diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 212af7d4d7..147b881227 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ benchmark.log
 
 # config file
 config.toml
-/data/
 
 # test data files
 integration/migration_data/
diff --git a/consistency.go b/consistency.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..50d17e8eca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/consistency.go
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+package influxdb
+
+// ConsistencyLevel represent a required replication criteria before a write can
+// be returned as successful
+type ConsistencyLevel int
+
+const (
+	// ConsistencyLevelAny allows for hinted hand off, potentially no write happened yet
+	ConsistencyLevelAny ConsistencyLevel = iota
+
+	// ConsistencyLevelOne requires at least one data node acknowledged a write
+	ConsistencyLevelOne
+
+	// ConsistencyLevelOne requires a quorum of data nodes to acknowledge a write
+	ConsistencyLevelQuorum
+
+	// ConsistencyLevelAll requires all data nodes to acknowledge a write
+	ConsistencyLevelAll
+)
+
+func newConsistencyPolicyN(need int) ConsistencyPolicy {
+	return &policyNum{
+		need: need,
+	}
+}
+
+func newConsistencyOwnerPolicy(ownerID int) ConsistencyPolicy {
+	return &policyOwner{
+		ownerID: ownerID,
+	}
+}
+
+// ConsistencyPolicy verifies a write consistency level has be met
+type ConsistencyPolicy interface {
+	IsDone(writerID int, err error) bool
+}
+
+// policyNum implements One, Quorum, and All
+type policyNum struct {
+	failed, succeeded, need int
+}
+
+// IsDone determines if the policy has been satisfied based on the given
+// writerID or error
+func (p *policyNum) IsDone(writerID int, err error) bool {
+	if err == nil {
+		p.succeeded++
+		return p.succeeded >= p.need
+	}
+	p.failed++
+	return p.need-p.failed-p.succeeded >= p.need-p.succeeded
+
+}
+
+type policyOwner struct {
+	ownerID int
+}
+
+func (p *policyOwner) IsDone(writerID int, err error) bool {
+	return p.ownerID == writerID
+}
diff --git a/consistency_test.go b/consistency_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cc4dc34d23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/consistency_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+package influxdb
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestConsistencyOne(t *testing.T) {
+	ap := newConsistencyPolicyN(1)
+
+	if got := ap.IsDone(0, nil); got != true {
+		t.Errorf("ack one mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, true)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestConsistencyOneError(t *testing.T) {
+	ap := newConsistencyPolicyN(1)
+
+	if got := ap.IsDone(0, fmt.Errorf("foo")); got != false {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, false)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestConsistencyOneMultiple(t *testing.T) {
+	ap := newConsistencyPolicyN(1)
+
+	if got := ap.IsDone(0, nil); got != true {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, true)
+	}
+
+	if got := ap.IsDone(1, nil); got != true {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, true)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestConsistencyAll(t *testing.T) {
+	ap := newConsistencyPolicyN(3)
+
+	if got := ap.IsDone(0, nil); got != false {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, false)
+	}
+
+	if got := ap.IsDone(1, nil); got != false {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, false)
+	}
+
+	if got := ap.IsDone(2, nil); got != true {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, true)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestConsistencyAllError(t *testing.T) {
+	ap := newConsistencyPolicyN(3)
+
+	if got := ap.IsDone(0, nil); got != false {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, false)
+	}
+
+	if got := ap.IsDone(1, fmt.Errorf("foo")); got != false {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, false)
+	}
+
+	if got := ap.IsDone(2, nil); got != false {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, true)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestConsistencyQuorumError(t *testing.T) {
+	ap := newConsistencyPolicyN(2)
+
+	if got := ap.IsDone(0, nil); got != false {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, false)
+	}
+
+	if got := ap.IsDone(1, fmt.Errorf("foo")); got != false {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, false)
+	}
+
+	if got := ap.IsDone(2, nil); got != true {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, true)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestConsistencyOwner(t *testing.T) {
+	ap := newConsistencyOwnerPolicy(2)
+
+	// non-owner, not done
+	if got := ap.IsDone(0, nil); got != false {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, false)
+	}
+
+	// non-owner, not done
+	if got := ap.IsDone(1, nil); got != false {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, false)
+	}
+
+	// owner, should be done
+	if got := ap.IsDone(2, nil); got != true {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, true)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestConsistencyOwnerError(t *testing.T) {
+	ap := newConsistencyOwnerPolicy(2)
+
+	// non-owner succeeds, should not be done
+	if got := ap.IsDone(0, nil); got != false {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, false)
+	}
+
+	// non-owner failed, should not be done
+	if got := ap.IsDone(1, fmt.Errorf("foo")); got != false {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, false)
+	}
+
+	// owner failed
+	if got := ap.IsDone(2, fmt.Errorf("foo")); got != true {
+		t.Errorf("ack one error mismatch: got %v, exp %v", got, true)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/coordinator.go b/coordinator.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8f6ad84bab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/coordinator.go
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+package influxdb
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"time"
+)
+
+const defaultReadTimeout = 5 * time.Second
+
+var ErrTimeout = errors.New("timeout")
+
+// Coordinator handle queries and writes across multiple local and remote
+// data nodes.
+type Coordinator struct {
+}
+
+// Write is coordinates multiple writes across local and remote data nodes
+// according the request consistency level
+func (c *Coordinator) Write(p *WritePointsRequest) error {
+
+	// FIXME: use the consistency level specified by the WritePointsRequest
+	pol := newConsistencyPolicyN(1)
+
+	// FIXME: build set of local and remote point writers
+	ws := []PointsWriter{}
+
+	type result struct {
+		writerID int
+		err      error
+	}
+	ch := make(chan result, len(ws))
+	for i, w := range ws {
+		go func(id int, w PointsWriter) {
+			err := w.Write(p)
+			ch <- result{id, err}
+		}(i, w)
+	}
+	timeout := time.After(defaultReadTimeout)
+	for range ws {
+		select {
+		case <-timeout:
+			// return timeout error to caller
+			return ErrTimeout
+		case res := <-ch:
+			if !pol.IsDone(res.writerID, res.err) {
+				continue
+			}
+			if res.err != nil {
+				return res.err
+			}
+			return nil
+		}
+
+	}
+	panic("unreachable or bad policy impl")
+}
+
+func (c *Coordinator) Execute(q *QueryRequest) (chan *Result, error) {
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
+// remoteWriter is a PointWriter for a remote data node
+type remoteWriter struct {
+	//ShardInfo []ShardInfo
+	//DataNodes DataNodes
+}
+
+func (w *remoteWriter) Write(p *WritePointsRequest) error {
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/data/node.go b/data/node.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..29c3a0d828
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/node.go
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+package data
+
+func NewDataNode() *Node {
+	return &Node{}
+}
+
+type Node struct {
+	//ms meta.Store
+}
+
+func (n *Node) Open() error {
+	// Open shards
+	// Start AE for Node
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (n *Node) Close() error { return nil }
+func (n *Node) Init() error  { return nil }
diff --git a/meta/store.go b/meta/store.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e0beebb655
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meta/store.go
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+package meta
+
+// Store provides access to the clusters configuration and
+// meta data
+type Store interface{}
diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index 697be7e4f8..6842adfee3 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -20,8 +20,10 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/influxdb/influxdb/data"
 	"github.com/influxdb/influxdb/influxql"
 	"github.com/influxdb/influxdb/messaging"
+	"github.com/influxdb/influxdb/meta"
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/bcrypt"
 )
 
@@ -55,6 +57,39 @@ const (
 	NoChunkingSize = 0
 )
 
+// Service represents a long running task that is manged by a Server
+type Service interface {
+	Open() error
+	Close() error
+}
+
+// QueryExecutor executes a query across multiple data nodes
+type QueryExecutor interface {
+	Execute(q *QueryRequest) (chan *Result, error)
+}
+
+// QueryRequest represent a request to run a query across the cluster
+type QueryRequest struct {
+	Query     *influxql.Query
+	Database  string
+	User      *User
+	ChunkSize int
+}
+
+// PayloadWriter accepts a WritePointRequest from client facing endpoints such as
+// HTTP JSON API, Collectd, Graphite, OpenTSDB, etc.
+type PointsWriter interface {
+	Write(p *WritePointsRequest) error
+}
+
+// WritePointsRequest represents a request to write point data to the cluster
+type WritePointsRequest struct {
+	Database         string
+	RetentionPolicy  string
+	ConsistencyLevel ConsistencyLevel
+	Points           []Point
+}
+
 // Server represents a collection of metadata and raw metric data.
 type Server struct {
 	mu       sync.RWMutex
@@ -101,6 +136,21 @@ type Server struct {
 	// Build information.
 	Version    string
 	CommitHash string
+
+	// The local data node that manages local shard data
+	dn data.Node
+
+	// The meta store for accessing and updating cluster and schema data
+	ms meta.Store
+
+	// The services running on this node
+	services []Service
+
+	// Handles write request for local and remote nodes
+	pw PointsWriter
+
+	// Handles queries for local and remote nodes
+	qe QueryExecutor
 }
 
 // NewServer returns a new instance of Server.
@@ -115,6 +165,8 @@ func NewServer() *Server {
 		shards: make(map[uint64]*Shard),
 		stats:  NewStats("server"),
 		Logger: log.New(os.Stderr, "[server] ", log.LstdFlags),
+		pw:     &Coordinator{},
+		qe:     &Coordinator{},
 	}
 	// Server will always return with authentication enabled.
 	// This ensures that disabling authentication must be an explicit decision.
@@ -123,6 +175,24 @@ func NewServer() *Server {
 	return &s
 }
 
+func (s *Server) openServices() error {
+	for _, n := range s.services {
+		if err := n.Open(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *Server) closeServices() error {
+	for _, n := range s.services {
+		if err := n.Close(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (s *Server) BrokerURLs() []url.URL {
 	return s.client.URLs()
 }
@@ -225,7 +295,7 @@ func (s *Server) Open(path string, client MessagingClient) error {
 
 	// TODO: Associate series ids with shards.
 
-	return nil
+	return s.openServices()
 }
 
 // opened returns true when the server is open. Must be called under lock.
@@ -243,6 +313,10 @@ func (s *Server) close() error {
 		return ErrServerClosed
 	}
 
+	if err := s.closeServices(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	if s.rpDone != nil {
 		close(s.rpDone)
 		s.rpDone = nil
diff --git a/shard.go b/shard.go
index e672137f82..0316a189c1 100644
--- a/shard.go
+++ b/shard.go
@@ -266,6 +266,14 @@ func (s *Shard) HasDataNodeID(id uint64) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+func (s *Shard) Write(r *WritePointsRequest) error {
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (s *Shard) Read(timestamp time.Time) ([]Point, error) {
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
 // readSeries reads encoded series data from a shard.
 func (s *Shard) readSeries(seriesID uint64, timestamp int64) (values []byte, err error) {
 	err = s.store.View(func(tx *bolt.Tx) error {
diff --git a/shard_test.go b/shard_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d69496201c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shard_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+package influxdb
+
+import (
+	"reflect"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestShardWrite(t *testing.T) {
+	// Enable when shard can convert a WritePointsRequest to stored data.
+	// Needs filed encoding/types saved on the shard
+	t.Skip("not implemented yet")
+
+	sh := &Shard{ID: 1}
+
+	pt := Point{
+		Name:      "cpu",
+		Tags:      map[string]string{"host": "server"},
+		Timestamp: time.Unix(1, 2),
+		Fields:    map[string]interface{}{"value": 1.0},
+	}
+	pr := &WritePointsRequest{
+		Database:        "foo",
+		RetentionPolicy: "default",
+		Points: []Point{
+			pt},
+	}
+
+	if err := sh.Write(pr); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("LocalWriter.Write() failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	p, err := sh.Read(pt.Timestamp)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("LocalWriter.Read() failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if exp := 1; len(p) != exp {
+		t.Fatalf("LocalWriter.Read() points len mismatch. got %v, exp %v", len(p), exp)
+	}
+
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(p[0], pt) {
+		t.Fatalf("LocalWriter.Read() point mismatch. got %v, exp %v", p[0], pt)
+	}
+}