diff --git a/marconi/common/utils.py b/marconi/common/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d87010779
--- /dev/null
+++ b/marconi/common/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2013 Rackspace Hosting, Inc.
+#
+# 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.
+
+"""utils: general-purpose utilities."""
+
+import six
+
+
+def fields(d, names, pred=lambda x: True,
+           key_transform=lambda x: x, value_transform=lambda x: x):
+    """Returns the entries in this dictionary with keys appearing in names.
+    :type d: dict
+    :type names: [a]
+    :param pred: a filter that is applied to the values of the dictionary.
+    :type pred: (a -> bool)
+    :param key_transform: a transform to apply to the key before returning it
+    :type key_transform: a -> a
+    :param value_transform: a transform to apply to the value before
+    returning it
+    :type value_transform: a -> a
+    :rtype: dict
+
+    """
+    return dict((key_transform(k), value_transform(v))
+                for k, v in six.iteritems(d)
+                if k in names and pred(v))
diff --git a/marconi/queues/bootstrap.py b/marconi/queues/bootstrap.py
index b257b5f9f..25d15a20a 100644
--- a/marconi/queues/bootstrap.py
+++ b/marconi/queues/bootstrap.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class Bootstrap(object):
         self.driver_conf = self.conf[_DRIVER_GROUP]
 
         log.setup('marconi')
-        mode = 'admin' if self.conf.admin_mode else 'public'
+        mode = 'admin' if conf.admin_mode else 'public'
         self._transport_type = 'marconi.queues.{0}.transport'.format(mode)
 
     @decorators.lazy_property(write=False)
diff --git a/marconi/queues/storage/__init__.py b/marconi/queues/storage/__init__.py
index 7c3f9ddf4..288906768 100644
--- a/marconi/queues/storage/__init__.py
+++ b/marconi/queues/storage/__init__.py
@@ -9,3 +9,4 @@ DataDriverBase = base.DataDriverBase
 ClaimBase = base.ClaimBase
 MessageBase = base.MessageBase
 QueueBase = base.QueueBase
+ShardsBase = base.ShardsBase
diff --git a/marconi/queues/storage/base.py b/marconi/queues/storage/base.py
index 7e09df333..ce6ee5ec5 100644
--- a/marconi/queues/storage/base.py
+++ b/marconi/queues/storage/base.py
@@ -368,8 +368,19 @@ class ClaimBase(ControllerBase):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
 
+class AdminControllerBase(object):
+    """Top-level class for controllers.
+
+    :param driver: Instance of the driver
+        instantiating this controller.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, driver):
+        self.driver = driver
+
+
 @six.add_metaclass(abc.ABCMeta)
-class ShardsController(ControllerBase):
+class ShardsBase(AdminControllerBase):
     """A controller for managing shards."""
 
     @abc.abstractmethod
@@ -404,11 +415,13 @@ class ShardsController(ControllerBase):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     @abc.abstractmethod
-    def get(self, name):
+    def get(self, name, detailed=False):
         """Returns a single shard entry.
 
         :param name: The name of this shard
         :type name: six.text_type
+        :param detailed: Should the options data be included?
+        :type detailed: bool
         :returns: weight, uri, and options for this shard
         :rtype: {}
         :raises: ShardDoesNotExist if not found
diff --git a/marconi/queues/storage/mongodb/driver.py b/marconi/queues/storage/mongodb/driver.py
index 1eb1317e4..0f4b02617 100644
--- a/marconi/queues/storage/mongodb/driver.py
+++ b/marconi/queues/storage/mongodb/driver.py
@@ -28,6 +28,16 @@ from marconi.queues.storage.mongodb import options
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+def _connection(conf):
+    """MongoDB client connection instance."""
+    if conf.uri and 'replicaSet' in conf.uri:
+        MongoClient = pymongo.MongoReplicaSetClient
+    else:
+        MongoClient = pymongo.MongoClient
+
+    return MongoClient(conf.uri)
+
+
 class DataDriver(storage.DataDriverBase):
 
     def __init__(self, conf):
@@ -68,14 +78,7 @@ class DataDriver(storage.DataDriverBase):
 
     @decorators.lazy_property(write=False)
     def connection(self):
-        """MongoDB client connection instance."""
-
-        if self.mongodb_conf.uri and 'replicaSet' in self.mongodb_conf.uri:
-            MongoClient = pymongo.MongoReplicaSetClient
-        else:
-            MongoClient = pymongo.MongoClient
-
-        return MongoClient(self.mongodb_conf.uri)
+        return _connection(self.mongodb_conf)
 
     @decorators.lazy_property(write=False)
     def queue_controller(self):
@@ -100,6 +103,16 @@ class ControlDriver(storage.ControlDriverBase):
 
         self.mongodb_conf = self.conf[options.MONGODB_GROUP]
 
+    @decorators.lazy_property(write=False)
+    def connection(self):
+        """MongoDB client connection instance."""
+        return _connection(self.mongodb_conf)
+
+    @decorators.lazy_property(write=False)
+    def shards_database(self):
+        name = self.mongodb_conf.database + '_shards'
+        return self.connection[name]
+
     @property
     def shards_controller(self):
         return controllers.ShardsController(self)
diff --git a/marconi/queues/storage/mongodb/shards.py b/marconi/queues/storage/mongodb/shards.py
index a7af06463..7fbe54207 100644
--- a/marconi/queues/storage/mongodb/shards.py
+++ b/marconi/queues/storage/mongodb/shards.py
@@ -14,28 +14,91 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from marconi.queues.storage import base
+"""shards: an implementation of the shard management storage
+controller for mongodb.
+
+Schema:
+  'n': name :: six.text_type
+  'u': uri :: six.text_type
+  'w': weight :: int
+  'o': options :: dict
+"""
+
+from marconi.common import utils as common_utils
+from marconi.queues.storage import base, exceptions
+from marconi.queues.storage.mongodb import utils
+
+SHARDS_INDEX = [
+    ('n', 1)
+]
+
+# NOTE(cpp-cabrera): used for get/list operations. There's no need to
+# show the marker or the _id - they're implementation details.
+OMIT_FIELDS = (('_id', 0),)
 
 
-class ShardsController(base.ShardsController):
+def _field_spec(detailed=False):
+    return dict(OMIT_FIELDS + (() if detailed else (('o', 0),)))
 
+
+class ShardsController(base.ShardsBase):
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        super(ShardsController, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        self._col = self.driver.shards_database.shards
+        self._col.ensure_index(SHARDS_INDEX,
+                               background=True,
+                               name='shards_name',
+                               unique=True)
+
+    @utils.raises_conn_error
     def list(self, marker=None, limit=10, detailed=False):
-        pass
+        query = {}
+        if marker is not None:
+            query['n'] = {'$gt': marker}
 
-    def get(self, name):
-        pass
+        return self._col.find(query, fields=_field_spec(detailed),
+                              limit=limit)
 
+    @utils.raises_conn_error
+    def get(self, name, detailed=False):
+        res = self._col.find_one({'n': name},
+                                 _field_spec(detailed))
+        if not res:
+            raise exceptions.ShardDoesNotExist(name)
+        return res
+
+    @utils.raises_conn_error
     def create(self, name, weight, uri, options=None):
-        pass
+        options = {} if options is None else options
+        self._col.update({'n': name},
+                         {'$set': {'n': name, 'w': weight, 'u': uri,
+                                   'o': options}},
+                         upsert=True)
 
+    @utils.raises_conn_error
     def exists(self, name):
-        pass
+        return self._col.find_one({'n': name}) is not None
 
+    @utils.raises_conn_error
     def update(self, name, **kwargs):
-        pass
+        names = ('uri', 'weight', 'options')
+        fields = common_utils.fields(kwargs, names,
+                                     pred=lambda x: x is not None,
+                                     key_transform=lambda x: x[0])
+        assert fields, '`weight`, `uri`, or `options` not found in kwargs'
+        res = self._col.update({'n': name},
+                               {'$set': fields},
+                               upsert=False)
+        if not res['updatedExisting']:
+            raise exceptions.ShardDoesNotExist(name)
 
+    @utils.raises_conn_error
     def delete(self, name):
-        pass
+        self._col.remove({'n': name}, w=0)
 
+    @utils.raises_conn_error
     def drop_all(self):
-        pass
+        self._col.drop()
+        self._col.ensure_index(SHARDS_INDEX, unique=True)
diff --git a/marconi/queues/storage/sharding.py b/marconi/queues/storage/sharding.py
index 291ddc676..67caeb71b 100644
--- a/marconi/queues/storage/sharding.py
+++ b/marconi/queues/storage/sharding.py
@@ -144,10 +144,14 @@ class Catalog(object):
         # TODO(kgriffs): SHARDING - Read options from catalog backend
         conf = cfg.ConfigOpts()
 
+        general_opts = [
+            cfg.BoolOpt('admin_mode', default=False)
+        ]
         options = [
-            cfg.StrOpt('storage', default='sqlite')
+            cfg.StrOpt('storage', default='sqlite'),
         ]
 
+        conf.register_opts(general_opts)
         conf.register_opts(options, group='queues:drivers')
         return utils.load_storage_driver(conf)
 
diff --git a/marconi/queues/storage/sqlite/shards.py b/marconi/queues/storage/sqlite/shards.py
index a7af06463..9aecd3bc6 100644
--- a/marconi/queues/storage/sqlite/shards.py
+++ b/marconi/queues/storage/sqlite/shards.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 from marconi.queues.storage import base
 
 
-class ShardsController(base.ShardsController):
+class ShardsController(base.ShardsBase):
 
     def list(self, marker=None, limit=10, detailed=False):
         pass
diff --git a/marconi/queues/storage/utils.py b/marconi/queues/storage/utils.py
index e94bf1292..4f55ab53a 100644
--- a/marconi/queues/storage/utils.py
+++ b/marconi/queues/storage/utils.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def load_storage_driver(conf):
     """
 
     try:
-        mgr = driver.DriverManager('marconi.queues.storage',
+        mgr = driver.DriverManager('marconi.queues.data.storage',
                                    conf['queues:drivers'].storage,
                                    invoke_on_load=True,
                                    invoke_args=[conf])
diff --git a/marconi/tests/faulty_storage.py b/marconi/tests/faulty_storage.py
index e9464883f..20e1ff859 100644
--- a/marconi/tests/faulty_storage.py
+++ b/marconi/tests/faulty_storage.py
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ from marconi.queues import storage
 
 
 class DataDriver(storage.DataDriverBase):
+    def __init__(self, conf):
+        super(DataDriver, self).__init__(conf)
+
     @property
     def default_options(self):
         return {}
@@ -35,9 +38,9 @@ class DataDriver(storage.DataDriverBase):
 
 
 class ControlDriver(storage.ControlDriverBase):
-    @property
-    def default_options(self):
-        return {}
+
+    def __init__(self, conf):
+        super(ControlDriver, self).__init__(conf)
 
     @property
     def shards_controller(self):
diff --git a/marconi/tests/queues/storage/base.py b/marconi/tests/queues/storage/base.py
index 22743ea3a..158aab78d 100644
--- a/marconi/tests/queues/storage/base.py
+++ b/marconi/tests/queues/storage/base.py
@@ -601,6 +601,117 @@ class ClaimControllerTest(ControllerBaseTest):
                                    project=self.project)
 
 
+class ShardsControllerTest(ControllerBaseTest):
+    """Shards Controller base tests.
+
+    NOTE(flaper87): Implementations of this class should
+    override the tearDown method in order
+    to clean up storage's state.
+    """
+    controller_base_class = storage.ShardsBase
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(ShardsControllerTest, self).setUp()
+        self.shards_controller = self.driver.shards_controller
+
+        # Let's create one shard
+        self.shard = str(uuid.uuid1())
+        self.shards_controller.create(self.shard, 100, 'localhost', {})
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        self.shards_controller.drop_all()
+        super(ShardsControllerTest, self).tearDown()
+
+    def test_create_succeeds(self):
+        self.shards_controller.create(str(uuid.uuid1()),
+                                      100, 'localhost', {})
+
+    def test_create_replaces_on_duplicate_insert(self):
+        name = str(uuid.uuid1())
+        self.shards_controller.create(name,
+                                      100, 'localhost', {})
+        self.shards_controller.create(name,
+                                      111, 'localhost2', {})
+        entry = self.shards_controller.get(name)
+        self._shard_expects(entry, xname=name, xweight=111,
+                            xlocation='localhost2')
+
+    def _shard_expects(self, shard, xname, xweight, xlocation):
+        self.assertIn('n', shard)
+        self.assertEqual(shard['n'], xname)
+        self.assertIn('w', shard)
+        self.assertEqual(shard['w'], xweight)
+        self.assertIn('u', shard)
+        self.assertEqual(shard['u'], xlocation)
+
+    def test_get_returns_expected_content(self):
+        res = self.shards_controller.get(self.shard)
+        self._shard_expects(res, self.shard, 100, 'localhost')
+        self.assertNotIn('o', res)
+
+    def test_detailed_get_returns_expected_content(self):
+        res = self.shards_controller.get(self.shard, detailed=True)
+        self.assertIn('o', res)
+        self.assertEqual(res['o'], {})
+
+    def test_get_raises_if_not_found(self):
+        self.assertRaises(storage.exceptions.ShardDoesNotExist,
+                          self.shards_controller.get, 'notexists')
+
+    def test_exists(self):
+        self.assertTrue(self.shards_controller.exists(self.shard))
+        self.assertFalse(self.shards_controller.exists('notexists'))
+
+    def test_update_raises_assertion_error_on_bad_fields(self):
+        self.assertRaises(AssertionError, self.shards_controller.update,
+                          self.shard)
+
+    def test_update_works(self):
+        self.shards_controller.update(self.shard, weight=101,
+                                      uri='redis://localhost',
+                                      options={'a': 1})
+        res = self.shards_controller.get(self.shard, detailed=True)
+        self._shard_expects(res, self.shard, 101, 'redis://localhost')
+        self.assertEqual(res['o'], {'a': 1})
+
+    def test_delete_works(self):
+        self.shards_controller.delete(self.shard)
+        self.assertFalse(self.shards_controller.exists(self.shard))
+
+    def test_delete_nonexistent_is_silent(self):
+        self.shards_controller.delete('nonexisting')
+
+    def test_drop_all_leads_to_empty_listing(self):
+        self.shards_controller.drop_all()
+        cursor = self.shards_controller.list()
+        self.assertRaises(StopIteration, next, cursor)
+
+    def test_listing_simple(self):
+        # NOTE(cpp-cabrera): base entry interferes with listing results
+        self.shards_controller.delete(self.shard)
+
+        for i in range(15):
+            self.shards_controller.create(str(i), i, str(i), {})
+
+        res = list(self.shards_controller.list())
+        self.assertEqual(len(res), 10)
+        for i, entry in enumerate(res):
+            self._shard_expects(entry, str(i), i, str(i))
+
+        res = list(self.shards_controller.list(limit=5))
+        self.assertEqual(len(res), 5)
+
+        res = next(self.shards_controller.list(marker='3'))
+        self._shard_expects(res, '4', 4, '4')
+
+        res = list(self.shards_controller.list(detailed=True))
+        self.assertEqual(len(res), 10)
+        for i, entry in enumerate(res):
+            self._shard_expects(entry, str(i), i, str(i))
+            self.assertIn('o', entry)
+            self.assertEqual(entry['o'], {})
+
+
 def _insert_fixtures(controller, queue_name, project=None,
                      client_uuid=None, num=4, ttl=120):
 
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 8b300ff06..72f73b2a5 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -26,10 +26,14 @@ packages =
 console_scripts =
     marconi-server = marconi.cmd.server:run
 
-marconi.queues.storage =
+marconi.queues.data.storage =
     sqlite = marconi.queues.storage.sqlite.driver:DataDriver
     mongodb = marconi.queues.storage.mongodb.driver:DataDriver
 
+marconi.queues.control.storage =
+    sqlite = marconi.queues.storage.sqlite.driver:ControlDriver
+    mongodb = marconi.queues.storage.mongodb.driver:ControlDriver
+
 marconi.queues.public.transport =
     wsgi = marconi.queues.transport.wsgi.public.driver:Driver
 
diff --git a/tests/etc/drivers_storage_invalid.conf b/tests/etc/drivers_storage_invalid.conf
index e779a56f8..9a0ecd11e 100644
--- a/tests/etc/drivers_storage_invalid.conf
+++ b/tests/etc/drivers_storage_invalid.conf
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 [DEFAULT]
 debug = False
 verbose = False
+admin_mode = False
 
 [queues:drivers]
 transport = wsgi
diff --git a/tests/etc/wsgi_sqlite.conf b/tests/etc/wsgi_sqlite.conf
index 82ffd6366..e5dfe37b5 100644
--- a/tests/etc/wsgi_sqlite.conf
+++ b/tests/etc/wsgi_sqlite.conf
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 [DEFAULT]
 debug = False
 verbose = False
+admin_mode = False
 
 [queues:drivers]
 transport = wsgi
diff --git a/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_mongodb.py b/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_mongodb.py
index 9eb1f7090..a852e0ce6 100644
--- a/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_mongodb.py
+++ b/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_mongodb.py
@@ -332,3 +332,16 @@ class MongodbClaimTests(base.ClaimControllerTest):
         self.assertRaises(storage.exceptions.ClaimDoesNotExist,
                           self.controller.update, self.queue_name,
                           claim_id, {}, project=self.project)
+
+
+@testing.requires_mongodb
+class MongodbShardsTests(base.ShardsControllerTest):
+    driver_class = mongodb.ControlDriver
+    controller_class = controllers.ShardsController
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(MongodbShardsTests, self).setUp()
+        self.load_conf('wsgi_mongodb.conf')
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        super(MongodbShardsTests, self).tearDown()
diff --git a/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_shard_catalog.py b/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_shard_catalog.py
index 0732bb83d..bde665180 100644
--- a/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_shard_catalog.py
+++ b/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_shard_catalog.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class TestShardCatalog(base.TestBase):
         conf_file = 'etc/wsgi_sqlite_sharded.conf'
 
         conf = cfg.ConfigOpts()
-        conf(default_config_files=[conf_file])
+        conf(args=[], default_config_files=[conf_file])
 
         lookup = sharding.Catalog(conf).lookup
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_bootstrap.py b/tests/unit/test_bootstrap.py
index 29f84278c..b4140d311 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_bootstrap.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_bootstrap.py
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ from marconi.tests import base
 class TestBootstrap(base.TestBase):
 
     def _bootstrap(self, conf_file):
-        conf = self.load_conf(conf_file)
-        return bootstrap.Bootstrap(conf)
+        self.conf = self.load_conf(conf_file)
+        return bootstrap.Bootstrap(self.conf)
 
     def test_storage_invalid(self):
         boot = self._bootstrap('etc/drivers_storage_invalid.conf')