diff --git a/include/wsrep/server_state.hpp b/include/wsrep/server_state.hpp
index da646f5..ba16cc6 100644
--- a/include/wsrep/server_state.hpp
+++ b/include/wsrep/server_state.hpp
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@
 #include "condition_variable.hpp"
 #include "server_service.hpp"
 #include "id.hpp"
+#include "view.hpp"
 #include "transaction_id.hpp"
 #include "provider.hpp"
 
@@ -85,7 +86,6 @@ namespace wsrep
     class ws_meta;
     class client_state;
     class transaction;
-    class view;
     class const_buffer;
 
     /** @class Server Context
@@ -278,8 +278,16 @@ namespace wsrep
         /**
          * Wait until server reaches given state.
          */
-        void wait_until_state(wsrep::server_state::state) const;
+        void wait_until_state(enum state state) const
+        {
+            wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex> lock(mutex_);
+            wait_until_state(lock, state);
+        }
 
+        /**
+         *  Return current view
+         */
+        const wsrep::view& current_view() const { return current_view_; }
         /**
          * Set last committed GTID.
          */
@@ -311,6 +319,33 @@ namespace wsrep
          */
         enum wsrep::provider::status causal_read(int timeout) const;
 
+        /**
+         * Desynchronize the server.
+         *
+         * If the server state is synced, this call will desynchronize
+         * the server from the cluster.
+         */
+        int desync()
+        {
+            wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex> lock(mutex_);
+            return desync(lock);
+        }
+
+        /**
+         * Resynchronize the server.
+         */
+        void resync()
+        {
+            wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex> lock(mutex_);
+            resync(lock);
+        }
+
+        wsrep::seqno pause();
+
+        wsrep::seqno pause_seqno() const { return pause_seqno_; }
+
+        void resume();
+
         /**
          * Prepares server state for SST.
          *
@@ -336,9 +371,18 @@ namespace wsrep
          */
         void sst_sent(const wsrep::gtid& gtid, int error);
 
+        /**
+         * This method should be called on joiner after the
+         * SST has been transferred but before DBMS has been
+         * initialized.
+         */
+        void sst_transferred(const wsrep::gtid& gtid);
+
         /**
          * This method must be called by the joiner after the SST
-         * transfer has been received.
+         * transfer has been received and DBMS state has been completely
+         * initialized. This will signal the provider that it can
+         * start applying write sets.
          *
          * @param gtid GTID provided by the SST transfer
          */
@@ -375,6 +419,12 @@ namespace wsrep
         enum state state() const
         {
             wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex> lock(mutex_);
+            return state(lock);
+        }
+
+        enum state state(wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex>& lock) const
+        {
+            assert(lock.owns_lock());
             return state_;
         }
         /**
@@ -396,6 +446,7 @@ namespace wsrep
          */
         void debug_log_filter(const std::string&);
 
+        wsrep::mutex& mutex() { return mutex_; }
     protected:
         /** Server state constructor
          *
@@ -421,7 +472,14 @@ namespace wsrep
             , cond_(cond)
             , server_service_(server_service)
             , state_(s_disconnected)
+            , state_hist_()
             , state_waiters_(n_states_)
+            , init_initialized_()
+            , init_synced_()
+            , sst_gtid_()
+            , desync_count_()
+            , pause_seqno_()
+            , desynced_on_pause_()
             , streaming_appliers_()
             , provider_()
             , name_(name)
@@ -429,6 +487,7 @@ namespace wsrep
             , address_(address)
             , working_dir_(working_dir)
             , rollback_mode_(rollback_mode)
+            , current_view_()
             , last_committed_gtid_()
             , debug_log_level_(0)
         { }
@@ -438,13 +497,23 @@ namespace wsrep
         server_state(const server_state&);
         server_state& operator=(const server_state&);
 
+        int desync(wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex>&);
+        void resync(wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex>&);
         void state(wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex>&, enum state);
+        void wait_until_state(wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex>&, enum state) const;
 
         wsrep::mutex& mutex_;
         wsrep::condition_variable& cond_;
         wsrep::server_service& server_service_;
         enum state state_;
+        std::vector<enum state> state_hist_;
         mutable std::vector<int> state_waiters_;
+        bool init_initialized_;
+        bool init_synced_;
+        wsrep::gtid sst_gtid_;
+        size_t desync_count_;
+        wsrep::seqno pause_seqno_;
+        bool desynced_on_pause_;
         typedef std::map<std::pair<wsrep::id, wsrep::transaction_id>, wsrep::client_state*> streaming_appliers_map;
         streaming_appliers_map streaming_appliers_;
         wsrep::provider* provider_;
@@ -453,6 +522,7 @@ namespace wsrep
         std::string address_;
         std::string working_dir_;
         enum rollback_mode rollback_mode_;
+        wsrep::view current_view_;
         wsrep::gtid last_committed_gtid_;
         int debug_log_level_;
     };
@@ -471,13 +541,14 @@ namespace wsrep
         wsrep::server_service& server_service_;
     };
 
-    static inline std::string to_string(enum wsrep::server_state::state state)
+    static inline const char* to_c_string(
+        enum wsrep::server_state::state state)
     {
         switch (state)
         {
         case wsrep::server_state::s_disconnected:  return "disconnected";
-        case wsrep::server_state::s_initializing:  return "initilizing";
-        case wsrep::server_state::s_initialized:   return "initilized";
+        case wsrep::server_state::s_initializing:  return "initializing";
+        case wsrep::server_state::s_initialized:   return "initialized";
         case wsrep::server_state::s_connected:     return "connected";
         case wsrep::server_state::s_joiner:        return "joiner";
         case wsrep::server_state::s_joined:        return "joined";
@@ -488,6 +559,11 @@ namespace wsrep
         return "unknown";
     }
 
+    static inline std::string to_string(enum wsrep::server_state::state state)
+    {
+        return (to_c_string(state));
+    }
+
 }
 
 #endif // WSREP_SERVER_STATE_HPP
diff --git a/include/wsrep/view.hpp b/include/wsrep/view.hpp
index a809669..3e46c94 100644
--- a/include/wsrep/view.hpp
+++ b/include/wsrep/view.hpp
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 #define WSREP_VIEW_HPP
 
 #include "id.hpp"
+#include "seqno.hpp"
+#include "gtid.hpp"
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace wsrep
@@ -45,6 +47,15 @@ namespace wsrep
             std::string incoming_;
         };
 
+        view()
+            : state_id_()
+            , view_seqno_()
+            , status_(disconnected)
+            , capabilities_()
+            , own_index_(-1)
+            , protocol_version_(0)
+            , members_()
+        { }
         view(const wsrep::gtid& state_id,
              wsrep::seqno view_seqno,
              enum wsrep::view::status status,
diff --git a/src/client_state.cpp b/src/client_state.cpp
index 58682a7..88b21f2 100644
--- a/src/client_state.cpp
+++ b/src/client_state.cpp
@@ -18,27 +18,33 @@ wsrep::provider& wsrep::client_state::provider() const
 void wsrep::client_state::open(wsrep::client_id id)
 {
     wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex> lock(mutex_);
+    debug_log_state("open: enter");
     owning_thread_id_ = wsrep::this_thread::get_id();
     current_thread_id_ = owning_thread_id_;
     state(lock, s_idle);
     id_ = id;
+    debug_log_state("open: leave");
 }
 
 void wsrep::client_state::close()
 {
     wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex> lock(mutex_);
+    debug_log_state("close: enter");
     state(lock, s_quitting);
     lock.unlock();
     if (transaction_.active())
     {
         client_service_.rollback();
     }
+    debug_log_state("close: leave");
 }
 
 void wsrep::client_state::cleanup()
 {
     wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex> lock(mutex_);
+    debug_log_state("cleanup: enter");
     state(lock, s_none);
+    debug_log_state("cleanup: leave");
 }
 
 void wsrep::client_state::override_error(enum wsrep::client_error error)
@@ -281,6 +287,7 @@ void wsrep::client_state::debug_log_state(const char* context) const
         wsrep::log_debug() << "client_state: " << context
                            << ": server: " << server_state_.name()
                            << " client: " << id_.get()
+                           << " state: " << to_c_string(state_)
                            << " current_error: " << current_error_;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/server_state.cpp b/src/server_state.cpp
index a9c6dbf..83a8912 100644
--- a/src/server_state.cpp
+++ b/src/server_state.cpp
@@ -55,6 +55,46 @@ wsrep::server_state::~server_state()
     delete provider_;
 }
 
+
+wsrep::seqno wsrep::server_state::pause()
+{
+    wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex> lock(mutex_);
+    if (pause_seqno_.is_undefined() == false)
+    {
+        throw wsrep::runtime_error("Trying to pause already paused provider");
+    }
+    if (state_ == s_synced)
+    {
+        if (desync(lock))
+        {
+            return wsrep::seqno::undefined();
+        }
+        desynced_on_pause_ = true;
+    }
+    pause_seqno_ = provider_->pause();
+    if (pause_seqno_.is_undefined())
+    {
+        resync();
+    }
+    return pause_seqno_;
+}
+
+void wsrep::server_state::resume()
+{
+    wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex> lock(mutex_);
+    assert(pause_seqno_.is_undefined() == false);
+    if (desynced_on_pause_)
+    {
+        resync(lock);
+        desynced_on_pause_ = false;
+    }
+    if (provider_->resume())
+    {
+        throw wsrep::runtime_error("Failed to resume provider");
+    }
+    pause_seqno_ = wsrep::seqno::undefined();
+}
+
 std::string wsrep::server_state::prepare_for_sst()
 {
     wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex> lock(mutex_);
@@ -82,6 +122,7 @@ int wsrep::server_state::start_sst(const std::string& sst_request,
 
 void wsrep::server_state::sst_sent(const wsrep::gtid& gtid, int error)
 {
+    wsrep::log_info() << "SST sent: " << gtid << ": " << error;
     if (provider_->sst_sent(gtid, error))
     {
         server_service_.log_message(wsrep::log::warning,
@@ -91,8 +132,24 @@ void wsrep::server_state::sst_sent(const wsrep::gtid& gtid, int error)
     state(lock, s_joined);
 }
 
+void wsrep::server_state::sst_transferred(const wsrep::gtid& gtid)
+{
+    wsrep::log_info() << "SST transferred";
+    wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex> lock(mutex_);
+    sst_gtid_ = gtid;
+    if (server_service_.sst_before_init())
+    {
+        state(lock, s_initializing);
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        state(lock, s_joined);
+    }
+}
+
 void wsrep::server_state::sst_received(const wsrep::gtid& gtid, int error)
 {
+    wsrep::log_info() << "SST received: " << gtid << ": " << error;
     if (provider_->sst_received(gtid, error))
     {
         throw wsrep::runtime_error("SST received failed");
@@ -101,10 +158,29 @@ void wsrep::server_state::sst_received(const wsrep::gtid& gtid, int error)
     state(lock, s_joined);
 }
 
-void wsrep::server_state::wait_until_state(
-    enum wsrep::server_state::state state) const
+void wsrep::server_state::initialized()
 {
     wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex> lock(mutex_);
+    wsrep::log_info() << "Server initialized";
+    init_initialized_ = true;
+    if (sst_gtid_.is_undefined() == false &&
+        server_service_.sst_before_init())
+    {
+        lock.unlock();
+        if (provider().sst_received(sst_gtid_, 0))
+        {
+            throw wsrep::runtime_error("SST received failed");
+        }
+        lock.lock();
+        sst_gtid_ = wsrep::gtid::undefined();
+    }
+    state(lock, s_initialized);
+}
+
+void wsrep::server_state::wait_until_state(
+    wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex>& lock,
+    enum wsrep::server_state::state state) const
+{
     ++state_waiters_[state];
     while (state_ != state)
     {
@@ -158,24 +234,52 @@ void wsrep::server_state::on_connect()
 
 void wsrep::server_state::on_view(const wsrep::view& view)
 {
-    wsrep::log_info() << "================================================\nView:\n"
-                 << "id: " << view.state_id() << "\n"
-                 << "status: " << view.status() << "\n"
-                 << "own_index: " << view.own_index() << "\n"
-                 << "final: " << view.final() << "\n"
-                 << "members";
+    wsrep::log_info()
+        << "================================================\nView:\n"
+        << "  id: " << view.state_id() << "\n"
+        << "  status: " << view.status() << "\n"
+        << "  own_index: " << view.own_index() << "\n"
+        << "  final: " << view.final() << "\n"
+        << "  members";
     const std::vector<wsrep::view::member>& members(view.members());
     for (std::vector<wsrep::view::member>::const_iterator i(members.begin());
          i != members.end(); ++i)
     {
-        wsrep::log_info() << "id: " << i->id() << " "
+        wsrep::log_info() << "    id: " << i->id() << " "
                           << "name: " << i->name();
     }
     wsrep::log_info() << "=================================================";
-    wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex> lock(mutex_);
-    if (view.final())
+    if (view.status() == wsrep::view::primary)
     {
-        state(lock, s_disconnected);
+        wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex> lock(mutex_);
+        if (state_ == s_connected && view.members().size() == 1)
+        {
+            state(lock, s_joiner);
+            state(lock, s_initializing);
+        }
+
+        if (init_initialized_ == false)
+        {
+            // DBMS has not been initialized yet
+            wait_until_state(lock, s_initialized);
+        }
+
+        assert(init_initialized_);
+
+        if (state_ == s_initialized)
+        {
+            state(lock, s_joined);
+            if (init_synced_)
+            {
+                state(lock, s_synced);
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (view.final())
+        {
+            state(lock, s_disconnected);
+        }
+        current_view_ = view;
     }
 }
 
@@ -183,21 +287,21 @@ void wsrep::server_state::on_sync()
 {
     wsrep::log_info() << "Server " << name_ << " synced with group";
     wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex> lock(mutex_);
-    /* Follow the path joiner -> joined -> synced to notify possible
-       waiters. */
-    switch (state_)
+    if (server_service_.sst_before_init())
     {
-    case s_connected:
-        state(lock, s_joiner);
-    case s_joiner:
-        state(lock, s_joined);
-    case s_joined:
-        state(lock, s_synced);
-        break;
-    default:
-        /* State */
-        state(lock, s_synced);
-    };
+        switch (state_)
+        {
+        case s_connected:
+            state(lock, s_joiner);
+        case s_joiner:
+            state(lock, s_initializing);
+            break;
+        default:
+            /* State */
+            state(lock, s_synced);
+        };
+    }
+    init_synced_ = true;
 }
 
 int wsrep::server_state::on_apply(
@@ -400,6 +504,33 @@ wsrep::client_state* wsrep::server_state::find_streaming_applier(
 
 // Private
 
+
+int wsrep::server_state::desync(wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex>& lock)
+{
+    assert(lock.owns_lock());
+    ++desync_count_;
+    if (state_ == s_synced)
+    {
+        assert(desync_count_ == 0);
+        return provider_->desync();
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+void wsrep::server_state::resync(wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex>& lock)
+{
+    assert(lock.owns_lock());
+    --desync_count_;
+    if (desync_count_ == 0)
+    {
+        if (provider_->resync())
+        {
+            throw wsrep::runtime_error("Failed to resync");
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+
 void wsrep::server_state::state(
     wsrep::unique_lock<wsrep::mutex>& lock WSREP_UNUSED,
     enum wsrep::server_state::state state)
@@ -412,7 +543,7 @@ void wsrep::server_state::state(
             {  0,   0,   1,    0,    0,   0,   0,   0,   0}, /* ing */
             {  0,   0,   0,    1,    0,   1,   0,   0,   0}, /* ized */
             {  0,   0,   0,    0,    1,   0,   0,   0,   0}, /* cted */
-            {  0,   0,   0,    0,    0,   1,   0,   0,   0}, /* jer */
+            {  0,   1,   0,    0,    0,   1,   0,   0,   0}, /* jer */
             {  0,   0,   0,    0,    0,   0,   0,   1,   1}, /* jed */
             {  0,   0,   0,    0,    0,   1,   0,   0,   1}, /* dor */
             {  0,   0,   0,    0,    0,   1,   1,   0,   1}, /* sed */
@@ -422,7 +553,9 @@ void wsrep::server_state::state(
     if (allowed[state_][state])
     {
         wsrep::log_info() << "server " << name_ << " state change: "
-                          << state_ << " -> " << state;
+                          << to_c_string(state_) << " -> "
+                          << to_c_string(state);
+        state_hist_.push_back(state_);
         state_ = state;
         cond_.notify_all();
         while (state_waiters_[state_])
diff --git a/src/wsrep_provider_v26.cpp b/src/wsrep_provider_v26.cpp
index 3eb5342..b2ef338 100644
--- a/src/wsrep_provider_v26.cpp
+++ b/src/wsrep_provider_v26.cpp
@@ -339,8 +339,9 @@ namespace
         try
         {
             std::string req(server_state.prepare_for_sst());
-            *sst_req = ::strdup(req.c_str());
-            *sst_req_len = strlen(req.c_str());
+            *sst_req = ::malloc(req.size() + 1);
+            memcpy(*sst_req, req.data(), req.size() + 1);
+            *sst_req_len = req.size() + 1;
             return WSREP_CB_SUCCESS;
         }
         catch (const wsrep::runtime_error& e)
diff --git a/test/server_context_test.cpp b/test/server_context_test.cpp
index 7c61ebf..9340ed1 100644
--- a/test/server_context_test.cpp
+++ b/test/server_context_test.cpp
@@ -122,9 +122,9 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(server_state_state_strings)
     BOOST_REQUIRE(wsrep::to_string(
                       wsrep::server_state::s_disconnected) == "disconnected");
     BOOST_REQUIRE(wsrep::to_string(
-                      wsrep::server_state::s_initializing) == "initilizing");
+                      wsrep::server_state::s_initializing) == "initializing");
     BOOST_REQUIRE(wsrep::to_string(
-                      wsrep::server_state::s_initialized) == "initilized");
+                      wsrep::server_state::s_initialized) == "initialized");
     BOOST_REQUIRE(wsrep::to_string(
                       wsrep::server_state::s_connected) == "connected");
     BOOST_REQUIRE(wsrep::to_string(