diff --git a/doc/source/deployment_guide.rst b/doc/source/deployment_guide.rst
index 8ee2f46da6..78b2e35b5a 100644
--- a/doc/source/deployment_guide.rst
+++ b/doc/source/deployment_guide.rst
@@ -1751,7 +1751,9 @@ sorting_method                shuffle          Storage nodes can be chosen at
                                                control. In both the timing and
                                                affinity cases, equally-sorting nodes
                                                are still randomly chosen to spread
-                                               load.
+                                               load. This option may be overridden
+                                               in a per-policy configuration
+                                               section.
 timing_expiry                 300              If the "timing" sorting_method is
                                                used, the timings will only be valid
                                                for the number of seconds configured
@@ -1809,14 +1811,18 @@ read_affinity                 None             Specifies which backend servers t
                                                be given to the selection; lower
                                                numbers are higher priority.
                                                Default is empty, meaning no
-                                               preference.
+                                               preference. This option may be
+                                               overridden in a per-policy
+                                               configuration section.
 write_affinity                None             Specifies which backend servers to
                                                prefer on writes. Format is a comma
                                                separated list of affinity
                                                descriptors of the form r<N> for
                                                region N or r<N>z<M> for region N,
                                                zone M. Default is empty, meaning no
-                                               preference.
+                                               preference. This option may be
+                                               overridden in a per-policy
+                                               configuration section.
 write_affinity_node_count     2 * replicas     The number of local (as governed by
                                                the write_affinity setting) nodes to
                                                attempt to contact first on writes,
@@ -1825,9 +1831,99 @@ write_affinity_node_count     2 * replicas     The number of local (as governed
                                                '* replicas' at the end to have it
                                                use the number given times the number
                                                of replicas for the ring being used
-                                               for the request.
+                                               for the request. This option may be
+                                               overridden in a per-policy
+                                               configuration section.
 ============================  ===============  =====================================
 
+Per policy configuration
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Some proxy-server configuration options may be overridden on a per-policy
+basis by including per-policy config section(s). These options are:
+
+- sorting_method
+- read_affinity
+- write_affinity
+- write_affinity_node_count
+
+The per-policy config section name must be of the form::
+
+    [proxy-server:policy:<policy index>]
+
+.. note::
+
+    The per-policy config section name should refer to the policy index, not
+    the policy name.
+
+.. note::
+
+    The first part of proxy-server config section name must match the name of
+    the proxy-server config section. This is typically ``proxy-server`` as
+    shown above, but if different then the names of any per-policy config
+    sections must be changed accordingly.
+
+The value of an option specified in a per-policy section will override any
+value given in the proxy-server section for that policy only. Otherwise the
+value of these options will be that specified in the proxy-server section.
+
+For example, the following section provides policy-specific options for a
+policy with index 3::
+
+    [proxy-server:policy:3]
+    sorting_method = affinity
+    read_affinity = r2=1
+    write_affinity = r2
+    write_affinity_node_count = 1 * replicas
+
+.. note::
+
+    It is recommended that per-policy config options are *not* included in the
+    ``[DEFAULT]`` section. If they are then the following behavior applies.
+
+    Per-policy config sections will inherit options in the DEFAULT section of
+    the config file, and any such inheritance will take precedence over
+    inheriting options from the proxy-server config section.
+
+    Per-policy config section options will override options in the
+    ``[DEFAULT]`` section. Unlike the behavior described under `General Server
+    Configuration`_ for paste-deploy ``filter`` and ``app`` sections, the
+    ``set`` keyword is not required for options to override in per-policy
+    config sections.
+
+    For example, given the following settings in a config file::
+
+        [DEFAULT]
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        read_affinity = r0=100
+        write_affinity = r0
+
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+        # use of set keyword here overrides [DEFAULT] option
+        set read_affinity = r1=100
+        # without set keyword, [DEFAULT] option overrides in a paste-deploy section
+        write_affinity = r1
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:0]
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        # set keyword not required here to override [DEFAULT] option
+        write_affinity = r1
+
+    would result in policy with index ``0`` having settings:
+
+    * ``read_affinity = r0=100`` (inherited from the ``[DEFAULT]`` section)
+    * ``write_affinity = r1`` (specified in the policy 0 section)
+
+    and any other policy would have the default settings of:
+
+    * ``read_affinity = r1=100`` (set in the proxy-server section)
+    * ``write_affinity = r0`` (inherited from the ``[DEFAULT]`` section)
+
+
+Tempauth
+^^^^^^^^
+
 [tempauth]
 
 =====================  =============================== =======================
diff --git a/etc/proxy-server.conf-sample b/etc/proxy-server.conf-sample
index 97f613725b..ce4c656caf 100644
--- a/etc/proxy-server.conf-sample
+++ b/etc/proxy-server.conf-sample
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ use = egg:swift#proxy
 # affinity cases, equally-sorting nodes are still randomly chosen to
 # spread load.
 # The valid values for sorting_method are "affinity", "shuffle", or "timing".
+# This option may be overridden in a per-policy configuration section.
 # sorting_method = shuffle
 #
 # If the "timing" sorting_method is used, the timings will only be valid for
@@ -211,6 +212,7 @@ use = egg:swift#proxy
 # anything in region 2, then everything else:
 # read_affinity = r1z1=100, r1z2=200, r2=300
 # Default is empty, meaning no preference.
+# This option may be overridden in a per-policy configuration section.
 # read_affinity =
 #
 # Specifies which backend servers to prefer on writes. Format is a comma
@@ -223,6 +225,7 @@ use = egg:swift#proxy
 # nodes:
 # write_affinity = r1, r2
 # Default is empty, meaning no preference.
+# This option may be overridden in a per-policy configuration section.
 # write_affinity =
 #
 # The number of local (as governed by the write_affinity setting) nodes to
@@ -230,6 +233,7 @@ use = egg:swift#proxy
 # should be an integer number, or use '* replicas' at the end to have it use
 # the number given times the number of replicas for the ring being used for the
 # request.
+# This option may be overridden in a per-policy configuration section.
 # write_affinity_node_count = 2 * replicas
 #
 # These are the headers whose values will only be shown to swift_owners. The
@@ -249,6 +253,18 @@ use = egg:swift#proxy
 # ionice_class =
 # ionice_priority =
 
+# Some proxy-server configuration options may be overridden on a per-policy
+# basis by including per-policy config section(s). The value of any option
+# specified a per-policy section will override any value given in the
+# proxy-server section for that policy only. Otherwise the value of these
+# options will be that specified in the proxy-server section.
+# The section name should refer to the policy index, not the policy name.
+# [proxy-server:policy:<policy index>]
+# sorting_method =
+# read_affinity =
+# write_affinity =
+# write_affinity_node_count =
+
 [filter:tempauth]
 use = egg:swift#tempauth
 # You can override the default log routing for this filter here:
diff --git a/swift/common/utils.py b/swift/common/utils.py
index 5c50e198f1..fb95ea2c71 100644
--- a/swift/common/utils.py
+++ b/swift/common/utils.py
@@ -2443,6 +2443,8 @@ def readconf(conf_path, section_name=None, log_name=None, defaults=None,
     else:
         c = ConfigParser(defaults)
     if hasattr(conf_path, 'readline'):
+        if hasattr(conf_path, 'seek'):
+            conf_path.seek(0)
         c.readfp(conf_path)
     else:
         if os.path.isdir(conf_path):
diff --git a/swift/common/wsgi.py b/swift/common/wsgi.py
index a8d3788f54..a6dcd226b8 100644
--- a/swift/common/wsgi.py
+++ b/swift/common/wsgi.py
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ class NamedConfigLoader(loadwsgi.ConfigLoader):
         context = super(NamedConfigLoader, self).get_context(
             object_type, name=name, global_conf=global_conf)
         context.name = name
+        context.local_conf['__name__'] = name
         return context
 
 
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ class ConfigString(NamedConfigLoader):
         self.filename = "string"
         defaults = {
             'here': "string",
-            '__file__': "string",
+            '__file__': StringIO(dedent(config_string)),
         }
         self.parser = loadwsgi.NicerConfigParser("string", defaults=defaults)
         self.parser.optionxform = str  # Don't lower-case keys
diff --git a/swift/proxy/controllers/base.py b/swift/proxy/controllers/base.py
index 2007006c8c..25a43f8b51 100644
--- a/swift/proxy/controllers/base.py
+++ b/swift/proxy/controllers/base.py
@@ -1306,9 +1306,11 @@ class NodeIter(object):
     :param partition: ring partition to yield nodes for
     :param node_iter: optional iterable of nodes to try. Useful if you
         want to filter or reorder the nodes.
+    :param policy: an instance of :class:`BaseStoragePolicy`. This should be
+        None for an account or container ring.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, app, ring, partition, node_iter=None):
+    def __init__(self, app, ring, partition, node_iter=None, policy=None):
         self.app = app
         self.ring = ring
         self.partition = partition
@@ -1324,7 +1326,8 @@ class NodeIter(object):
         # Use of list() here forcibly yanks the first N nodes (the primary
         # nodes) from node_iter, so the rest of its values are handoffs.
         self.primary_nodes = self.app.sort_nodes(
-            list(itertools.islice(node_iter, num_primary_nodes)))
+            list(itertools.islice(node_iter, num_primary_nodes)),
+            policy=policy)
         self.handoff_iter = node_iter
         self._node_provider = None
 
diff --git a/swift/proxy/controllers/obj.py b/swift/proxy/controllers/obj.py
index 7949d275b9..e9c9b5e1bb 100644
--- a/swift/proxy/controllers/obj.py
+++ b/swift/proxy/controllers/obj.py
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class BaseObjectController(Controller):
         self.container_name = unquote(container_name)
         self.object_name = unquote(object_name)
 
-    def iter_nodes_local_first(self, ring, partition):
+    def iter_nodes_local_first(self, ring, partition, policy=None):
         """
         Yields nodes for a ring partition.
 
@@ -143,13 +143,13 @@ class BaseObjectController(Controller):
         :param ring: ring to get nodes from
         :param partition: ring partition to yield nodes for
         """
-
-        is_local = self.app.write_affinity_is_local_fn
+        policy_conf = self.app.get_policy_options(policy)
+        is_local = policy_conf.write_affinity_is_local_fn
         if is_local is None:
-            return self.app.iter_nodes(ring, partition)
+            return self.app.iter_nodes(ring, partition, policy=policy)
 
         primary_nodes = ring.get_part_nodes(partition)
-        num_locals = self.app.write_affinity_node_count(len(primary_nodes))
+        num_locals = policy_conf.write_affinity_node_count(len(primary_nodes))
 
         all_nodes = itertools.chain(primary_nodes,
                                     ring.get_more_nodes(partition))
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ class BaseObjectController(Controller):
                              all_nodes))
 
         return self.app.iter_nodes(
-            ring, partition, node_iter=local_first_node_iter)
+            ring, partition, node_iter=local_first_node_iter, policy=policy)
 
     def GETorHEAD(self, req):
         """Handle HTTP GET or HEAD requests."""
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ class BaseObjectController(Controller):
                 return aresp
         partition = obj_ring.get_part(
             self.account_name, self.container_name, self.object_name)
-        node_iter = self.app.iter_nodes(obj_ring, partition)
+        node_iter = self.app.iter_nodes(obj_ring, partition, policy=policy)
 
         resp = self._get_or_head_response(req, node_iter, partition, policy)
 
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ class BaseObjectController(Controller):
         """
         obj_ring = policy.object_ring
         node_iter = GreenthreadSafeIterator(
-            self.iter_nodes_local_first(obj_ring, partition))
+            self.iter_nodes_local_first(obj_ring, partition, policy=policy))
         pile = GreenPile(len(nodes))
 
         for nheaders in outgoing_headers:
diff --git a/swift/proxy/server.py b/swift/proxy/server.py
index 53eeb973a8..216f8a1840 100644
--- a/swift/proxy/server.py
+++ b/swift/proxy/server.py
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
 import mimetypes
 import os
 import socket
+
+from collections import defaultdict
+
 from swift import gettext_ as _
 from random import shuffle
 from time import time
@@ -32,7 +35,7 @@ from swift.common.ring import Ring
 from swift.common.utils import cache_from_env, get_logger, \
     get_remote_client, split_path, config_true_value, generate_trans_id, \
     affinity_key_function, affinity_locality_predicate, list_from_csv, \
-    register_swift_info
+    register_swift_info, readconf
 from swift.common.constraints import check_utf8, valid_api_version
 from swift.proxy.controllers import AccountController, ContainerController, \
     ObjectControllerRouter, InfoController
@@ -76,6 +79,67 @@ required_filters = [
         'catch_errors', 'gatekeeper', 'proxy_logging']}]
 
 
+def _label_for_policy(policy):
+    if policy is not None:
+        return 'policy %s (%s)' % (policy.idx, policy.name)
+    return '(default)'
+
+
+class OverrideConf(object):
+    """
+    Encapsulates proxy server properties that may be overridden e.g. for
+    policy specific configurations.
+
+    :param conf: the proxy-server config dict.
+    :param override_conf: a dict of overriding configuration options.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, base_conf, override_conf):
+        self.conf = base_conf
+        self.override_conf = override_conf
+
+        self.sorting_method = self._get('sorting_method', 'shuffle').lower()
+        self.read_affinity = self._get('read_affinity', '')
+        try:
+            self.read_affinity_sort_key = affinity_key_function(
+                self.read_affinity)
+        except ValueError as err:
+            # make the message a little more useful
+            raise ValueError("Invalid read_affinity value: %r (%s)" %
+                             (self.read_affinity, err.message))
+
+        self.write_affinity = self._get('write_affinity', '')
+        try:
+            self.write_affinity_is_local_fn \
+                = affinity_locality_predicate(self.write_affinity)
+        except ValueError as err:
+            # make the message a little more useful
+            raise ValueError("Invalid write_affinity value: %r (%s)" %
+                             (self.write_affinity, err.message))
+        self.write_affinity_node_value = self._get(
+            'write_affinity_node_count', '2 * replicas').lower()
+        value = self.write_affinity_node_value.split()
+        if len(value) == 1:
+            wanc_value = int(value[0])
+            self.write_affinity_node_count = lambda replicas: wanc_value
+        elif len(value) == 3 and value[1] == '*' and value[2] == 'replicas':
+            wanc_value = int(value[0])
+            self.write_affinity_node_count = \
+                lambda replicas: wanc_value * replicas
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(
+                'Invalid write_affinity_node_count value: %r' %
+                (' '.join(value)))
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return ('sorting_method: %s, read_affinity: %s, write_affinity: %s, '
+                'write_affinity_node_count: %s' %
+                (self.sorting_method, self.read_affinity, self.write_affinity,
+                 self.write_affinity_node_value))
+
+    def _get(self, key, default):
+        return self.override_conf.get(key, self.conf.get(key, default))
+
+
 class Application(object):
     """WSGI application for the proxy server."""
 
@@ -87,6 +151,9 @@ class Application(object):
             self.logger = get_logger(conf, log_route='proxy-server')
         else:
             self.logger = logger
+        self._override_confs = self._load_per_policy_config(conf)
+        self.sorts_by_timing = any(pc.sorting_method == 'timing'
+                                   for pc in self._override_confs.values())
 
         self._error_limiting = {}
 
@@ -155,7 +222,6 @@ class Application(object):
             conf.get('strict_cors_mode', 't'))
         self.node_timings = {}
         self.timing_expiry = int(conf.get('timing_expiry', 300))
-        self.sorting_method = conf.get('sorting_method', 'shuffle').lower()
         self.concurrent_gets = \
             config_true_value(conf.get('concurrent_gets'))
         self.concurrency_timeout = float(conf.get('concurrency_timeout',
@@ -170,33 +236,6 @@ class Application(object):
         else:
             raise ValueError(
                 'Invalid request_node_count value: %r' % ''.join(value))
-        try:
-            self._read_affinity = read_affinity = conf.get('read_affinity', '')
-            self.read_affinity_sort_key = affinity_key_function(read_affinity)
-        except ValueError as err:
-            # make the message a little more useful
-            raise ValueError("Invalid read_affinity value: %r (%s)" %
-                             (read_affinity, err.message))
-        try:
-            write_affinity = conf.get('write_affinity', '')
-            self.write_affinity_is_local_fn \
-                = affinity_locality_predicate(write_affinity)
-        except ValueError as err:
-            # make the message a little more useful
-            raise ValueError("Invalid write_affinity value: %r (%s)" %
-                             (write_affinity, err.message))
-        value = conf.get('write_affinity_node_count',
-                         '2 * replicas').lower().split()
-        if len(value) == 1:
-            wanc_value = int(value[0])
-            self.write_affinity_node_count = lambda replicas: wanc_value
-        elif len(value) == 3 and value[1] == '*' and value[2] == 'replicas':
-            wanc_value = int(value[0])
-            self.write_affinity_node_count = \
-                lambda replicas: wanc_value * replicas
-        else:
-            raise ValueError(
-                'Invalid write_affinity_node_count value: %r' % ''.join(value))
         # swift_owner_headers are stripped by the account and container
         # controllers; we should extend header stripping to object controller
         # when a privileged object header is implemented.
@@ -235,15 +274,68 @@ class Application(object):
             account_autocreate=self.account_autocreate,
             **constraints.EFFECTIVE_CONSTRAINTS)
 
+    def _make_policy_override(self, policy, conf, override_conf):
+        label_for_policy = _label_for_policy(policy)
+        try:
+            override = OverrideConf(conf, override_conf)
+            self.logger.debug("Loaded override config for %s: %r" %
+                              (label_for_policy, override))
+            return override
+        except ValueError as err:
+            raise ValueError(err.message + ' for %s' % label_for_policy)
+
+    def _load_per_policy_config(self, conf):
+        """
+        Loads per-policy config override values from proxy server conf file.
+
+        :param conf: the proxy server local conf dict
+        :return: a dict mapping :class:`BaseStoragePolicy` to an instance of
+            :class:`OverrideConf` that has policy specific config attributes
+        """
+        # the default conf will be used when looking up a policy that had no
+        # override conf
+        default_conf = self._make_policy_override(None, conf, {})
+        override_confs = defaultdict(lambda: default_conf)
+        # force None key to be set in the defaultdict so that it is found when
+        # iterating over items in check_config
+        override_confs[None] = default_conf
+        for index, override_conf in conf.get('policy_config', {}).items():
+            try:
+                index = int(index)
+            except ValueError:
+                # require policies to be referenced by index; using index *or*
+                # name isn't possible because names such as "3" are allowed
+                raise ValueError(
+                    'Override config must refer to policy index: %r' % index)
+            try:
+                policy = POLICIES[index]
+            except KeyError:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    "No policy found for override config, index: %s" % index)
+            override = self._make_policy_override(policy, conf, override_conf)
+            override_confs[policy] = override
+        return override_confs
+
+    def get_policy_options(self, policy):
+        """
+        Return policy specific options.
+
+        :param policy: an instance of :class:`BaseStoragePolicy`
+        :return: an instance of :class:`OverrideConf`
+        """
+        return self._override_confs[policy]
+
     def check_config(self):
         """
         Check the configuration for possible errors
         """
-        if self._read_affinity and self.sorting_method != 'affinity':
-            self.logger.warning(
-                _("sorting_method is set to '%s', not 'affinity'; "
-                  "read_affinity setting will have no effect."),
-                self.sorting_method)
+        for policy, conf in self._override_confs.items():
+            if conf.read_affinity and conf.sorting_method != 'affinity':
+                self.logger.warning(
+                    _("sorting_method is set to '%(method)s', not 'affinity'; "
+                      "%(label)s read_affinity setting will have no effect."),
+                    {'label': _label_for_policy(policy),
+                     'method': conf.sorting_method})
 
     def get_object_ring(self, policy_idx):
         """
@@ -425,30 +517,34 @@ class Application(object):
             self.logger.exception(_('ERROR Unhandled exception in request'))
             return HTTPServerError(request=req)
 
-    def sort_nodes(self, nodes):
-        '''
+    def sort_nodes(self, nodes, policy=None):
+        """
         Sorts nodes in-place (and returns the sorted list) according to
         the configured strategy. The default "sorting" is to randomly
         shuffle the nodes. If the "timing" strategy is chosen, the nodes
         are sorted according to the stored timing data.
-        '''
+
+        :param nodes: a list of nodes
+        :param policy: an instance of :class:`BaseStoragePolicy`
+        """
         # In the case of timing sorting, shuffling ensures that close timings
         # (ie within the rounding resolution) won't prefer one over another.
         # Python's sort is stable (http://wiki.python.org/moin/HowTo/Sorting/)
         shuffle(nodes)
-        if self.sorting_method == 'timing':
+        policy_conf = self.get_policy_options(policy)
+        if policy_conf.sorting_method == 'timing':
             now = time()
 
             def key_func(node):
                 timing, expires = self.node_timings.get(node['ip'], (-1.0, 0))
                 return timing if expires > now else -1.0
             nodes.sort(key=key_func)
-        elif self.sorting_method == 'affinity':
-            nodes.sort(key=self.read_affinity_sort_key)
+        elif policy_conf.sorting_method == 'affinity':
+            nodes.sort(key=policy_conf.read_affinity_sort_key)
         return nodes
 
     def set_node_timing(self, node, timing):
-        if self.sorting_method != 'timing':
+        if not self.sorts_by_timing:
             return
         now = time()
         timing = round(timing, 3)  # sort timings to the millisecond
@@ -516,8 +612,9 @@ class Application(object):
                           {'msg': msg.decode('utf-8'), 'ip': node['ip'],
                           'port': node['port'], 'device': node['device']})
 
-    def iter_nodes(self, ring, partition, node_iter=None):
-        return NodeIter(self, ring, partition, node_iter=node_iter)
+    def iter_nodes(self, ring, partition, node_iter=None, policy=None):
+        return NodeIter(self, ring, partition, node_iter=node_iter,
+                        policy=policy)
 
     def exception_occurred(self, node, typ, additional_info,
                            **kwargs):
@@ -575,10 +672,42 @@ class Application(object):
             self.logger.debug(_("Pipeline is \"%s\""), pipe)
 
 
+def parse_per_policy_config(conf):
+    """
+    Search the config file for any per-policy config sections and load those
+    sections to a dict mapping policy reference (name or index) to policy
+    options.
+
+    :param conf: the proxy server conf dict
+    :return: a dict mapping policy reference -> dict of policy options
+    :raises ValueError: if a policy config section has an invalid name
+    """
+    policy_config = {}
+    try:
+        all_conf = readconf(conf['__file__'])
+    except KeyError:
+        get_logger(conf).warning(
+            "Unable to load policy specific configuration options: "
+            "cannot access proxy server conf file")
+        return policy_config
+
+    policy_section_prefix = conf['__name__'] + ':policy:'
+    for section, options in all_conf.items():
+        if not section.startswith(policy_section_prefix):
+            continue
+        policy_ref = section[len(policy_section_prefix):]
+        policy_config[policy_ref] = options
+    return policy_config
+
+
 def app_factory(global_conf, **local_conf):
     """paste.deploy app factory for creating WSGI proxy apps."""
     conf = global_conf.copy()
     conf.update(local_conf)
+    # Do this here so that the use of conf['__file__'] and conf['__name__'] is
+    # isolated from the Application. This also simplifies tests that construct
+    # an Application instance directly.
+    conf['policy_config'] = parse_per_policy_config(conf)
     app = Application(conf)
     app.check_config()
     return app
diff --git a/test/unit/common/test_wsgi.py b/test/unit/common/test_wsgi.py
index 0a891fa5d2..bfff77de42 100644
--- a/test/unit/common/test_wsgi.py
+++ b/test/unit/common/test_wsgi.py
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ class TestWSGI(unittest.TestCase):
             'here': os.path.dirname(conf_file),
             'conn_timeout': '0.2',
             'swift_dir': t,
+            '__name__': 'proxy-server'
         }
         self.assertEqual(expected, conf)
         # logger works
@@ -234,6 +235,7 @@ class TestWSGI(unittest.TestCase):
             'here': conf_dir,
             'conn_timeout': '0.2',
             'swift_dir': conf_root,
+            '__name__': 'proxy-server'
         }
         self.assertEqual(expected, conf)
         # logger works
@@ -571,7 +573,7 @@ class TestWSGI(unittest.TestCase):
         expected = {
             '__file__': os.path.join(path, 'server.conf.d'),
             'here': os.path.join(path, 'server.conf.d'),
-            'port': '8080',
+            'port': '8080', '__name__': 'main'
         }
         self.assertEqual(conf, expected)
 
diff --git a/test/unit/proxy/controllers/test_container.py b/test/unit/proxy/controllers/test_container.py
index 1cc0d1986f..8d1c004120 100644
--- a/test/unit/proxy/controllers/test_container.py
+++ b/test/unit/proxy/controllers/test_container.py
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ class TestContainerController(TestRingBase):
         self.assertNotEqual(context['headers']['x-timestamp'], '1.0')
 
     def test_node_errors(self):
-        self.app.sort_nodes = lambda n: n
+        self.app.sort_nodes = lambda n, *args, **kwargs: n
 
         for method in ('PUT', 'DELETE', 'POST'):
             def test_status_map(statuses, expected):
diff --git a/test/unit/proxy/controllers/test_obj.py b/test/unit/proxy/controllers/test_obj.py
index 31faa5e274..119429c0ee 100644
--- a/test/unit/proxy/controllers/test_obj.py
+++ b/test/unit/proxy/controllers/test_obj.py
@@ -195,11 +195,12 @@ class BaseObjectControllerMixin(object):
 
     def test_iter_nodes_local_first_noops_when_no_affinity(self):
         # this test needs a stable node order - most don't
-        self.app.sort_nodes = lambda l: l
+        self.app.sort_nodes = lambda l, *args, **kwargs: l
         controller = self.controller_cls(
             self.app, 'a', 'c', 'o')
-        self.app.write_affinity_is_local_fn = None
-        object_ring = self.policy.object_ring
+        policy = self.policy
+        self.app.get_policy_options(policy).write_affinity_is_local_fn = None
+        object_ring = policy.object_ring
         all_nodes = object_ring.get_part_nodes(1)
         all_nodes.extend(object_ring.get_more_nodes(1))
 
@@ -213,10 +214,11 @@ class BaseObjectControllerMixin(object):
     def test_iter_nodes_local_first_moves_locals_first(self):
         controller = self.controller_cls(
             self.app, 'a', 'c', 'o')
-        self.app.write_affinity_is_local_fn = (
+        policy_conf = self.app.get_policy_options(self.policy)
+        policy_conf.write_affinity_is_local_fn = (
             lambda node: node['region'] == 1)
         # we'll write to one more than replica count local nodes
-        self.app.write_affinity_node_count = lambda r: r + 1
+        policy_conf.write_affinity_node_count = lambda r: r + 1
 
         object_ring = self.policy.object_ring
         # make our fake ring have plenty of nodes, and not get limited
@@ -234,7 +236,7 @@ class BaseObjectControllerMixin(object):
 
         # make sure we have enough local nodes (sanity)
         all_local_nodes = [n for n in all_nodes if
-                           self.app.write_affinity_is_local_fn(n)]
+                           policy_conf.write_affinity_is_local_fn(n)]
         self.assertGreaterEqual(len(all_local_nodes), self.replicas() + 1)
 
         # finally, create the local_first_nodes iter and flatten it out
@@ -252,7 +254,8 @@ class BaseObjectControllerMixin(object):
     def test_iter_nodes_local_first_best_effort(self):
         controller = self.controller_cls(
             self.app, 'a', 'c', 'o')
-        self.app.write_affinity_is_local_fn = (
+        policy_conf = self.app.get_policy_options(self.policy)
+        policy_conf.write_affinity_is_local_fn = (
             lambda node: node['region'] == 1)
 
         object_ring = self.policy.object_ring
@@ -266,7 +269,7 @@ class BaseObjectControllerMixin(object):
         self.assertEqual(len(all_nodes), self.replicas() +
                          POLICIES.default.object_ring.max_more_nodes)
         all_local_nodes = [n for n in all_nodes if
-                           self.app.write_affinity_is_local_fn(n)]
+                           policy_conf.write_affinity_is_local_fn(n)]
         self.assertEqual(len(all_local_nodes), self.replicas())
         # but the local nodes we do have are at the front of the local iter
         first_n_local_first_nodes = local_first_nodes[:len(all_local_nodes)]
@@ -575,6 +578,80 @@ class BaseObjectControllerMixin(object):
 
                 self.assertEqual(container_updates, expected)
 
+    def _check_write_affinity(
+            self, conf, policy_conf, policy, affinity_regions, affinity_count):
+        conf['policy_config'] = policy_conf
+        app = PatchedObjControllerApp(
+            conf, FakeMemcache(), account_ring=FakeRing(),
+            container_ring=FakeRing(), logger=self.logger)
+
+        controller = self.controller_cls(app, 'a', 'c', 'o')
+
+        object_ring = app.get_object_ring(int(policy))
+        # make our fake ring have plenty of nodes, and not get limited
+        # artificially by the proxy max request node count
+        object_ring.max_more_nodes = 100
+
+        all_nodes = object_ring.get_part_nodes(1)
+        all_nodes.extend(object_ring.get_more_nodes(1))
+
+        # make sure we have enough local nodes (sanity)
+        all_local_nodes = [n for n in all_nodes if
+                           n['region'] in affinity_regions]
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(len(all_local_nodes), affinity_count)
+
+        # finally, create the local_first_nodes iter and flatten it out
+        local_first_nodes = list(controller.iter_nodes_local_first(
+            object_ring, 1, policy))
+
+        # check that the required number of local nodes were moved up the order
+        node_regions = [node['region'] for node in local_first_nodes]
+        self.assertTrue(
+            all(r in affinity_regions for r in node_regions[:affinity_count]),
+            'Unexpected region found in local nodes, expected %s but got %s' %
+            (affinity_regions, node_regions))
+        return app
+
+    def test_write_affinity_not_configured(self):
+        # default is no write affinity so expect both regions 0 and 1
+        self._check_write_affinity({}, {}, POLICIES[0], [0, 1],
+                                   2 * self.replicas(POLICIES[0]))
+        self._check_write_affinity({}, {}, POLICIES[1], [0, 1],
+                                   2 * self.replicas(POLICIES[1]))
+
+    def test_write_affinity_proxy_server_config(self):
+        # without overrides policies use proxy-server config section options
+        conf = {'write_affinity_node_count': '1 * replicas',
+                'write_affinity': 'r0'}
+        self._check_write_affinity(conf, {}, POLICIES[0], [0],
+                                   self.replicas(POLICIES[0]))
+        self._check_write_affinity(conf, {}, POLICIES[1], [0],
+                                   self.replicas(POLICIES[1]))
+
+    def test_write_affinity_per_policy_config(self):
+        # check only per-policy configuration is sufficient
+        conf = {}
+        policy_conf = {'0': {'write_affinity_node_count': '1 * replicas',
+                             'write_affinity': 'r1'},
+                       '1': {'write_affinity_node_count': '5',
+                             'write_affinity': 'r0'}}
+        self._check_write_affinity(conf, policy_conf, POLICIES[0], [1],
+                                   self.replicas(POLICIES[0]))
+        self._check_write_affinity(conf, policy_conf, POLICIES[1], [0], 5)
+
+    def test_write_affinity_per_policy_config_overrides_and_inherits(self):
+        # check per-policy config is preferred over proxy-server section config
+        conf = {'write_affinity_node_count': '1 * replicas',
+                'write_affinity': 'r0'}
+        policy_conf = {'0': {'write_affinity': 'r1'},
+                       '1': {'write_affinity_node_count': '3 * replicas'}}
+        # policy 0 inherits default node count, override affinity to r1
+        self._check_write_affinity(conf, policy_conf, POLICIES[0], [1],
+                                   self.replicas(POLICIES[0]))
+        # policy 1 inherits default affinity to r0, overrides node count
+        self._check_write_affinity(conf, policy_conf, POLICIES[1], [0],
+                                   3 * self.replicas(POLICIES[1]))
+
 # end of BaseObjectControllerMixin
 
 
@@ -843,7 +920,7 @@ class TestReplicatedObjController(BaseObjectControllerMixin,
 
     def test_PUT_connect_exceptions(self):
         object_ring = self.app.get_object_ring(None)
-        self.app.sort_nodes = lambda n: n  # disable shuffle
+        self.app.sort_nodes = lambda n, *args, **kwargs: n  # disable shuffle
 
         def test_status_map(statuses, expected):
             self.app._error_limiting = {}
diff --git a/test/unit/proxy/test_server.py b/test/unit/proxy/test_server.py
index ef0a8e6e53..25f55bfdfb 100644
--- a/test/unit/proxy/test_server.py
+++ b/test/unit/proxy/test_server.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ import re
 import random
 from collections import defaultdict
 import uuid
+from copy import deepcopy
 
 import mock
 from eventlet import sleep, spawn, wsgi, Timeout, debug
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ from swift.common import utils, constraints
 from swift.common.utils import hash_path, storage_directory, \
     parse_content_type, parse_mime_headers, \
     iter_multipart_mime_documents, public, mkdirs, NullLogger
-from swift.common.wsgi import monkey_patch_mimetools, loadapp
+from swift.common.wsgi import monkey_patch_mimetools, loadapp, ConfigString
 from swift.proxy.controllers import base as proxy_base
 from swift.proxy.controllers.base import get_cache_key, cors_validation, \
     get_account_info, get_container_info
@@ -748,20 +749,156 @@ class TestProxyServer(unittest.TestCase):
                        {'ip': '127.0.0.1'}]
         self.assertEqual(res, exp_sorting)
 
-    def test_node_affinity(self):
-        baseapp = proxy_server.Application({'sorting_method': 'affinity',
-                                            'read_affinity': 'r1=1'},
+    def _do_sort_nodes(self, conf, policy_conf, nodes, policy,
+                       node_timings=None):
+        # Note with shuffling mocked out, sort_nodes will by default return
+        # nodes in the order they are given
+        nodes = deepcopy(nodes)
+        conf = deepcopy(conf)
+        conf['policy_config'] = deepcopy(policy_conf)
+        baseapp = proxy_server.Application(conf,
                                            FakeMemcache(),
+                                           logger=FakeLogger(),
                                            container_ring=FakeRing(),
                                            account_ring=FakeRing())
-
-        nodes = [{'region': 2, 'zone': 1, 'ip': '127.0.0.1'},
-                 {'region': 1, 'zone': 2, 'ip': '127.0.0.2'}]
+        if node_timings:
+            for i, n in enumerate(nodes):
+                baseapp.set_node_timing(n, node_timings[i])
         with mock.patch('swift.proxy.server.shuffle', lambda x: x):
-            app_sorted = baseapp.sort_nodes(nodes)
-            exp_sorted = [{'region': 1, 'zone': 2, 'ip': '127.0.0.2'},
-                          {'region': 2, 'zone': 1, 'ip': '127.0.0.1'}]
-            self.assertEqual(exp_sorted, app_sorted)
+            app_sorted = baseapp.sort_nodes(nodes, policy)
+        self.assertFalse(baseapp.logger.get_lines_for_level('warning'))
+        return baseapp, app_sorted
+
+    def test_sort_nodes_default(self):
+        nodes = [{'region': 0, 'zone': 1, 'ip': '127.0.0.3'},
+                 {'region': 1, 'zone': 1, 'ip': '127.0.0.1'},
+                 {'region': 2, 'zone': 2, 'ip': '127.0.0.2'}]
+
+        # sanity check - no affinity conf results in node order unchanged
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes({}, {}, nodes, None)
+        self.assertEqual(nodes, actual)
+
+    def test_sort_nodes_by_affinity_proxy_server_config(self):
+        nodes = [{'region': 0, 'zone': 1, 'ip': '127.0.0.3'},
+                 {'region': 1, 'zone': 1, 'ip': '127.0.0.1'},
+                 {'region': 2, 'zone': 2, 'ip': '127.0.0.2'}]
+
+        # proxy-server affinity conf is to prefer r2
+        conf = {'sorting_method': 'affinity', 'read_affinity': 'r2=1'}
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, {}, nodes, None)
+        self.assertEqual([nodes[2], nodes[0], nodes[1]], actual)
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, {}, nodes, POLICIES[0])
+        self.assertEqual([nodes[2], nodes[0], nodes[1]], actual)
+        # check that node timings are not collected if sorting_method != timing
+        self.assertFalse(app.sorts_by_timing)  # sanity check
+        self.assertFalse(app.node_timings)  # sanity check
+
+        # proxy-server affinity conf is to prefer region 1
+        conf = {'sorting_method': 'affinity', 'read_affinity': 'r1=1'}
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, {}, nodes, None)
+        self.assertEqual([nodes[1], nodes[0], nodes[2]], actual)
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, {}, nodes, POLICIES[0])
+        self.assertEqual([nodes[1], nodes[0], nodes[2]], actual)
+
+    @patch_policies([StoragePolicy(0, 'zero', True, object_ring=FakeRing()),
+                     StoragePolicy(1, 'one', False, object_ring=FakeRing())])
+    def test_sort_nodes_by_affinity_per_policy(self):
+        nodes = [{'region': 0, 'zone': 1, 'ip': '127.0.0.4'},
+                 {'region': 1, 'zone': 0, 'ip': '127.0.0.3'},
+                 {'region': 2, 'zone': 1, 'ip': '127.0.0.1'},
+                 {'region': 3, 'zone': 0, 'ip': '127.0.0.2'}]
+        conf = {'sorting_method': 'affinity', 'read_affinity': 'r3=1'}
+        per_policy = {'0': {'sorting_method': 'affinity',
+                            'read_affinity': 'r1=1'},
+                      '1': {'sorting_method': 'affinity',
+                            'read_affinity': 'r2=1'}}
+        # policy 0 affinity prefers r1
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, per_policy, nodes, POLICIES[0])
+        self.assertEqual([nodes[1], nodes[0], nodes[2], nodes[3]], actual)
+        # policy 1 affinity prefers r2
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, per_policy, nodes, POLICIES[1])
+        self.assertEqual([nodes[2], nodes[0], nodes[1], nodes[3]], actual)
+        # default affinity prefers r3
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, per_policy, nodes, None)
+        self.assertEqual([nodes[3], nodes[0], nodes[1], nodes[2]], actual)
+
+    def test_sort_nodes_by_affinity_per_policy_with_no_default(self):
+        # no proxy-server setting but policy 0 prefers r0
+        nodes = [{'region': 1, 'zone': 1, 'ip': '127.0.0.1'},
+                 {'region': 0, 'zone': 2, 'ip': '127.0.0.2'}]
+        conf = {}
+        per_policy = {'0': {'sorting_method': 'affinity',
+                            'read_affinity': 'r0=0'}}
+        # policy 0 uses affinity sorting
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, per_policy, nodes, POLICIES[0])
+        self.assertEqual([nodes[1], nodes[0]], actual)
+        # any other policy will use default sorting
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, per_policy, nodes, None)
+        self.assertEqual(nodes, actual)
+
+    def test_sort_nodes_by_affinity_per_policy_inherits(self):
+        # policy 0 has read_affinity but no sorting_method override,
+        nodes = [{'region': 1, 'zone': 1, 'ip': '127.0.0.1'},
+                 {'region': 0, 'zone': 2, 'ip': '127.0.0.2'}]
+        conf = {}
+        per_policy = {'0': {'read_affinity': 'r0=0'}}
+        # policy 0 uses the default sorting method instead of affinity sorting
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, per_policy, nodes, POLICIES[0])
+        self.assertEqual(nodes, actual)
+        # but if proxy-server sorting_method is affinity then policy 0 inherits
+        conf = {'sorting_method': 'affinity'}
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, per_policy, nodes, POLICIES[0])
+        self.assertEqual([nodes[1], nodes[0]], actual)
+
+    def test_sort_nodes_by_affinity_per_policy_overrides(self):
+        # default setting is to sort by timing but policy 0 uses read affinity
+        nodes = [{'region': 0, 'zone': 1, 'ip': '127.0.0.3'},
+                 {'region': 1, 'zone': 1, 'ip': '127.0.0.1'},
+                 {'region': 2, 'zone': 2, 'ip': '127.0.0.2'}]
+        node_timings = [10, 1, 100]
+        conf = {'sorting_method': 'timing'}
+        per_policy = {'0': {'sorting_method': 'affinity',
+                            'read_affinity': 'r1=1,r2=2'}}
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, per_policy, nodes, POLICIES[0],
+                                          node_timings=node_timings)
+        self.assertEqual([nodes[1], nodes[2], nodes[0]], actual)
+        # check that timings are collected despite one policy using affinity
+        self.assertTrue(app.sorts_by_timing)
+        self.assertEqual(3, len(app.node_timings))
+        # check app defaults to sorting by timing when no policy specified
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, per_policy, nodes, None,
+                                          node_timings=node_timings)
+        self.assertEqual([nodes[1], nodes[0], nodes[2]], actual)
+
+    @patch_policies([StoragePolicy(0, 'zero', True, object_ring=FakeRing()),
+                     StoragePolicy(1, 'one', False, object_ring=FakeRing())])
+    def test_sort_nodes_by_timing_per_policy(self):
+        # default setting is to sort by affinity but policy 0 uses timing
+        nodes = [{'region': 0, 'zone': 1, 'ip': '127.0.0.3'},
+                 {'region': 1, 'zone': 1, 'ip': '127.0.0.1'},
+                 {'region': 2, 'zone': 2, 'ip': '127.0.0.2'}]
+        node_timings = [10, 1, 100]
+
+        conf = {'sorting_method': 'affinity', 'read_affinity': 'r1=1,r2=2'}
+        per_policy = {'0': {'sorting_method': 'timing',
+                            'read_affinity': 'r1=1,r2=2'},  # should be ignored
+                      '1': {'read_affinity': 'r2=1'}}
+        # policy 0 uses timing
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, per_policy, nodes, POLICIES[0],
+                                          node_timings=node_timings)
+        self.assertEqual([nodes[1], nodes[0], nodes[2]], actual)
+        self.assertTrue(app.sorts_by_timing)
+        self.assertEqual(3, len(app.node_timings))
+
+        # policy 1 uses policy specific read affinity
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, per_policy, nodes, POLICIES[1],
+                                          node_timings=node_timings)
+        self.assertEqual([nodes[2], nodes[0], nodes[1]], actual)
+
+        # check that with no policy specified the default read affinity is used
+        app, actual = self._do_sort_nodes(conf, per_policy, nodes, None,
+                                          node_timings=node_timings)
+        self.assertEqual([nodes[1], nodes[2], nodes[0]], actual)
 
     def test_node_concurrency(self):
         nodes = [{'region': 1, 'zone': 1, 'ip': '127.0.0.1', 'port': 6010,
@@ -1141,6 +1278,468 @@ class TestProxyServerLoading(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertTrue(policy.object_ring)
 
 
+@patch_policies()
+class TestProxyServerConfigLoading(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.tempdir = mkdtemp()
+        account_ring_path = os.path.join(self.tempdir, 'account.ring.gz')
+        write_fake_ring(account_ring_path)
+        container_ring_path = os.path.join(self.tempdir, 'container.ring.gz')
+        write_fake_ring(container_ring_path)
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        rmtree(self.tempdir)
+
+    def _write_conf(self, conf_body):
+        # this is broken out to a method so that subclasses can override
+        conf_path = os.path.join(self.tempdir, 'proxy-server.conf')
+        with open(conf_path, 'w') as f:
+            f.write(dedent(conf_body))
+        return conf_path
+
+    def _write_conf_and_load_app(self, conf_sections):
+        # write proxy-server.conf file, load app
+        conf_body = """
+        [DEFAULT]
+        swift_dir = %s
+
+        [pipeline:main]
+        pipeline = proxy-server
+
+        %s
+        """ % (self.tempdir, conf_sections)
+
+        conf_path = self._write_conf(conf_body)
+        with mock.patch('swift.proxy.server.get_logger',
+                        return_value=FakeLogger()):
+            app = loadapp(conf_path, allow_modify_pipeline=False)
+        return app
+
+    def _check_policy_conf(self, app, exp_conf, exp_is_local):
+        # verify expected config
+        for policy, options in exp_conf.items():
+            for k, v in options.items():
+                actual = getattr(app.get_policy_options(policy), k)
+                if k == "write_affinity_node_count":
+                    if policy:  # this check only applies when using a policy
+                        actual = actual(policy.object_ring.replica_count)
+                        self.assertEqual(v, actual)
+                    continue
+                self.assertEqual(v, actual,
+                                 "Expected %s=%s but got %s=%s for policy %s" %
+                                 (k, v, k, actual, policy))
+
+        for policy, nodes in exp_is_local.items():
+            fn = app.get_policy_options(policy).write_affinity_is_local_fn
+            if nodes is None:
+                self.assertIsNone(fn)
+                continue
+            for node, expected_result in nodes:
+                actual = fn(node)
+                self.assertIs(expected_result, actual,
+                              "Expected %s but got %s for %s, policy %s" %
+                              (expected_result, actual, node, policy))
+        return app
+
+    def test_per_policy_conf_none_configured(self):
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+        """
+        expected_default = {"read_affinity": "",
+                            "sorting_method": "shuffle",
+                            "write_affinity_node_count": 6}
+        exp_conf = {None: expected_default,
+                    POLICIES[0]: expected_default,
+                    POLICIES[1]: expected_default}
+        exp_is_local = {POLICIES[0]: None,
+                        POLICIES[1]: None}
+        app = self._write_conf_and_load_app(conf_sections)
+        self._check_policy_conf(app, exp_conf, exp_is_local)
+
+    def test_per_policy_conf_one_configured(self):
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:0]
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        read_affinity = r1=100
+        write_affinity = r1
+        write_affinity_node_count = 1 * replicas
+        """
+        expected_default = {"read_affinity": "",
+                            "sorting_method": "shuffle",
+                            "write_affinity_node_count": 6}
+        exp_conf = {None: expected_default,
+                    POLICIES[0]: {"read_affinity": "r1=100",
+                                  "sorting_method": "affinity",
+                                  "write_affinity_node_count": 3},
+                    POLICIES[1]: expected_default}
+        exp_is_local = {POLICIES[0]: [({'region': 1, 'zone': 2}, True),
+                                      ({'region': 2, 'zone': 1}, False)],
+                        POLICIES[1]: None}
+        app = self._write_conf_and_load_app(conf_sections)
+        self._check_policy_conf(app, exp_conf, exp_is_local)
+
+        default_conf = app.get_policy_options(None)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            ('sorting_method: shuffle, read_affinity: , write_affinity: , '
+             'write_affinity_node_count: 2 * replicas'),
+            repr(default_conf))
+        policy_0_conf = app.get_policy_options(POLICIES[0])
+        self.assertEqual(
+            ('sorting_method: affinity, read_affinity: r1=100, '
+             'write_affinity: r1, write_affinity_node_count: 1 * replicas'),
+            repr(policy_0_conf))
+        policy_1_conf = app.get_policy_options(POLICIES[1])
+        self.assertIs(default_conf, policy_1_conf)
+
+    def test_per_policy_conf_inherits_defaults(self):
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        write_affinity_node_count = 1 * replicas
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:0]
+        read_affinity = r1=100
+        write_affinity = r1
+        """
+        expected_default = {"read_affinity": "",
+                            "sorting_method": "affinity",
+                            "write_affinity_node_count": 3}
+        exp_conf = {None: expected_default,
+                    POLICIES[0]: {"read_affinity": "r1=100",
+                                  "sorting_method": "affinity",
+                                  "write_affinity_node_count": 3},
+                    POLICIES[1]: expected_default}
+        exp_is_local = {POLICIES[0]: [({'region': 1, 'zone': 2}, True),
+                                      ({'region': 2, 'zone': 1}, False)],
+                        POLICIES[1]: None}
+        app = self._write_conf_and_load_app(conf_sections)
+        self._check_policy_conf(app, exp_conf, exp_is_local)
+
+    def test_per_policy_conf_overrides_default_affinity(self):
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        read_affinity = r2=10
+        write_affinity_node_count = 1 * replicas
+        write_affinity = r2
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:0]
+        read_affinity = r1=100
+        write_affinity = r1
+        write_affinity_node_count = 5
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:1]
+        read_affinity = r1=1
+        write_affinity = r3
+        write_affinity_node_count = 4
+        """
+        exp_conf = {None: {"read_affinity": "r2=10",
+                           "sorting_method": "affinity",
+                           "write_affinity_node_count": 3},
+                    POLICIES[0]: {"read_affinity": "r1=100",
+                                  "sorting_method": "affinity",
+                                  "write_affinity_node_count": 5},
+                    POLICIES[1]: {"read_affinity": "r1=1",
+                                  "sorting_method": "affinity",
+                                  "write_affinity_node_count": 4}}
+        exp_is_local = {POLICIES[0]: [({'region': 1, 'zone': 2}, True),
+                                      ({'region': 2, 'zone': 1}, False)],
+                        POLICIES[1]: [({'region': 3, 'zone': 2}, True),
+                                      ({'region': 1, 'zone': 1}, False),
+                                      ({'region': 2, 'zone': 1}, False)]}
+        app = self._write_conf_and_load_app(conf_sections)
+        self._check_policy_conf(app, exp_conf, exp_is_local)
+
+    def test_per_policy_conf_overrides_default_sorting_method(self):
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+        sorting_method = timing
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:0]
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        read_affinity = r1=100
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:1]
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        read_affinity = r1=1
+        """
+        exp_conf = {None: {"read_affinity": "",
+                           "sorting_method": "timing"},
+                    POLICIES[0]: {"read_affinity": "r1=100",
+                                  "sorting_method": "affinity"},
+                    POLICIES[1]: {"read_affinity": "r1=1",
+                                  "sorting_method": "affinity"}}
+        app = self._write_conf_and_load_app(conf_sections)
+        self._check_policy_conf(app, exp_conf, {})
+
+    def test_per_policy_conf_with_DEFAULT_options(self):
+        conf_body = """
+        [DEFAULT]
+        write_affinity = r0
+        read_affinity = r0=100
+        swift_dir = %s
+
+        [pipeline:main]
+        pipeline = proxy-server
+
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+        # in a paste-deploy section, DEFAULT section value overrides
+        write_affinity = r2
+        # ...but the use of 'set' overrides the DEFAULT section value
+        set read_affinity = r1=100
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:0]
+        # not a paste-deploy section so any value here overrides DEFAULT
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        write_affinity = r2
+        read_affinity = r2=100
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:1]
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        """ % self.tempdir
+
+        conf_path = self._write_conf(conf_body)
+        with mock.patch('swift.proxy.server.get_logger',
+                        return_value=FakeLogger()):
+            app = loadapp(conf_path, allow_modify_pipeline=False)
+
+        exp_conf = {
+            # default read_affinity is r1, set in proxy-server section
+            None: {"read_affinity": "r1=100",
+                   "sorting_method": "shuffle",
+                   "write_affinity_node_count": 6},
+            # policy 0 read affinity is r2, dictated by policy 0 section
+            POLICIES[0]: {"read_affinity": "r2=100",
+                          "sorting_method": "affinity",
+                          "write_affinity_node_count": 6},
+            # policy 1 read_affinity is r0, dictated by DEFAULT section,
+            # overrides proxy server section
+            POLICIES[1]: {"read_affinity": "r0=100",
+                          "sorting_method": "affinity",
+                          "write_affinity_node_count": 6}}
+        exp_is_local = {
+            # default write_affinity is r0, dictated by DEFAULT section
+            None: [({'region': 0, 'zone': 2}, True),
+                   ({'region': 1, 'zone': 1}, False)],
+            # policy 0 write_affinity is r2, dictated by policy 0 section
+            POLICIES[0]: [({'region': 0, 'zone': 2}, False),
+                          ({'region': 2, 'zone': 1}, True)],
+            # policy 1 write_affinity is r0, inherited from default
+            POLICIES[1]: [({'region': 0, 'zone': 2}, True),
+                          ({'region': 1, 'zone': 1}, False)]}
+        self._check_policy_conf(app, exp_conf, exp_is_local)
+
+    def test_per_policy_conf_warns_about_sorting_method_mismatch(self):
+        # verify that policy specific warnings are emitted when read_affinity
+        # is set but sorting_method is not affinity
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+        read_affinity = r2=10
+        sorting_method = timing
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:0]
+        read_affinity = r1=100
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:1]
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        read_affinity = r1=1
+        """
+        exp_conf = {None: {"read_affinity": "r2=10",
+                           "sorting_method": "timing"},
+                    POLICIES[0]: {"read_affinity": "r1=100",
+                                  "sorting_method": "timing"},
+                    POLICIES[1]: {"read_affinity": "r1=1",
+                                  "sorting_method": "affinity"}}
+        app = self._write_conf_and_load_app(conf_sections)
+        self._check_policy_conf(app, exp_conf, {})
+        lines = app.logger.get_lines_for_level('warning')
+        scopes = {'default', 'policy 0 (nulo)'}
+        for line in lines[:2]:
+            self.assertIn(
+                "sorting_method is set to 'timing', not 'affinity'", line)
+            for scope in scopes:
+                if scope in line:
+                    scopes.remove(scope)
+                    break
+            else:
+                self.fail("None of %s found in warning: %r" % (scopes, line))
+        self.assertFalse(scopes)
+
+    def test_per_policy_conf_with_unknown_policy(self):
+        # verify that unknown policy section is warned about but doesn't break
+        # other policy configs
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+        read_affinity = r2=10
+        sorting_method = affinity
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:999]
+        read_affinity = r2z1=1
+        """
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as cm:
+            self._write_conf_and_load_app(conf_sections)
+        self.assertIn('No policy found for override config, index: 999',
+                      cm.exception.message)
+
+    def test_per_policy_conf_sets_timing_sorting_method(self):
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+        sorting_method = affinity
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:0]
+        sorting_method = timing
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:1]
+        read_affinity = r1=1
+        """
+        exp_conf = {None: {"read_affinity": "",
+                           "sorting_method": "affinity"},
+                    POLICIES[0]: {"read_affinity": "",
+                                  "sorting_method": "timing"},
+                    POLICIES[1]: {"read_affinity": "r1=1",
+                                  "sorting_method": "affinity"}}
+        app = self._write_conf_and_load_app(conf_sections)
+        self._check_policy_conf(app, exp_conf, {})
+
+    def test_per_policy_conf_invalid_read_affinity_value(self):
+        def do_test(conf_sections, scope):
+            with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as cm:
+                self._write_conf_and_load_app(conf_sections)
+            self.assertIn('broken', cm.exception.message)
+            self.assertIn(
+                'Invalid read_affinity value:', cm.exception.message)
+            self.assertIn(scope, cm.exception.message)
+
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        read_affinity = r1=1
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:0]
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        read_affinity = broken
+        """
+        do_test(conf_sections, 'policy 0 (nulo)')
+
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        read_affinity = broken
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:0]
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        read_affinity = r1=1
+        """
+        do_test(conf_sections, '(default)')
+
+    def test_per_policy_conf_invalid_write_affinity_value(self):
+        def do_test(conf_sections, scope):
+            with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as cm:
+                self._write_conf_and_load_app(conf_sections)
+            self.assertIn('broken', cm.exception.message)
+            self.assertIn(
+                'Invalid write_affinity value:', cm.exception.message)
+            self.assertIn(scope, cm.exception.message)
+
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+        write_affinity = r1
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:0]
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        write_affinity = broken
+        """
+        do_test(conf_sections, 'policy 0 (nulo)')
+
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+        write_affinity = broken
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:0]
+        write_affinity = r1
+        """
+        do_test(conf_sections, '(default)')
+
+    def test_per_policy_conf_invalid_write_affinity_node_count_value(self):
+        def do_test(conf_sections, scope):
+            with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as cm:
+                self._write_conf_and_load_app(conf_sections)
+            self.assertIn('2* replicas', cm.exception.message)
+            self.assertIn('Invalid write_affinity_node_count value:',
+                          cm.exception.message)
+            self.assertIn(scope, cm.exception.message)
+
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+        write_affinity_node_count = 2 * replicas
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:0]
+        sorting_method = affinity
+        write_affinity_node_count = 2* replicas
+        """
+        do_test(conf_sections, 'policy 0 (nulo)')
+
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+        write_affinity_node_count = 2* replicas
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:0]
+        write_affinity_node_count = 2 * replicas
+        """
+        do_test(conf_sections, '(default)')
+
+    def test_per_policy_conf_bad_section_name(self):
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:]
+        """
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as cm:
+            self._write_conf_and_load_app(conf_sections)
+        self.assertIn("Override config must refer to policy index: ''",
+                      cm.exception.message)
+
+    def test_per_policy_conf_section_name_not_index(self):
+        conf_sections = """
+        [app:proxy-server]
+        use = egg:swift#proxy
+
+        [proxy-server:policy:uno]
+        """
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError) as cm:
+            self._write_conf_and_load_app(conf_sections)
+        self.assertIn("Override config must refer to policy index: 'uno'",
+                      cm.exception.message)
+
+
+class TestProxyServerConfigStringLoading(TestProxyServerConfigLoading):
+    # The proxy may be loaded from a conf string rather than a conf file, for
+    # example when ContainerSync creates an InternalClient from a default
+    # config string. So repeat super-class tests using a string loader.
+    def _write_conf(self, conf_body):
+        # this is broken out to a method so that subclasses can override
+        return ConfigString(conf_body)
+
+
 class BaseTestObjectController(object):
     """
     A root of TestObjController that implements helper methods for child
@@ -1953,7 +2552,8 @@ class TestReplicatedObjectController(
             self.assertEqual(test_errors, [])
             self.assertTrue(res.status.startswith('201 '))
 
-    def test_PUT_respects_write_affinity(self):
+    def _check_PUT_respects_write_affinity(self, conf, policy,
+                                           expected_region):
         written_to = []
 
         def test_connect(ipaddr, port, device, partition, method, path,
@@ -1961,33 +2561,65 @@ class TestReplicatedObjectController(
             if path == '/a/c/o.jpg':
                 written_to.append((ipaddr, port, device))
 
-        with save_globals():
-            def is_r0(node):
-                return node['region'] == 0
-
-            object_ring = self.app.get_object_ring(None)
-            object_ring.max_more_nodes = 100
-            self.app.write_affinity_is_local_fn = is_r0
-            self.app.write_affinity_node_count = lambda r: 3
-
-            controller = \
-                ReplicatedObjectController(
-                    self.app, 'a', 'c', 'o.jpg')
-            set_http_connect(200, 200, 201, 201, 201,
-                             give_connect=test_connect)
-            req = Request.blank('/v1/a/c/o.jpg', {})
-            req.content_length = 1
-            req.body = 'a'
-            self.app.memcache.store = {}
-            res = controller.PUT(req)
-            self.assertTrue(res.status.startswith('201 '))
-
+        # mock shuffle to be a no-op to ensure that the only way nodes would
+        # not be used in ring order is if affinity is respected.
+        with mock.patch('swift.proxy.server.shuffle', lambda x: x):
+            app = proxy_server.Application(
+                conf, FakeMemcache(),
+                logger=debug_logger('proxy-ut'),
+                account_ring=FakeRing(),
+                container_ring=FakeRing())
+            with save_globals():
+                object_ring = app.get_object_ring(policy)
+                object_ring.max_more_nodes = 100
+                controller = \
+                    ReplicatedObjectController(
+                        app, 'a', 'c', 'o.jpg')
+                # requests go to acc, con, obj, obj, obj
+                set_http_connect(200, 200, 201, 201, 201,
+                                 give_connect=test_connect)
+                req = Request.blank(
+                    '/v1/a/c/o.jpg', method='PUT', body='a',
+                    headers={'X-Backend-Storage-Policy-Index': str(policy)})
+                app.memcache.store = {}
+                res = controller.PUT(req)
+        self.assertTrue(res.status.startswith('201 '))
         self.assertEqual(3, len(written_to))
         for ip, port, device in written_to:
             # this is kind of a hokey test, but in FakeRing, the port is even
             # when the region is 0, and odd when the region is 1, so this test
             # asserts that we only wrote to nodes in region 0.
-            self.assertEqual(0, port % 2)
+            self.assertEqual(expected_region, port % 2)
+
+    @patch_policies([StoragePolicy(0, 'zero', True, object_ring=FakeRing()),
+                     StoragePolicy(1, 'one', False, object_ring=FakeRing())])
+    def test_PUT_respects_write_affinity(self):
+        # nodes in fake ring order have r0z0, r1z1, r0z2
+        # Check default conf via proxy server conf
+        conf = {'write_affinity': 'r0'}
+        self._check_PUT_respects_write_affinity(conf, 0, 0)
+
+        # policy 0 and policy 1 have conf via per policy conf section
+        conf = {
+            'write_affinity': '',
+            'policy_config': {
+                '0': {'write_affinity': 'r0'},
+                '1': {'write_affinity': 'r1'}
+            }
+        }
+        self._check_PUT_respects_write_affinity(conf, 0, 0)
+        self._check_PUT_respects_write_affinity(conf, 1, 1)
+
+        # policy 0 conf via per policy conf section override proxy server conf,
+        # policy 1 uses default
+        conf = {
+            'write_affinity': 'r0',
+            'policy_config': {
+                '0': {'write_affinity': 'r1'}
+            }
+        }
+        self._check_PUT_respects_write_affinity(conf, 0, 1)
+        self._check_PUT_respects_write_affinity(conf, 1, 0)
 
     def test_PUT_respects_write_affinity_with_507s(self):
         written_to = []
@@ -2001,10 +2633,11 @@ class TestReplicatedObjectController(
             def is_r0(node):
                 return node['region'] == 0
 
-            object_ring = self.app.get_object_ring(None)
+            object_ring = self.app.get_object_ring(0)
             object_ring.max_more_nodes = 100
-            self.app.write_affinity_is_local_fn = is_r0
-            self.app.write_affinity_node_count = lambda r: 3
+            policy_conf = self.app.get_policy_options(POLICIES[0])
+            policy_conf.write_affinity_is_local_fn = is_r0
+            policy_conf.write_affinity_node_count = lambda r: 3
 
             controller = \
                 ReplicatedObjectController(
@@ -2500,7 +3133,7 @@ class TestReplicatedObjectController(
         # reset the router post patch_policies
         self.app.obj_controller_router = proxy_server.ObjectControllerRouter()
         self.app.object_post_as_copy = False
-        self.app.sort_nodes = lambda nodes: nodes
+        self.app.sort_nodes = lambda nodes, *args, **kwargs: nodes
         backend_requests = []
 
         def capture_requests(ip, port, method, path, headers, *args,
@@ -3194,10 +3827,11 @@ class TestReplicatedObjectController(
             for node in self.app.iter_nodes(object_ring, 0):
                 pass
             sort_nodes.assert_called_once_with(
-                object_ring.get_part_nodes(0))
+                object_ring.get_part_nodes(0), policy=None)
 
     def test_iter_nodes_skips_error_limited(self):
-        with mock.patch.object(self.app, 'sort_nodes', lambda n: n):
+        with mock.patch.object(self.app, 'sort_nodes',
+                               lambda n, *args, **kwargs: n):
             object_ring = self.app.get_object_ring(None)
             first_nodes = list(self.app.iter_nodes(object_ring, 0))
             second_nodes = list(self.app.iter_nodes(object_ring, 0))
@@ -3209,7 +3843,8 @@ class TestReplicatedObjectController(
 
     def test_iter_nodes_gives_extra_if_error_limited_inline(self):
         object_ring = self.app.get_object_ring(None)
-        with mock.patch.object(self.app, 'sort_nodes', lambda n: n), \
+        with mock.patch.object(self.app, 'sort_nodes',
+                               lambda n, *args, **kwargs: n), \
                 mock.patch.object(self.app, 'request_node_count',
                                   lambda r: 6), \
                 mock.patch.object(object_ring, 'max_more_nodes', 99):
@@ -3226,14 +3861,14 @@ class TestReplicatedObjectController(
         object_ring = self.app.get_object_ring(None)
         node_list = [dict(id=n, ip='1.2.3.4', port=n, device='D')
                      for n in range(10)]
-        with mock.patch.object(self.app, 'sort_nodes', lambda n: n), \
+        with mock.patch.object(self.app, 'sort_nodes', lambda n, *args, **kwargs: n), \
                 mock.patch.object(self.app, 'request_node_count',
                                   lambda r: 3):
             got_nodes = list(self.app.iter_nodes(object_ring, 0,
                                                  node_iter=iter(node_list)))
         self.assertEqual(node_list[:3], got_nodes)
 
-        with mock.patch.object(self.app, 'sort_nodes', lambda n: n), \
+        with mock.patch.object(self.app, 'sort_nodes', lambda n, *args, **kwargs: n), \
                 mock.patch.object(self.app, 'request_node_count',
                                   lambda r: 1000000):
             got_nodes = list(self.app.iter_nodes(object_ring, 0,
@@ -3300,7 +3935,7 @@ class TestReplicatedObjectController(
         with save_globals():
             controller = ReplicatedObjectController(
                 self.app, 'account', 'container', 'object')
-            controller.app.sort_nodes = lambda l: l
+            controller.app.sort_nodes = lambda l, *args, **kwargs: l
             object_ring = controller.app.get_object_ring(None)
             self.assert_status_map(controller.HEAD, (200, 200, 503, 200, 200),
                                    200)
@@ -3339,7 +3974,7 @@ class TestReplicatedObjectController(
         with save_globals():
             controller = ReplicatedObjectController(
                 self.app, 'account', 'container', 'object')
-            controller.app.sort_nodes = lambda l: l
+            controller.app.sort_nodes = lambda l, *args, **kwargs: l
             object_ring = controller.app.get_object_ring(None)
             self.assert_status_map(controller.HEAD, (200, 200, 503, 200, 200),
                                    200)
@@ -3368,7 +4003,7 @@ class TestReplicatedObjectController(
         with save_globals():
             controller = ReplicatedObjectController(
                 self.app, 'account', 'container', 'object')
-            controller.app.sort_nodes = lambda l: l
+            controller.app.sort_nodes = lambda l, *args, **kwargs: l
             object_ring = controller.app.get_object_ring(None)
             # acc con obj obj obj
             self.assert_status_map(controller.PUT, (200, 200, 503, 200, 200),
@@ -3388,7 +4023,7 @@ class TestReplicatedObjectController(
         with save_globals():
             controller = ReplicatedObjectController(
                 self.app, 'account', 'container', 'object')
-            controller.app.sort_nodes = lambda l: l
+            controller.app.sort_nodes = lambda l, *args, **kwargs: l
             object_ring = controller.app.get_object_ring(None)
             # acc con obj obj obj
             self.assert_status_map(controller.PUT, (200, 200, 200, 200, 503),
@@ -4021,6 +4656,78 @@ class TestReplicatedObjectController(
             controller.GET(req)
         self.assertTrue(called[0])
 
+    def _check_GET_respects_read_affinity(self, conf, policy, expected_nodes):
+        actual_nodes = []
+
+        def test_connect(ipaddr, port, device, partition, method, path,
+                         headers=None, query_string=None):
+            if path == '/a/c/o.jpg':
+                actual_nodes.append(ipaddr)
+
+        # mock shuffle to be a no-op to ensure that the only way nodes would
+        # not be used in ring order is if affinity is respected.
+        with mock.patch('swift.proxy.server.shuffle', lambda x: x):
+            app = proxy_server.Application(
+                conf, FakeMemcache(),
+                logger=debug_logger('proxy-ut'),
+                account_ring=FakeRing(),
+                container_ring=FakeRing())
+            with save_globals():
+                object_ring = app.get_object_ring(policy)
+                object_ring.max_more_nodes = 100
+                controller = \
+                    ReplicatedObjectController(
+                        app, 'a', 'c', 'o.jpg')
+                # requests go to acc, con, obj, obj, obj
+                set_http_connect(200, 200, 404, 404, 200,
+                                 give_connect=test_connect)
+                req = Request.blank(
+                    '/v1/a/c/o.jpg',
+                    headers={'X-Backend-Storage-Policy-Index': str(policy)})
+                app.memcache.store = {}
+                res = controller.GET(req)
+        self.assertTrue(res.status.startswith('200 '))
+        self.assertEqual(3, len(actual_nodes))
+        self.assertEqual(expected_nodes, actual_nodes)
+
+    @patch_policies([StoragePolicy(0, 'zero', True, object_ring=FakeRing()),
+                     StoragePolicy(1, 'one', False, object_ring=FakeRing())])
+    def test_GET_respects_read_affinity(self):
+        # nodes in fake ring order have r0z0, r1z1, r0z2
+        # Check default conf via proxy server conf
+        conf = {'read_affinity': 'r0z2=1, r1=2',
+                'sorting_method': 'affinity'}
+        expected_nodes = ['10.0.0.2', '10.0.0.1', '10.0.0.0']
+        self._check_GET_respects_read_affinity(conf, 0, expected_nodes)
+
+        # policy 0 and policy 1 have conf via per policy conf section
+        conf = {
+            'read_affinity': '',
+            'sorting_method': 'shuffle',
+            'policy_config': {
+                '0': {'read_affinity': 'r1z1=1, r0z2=2',
+                      'sorting_method': 'affinity'},
+                '1': {'read_affinity': 'r0z2=1, r0z0=2',
+                      'sorting_method': 'affinity'}
+            }
+        }
+        expected_nodes = ['10.0.0.1', '10.0.0.2', '10.0.0.0']
+        self._check_GET_respects_read_affinity(conf, 0, expected_nodes)
+        expected_nodes = ['10.0.0.2', '10.0.0.0', '10.0.0.1']
+        self._check_GET_respects_read_affinity(conf, 1, expected_nodes)
+
+        # policy 0 conf via per policy conf section overrides proxy server conf
+        conf = {
+            'read_affinity': 'r1z1=1, r0z2=2',
+            'sorting_method': 'affinity',
+            'policy_config': {
+                '0': {'read_affinity': 'r0z2=1, r0=2',
+                      'sorting_method': 'affinity'}
+            }
+        }
+        expected_nodes = ['10.0.0.2', '10.0.0.0', '10.0.0.1']
+        self._check_GET_respects_read_affinity(conf, 0, expected_nodes)
+
     def test_HEAD_calls_authorize(self):
         called = [False]
 
@@ -7182,7 +7889,7 @@ class TestContainerController(unittest.TestCase):
             controller = proxy_server.ContainerController(self.app, 'account',
                                                           'container')
             container_ring = controller.app.container_ring
-            controller.app.sort_nodes = lambda l: l
+            controller.app.sort_nodes = lambda l, *args, **kwargs: l
             self.assert_status_map(controller.HEAD, (200, 503, 200, 200), 200,
                                    missing_container=False)