diff --git a/bolt.go b/bolt.go
index e679b1400..12435abef 100644
--- a/bolt.go
+++ b/bolt.go
@@ -135,8 +135,12 @@ func (r *boltRegistrar) OpenDBWrapper(path string, doAllocZero bool, cfg *storag
 	if !DirExists(path) {
 		PanicOn(os.MkdirAll(dir, 0755))
 	}
+	fsyncEnabled := true
+	if cfg != nil {
+		fsyncEnabled = cfg.FsyncEnabled
+	}
 
-	db, err := bolt.Open(path, 0666, &bolt.Options{Timeout: 5 * time.Second, InitialMmapSize: TxInitialMmapSize})
+	db, err := bolt.Open(path, 0666, &bolt.Options{Timeout: 5 * time.Second, InitialMmapSize: TxInitialMmapSize, NoSync: !fsyncEnabled})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrapf(err, fmt.Sprintf("open bolt path '%v'", path))
 	}
@@ -187,6 +191,7 @@ func (r *boltRegistrar) OpenDBWrapper(path string, doAllocZero bool, cfg *storag
 		openTx:      make(map[*BoltTx]bool),
 
 		DeleteEmptyContainer: true,
+		fsyncEnabled:         cfg.FsyncEnabled,
 	}
 	r.unprotectedRegister(w)
 
@@ -226,7 +231,7 @@ func (w *BoltWrapper) CloseDB() error {
 func (w *BoltWrapper) OpenDB() error {
 	w.muDb.Lock()
 	defer w.muDb.Unlock()
-	db, err := bolt.Open(w.path, 0666, &bolt.Options{Timeout: 5 * time.Second, InitialMmapSize: TxInitialMmapSize})
+	db, err := bolt.Open(w.path, 0666, &bolt.Options{Timeout: 5 * time.Second, InitialMmapSize: TxInitialMmapSize, NoSync: !w.fsyncEnabled})
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -315,6 +320,7 @@ type BoltWrapper struct {
 	doAllocZero bool
 
 	DeleteEmptyContainer bool
+	fsyncEnabled         bool // for tracking whether our initial config wanted fsync on
 
 	openTx map[*BoltTx]bool
 }
diff --git a/bolt_test.go b/bolt_test.go
index 5c83ae1af..1dc03b7d0 100644
--- a/bolt_test.go
+++ b/bolt_test.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/molecula/featurebase/v2/roaring"
+	"github.com/molecula/featurebase/v2/storage"
 	. "github.com/molecula/featurebase/v2/vprint" // nolint:staticcheck
 )
 
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ func mustOpenEmptyBoltWrapper(path string) (w *BoltWrapper, cleaner func()) {
 	var err error
 	fn := path
 	PanicOn(os.RemoveAll(fn))
-	ww, err := globalBoltReg.OpenDBWrapper(fn, DetectMemAccessPastTx, nil)
+	ww, err := globalBoltReg.OpenDBWrapper(fn, DetectMemAccessPastTx, &storage.Config{FsyncEnabled: false})
 	PanicOn(err)
 	w = ww.(*BoltWrapper)
 
diff --git a/boltdb/translate.go b/boltdb/translate.go
index 076c77f37..35ef2b08f 100644
--- a/boltdb/translate.go
+++ b/boltdb/translate.go
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ const (
 )
 
 // OpenTranslateStore opens and initializes a boltdb translation store.
-func OpenTranslateStore(path, index, field string, partitionID, partitionN int) (pilosa.TranslateStore, error) {
-	s := NewTranslateStore(index, field, partitionID, partitionN)
+func OpenTranslateStore(path, index, field string, partitionID, partitionN int, fsyncEnabled bool) (pilosa.TranslateStore, error) {
+	s := NewTranslateStore(index, field, partitionID, partitionN, fsyncEnabled)
 	s.Path = path
 	if err := s.Open(); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -88,22 +88,24 @@ type TranslateStore struct {
 	once    sync.Once
 	closing chan struct{}
 
-	readOnly    bool
-	writeNotify chan struct{}
+	readOnly     bool
+	fsyncEnabled bool
+	writeNotify  chan struct{}
 
 	// File path to database file.
 	Path string
 }
 
 // NewTranslateStore returns a new instance of TranslateStore.
-func NewTranslateStore(index, field string, partitionID, partitionN int) *TranslateStore {
+func NewTranslateStore(index, field string, partitionID, partitionN int, fsyncEnabled bool) *TranslateStore {
 	return &TranslateStore{
-		index:       index,
-		field:       field,
-		partitionID: partitionID,
-		partitionN:  partitionN,
-		closing:     make(chan struct{}),
-		writeNotify: make(chan struct{}),
+		index:        index,
+		field:        field,
+		partitionID:  partitionID,
+		partitionN:   partitionN,
+		closing:      make(chan struct{}),
+		writeNotify:  make(chan struct{}),
+		fsyncEnabled: fsyncEnabled,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -120,7 +122,7 @@ func (s *TranslateStore) Open() (err error) {
 
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(s.Path), 0777); err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrapf(err, "mkdir %s", filepath.Dir(s.Path))
-	} else if s.db, err = bolt.Open(s.Path, 0666, &bolt.Options{Timeout: 1 * time.Second}); err != nil {
+	} else if s.db, err = bolt.Open(s.Path, 0666, &bolt.Options{Timeout: 1 * time.Second, NoSync: !s.fsyncEnabled}); err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrapf(err, "open file: %s", err)
 	}
 
diff --git a/boltdb/translate_test.go b/boltdb/translate_test.go
index a42d68d50..61f2e61c3 100644
--- a/boltdb/translate_test.go
+++ b/boltdb/translate_test.go
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ func MustNewTranslateStore(tb testing.TB) *boltdb.TranslateStore {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
-	s := boltdb.NewTranslateStore("I", "F", 0, topology.DefaultPartitionN)
+	s := boltdb.NewTranslateStore("I", "F", 0, topology.DefaultPartitionN, false)
 	s.Path = f.Name()
 	return s
 }
diff --git a/cluster_internal_test.go b/cluster_internal_test.go
index 8af84efed..cc55ae9aa 100644
--- a/cluster_internal_test.go
+++ b/cluster_internal_test.go
@@ -155,7 +155,10 @@ func newIndexWithTempPath(tb testing.TB, name string) *Index {
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
-	h := NewHolder(path, nil)
+	cfg := DefaultHolderConfig()
+	cfg.StorageConfig.FsyncEnabled = false
+	cfg.RBFConfig.FsyncEnabled = false
+	h := NewHolder(path, cfg)
 	PanicOn(h.Open())
 	index, err := h.CreateIndex(name, IndexOptions{})
 	testhook.Cleanup(tb, func() {
diff --git a/dbshard_internal_test.go b/dbshard_internal_test.go
index 81d64436c..9482d1504 100644
--- a/dbshard_internal_test.go
+++ b/dbshard_internal_test.go
@@ -330,6 +330,7 @@ func Test_DBPerShard_GetFieldView2Shards_map_from_RBF(t *testing.T) {
 
 	cfg := mustHolderConfig()
 	cfg.StorageConfig.Backend = "rbf"
+	cfg.StorageConfig.FsyncEnabled = false
 	holder := NewHolder(tmpdir, cfg)
 	defer holder.Close()
 
diff --git a/etcd/embed.go b/etcd/embed.go
index 67711d4c1..7da2c9806 100644
--- a/etcd/embed.go
+++ b/etcd/embed.go
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ type Options struct {
 	LClientSocket []*net.TCPListener
 
 	BootstrapTimeout time.Duration
+	UnsafeNoFsync    bool `toml:"no-fsync"`
 }
 
 var (
@@ -228,6 +229,7 @@ func parseOptions(opt Options) *embed.Config {
 	cfg.InitialClusterToken = opt.ClusterName
 	cfg.BootstrapTimeout = opt.BootstrapTimeout
 	cfg.LCUrls = types.MustNewURLs([]string{opt.LClientURL})
+	cfg.UnsafeNoFsync = opt.UnsafeNoFsync
 	if opt.AClientURL != "" {
 		cfg.ACUrls = types.MustNewURLs([]string{opt.AClientURL})
 	} else {
diff --git a/executor_internal_test.go b/executor_internal_test.go
index 4aa37971c..b752957ef 100644
--- a/executor_internal_test.go
+++ b/executor_internal_test.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestExecutor_TranslateRowsOnBool(t *testing.T) {
 	path, _ := testhook.TempDirInDir(t, *TempDir, "pilosa-executor-")
-	holder := NewHolder(path, nil)
+	holder := NewHolder(path, mustHolderConfig())
 	defer holder.Close()
 
 	e := &executor{
diff --git a/executor_test.go b/executor_test.go
index 414bf47b5..adcf64dbb 100644
--- a/executor_test.go
+++ b/executor_test.go
@@ -6882,7 +6882,7 @@ func TestMissingKeyRegression(t *testing.T) {
 	c := test.MustRunCluster(t, 1, []server.CommandOption{server.OptCommandServerOptions(
 		pilosa.OptServerStorageConfig(&storage.Config{
 			Backend:      "roaring",
-			FsyncEnabled: true,
+			FsyncEnabled: false,
 		}))})
 	defer c.Close()
 
diff --git a/field.go b/field.go
index a6c4b5e75..4edccfb3f 100644
--- a/field.go
+++ b/field.go
@@ -648,7 +648,7 @@ func (f *Field) writeAvailableShards() {
 func (f *Field) applyTranslateStore() error {
 	// Instantiate & open translation store.
 	var err error
-	f.translateStore, err = f.OpenTranslateStore(f.TranslateStorePath(), f.index, f.name, -1, -1)
+	f.translateStore, err = f.OpenTranslateStore(f.TranslateStorePath(), f.index, f.name, -1, -1, f.holder.cfg.StorageConfig.FsyncEnabled)
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "opening field translate store")
 	}
diff --git a/field_internal_test.go b/field_internal_test.go
index 88ca4b7d7..080836baa 100644
--- a/field_internal_test.go
+++ b/field_internal_test.go
@@ -244,6 +244,8 @@ func NewTestField(t testing.TB, opts FieldOption) *TestField {
 
 	cfg := DefaultHolderConfig()
 	cfg.StorageConfig.Backend = CurrentBackendOrDefault()
+	cfg.StorageConfig.FsyncEnabled = false
+	cfg.RBFConfig.FsyncEnabled = false
 	h := NewHolder(path, cfg)
 	PanicOn(h.Open())
 
diff --git a/field_test.go b/field_test.go
index 38056e8ac..0bc3b60cb 100644
--- a/field_test.go
+++ b/field_test.go
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ func TestField_NameRestriction(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
-	field, err := pilosa.NewField(pilosa.NewHolder(path, nil), path, "i", ".meta", pilosa.OptFieldTypeDefault())
+	field, err := pilosa.NewField(pilosa.NewHolder(path, mustHolderConfig()), path, "i", ".meta", pilosa.OptFieldTypeDefault())
 	if field != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected field name %s", err)
 	}
@@ -192,13 +192,13 @@ func TestField_NameValidation(t *testing.T) {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 	for _, name := range validFieldNames {
-		_, err := pilosa.NewField(pilosa.NewHolder(path, nil), path, "i", name, pilosa.OptFieldTypeDefault())
+		_, err := pilosa.NewField(pilosa.NewHolder(path, mustHolderConfig()), path, "i", name, pilosa.OptFieldTypeDefault())
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("unexpected field name: %s %s", name, err)
 		}
 	}
 	for _, name := range invalidFieldNames {
-		_, err := pilosa.NewField(pilosa.NewHolder(path, nil), path, "i", name, pilosa.OptFieldTypeDefault())
+		_, err := pilosa.NewField(pilosa.NewHolder(path, mustHolderConfig()), path, "i", name, pilosa.OptFieldTypeDefault())
 		if err == nil {
 			t.Fatalf("expected error on field name: %s", name)
 		}
diff --git a/fragment_internal_test.go b/fragment_internal_test.go
index a7915fcc3..9b4ac461a 100644
--- a/fragment_internal_test.go
+++ b/fragment_internal_test.go
@@ -3166,7 +3166,7 @@ func BenchmarkImportIntoLargeFragment(b *testing.B) {
 		origF.Close()
 		fi.Close()
 
-		h := NewHolder(fi.Name(), nil)
+		h := NewHolder(fi.Name(), mustHolderConfig())
 		PanicOn(h.Open())
 		idx, err := h.CreateIndex("i", IndexOptions{})
 		PanicOn(err)
@@ -5146,7 +5146,7 @@ func TestImportClearRestart(t *testing.T) {
 
 				PanicOn(tx2.Commit())
 
-				h3 := NewHolder(filepath.Dir(f2.path()), nil)
+				h3 := NewHolder(filepath.Dir(f2.path()), mustHolderConfig())
 				testhook.Cleanup(t, func() {
 					h3.Close()
 				})
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index e590bdd1b..ff7c1d715 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 module github.com/molecula/featurebase/v2
 
-replace go.etcd.io/etcd => github.com/molecula/etcd v0.0.0-20210621160528-2cd93f1df0e7
+replace go.etcd.io/etcd => github.com/molecula/etcd v0.0.0-20210930172242-ad94b354f72c
+
+replace go.etcd.io/bbolt => github.com/seebs/bbolt v0.0.0-20210930181431-2ea708af0554
 
 require (
 	github.com/CAFxX/gcnotifier v0.0.0-20190112062741-224a280d589d
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 5f4d1be61..0959b010c 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -230,8 +230,8 @@ github.com/modern-go/reflect2 v1.0.1 h1:9f412s+6RmYXLWZSEzVVgPGK7C2PphHj5RJrvfx9
 github.com/modern-go/reflect2 v1.0.1/go.mod h1:bx2lNnkwVCuqBIxFjflWJWanXIb3RllmbCylyMrvgv0=
 github.com/molecula/apophenia v0.0.0-20190827192002-68b7a14a478b h1:cZADDaNYM7xn/nklO3g198JerGQjadFuA0ofxBJgK0Y=
 github.com/molecula/apophenia v0.0.0-20190827192002-68b7a14a478b/go.mod h1:uXd1BiH7xLmgkhVmspdJLENv6uGWrTL/MQX2TN7Yz9s=
-github.com/molecula/etcd v0.0.0-20210621160528-2cd93f1df0e7 h1:hufElvtCighE0G2VFJYDGWCY8JlmCWZ1FmXvlf25yUQ=
-github.com/molecula/etcd v0.0.0-20210621160528-2cd93f1df0e7/go.mod h1:1X1h4BZ44WjM0LJof1gKKLap1OA4RsicGCDRtACTkLI=
+github.com/molecula/etcd v0.0.0-20210930172242-ad94b354f72c h1:YnU+8kIrr/7IDGtIYncawklAs54EWihED4DBIm+kjAA=
+github.com/molecula/etcd v0.0.0-20210930172242-ad94b354f72c/go.mod h1:1X1h4BZ44WjM0LJof1gKKLap1OA4RsicGCDRtACTkLI=
 github.com/mwitkow/go-conntrack v0.0.0-20161129095857-cc309e4a2223 h1:F9x/1yl3T2AeKLr2AMdilSD8+f9bvMnNN8VS5iDtovc=
 github.com/mwitkow/go-conntrack v0.0.0-20161129095857-cc309e4a2223/go.mod h1:qRWi+5nqEBWmkhHvq77mSJWrCKwh8bxhgT7d/eI7P4U=
 github.com/niemeyer/pretty v0.0.0-20200227124842-a10e7caefd8e h1:fD57ERR4JtEqsWbfPhv4DMiApHyliiK5xCTNVSPiaAs=
@@ -285,6 +285,8 @@ github.com/ryanuber/columnize v0.0.0-20160712163229-9b3edd62028f/go.mod h1:sm1tb
 github.com/satori/go.uuid v1.2.0 h1:0uYX9dsZ2yD7q2RtLRtPSdGDWzjeM3TbMJP9utgA0ww=
 github.com/satori/go.uuid v1.2.0/go.mod h1:dA0hQrYB0VpLJoorglMZABFdXlWrHn1NEOzdhQKdks0=
 github.com/sean-/seed v0.0.0-20170313163322-e2103e2c3529/go.mod h1:DxrIzT+xaE7yg65j358z/aeFdxmN0P9QXhEzd20vsDc=
+github.com/seebs/bbolt v0.0.0-20210930181431-2ea708af0554 h1:88K0ffxhVphUHxlqW4ewOaXdnJByH4LcCuvYfv0QI/M=
+github.com/seebs/bbolt v0.0.0-20210930181431-2ea708af0554/go.mod h1:qXsaaIqmgQH0T+OPdb99Bf+PKfBBQVAdyD6TY9G8XM4=
 github.com/shirou/gopsutil/v3 v3.20.11 h1:NeVf1K0cgxsWz+N3671ojRptdgzvp7BXL3KV21R0JnA=
 github.com/shirou/gopsutil/v3 v3.20.11/go.mod h1:igHnfak0qnw1biGeI2qKQvu0ZkwvEkUcCLlYhZzdr/4=
 github.com/shurcooL/sanitized_anchor_name v1.0.0/go.mod h1:1NzhyTcUVG4SuEtjjoZeVRXNmyL/1OwPU0+IJeTBvfc=
@@ -344,9 +346,6 @@ github.com/zeebo/blake3 v0.1.1 h1:Nbsts7DdKThRHHd+YNlqiGlRqGEF2bE2eXN+xQ1hsEs=
 github.com/zeebo/blake3 v0.1.1/go.mod h1:G9pM4qQwjRzF1/v7+vabMj/c5mWpGZ2Wzo3Eb4z0pb4=
 github.com/zeebo/pcg v1.0.0 h1:dt+dx+HvX8g7Un32rY9XWoYnd0NmKmrIzpHF7qiTDj0=
 github.com/zeebo/pcg v1.0.0/go.mod h1:09F0S9iiKrwn9rlI5yjLkmrug154/YRW6KnnXVDM/l4=
-go.etcd.io/bbolt v1.3.2/go.mod h1:IbVyRI1SCnLcuJnV2u8VeU0CEYM7e686BmAb1XKL+uU=
-go.etcd.io/bbolt v1.3.5 h1:XAzx9gjCb0Rxj7EoqcClPD1d5ZBxZJk0jbuoPHenBt0=
-go.etcd.io/bbolt v1.3.5/go.mod h1:G5EMThwa9y8QZGBClrRx5EY+Yw9kAhnjy3bSjsnlVTQ=
 go.opencensus.io v0.21.0/go.mod h1:mSImk1erAIZhrmZN+AvHh14ztQfjbGwt4TtuofqLduU=
 go.opencensus.io v0.22.0/go.mod h1:+kGneAE2xo2IficOXnaByMWTGM9T73dGwxeWcUqIpI8=
 go.uber.org/atomic v1.3.2/go.mod h1:gD2HeocX3+yG+ygLZcrzQJaqmWj9AIm7n08wl/qW/PE=
@@ -443,7 +442,7 @@ golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190624142023-c5567b49c5d0/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7w
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20191001151750-bb3f8db39f24/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20191005200804-aed5e4c7ecf9/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20191220142924-d4481acd189f/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20200202164722-d101bd2416d5/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20200923182605-d9f96fdee20d/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20200930185726-fdedc70b468f/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20201014080544-cc95f250f6bc/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20201024232916-9f70ab9862d5/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
diff --git a/holder.go b/holder.go
index 0daf8416d..dea18e3e7 100644
--- a/holder.go
+++ b/holder.go
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ type Holder struct {
 	OpenTransactionStore OpenTransactionStoreFunc
 
 	// Func to open the ID allocator.
-	OpenIDAllocator func(string) (*idAllocator, error)
+	OpenIDAllocator func(string, bool) (*idAllocator, error)
 
 	// transactionManager
 	transactionManager *TransactionManager
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ func DefaultHolderConfig() *HolderConfig {
 		OpenTranslateStore:   OpenInMemTranslateStore,
 		OpenTranslateReader:  nil,
 		OpenTransactionStore: OpenInMemTransactionStore,
-		OpenIDAllocator:      func(string) (*idAllocator, error) { return &idAllocator{}, nil },
+		OpenIDAllocator:      func(string, bool) (*idAllocator, error) { return &idAllocator{}, nil },
 		TranslationSyncer:    NopTranslationSyncer,
 		Serializer:           GobSerializer,
 		Schemator:            disco.InMemSchemator,
@@ -623,7 +623,7 @@ func (h *Holder) Open() error {
 	h.transactionManager.Log = h.Logger
 
 	// Open ID allocator.
-	h.ida, err = h.OpenIDAllocator(filepath.Join(h.path, "idalloc.db"))
+	h.ida, err = h.OpenIDAllocator(filepath.Join(h.path, "idalloc.db"), h.cfg.StorageConfig.FsyncEnabled)
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "opening ID allocator")
 	}
diff --git a/holder_internal_test.go b/holder_internal_test.go
index c87b6bf73..bd35f0b03 100644
--- a/holder_internal_test.go
+++ b/holder_internal_test.go
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ func makeHolder(tb testing.TB, backend string) (*Holder, string, error) {
 	cfg := mustHolderConfig()
 	if backend != "" {
 		cfg.StorageConfig.Backend = backend
+		cfg.StorageConfig.FsyncEnabled = false
 	}
 	h := NewHolder(path, cfg)
 	return h, path, h.Open()
@@ -265,6 +266,8 @@ func mustHolderConfig() *HolderConfig {
 		_ = MustBackendToTxtype(backend)
 		cfg.StorageConfig.Backend = backend
 	}
+	cfg.StorageConfig.FsyncEnabled = false
+	cfg.RBFConfig.FsyncEnabled = false
 	cfg.Schemator = disco.InMemSchemator
 	cfg.Sharder = disco.InMemSharder
 	return cfg
diff --git a/holder_test.go b/holder_test.go
index 6aeeab79d..4807a997e 100644
--- a/holder_test.go
+++ b/holder_test.go
@@ -25,11 +25,26 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/molecula/featurebase/v2"
+	"github.com/molecula/featurebase/v2/disco"
 	"github.com/molecula/featurebase/v2/pql"
 	"github.com/molecula/featurebase/v2/test"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 )
 
+// mustHolderConfig provides a default test-friendly holder config.
+func mustHolderConfig() *pilosa.HolderConfig {
+	cfg := pilosa.DefaultHolderConfig()
+	if backend := pilosa.CurrentBackend(); backend != "" {
+		_ = pilosa.MustBackendToTxtype(backend)
+		cfg.StorageConfig.Backend = backend
+	}
+	cfg.StorageConfig.FsyncEnabled = false
+	cfg.RBFConfig.FsyncEnabled = false
+	cfg.Schemator = disco.InMemSchemator
+	cfg.Sharder = disco.InMemSharder
+	return cfg
+}
+
 func TestHolder_Open(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("ErrIndexPermission", func(t *testing.T) {
 		if os.Geteuid() == 0 {
@@ -283,7 +298,7 @@ func TestHolder_HasData(t *testing.T) {
 		// Note that we are intentionally not using test.NewHolder,
 		// because we want to create a Holder object with an invalid path,
 		// rather than creating a valid holder with a temporary path.
-		h := pilosa.NewHolder("bad-path", nil)
+		h := pilosa.NewHolder("bad-path", mustHolderConfig())
 
 		if ok, err := h.HasData(); ok || err != nil {
 			t.Fatal("expected HasData to return false, no err, but", ok, err)
diff --git a/idalloc.go b/idalloc.go
index 4c6ea423f..ffa07baf8 100644
--- a/idalloc.go
+++ b/idalloc.go
@@ -53,18 +53,20 @@ func (k IDAllocKey) String() string {
 }
 
 type idAllocator struct {
-	db *bolt.DB
+	db           *bolt.DB
+	fsyncEnabled bool
 }
 
-type OpenIDAllocatorFunc func(path string) (*idAllocator, error) // whyyyyyyyyy
+type OpenIDAllocatorFunc func(path string, enableFsync bool) (*idAllocator, error) // whyyyyyyyyy
 
-func OpenIDAllocator(path string) (*idAllocator, error) {
-	db, err := bolt.Open(path, 0666, &bolt.Options{Timeout: 1 * time.Second})
+func OpenIDAllocator(path string, enableFsync bool) (*idAllocator, error) {
+	db, err := bolt.Open(path, 0666, &bolt.Options{Timeout: 1 * time.Second, NoSync: !enableFsync})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return &idAllocator{db}, nil
+	return &idAllocator{db: db, fsyncEnabled: enableFsync}, nil
 }
+
 func (ida *idAllocator) Replace(reader io.Reader) error {
 	newFile := ida.db.Path() + ".bak"
 	liveFile := ida.db.Path()
@@ -92,7 +94,7 @@ func (ida *idAllocator) Replace(reader io.Reader) error {
 	} else {
 		_ = os.Remove(liveFile + ".sav")
 	}
-	db, err := bolt.Open(liveFile, 0666, &bolt.Options{Timeout: 1 * time.Second})
+	db, err := bolt.Open(liveFile, 0666, &bolt.Options{Timeout: 1 * time.Second, NoSync: !ida.fsyncEnabled})
 	ida.db = db
 	return err
 }
diff --git a/idalloc_test.go b/idalloc_test.go
index dff559146..b28a56604 100644
--- a/idalloc_test.go
+++ b/idalloc_test.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func TestIDAlloc(t *testing.T) {
 	}()
 
 	// Open bolt.
-	db, err := bolt.Open(f.Name(), 0666, &bolt.Options{Timeout: 1 * time.Second})
+	db, err := bolt.Open(f.Name(), 0666, &bolt.Options{Timeout: 1 * time.Second, NoSync: true})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("opening bolt: %v", err)
 		return
diff --git a/index.go b/index.go
index 25b7bd5ee..83a4e8e4a 100644
--- a/index.go
+++ b/index.go
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ func (i *Index) open(idx *disco.Index) (err error) {
 			partitionID := partitionID
 
 			g.Go(func() error {
-				store, err := i.OpenTranslateStore(i.TranslateStorePath(partitionID), i.name, "", partitionID, i.holder.partitionN)
+				store, err := i.OpenTranslateStore(i.TranslateStorePath(partitionID), i.name, "", partitionID, i.holder.partitionN, i.holder.cfg.StorageConfig.FsyncEnabled)
 				if err != nil {
 					return errors.Wrapf(err, "opening index translate store: partition=%d", partitionID)
 				}
diff --git a/index_internal_test.go b/index_internal_test.go
index a8cd51706..0bf4f6909 100644
--- a/index_internal_test.go
+++ b/index_internal_test.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ func mustOpenIndex(tb testing.TB, opt IndexOptions) *Index {
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
-	h := NewHolder(path, nil)
+	h := NewHolder(path, mustHolderConfig())
 	index, err := h.CreateIndex("i", opt)
 	testhook.Cleanup(tb, func() {
 		h.Close()
diff --git a/index_test.go b/index_test.go
index 149133108..890d481d1 100644
--- a/index_test.go
+++ b/index_test.go
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ func TestIndex_InvalidName(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
-	index, err := pilosa.NewIndex(pilosa.NewHolder(path, nil), path, "ABC")
+	index, err := pilosa.NewIndex(pilosa.NewHolder(path, mustHolderConfig()), path, "ABC")
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("should have gotten an error on index name with caps")
 	}
diff --git a/internal/clustertests/pause_node_test.go b/internal/clustertests/pause_node_test.go
index e9c4e822a..2de330a74 100644
--- a/internal/clustertests/pause_node_test.go
+++ b/internal/clustertests/pause_node_test.go
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ func openTranslateStores(dirPath, index string) (map[int]pilosa.TranslateStore,
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		// open bolt db
-		ts, err := boltdb.OpenTranslateStore(filePath, index, "", partition, topology.DefaultPartitionN)
+		ts, err := boltdb.OpenTranslateStore(filePath, index, "", partition, topology.DefaultPartitionN, false)
 		ts.SetReadOnly(true)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
diff --git a/rbf/db.go b/rbf/db.go
index 92efffd72..f1623ded8 100644
--- a/rbf/db.go
+++ b/rbf/db.go
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ func (db *DB) Close() (err error) {
 
 	// Close writer handler.
 	if db.file != nil {
-		err = db.file.Sync()
+		err = db.fsync(db.file)
 		if err != nil {
 			return
 		}
diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index 93d9947a0..fdca4dc39 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -339,6 +339,9 @@ func OptServerOpenTranslateReader(fn OpenTranslateReaderFunc) ServerOption {
 func OptServerStorageConfig(cfg *storage.Config) ServerOption {
 	return func(s *Server) error {
 		s.holderConfig.StorageConfig = cfg
+		// For historical reasons, RBF's config can ignore the storage config
+		// in some cases.
+		s.holderConfig.RBFConfig.FsyncEnabled = s.holderConfig.StorageConfig.FsyncEnabled
 		return nil
 	}
 }
diff --git a/server_internal_test.go b/server_internal_test.go
index 7fbddf73e..7a1b7b121 100644
--- a/server_internal_test.go
+++ b/server_internal_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/molecula/featurebase/v2/storage"
 	"github.com/molecula/featurebase/v2/testhook"
 )
 
@@ -45,8 +46,9 @@ func TestMonitorAntiEntropyZero(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("getting temp dir: %v", err)
 	}
+	cfg := &storage.Config{FsyncEnabled: false, Backend: storage.DefaultBackend}
 	s, err := NewServer(OptServerDataDir(td),
-		OptServerAntiEntropyInterval(0))
+		OptServerAntiEntropyInterval(0), OptServerStorageConfig(cfg))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("making new server: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/test/cluster.go b/test/cluster.go
index 126245a46..137aa6c83 100644
--- a/test/cluster.go
+++ b/test/cluster.go
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ func prependTestServerOpts(opts []server.CommandOption) []server.CommandOption {
 			pilosa.OptServerNodeDownRetries(5, 100*time.Millisecond),
 			pilosa.OptServerStorageConfig(&storage.Config{
 				Backend:      pilosa.CurrentBackendOrDefault(),
-				FsyncEnabled: true,
+				FsyncEnabled: false,
 			}),
 		),
 	}
diff --git a/test/disco.go b/test/disco.go
index 7aebd8f89..d00c06a31 100644
--- a/test/disco.go
+++ b/test/disco.go
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ func GetPortsGenConfigs(tb testing.TB, nodes []*Command) error {
 			LPeerSocket:      []*net.TCPListener{peerListener},
 			LClientSocket:    []*net.TCPListener{clientListener},
 			BootstrapTimeout: 50 * time.Millisecond,
+			UnsafeNoFsync:    true,
 		}
 		peerUrls[i] = fmt.Sprintf("%s=%s", name, peerURL)
 	}
@@ -144,14 +145,16 @@ func GenPortsConfig(tb testing.TB, ports []Ports) []*server.Config {
 			BindGRPC:     fmt.Sprintf(":%d", ports[i].Grpc),
 			GRPCListener: ports[i].LsnG,
 			Etcd: etcd.Options{
-				Dir:           discoDir,
-				LClientURL:    lClientURL,
-				AClientURL:    lClientURL,
-				LPeerURL:      lPeerURL,
-				APeerURL:      lPeerURL,
-				HeartbeatTTL:  5,
-				LPeerSocket:   []*net.TCPListener{lsnP},
-				LClientSocket: []*net.TCPListener{lsnC},
+				Dir:              discoDir,
+				LClientURL:       lClientURL,
+				AClientURL:       lClientURL,
+				LPeerURL:         lPeerURL,
+				APeerURL:         lPeerURL,
+				HeartbeatTTL:     5,
+				LPeerSocket:      []*net.TCPListener{lsnP},
+				LClientSocket:    []*net.TCPListener{lsnC},
+				BootstrapTimeout: 50 * time.Millisecond,
+				UnsafeNoFsync:    true,
 			},
 		}
 		cfgs[i].Cluster.Name = clusterName
diff --git a/test/holder.go b/test/holder.go
index 079495488..6eb63efac 100644
--- a/test/holder.go
+++ b/test/holder.go
@@ -38,7 +38,10 @@ func NewHolder(tb testing.TB) *Holder {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
-	h := &Holder{Holder: pilosa.NewHolder(path, nil)}
+	cfg := pilosa.DefaultHolderConfig()
+	cfg.StorageConfig.FsyncEnabled = false
+	cfg.RBFConfig.FsyncEnabled = false
+	h := &Holder{Holder: pilosa.NewHolder(path, cfg)}
 
 	return h
 }
diff --git a/test/index.go b/test/index.go
index 608bcae1c..46bc7399b 100644
--- a/test/index.go
+++ b/test/index.go
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@ func newIndex(tb testing.TB) *Index {
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
-	h := pilosa.NewHolder(path, pilosa.DefaultHolderConfig())
+	cfg := pilosa.DefaultHolderConfig()
+	cfg.StorageConfig.FsyncEnabled = false
+	cfg.RBFConfig.FsyncEnabled = false
+	h := pilosa.NewHolder(path, cfg)
 	testhook.Cleanup(tb, func() {
 		h.Close()
 	})
diff --git a/translate.go b/translate.go
index f449d75be..256dae341 100644
--- a/translate.go
+++ b/translate.go
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ TranslatorSummary{
 }
 
 // OpenTranslateStoreFunc represents a function for instantiating and opening a TranslateStore.
-type OpenTranslateStoreFunc func(path, index, field string, partitionID, partitionN int) (TranslateStore, error)
+type OpenTranslateStoreFunc func(path, index, field string, partitionID, partitionN int, fsyncEnabled bool) (TranslateStore, error)
 
 // GenerateNextPartitionedID returns the next ID within the same partition.
 func GenerateNextPartitionedID(index string, prev uint64, partitionID, partitionN int) uint64 {
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ var _ OpenTranslateStoreFunc = OpenInMemTranslateStore
 
 // OpenInMemTranslateStore returns a new instance of InMemTranslateStore.
 // Implements OpenTranslateStoreFunc.
-func OpenInMemTranslateStore(rawurl, index, field string, partitionID, partitionN int) (TranslateStore, error) {
+func OpenInMemTranslateStore(rawurl, index, field string, partitionID, partitionN int, fsyncEnabled bool) (TranslateStore, error) {
 	return NewInMemTranslateStore(index, field, partitionID, partitionN), nil
 }
 
diff --git a/utils_internal_test.go b/utils_internal_test.go
index a3a6af2a7..76c3aa66f 100644
--- a/utils_internal_test.go
+++ b/utils_internal_test.go
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func NewTestClusterWithReplication(tb testing.TB, nNodes, nReplicas, partitionN
 	}
 
 	// holder
-	h := NewHolder(path, nil)
+	h := NewHolder(path, mustHolderConfig())
 
 	// cluster
 	availableShardFileFlushDuration.Set(100 * time.Millisecond)
diff --git a/view_internal_test.go b/view_internal_test.go
index 9258cdd27..e7d2036d8 100644
--- a/view_internal_test.go
+++ b/view_internal_test.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func mustOpenView(tb testing.TB, index, field, name string) *view {
 		CacheSize: DefaultCacheSize,
 	}
 
-	h := NewHolder(path, nil)
+	h := NewHolder(path, mustHolderConfig())
 	// h needs an *Index so we can call h.Index() and get Index.Txf, in TestView_DeleteFragment
 
 	cim := &CreateIndexMessage{