diff --git a/taskflow/persistence/backends/impl_zookeeper.py b/taskflow/persistence/backends/impl_zookeeper.py
index a3b8e35b..11b41de6 100644
--- a/taskflow/persistence/backends/impl_zookeeper.py
+++ b/taskflow/persistence/backends/impl_zookeeper.py
@@ -19,20 +19,22 @@
 import contextlib
 import logging
 
-from kazoo import client as kazoo_client
 from kazoo import exceptions as k_exc
 from kazoo.protocol import paths
-from zake import fake_client
 
 from taskflow import exceptions as exc
 from taskflow.openstack.common import jsonutils
 from taskflow.persistence.backends import base
 from taskflow.persistence import logbook
+from taskflow.utils import kazoo_utils as k_utils
 from taskflow.utils import misc
 from taskflow.utils import persistence_utils as p_utils
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+# Transaction support was added in 3.4.0
+MIN_ZK_VERSION = (3, 4, 0)
+
 
 class ZkBackend(base.Backend):
     """ZooKeeper as backend storage implementation
@@ -43,63 +45,79 @@ class ZkBackend(base.Backend):
         "hosts": "192.168.0.1:2181,192.168.0.2:2181,192.168.0.3:2181",
         "path": "/taskflow",
     }
-
-    Example conf (use Zake):
-
-    conf = {
-        "path": "/taskflow",
-    }
     """
-    def __init__(self, conf):
+    def __init__(self, conf, client=None):
         super(ZkBackend, self).__init__(conf)
-        path = conf.get("path", "/taskflow")
+        path = str(conf.get("path", "/taskflow"))
+        if not path:
+            raise ValueError("Empty zookeeper path is disallowed")
+        if not paths.isabs(path):
+            raise ValueError("Zookeeper path must be absolute")
         self._path = path
-        hosts = conf.get("hosts", None)
-        # if no specified hosts, use zake to fake
-        if hosts is None:
-            self._zk = fake_client.FakeClient()
-        # otherwise use Kazoo
+        if client is not None:
+            self._zk = client
+            self._owned = False
         else:
-            self._zk = kazoo_client.KazooClient(hosts=hosts)
-
-    @property
-    def zk(self):
-        return self._zk
+            self._zk = k_utils.make_client(conf)
+            self._owned = True
+        self._validated = False
 
     @property
     def path(self):
         return self._path
 
     def get_connection(self):
-        return ZkConnection(self)
+        conn = ZkConnection(self, self._zk)
+        if not self._validated:
+            conn.validate()
+            self._validated = True
+        return conn
 
     def close(self):
-        self.zk.stop()
-        self.zk.close()
+        self._validated = False
+        if not self._owned:
+            return
+        try:
+            self._zk.stop()
+        except (k_exc.KazooException, k_exc.ZookeeperError) as e:
+            raise exc.StorageError("Unable to stop client: %s" % e)
+        try:
+            self._zk.close()
+        except TypeError:
+            # NOTE(harlowja): https://github.com/python-zk/kazoo/issues/167
+            pass
+        except (k_exc.KazooException, k_exc.ZookeeperError) as e:
+            raise exc.StorageError("Unable to close client: %s" % e)
 
 
 class ZkConnection(base.Connection):
-    def __init__(self, backend):
+    def __init__(self, backend, client):
         self._backend = backend
-
-        self._log_path = paths.join(self._backend.path, "log_books")
+        self._client = client
+        self._book_path = paths.join(self._backend.path, "books")
         self._flow_path = paths.join(self._backend.path, "flow_details")
         self._task_path = paths.join(self._backend.path, "task_details")
-
         with self._exc_wrapper():
-            self._backend.zk.start()
-            self._backend.zk.ensure_path(self._backend.path)
-            self._backend.zk.ensure_path(self.log_path)
-            self._backend.zk.ensure_path(self.flow_path)
-            self._backend.zk.ensure_path(self.task_path)
+            # NOOP if already started.
+            self._client.start()
+
+    def validate(self):
+        with self._exc_wrapper():
+            zk_ver = self._client.server_version()
+            if tuple(zk_ver) < MIN_ZK_VERSION:
+                given_zk_ver = ".".join([str(a) for a in zk_ver])
+                desired_zk_ver = ".".join([str(a) for a in MIN_ZK_VERSION])
+                raise exc.StorageError("Incompatible zookeeper version"
+                                       " %s detected, zookeeper >= %s required"
+                                       % (given_zk_ver, desired_zk_ver))
 
     @property
     def backend(self):
         return self._backend
 
     @property
-    def log_path(self):
-        return self._log_path
+    def book_path(self):
+        return self._book_path
 
     @property
     def flow_path(self):
@@ -113,7 +131,10 @@ class ZkConnection(base.Connection):
         pass
 
     def upgrade(self):
-        pass
+        """Creates the initial paths (if they already don't exist)."""
+        with self._exc_wrapper():
+            for path in (self.book_path, self.flow_path, self.task_path):
+                self._client.ensure_path(path)
 
     @contextlib.contextmanager
     def _exc_wrapper(self):
@@ -122,264 +143,262 @@ class ZkConnection(base.Connection):
         """
         try:
             yield
-        except self._backend.zk.handler.timeout_exception as e:
-            raise exc.ConnectionFailure("Backend error: %s" % e)
+        except self._client.handler.timeout_exception as e:
+            raise exc.ConnectionFailure("Storage backend timeout: %s" % e)
         except k_exc.SessionExpiredError as e:
-            raise exc.ConnectionFailure("Backend error: %s" % e)
+            raise exc.ConnectionFailure("Storage backend session"
+                                        " has expired: %s" % e)
         except k_exc.NoNodeError as e:
-            raise exc.NotFound("Backend error: %s" % e)
+            raise exc.NotFound("Storage backend node not found: %s" % e)
         except k_exc.NodeExistsError as e:
-            raise exc.AlreadyExists("Backend error: %s" % e)
+            raise exc.AlreadyExists("Storage backend duplicate node: %s" % e)
         except (k_exc.KazooException, k_exc.ZookeeperError) as e:
-            raise exc.TaskFlowException("Backend error: %s" % e)
+            raise exc.StorageError("Storage backend internal error: %s" % e)
 
     def update_task_details(self, td):
-        """Update a task_detail transactionally.
-        """
+        """Update a task_detail transactionally."""
         with self._exc_wrapper():
-            with self.backend.zk.transaction() as txn:
+            with self._client.transaction() as txn:
                 return self._update_task_details(td, txn)
 
     def _update_task_details(self, td, txn, create_missing=False):
-        zk_path = paths.join(self.task_path, td.uuid)
-
-        # determine whether the desired data exists or not
+        # Determine whether the desired data exists or not.
+        td_path = paths.join(self.task_path, td.uuid)
         try:
-            zk_data, _zstat = self.backend.zk.get(zk_path)
+            td_data, _zstat = self._client.get(td_path)
         except k_exc.NoNodeError:
-        # Not-existent: create or raise exception
+            # Not-existent: create or raise exception.
             if create_missing:
-                txn.create(zk_path)
+                txn.create(td_path)
                 e_td = logbook.TaskDetail(name=td.name, uuid=td.uuid)
             else:
                 raise exc.NotFound("No task details found with id: %s"
                                    % td.uuid)
-        # Existent: read it out
         else:
+            # Existent: read it out.
             e_td = p_utils.unformat_task_detail(td.uuid,
-                                                misc.decode_json(zk_data))
+                                                misc.decode_json(td_data))
 
         # Update and write it back
         e_td = p_utils.task_details_merge(e_td, td)
-        zk_data = misc.binary_encode(jsonutils.dumps(
-            p_utils.format_task_detail(e_td)))
-        txn.set_data(zk_path, zk_data)
+        td_data = p_utils.format_task_detail(e_td)
+        txn.set_data(td_path, misc.binary_encode(jsonutils.dumps(td_data)))
         return e_td
 
     def get_task_details(self, td_uuid):
-        """Read a task_detail. *Read-only*, so no need of zk transaction.
+        """Read a taskdetail.
+
+        *Read-only*, so no need of zk transaction.
         """
         with self._exc_wrapper():
             return self._get_task_details(td_uuid)
 
     def _get_task_details(self, td_uuid):
-        zk_path = paths.join(self.task_path, td_uuid)
-
+        td_path = paths.join(self.task_path, td_uuid)
         try:
-            zk_data, _zstat = self.backend.zk.get(zk_path)
+            td_data, _zstat = self._client.get(td_path)
         except k_exc.NoNodeError:
             raise exc.NotFound("No task details found with id: %s" % td_uuid)
-
-        td = p_utils.unformat_task_detail(td_uuid, misc.decode_json(zk_data))
-        return td
+        else:
+            return p_utils.unformat_task_detail(td_uuid,
+                                                misc.decode_json(td_data))
 
     def update_flow_details(self, fd):
-        """Update a flow_detail transactionally.
-        """
+        """Update a flowdetail transactionally."""
         with self._exc_wrapper():
-            with self.backend.zk.transaction() as txn:
+            with self._client.transaction() as txn:
                 return self._update_flow_details(fd, txn)
 
     def _update_flow_details(self, fd, txn, create_missing=False):
-        zk_path = paths.join(self.flow_path, fd.uuid)
-
-        # determine whether the desired data exists or not
+        # Determine whether the desired data exists or not
+        fd_path = paths.join(self.flow_path, fd.uuid)
         try:
-            zk_data, _zstat = self.backend.zk.get(zk_path)
+            fd_data, _zstat = self._client.get(fd_path)
         except k_exc.NoNodeError:
-        # Not-existent: create or raise exception
+            # Not-existent: create or raise exception
             if create_missing:
-                txn.create(zk_path)
+                txn.create(fd_path)
                 e_fd = logbook.FlowDetail(name=fd.name, uuid=fd.uuid)
             else:
                 raise exc.NotFound("No flow details found with id: %s"
                                    % fd.uuid)
-        # Existent: read it out
         else:
+            # Existent: read it out
             e_fd = p_utils.unformat_flow_detail(fd.uuid,
-                                                misc.decode_json(zk_data))
+                                                misc.decode_json(fd_data))
 
         # Update and write it back
         e_fd = p_utils.flow_details_merge(e_fd, fd)
-        zk_data = misc.binary_encode(jsonutils.dumps(
-            p_utils.format_flow_detail(e_fd)))
-        txn.set_data(zk_path, zk_data)
+        fd_data = p_utils.format_flow_detail(e_fd)
+        txn.set_data(fd_path, misc.binary_encode(jsonutils.dumps(fd_data)))
         for td in fd:
-            zk_path = paths.join(self.flow_path, fd.uuid, td.uuid)
-            if not self.backend.zk.exists(zk_path):
-                txn.create(zk_path)
-            e_td = self._update_task_details(td, txn, create_missing=True)
-            e_fd.add(e_td)
+            td_path = paths.join(fd_path, td.uuid)
+            # NOTE(harlowja): create an entry in the flow detail path
+            # for the provided task detail so that a reference exists
+            # from the flow detail to its task details.
+            if not self._client.exists(td_path):
+                txn.create(td_path)
+            e_fd.add(self._update_task_details(td, txn, create_missing=True))
         return e_fd
 
     def get_flow_details(self, fd_uuid):
-        """Read a flow_detail. *Read-only*, so no need of zk transaction.
+        """Read a flowdetail.
+
+        *Read-only*, so no need of zk transaction.
         """
         with self._exc_wrapper():
             return self._get_flow_details(fd_uuid)
 
     def _get_flow_details(self, fd_uuid):
-        zk_path = paths.join(self.flow_path, fd_uuid)
-
+        fd_path = paths.join(self.flow_path, fd_uuid)
         try:
-            zk_data, _zstat = self.backend.zk.get(zk_path)
+            fd_data, _zstat = self._client.get(fd_path)
         except k_exc.NoNodeError:
             raise exc.NotFound("No flow details found with id: %s" % fd_uuid)
 
-        fd = p_utils.unformat_flow_detail(fd_uuid, misc.decode_json(zk_data))
-        for td_uuid in self.backend.zk.get_children(zk_path):
-            td = self._get_task_details(td_uuid)
-            fd.add(td)
+        fd = p_utils.unformat_flow_detail(fd_uuid, misc.decode_json(fd_data))
+        for td_uuid in self._client.get_children(fd_path):
+            fd.add(self._get_task_details(td_uuid))
         return fd
 
     def save_logbook(self, lb):
-        """Save (update) a log_book transactionally.
-        """
+        """Save (update) a log_book transactionally."""
+
+        def create_logbook(lb_path, txn):
+            lb_data = p_utils.format_logbook(lb, created_at=None)
+            txn.create(lb_path, misc.binary_encode(jsonutils.dumps(lb_data)))
+            for fd in lb:
+                # NOTE(harlowja): create an entry in the logbook path
+                # for the provided flow detail so that a reference exists
+                # from the logbook to its flow details.
+                txn.create(paths.join(lb_path, fd.uuid))
+                fd_path = paths.join(self.flow_path, fd.uuid)
+                fd_data = jsonutils.dumps(p_utils.format_flow_detail(fd))
+                txn.create(fd_path, misc.binary_encode(fd_data))
+                for td in fd:
+                    # NOTE(harlowja): create an entry in the flow detail path
+                    # for the provided task detail so that a reference exists
+                    # from the flow detail to its task details.
+                    txn.create(paths.join(fd_path, td.uuid))
+                    td_path = paths.join(self.task_path, td.uuid)
+                    td_data = jsonutils.dumps(p_utils.format_task_detail(td))
+                    txn.create(td_path, misc.binary_encode(td_data))
+            return lb
+
+        def update_logbook(lb_path, lb_data, txn):
+            e_lb = p_utils.unformat_logbook(lb.uuid, misc.decode_json(lb_data))
+            e_lb = p_utils.logbook_merge(e_lb, lb)
+            lb_data = p_utils.format_logbook(e_lb, created_at=lb.created_at)
+            txn.set_data(lb_path, misc.binary_encode(jsonutils.dumps(lb_data)))
+            for fd in lb:
+                fd_path = paths.join(lb_path, fd.uuid)
+                if not self._client.exists(fd_path):
+                    # NOTE(harlowja): create an entry in the logbook path
+                    # for the provided flow detail so that a reference exists
+                    # from the logbook to its flow details.
+                    txn.create(fd_path)
+                e_fd = self._update_flow_details(fd, txn, create_missing=True)
+                e_lb.add(e_fd)
+            return e_lb
+
         with self._exc_wrapper():
-            with self.backend.zk.transaction() as txn:
-                zk_path = paths.join(self.log_path, lb.uuid)
-
-                # determine whether the desired data exists or not
+            with self._client.transaction() as txn:
+                # Determine whether the desired data exists or not.
+                lb_path = paths.join(self.book_path, lb.uuid)
                 try:
-                    zk_data, _zstat = self.backend.zk.get(zk_path)
+                    lb_data, _zstat = self._client.get(lb_path)
                 except k_exc.NoNodeError:
-                # Create if a new log_book
-                    e_lb = lb
-                    zk_data = misc.binary_encode(jsonutils.dumps(
-                        p_utils.format_logbook(lb, created_at=None)))
-                    txn.create(zk_path, zk_data)
-                    for fd in lb:
-                        zk_path = paths.join(self.log_path, lb.uuid, fd.uuid)
-                        txn.create(zk_path)
-                        zk_path = paths.join(self.flow_path, fd.uuid)
-                        zk_data = misc.binary_encode(jsonutils.dumps(
-                            p_utils.format_flow_detail(fd)))
-                        txn.create(zk_path, zk_data)
-                        for td in fd:
-                            zk_path = paths.join(
-                                self.flow_path, fd.uuid, td.uuid)
-                            txn.create(zk_path)
-                            zk_path = paths.join(self.task_path, td.uuid)
-                            zk_data = misc.binary_encode(jsonutils.dumps(
-                                p_utils.format_task_detail(td)))
-                            txn.create(zk_path, zk_data)
-
-                # Otherwise update the existing log_book
+                    # Create a new logbook since it doesn't exist.
+                    e_lb = create_logbook(lb_path, txn)
                 else:
-                    e_lb = p_utils.unformat_logbook(lb.uuid,
-                                                    misc.decode_json(zk_data))
-                    e_lb = p_utils.logbook_merge(e_lb, lb)
-                    zk_data = misc.binary_encode((jsonutils.dumps(
-                        p_utils.format_logbook(e_lb,
-                                               created_at=lb.created_at))))
-                    txn.set_data(zk_path, zk_data)
-                    for fd in lb:
-                        zk_path = paths.join(self.log_path, lb.uuid, fd.uuid)
-                        if not self.backend.zk.exists(zk_path):
-                            txn.create(zk_path)
-                        e_fd = self._update_flow_details(fd, txn,
-                                                         create_missing=True)
-                        e_lb.add(e_fd)
-                # finally return (updated) log_book
+                    # Otherwise update the existing logbook instead.
+                    e_lb = update_logbook(lb_path, lb_data, txn)
+                # Finally return (updated) logbook.
                 return e_lb
 
     def get_logbook(self, lb_uuid):
-        """Read a log_book. *Read-only*, so no need of zk transaction.
+        """Read a logbook.
+
+        *Read-only*, so no need of zk transaction.
         """
         with self._exc_wrapper():
-            zk_path = paths.join(self.log_path, lb_uuid)
-
+            lb_path = paths.join(self.book_path, lb_uuid)
             try:
-                zk_data, _zstat = self.backend.zk.get(zk_path)
+                lb_data, _zstat = self._client.get(lb_path)
             except k_exc.NoNodeError:
                 raise exc.NotFound("No logbook found with id: %s" % lb_uuid)
-
-            lb = p_utils.unformat_logbook(lb_uuid, misc.decode_json(zk_data))
-            for fd_uuid in self.backend.zk.get_children(zk_path):
-                fd = self._get_flow_details(fd_uuid)
-                lb.add(fd)
-            return lb
+            else:
+                lb = p_utils.unformat_logbook(lb_uuid,
+                                              misc.decode_json(lb_data))
+                for fd_uuid in self._client.get_children(lb_path):
+                    lb.add(self._get_flow_details(fd_uuid))
+                return lb
 
     def get_logbooks(self):
-        """Read all logbooks. *Read-only*, so no need of zk transaction
-        """
+        """Read all logbooks. *Read-only*, so no need of zk transaction."""
         with self._exc_wrapper():
-            for lb_uuid in self.backend.zk.get_children(self.log_path):
+            for lb_uuid in self._client.get_children(self.book_path):
                 yield self.get_logbook(lb_uuid)
 
     def destroy_logbook(self, lb_uuid):
-        """Detroy (delete) a log_book transactionally.
-        """
+        """Detroy (delete) a log_book transactionally."""
 
         def _destroy_task_details(td_uuid, txn):
-            zk_path = paths.join(self.task_path, td_uuid)
-            if not self.backend.zk.exists(zk_path):
+            td_path = paths.join(self.task_path, td_uuid)
+            if not self._client.exists(td_path):
                 raise exc.NotFound("No task details found with id: %s"
                                    % td_uuid)
-
-            txn.delete(zk_path)
+            txn.delete(td_path)
 
         def _destroy_flow_details(fd_uuid, txn):
-            zk_path = paths.join(self.flow_path, fd_uuid)
-            if not self.backend.zk.exists(zk_path):
+            fd_path = paths.join(self.flow_path, fd_uuid)
+            if not self._client.exists(fd_path):
                 raise exc.NotFound("No flow details found with id: %s"
                                    % fd_uuid)
-
-            for td_uuid in self.backend.zk.get_children(zk_path):
+            for td_uuid in self._client.get_children(fd_path):
                 _destroy_task_details(td_uuid, txn)
-                txn.delete(paths.join(zk_path, td_uuid))
-            txn.delete(zk_path)
+                txn.delete(paths.join(fd_path, td_uuid))
+            txn.delete(fd_path)
 
         def _destroy_logbook(lb_uuid, txn):
-            zk_path = paths.join(self.log_path, lb_uuid)
-            if not self.backend.zk.exists(zk_path):
+            lb_path = paths.join(self.book_path, lb_uuid)
+            if not self._client.exists(lb_path):
                 raise exc.NotFound("No logbook found with id: %s" % lb_uuid)
-
-            for fd_uuid in self.backend.zk.get_children(zk_path):
+            for fd_uuid in self._client.get_children(lb_path):
                 _destroy_flow_details(fd_uuid, txn)
-                txn.delete(paths.join(zk_path, fd_uuid))
-            txn.delete(zk_path)
+                txn.delete(paths.join(lb_path, fd_uuid))
+            txn.delete(lb_path)
 
         with self._exc_wrapper():
-            with self.backend.zk.transaction() as txn:
+            with self._client.transaction() as txn:
                 _destroy_logbook(lb_uuid, txn)
 
-    def clear_all(self):
-        """Delete all data transactioanlly.
-        """
+    def clear_all(self, delete_dirs=True):
+        """Delete all data transactioanlly."""
         with self._exc_wrapper():
-            with self.backend.zk.transaction() as txn:
-                # delete all data under log_book path
-                for lb_uuid in self.backend.zk.get_children(self.log_path):
-                    zk_path = paths.join(self.log_path, lb_uuid)
-                    for fd_uuid in self.backend.zk.get_children(zk_path):
-                        txn.delete(paths.join(zk_path, fd_uuid))
-                    txn.delete(zk_path)
-                txn.delete(self.log_path)
+            with self._client.transaction() as txn:
 
-                # delete all data under flow_detail path
-                for fd_uuid in self.backend.zk.get_children(self.flow_path):
-                    zk_path = paths.join(self.flow_path, fd_uuid)
-                    for td_uuid in self.backend.zk.get_children(zk_path):
-                        txn.delete(paths.join(zk_path, td_uuid))
-                    txn.delete(zk_path)
-                txn.delete(self.flow_path)
+                # Delete all data under logbook path.
+                for lb_uuid in self._client.get_children(self.book_path):
+                    lb_path = paths.join(self.book_path, lb_uuid)
+                    for fd_uuid in self._client.get_children(lb_path):
+                        txn.delete(paths.join(lb_path, fd_uuid))
+                    txn.delete(lb_path)
 
-                # delete all data under task_detail path
-                for td_uuid in self.backend.zk.get_children(self.task_path):
-                    zk_path = paths.join(self.task_path, td_uuid)
-                    txn.delete(zk_path)
-                txn.delete(self.task_path)
+                # Delete all data under flowdetail path.
+                for fd_uuid in self._client.get_children(self.flow_path):
+                    fd_path = paths.join(self.flow_path, fd_uuid)
+                    for td_uuid in self._client.get_children(fd_path):
+                        txn.delete(paths.join(fd_path, td_uuid))
+                    txn.delete(fd_path)
 
-                # delete top-level path
-                txn.delete(self.backend.path)
+                # Delete all data under taskdetail path.
+                for td_uuid in self._client.get_children(self.task_path):
+                    td_path = paths.join(self.task_path, td_uuid)
+                    txn.delete(td_path)
+
+                # Delete containing directories.
+                if delete_dirs:
+                    txn.delete(self.book_path)
+                    txn.delete(self.task_path)
+                    txn.delete(self.flow_path)
diff --git a/taskflow/tests/unit/persistence/test_zake_persistence.py b/taskflow/tests/unit/persistence/test_zake_persistence.py
index 22e8ab5e..2be24ca8 100644
--- a/taskflow/tests/unit/persistence/test_zake_persistence.py
+++ b/taskflow/tests/unit/persistence/test_zake_persistence.py
@@ -18,30 +18,29 @@
 
 import contextlib
 
+from zake import fake_client
+
 from taskflow.persistence import backends
 from taskflow.persistence.backends import impl_zookeeper
 from taskflow import test
 from taskflow.tests.unit.persistence import base
 
 
-class ZkPersistenceTest(test.TestCase, base.PersistenceTestMixin):
+class ZakePersistenceTest(test.TestCase, base.PersistenceTestMixin):
     def _get_connection(self):
         return self._backend.get_connection()
 
     def setUp(self):
-        super(ZkPersistenceTest, self).setUp()
+        super(ZakePersistenceTest, self).setUp()
         conf = {
             "path": "/taskflow",
         }
-        self._backend = impl_zookeeper.ZkBackend(conf)
+        client = fake_client.FakeClient()
+        client.start()
+        self._backend = impl_zookeeper.ZkBackend(conf, client=client)
         conn = self._backend.get_connection()
         conn.upgrade()
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        super(ZkPersistenceTest, self).tearDown()
-        conn = self._get_connection()
-        conn.clear_all()
-
     def test_zk_persistence_entry_point(self):
         conf = {'connection': 'zookeeper:'}
         with contextlib.closing(backends.fetch(conf)) as be:
diff --git a/taskflow/utils/kazoo_utils.py b/taskflow/utils/kazoo_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0bd91402
--- /dev/null
+++ b/taskflow/utils/kazoo_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+# vim: tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4
+
+#    Copyright (C) 2014 Yahoo! Inc. All Rights Reserved.
+#
+#    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#    not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#    a copy of the License at
+#
+#         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#    WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+#    under the License.
+
+from kazoo import client
+import six
+
+
+def _parse_hosts(hosts):
+    if isinstance(hosts, six.string_types):
+        return hosts.strip()
+    if isinstance(hosts, (dict)):
+        host_ports = []
+        for (k, v) in six.iteritems(hosts):
+            host_ports.append("%s:%s" % (k, v))
+        hosts = host_ports
+    if isinstance(hosts, (list, set, tuple)):
+        return ",".join([str(h) for h in hosts])
+    return hosts
+
+
+def make_client(conf):
+    """Creates a kazoo client given a configuration dictionary."""
+    client_kwargs = {
+        'read_only': bool(conf.get('read_only')),
+        'randomize_hosts': bool(conf.get('randomize_hosts')),
+    }
+    hosts = _parse_hosts(conf.get("hosts", "localhost:2181"))
+    if not hosts or not isinstance(hosts, six.string_types):
+        raise TypeError("Invalid hosts format, expected "
+                        "non-empty string/list, not %s" % type(hosts))
+    client_kwargs['hosts'] = hosts
+    if 'timeout' in conf:
+        client_kwargs['timeout'] = float(conf['timeout'])
+    # Kazoo supports various handlers, gevent, threading, eventlet...
+    # allow the user of this client object to optionally specify one to be
+    # used.
+    if 'handler' in conf:
+        client_kwargs['handler'] = conf['handler']
+    return client.KazooClient(**client_kwargs)
diff --git a/test-requirements.txt b/test-requirements.txt
index 3c40bcf5..9a2c7591 100644
--- a/test-requirements.txt
+++ b/test-requirements.txt
@@ -6,4 +6,4 @@ testrepository>=0.0.17
 testtools>=0.9.32,<0.9.35
 # ZooKeeper
 kazoo>=1.3.1
-zake>=0.0.7
+zake>=0.0.13