionID2 = "tx2";
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort).canCommit();
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort, modification, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort, transactionID2, modification), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
             reply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
-                    expectMsgClass(CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS));
+                    expectMsgClass(CanCommitTransactionReply.class));
             assertEquals("getCanCommit", true, reply.getCanCommit());
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testImmediateCommitWithCanCommitPhaseFailure() throws Throwable {
+        testImmediateCommitWithCanCommitPhaseFailure(true);
+        testImmediateCommitWithCanCommitPhaseFailure(false);
+    }
+
+    private void testImmediateCommitWithCanCommitPhaseFailure(final boolean readWrite) throws Throwable {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
-                    "testImmediateCommitWithCanCommitPhaseFailure");
+                    "testImmediateCommitWithCanCommitPhaseFailure-" + readWrite);
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
             final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
 
-            String transactionID1 = "tx1";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
+            final String transactionID1 = "tx1";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFailedFuture(new IllegalStateException("mock"))).when(cohort).canCommit();
 
-            // Simulate the ForwardedReadyTransaction messages that would be sent
-            // by the ShardTransaction.
-
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort, modification, true, true), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort, transactionID1, modification, true), getRef());
 
             expectMsgClass(duration, akka.actor.Status.Failure.class);
 
@@ -1620,46 +1544,44 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
             reset(cohort);
 
-            String transactionID2 = "tx2";
+            final String transactionID2 = "tx2";
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort).canCommit();
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(null)).when(cohort).preCommit();
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(null)).when(cohort).commit();
-            DataTreeCandidateTip candidate = mock(DataTreeCandidateTip.class);
-            DataTreeCandidateNode candidateRoot = mock(DataTreeCandidateNode.class);
+            final DataTreeCandidateTip candidate = mock(DataTreeCandidateTip.class);
+            final DataTreeCandidateNode candidateRoot = mock(DataTreeCandidateNode.class);
             doReturn(ModificationType.UNMODIFIED).when(candidateRoot).getModificationType();
             doReturn(candidateRoot).when(candidate).getRootNode();
             doReturn(candidate).when(cohort).getCandidate();
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort, modification, true, true), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort, transactionID2, modification, true), getRef());
 
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.class);
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testImmediateCommitWithCanCommitPhaseFalseResponse() throws Throwable {
+        testImmediateCommitWithCanCommitPhaseFalseResponse(true);
+        testImmediateCommitWithCanCommitPhaseFalseResponse(false);
+    }
+
+    private void testImmediateCommitWithCanCommitPhaseFalseResponse(final boolean readWrite) throws Throwable {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
-                    "testImmediateCommitWithCanCommitPhaseFalseResponse");
+                    "testImmediateCommitWithCanCommitPhaseFalseResponse-" + readWrite);
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
             final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
 
-            String transactionID = "tx1";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
+            final String transactionID = "tx1";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.FALSE)).when(cohort).canCommit();
 
-            // Simulate the ForwardedReadyTransaction messages that would be sent
-            // by the ShardTransaction.
-
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort, modification, true, true), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort, transactionID, modification, true), getRef());
 
             expectMsgClass(duration, akka.actor.Status.Failure.class);
 
@@ -1667,43 +1589,45 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
             reset(cohort);
 
-            String transactionID2 = "tx2";
+            final String transactionID2 = "tx2";
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort).canCommit();
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(null)).when(cohort).preCommit();
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(null)).when(cohort).commit();
-            DataTreeCandidateTip candidate = mock(DataTreeCandidateTip.class);
-            DataTreeCandidateNode candidateRoot = mock(DataTreeCandidateNode.class);
+            final DataTreeCandidateTip candidate = mock(DataTreeCandidateTip.class);
+            final DataTreeCandidateNode candidateRoot = mock(DataTreeCandidateNode.class);
             doReturn(ModificationType.UNMODIFIED).when(candidateRoot).getModificationType();
             doReturn(candidateRoot).when(candidate).getRootNode();
             doReturn(candidate).when(cohort).getCandidate();
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort, modification, true, true), getRef());
-
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort, transactionID2, modification, true), getRef());
 
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.class);
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testAbortBeforeFinishCommit() throws Throwable {
+        testAbortBeforeFinishCommit(true);
+        testAbortBeforeFinishCommit(false);
+    }
+
+    private void testAbortBeforeFinishCommit(final boolean readWrite) throws Throwable {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
-                    "testAbortBeforeFinishCommit");
+                    "testAbortBeforeFinishCommit-" + readWrite);
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
             final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
-            ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
+            final ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
 
             final String transactionID = "tx1";
-            Function<ShardDataTreeCohort, ListenableFuture<Void>> preCommit =
+            final Function<ShardDataTreeCohort, ListenableFuture<Void>> preCommit =
                           new Function<ShardDataTreeCohort, ListenableFuture<Void>>() {
                 @Override
                 public ListenableFuture<Void> apply(final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort) {
-                    ListenableFuture<Void> preCommitFuture = cohort.preCommit();
+                    final ListenableFuture<Void> preCommitFuture = cohort.preCommit();
 
                     // Simulate an AbortTransaction message occurring during replication, after
                     // persisting and before finishing the commit to the in-memory store.
@@ -1719,48 +1643,50 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
                 }
             };
 
-            MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort1", dataStore,
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort1", dataStore,
                     TestModel.TEST_PATH, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME),
                     modification, preCommit);
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort, modification, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort, transactionID, modification), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
-                    expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS));
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            final CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
+                expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.class));
             assertEquals("Can commit", true, canCommitReply.getCanCommit());
 
-            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.class);
 
-            NormalizedNode<?, ?> node = readStore(shard, TestModel.TEST_PATH);
+            final NormalizedNode<?, ?> node = readStore(shard, TestModel.TEST_PATH);
 
             // Since we're simulating an abort occurring during replication and before finish commit,
             // the data should still get written to the in-memory store since we've gotten past
             // canCommit and preCommit and persisted the data.
             assertNotNull(TestModel.TEST_QNAME.getLocalName() + " not found", node);
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testTransactionCommitTimeout() throws Throwable {
+        testTransactionCommitTimeout(true);
+        testTransactionCommitTimeout(false);
+    }
+
+    private void testTransactionCommitTimeout(final boolean readWrite) throws Throwable {
         dataStoreContextBuilder.shardTransactionCommitTimeoutInSeconds(1);
 
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
-                    "testTransactionCommitTimeout");
+                    "testTransactionCommitTimeout-" + readWrite);
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
             final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
 
-            ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
+            final ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
 
             writeToStore(shard, TestModel.TEST_PATH, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME));
             writeToStore(shard, TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH,
@@ -1768,9 +1694,9 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
             // Create 1st Tx - will timeout
 
-            String transactionID1 = "tx1";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort1", dataStore,
+            final String transactionID1 = "tx1";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort1", dataStore,
                     YangInstanceIdentifier.builder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH)
                         .nodeWithKey(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, 1).build(),
                     ImmutableNodes.mapEntry(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, 1),
@@ -1778,49 +1704,45 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
             // Create 2nd Tx
 
-            String transactionID2 = "tx3";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            YangInstanceIdentifier listNodePath = YangInstanceIdentifier.builder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH)
+            final String transactionID2 = "tx3";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final YangInstanceIdentifier listNodePath = YangInstanceIdentifier.builder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH)
                 .nodeWithKey(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, 2).build();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort3", dataStore,
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort3", dataStore,
                     listNodePath,
                     ImmutableNodes.mapEntry(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME, TestModel.ID_QNAME, 2),
                     modification2);
 
             // Ready the Tx's
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort1, modification1, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort1, transactionID1, modification1), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort2, modification2, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort2, transactionID2, modification2), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
             // canCommit 1st Tx. We don't send the commit so it should timeout.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.class);
 
             // canCommit the 2nd Tx - it should complete after the 1st Tx times out.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Try to commit the 1st Tx - should fail as it's not the current Tx.
 
-            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, akka.actor.Status.Failure.class);
 
             // Commit the 2nd Tx.
 
-            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID2).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.class);
 
-            NormalizedNode<?, ?> node = readStore(shard, listNodePath);
+            final NormalizedNode<?, ?> node = readStore(shard, listNodePath);
             assertNotNull(listNodePath + " not found", node);
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
@@ -1829,7 +1751,7 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
         dataStoreContextBuilder.shardTransactionCommitQueueCapacity(2);
 
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
                     "testTransactionCommitQueueCapacityExceeded");
 
@@ -1837,56 +1759,51 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
             final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
 
-            ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
+            final ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
 
-            String transactionID1 = "tx1";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort1", dataStore,
+            final String transactionID1 = "tx1";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort1", dataStore,
                     TestModel.TEST_PATH, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME), modification1);
 
-            String transactionID2 = "tx2";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort2", dataStore,
+            final String transactionID2 = "tx2";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort2", dataStore,
                     TestModel.OUTER_LIST_PATH,
                     ImmutableNodes.mapNodeBuilder(TestModel.OUTER_LIST_QNAME).build(),
                     modification2);
 
-            String transactionID3 = "tx3";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification3 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort3 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort3", dataStore,
+            final String transactionID3 = "tx3";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification3 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort3 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort3", dataStore,
                     TestModel.TEST_PATH, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME), modification3);
 
             // Ready the Tx's
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort1, modification1, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(false, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort1, transactionID1, modification1), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort2, modification2, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(false, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort2, transactionID2, modification2), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
             // The 3rd Tx should exceed queue capacity and fail.
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID3, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort3, modification3, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(false, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort3, transactionID3, modification3), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, akka.actor.Status.Failure.class);
 
             // canCommit 1st Tx.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.class);
 
             // canCommit the 2nd Tx - it should get queued.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
 
             // canCommit the 3rd Tx - should exceed queue capacity and fail.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID3).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID3, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, akka.actor.Status.Failure.class);
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
@@ -1895,7 +1812,7 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
         dataStoreContextBuilder.shardCommitQueueExpiryTimeoutInMillis(1300).shardTransactionCommitTimeoutInSeconds(1);
 
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
                     "testTransactionCommitWithPriorExpiredCohortEntries");
 
@@ -1903,42 +1820,37 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
             final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
 
-            ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
+            final ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
 
-            String transactionID1 = "tx1";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort1", dataStore,
+            final String transactionID1 = "tx1";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort1", dataStore,
                     TestModel.TEST_PATH, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME), modification1);
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort1, modification1, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(false, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort1, transactionID1, modification1), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
-            String transactionID2 = "tx2";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort2", dataStore,
+            final String transactionID2 = "tx2";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort2", dataStore,
                     TestModel.TEST_PATH, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME), modification2);
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort2, modification2, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(false, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort2, transactionID2, modification2), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
-            String transactionID3 = "tx3";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification3 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort3 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort3", dataStore,
+            final String transactionID3 = "tx3";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification3 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort3 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort3", dataStore,
                     TestModel.TEST2_PATH, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST2_QNAME), modification3);
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID3, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort3, modification3, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(false, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort3, transactionID3, modification3), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
             // All Tx's are readied. We'll send canCommit for the last one but not the others. The others
             // should expire from the queue and the last one should be processed.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID3).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID3, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.class);
         }};
     }
 
@@ -1947,7 +1859,7 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
         dataStoreContextBuilder.shardCommitQueueExpiryTimeoutInMillis(1300).shardTransactionCommitTimeoutInSeconds(1);
 
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
                     "testTransactionCommitWithSubsequentExpiredCohortEntry");
 
@@ -1955,138 +1867,204 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
             final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
 
-            ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
+            final ShardDataTree dataStore = shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore();
 
-            String transactionID1 = "tx1";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort1", dataStore,
+            final String transactionID1 = "tx1";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort1", dataStore,
                     TestModel.TEST_PATH, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME), modification1);
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort1, modification1, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(false, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort1, transactionID1, modification1), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
             // CanCommit the first one so it's the current in-progress CohortEntry.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Ready the second Tx.
 
-            String transactionID2 = "tx2";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort2", dataStore,
+            final String transactionID2 = "tx2";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = setupMockWriteTransaction("cohort2", dataStore,
                     TestModel.TEST_PATH, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME), modification2);
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort2, modification2, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(false, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort2, transactionID2, modification2), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Ready the third Tx.
 
-            String transactionID3 = "tx3";
-            DataTreeModification modification3 = dataStore.getDataTree().takeSnapshot().newModification();
+            final String transactionID3 = "tx3";
+            final DataTreeModification modification3 = dataStore.newModification();
             new WriteModification(TestModel.TEST2_PATH, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST2_QNAME))
                     .apply(modification3);
-            ReadyLocalTransaction readyMessage = new ReadyLocalTransaction(transactionID3, modification3, true);
+                modification3.ready();
+            final ReadyLocalTransaction readyMessage = new ReadyLocalTransaction(transactionID3, modification3, true);
 
             shard.tell(readyMessage, getRef());
 
             // Commit the first Tx. After completing, the second should expire from the queue and the third
             // Tx committed.
 
-            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            shard.tell(new CommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Expect commit reply from the third Tx.
 
-            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            expectMsgClass(duration, CommitTransactionReply.class);
 
-            NormalizedNode<?, ?> node = readStore(shard, TestModel.TEST2_PATH);
+            final NormalizedNode<?, ?> node = readStore(shard, TestModel.TEST2_PATH);
             assertNotNull(TestModel.TEST2_PATH + " not found", node);
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testCanCommitBeforeReadyFailure() throws Throwable {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
                     "testCanCommitBeforeReadyFailure");
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction("tx").toSerializable(), getRef());
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction("tx", CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration("5 seconds"), akka.actor.Status.Failure.class);
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
         }};
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testAbortTransaction() throws Throwable {
+    public void testAbortCurrentTransaction() throws Throwable {
+        testAbortCurrentTransaction(true);
+        testAbortCurrentTransaction(false);
+    }
+
+    private void testAbortCurrentTransaction(final boolean readWrite) throws Throwable {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
-                    "testAbortTransaction");
+                    "testAbortCurrentTransaction-" + readWrite);
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
             // Setup 2 simulated transactions with mock cohorts. The first one will be aborted.
 
-            String transactionID1 = "tx1";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
+            final String transactionID1 = "tx1";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification1 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort1 = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort1");
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort1).canCommit();
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(null)).when(cohort1).abort();
 
-            String transactionID2 = "tx2";
-            MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
-            ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort2");
+            final String transactionID2 = "tx2";
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification2 = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort2 = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort2");
             doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(Boolean.TRUE)).when(cohort2).canCommit();
 
-            FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
+            final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
             final Timeout timeout = new Timeout(duration);
 
-            // Simulate the ForwardedReadyTransaction messages that would be sent
-            // by the ShardTransaction.
-
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort1, modification1, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort1, transactionID1, modification1), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
-            shard.tell(new ForwardedReadyTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION,
-                    cohort2, modification2, true, false), getRef());
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort2, transactionID2, modification2), getRef());
             expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message for the first Tx.
 
-            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
-                    expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS));
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            final CanCommitTransactionReply canCommitReply = CanCommitTransactionReply.fromSerializable(
+                    expectMsgClass(duration, CanCommitTransactionReply.class));
             assertEquals("Can commit", true, canCommitReply.getCanCommit());
 
             // Send the CanCommitTransaction message for the 2nd Tx. This should get queued and
             // processed after the first Tx completes.
 
-            Future<Object> canCommitFuture = Patterns.ask(shard,
-                    new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2).toSerializable(), timeout);
+            final Future<Object> canCommitFuture = Patterns.ask(shard,
+                    new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID2, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), timeout);
 
             // Send the AbortTransaction message for the first Tx. This should trigger the 2nd
             // Tx to proceed.
 
-            shard.tell(new AbortTransaction(transactionID1).toSerializable(), getRef());
-            expectMsgClass(duration, AbortTransactionReply.SERIALIZABLE_CLASS);
+            shard.tell(new AbortTransaction(transactionID1, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, AbortTransactionReply.class);
 
             // Wait for the 2nd Tx to complete the canCommit phase.
 
             Await.ready(canCommitFuture, duration);
 
-            InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort1, cohort2);
+            final InOrder inOrder = inOrder(cohort1, cohort2);
             inOrder.verify(cohort1).canCommit();
             inOrder.verify(cohort2).canCommit();
+        }};
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testAbortQueuedTransaction() throws Throwable {
+        testAbortQueuedTransaction(true);
+        testAbortQueuedTransaction(false);
+    }
+
+    private void testAbortQueuedTransaction(final boolean readWrite) throws Throwable {
+        dataStoreContextBuilder.shardTransactionCommitTimeoutInSeconds(1);
+        new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
+            final AtomicReference<CountDownLatch> cleaupCheckLatch = new AtomicReference<>();
+            @SuppressWarnings("serial")
+            final Creator<Shard> creator = new Creator<Shard>() {
+                @Override
+                public Shard create() throws Exception {
+                    return new Shard(newShardBuilder()) {
+                        @Override
+                        public void handleCommand(final Object message) {
+                            super.handleCommand(message);
+                            if(TX_COMMIT_TIMEOUT_CHECK_MESSAGE.equals(message)) {
+                                if(cleaupCheckLatch.get() != null) {
+                                    cleaupCheckLatch.get().countDown();
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    };
+                }
+            };
+
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
+                    Props.create(new DelegatingShardCreator(creator)).withDispatcher(
+                            Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()), "testAbortQueuedTransaction-" + readWrite);
+
+            waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
+            final String transactionID = "tx1";
+
+            final MutableCompositeModification modification = new MutableCompositeModification();
+            final ShardDataTreeCohort cohort = mock(ShardDataTreeCohort.class, "cohort");
+            doReturn(Futures.immediateFuture(null)).when(cohort).abort();
+
+            final FiniteDuration duration = duration("5 seconds");
+
+            // Ready the tx.
+
+            shard.tell(prepareReadyTransactionMessage(readWrite, shard.underlyingActor(), cohort, transactionID, modification), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, ReadyTransactionReply.class);
+
+            assertEquals("getPendingTxCommitQueueSize", 1, shard.underlyingActor().getPendingTxCommitQueueSize());
+
+            // Send the AbortTransaction message.
+
+            shard.tell(new AbortTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+            expectMsgClass(duration, AbortTransactionReply.class);
+
+            verify(cohort).abort();
+
+            // Verify the tx cohort is removed from queue at the cleanup check interval.
+
+            cleaupCheckLatch.set(new CountDownLatch(1));
+            assertEquals("TX_COMMIT_TIMEOUT_CHECK_MESSAGE received", true,
+                    cleaupCheckLatch.get().await(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS));
+
+            assertEquals("getPendingTxCommitQueueSize", 0, shard.underlyingActor().getPendingTxCommitQueueSize());
+
+            // Now send CanCommitTransaction - should fail.
+
+            shard.tell(new CanCommitTransaction(transactionID, CURRENT_VERSION).toSerializable(), getRef());
+
+            Throwable failure = expectMsgClass(duration, akka.actor.Status.Failure.class).cause();
+            assertTrue("Failure type", failure instanceof IllegalStateException);
         }};
     }
 
@@ -2101,18 +2079,18 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
     }
 
     @SuppressWarnings("serial")
-    public void testCreateSnapshot(final boolean persistent, final String shardActorName) throws Exception{
+    private void testCreateSnapshot(final boolean persistent, final String shardActorName) throws Exception{
 
         final AtomicReference<CountDownLatch> latch = new AtomicReference<>(new CountDownLatch(1));
 
         final AtomicReference<Object> savedSnapshot = new AtomicReference<>();
         class TestPersistentDataProvider extends DelegatingPersistentDataProvider {
-            TestPersistentDataProvider(DataPersistenceProvider delegate) {
+            TestPersistentDataProvider(final DataPersistenceProvider delegate) {
                 super(delegate);
             }
 
             @Override
-            public void saveSnapshot(Object o) {
+            public void saveSnapshot(final Object o) {
                 savedSnapshot.set(o);
                 super.saveSnapshot(o);
             }
@@ -2123,17 +2101,17 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
             class TestShard extends Shard {
 
-                protected TestShard(ShardIdentifier name, Map<String, String> peerAddresses,
-                                    DatastoreContext datastoreContext, SchemaContext schemaContext) {
-                    super(name, peerAddresses, datastoreContext, schemaContext);
+                protected TestShard(AbstractBuilder<?, ?> builder) {
+                    super(builder);
                     setPersistence(new TestPersistentDataProvider(super.persistence()));
                 }
 
                 @Override
-                public void handleCommand(Object message) {
+                public void handleCommand(final Object message) {
                     super.handleCommand(message);
 
-                    if (message instanceof SaveSnapshotSuccess || message.equals("commit_snapshot")) {
+                    // XXX:  commit_snapshot equality check references RaftActorSnapshotMessageSupport.COMMIT_SNAPSHOT
+                    if (message instanceof SaveSnapshotSuccess || "commit_snapshot".equals(message.toString())) {
                         latch.get().countDown();
                     }
                 }
@@ -2144,39 +2122,31 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
                 }
             }
 
-            Creator<Shard> creator = new Creator<Shard>() {
+            final Creator<Shard> creator = new Creator<Shard>() {
                 @Override
                 public Shard create() throws Exception {
-                    return new TestShard(shardID, Collections.<String,String>emptyMap(),
-                            newDatastoreContext(), SCHEMA_CONTEXT);
+                    return new TestShard(newShardBuilder());
                 }
             };
 
-            TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                     Props.create(new DelegatingShardCreator(creator)), shardActorName);
 
             waitUntilLeader(shard);
-
             writeToStore(shard, TestModel.TEST_PATH, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME));
 
-            NormalizedNode<?,?> expectedRoot = readStore(shard, YangInstanceIdentifier.builder().build());
+            final NormalizedNode<?,?> expectedRoot = readStore(shard, YangInstanceIdentifier.builder().build());
 
             // Trigger creation of a snapshot by ensuring
-            RaftActorContext raftActorContext = ((TestShard) shard.underlyingActor()).getRaftActorContext();
+            final RaftActorContext raftActorContext = ((TestShard) shard.underlyingActor()).getRaftActorContext();
             raftActorContext.getSnapshotManager().capture(mock(ReplicatedLogEntry.class), -1);
-
-            assertEquals("Snapshot saved", true, latch.get().await(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS));
-
-            assertTrue("Invalid saved snapshot " + savedSnapshot.get(),
-                    savedSnapshot.get() instanceof Snapshot);
-
-            verifySnapshot((Snapshot)savedSnapshot.get(), expectedRoot);
-
-            latch.set(new CountDownLatch(1));
-            savedSnapshot.set(null);
+            awaitAndValidateSnapshot(expectedRoot);
 
             raftActorContext.getSnapshotManager().capture(mock(ReplicatedLogEntry.class), -1);
+            awaitAndValidateSnapshot(expectedRoot);
+        }
 
+        private void awaitAndValidateSnapshot(NormalizedNode<?,?> expectedRoot) throws InterruptedException {
             assertEquals("Snapshot saved", true, latch.get().await(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS));
 
             assertTrue("Invalid saved snapshot " + savedSnapshot.get(),
@@ -2184,12 +2154,13 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
 
             verifySnapshot((Snapshot)savedSnapshot.get(), expectedRoot);
 
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
+            latch.set(new CountDownLatch(1));
+            savedSnapshot.set(null);
         }
 
-        private void verifySnapshot(Snapshot snapshot, NormalizedNode<?,?> expectedRoot) {
+        private void verifySnapshot(final Snapshot snapshot, final NormalizedNode<?,?> expectedRoot) {
 
-            NormalizedNode<?, ?> actual = SerializationUtils.deserializeNormalizedNode(snapshot.getState());
+            final NormalizedNode<?, ?> actual = SerializationUtils.deserializeNormalizedNode(snapshot.getState());
             assertEquals("Root node", expectedRoot, actual);
 
         }};
@@ -2202,25 +2173,25 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
      */
     @Test
     public void testInMemoryDataTreeRestore() throws ReadFailedException, DataValidationFailedException {
-        DataTree store = InMemoryDataTreeFactory.getInstance().create();
+        final DataTree store = InMemoryDataTreeFactory.getInstance().create(TreeType.OPERATIONAL);
         store.setSchemaContext(SCHEMA_CONTEXT);
 
-        DataTreeModification putTransaction = store.takeSnapshot().newModification();
+        final DataTreeModification putTransaction = store.takeSnapshot().newModification();
         putTransaction.write(TestModel.TEST_PATH,
             ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME));
         commitTransaction(store, putTransaction);
 
 
-        NormalizedNode<?, ?> expected = readStore(store, YangInstanceIdentifier.builder().build());
+        final NormalizedNode<?, ?> expected = readStore(store, YangInstanceIdentifier.builder().build());
 
-        DataTreeModification writeTransaction = store.takeSnapshot().newModification();
+        final DataTreeModification writeTransaction = store.takeSnapshot().newModification();
 
         writeTransaction.delete(YangInstanceIdentifier.builder().build());
         writeTransaction.write(YangInstanceIdentifier.builder().build(), expected);
 
         commitTransaction(store, writeTransaction);
 
-        NormalizedNode<?, ?> actual = readStore(store, YangInstanceIdentifier.builder().build());
+        final NormalizedNode<?, ?> actual = readStore(store, YangInstanceIdentifier.builder().build());
 
         assertEquals(expected, actual);
     }
@@ -2231,32 +2202,24 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
         final DatastoreContext persistentContext = DatastoreContext.newBuilder().
                 shardJournalRecoveryLogBatchSize(3).shardSnapshotBatchCount(5000).persistent(true).build();
 
-        final Props persistentProps = Shard.props(shardID, Collections.<String, String>emptyMap(),
-                persistentContext, SCHEMA_CONTEXT);
+        final Props persistentProps = Shard.builder().id(shardID).datastoreContext(persistentContext).
+                schemaContext(SCHEMA_CONTEXT).props();
 
         final DatastoreContext nonPersistentContext = DatastoreContext.newBuilder().
                 shardJournalRecoveryLogBatchSize(3).shardSnapshotBatchCount(5000).persistent(false).build();
 
-        final Props nonPersistentProps = Shard.props(shardID, Collections.<String, String>emptyMap(),
-                nonPersistentContext, SCHEMA_CONTEXT);
+        final Props nonPersistentProps = Shard.builder().id(shardID).datastoreContext(nonPersistentContext).
+                schemaContext(SCHEMA_CONTEXT).props();
 
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
-            TestActorRef<Shard> shard1 = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
-                    persistentProps, "testPersistence1");
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard1 = actorFactory.createTestActor(persistentProps, "testPersistence1");
 
             assertTrue("Recovery Applicable", shard1.underlyingActor().persistence().isRecoveryApplicable());
 
-            shard1.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
-
-            TestActorRef<Shard> shard2 = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
-                    nonPersistentProps, "testPersistence2");
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard2 = actorFactory.createTestActor(nonPersistentProps, "testPersistence2");
 
             assertFalse("Recovery Not Applicable", shard2.underlyingActor().persistence().isRecoveryApplicable());
-
-            shard2.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
-
         }};
-
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -2264,7 +2227,7 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
             dataStoreContextBuilder.persistent(true);
 
-            TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(), newShardProps(), "testOnDatastoreContext");
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(newShardProps(), "testOnDatastoreContext");
 
             assertEquals("isRecoveryApplicable", true,
                     shard.underlyingActor().persistence().isRecoveryApplicable());
@@ -2274,14 +2237,12 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
             shard.tell(dataStoreContextBuilder.persistent(false).build(), ActorRef.noSender());
 
             assertEquals("isRecoveryApplicable", false,
-                    shard.underlyingActor().persistence().isRecoveryApplicable());
+                shard.underlyingActor().persistence().isRecoveryApplicable());
 
             shard.tell(dataStoreContextBuilder.persistent(true).build(), ActorRef.noSender());
 
             assertEquals("isRecoveryApplicable", true,
-                    shard.underlyingActor().persistence().isRecoveryApplicable());
-
-            shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
+                shard.underlyingActor().persistence().isRecoveryApplicable());
         }};
     }
 
@@ -2289,13 +2250,13 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
     public void testRegisterRoleChangeListener() throws Exception {
         new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {
             {
-                final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+                final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                         newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
                         "testRegisterRoleChangeListener");
 
                 waitUntilLeader(shard);
 
-                TestActorRef<MessageCollectorActor> listener =
+                final TestActorRef<MessageCollectorActor> listener =
                         TestActorRef.create(getSystem(), Props.create(MessageCollectorActor.class));
 
                 shard.tell(new RegisterRoleChangeListener(), listener);
@@ -2303,11 +2264,11 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
                 MessageCollectorActor.expectFirstMatching(listener, RegisterRoleChangeListenerReply.class);
 
                 ShardLeaderStateChanged leaderStateChanged = MessageCollectorActor.expectFirstMatching(listener,
-                        ShardLeaderStateChanged.class);
+                    ShardLeaderStateChanged.class);
                 assertEquals("getLocalShardDataTree present", true,
                         leaderStateChanged.getLocalShardDataTree().isPresent());
                 assertSame("getLocalShardDataTree", shard.underlyingActor().getDataStore().getDataTree(),
-                        leaderStateChanged.getLocalShardDataTree().get());
+                    leaderStateChanged.getLocalShardDataTree().get());
 
                 MessageCollectorActor.clearMessages(listener);
 
@@ -2319,32 +2280,187 @@ public class ShardTest extends AbstractShardTest {
                         ShardLeaderStateChanged.class);
                 assertEquals("getLocalShardDataTree present", false,
                         leaderStateChanged.getLocalShardDataTree().isPresent());
-
-                shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
             }
         };
     }
 
     @Test
     public void testFollowerInitialSyncStatus() throws Exception {
-        final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = TestActorRef.create(getSystem(),
+        final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
                 newShardProps().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
                 "testFollowerInitialSyncStatus");
 
-        shard.underlyingActor().onReceiveCommand(new FollowerInitialSyncUpStatus(false, "member-1-shard-inventory-operational"));
+        shard.underlyingActor().handleNonRaftCommand(new FollowerInitialSyncUpStatus(false, "member-1-shard-inventory-operational"));
 
         assertEquals(false, shard.underlyingActor().getShardMBean().getFollowerInitialSyncStatus());
 
-        shard.underlyingActor().onReceiveCommand(new FollowerInitialSyncUpStatus(true, "member-1-shard-inventory-operational"));
+        shard.underlyingActor().handleNonRaftCommand(new FollowerInitialSyncUpStatus(true, "member-1-shard-inventory-operational"));
 
         assertEquals(true, shard.underlyingActor().getShardMBean().getFollowerInitialSyncStatus());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testClusteredDataChangeListenerDelayedRegistration() throws Exception {
+        new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
+            String testName = "testClusteredDataChangeListenerDelayedRegistration";
+            dataStoreContextBuilder.shardElectionTimeoutFactor(1000).
+                    customRaftPolicyImplementation(DisableElectionsRaftPolicy.class.getName());
+
+            final MockDataChangeListener listener = new MockDataChangeListener(1);
+            final ActorRef dclActor = actorFactory.createActor(DataChangeListener.props(listener),
+                    actorFactory.generateActorId(testName + "-DataChangeListener"));
+
+            setupInMemorySnapshotStore();
+
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
+                    newShardBuilder().props().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
+                    actorFactory.generateActorId(testName + "-shard"));
 
-        shard.tell(PoisonPill.getInstance(), ActorRef.noSender());
+            waitUntilNoLeader(shard);
+
+            final YangInstanceIdentifier path = TestModel.TEST_PATH;
+
+            shard.tell(new RegisterChangeListener(path, dclActor, AsyncDataBroker.DataChangeScope.BASE, true), getRef());
+            final RegisterChangeListenerReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("5 seconds"),
+                RegisterChangeListenerReply.class);
+            assertNotNull("getListenerRegistrationPath", reply.getListenerRegistrationPath());
+
+            shard.tell(DatastoreContext.newBuilderFrom(dataStoreContextBuilder.build()).
+                    customRaftPolicyImplementation(null).build(), ActorRef.noSender());
+
+            listener.waitForChangeEvents();
+        }};
     }
 
-    private static void commitTransaction(DataTree store, final DataTreeModification modification) throws DataValidationFailedException {
-        modification.ready();
-        store.validate(modification);
-        store.commit(store.prepare(modification));
+    @Test
+    public void testClusteredDataChangeListenerRegistration() throws Exception {
+        new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
+            String testName = "testClusteredDataChangeListenerRegistration";
+            final ShardIdentifier followerShardID = ShardIdentifier.builder().memberName(
+                    actorFactory.generateActorId(testName + "-follower")).shardName("inventory").type("config").build();
+
+            final ShardIdentifier leaderShardID = ShardIdentifier.builder().memberName(
+                    actorFactory.generateActorId(testName + "-leader")).shardName("inventory").type("config").build();
+
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> followerShard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
+                    Shard.builder().id(followerShardID).
+                        datastoreContext(dataStoreContextBuilder.shardElectionTimeoutFactor(1000).build()).
+                        peerAddresses(Collections.singletonMap(leaderShardID.toString(),
+                            "akka://test/user/" + leaderShardID.toString())).schemaContext(SCHEMA_CONTEXT).props().
+                    withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()), followerShardID.toString());
+
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> leaderShard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
+                    Shard.builder().id(leaderShardID).datastoreContext(newDatastoreContext()).
+                        peerAddresses(Collections.singletonMap(followerShardID.toString(),
+                            "akka://test/user/" + followerShardID.toString())).schemaContext(SCHEMA_CONTEXT).props().
+                    withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()), leaderShardID.toString());
+
+            leaderShard.tell(ElectionTimeout.INSTANCE, ActorRef.noSender());
+            String leaderPath = waitUntilLeader(followerShard);
+            assertEquals("Shard leader path", leaderShard.path().toString(), leaderPath);
+
+            final YangInstanceIdentifier path = TestModel.TEST_PATH;
+            final MockDataChangeListener listener = new MockDataChangeListener(1);
+            final ActorRef dclActor = actorFactory.createActor(DataChangeListener.props(listener),
+                    actorFactory.generateActorId(testName + "-DataChangeListener"));
+
+            followerShard.tell(new RegisterChangeListener(path, dclActor, AsyncDataBroker.DataChangeScope.BASE, true), getRef());
+            final RegisterChangeListenerReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("5 seconds"),
+                RegisterChangeListenerReply.class);
+            assertNotNull("getListenerRegistratioznPath", reply.getListenerRegistrationPath());
+
+            writeToStore(followerShard, path, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME));
+
+            listener.waitForChangeEvents();
+        }};
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testClusteredDataTreeChangeListenerDelayedRegistration() throws Exception {
+        new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
+            String testName = "testClusteredDataTreeChangeListenerDelayedRegistration";
+            dataStoreContextBuilder.shardElectionTimeoutFactor(1000).
+                    customRaftPolicyImplementation(DisableElectionsRaftPolicy.class.getName());
+
+            final MockDataTreeChangeListener listener = new MockDataTreeChangeListener(1);
+            final ActorRef dclActor = actorFactory.createActor(DataTreeChangeListenerActor.props(listener),
+                    actorFactory.generateActorId(testName + "-DataTreeChangeListener"));
+
+            setupInMemorySnapshotStore();
+
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> shard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
+                    newShardBuilder().props().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
+                    actorFactory.generateActorId(testName + "-shard"));
+
+            waitUntilNoLeader(shard);
+
+            final YangInstanceIdentifier path = TestModel.TEST_PATH;
+
+            shard.tell(new RegisterDataTreeChangeListener(TestModel.TEST_PATH, dclActor, true), getRef());
+            final RegisterDataTreeChangeListenerReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("5 seconds"),
+                    RegisterDataTreeChangeListenerReply.class);
+            assertNotNull("getListenerRegistrationPath", reply.getListenerRegistrationPath());
+
+            shard.tell(DatastoreContext.newBuilderFrom(dataStoreContextBuilder.build()).
+                    customRaftPolicyImplementation(null).build(), ActorRef.noSender());
+
+            listener.waitForChangeEvents();
+        }};
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testClusteredDataTreeChangeListenerRegistration() throws Exception {
+        new ShardTestKit(getSystem()) {{
+            String testName = "testClusteredDataTreeChangeListenerRegistration";
+            final ShardIdentifier followerShardID = ShardIdentifier.builder().memberName(
+                    actorFactory.generateActorId(testName + "-follower")).shardName("inventory").type("config").build();
+
+            final ShardIdentifier leaderShardID = ShardIdentifier.builder().memberName(
+                    actorFactory.generateActorId(testName + "-leader")).shardName("inventory").type("config").build();
+
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> followerShard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
+                    Shard.builder().id(followerShardID).
+                        datastoreContext(dataStoreContextBuilder.shardElectionTimeoutFactor(1000).build()).
+                        peerAddresses(Collections.singletonMap(leaderShardID.toString(),
+                            "akka://test/user/" + leaderShardID.toString())).schemaContext(SCHEMA_CONTEXT).props().
+                    withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()), followerShardID.toString());
+
+            final TestActorRef<Shard> leaderShard = actorFactory.createTestActor(
+                    Shard.builder().id(leaderShardID).datastoreContext(newDatastoreContext()).
+                        peerAddresses(Collections.singletonMap(followerShardID.toString(),
+                            "akka://test/user/" + followerShardID.toString())).schemaContext(SCHEMA_CONTEXT).props().
+                    withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()), leaderShardID.toString());
+
+            leaderShard.tell(ElectionTimeout.INSTANCE, ActorRef.noSender());
+            String leaderPath = waitUntilLeader(followerShard);
+            assertEquals("Shard leader path", leaderShard.path().toString(), leaderPath);
+
+            final YangInstanceIdentifier path = TestModel.TEST_PATH;
+            final MockDataTreeChangeListener listener = new MockDataTreeChangeListener(1);
+            final ActorRef dclActor = actorFactory.createActor(DataTreeChangeListenerActor.props(listener),
+                    actorFactory.generateActorId(testName + "-DataTreeChangeListener"));
+
+            followerShard.tell(new RegisterDataTreeChangeListener(TestModel.TEST_PATH, dclActor, true), getRef());
+            final RegisterDataTreeChangeListenerReply reply = expectMsgClass(duration("5 seconds"),
+                    RegisterDataTreeChangeListenerReply.class);
+            assertNotNull("getListenerRegistrationPath", reply.getListenerRegistrationPath());
+
+            writeToStore(followerShard, path, ImmutableNodes.containerNode(TestModel.TEST_QNAME));
+
+            listener.waitForChangeEvents();
+        }};
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void testServerRemoved() throws Exception {
+        final TestActorRef<MessageCollectorActor> parent = actorFactory.createTestActor(MessageCollectorActor.props());
+
+        final ActorRef shard = parent.underlyingActor().context().actorOf(
+                newShardBuilder().props().withDispatcher(Dispatchers.DefaultDispatcherId()),
+                "testServerRemoved");
+
+        shard.tell(new ServerRemoved("test"), ActorRef.noSender());
+
+        MessageCollectorActor.expectFirstMatching(parent, ServerRemoved.class);
     }
 }