diff --git a/swift/common/utils.py b/swift/common/utils.py
index cb66c19628..66f6ad777b 100644
--- a/swift/common/utils.py
+++ b/swift/common/utils.py
@@ -700,6 +700,7 @@ def drop_buffer_cache(fd, offset, length):
 
 NORMAL_FORMAT = "%016.05f"
 INTERNAL_FORMAT = NORMAL_FORMAT + '_%016x'
+SHORT_FORMAT = NORMAL_FORMAT + '_%x'
 MAX_OFFSET = (16 ** 16) - 1
 PRECISION = 1e-5
 # Setting this to True will cause the internal format to always display
@@ -820,6 +821,13 @@ class Timestamp(object):
         else:
             return self.normal
 
+    @property
+    def short(self):
+        if self.offset or FORCE_INTERNAL:
+            return SHORT_FORMAT % (self.timestamp, self.offset)
+        else:
+            return self.normal
+
     @property
     def isoformat(self):
         t = float(self.normal)
@@ -849,16 +857,22 @@ class Timestamp(object):
         return isoformat
 
     def __eq__(self, other):
+        if other is None:
+            return False
         if not isinstance(other, Timestamp):
             other = Timestamp(other)
         return self.internal == other.internal
 
     def __ne__(self, other):
+        if other is None:
+            return True
         if not isinstance(other, Timestamp):
             other = Timestamp(other)
         return self.internal != other.internal
 
     def __lt__(self, other):
+        if other is None:
+            return False
         if not isinstance(other, Timestamp):
             other = Timestamp(other)
         return self.internal < other.internal
@@ -867,6 +881,94 @@ class Timestamp(object):
         return hash(self.internal)
 
 
+def encode_timestamps(t1, t2=None, t3=None, explicit=False):
+    """
+    Encode up to three timestamps into a string. Unlike a Timestamp object, the
+    encoded string does NOT used fixed width fields and consequently no
+    relative chronology of the timestamps can be inferred from lexicographic
+    sorting of encoded timestamp strings.
+
+    The format of the encoded string is:
+        <t1>[<+/-><t2 - t1>[<+/-><t3 - t2>]]
+
+    i.e. if t1 = t2 = t3 then just the string representation of t1 is returned,
+    otherwise the time offsets for t2 and t3 are appended. If explicit is True
+    then the offsets for t2 and t3 are always appended even if zero.
+
+    Note: any offset value in t1 will be preserved, but offsets on t2 and t3
+    are not preserved. In the anticipated use cases for this method (and the
+    inverse decode_timestamps method) the timestamps passed as t2 and t3 are
+    not expected to have offsets as they will be timestamps associated with a
+    POST request. In the case where the encoding is used in a container objects
+    table row, t1 could be the PUT or DELETE time but t2 and t3 represent the
+    content type and metadata times (if different from the data file) i.e.
+    correspond to POST timestamps. In the case where the encoded form is used
+    in a .meta file name, t1 and t2 both correspond to POST timestamps.
+    """
+    form = '{0}'
+    values = [t1.short]
+    if t2 is not None:
+        t2_t1_delta = t2.raw - t1.raw
+        explicit = explicit or (t2_t1_delta != 0)
+        values.append(t2_t1_delta)
+        if t3 is not None:
+            t3_t2_delta = t3.raw - t2.raw
+            explicit = explicit or (t3_t2_delta != 0)
+            values.append(t3_t2_delta)
+        if explicit:
+            form += '{1:+x}'
+            if t3 is not None:
+                form += '{2:+x}'
+    return form.format(*values)
+
+
+def decode_timestamps(encoded, explicit=False):
+    """
+    Parses a string of the form generated by encode_timestamps and returns
+    a tuple of the three component timestamps. If explicit is False, component
+    timestamps that are not explicitly encoded will be assumed to have zero
+    delta from the previous component and therefore take the value of the
+    previous component. If explicit is True, component timestamps that are
+    not explicitly encoded will be returned with value None.
+    """
+    # TODO: some tests, e.g. in test_replicator, put float timestamps values
+    # into container db's, hence this defensive check, but in real world
+    # this may never happen.
+    if not isinstance(encoded, basestring):
+        ts = Timestamp(encoded)
+        return ts, ts, ts
+
+    parts = []
+    signs = []
+    pos_parts = encoded.split('+')
+    for part in pos_parts:
+        # parse time components and their signs
+        # e.g. x-y+z --> parts = [x, y, z] and signs = [+1, -1, +1]
+        neg_parts = part.split('-')
+        parts = parts + neg_parts
+        signs = signs + [1] + [-1] * (len(neg_parts) - 1)
+    t1 = Timestamp(parts[0])
+    t2 = t3 = None
+    if len(parts) > 1:
+        t2 = t1
+        delta = signs[1] * int(parts[1], 16)
+        # if delta = 0 we want t2 = t3 = t1 in order to
+        # preserve any offset in t1 - only construct a distinct
+        # timestamp if there is a non-zero delta.
+        if delta:
+            t2 = Timestamp((t1.raw + delta) * PRECISION)
+    elif not explicit:
+        t2 = t1
+    if len(parts) > 2:
+        t3 = t2
+        delta = signs[2] * int(parts[2], 16)
+        if delta:
+            t3 = Timestamp((t2.raw + delta) * PRECISION)
+    elif not explicit:
+        t3 = t2
+    return t1, t2, t3
+
+
 def normalize_timestamp(timestamp):
     """
     Format a timestamp (string or numeric) into a standardized
@@ -3357,6 +3459,25 @@ def parse_content_type(content_type):
     return content_type, parm_list
 
 
+def extract_swift_bytes(content_type):
+    """
+    Parse a content-type and return a tuple containing:
+        - the content_type string minus any swift_bytes param,
+        -  the swift_bytes value or None if the param was not found
+
+    :param content_type: a content-type string
+    :return: a tuple of (content-type, swift_bytes or None)
+    """
+    content_type, params = parse_content_type(content_type)
+    swift_bytes = None
+    for k, v in params:
+        if k == 'swift_bytes':
+            swift_bytes = v
+        else:
+            content_type += ';%s=%s' % (k, v)
+    return content_type, swift_bytes
+
+
 def override_bytes_from_content_type(listing_dict, logger=None):
     """
     Takes a dict from a container listing and overrides the content_type,
diff --git a/swift/container/backend.py b/swift/container/backend.py
index 15155e252b..d39e93bfb2 100644
--- a/swift/container/backend.py
+++ b/swift/container/backend.py
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ import six.moves.cPickle as pickle
 from six.moves import range
 import sqlite3
 
-from swift.common.utils import Timestamp
+from swift.common.utils import Timestamp, encode_timestamps, decode_timestamps, \
+    extract_swift_bytes
 from swift.common.db import DatabaseBroker, utf8encode
 
 
@@ -137,6 +138,90 @@ CONTAINER_STAT_VIEW_SCRIPT = '''
 '''
 
 
+def update_new_item_from_existing(new_item, existing):
+    """
+    Compare the data and meta related timestamps of a new object item with
+    the timestamps of an existing object record, and update the new item
+    with data and/or meta related attributes from the existing record if
+    their timestamps are newer.
+
+    The multiple timestamps are encoded into a single string for storing
+    in the 'created_at' column of the the objects db table.
+
+    :param new_item: A dict of object update attributes
+    :param existing: A dict of existing object attributes
+    :return: True if any attributes of the new item dict were found to be
+             newer than the existing and therefore not updated, otherwise
+             False implying that the updated item is equal to the existing.
+    """
+
+    # item[created_at] may be updated so keep a copy of the original
+    # value in case we process this item again
+    new_item.setdefault('data_timestamp', new_item['created_at'])
+
+    # content-type and metadata timestamps may be encoded in
+    # item[created_at], or may be set explicitly.
+    item_ts_data, item_ts_ctype, item_ts_meta = decode_timestamps(
+        new_item['data_timestamp'])
+
+    if new_item.get('ctype_timestamp'):
+        item_ts_ctype = Timestamp(new_item.get('ctype_timestamp'))
+        item_ts_meta = item_ts_ctype
+    if new_item.get('meta_timestamp'):
+        item_ts_meta = Timestamp(new_item.get('meta_timestamp'))
+
+    if not existing:
+        # encode new_item timestamps into one string for db record
+        new_item['created_at'] = encode_timestamps(
+            item_ts_data, item_ts_ctype, item_ts_meta)
+        return True
+
+    # decode existing timestamp into separate data, content-type and
+    # metadata timestamps
+    rec_ts_data, rec_ts_ctype, rec_ts_meta = decode_timestamps(
+        existing['created_at'])
+
+    # Extract any swift_bytes values from the content_type values. This is
+    # necessary because the swift_bytes value to persist should be that at the
+    # most recent data timestamp whereas the content-type value to persist is
+    # that at the most recent content-type timestamp. The two values happen to
+    # be stored in the same database column for historical reasons.
+    for item in (new_item, existing):
+        content_type, swift_bytes = extract_swift_bytes(item['content_type'])
+        item['content_type'] = content_type
+        item['swift_bytes'] = swift_bytes
+
+    newer_than_existing = [True, True, True]
+    if rec_ts_data >= item_ts_data:
+        # apply data attributes from existing record
+        new_item.update([(k, existing[k])
+                         for k in ('size', 'etag', 'deleted', 'swift_bytes')])
+        item_ts_data = rec_ts_data
+        newer_than_existing[0] = False
+    if rec_ts_ctype >= item_ts_ctype:
+        # apply content-type attribute from existing record
+        new_item['content_type'] = existing['content_type']
+        item_ts_ctype = rec_ts_ctype
+        newer_than_existing[1] = False
+    if rec_ts_meta >= item_ts_meta:
+        # apply metadata timestamp from existing record
+        item_ts_meta = rec_ts_meta
+        newer_than_existing[2] = False
+
+    # encode updated timestamps into one string for db record
+    new_item['created_at'] = encode_timestamps(
+        item_ts_data, item_ts_ctype, item_ts_meta)
+
+    # append the most recent swift_bytes onto the most recent content_type in
+    # new_item and restore existing to its original state
+    for item in (new_item, existing):
+        if item['swift_bytes']:
+            item['content_type'] += ';swift_bytes=%s' % item['swift_bytes']
+        del item['swift_bytes']
+
+    return any(newer_than_existing)
+
+
 class ContainerBroker(DatabaseBroker):
     """Encapsulates working with a container database."""
     db_type = 'container'
@@ -284,13 +369,20 @@ class ContainerBroker(DatabaseBroker):
             storage_policy_index = data[6]
         else:
             storage_policy_index = 0
+        content_type_timestamp = meta_timestamp = None
+        if len(data) > 7:
+            content_type_timestamp = data[7]
+        if len(data) > 8:
+            meta_timestamp = data[8]
         item_list.append({'name': name,
                           'created_at': timestamp,
                           'size': size,
                           'content_type': content_type,
                           'etag': etag,
                           'deleted': deleted,
-                          'storage_policy_index': storage_policy_index})
+                          'storage_policy_index': storage_policy_index,
+                          'ctype_timestamp': content_type_timestamp,
+                          'meta_timestamp': meta_timestamp})
 
     def empty(self):
         """
@@ -325,10 +417,13 @@ class ContainerBroker(DatabaseBroker):
     def make_tuple_for_pickle(self, record):
         return (record['name'], record['created_at'], record['size'],
                 record['content_type'], record['etag'], record['deleted'],
-                record['storage_policy_index'])
+                record['storage_policy_index'],
+                record['ctype_timestamp'],
+                record['meta_timestamp'])
 
     def put_object(self, name, timestamp, size, content_type, etag, deleted=0,
-                   storage_policy_index=0):
+                   storage_policy_index=0, ctype_timestamp=None,
+                   meta_timestamp=None):
         """
         Creates an object in the DB with its metadata.
 
@@ -340,11 +435,16 @@ class ContainerBroker(DatabaseBroker):
         :param deleted: if True, marks the object as deleted and sets the
                         deleted_at timestamp to timestamp
         :param storage_policy_index: the storage policy index for the object
+        :param ctype_timestamp: timestamp of when content_type was last
+                                updated
+        :param meta_timestamp: timestamp of when metadata was last updated
         """
         record = {'name': name, 'created_at': timestamp, 'size': size,
                   'content_type': content_type, 'etag': etag,
                   'deleted': deleted,
-                  'storage_policy_index': storage_policy_index}
+                  'storage_policy_index': storage_policy_index,
+                  'ctype_timestamp': ctype_timestamp,
+                  'meta_timestamp': meta_timestamp}
         self.put_record(record)
 
     def _is_deleted_info(self, object_count, put_timestamp, delete_timestamp,
@@ -647,7 +747,7 @@ class ContainerBroker(DatabaseBroker):
                 # is no delimiter then we can simply return the result as
                 # prefixes are now handled in the SQL statement.
                 if prefix is None or not delimiter:
-                    return [r for r in curs]
+                    return [self._transform_record(r) for r in curs]
 
                 # We have a delimiter and a prefix (possibly empty string) to
                 # handle
@@ -686,18 +786,35 @@ class ContainerBroker(DatabaseBroker):
                             results.append([dir_name, '0', 0, None, ''])
                         curs.close()
                         break
-                    results.append(row)
+                    results.append(self._transform_record(row))
                 if not rowcount:
                     break
             return results
 
+    def _transform_record(self, record):
+        """
+        Decode the created_at timestamp into separate data, content-type and
+        meta timestamps and replace the created_at timestamp with the
+        metadata timestamp i.e. the last-modified time.
+        """
+        t_data, t_ctype, t_meta = decode_timestamps(record[1])
+        return (record[0], t_meta.internal) + record[2:]
+
+    def _record_to_dict(self, rec):
+        if rec:
+            keys = ('name', 'created_at', 'size', 'content_type', 'etag',
+                    'deleted', 'storage_policy_index')
+            return dict(zip(keys, rec))
+        return None
+
     def merge_items(self, item_list, source=None):
         """
         Merge items into the object table.
 
         :param item_list: list of dictionaries of {'name', 'created_at',
                           'size', 'content_type', 'etag', 'deleted',
-                          'storage_policy_index'}
+                          'storage_policy_index', 'ctype_timestamp',
+                          'meta_timestamp'}
         :param source: if defined, update incoming_sync with the source
         """
         for item in item_list:
@@ -711,15 +828,16 @@ class ContainerBroker(DatabaseBroker):
             else:
                 query_mod = ''
             curs.execute('BEGIN IMMEDIATE')
-            # Get created_at times for objects in item_list that already exist.
+            # Get sqlite records for objects in item_list that already exist.
             # We must chunk it up to avoid sqlite's limit of 999 args.
-            created_at = {}
+            records = {}
             for offset in range(0, len(item_list), SQLITE_ARG_LIMIT):
                 chunk = [rec['name'] for rec in
                          item_list[offset:offset + SQLITE_ARG_LIMIT]]
-                created_at.update(
-                    ((rec[0], rec[1]), rec[2]) for rec in curs.execute(
-                        'SELECT name, storage_policy_index, created_at '
+                records.update(
+                    ((rec[0], rec[6]), rec) for rec in curs.execute(
+                        'SELECT name, created_at, size, content_type,'
+                        'etag, deleted, storage_policy_index '
                         'FROM object WHERE ' + query_mod + ' name IN (%s)' %
                         ','.join('?' * len(chunk)), chunk))
             # Sort item_list into things that need adding and deleting, based
@@ -729,14 +847,13 @@ class ContainerBroker(DatabaseBroker):
             for item in item_list:
                 item.setdefault('storage_policy_index', 0)  # legacy
                 item_ident = (item['name'], item['storage_policy_index'])
-                if created_at.get(item_ident) < item['created_at']:
-                    if item_ident in created_at:  # exists with older timestamp
+                existing = self._record_to_dict(records.get(item_ident))
+                if update_new_item_from_existing(item, existing):
+                    if item_ident in records:  # exists with older timestamp
                         to_delete[item_ident] = item
                     if item_ident in to_add:  # duplicate entries in item_list
-                        to_add[item_ident] = max(item, to_add[item_ident],
-                                                 key=lambda i: i['created_at'])
-                    else:
-                        to_add[item_ident] = item
+                        update_new_item_from_existing(item, to_add[item_ident])
+                    to_add[item_ident] = item
             if to_delete:
                 curs.executemany(
                     'DELETE FROM object WHERE ' + query_mod +
diff --git a/swift/container/reconciler.py b/swift/container/reconciler.py
index ba896ae527..efacfd2248 100644
--- a/swift/container/reconciler.py
+++ b/swift/container/reconciler.py
@@ -27,8 +27,7 @@ from swift.common.direct_client import (
 from swift.common.internal_client import InternalClient, UnexpectedResponse
 from swift.common.utils import get_logger, split_path, quorum_size, \
     FileLikeIter, Timestamp, last_modified_date_to_timestamp, \
-    LRUCache
-
+    LRUCache, decode_timestamps
 
 MISPLACED_OBJECTS_ACCOUNT = '.misplaced_objects'
 MISPLACED_OBJECTS_CONTAINER_DIVISOR = 3600  # 1 hour
@@ -116,7 +115,18 @@ def best_policy_index(headers):
 
 
 def get_reconciler_container_name(obj_timestamp):
-    return str(int(Timestamp(obj_timestamp)) //
+    """
+    Get the name of a container into which a misplaced object should be
+    enqueued. The name is the object's last modified time rounded down to the
+    nearest hour.
+
+    :param obj_timestamp: a string representation of the object's 'created_at'
+                          time from it's container db row.
+    :return: a container name
+    """
+    # Use last modified time of object to determine reconciler container name
+    _junk, _junk, ts_meta = decode_timestamps(obj_timestamp)
+    return str(int(ts_meta) //
                MISPLACED_OBJECTS_CONTAINER_DIVISOR *
                MISPLACED_OBJECTS_CONTAINER_DIVISOR)
 
@@ -262,7 +272,7 @@ def parse_raw_obj(obj_info):
         'container': container,
         'obj': obj,
         'q_op': q_op,
-        'q_ts': Timestamp(obj_info['hash']),
+        'q_ts': decode_timestamps((obj_info['hash']))[0],
         'q_record': last_modified_date_to_timestamp(
             obj_info['last_modified']),
         'path': '/%s/%s/%s' % (account, container, obj)
diff --git a/swift/container/server.py b/swift/container/server.py
index 0a09f57615..88fdc60160 100644
--- a/swift/container/server.py
+++ b/swift/container/server.py
@@ -368,7 +368,9 @@ class ContainerController(BaseStorageServer):
                               int(req.headers['x-size']),
                               req.headers['x-content-type'],
                               req.headers['x-etag'], 0,
-                              obj_policy_index)
+                              obj_policy_index,
+                              req.headers.get('x-content-type-timestamp'),
+                              req.headers.get('x-meta-timestamp'))
             return HTTPCreated(request=req)
         else:   # put container
             if requested_policy_index is None:
diff --git a/swift/container/sync.py b/swift/container/sync.py
index 3bb0a88ad3..7bb37f9225 100644
--- a/swift/container/sync.py
+++ b/swift/container/sync.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ from swift.common.ring.utils import is_local_device
 from swift.common.utils import (
     clean_content_type, config_true_value,
     FileLikeIter, get_logger, hash_path, quote, urlparse, validate_sync_to,
-    whataremyips, Timestamp)
+    whataremyips, Timestamp, decode_timestamps)
 from swift.common.daemon import Daemon
 from swift.common.http import HTTP_UNAUTHORIZED, HTTP_NOT_FOUND
 from swift.common.storage_policy import POLICIES
@@ -431,9 +431,14 @@ class ContainerSync(Daemon):
         """
         try:
             start_time = time()
+            # extract last modified time from the created_at value
+            ts_data, ts_ctype, ts_meta = decode_timestamps(
+                row['created_at'])
             if row['deleted']:
+                # when sync'ing a deleted object, use ts_data - this is the
+                # timestamp of the source tombstone
                 try:
-                    headers = {'x-timestamp': row['created_at']}
+                    headers = {'x-timestamp': ts_data.internal}
                     if realm and realm_key:
                         nonce = uuid.uuid4().hex
                         path = urlparse(sync_to).path + '/' + quote(
@@ -456,13 +461,14 @@ class ContainerSync(Daemon):
                 self.logger.increment('deletes')
                 self.logger.timing_since('deletes.timing', start_time)
             else:
+                # when sync'ing a live object, use ts_meta - this is the time
+                # at which the source object was last modified by a PUT or POST
                 part, nodes = \
                     self.get_object_ring(info['storage_policy_index']). \
                     get_nodes(info['account'], info['container'],
                               row['name'])
                 shuffle(nodes)
                 exc = None
-                looking_for_timestamp = Timestamp(row['created_at'])
                 # look up for the newest one
                 headers_out = {'X-Newest': True,
                                'X-Backend-Storage-Policy-Index':
@@ -479,7 +485,7 @@ class ContainerSync(Daemon):
                     body = None
                     exc = err
                 timestamp = Timestamp(headers.get('x-timestamp', 0))
-                if timestamp < looking_for_timestamp:
+                if timestamp < ts_meta:
                     if exc:
                         raise exc
                     raise Exception(
diff --git a/swift/obj/diskfile.py b/swift/obj/diskfile.py
index 6328a79387..3a8b41bb54 100644
--- a/swift/obj/diskfile.py
+++ b/swift/obj/diskfile.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ from swift.common.utils import mkdirs, Timestamp, \
     storage_directory, hash_path, renamer, fallocate, fsync, fdatasync, \
     fsync_dir, drop_buffer_cache, ThreadPool, lock_path, write_pickle, \
     config_true_value, listdir, split_path, ismount, remove_file, \
-    get_md5_socket, F_SETPIPE_SZ
+    get_md5_socket, F_SETPIPE_SZ, decode_timestamps, encode_timestamps
 from swift.common.splice import splice, tee
 from swift.common.exceptions import DiskFileQuarantined, DiskFileNotExist, \
     DiskFileCollision, DiskFileNoSpace, DiskFileDeviceUnavailable, \
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ METADATA_KEY = 'user.swift.metadata'
 DROP_CACHE_WINDOW = 1024 * 1024
 # These are system-set metadata keys that cannot be changed with a POST.
 # They should be lowercase.
-DATAFILE_SYSTEM_META = set('content-length content-type deleted etag'.split())
+DATAFILE_SYSTEM_META = set('content-length deleted etag'.split())
 DATADIR_BASE = 'objects'
 ASYNCDIR_BASE = 'async_pending'
 TMP_BASE = 'tmp'
@@ -442,23 +442,78 @@ class BaseDiskFileManager(object):
                     max_pipe_size = int(f.read())
                 self.pipe_size = min(max_pipe_size, self.disk_chunk_size)
 
+    def make_on_disk_filename(self, timestamp, ext=None,
+                              ctype_timestamp=None, *a, **kw):
+        """
+        Returns filename for given timestamp.
+
+        :param timestamp: the object timestamp, an instance of
+                          :class:`~swift.common.utils.Timestamp`
+        :param ext: an optional string representing a file extension to be
+                    appended to the returned file name
+        :param ctype_timestamp: an optional content-type timestamp, an instance
+                                of :class:`~swift.common.utils.Timestamp`
+        :returns: a file name
+        """
+        rv = timestamp.internal
+        if ext == '.meta' and ctype_timestamp:
+            # If ctype_timestamp is None then the filename is simply the
+            # internal form of the timestamp. If ctype_timestamp is not None
+            # then the difference between the raw values of the two timestamps
+            # is appended as a hex number, with its sign.
+            #
+            # There are two reasons for encoding the content-type timestamp
+            # in the filename in this way. First, it means that two .meta files
+            # having the same timestamp but different content-type timestamps
+            # (and potentially different content-type values) will be distinct
+            # and therefore will be independently replicated when rsync
+            # replication is used. That ensures that all nodes end up having
+            # all content-type values after replication (with the most recent
+            # value being selected when the diskfile is opened). Second, having
+            # the content-type encoded in timestamp in the filename makes it
+            # possible for the  on disk file search code to determine that
+            # timestamp by inspecting only the filename, and not needing to
+            # open the file and read its xattrs.
+            rv = encode_timestamps(timestamp, ctype_timestamp, explicit=True)
+        if ext:
+            rv = '%s%s' % (rv, ext)
+        return rv
+
     def parse_on_disk_filename(self, filename):
         """
         Parse an on disk file name.
 
-        :param filename: the data file name including extension
-        :returns: a dict, with keys for timestamp, and ext:
+        :param filename: the file name including extension
+        :returns: a dict, with keys for timestamp, ext and ctype_timestamp:
 
             * timestamp is a :class:`~swift.common.utils.Timestamp`
+            * ctype_timestamp is a :class:`~swift.common.utils.Timestamp` or
+              None for .meta files, otherwise None
             * ext is a string, the file extension including the leading dot or
               the empty string if the filename has no extension.
 
-           Subclases may add further keys to the returned dict.
+            Subclasses may override this method to add further keys to the
+            returned dict.
 
         :raises DiskFileError: if any part of the filename is not able to be
                                validated.
         """
-        raise NotImplementedError
+        ts_ctype = None
+        fname, ext = splitext(filename)
+        try:
+            if ext == '.meta':
+                timestamp, ts_ctype = decode_timestamps(
+                    fname, explicit=True)[:2]
+            else:
+                timestamp = Timestamp(fname)
+        except ValueError:
+            raise DiskFileError('Invalid Timestamp value in filename %r'
+                                % filename)
+        return {
+            'timestamp': timestamp,
+            'ext': ext,
+            'ctype_timestamp': ts_ctype
+        }
 
     def _process_ondisk_files(self, exts, results, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -592,18 +647,45 @@ class BaseDiskFileManager(object):
         # the results dict is used to collect results of file filtering
         results = {}
 
-        # non-tombstones older than or equal to latest tombstone are obsolete
         if exts.get('.ts'):
+            # non-tombstones older than or equal to latest tombstone are
+            # obsolete
             for ext in filter(lambda ext: ext != '.ts', exts.keys()):
                 exts[ext], older = self._split_gt_timestamp(
                     exts[ext], exts['.ts'][0]['timestamp'])
                 results.setdefault('obsolete', []).extend(older)
+            # all but most recent .ts are obsolete
+            results.setdefault('obsolete', []).extend(exts['.ts'][1:])
+            exts['.ts'] = exts['.ts'][:1]
 
-        # all but most recent .meta and .ts are obsolete
-        for ext in ('.meta', '.ts'):
-            if ext in exts:
-                results.setdefault('obsolete', []).extend(exts[ext][1:])
-                exts[ext] = exts[ext][:1]
+        if exts.get('.meta'):
+            # retain the newest meta file
+            retain = 1
+            if exts['.meta'][1:]:
+                # there are other meta files so find the one with newest
+                # ctype_timestamp...
+                exts['.meta'][1:] = sorted(
+                    exts['.meta'][1:],
+                    key=lambda info: info['ctype_timestamp'],
+                    reverse=True)
+                # ...and retain this IFF its ctype_timestamp is greater than
+                # newest meta file
+                if (exts['.meta'][1]['ctype_timestamp'] >
+                        exts['.meta'][0]['ctype_timestamp']):
+                    if (exts['.meta'][1]['timestamp'] ==
+                            exts['.meta'][0]['timestamp']):
+                        # both at same timestamp so retain only the one with
+                        # newest ctype
+                        exts['.meta'][:2] = [exts['.meta'][1],
+                                             exts['.meta'][0]]
+                        retain = 1
+                    else:
+                        # retain both - first has newest metadata, second has
+                        # newest ctype
+                        retain = 2
+            # discard all meta files not being retained...
+            results.setdefault('obsolete', []).extend(exts['.meta'][retain:])
+            exts['.meta'] = exts['.meta'][:retain]
 
         # delegate to subclass handler
         self._process_ondisk_files(exts, results, **kwargs)
@@ -612,11 +694,16 @@ class BaseDiskFileManager(object):
         if exts.get('.ts'):
             results['ts_info'] = exts['.ts'][0]
         if 'data_info' in results and exts.get('.meta'):
-            # only report a meta file if there is a data file
+            # only report meta files if there is a data file
             results['meta_info'] = exts['.meta'][0]
+            ctype_info = exts['.meta'].pop()
+            if (ctype_info['ctype_timestamp']
+                    > results['data_info']['timestamp']):
+                results['ctype_info'] = ctype_info
 
-        # set ts_file, data_file and meta_file with path to chosen file or None
-        for info_key in ('data_info', 'meta_info', 'ts_info'):
+        # set ts_file, data_file, meta_file and ctype_file with path to
+        # chosen file or None
+        for info_key in ('data_info', 'meta_info', 'ts_info', 'ctype_info'):
             info = results.get(info_key)
             key = info_key[:-5] + '_file'
             results[key] = join(datadir, info['filename']) if info else None
@@ -742,6 +829,16 @@ class BaseDiskFileManager(object):
             # delegate to subclass for data file related updates...
             self._update_suffix_hashes(hashes, ondisk_info)
 
+            if 'ctype_info' in ondisk_info:
+                # We have a distinct content-type timestamp so update the
+                # hash. As a precaution, append '_ctype' to differentiate this
+                # value from any other timestamp value that might included in
+                # the hash in future. There is no .ctype file so use _ctype to
+                # avoid any confusion.
+                info = ondisk_info['ctype_info']
+                hashes[None].update(info['ctype_timestamp'].internal
+                                    + '_ctype')
+
         try:
             os.rmdir(path)
         except OSError as e:
@@ -1066,6 +1163,8 @@ class BaseDiskFileManager(object):
 
             ts_data -> timestamp of data or tombstone file,
             ts_meta -> timestamp of meta file, if one exists
+            ts_ctype -> timestamp of meta file containing most recent
+                        content-type value, if one exists
 
         where timestamps are instances of
         :class:`~swift.common.utils.Timestamp`
@@ -1088,9 +1187,10 @@ class BaseDiskFileManager(object):
                 (os.path.join(partition_path, suffix), suffix)
                 for suffix in suffixes)
         key_preference = (
-            ('ts_meta', 'meta_info'),
-            ('ts_data', 'data_info'),
-            ('ts_data', 'ts_info'),
+            ('ts_meta', 'meta_info', 'timestamp'),
+            ('ts_data', 'data_info', 'timestamp'),
+            ('ts_data', 'ts_info', 'timestamp'),
+            ('ts_ctype', 'ctype_info', 'ctype_timestamp'),
         )
         for suffix_path, suffix in suffixes:
             for object_hash in self._listdir(suffix_path):
@@ -1099,10 +1199,10 @@ class BaseDiskFileManager(object):
                     results = self.cleanup_ondisk_files(
                         object_path, self.reclaim_age, **kwargs)
                     timestamps = {}
-                    for ts_key, info_key in key_preference:
+                    for ts_key, info_key, info_ts_key in key_preference:
                         if info_key not in results:
                             continue
-                        timestamps[ts_key] = results[info_key]['timestamp']
+                        timestamps[ts_key] = results[info_key][info_ts_key]
                     if 'ts_data' not in timestamps:
                         # file sets that do not include a .data or .ts
                         # file cannot be opened and therefore cannot
@@ -1226,6 +1326,34 @@ class BaseDiskFileWriter(object):
             except OSError:
                 logging.exception(_('Problem cleaning up %s'), self._datadir)
 
+    def _put(self, metadata, cleanup=True, *a, **kw):
+        """
+        Helper method for subclasses.
+
+        For this implementation, this method is responsible for renaming the
+        temporary file to the final name and directory location.  This method
+        should be called after the final call to
+        :func:`swift.obj.diskfile.DiskFileWriter.write`.
+
+        :param metadata: dictionary of metadata to be associated with the
+                         object
+        :param cleanup: a Boolean. If True then obsolete files will be removed
+                        from the object dir after the put completes, otherwise
+                        obsolete files are left in place.
+        """
+        timestamp = Timestamp(metadata['X-Timestamp'])
+        ctype_timestamp = metadata.get('Content-Type-Timestamp')
+        if ctype_timestamp:
+            ctype_timestamp = Timestamp(ctype_timestamp)
+        filename = self.manager.make_on_disk_filename(
+            timestamp, self._extension, ctype_timestamp=ctype_timestamp,
+            *a, **kw)
+        metadata['name'] = self._name
+        target_path = join(self._datadir, filename)
+
+        self._threadpool.force_run_in_thread(
+            self._finalize_put, metadata, target_path, cleanup)
+
     def put(self, metadata):
         """
         Finalize writing the file on disk.
@@ -1682,6 +1810,20 @@ class BaseDiskFile(object):
     def fragments(self):
         return None
 
+    @property
+    def content_type(self):
+        if self._metadata is None:
+            raise DiskFileNotOpen()
+        return self._metadata.get('Content-Type')
+
+    @property
+    def content_type_timestamp(self):
+        if self._metadata is None:
+            raise DiskFileNotOpen()
+        t = self._metadata.get('Content-Type-Timestamp',
+                               self._datafile_metadata.get('X-Timestamp'))
+        return Timestamp(t)
+
     @classmethod
     def from_hash_dir(cls, mgr, hash_dir_path, device_path, partition, policy):
         return cls(mgr, device_path, None, partition, _datadir=hash_dir_path,
@@ -1920,14 +2062,36 @@ class BaseDiskFile(object):
                 quarantine_filename,
                 "Exception reading metadata: %s" % err)
 
-    def _construct_from_data_file(self, data_file, meta_file, **kwargs):
+    def _merge_content_type_metadata(self, ctype_file):
+        """
+        When a second .meta file is providing the most recent Content-Type
+        metadata then merge it into the metafile_metadata.
+
+        :param ctype_file: An on-disk .meta file
+        """
+        ctypefile_metadata = self._failsafe_read_metadata(
+            ctype_file, ctype_file)
+        if ('Content-Type' in ctypefile_metadata
+            and (ctypefile_metadata.get('Content-Type-Timestamp') >
+                 self._metafile_metadata.get('Content-Type-Timestamp'))
+            and (ctypefile_metadata.get('Content-Type-Timestamp') >
+                 self.data_timestamp)):
+            self._metafile_metadata['Content-Type'] = \
+                ctypefile_metadata['Content-Type']
+            self._metafile_metadata['Content-Type-Timestamp'] = \
+                ctypefile_metadata.get('Content-Type-Timestamp')
+
+    def _construct_from_data_file(self, data_file, meta_file, ctype_file,
+                                  **kwargs):
         """
         Open the `.data` file to fetch its metadata, and fetch the metadata
-        from the fast-POST `.meta` file as well if it exists, merging them
+        from fast-POST `.meta` files as well if any exist, merging them
         properly.
 
         :param data_file: on-disk `.data` file being considered
         :param meta_file: on-disk fast-POST `.meta` file being considered
+        :param ctype_file: on-disk fast-POST `.meta` file being considered that
+                           contains content-type and content-type timestamp
         :returns: an opened data file pointer
         :raises DiskFileError: various exceptions from
                     :func:`swift.obj.diskfile.DiskFile._verify_data_file`
@@ -1938,6 +2102,8 @@ class BaseDiskFile(object):
         if meta_file:
             self._metafile_metadata = self._failsafe_read_metadata(
                 meta_file, meta_file)
+            if ctype_file and ctype_file != meta_file:
+                self._merge_content_type_metadata(ctype_file)
             sys_metadata = dict(
                 [(key, val) for key, val in self._datafile_metadata.items()
                  if key.lower() in DATAFILE_SYSTEM_META
@@ -1946,6 +2112,14 @@ class BaseDiskFile(object):
             self._metadata.update(sys_metadata)
             # diskfile writer added 'name' to metafile, so remove it here
             self._metafile_metadata.pop('name', None)
+            # TODO: the check for Content-Type is only here for tests that
+            # create .data files without Content-Type
+            if ('Content-Type' in self._datafile_metadata and
+                    (self.data_timestamp >
+                     self._metafile_metadata.get('Content-Type-Timestamp'))):
+                self._metadata['Content-Type'] = \
+                    self._datafile_metadata['Content-Type']
+                self._metadata.pop('Content-Type-Timestamp', None)
         else:
             self._metadata.update(self._datafile_metadata)
         if self._name is None:
@@ -2144,21 +2318,10 @@ class DiskFileWriter(BaseDiskFileWriter):
         """
         Finalize writing the file on disk.
 
-        For this implementation, this method is responsible for renaming the
-        temporary file to the final name and directory location.  This method
-        should be called after the final call to
-        :func:`swift.obj.diskfile.DiskFileWriter.write`.
-
         :param metadata: dictionary of metadata to be associated with the
                          object
         """
-        timestamp = Timestamp(metadata['X-Timestamp']).internal
-        metadata['name'] = self._name
-        target_path = join(self._datadir, timestamp + self._extension)
-        cleanup = True
-
-        self._threadpool.force_run_in_thread(
-            self._finalize_put, metadata, target_path, cleanup)
+        super(DiskFileWriter, self)._put(metadata, True)
 
 
 class DiskFile(BaseDiskFile):
@@ -2174,31 +2337,6 @@ class DiskFile(BaseDiskFile):
 class DiskFileManager(BaseDiskFileManager):
     diskfile_cls = DiskFile
 
-    def parse_on_disk_filename(self, filename):
-        """
-        Returns the timestamp extracted .data file name.
-
-        :param filename: the data file name including extension
-        :returns: a dict, with keys for timestamp, and ext:
-
-            * timestamp is a :class:`~swift.common.utils.Timestamp`
-            * ext is a string, the file extension including the leading dot or
-              the empty string if the filename has no extension.
-
-        :raises DiskFileError: if any part of the filename is not able to be
-                               validated.
-        """
-        float_part, ext = splitext(filename)
-        try:
-            timestamp = Timestamp(float_part)
-        except ValueError:
-            raise DiskFileError('Invalid Timestamp value in filename %r'
-                                % filename)
-        return {
-            'timestamp': timestamp,
-            'ext': ext,
-        }
-
     def _process_ondisk_files(self, exts, results, **kwargs):
         """
         Implement replication policy specific handling of .data files.
@@ -2303,12 +2441,10 @@ class ECDiskFileWriter(BaseDiskFileWriter):
     def put(self, metadata):
         """
         The only difference between this method and the replication policy
-        DiskFileWriter method is the call into manager.make_on_disk_filename
-        to construct the data file name.
+        DiskFileWriter method is adding the frag index to the metadata.
 
         :param metadata: dictionary of metadata to be associated with object
         """
-        timestamp = Timestamp(metadata['X-Timestamp'])
         fi = None
         cleanup = True
         if self._extension == '.data':
@@ -2320,13 +2456,7 @@ class ECDiskFileWriter(BaseDiskFileWriter):
                                      self._diskfile._frag_index)
             # defer cleanup until commit() writes .durable
             cleanup = False
-        filename = self.manager.make_on_disk_filename(
-            timestamp, self._extension, frag_index=fi)
-        metadata['name'] = self._name
-        target_path = join(self._datadir, filename)
-
-        self._threadpool.force_run_in_thread(
-            self._finalize_put, metadata, target_path, cleanup)
+        super(ECDiskFileWriter, self)._put(metadata, cleanup, frag_index=fi)
 
 
 class ECDiskFile(BaseDiskFile):
@@ -2436,7 +2566,7 @@ class ECDiskFileManager(BaseDiskFileManager):
         return frag_index
 
     def make_on_disk_filename(self, timestamp, ext=None, frag_index=None,
-                              *a, **kw):
+                              ctype_timestamp=None, *a, **kw):
         """
         Returns the EC specific filename for given timestamp.
 
@@ -2446,32 +2576,36 @@ class ECDiskFileManager(BaseDiskFileManager):
                     appended to the returned file name
         :param frag_index: a fragment archive index, used with .data extension
                            only, must be a whole number.
+        :param ctype_timestamp: an optional content-type timestamp, an instance
+                                of :class:`~swift.common.utils.Timestamp`
         :returns: a file name
         :raises DiskFileError: if ext=='.data' and the kwarg frag_index is not
                                a whole number
         """
-        rv = timestamp.internal
         if ext == '.data':
             # for datafiles only we encode the fragment index in the filename
             # to allow archives of different indexes to temporarily be stored
             # on the same node in certain situations
             frag_index = self.validate_fragment_index(frag_index)
-            rv += '#' + str(frag_index)
-        if ext:
-            rv = '%s%s' % (rv, ext)
-        return rv
+            rv = timestamp.internal + '#' + str(frag_index)
+            return '%s%s' % (rv, ext or '')
+        return super(ECDiskFileManager, self).make_on_disk_filename(
+            timestamp, ext, ctype_timestamp, *a, **kw)
 
     def parse_on_disk_filename(self, filename):
         """
-        Returns the timestamp extracted from a policy specific .data file name.
-        For EC policy the data file name includes a fragment index which must
-        be stripped off to retrieve the timestamp.
+        Returns timestamp(s) and other info extracted from a policy specific
+        file name. For EC policy the data file name includes a fragment index
+        which must be stripped off to retrieve the timestamp.
 
-        :param filename: the data file name including extension
-        :returns: a dict, with keys for timestamp, frag_index, and ext:
+        :param filename: the file name including extension
+        :returns: a dict, with keys for timestamp, frag_index, ext and
+                  ctype_timestamp:
 
             * timestamp is a :class:`~swift.common.utils.Timestamp`
             * frag_index is an int or None
+            * ctype_timestamp is a :class:`~swift.common.utils.Timestamp` or
+              None for .meta files, otherwise None
             * ext is a string, the file extension including the leading dot or
               the empty string if the filename has no extension.
 
@@ -2480,13 +2614,13 @@ class ECDiskFileManager(BaseDiskFileManager):
         """
         frag_index = None
         float_frag, ext = splitext(filename)
-        parts = float_frag.split('#', 1)
-        try:
-            timestamp = Timestamp(parts[0])
-        except ValueError:
-            raise DiskFileError('Invalid Timestamp value in filename %r'
-                                % filename)
         if ext == '.data':
+            parts = float_frag.split('#', 1)
+            try:
+                timestamp = Timestamp(parts[0])
+            except ValueError:
+                raise DiskFileError('Invalid Timestamp value in filename %r'
+                                    % filename)
             # it is an error for an EC data file to not have a valid
             # fragment index
             try:
@@ -2495,11 +2629,15 @@ class ECDiskFileManager(BaseDiskFileManager):
                 # expect validate_fragment_index raise DiskFileError
                 pass
             frag_index = self.validate_fragment_index(frag_index)
-        return {
-            'timestamp': timestamp,
-            'frag_index': frag_index,
-            'ext': ext,
-        }
+            return {
+                'timestamp': timestamp,
+                'frag_index': frag_index,
+                'ext': ext,
+                'ctype_timestamp': None
+            }
+        rv = super(ECDiskFileManager, self).parse_on_disk_filename(filename)
+        rv['frag_index'] = None
+        return rv
 
     def _process_ondisk_files(self, exts, results, frag_index=None, **kwargs):
         """
diff --git a/swift/obj/mem_diskfile.py b/swift/obj/mem_diskfile.py
index c233f57b09..e86c321e2f 100644
--- a/swift/obj/mem_diskfile.py
+++ b/swift/obj/mem_diskfile.py
@@ -443,3 +443,11 @@ class DiskFile(object):
     data_timestamp = timestamp
 
     durable_timestamp = timestamp
+
+    content_type_timestamp = timestamp
+
+    @property
+    def content_type(self):
+        if self._metadata is None:
+            raise DiskFileNotOpen()
+        return self._metadata.get('Content-Type')
diff --git a/swift/obj/server.py b/swift/obj/server.py
index cce1996503..ac3c7f39e5 100644
--- a/swift/obj/server.py
+++ b/swift/obj/server.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ from swift.common.utils import public, get_logger, \
     config_true_value, timing_stats, replication, \
     normalize_delete_at_timestamp, get_log_line, Timestamp, \
     get_expirer_container, parse_mime_headers, \
-    iter_multipart_mime_documents
+    iter_multipart_mime_documents, extract_swift_bytes
 from swift.common.bufferedhttp import http_connect
 from swift.common.constraints import check_object_creation, \
     valid_timestamp, check_utf8
@@ -479,35 +479,103 @@ class ObjectController(BaseStorageServer):
         except (DiskFileNotExist, DiskFileQuarantined):
             return HTTPNotFound(request=request)
         orig_timestamp = Timestamp(orig_metadata.get('X-Timestamp', 0))
-        if orig_timestamp >= req_timestamp:
+        orig_ctype_timestamp = disk_file.content_type_timestamp
+        req_ctype_time = '0'
+        req_ctype = request.headers.get('Content-Type')
+        if req_ctype:
+            req_ctype_time = request.headers.get('Content-Type-Timestamp',
+                                                 req_timestamp.internal)
+        req_ctype_timestamp = Timestamp(req_ctype_time)
+        if orig_timestamp >= req_timestamp \
+                and orig_ctype_timestamp >= req_ctype_timestamp:
             return HTTPConflict(
                 request=request,
                 headers={'X-Backend-Timestamp': orig_timestamp.internal})
-        metadata = {'X-Timestamp': req_timestamp.internal}
-        self._preserve_slo_manifest(metadata, orig_metadata)
-        metadata.update(val for val in request.headers.items()
-                        if is_user_meta('object', val[0]))
-        headers_to_copy = (
-            request.headers.get(
-                'X-Backend-Replication-Headers', '').split() +
-            list(self.allowed_headers))
-        for header_key in headers_to_copy:
-            if header_key in request.headers:
-                header_caps = header_key.title()
-                metadata[header_caps] = request.headers[header_key]
-        orig_delete_at = int(orig_metadata.get('X-Delete-At') or 0)
-        if orig_delete_at != new_delete_at:
-            if new_delete_at:
-                self.delete_at_update('PUT', new_delete_at, account, container,
-                                      obj, request, device, policy)
-            if orig_delete_at:
-                self.delete_at_update('DELETE', orig_delete_at, account,
-                                      container, obj, request, device,
-                                      policy)
+
+        if req_timestamp > orig_timestamp:
+            metadata = {'X-Timestamp': req_timestamp.internal}
+            self._preserve_slo_manifest(metadata, orig_metadata)
+            metadata.update(val for val in request.headers.items()
+                            if is_user_meta('object', val[0]))
+            headers_to_copy = (
+                request.headers.get(
+                    'X-Backend-Replication-Headers', '').split() +
+                list(self.allowed_headers))
+            for header_key in headers_to_copy:
+                if header_key in request.headers:
+                    header_caps = header_key.title()
+                    metadata[header_caps] = request.headers[header_key]
+            orig_delete_at = int(orig_metadata.get('X-Delete-At') or 0)
+            if orig_delete_at != new_delete_at:
+                if new_delete_at:
+                    self.delete_at_update(
+                        'PUT', new_delete_at, account, container, obj, request,
+                        device, policy)
+                if orig_delete_at:
+                    self.delete_at_update('DELETE', orig_delete_at, account,
+                                          container, obj, request, device,
+                                          policy)
+        else:
+            # preserve existing metadata, only content-type may be updated
+            metadata = dict(disk_file.get_metafile_metadata())
+
+        if req_ctype_timestamp > orig_ctype_timestamp:
+            # we have a new content-type, add to metadata and container update
+            content_type_headers = {
+                'Content-Type': request.headers['Content-Type'],
+                'Content-Type-Timestamp': req_ctype_timestamp.internal
+            }
+            metadata.update(content_type_headers)
+        else:
+            # send existing content-type with container update
+            content_type_headers = {
+                'Content-Type': disk_file.content_type,
+                'Content-Type-Timestamp': orig_ctype_timestamp.internal
+            }
+            if orig_ctype_timestamp != disk_file.data_timestamp:
+                # only add to metadata if it's not the datafile content-type
+                metadata.update(content_type_headers)
+
         try:
             disk_file.write_metadata(metadata)
         except (DiskFileXattrNotSupported, DiskFileNoSpace):
             return HTTPInsufficientStorage(drive=device, request=request)
+
+        update_etag = orig_metadata['ETag']
+        if 'X-Object-Sysmeta-Ec-Etag' in orig_metadata:
+            # For EC policy, send X-Object-Sysmeta-Ec-Etag which is same as the
+            # X-Backend-Container-Update-Override-Etag value sent with the
+            # original PUT. We have to send Etag (and size etc) with a POST
+            # container update because the original PUT container update may
+            # have failed or be in async_pending.
+            update_etag = orig_metadata['X-Object-Sysmeta-Ec-Etag']
+
+        if (content_type_headers['Content-Type-Timestamp']
+                != disk_file.data_timestamp):
+            # Current content-type is not from the datafile, but the datafile
+            # content-type may have a swift_bytes param that was appended by
+            # SLO and we must continue to send that with the container update.
+            # Do this (rather than use a separate header) for backwards
+            # compatibility because there may be 'legacy' container updates in
+            # async pending that have content-types with swift_bytes params, so
+            # we have to be able to handle those in container server anyway.
+            _, swift_bytes = extract_swift_bytes(
+                disk_file.get_datafile_metadata()['Content-Type'])
+            if swift_bytes:
+                content_type_headers['Content-Type'] += (';swift_bytes=%s'
+                                                         % swift_bytes)
+
+        self.container_update(
+            'PUT', account, container, obj, request,
+            HeaderKeyDict({
+                'x-size': orig_metadata['Content-Length'],
+                'x-content-type': content_type_headers['Content-Type'],
+                'x-timestamp': disk_file.data_timestamp.internal,
+                'x-content-type-timestamp':
+                content_type_headers['Content-Type-Timestamp'],
+                'x-meta-timestamp': metadata['X-Timestamp'],
+                'x-etag': update_etag}),
+            device, policy)
         return HTTPAccepted(request=request)
 
     @public
diff --git a/swift/obj/ssync_receiver.py b/swift/obj/ssync_receiver.py
index 5f6b7d3b0f..79a23da4ac 100644
--- a/swift/obj/ssync_receiver.py
+++ b/swift/obj/ssync_receiver.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def decode_missing(line):
     """
     Parse a string of the form generated by
     :py:func:`~swift.obj.ssync_sender.encode_missing` and return a dict
-    with keys ``object_hash``, ``ts_data``, ``ts_meta``.
+    with keys ``object_hash``, ``ts_data``, ``ts_meta``, ``ts_ctype``.
 
     The encoder for this line is
     :py:func:`~swift.obj.ssync_sender.encode_missing`
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ def decode_missing(line):
     parts = line.split()
     result['object_hash'] = urllib.parse.unquote(parts[0])
     t_data = urllib.parse.unquote(parts[1])
-    result['ts_data'] = result['ts_meta'] = Timestamp(t_data)
+    result['ts_data'] = Timestamp(t_data)
+    result['ts_meta'] = result['ts_ctype'] = result['ts_data']
     if len(parts) > 2:
         # allow for a comma separated list of k:v pairs to future-proof
         subparts = urllib.parse.unquote(parts[2]).split(',')
@@ -48,6 +49,8 @@ def decode_missing(line):
             k, v = item.split(':')
             if k == 'm':
                 result['ts_meta'] = Timestamp(t_data, delta=int(v, 16))
+            elif k == 't':
+                result['ts_ctype'] = Timestamp(t_data, delta=int(v, 16))
     return result
 
 
@@ -71,6 +74,9 @@ def encode_wanted(remote, local):
             want['data'] = True
         if 'ts_meta' in local and remote['ts_meta'] > local['ts_meta']:
             want['meta'] = True
+        if ('ts_ctype' in local and remote['ts_ctype'] > local['ts_ctype']
+                and remote['ts_ctype'] > remote['ts_data']):
+            want['meta'] = True
     else:
         # we got nothing, so we'll take whatever the remote has
         want['data'] = True
@@ -264,6 +270,7 @@ class Receiver(object):
         return {
             'ts_data': df.data_timestamp,
             'ts_meta': df.timestamp,
+            'ts_ctype': df.content_type_timestamp,
         }
 
     def _check_missing(self, line):
diff --git a/swift/obj/ssync_sender.py b/swift/obj/ssync_sender.py
index 51dbed32a3..a509166b46 100644
--- a/swift/obj/ssync_sender.py
+++ b/swift/obj/ssync_sender.py
@@ -21,11 +21,12 @@ from swift.common import exceptions
 from swift.common import http
 
 
-def encode_missing(object_hash, ts_data, ts_meta=None):
+def encode_missing(object_hash, ts_data, ts_meta=None, ts_ctype=None):
     """
     Returns a string representing the object hash, its data file timestamp
-    and the delta forwards to its metafile timestamp, if non-zero, in the form:
-    ``<hash> <timestamp> m:<hex delta>``
+    and the delta forwards to its metafile and content-type timestamps, if
+    non-zero, in the form:
+    ``<hash> <ts_data> [m:<hex delta to ts_meta>[,t:<hex delta to ts_ctype>]]``
 
     The decoder for this line is
     :py:func:`~swift.obj.ssync_receiver.decode_missing`
@@ -36,6 +37,9 @@ def encode_missing(object_hash, ts_data, ts_meta=None):
     if ts_meta and ts_meta != ts_data:
         delta = ts_meta.raw - ts_data.raw
         msg = '%s m:%x' % (msg, delta)
+        if ts_ctype and ts_ctype != ts_data:
+            delta = ts_ctype.raw - ts_data.raw
+            msg = '%s,t:%x' % (msg, delta)
     return msg
 
 
diff --git a/test/functional/tests.py b/test/functional/tests.py
index 0615bf924a..4831c28b45 100644
--- a/test/functional/tests.py
+++ b/test/functional/tests.py
@@ -2185,6 +2185,56 @@ class TestFile(Base):
             info = file_item.info()
             self.assertEqual(etag, info['etag'])
 
+    def test_POST(self):
+        # verify consistency between object and container listing metadata
+        file_name = Utils.create_name()
+        file_item = self.env.container.file(file_name)
+        file_item.content_type = 'text/foobar'
+        file_item.write_random(1024)
+
+        # sanity check
+        file_item = self.env.container.file(file_name)
+        file_item.initialize()
+        self.assertEqual('text/foobar', file_item.content_type)
+        self.assertEqual(1024, file_item.size)
+        etag = file_item.etag
+
+        # check container listing is consistent
+        listing = self.env.container.files(parms={'format': 'json'})
+        for f_dict in listing:
+            if f_dict['name'] == file_name:
+                break
+        else:
+            self.fail('Failed to find file %r in listing' % file_name)
+        self.assertEqual(1024, f_dict['bytes'])
+        self.assertEqual('text/foobar', f_dict['content_type'])
+        self.assertEqual(etag, f_dict['hash'])
+
+        # now POST updated content-type to each file
+        file_item = self.env.container.file(file_name)
+        file_item.content_type = 'image/foobarbaz'
+        file_item.sync_metadata({'Test': 'blah'})
+
+        # sanity check object metadata
+        file_item = self.env.container.file(file_name)
+        file_item.initialize()
+
+        self.assertEqual(1024, file_item.size)
+        self.assertEqual('image/foobarbaz', file_item.content_type)
+        self.assertEqual(etag, file_item.etag)
+        self.assertIn('test', file_item.metadata)
+
+        # check for consistency between object and container listing
+        listing = self.env.container.files(parms={'format': 'json'})
+        for f_dict in listing:
+            if f_dict['name'] == file_name:
+                break
+        else:
+            self.fail('Failed to find file %r in listing' % file_name)
+        self.assertEqual(1024, f_dict['bytes'])
+        self.assertEqual('image/foobarbaz', f_dict['content_type'])
+        self.assertEqual(etag, f_dict['hash'])
+
 
 class TestFileUTF8(Base2, TestFile):
     set_up = False
@@ -2777,6 +2827,42 @@ class TestSlo(Base):
         self.assertEqual('d', file_contents[-2])
         self.assertEqual('e', file_contents[-1])
 
+    def test_slo_container_listing(self):
+        # the listing object size should equal the sum of the size of the
+        # segments, not the size of the manifest body
+        raise SkipTest('Only passes with object_post_as_copy=False')
+        file_item = self.env.container.file(Utils.create_name)
+        file_item.write(
+            json.dumps([self.env.seg_info['seg_a']]),
+            parms={'multipart-manifest': 'put'})
+
+        files = self.env.container.files(parms={'format': 'json'})
+        for f_dict in files:
+            if f_dict['name'] == file_item.name:
+                self.assertEqual(1024 * 1024, f_dict['bytes'])
+                self.assertEqual('application/octet-stream',
+                                 f_dict['content_type'])
+                break
+        else:
+            self.fail('Failed to find manifest file in container listing')
+
+        # now POST updated content-type file
+        file_item.content_type = 'image/jpeg'
+        file_item.sync_metadata({'X-Object-Meta-Test': 'blah'})
+        file_item.initialize()
+        self.assertEqual('image/jpeg', file_item.content_type)  # sanity
+
+        # verify that the container listing is consistent with the file
+        files = self.env.container.files(parms={'format': 'json'})
+        for f_dict in files:
+            if f_dict['name'] == file_item.name:
+                self.assertEqual(1024 * 1024, f_dict['bytes'])
+                self.assertEqual(file_item.content_type,
+                                 f_dict['content_type'])
+                break
+        else:
+            self.fail('Failed to find manifest file in container listing')
+
     def test_slo_get_nested_manifest(self):
         file_item = self.env.container.file('manifest-abcde-submanifest')
         file_contents = file_item.read()
diff --git a/test/probe/common.py b/test/probe/common.py
index f6091e66bf..aa094a1b59 100644
--- a/test/probe/common.py
+++ b/test/probe/common.py
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ from __future__ import print_function
 import os
 from subprocess import Popen, PIPE
 import sys
+from tempfile import mkdtemp
+from textwrap import dedent
 from time import sleep, time
 from collections import defaultdict
 import unittest
@@ -25,8 +27,10 @@ from uuid import uuid4
 from nose import SkipTest
 
 from six.moves.http_client import HTTPConnection
+import shutil
 
 from swiftclient import get_auth, head_account
+from swift.common import internal_client
 from swift.obj.diskfile import get_data_dir
 from swift.common.ring import Ring
 from swift.common.utils import readconf, renamer, \
@@ -430,6 +434,33 @@ class ProbeTest(unittest.TestCase):
         else:
             os.system('sudo mount %s' % device)
 
+    def make_internal_client(self, object_post_as_copy=True):
+        tempdir = mkdtemp()
+        try:
+            conf_path = os.path.join(tempdir, 'internal_client.conf')
+            conf_body = """
+            [DEFAULT]
+            swift_dir = /etc/swift
+
+            [pipeline:main]
+            pipeline = catch_errors cache proxy-server
+
+            [app:proxy-server]
+            use = egg:swift#proxy
+            object_post_as_copy = %s
+
+            [filter:cache]
+            use = egg:swift#memcache
+
+            [filter:catch_errors]
+            use = egg:swift#catch_errors
+            """ % object_post_as_copy
+            with open(conf_path, 'w') as f:
+                f.write(dedent(conf_body))
+            return internal_client.InternalClient(conf_path, 'test', 1)
+        finally:
+            shutil.rmtree(tempdir)
+
 
 class ReplProbeTest(ProbeTest):
 
diff --git a/test/probe/test_container_sync.py b/test/probe/test_container_sync.py
index b6200ff071..7282cfd50a 100644
--- a/test/probe/test_container_sync.py
+++ b/test/probe/test_container_sync.py
@@ -81,20 +81,72 @@ class TestContainerSync(ReplProbeTest):
 
         return source_container, dest_container
 
-    def test_sync(self):
+    def _test_sync(self, object_post_as_copy):
         source_container, dest_container = self._setup_synced_containers()
 
         # upload to source
         object_name = 'object-%s' % uuid.uuid4()
+        put_headers = {'X-Object-Meta-Test': 'put_value'}
         client.put_object(self.url, self.token, source_container, object_name,
-                          'test-body')
+                          'test-body', headers=put_headers)
 
         # cycle container-sync
         Manager(['container-sync']).once()
 
-        _junk, body = client.get_object(self.url, self.token,
-                                        dest_container, object_name)
+        resp_headers, body = client.get_object(self.url, self.token,
+                                               dest_container, object_name)
         self.assertEqual(body, 'test-body')
+        self.assertIn('x-object-meta-test', resp_headers)
+        self.assertEqual('put_value', resp_headers['x-object-meta-test'])
+
+        # update metadata with a POST, using an internal client so we can
+        # vary the object_post_as_copy setting - first use post-as-copy
+        post_headers = {'Content-Type': 'image/jpeg',
+                        'X-Object-Meta-Test': 'post_value'}
+        int_client = self.make_internal_client(
+            object_post_as_copy=object_post_as_copy)
+        int_client.set_object_metadata(self.account, source_container,
+                                       object_name, post_headers)
+        # sanity checks...
+        resp_headers = client.head_object(
+            self.url, self.token, source_container, object_name)
+        self.assertIn('x-object-meta-test', resp_headers)
+        self.assertEqual('post_value', resp_headers['x-object-meta-test'])
+        self.assertEqual('image/jpeg', resp_headers['content-type'])
+
+        # cycle container-sync
+        Manager(['container-sync']).once()
+
+        # verify that metadata changes were sync'd
+        resp_headers, body = client.get_object(self.url, self.token,
+                                               dest_container, object_name)
+        self.assertEqual(body, 'test-body')
+        self.assertIn('x-object-meta-test', resp_headers)
+        self.assertEqual('post_value', resp_headers['x-object-meta-test'])
+        self.assertEqual('image/jpeg', resp_headers['content-type'])
+
+        # delete the object
+        client.delete_object(
+            self.url, self.token, source_container, object_name)
+        with self.assertRaises(ClientException) as cm:
+            client.get_object(
+                self.url, self.token, source_container, object_name)
+        self.assertEqual(404, cm.exception.http_status)  # sanity check
+
+        # cycle container-sync
+        Manager(['container-sync']).once()
+
+        # verify delete has been sync'd
+        with self.assertRaises(ClientException) as cm:
+            client.get_object(
+                self.url, self.token, dest_container, object_name)
+        self.assertEqual(404, cm.exception.http_status)  # sanity check
+
+    def test_sync_with_post_as_copy(self):
+        self._test_sync(True)
+
+    def test_sync_with_fast_post(self):
+        self._test_sync(False)
 
     def test_sync_lazy_skey(self):
         # Create synced containers, but with no key at source
diff --git a/test/probe/test_object_metadata_replication.py b/test/probe/test_object_metadata_replication.py
index 809a493d83..d93715bc74 100644
--- a/test/probe/test_object_metadata_replication.py
+++ b/test/probe/test_object_metadata_replication.py
@@ -14,19 +14,16 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 from io import StringIO
-from tempfile import mkdtemp
-from textwrap import dedent
 import unittest
 
 import os
-import shutil
 import uuid
 
 from swift.common.direct_client import direct_get_suffix_hashes
 from swift.common.exceptions import DiskFileDeleted
 from swift.common.internal_client import UnexpectedResponse
 from swift.container.backend import ContainerBroker
-from swift.common import internal_client, utils
+from swift.common import utils
 from swiftclient import client
 from swift.common.ring import Ring
 from swift.common.utils import Timestamp, get_logger, hash_path
@@ -48,40 +45,17 @@ class Test(ReplProbeTest):
         self.brain = BrainSplitter(self.url, self.token, self.container_name,
                                    self.object_name, 'object',
                                    policy=self.policy)
-        self.tempdir = mkdtemp()
-        conf_path = os.path.join(self.tempdir, 'internal_client.conf')
-        conf_body = """
-        [DEFAULT]
-        swift_dir = /etc/swift
-
-        [pipeline:main]
-        pipeline = catch_errors cache proxy-server
-
-        [app:proxy-server]
-        use = egg:swift#proxy
-        object_post_as_copy = false
-
-        [filter:cache]
-        use = egg:swift#memcache
-
-        [filter:catch_errors]
-        use = egg:swift#catch_errors
-        """
-        with open(conf_path, 'w') as f:
-            f.write(dedent(conf_body))
-        self.int_client = internal_client.InternalClient(conf_path, 'test', 1)
+        self.int_client = self.make_internal_client(object_post_as_copy=False)
 
     def tearDown(self):
         super(Test, self).tearDown()
-        shutil.rmtree(self.tempdir)
 
-    def _get_object_info(self, account, container, obj, number,
-                         policy=None):
+    def _get_object_info(self, account, container, obj, number):
         obj_conf = self.configs['object-server']
         config_path = obj_conf[number]
         options = utils.readconf(config_path, 'app:object-server')
         swift_dir = options.get('swift_dir', '/etc/swift')
-        ring = POLICIES.get_object_ring(policy, swift_dir)
+        ring = POLICIES.get_object_ring(int(self.policy), swift_dir)
         part, nodes = ring.get_nodes(account, container, obj)
         for node in nodes:
             # assumes one to one mapping
@@ -92,7 +66,7 @@ class Test(ReplProbeTest):
             return None
         mgr = DiskFileManager(options, get_logger(options))
         disk_file = mgr.get_diskfile(device, part, account, container, obj,
-                                     policy)
+                                     self.policy)
         info = disk_file.read_metadata()
         return info
 
@@ -105,9 +79,7 @@ class Test(ReplProbeTest):
                 obj_info.append(info_i)
         self.assertTrue(len(obj_info) > 1)
         for other in obj_info[1:]:
-            self.assertEqual(obj_info[0], other,
-                             'Object metadata mismatch: %s != %s'
-                             % (obj_info[0], other))
+            self.assertDictEqual(obj_info[0], other)
 
     def _assert_consistent_deleted_object(self):
         for i in range(1, 5):
@@ -275,6 +247,7 @@ class Test(ReplProbeTest):
 
         self._assert_consistent_object_metadata()
         self._assert_consistent_container_dbs()
+        self._assert_consistent_suffix_hashes()
 
     def test_sysmeta_after_replication_with_subsequent_put(self):
         sysmeta = {'x-object-sysmeta-foo': 'older'}
@@ -332,9 +305,11 @@ class Test(ReplProbeTest):
         for key in sysmeta2.keys():
             self.assertTrue(key in metadata, key)
             self.assertEqual(metadata[key], sysmeta2[key])
+        self.brain.start_handoff_half()
 
         self._assert_consistent_object_metadata()
         self._assert_consistent_container_dbs()
+        self._assert_consistent_suffix_hashes()
 
     def test_sysmeta_after_replication_with_subsequent_post(self):
         sysmeta = {'x-object-sysmeta-foo': 'sysmeta-foo'}
@@ -382,8 +357,11 @@ class Test(ReplProbeTest):
         for key in expected.keys():
             self.assertTrue(key in metadata, key)
             self.assertEqual(metadata[key], expected[key])
+        self.brain.start_handoff_half()
+
         self._assert_consistent_object_metadata()
         self._assert_consistent_container_dbs()
+        self._assert_consistent_suffix_hashes()
 
     def test_sysmeta_after_replication_with_prior_post(self):
         sysmeta = {'x-object-sysmeta-foo': 'sysmeta-foo'}
@@ -433,8 +411,294 @@ class Test(ReplProbeTest):
             self.assertEqual(metadata[key], sysmeta[key])
         for key in usermeta:
             self.assertFalse(key in metadata)
+        self.brain.start_handoff_half()
+
         self._assert_consistent_object_metadata()
         self._assert_consistent_container_dbs()
+        self._assert_consistent_suffix_hashes()
+
+    def test_post_ctype_replicated_when_previous_incomplete_puts(self):
+        # primary half                     handoff half
+        # ------------                     ------------
+        # t0.data: ctype = foo
+        #                                  t1.data: ctype = bar
+        # t2.meta: ctype = baz
+        #
+        #              ...run replicator and expect...
+        #
+        #               t1.data:
+        #               t2.meta: ctype = baz
+        self.brain.put_container(policy_index=0)
+
+        # incomplete write to primary half
+        self.brain.stop_handoff_half()
+        self._put_object(headers={'Content-Type': 'foo'})
+        self.brain.start_handoff_half()
+
+        # handoff write
+        self.brain.stop_primary_half()
+        self._put_object(headers={'Content-Type': 'bar'})
+        self.brain.start_primary_half()
+
+        # content-type update to primary half
+        self.brain.stop_handoff_half()
+        self._post_object(headers={'Content-Type': 'baz'})
+        self.brain.start_handoff_half()
+
+        self.get_to_final_state()
+
+        # check object metadata
+        metadata = client.head_object(self.url, self.token,
+                                      self.container_name,
+                                      self.object_name)
+
+        # check container listing metadata
+        container_metadata, objs = client.get_container(self.url, self.token,
+                                                        self.container_name)
+
+        for obj in objs:
+            if obj['name'] == self.object_name:
+                break
+        expected = 'baz'
+        self.assertEqual(obj['content_type'], expected)
+        self._assert_object_metadata_matches_listing(obj, metadata)
+        self._assert_consistent_container_dbs()
+        self._assert_consistent_object_metadata()
+        self._assert_consistent_suffix_hashes()
+
+    def test_put_ctype_replicated_when_subsequent_post(self):
+        # primary half                     handoff half
+        # ------------                     ------------
+        # t0.data: ctype = foo
+        #                                  t1.data: ctype = bar
+        # t2.meta:
+        #
+        #              ...run replicator and expect...
+        #
+        #               t1.data: ctype = bar
+        #               t2.meta:
+        self.brain.put_container(policy_index=0)
+
+        # incomplete write
+        self.brain.stop_handoff_half()
+        self._put_object(headers={'Content-Type': 'foo'})
+        self.brain.start_handoff_half()
+
+        # handoff write
+        self.brain.stop_primary_half()
+        self._put_object(headers={'Content-Type': 'bar'})
+        self.brain.start_primary_half()
+
+        # metadata update with newest data unavailable
+        self.brain.stop_handoff_half()
+        self._post_object(headers={'X-Object-Meta-Color': 'Blue'})
+        self.brain.start_handoff_half()
+
+        self.get_to_final_state()
+
+        # check object metadata
+        metadata = client.head_object(self.url, self.token,
+                                      self.container_name,
+                                      self.object_name)
+
+        # check container listing metadata
+        container_metadata, objs = client.get_container(self.url, self.token,
+                                                        self.container_name)
+
+        for obj in objs:
+            if obj['name'] == self.object_name:
+                break
+        else:
+            self.fail('obj not found in container listing')
+        expected = 'bar'
+        self.assertEqual(obj['content_type'], expected)
+        self.assertEqual(metadata['x-object-meta-color'], 'Blue')
+        self._assert_object_metadata_matches_listing(obj, metadata)
+        self._assert_consistent_container_dbs()
+        self._assert_consistent_object_metadata()
+        self._assert_consistent_suffix_hashes()
+
+    def test_post_ctype_replicated_when_subsequent_post_without_ctype(self):
+        # primary half                     handoff half
+        # ------------                     ------------
+        # t0.data: ctype = foo
+        #                                  t1.data: ctype = bar
+        # t2.meta: ctype = bif
+        #                                  t3.data: ctype = baz, color = 'Red'
+        #               t4.meta: color = Blue
+        #
+        #              ...run replicator and expect...
+        #
+        #               t1.data:
+        #               t4-delta.meta: ctype = baz, color = Blue
+        self.brain.put_container(policy_index=0)
+
+        # incomplete write
+        self.brain.stop_handoff_half()
+        self._put_object(headers={'Content-Type': 'foo',
+                                  'X-Object-Sysmeta-Test': 'older'})
+        self.brain.start_handoff_half()
+
+        # handoff write
+        self.brain.stop_primary_half()
+        self._put_object(headers={'Content-Type': 'bar',
+                                  'X-Object-Sysmeta-Test': 'newer'})
+        self.brain.start_primary_half()
+
+        # incomplete post with content type
+        self.brain.stop_handoff_half()
+        self._post_object(headers={'Content-Type': 'bif'})
+        self.brain.start_handoff_half()
+
+        # incomplete post to handoff with content type
+        self.brain.stop_primary_half()
+        self._post_object(headers={'Content-Type': 'baz',
+                                   'X-Object-Meta-Color': 'Red'})
+        self.brain.start_primary_half()
+
+        # complete post with no content type
+        self._post_object(headers={'X-Object-Meta-Color': 'Blue',
+                                   'X-Object-Sysmeta-Test': 'ignored'})
+
+        # 'baz' wins over 'bar' but 'Blue' wins over 'Red'
+        self.get_to_final_state()
+
+        # check object metadata
+        metadata = self._get_object_metadata()
+
+        # check container listing metadata
+        container_metadata, objs = client.get_container(self.url, self.token,
+                                                        self.container_name)
+
+        for obj in objs:
+            if obj['name'] == self.object_name:
+                break
+        expected = 'baz'
+        self.assertEqual(obj['content_type'], expected)
+        self.assertEqual(metadata['x-object-meta-color'], 'Blue')
+        self.assertEqual(metadata['x-object-sysmeta-test'], 'newer')
+        self._assert_object_metadata_matches_listing(obj, metadata)
+        self._assert_consistent_container_dbs()
+        self._assert_consistent_object_metadata()
+        self._assert_consistent_suffix_hashes()
+
+    def test_put_ctype_replicated_when_subsequent_posts_without_ctype(self):
+        # primary half                     handoff half
+        # ------------                     ------------
+        #               t0.data: ctype = foo
+        #                                  t1.data: ctype = bar
+        # t2.meta:
+        #                                  t3.meta
+        #
+        #              ...run replicator and expect...
+        #
+        #               t1.data: ctype = bar
+        #               t3.meta
+        self.brain.put_container(policy_index=0)
+
+        self._put_object(headers={'Content-Type': 'foo',
+                                  'X-Object-Sysmeta-Test': 'older'})
+
+        # incomplete write to handoff half
+        self.brain.stop_primary_half()
+        self._put_object(headers={'Content-Type': 'bar',
+                                  'X-Object-Sysmeta-Test': 'newer'})
+        self.brain.start_primary_half()
+
+        # incomplete post with no content type to primary half
+        self.brain.stop_handoff_half()
+        self._post_object(headers={'X-Object-Meta-Color': 'Red',
+                                   'X-Object-Sysmeta-Test': 'ignored'})
+        self.brain.start_handoff_half()
+
+        # incomplete post with no content type to handoff half
+        self.brain.stop_primary_half()
+        self._post_object(headers={'X-Object-Meta-Color': 'Blue'})
+        self.brain.start_primary_half()
+
+        self.get_to_final_state()
+
+        # check object metadata
+        metadata = self._get_object_metadata()
+
+        # check container listing metadata
+        container_metadata, objs = client.get_container(self.url, self.token,
+                                                        self.container_name)
+
+        for obj in objs:
+            if obj['name'] == self.object_name:
+                break
+        expected = 'bar'
+        self.assertEqual(obj['content_type'], expected)
+        self._assert_object_metadata_matches_listing(obj, metadata)
+        self.assertEqual(metadata['x-object-meta-color'], 'Blue')
+        self.assertEqual(metadata['x-object-sysmeta-test'], 'newer')
+        self._assert_object_metadata_matches_listing(obj, metadata)
+        self._assert_consistent_container_dbs()
+        self._assert_consistent_object_metadata()
+        self._assert_consistent_suffix_hashes()
+
+    def test_posted_metadata_only_persists_after_prior_put(self):
+        # newer metadata posted to subset of nodes should persist after an
+        # earlier put on other nodes, but older content-type on that subset
+        # should not persist
+        self.brain.put_container(policy_index=0)
+        # incomplete put to handoff
+        self.brain.stop_primary_half()
+        self._put_object(headers={'Content-Type': 'oldest',
+                                  'X-Object-Sysmeta-Test': 'oldest',
+                                  'X-Object-Meta-Test': 'oldest'})
+        self.brain.start_primary_half()
+        # incomplete put to primary
+        self.brain.stop_handoff_half()
+        self._put_object(headers={'Content-Type': 'oldest',
+                                  'X-Object-Sysmeta-Test': 'oldest',
+                                  'X-Object-Meta-Test': 'oldest'})
+        self.brain.start_handoff_half()
+
+        # incomplete post with content-type to handoff
+        self.brain.stop_primary_half()
+        self._post_object(headers={'Content-Type': 'newer',
+                                   'X-Object-Meta-Test': 'newer'})
+        self.brain.start_primary_half()
+
+        # incomplete put to primary
+        self.brain.stop_handoff_half()
+        self._put_object(headers={'Content-Type': 'newest',
+                                  'X-Object-Sysmeta-Test': 'newest',
+                                  'X-Object-Meta-Test': 'newer'})
+        self.brain.start_handoff_half()
+
+        # incomplete post with no content-type to handoff which still has
+        # out of date content-type
+        self.brain.stop_primary_half()
+        self._post_object(headers={'X-Object-Meta-Test': 'newest'})
+        metadata = self._get_object_metadata()
+        self.assertEqual(metadata['x-object-meta-test'], 'newest')
+        self.assertEqual(metadata['content-type'], 'newer')
+        self.brain.start_primary_half()
+
+        self.get_to_final_state()
+
+        # check object metadata
+        metadata = self._get_object_metadata()
+        self.assertEqual(metadata['x-object-meta-test'], 'newest')
+        self.assertEqual(metadata['x-object-sysmeta-test'], 'newest')
+        self.assertEqual(metadata['content-type'], 'newest')
+
+        # check container listing metadata
+        container_metadata, objs = client.get_container(self.url, self.token,
+                                                        self.container_name)
+
+        for obj in objs:
+            if obj['name'] == self.object_name:
+                break
+        self.assertEqual(obj['content_type'], 'newest')
+        self._assert_object_metadata_matches_listing(obj, metadata)
+        self._assert_object_metadata_matches_listing(obj, metadata)
+        self._assert_consistent_container_dbs()
+        self._assert_consistent_object_metadata()
+        self._assert_consistent_suffix_hashes()
 
     def test_post_trumped_by_prior_delete(self):
         # new metadata and content-type posted to subset of nodes should not
@@ -466,7 +730,7 @@ class Test(ReplProbeTest):
         metadata = self._get_object_metadata()
         self.assertEqual(metadata['x-object-sysmeta-test'], 'oldest')
         self.assertEqual(metadata['x-object-meta-test'], 'newest')
-        self.assertEqual(metadata['content-type'], 'oldest')
+        self.assertEqual(metadata['content-type'], 'newest')
 
         self.brain.start_primary_half()
 
@@ -482,5 +746,6 @@ class Test(ReplProbeTest):
         self._assert_consistent_deleted_object()
         self._assert_consistent_suffix_hashes()
 
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/test/unit/common/test_utils.py b/test/unit/common/test_utils.py
index 02dae8132a..63c746de51 100644
--- a/test/unit/common/test_utils.py
+++ b/test/unit/common/test_utils.py
@@ -289,6 +289,8 @@ class TestTimestamp(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIs(True, utils.Timestamp(ts) == ts)  # sanity
         self.assertIs(False, utils.Timestamp(ts) != utils.Timestamp(ts))
         self.assertIs(False, utils.Timestamp(ts) != ts)
+        self.assertIs(False, utils.Timestamp(ts) is None)
+        self.assertIs(True, utils.Timestamp(ts) is not None)
 
     def test_no_force_internal_no_offset(self):
         """Test that internal is the same as normal with no offset"""
@@ -406,6 +408,15 @@ class TestTimestamp(unittest.TestCase):
                             '%r is not bigger than %f given %r' % (
                                 timestamp, float(normal), value))
 
+    def test_short_format_with_offset(self):
+        expected = '1402436408.91203_f0'
+        timestamp = utils.Timestamp(1402436408.91203, 0xf0)
+        self.assertEqual(expected, timestamp.short)
+
+        expected = '1402436408.91203'
+        timestamp = utils.Timestamp(1402436408.91203)
+        self.assertEqual(expected, timestamp.short)
+
     def test_raw(self):
         expected = 140243640891203
         timestamp = utils.Timestamp(1402436408.91203)
@@ -694,6 +705,11 @@ class TestTimestamp(unittest.TestCase):
                                 '%r is not smaller than %r given %r' % (
                                     timestamp, int(other), value))
 
+    def test_cmp_with_none(self):
+        self.assertGreater(utils.Timestamp(0), None)
+        self.assertGreater(utils.Timestamp(1.0), None)
+        self.assertGreater(utils.Timestamp(1.0, 42), None)
+
     def test_ordering(self):
         given = [
             '1402444820.62590_000000000000000a',
@@ -789,6 +805,107 @@ class TestTimestamp(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn(ts_0_also, d)
 
 
+class TestTimestampEncoding(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        t0 = utils.Timestamp(0.0)
+        t1 = utils.Timestamp(997.9996)
+        t2 = utils.Timestamp(999)
+        t3 = utils.Timestamp(1000, 24)
+        t4 = utils.Timestamp(1001)
+        t5 = utils.Timestamp(1002.00040)
+
+        # encodings that are expected when explicit = False
+        self.non_explicit_encodings = (
+            ('0000001000.00000_18', (t3, t3, t3)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18', (t3, t3, None)),
+        )
+
+        # mappings that are expected when explicit = True
+        self.explicit_encodings = (
+            ('0000001000.00000_18+0+0', (t3, t3, t3)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18+0', (t3, t3, None)),
+        )
+
+        # mappings that are expected when explicit = True or False
+        self.encodings = (
+            ('0000001000.00000_18+0+186a0', (t3, t3, t4)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18+186a0+186c8', (t3, t4, t5)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18-186a0+0', (t3, t2, t2)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18+0-186a0', (t3, t3, t2)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18-186a0-186c8', (t3, t2, t1)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18', (t3, None, None)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18+186a0', (t3, t4, None)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18-186a0', (t3, t2, None)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18', (t3, None, t1)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18-5f5e100', (t3, t0, None)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18+0-5f5e100', (t3, t3, t0)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18-5f5e100+5f45a60', (t3, t0, t2)),
+        )
+
+        # decodings that are expected when explicit = False
+        self.non_explicit_decodings = (
+            ('0000001000.00000_18', (t3, t3, t3)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18+186a0', (t3, t4, t4)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18-186a0', (t3, t2, t2)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18+186a0', (t3, t4, t4)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18-186a0', (t3, t2, t2)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18-5f5e100', (t3, t0, t0)),
+        )
+
+        # decodings that are expected when explicit = True
+        self.explicit_decodings = (
+            ('0000001000.00000_18+0+0', (t3, t3, t3)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18+0', (t3, t3, None)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18', (t3, None, None)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18+186a0', (t3, t4, None)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18-186a0', (t3, t2, None)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18-5f5e100', (t3, t0, None)),
+        )
+
+        # decodings that are expected when explicit = True or False
+        self.decodings = (
+            ('0000001000.00000_18+0+186a0', (t3, t3, t4)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18+186a0+186c8', (t3, t4, t5)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18-186a0+0', (t3, t2, t2)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18+0-186a0', (t3, t3, t2)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18-186a0-186c8', (t3, t2, t1)),
+            ('0000001000.00000_18-5f5e100+5f45a60', (t3, t0, t2)),
+        )
+
+    def _assertEqual(self, expected, actual, test):
+        self.assertEqual(expected, actual,
+                         'Got %s but expected %s for parameters %s'
+                         % (actual, expected, test))
+
+    def test_encoding(self):
+        for test in self.explicit_encodings:
+            actual = utils.encode_timestamps(test[1][0], test[1][1],
+                                             test[1][2], True)
+            self._assertEqual(test[0], actual, test[1])
+        for test in self.non_explicit_encodings:
+            actual = utils.encode_timestamps(test[1][0], test[1][1],
+                                             test[1][2], False)
+            self._assertEqual(test[0], actual, test[1])
+        for explicit in (True, False):
+            for test in self.encodings:
+                actual = utils.encode_timestamps(test[1][0], test[1][1],
+                                                 test[1][2], explicit)
+                self._assertEqual(test[0], actual, test[1])
+
+    def test_decoding(self):
+        for test in self.explicit_decodings:
+            actual = utils.decode_timestamps(test[0], True)
+            self._assertEqual(test[1], actual, test[0])
+        for test in self.non_explicit_decodings:
+            actual = utils.decode_timestamps(test[0], False)
+            self._assertEqual(test[1], actual, test[0])
+        for explicit in (True, False):
+            for test in self.decodings:
+                actual = utils.decode_timestamps(test[0], explicit)
+                self._assertEqual(test[1], actual, test[0])
+
+
 class TestUtils(unittest.TestCase):
     """Tests for swift.common.utils """
 
diff --git a/test/unit/container/test_backend.py b/test/unit/container/test_backend.py
index 721f0f9094..8e521f0078 100644
--- a/test/unit/container/test_backend.py
+++ b/test/unit/container/test_backend.py
@@ -28,8 +28,9 @@ import sqlite3
 import pickle
 import json
 
-from swift.container.backend import ContainerBroker
-from swift.common.utils import Timestamp
+from swift.container.backend import ContainerBroker, \
+    update_new_item_from_existing
+from swift.common.utils import Timestamp, encode_timestamps
 from swift.common.storage_policy import POLICIES
 
 import mock
@@ -431,6 +432,357 @@ class TestContainerBroker(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertEqual(conn.execute(
                 "SELECT deleted FROM object").fetchone()[0], 0)
 
+    def test_make_tuple_for_pickle(self):
+        record = {'name': 'obj',
+                  'created_at': '1234567890.12345',
+                  'size': 42,
+                  'content_type': 'text/plain',
+                  'etag': 'hash_test',
+                  'deleted': '1',
+                  'storage_policy_index': '2',
+                  'ctype_timestamp': None,
+                  'meta_timestamp': None}
+        broker = ContainerBroker(':memory:', account='a', container='c')
+
+        expect = ('obj', '1234567890.12345', 42, 'text/plain', 'hash_test',
+                  '1', '2', None, None)
+        result = broker.make_tuple_for_pickle(record)
+        self.assertEqual(expect, result)
+
+        record['ctype_timestamp'] = '2233445566.00000'
+        expect = ('obj', '1234567890.12345', 42, 'text/plain', 'hash_test',
+                  '1', '2', '2233445566.00000', None)
+        result = broker.make_tuple_for_pickle(record)
+        self.assertEqual(expect, result)
+
+        record['meta_timestamp'] = '5566778899.00000'
+        expect = ('obj', '1234567890.12345', 42, 'text/plain', 'hash_test',
+                  '1', '2', '2233445566.00000', '5566778899.00000')
+        result = broker.make_tuple_for_pickle(record)
+        self.assertEqual(expect, result)
+
+    @with_tempdir
+    def test_load_old_record_from_pending_file(self, tempdir):
+        # Test reading old update record from pending file
+        db_path = os.path.join(tempdir, 'container.db')
+        broker = ContainerBroker(db_path, account='a', container='c')
+        broker.initialize(time(), 0)
+
+        record = {'name': 'obj',
+                  'created_at': '1234567890.12345',
+                  'size': 42,
+                  'content_type': 'text/plain',
+                  'etag': 'hash_test',
+                  'deleted': '1',
+                  'storage_policy_index': '2',
+                  'ctype_timestamp': None,
+                  'meta_timestamp': None}
+
+        # sanity check
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.isfile(broker.pending_file))
+
+        # simulate existing pending items written with old code,
+        # i.e. without content_type and meta timestamps
+        def old_make_tuple_for_pickle(_, record):
+            return (record['name'], record['created_at'], record['size'],
+                    record['content_type'], record['etag'], record['deleted'],
+                    record['storage_policy_index'])
+
+        _new = 'swift.container.backend.ContainerBroker.make_tuple_for_pickle'
+        with mock.patch(_new, old_make_tuple_for_pickle):
+            broker.put_record(dict(record))
+
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.getsize(broker.pending_file) > 0)
+        read_items = []
+
+        def mock_merge_items(_, item_list, *args):
+            # capture the items read from the pending file
+            read_items.extend(item_list)
+
+        with mock.patch('swift.container.backend.ContainerBroker.merge_items',
+                        mock_merge_items):
+            broker._commit_puts()
+
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(read_items))
+        self.assertEqual(record, read_items[0])
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.getsize(broker.pending_file) == 0)
+
+    @with_tempdir
+    def test_save_and_load_record_from_pending_file(self, tempdir):
+        db_path = os.path.join(tempdir, 'container.db')
+        broker = ContainerBroker(db_path, account='a', container='c')
+        broker.initialize(time(), 0)
+
+        record = {'name': 'obj',
+                  'created_at': '1234567890.12345',
+                  'size': 42,
+                  'content_type': 'text/plain',
+                  'etag': 'hash_test',
+                  'deleted': '1',
+                  'storage_policy_index': '2',
+                  'ctype_timestamp': '1234567890.44444',
+                  'meta_timestamp': '1234567890.99999'}
+
+        # sanity check
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.isfile(broker.pending_file))
+        broker.put_record(dict(record))
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.getsize(broker.pending_file) > 0)
+        read_items = []
+
+        def mock_merge_items(_, item_list, *args):
+            # capture the items read from the pending file
+            read_items.extend(item_list)
+
+        with mock.patch('swift.container.backend.ContainerBroker.merge_items',
+                        mock_merge_items):
+            broker._commit_puts()
+
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(read_items))
+        self.assertEqual(record, read_items[0])
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.getsize(broker.pending_file) == 0)
+
+    def _assert_db_row(self, broker, name, timestamp, size, content_type, hash,
+                       deleted=0):
+        with broker.get() as conn:
+            self.assertEqual(conn.execute(
+                "SELECT name FROM object").fetchone()[0], name)
+            self.assertEqual(conn.execute(
+                "SELECT created_at FROM object").fetchone()[0], timestamp)
+            self.assertEqual(conn.execute(
+                "SELECT size FROM object").fetchone()[0], size)
+            self.assertEqual(conn.execute(
+                "SELECT content_type FROM object").fetchone()[0],
+                content_type)
+            self.assertEqual(conn.execute(
+                "SELECT etag FROM object").fetchone()[0], hash)
+            self.assertEqual(conn.execute(
+                "SELECT deleted FROM object").fetchone()[0], deleted)
+
+    def _test_put_object_multiple_encoded_timestamps(self, broker):
+        ts = (Timestamp(t) for t in itertools.count(int(time())))
+        broker.initialize(ts.next().internal, 0)
+        t = [ts.next() for _ in range(9)]
+
+        # Create initial object
+        broker.put_object('obj_name', t[0].internal, 123,
+                          'application/x-test',
+                          '5af83e3196bf99f440f31f2e1a6c9afe')
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(broker.get_items_since(0, 100)))
+        self._assert_db_row(broker, 'obj_name', t[0].internal, 123,
+                            'application/x-test',
+                            '5af83e3196bf99f440f31f2e1a6c9afe')
+
+        # hash and size change with same data timestamp are ignored
+        t_encoded = encode_timestamps(t[0], t[1], t[1])
+        broker.put_object('obj_name', t_encoded, 456,
+                          'application/x-test-2',
+                          '1234567890abcdeffedcba0987654321')
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(broker.get_items_since(0, 100)))
+        self._assert_db_row(broker, 'obj_name', t_encoded, 123,
+                            'application/x-test-2',
+                            '5af83e3196bf99f440f31f2e1a6c9afe')
+
+        # content-type change with same timestamp is ignored
+        t_encoded = encode_timestamps(t[0], t[1], t[2])
+        broker.put_object('obj_name', t_encoded, 456,
+                          'application/x-test-3',
+                          '1234567890abcdeffedcba0987654321')
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(broker.get_items_since(0, 100)))
+        self._assert_db_row(broker, 'obj_name', t_encoded, 123,
+                            'application/x-test-2',
+                            '5af83e3196bf99f440f31f2e1a6c9afe')
+
+        # update with differing newer timestamps
+        t_encoded = encode_timestamps(t[4], t[6], t[8])
+        broker.put_object('obj_name', t_encoded, 789,
+                          'application/x-test-3',
+                          'abcdef1234567890abcdef1234567890')
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(broker.get_items_since(0, 100)))
+        self._assert_db_row(broker, 'obj_name', t_encoded, 789,
+                            'application/x-test-3',
+                            'abcdef1234567890abcdef1234567890')
+
+        # update with differing older timestamps should be ignored
+        t_encoded_older = encode_timestamps(t[3], t[5], t[7])
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(broker.get_items_since(0, 100)))
+        broker.put_object('obj_name', t_encoded_older, 9999,
+                          'application/x-test-ignored',
+                          'ignored_hash')
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(broker.get_items_since(0, 100)))
+        self._assert_db_row(broker, 'obj_name', t_encoded, 789,
+                            'application/x-test-3',
+                            'abcdef1234567890abcdef1234567890')
+
+    def test_put_object_multiple_encoded_timestamps_using_memory(self):
+        # Test ContainerBroker.put_object with differing data, content-type
+        # and metadata timestamps
+        broker = ContainerBroker(':memory:', account='a', container='c')
+        self._test_put_object_multiple_encoded_timestamps(broker)
+
+    @with_tempdir
+    def test_put_object_multiple_encoded_timestamps_using_file(self, tempdir):
+        # Test ContainerBroker.put_object with differing data, content-type
+        # and metadata timestamps, using file db to ensure that the code paths
+        # to write/read pending file are exercised.
+        db_path = os.path.join(tempdir, 'container.db')
+        broker = ContainerBroker(db_path, account='a', container='c')
+        self._test_put_object_multiple_encoded_timestamps(broker)
+
+    def _test_put_object_multiple_explicit_timestamps(self, broker):
+        ts = (Timestamp(t) for t in itertools.count(int(time())))
+        broker.initialize(ts.next().internal, 0)
+        t = [ts.next() for _ in range(11)]
+
+        # Create initial object
+        broker.put_object('obj_name', t[0].internal, 123,
+                          'application/x-test',
+                          '5af83e3196bf99f440f31f2e1a6c9afe',
+                          ctype_timestamp=None,
+                          meta_timestamp=None)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(broker.get_items_since(0, 100)))
+        self._assert_db_row(broker, 'obj_name', t[0].internal, 123,
+                            'application/x-test',
+                            '5af83e3196bf99f440f31f2e1a6c9afe')
+
+        # hash and size change with same data timestamp are ignored
+        t_encoded = encode_timestamps(t[0], t[1], t[1])
+        broker.put_object('obj_name', t[0].internal, 456,
+                          'application/x-test-2',
+                          '1234567890abcdeffedcba0987654321',
+                          ctype_timestamp=t[1].internal,
+                          meta_timestamp=t[1].internal)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(broker.get_items_since(0, 100)))
+        self._assert_db_row(broker, 'obj_name', t_encoded, 123,
+                            'application/x-test-2',
+                            '5af83e3196bf99f440f31f2e1a6c9afe')
+
+        # content-type change with same timestamp is ignored
+        t_encoded = encode_timestamps(t[0], t[1], t[2])
+        broker.put_object('obj_name', t[0].internal, 456,
+                          'application/x-test-3',
+                          '1234567890abcdeffedcba0987654321',
+                          ctype_timestamp=t[1].internal,
+                          meta_timestamp=t[2].internal)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(broker.get_items_since(0, 100)))
+        self._assert_db_row(broker, 'obj_name', t_encoded, 123,
+                            'application/x-test-2',
+                            '5af83e3196bf99f440f31f2e1a6c9afe')
+
+        # update with differing newer timestamps
+        t_encoded = encode_timestamps(t[4], t[6], t[8])
+        broker.put_object('obj_name', t[4].internal, 789,
+                          'application/x-test-3',
+                          'abcdef1234567890abcdef1234567890',
+                          ctype_timestamp=t[6].internal,
+                          meta_timestamp=t[8].internal)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(broker.get_items_since(0, 100)))
+        self._assert_db_row(broker, 'obj_name', t_encoded, 789,
+                            'application/x-test-3',
+                            'abcdef1234567890abcdef1234567890')
+
+        # update with differing older timestamps should be ignored
+        broker.put_object('obj_name', t[3].internal, 9999,
+                          'application/x-test-ignored',
+                          'ignored_hash',
+                          ctype_timestamp=t[5].internal,
+                          meta_timestamp=t[7].internal)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(broker.get_items_since(0, 100)))
+        self._assert_db_row(broker, 'obj_name', t_encoded, 789,
+                            'application/x-test-3',
+                            'abcdef1234567890abcdef1234567890')
+
+        # content_type_timestamp == None defaults to data timestamp
+        t_encoded = encode_timestamps(t[9], t[9], t[8])
+        broker.put_object('obj_name', t[9].internal, 9999,
+                          'application/x-test-new',
+                          'new_hash',
+                          ctype_timestamp=None,
+                          meta_timestamp=t[7].internal)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(broker.get_items_since(0, 100)))
+        self._assert_db_row(broker, 'obj_name', t_encoded, 9999,
+                            'application/x-test-new',
+                            'new_hash')
+
+        # meta_timestamp == None defaults to data timestamp
+        t_encoded = encode_timestamps(t[9], t[10], t[10])
+        broker.put_object('obj_name', t[8].internal, 1111,
+                          'application/x-test-newer',
+                          'older_hash',
+                          ctype_timestamp=t[10].internal,
+                          meta_timestamp=None)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(broker.get_items_since(0, 100)))
+        self._assert_db_row(broker, 'obj_name', t_encoded, 9999,
+                            'application/x-test-newer',
+                            'new_hash')
+
+    def test_put_object_multiple_explicit_timestamps_using_memory(self):
+        # Test ContainerBroker.put_object with differing data, content-type
+        # and metadata timestamps passed as explicit args
+        broker = ContainerBroker(':memory:', account='a', container='c')
+        self._test_put_object_multiple_explicit_timestamps(broker)
+
+    @with_tempdir
+    def test_put_object_multiple_explicit_timestamps_using_file(self, tempdir):
+        # Test ContainerBroker.put_object with differing data, content-type
+        # and metadata timestamps passed as explicit args, using file db to
+        # ensure that the code paths to write/read pending file are exercised.
+        db_path = os.path.join(tempdir, 'container.db')
+        broker = ContainerBroker(db_path, account='a', container='c')
+        self._test_put_object_multiple_explicit_timestamps(broker)
+
+    def test_last_modified_time(self):
+        # Test container listing reports the most recent of data or metadata
+        # timestamp as last-modified time
+        ts = (Timestamp(t) for t in itertools.count(int(time())))
+        broker = ContainerBroker(':memory:', account='a', container='c')
+        broker.initialize(ts.next().internal, 0)
+
+        # simple 'single' timestamp case
+        t0 = ts.next()
+        broker.put_object('obj1', t0.internal, 0, 'text/plain', 'hash1')
+        listing = broker.list_objects_iter(100, '', None, None, '')
+        self.assertEqual(len(listing), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(listing[0][0], 'obj1')
+        self.assertEqual(listing[0][1], t0.internal)
+
+        # content-type and metadata are updated at t1
+        t1 = ts.next()
+        t_encoded = encode_timestamps(t0, t1, t1)
+        broker.put_object('obj1', t_encoded, 0, 'text/plain', 'hash1')
+        listing = broker.list_objects_iter(100, '', None, None, '')
+        self.assertEqual(len(listing), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(listing[0][0], 'obj1')
+        self.assertEqual(listing[0][1], t1.internal)
+
+        # used later
+        t2 = ts.next()
+
+        # metadata is updated at t3
+        t3 = ts.next()
+        t_encoded = encode_timestamps(t0, t1, t3)
+        broker.put_object('obj1', t_encoded, 0, 'text/plain', 'hash1')
+        listing = broker.list_objects_iter(100, '', None, None, '')
+        self.assertEqual(len(listing), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(listing[0][0], 'obj1')
+        self.assertEqual(listing[0][1], t3.internal)
+
+        # all parts updated at t2, last-modified should remain at t3
+        t_encoded = encode_timestamps(t2, t2, t2)
+        broker.put_object('obj1', t_encoded, 0, 'text/plain', 'hash1')
+        listing = broker.list_objects_iter(100, '', None, None, '')
+        self.assertEqual(len(listing), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(listing[0][0], 'obj1')
+        self.assertEqual(listing[0][1], t3.internal)
+
+        # all parts updated at t4, last-modified should be t4
+        t4 = ts.next()
+        t_encoded = encode_timestamps(t4, t4, t4)
+        broker.put_object('obj1', t_encoded, 0, 'text/plain', 'hash1')
+        listing = broker.list_objects_iter(100, '', None, None, '')
+        self.assertEqual(len(listing), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(listing[0][0], 'obj1')
+        self.assertEqual(listing[0][1], t4.internal)
+
     @patch_policies
     def test_put_misplaced_object_does_not_effect_container_stats(self):
         policy = random.choice(list(POLICIES))
@@ -2172,3 +2524,298 @@ class TestContainerBrokerBeforeSPI(ContainerBrokerMigrationMixin,
         info = broker.get_info()
         self.assertEqual(info['object_count'], 1)
         self.assertEqual(info['bytes_used'], 456)
+
+
+class TestUpdateNewItemFromExisting(unittest.TestCase):
+    # TODO: add test scenarios that have swift_bytes in content_type
+    t0 = '1234567890.00000'
+    t1 = '1234567890.00001'
+    t2 = '1234567890.00002'
+    t3 = '1234567890.00003'
+    t4 = '1234567890.00004'
+    t5 = '1234567890.00005'
+    t6 = '1234567890.00006'
+    t7 = '1234567890.00007'
+    t8 = '1234567890.00008'
+    t20 = '1234567890.00020'
+    t30 = '1234567890.00030'
+
+    base_new_item = {'etag': 'New_item',
+                     'size': 'nEw_item',
+                     'content_type': 'neW_item',
+                     'deleted': '0'}
+    base_existing = {'etag': 'Existing',
+                     'size': 'eXisting',
+                     'content_type': 'exIsting',
+                     'deleted': '0'}
+    #
+    # each scenario is a tuple of:
+    #    (existing time, new item times, expected updated item)
+    #
+    #  e.g.:
+    # existing -> ({'created_at': t5},
+    # new_item -> {'created_at': t, 'ctype_timestamp': t, 'meta_timestamp': t},
+    # expected -> {'created_at': t,
+    #              'etag': <val>, 'size': <val>, 'content_type': <val>})
+    #
+    scenarios_when_all_existing_wins = (
+        #
+        # all new_item times <= all existing times -> existing values win
+        #
+        # existing has attrs at single time
+        #
+        ({'created_at': t3},
+         {'created_at': t0, 'ctype_timestamp': t0, 'meta_timestamp': t0},
+         {'created_at': t3,
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3},
+         {'created_at': t0, 'ctype_timestamp': t0, 'meta_timestamp': t1},
+         {'created_at': t3,
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3},
+         {'created_at': t0, 'ctype_timestamp': t1, 'meta_timestamp': t1},
+         {'created_at': t3,
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3},
+         {'created_at': t0, 'ctype_timestamp': t1, 'meta_timestamp': t2},
+         {'created_at': t3,
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3},
+         {'created_at': t0, 'ctype_timestamp': t1, 'meta_timestamp': t3},
+         {'created_at': t3,
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3},
+         {'created_at': t0, 'ctype_timestamp': t3, 'meta_timestamp': t3},
+         {'created_at': t3,
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3},
+         {'created_at': t3, 'ctype_timestamp': t3, 'meta_timestamp': t3},
+         {'created_at': t3,
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        #
+        # existing has attrs at multiple times:
+        # data @ t3, ctype @ t5, meta @t7 -> existing created_at = t3+2+2
+        #
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t0, 'ctype_timestamp': t0, 'meta_timestamp': t0},
+         {'created_at': t3 + '+2+2',
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t3, 'ctype_timestamp': t3, 'meta_timestamp': t3},
+         {'created_at': t3 + '+2+2',
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t3, 'ctype_timestamp': t4, 'meta_timestamp': t4},
+         {'created_at': t3 + '+2+2',
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t3, 'ctype_timestamp': t4, 'meta_timestamp': t5},
+         {'created_at': t3 + '+2+2',
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t3, 'ctype_timestamp': t4, 'meta_timestamp': t7},
+         {'created_at': t3 + '+2+2',
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t3, 'ctype_timestamp': t4, 'meta_timestamp': t7},
+         {'created_at': t3 + '+2+2',
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t3, 'ctype_timestamp': t5, 'meta_timestamp': t5},
+         {'created_at': t3 + '+2+2',
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t3, 'ctype_timestamp': t5, 'meta_timestamp': t6},
+         {'created_at': t3 + '+2+2',
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t3, 'ctype_timestamp': t5, 'meta_timestamp': t7},
+         {'created_at': t3 + '+2+2',
+         'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+    )
+
+    scenarios_when_all_new_item_wins = (
+        # no existing record
+        (None,
+         {'created_at': t4, 'ctype_timestamp': t4, 'meta_timestamp': t4},
+         {'created_at': t4,
+          'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        (None,
+         {'created_at': t4, 'ctype_timestamp': t4, 'meta_timestamp': t5},
+         {'created_at': t4 + '+0+1',
+          'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        (None,
+         {'created_at': t4, 'ctype_timestamp': t5, 'meta_timestamp': t5},
+         {'created_at': t4 + '+1+0',
+          'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        (None,
+         {'created_at': t4, 'ctype_timestamp': t5, 'meta_timestamp': t6},
+         {'created_at': t4 + '+1+1',
+          'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        #
+        # all new_item times > all existing times -> new item values win
+        #
+        # existing has attrs at single time
+        #
+        ({'created_at': t3},
+         {'created_at': t4, 'ctype_timestamp': t4, 'meta_timestamp': t4},
+         {'created_at': t4,
+         'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3},
+         {'created_at': t4, 'ctype_timestamp': t4, 'meta_timestamp': t5},
+         {'created_at': t4 + '+0+1',
+         'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3},
+         {'created_at': t4, 'ctype_timestamp': t5, 'meta_timestamp': t5},
+         {'created_at': t4 + '+1+0',
+         'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3},
+         {'created_at': t4, 'ctype_timestamp': t5, 'meta_timestamp': t6},
+         {'created_at': t4 + '+1+1',
+         'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        #
+        # existing has attrs at multiple times:
+        # data @ t3, ctype @ t5, meta @t7 -> existing created_at = t3+2+2
+        #
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t4, 'ctype_timestamp': t6, 'meta_timestamp': t8},
+         {'created_at': t4 + '+2+2',
+         'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t6, 'ctype_timestamp': t6, 'meta_timestamp': t8},
+         {'created_at': t6 + '+0+2',
+         'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t4, 'ctype_timestamp': t8, 'meta_timestamp': t8},
+         {'created_at': t4 + '+4+0',
+         'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t6, 'ctype_timestamp': t8, 'meta_timestamp': t8},
+         {'created_at': t6 + '+2+0',
+         'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t8, 'ctype_timestamp': t8, 'meta_timestamp': t8},
+         {'created_at': t8,
+         'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+    )
+
+    scenarios_when_some_new_item_wins = (
+        #
+        # some but not all new_item times > existing times -> mixed updates
+        #
+        # existing has attrs at single time
+        #
+        ({'created_at': t3},
+         {'created_at': t3, 'ctype_timestamp': t3, 'meta_timestamp': t4},
+         {'created_at': t3 + '+0+1',
+          'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3},
+         {'created_at': t3, 'ctype_timestamp': t4, 'meta_timestamp': t4},
+         {'created_at': t3 + '+1+0',
+          'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3},
+         {'created_at': t3, 'ctype_timestamp': t4, 'meta_timestamp': t5},
+         {'created_at': t3 + '+1+1',
+          'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        #
+        # existing has attrs at multiple times:
+        # data @ t3, ctype @ t5, meta @t7 -> existing created_at = t3+2+2
+        #
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t3, 'ctype_timestamp': t3, 'meta_timestamp': t8},
+         {'created_at': t3 + '+2+3',
+          'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t3, 'ctype_timestamp': t6, 'meta_timestamp': t8},
+         {'created_at': t3 + '+3+2',
+          'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t4, 'ctype_timestamp': t4, 'meta_timestamp': t6},
+         {'created_at': t4 + '+1+2',
+          'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t4, 'ctype_timestamp': t6, 'meta_timestamp': t6},
+         {'created_at': t4 + '+2+1',
+          'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t4, 'ctype_timestamp': t4, 'meta_timestamp': t8},
+         {'created_at': t4 + '+1+3',
+          'etag': 'New_item', 'size': 'nEw_item', 'content_type': 'exIsting'}),
+
+        # this scenario is to check that the deltas are in hex
+        ({'created_at': t3 + '+2+2'},
+         {'created_at': t2, 'ctype_timestamp': t20, 'meta_timestamp': t30},
+         {'created_at': t3 + '+11+a',
+          'etag': 'Existing', 'size': 'eXisting', 'content_type': 'neW_item'}),
+    )
+
+    def _test_scenario(self, scenario, newer):
+        existing_time, new_item_times, expected_attrs = scenario
+        # this is the existing record...
+        existing = None
+        if existing_time:
+            existing = dict(self.base_existing)
+            existing.update(existing_time)
+
+        # this is the new item to update
+        new_item = dict(self.base_new_item)
+        new_item.update(new_item_times)
+
+        # this is the expected result of the update
+        expected = dict(new_item)
+        expected.update(expected_attrs)
+        expected['data_timestamp'] = new_item['created_at']
+
+        try:
+            self.assertIs(newer,
+                          update_new_item_from_existing(new_item, existing))
+            self.assertDictEqual(expected, new_item)
+        except AssertionError as e:
+            msg = ('Scenario: existing %s, new_item %s, expected %s.'
+                   % scenario)
+            msg = '%s Failed with: %s' % (msg, e.message)
+            raise AssertionError(msg)
+
+    def test_update_new_item_from_existing(self):
+        for scenario in self.scenarios_when_all_existing_wins:
+            self._test_scenario(scenario, False)
+
+        for scenario in self.scenarios_when_all_new_item_wins:
+            self._test_scenario(scenario, True)
+
+        for scenario in self.scenarios_when_some_new_item_wins:
+            self._test_scenario(scenario, True)
diff --git a/test/unit/container/test_reconciler.py b/test/unit/container/test_reconciler.py
index 771e9f83e3..4a00e72f2e 100644
--- a/test/unit/container/test_reconciler.py
+++ b/test/unit/container/test_reconciler.py
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import json
+import numbers
+
 import mock
 import operator
 import time
@@ -29,7 +31,7 @@ from swift.container import reconciler
 from swift.container.server import gen_resp_headers
 from swift.common.direct_client import ClientException
 from swift.common import swob
-from swift.common.utils import split_path, Timestamp
+from swift.common.utils import split_path, Timestamp, encode_timestamps
 
 from test.unit import debug_logger, FakeRing, fake_http_connect
 from test.unit.common.middleware.helpers import FakeSwift
@@ -132,12 +134,16 @@ class FakeInternalClient(reconciler.InternalClient):
                         'DELETE', obj_path, swob.HTTPNoContent, {})
                     # container listing entry
                     last_modified = timestamp_to_last_modified(timestamp)
+                    # some tests setup mock listings using floats, some use
+                    # strings, so normalize here
+                    if isinstance(timestamp, numbers.Number):
+                        timestamp = '%f' % timestamp
                     obj_data = {
                         'bytes': 0,
                         # listing data is unicode
                         'name': obj_name.decode('utf-8'),
                         'last_modified': last_modified,
-                        'hash': timestamp,
+                        'hash': timestamp.decode('utf-8'),
                         'content_type': content_type,
                     }
                     container_listing_data.append(obj_data)
@@ -210,6 +216,26 @@ class TestReconcilerUtils(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(got['q_record'], 1234.20192)
         self.assertEqual(got['q_op'], 'PUT')
 
+        # the 'hash' field in object listing has the raw 'created_at' value
+        # which could be a composite of timestamps
+        timestamp_str = encode_timestamps(Timestamp(1234.20190),
+                                          Timestamp(1245.20190),
+                                          Timestamp(1256.20190),
+                                          explicit=True)
+        got = reconciler.parse_raw_obj({
+            'name': "1:/AUTH_bob/con/obj",
+            'hash': timestamp_str,
+            'last_modified': timestamp_to_last_modified(1234.20192),
+            'content_type': 'application/x-put',
+        })
+        self.assertEqual(got['q_policy_index'], 1)
+        self.assertEqual(got['account'], 'AUTH_bob')
+        self.assertEqual(got['container'], 'con')
+        self.assertEqual(got['obj'], 'obj')
+        self.assertEqual(got['q_ts'], 1234.20190)
+        self.assertEqual(got['q_record'], 1234.20192)
+        self.assertEqual(got['q_op'], 'PUT')
+
         # negative test
         obj_info = {
             'name': "1:/AUTH_bob/con/obj",
diff --git a/test/unit/container/test_replicator.py b/test/unit/container/test_replicator.py
index bdfe481d15..3f97821891 100644
--- a/test/unit/container/test_replicator.py
+++ b/test/unit/container/test_replicator.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ from swift.common import db_replicator
 from swift.container import replicator, backend, server, sync_store
 from swift.container.reconciler import (
     MISPLACED_OBJECTS_ACCOUNT, get_reconciler_container_name)
-from swift.common.utils import Timestamp
+from swift.common.utils import Timestamp, encode_timestamps
 from swift.common.storage_policy import POLICIES
 
 from test.unit.common import test_db_replicator
@@ -827,38 +827,52 @@ class TestReplicatorSync(test_db_replicator.TestReplicatorSync):
             self.assertEqual(info[key], value)
 
     def test_misplaced_rows_replicate_and_enqueue(self):
-        ts = (Timestamp(t).internal for t in
-              itertools.count(int(time.time())))
+        # force all timestamps to fall in same hour
+        ts = (Timestamp(t) for t in
+              itertools.count(int(time.time()) // 3600 * 3600))
         policy = random.choice(list(POLICIES))
         broker = self._get_broker('a', 'c', node_index=0)
-        broker.initialize(next(ts), policy.idx)
+        broker.initialize(next(ts).internal, policy.idx)
         remote_policy = random.choice([p for p in POLICIES if p is not
                                        policy])
         remote_broker = self._get_broker('a', 'c', node_index=1)
-        remote_broker.initialize(next(ts), remote_policy.idx)
+        remote_broker.initialize(next(ts).internal, remote_policy.idx)
 
         # add a misplaced row to *local* broker
-        obj_put_timestamp = next(ts)
+        obj_put_timestamp = next(ts).internal
         broker.put_object(
             'o', obj_put_timestamp, 0, 'content-type',
             'etag', storage_policy_index=remote_policy.idx)
-        misplaced = broker.get_misplaced_since(-1, 1)
+        misplaced = broker.get_misplaced_since(-1, 10)
         self.assertEqual(len(misplaced), 1)
         # since this row is misplaced it doesn't show up in count
         self.assertEqual(broker.get_info()['object_count'], 0)
 
+        # add another misplaced row to *local* broker with composite timestamp
+        ts_data = next(ts)
+        ts_ctype = next(ts)
+        ts_meta = next(ts)
+        broker.put_object(
+            'o2', ts_data.internal, 0, 'content-type',
+            'etag', storage_policy_index=remote_policy.idx,
+            ctype_timestamp=ts_ctype.internal, meta_timestamp=ts_meta.internal)
+        misplaced = broker.get_misplaced_since(-1, 10)
+        self.assertEqual(len(misplaced), 2)
+        # since this row is misplaced it doesn't show up in count
+        self.assertEqual(broker.get_info()['object_count'], 0)
+
         # replicate
         part, node = self._get_broker_part_node(broker)
         daemon = self._run_once(node)
         # push to remote, and third node was missing (also maybe reconciler)
-        self.assertTrue(2 < daemon.stats['rsync'] <= 3)
+        self.assertTrue(2 < daemon.stats['rsync'] <= 3, daemon.stats['rsync'])
 
         # grab the rsynced instance of remote_broker
         remote_broker = self._get_broker('a', 'c', node_index=1)
 
         # remote has misplaced rows too now
-        misplaced = remote_broker.get_misplaced_since(-1, 1)
-        self.assertEqual(len(misplaced), 1)
+        misplaced = remote_broker.get_misplaced_since(-1, 10)
+        self.assertEqual(len(misplaced), 2)
 
         # and the correct policy_index and object_count
         info = remote_broker.get_info()
@@ -869,22 +883,29 @@ class TestReplicatorSync(test_db_replicator.TestReplicatorSync):
         for key, value in expectations.items():
             self.assertEqual(info[key], value)
 
-        # and we should have also enqeued these rows in the reconciler
+        # and we should have also enqueued these rows in a single reconciler,
+        # since we forced the object timestamps to be in the same hour.
         reconciler = daemon.get_reconciler_broker(misplaced[0]['created_at'])
         # but it may not be on the same node as us anymore though...
         reconciler = self._get_broker(reconciler.account,
                                       reconciler.container, node_index=0)
-        self.assertEqual(reconciler.get_info()['object_count'], 1)
+        self.assertEqual(reconciler.get_info()['object_count'], 2)
         objects = reconciler.list_objects_iter(
-            1, '', None, None, None, None, storage_policy_index=0)
-        self.assertEqual(len(objects), 1)
+            10, '', None, None, None, None, storage_policy_index=0)
+        self.assertEqual(len(objects), 2)
         expected = ('%s:/a/c/o' % remote_policy.idx, obj_put_timestamp, 0,
                     'application/x-put', obj_put_timestamp)
         self.assertEqual(objects[0], expected)
+        # the second object's listing has ts_meta as its last modified time
+        # but its full composite timestamp is in the hash field.
+        expected = ('%s:/a/c/o2' % remote_policy.idx, ts_meta.internal, 0,
+                    'application/x-put',
+                    encode_timestamps(ts_data, ts_ctype, ts_meta))
+        self.assertEqual(objects[1], expected)
 
         # having safely enqueued to the reconciler we can advance
         # our sync pointer
-        self.assertEqual(broker.get_reconciler_sync(), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(broker.get_reconciler_sync(), 2)
 
     def test_multiple_out_sync_reconciler_enqueue_normalize(self):
         ts = (Timestamp(t).internal for t in
diff --git a/test/unit/container/test_server.py b/test/unit/container/test_server.py
index 22e0f00c41..0205bca3bf 100644
--- a/test/unit/container/test_server.py
+++ b/test/unit/container/test_server.py
@@ -1619,6 +1619,203 @@ class TestContainerController(unittest.TestCase):
         listing_data = json.loads(resp.body)
         self.assertEqual(0, len(listing_data))
 
+    def test_object_update_with_multiple_timestamps(self):
+
+        def do_update(t_data, etag, size, content_type,
+                      t_type=None, t_meta=None):
+            """
+            Make a PUT request to container controller to update an object
+            """
+            headers = {'X-Timestamp': t_data.internal,
+                       'X-Size': size,
+                       'X-Content-Type': content_type,
+                       'X-Etag': etag}
+            if t_type:
+                headers['X-Content-Type-Timestamp'] = t_type.internal
+            if t_meta:
+                headers['X-Meta-Timestamp'] = t_meta.internal
+            req = Request.blank(
+                '/sda1/p/a/c/o', method='PUT', headers=headers)
+            self._update_object_put_headers(req)
+            return req.get_response(self.controller)
+
+        ts = (Timestamp(t) for t in itertools.count(int(time.time())))
+        t0 = ts.next()
+
+        # create container
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c', method='PUT', headers={
+            'X-Timestamp': t0.internal})
+        resp = req.get_response(self.controller)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 201)
+
+        # check status
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c', method='HEAD')
+        resp = req.get_response(self.controller)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 204)
+
+        # create object at t1
+        t1 = ts.next()
+        resp = do_update(t1, 'etag_at_t1', 1, 'ctype_at_t1')
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 201)
+
+        # check listing, expect last_modified = t1
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c', method='GET',
+                            query_string='format=json')
+        resp = req.get_response(self.controller)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 200)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Object-Count']), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Bytes-Used']), 1)
+        listing_data = json.loads(resp.body)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(listing_data))
+        for obj in listing_data:
+            self.assertEqual(obj['name'], 'o')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['bytes'], 1)
+            self.assertEqual(obj['hash'], 'etag_at_t1')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['content_type'], 'ctype_at_t1')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['last_modified'], t1.isoformat)
+
+        # send an update with a content type timestamp at t4
+        t2 = ts.next()
+        t3 = ts.next()
+        t4 = ts.next()
+        resp = do_update(t1, 'etag_at_t1', 1, 'ctype_at_t4', t_type=t4)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 201)
+
+        # check updated listing, expect last_modified = t4
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c', method='GET',
+                            query_string='format=json')
+        resp = req.get_response(self.controller)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 200)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Object-Count']), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Bytes-Used']), 1)
+        listing_data = json.loads(resp.body)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(listing_data))
+        for obj in listing_data:
+            self.assertEqual(obj['name'], 'o')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['bytes'], 1)
+            self.assertEqual(obj['hash'], 'etag_at_t1')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['content_type'], 'ctype_at_t4')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['last_modified'], t4.isoformat)
+
+        # now overwrite with an in-between data timestamp at t2
+        resp = do_update(t2, 'etag_at_t2', 2, 'ctype_at_t2', t_type=t2)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 201)
+
+        # check updated listing
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c', method='GET',
+                            query_string='format=json')
+        resp = req.get_response(self.controller)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 200)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Object-Count']), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Bytes-Used']), 2)
+        listing_data = json.loads(resp.body)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(listing_data))
+        for obj in listing_data:
+            self.assertEqual(obj['name'], 'o')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['bytes'], 2)
+            self.assertEqual(obj['hash'], 'etag_at_t2')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['content_type'], 'ctype_at_t4')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['last_modified'], t4.isoformat)
+
+        # now overwrite with an in-between content-type timestamp at t3
+        resp = do_update(t2, 'etag_at_t2', 2, 'ctype_at_t3', t_type=t3)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 201)
+
+        # check updated listing
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c', method='GET',
+                            query_string='format=json')
+        resp = req.get_response(self.controller)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 200)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Object-Count']), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Bytes-Used']), 2)
+        listing_data = json.loads(resp.body)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(listing_data))
+        for obj in listing_data:
+            self.assertEqual(obj['name'], 'o')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['bytes'], 2)
+            self.assertEqual(obj['hash'], 'etag_at_t2')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['content_type'], 'ctype_at_t4')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['last_modified'], t4.isoformat)
+
+        # now update with an in-between meta timestamp at t5
+        t5 = ts.next()
+        resp = do_update(t2, 'etag_at_t2', 2, 'ctype_at_t3', t_type=t3,
+                         t_meta=t5)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 201)
+
+        # check updated listing
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c', method='GET',
+                            query_string='format=json')
+        resp = req.get_response(self.controller)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 200)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Object-Count']), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Bytes-Used']), 2)
+        listing_data = json.loads(resp.body)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(listing_data))
+        for obj in listing_data:
+            self.assertEqual(obj['name'], 'o')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['bytes'], 2)
+            self.assertEqual(obj['hash'], 'etag_at_t2')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['content_type'], 'ctype_at_t4')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['last_modified'], t5.isoformat)
+
+        # delete object at t6
+        t6 = ts.next()
+        req = Request.blank(
+            '/sda1/p/a/c/o', method='DELETE', headers={
+                'X-Timestamp': t6.internal})
+        self._update_object_put_headers(req)
+        resp = req.get_response(self.controller)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 204)
+
+        # check empty listing
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c', method='GET',
+                            query_string='format=json')
+        resp = req.get_response(self.controller)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 200)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Object-Count']), 0)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Bytes-Used']), 0)
+        listing_data = json.loads(resp.body)
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(listing_data))
+
+        # subsequent content type timestamp at t8 should leave object deleted
+        t7 = ts.next()
+        t8 = ts.next()
+        t9 = ts.next()
+        resp = do_update(t2, 'etag_at_t2', 2, 'ctype_at_t8', t_type=t8,
+                         t_meta=t9)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 201)
+
+        # check empty listing
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c', method='GET',
+                            query_string='format=json')
+        resp = req.get_response(self.controller)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 200)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Object-Count']), 0)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Bytes-Used']), 0)
+        listing_data = json.loads(resp.body)
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(listing_data))
+
+        # object recreated at t7 should pick up existing, later content-type
+        resp = do_update(t7, 'etag_at_t7', 7, 'ctype_at_t7')
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 201)
+
+        # check listing
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c', method='GET',
+                            query_string='format=json')
+        resp = req.get_response(self.controller)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 200)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Object-Count']), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(int(resp.headers['X-Container-Bytes-Used']), 7)
+        listing_data = json.loads(resp.body)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(listing_data))
+        for obj in listing_data:
+            self.assertEqual(obj['name'], 'o')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['bytes'], 7)
+            self.assertEqual(obj['hash'], 'etag_at_t7')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['content_type'], 'ctype_at_t8')
+            self.assertEqual(obj['last_modified'], t9.isoformat)
+
     def test_DELETE_account_update(self):
         bindsock = listen(('127.0.0.1', 0))
 
diff --git a/test/unit/container/test_sync.py b/test/unit/container/test_sync.py
index 4b779f8791..42833ed161 100644
--- a/test/unit/container/test_sync.py
+++ b/test/unit/container/test_sync.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ from textwrap import dedent
 
 import mock
 import errno
+from swift.common.utils import Timestamp
 from test.unit import debug_logger
 from swift.container import sync
 from swift.common.db import DatabaseConnectionError
@@ -750,6 +751,7 @@ class TestContainerSync(unittest.TestCase):
                     hex = 'abcdef'
 
             sync.uuid = FakeUUID
+            ts_data = Timestamp(1.1)
 
             def fake_delete_object(path, name=None, headers=None, proxy=None,
                                    logger=None, timeout=None):
@@ -758,12 +760,13 @@ class TestContainerSync(unittest.TestCase):
                 if realm:
                     self.assertEqual(headers, {
                         'x-container-sync-auth':
-                        'US abcdef 90e95aabb45a6cdc0892a3db5535e7f918428c90',
-                        'x-timestamp': '1.2'})
+                        'US abcdef a2401ecb1256f469494a0abcb0eb62ffa73eca63',
+                        'x-timestamp': ts_data.internal})
                 else:
                     self.assertEqual(
                         headers,
-                        {'x-container-sync-key': 'key', 'x-timestamp': '1.2'})
+                        {'x-container-sync-key': 'key',
+                         'x-timestamp': ts_data.internal})
                 self.assertEqual(proxy, 'http://proxy')
                 self.assertEqual(timeout, 5.0)
                 self.assertEqual(logger, self.logger)
@@ -774,11 +777,13 @@ class TestContainerSync(unittest.TestCase):
                 cs = sync.ContainerSync({}, container_ring=FakeRing(),
                                         logger=self.logger)
             cs.http_proxies = ['http://proxy']
-            # Success
+            # Success.
+            # simulate a row with tombstone at 1.1 and later ctype, meta times
+            created_at = ts_data.internal + '+1388+1388'  # last modified = 1.2
             self.assertTrue(cs.container_sync_row(
                 {'deleted': True,
                  'name': 'object',
-                 'created_at': '1.2'}, 'http://sync/to/path',
+                 'created_at': created_at}, 'http://sync/to/path',
                 'key', FakeContainerBroker('broker'),
                 {'account': 'a', 'container': 'c', 'storage_policy_index': 0},
                 realm, realm_key))
@@ -858,6 +863,8 @@ class TestContainerSync(unittest.TestCase):
 
             sync.uuid = FakeUUID
             sync.shuffle = lambda x: x
+            ts_data = Timestamp(1.1)
+            timestamp = Timestamp(1.2)
 
             def fake_put_object(sync_to, name=None, headers=None,
                                 contents=None, proxy=None, logger=None,
@@ -867,15 +874,15 @@ class TestContainerSync(unittest.TestCase):
                 if realm:
                     self.assertEqual(headers, {
                         'x-container-sync-auth':
-                        'US abcdef ef62c64bb88a33fa00722daa23d5d43253164962',
-                        'x-timestamp': '1.2',
+                        'US abcdef a5fb3cf950738e6e3b364190e246bd7dd21dad3c',
+                        'x-timestamp': timestamp.internal,
                         'etag': 'etagvalue',
                         'other-header': 'other header value',
                         'content-type': 'text/plain'})
                 else:
                     self.assertEqual(headers, {
                         'x-container-sync-key': 'key',
-                        'x-timestamp': '1.2',
+                        'x-timestamp': timestamp.internal,
                         'other-header': 'other header value',
                         'etag': 'etagvalue',
                         'content-type': 'text/plain'})
@@ -897,16 +904,19 @@ class TestContainerSync(unittest.TestCase):
                                  '0')
                 return (200,
                         {'other-header': 'other header value',
-                         'etag': '"etagvalue"', 'x-timestamp': '1.2',
+                         'etag': '"etagvalue"',
+                         'x-timestamp': timestamp.internal,
                          'content-type': 'text/plain; swift_bytes=123'},
                         iter('contents'))
 
             cs.swift.get_object = fake_get_object
-            # Success as everything says it worked
+            # Success as everything says it worked.
+            # simulate a row with data at 1.1 and later ctype, meta times
+            created_at = ts_data.internal + '+1388+1388'  # last modified = 1.2
             self.assertTrue(cs.container_sync_row(
                 {'deleted': False,
                  'name': 'object',
-                 'created_at': '1.2'}, 'http://sync/to/path',
+                 'created_at': created_at}, 'http://sync/to/path',
                 'key', FakeContainerBroker('broker'),
                 {'account': 'a', 'container': 'c', 'storage_policy_index': 0},
                 realm, realm_key))
@@ -920,7 +930,7 @@ class TestContainerSync(unittest.TestCase):
                 return (200,
                         {'date': 'date value',
                          'last-modified': 'last modified value',
-                         'x-timestamp': '1.2',
+                         'x-timestamp': timestamp.internal,
                          'other-header': 'other header value',
                          'etag': '"etagvalue"',
                          'content-type': 'text/plain; swift_bytes=123'},
@@ -933,7 +943,7 @@ class TestContainerSync(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertTrue(cs.container_sync_row(
                 {'deleted': False,
                  'name': 'object',
-                 'created_at': '1.2'}, 'http://sync/to/path',
+                 'created_at': timestamp.internal}, 'http://sync/to/path',
                 'key', FakeContainerBroker('broker'),
                 {'account': 'a', 'container': 'c', 'storage_policy_index': 0},
                 realm, realm_key))
@@ -967,7 +977,7 @@ class TestContainerSync(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertFalse(cs.container_sync_row(
                 {'deleted': False,
                  'name': 'object',
-                 'created_at': '1.2'}, 'http://sync/to/path',
+                 'created_at': timestamp.internal}, 'http://sync/to/path',
                 'key', FakeContainerBroker('broker'),
                 {'account': 'a', 'container': 'c', 'storage_policy_index': 0},
                 realm, realm_key))
@@ -990,7 +1000,7 @@ class TestContainerSync(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertFalse(cs.container_sync_row(
                 {'deleted': False,
                  'name': 'object',
-                 'created_at': '1.2'}, 'http://sync/to/path',
+                 'created_at': timestamp.internal}, 'http://sync/to/path',
                 'key', FakeContainerBroker('broker'),
                 {'account': 'a', 'container': 'c', 'storage_policy_index': 0},
                 realm, realm_key))
@@ -1003,7 +1013,8 @@ class TestContainerSync(unittest.TestCase):
                 self.assertEqual(headers['X-Backend-Storage-Policy-Index'],
                                  '0')
                 return (200, {'other-header': 'other header value',
-                        'x-timestamp': '1.2', 'etag': '"etagvalue"'},
+                              'x-timestamp': timestamp.internal,
+                              'etag': '"etagvalue"'},
                         iter('contents'))
 
             def fake_put_object(*args, **kwargs):
@@ -1015,7 +1026,7 @@ class TestContainerSync(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertFalse(cs.container_sync_row(
                 {'deleted': False,
                  'name': 'object',
-                 'created_at': '1.2'}, 'http://sync/to/path',
+                 'created_at': timestamp.internal}, 'http://sync/to/path',
                 'key', FakeContainerBroker('broker'),
                 {'account': 'a', 'container': 'c', 'storage_policy_index': 0},
                 realm, realm_key))
@@ -1030,7 +1041,7 @@ class TestContainerSync(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertFalse(cs.container_sync_row(
                 {'deleted': False,
                  'name': 'object',
-                 'created_at': '1.2'}, 'http://sync/to/path',
+                 'created_at': timestamp.internal}, 'http://sync/to/path',
                 'key', FakeContainerBroker('broker'),
                 {'account': 'a', 'container': 'c', 'storage_policy_index': 0},
                 realm, realm_key))
@@ -1045,7 +1056,7 @@ class TestContainerSync(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertFalse(cs.container_sync_row(
                 {'deleted': False,
                  'name': 'object',
-                 'created_at': '1.2'}, 'http://sync/to/path',
+                 'created_at': timestamp.internal}, 'http://sync/to/path',
                 'key', FakeContainerBroker('broker'),
                 {'account': 'a', 'container': 'c', 'storage_policy_index': 0},
                 realm, realm_key))
diff --git a/test/unit/obj/test_diskfile.py b/test/unit/obj/test_diskfile.py
index de0cf4b1f9..657a29ed53 100644
--- a/test/unit/obj/test_diskfile.py
+++ b/test/unit/obj/test_diskfile.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ from test.unit import (FakeLogger, mock as unit_mock, temptree,
 from nose import SkipTest
 from swift.obj import diskfile
 from swift.common import utils
-from swift.common.utils import hash_path, mkdirs, Timestamp
+from swift.common.utils import hash_path, mkdirs, Timestamp, encode_timestamps
 from swift.common import ring
 from swift.common.splice import splice
 from swift.common.exceptions import DiskFileNotExist, DiskFileQuarantined, \
@@ -616,7 +616,8 @@ class DiskFileManagerMixin(BaseDiskFileTestMixin):
 
     def test_get_ondisk_files_with_empty_dir(self):
         files = []
-        expected = dict(data_file=None, meta_file=None, ts_file=None)
+        expected = dict(
+            data_file=None, meta_file=None, ctype_file=None, ts_file=None)
         for policy in POLICIES:
             for frag_index in (0, None, '14'):
                 # check manager
@@ -1214,6 +1215,64 @@ class TestDiskFileManager(DiskFileManagerMixin, unittest.TestCase):
         }
         self._check_yield_hashes(POLICIES.default, suffix_map, expected)
 
+    def test_yield_hashes_yields_content_type_timestamp(self):
+        hash_ = '9373a92d072897b136b3fc06595b4abc'
+        ts_iter = make_timestamp_iter()
+        ts0, ts1, ts2, ts3, ts4 = (next(ts_iter) for _ in range(5))
+        data_file = ts1.internal + '.data'
+
+        # no content-type delta
+        meta_file = ts2.internal + '.meta'
+        suffix_map = {'abc': {hash_: [data_file, meta_file]}}
+        expected = {hash_: {'ts_data': ts1,
+                            'ts_meta': ts2}}
+        self._check_yield_hashes(POLICIES.default, suffix_map, expected)
+
+        # non-zero content-type delta
+        delta = ts3.raw - ts2.raw
+        meta_file = '%s-%x.meta' % (ts3.internal, delta)
+        suffix_map = {'abc': {hash_: [data_file, meta_file]}}
+        expected = {hash_: {'ts_data': ts1,
+                            'ts_meta': ts3,
+                            'ts_ctype': ts2}}
+        self._check_yield_hashes(POLICIES.default, suffix_map, expected)
+
+        # zero content-type delta
+        meta_file = '%s+0.meta' % ts3.internal
+        suffix_map = {'abc': {hash_: [data_file, meta_file]}}
+        expected = {hash_: {'ts_data': ts1,
+                            'ts_meta': ts3,
+                            'ts_ctype': ts3}}
+        self._check_yield_hashes(POLICIES.default, suffix_map, expected)
+
+        # content-type in second meta file
+        delta = ts3.raw - ts2.raw
+        meta_file1 = '%s-%x.meta' % (ts3.internal, delta)
+        meta_file2 = '%s.meta' % ts4.internal
+        suffix_map = {'abc': {hash_: [data_file, meta_file1, meta_file2]}}
+        expected = {hash_: {'ts_data': ts1,
+                            'ts_meta': ts4,
+                            'ts_ctype': ts2}}
+        self._check_yield_hashes(POLICIES.default, suffix_map, expected)
+
+        # obsolete content-type in second meta file, older than data file
+        delta = ts3.raw - ts0.raw
+        meta_file1 = '%s-%x.meta' % (ts3.internal, delta)
+        meta_file2 = '%s.meta' % ts4.internal
+        suffix_map = {'abc': {hash_: [data_file, meta_file1, meta_file2]}}
+        expected = {hash_: {'ts_data': ts1,
+                            'ts_meta': ts4}}
+        self._check_yield_hashes(POLICIES.default, suffix_map, expected)
+
+        # obsolete content-type in second meta file, same time as data file
+        delta = ts3.raw - ts1.raw
+        meta_file1 = '%s-%x.meta' % (ts3.internal, delta)
+        meta_file2 = '%s.meta' % ts4.internal
+        suffix_map = {'abc': {hash_: [data_file, meta_file1, meta_file2]}}
+        expected = {hash_: {'ts_data': ts1,
+                            'ts_meta': ts4}}
+        self._check_yield_hashes(POLICIES.default, suffix_map, expected)
+
     def test_yield_hashes_suffix_filter(self):
         # test again with limited suffixes
         old_ts = '1383180000.12345'
@@ -1611,6 +1670,7 @@ class TestECDiskFileManager(DiskFileManagerMixin, unittest.TestCase):
                     'timestamp': ts,
                     'frag_index': int(frag),
                     'ext': '.data',
+                    'ctype_timestamp': None
                 })
                 # these functions are inverse
                 self.assertEqual(
@@ -1631,6 +1691,7 @@ class TestECDiskFileManager(DiskFileManagerMixin, unittest.TestCase):
                         'timestamp': ts,
                         'frag_index': None,
                         'ext': ext,
+                        'ctype_timestamp': None
                     })
                     # these functions are inverse
                     self.assertEqual(
@@ -1662,6 +1723,30 @@ class TestECDiskFileManager(DiskFileManagerMixin, unittest.TestCase):
                 actual = mgr.make_on_disk_filename(ts, ext, frag_index=frag)
                 self.assertEqual(expected, actual)
 
+    def test_make_on_disk_filename_for_meta_with_content_type(self):
+        # verify .meta filename encodes content-type timestamp
+        mgr = self.df_router[POLICIES.default]
+        time_ = 1234567890.00001
+        for delta in (0.0, .00001, 1.11111):
+            t_meta = Timestamp(time_)
+            t_type = Timestamp(time_ - delta)
+            sign = '-' if delta else '+'
+            expected = '%s%s%x.meta' % (t_meta.short, sign, 100000 * delta)
+            actual = mgr.make_on_disk_filename(
+                t_meta, '.meta', ctype_timestamp=t_type)
+            self.assertEqual(expected, actual)
+            parsed = mgr.parse_on_disk_filename(actual)
+            self.assertEqual(parsed, {
+                'timestamp': t_meta,
+                'frag_index': None,
+                'ext': '.meta',
+                'ctype_timestamp': t_type
+            })
+            # these functions are inverse
+            self.assertEqual(
+                mgr.make_on_disk_filename(**parsed),
+                expected)
+
     def test_yield_hashes(self):
         old_ts = '1383180000.12345'
         fresh_ts = Timestamp(time() - 10).internal
@@ -1979,6 +2064,7 @@ class DiskFileMixin(BaseDiskFileTestMixin):
         tpool.execute = self._orig_tpool_exc
 
     def _create_ondisk_file(self, df, data, timestamp, metadata=None,
+                            ctype_timestamp=None,
                             ext='.data'):
         mkdirs(df._datadir)
         if timestamp is None:
@@ -1996,10 +2082,17 @@ class DiskFileMixin(BaseDiskFileTestMixin):
             metadata['name'] = '/a/c/o'
         if 'Content-Length' not in metadata:
             metadata['Content-Length'] = str(len(data))
-        filename = timestamp.internal + ext
+        filename = timestamp.internal
         if ext == '.data' and df.policy.policy_type == EC_POLICY:
-            filename = '%s#%s.data' % (timestamp.internal, df._frag_index)
-        data_file = os.path.join(df._datadir, filename)
+            filename = '%s#%s' % (timestamp.internal, df._frag_index)
+        if ctype_timestamp:
+            metadata.update(
+                {'Content-Type-Timestamp':
+                 Timestamp(ctype_timestamp).internal})
+            filename = encode_timestamps(timestamp,
+                                         Timestamp(ctype_timestamp),
+                                         explicit=True)
+        data_file = os.path.join(df._datadir, filename + ext)
         with open(data_file, 'wb') as f:
             f.write(data)
             xattr.setxattr(f.fileno(), diskfile.METADATA_KEY,
@@ -2779,6 +2872,99 @@ class DiskFileMixin(BaseDiskFileTestMixin):
         exp_name = '%s.meta' % timestamp
         self.assertTrue(exp_name in set(dl))
 
+    def test_write_metadata_with_content_type(self):
+        # if metadata has content-type then its time should be in file name
+        df = self._create_test_file('1234567890')
+        file_count = len(os.listdir(df._datadir))
+        timestamp = Timestamp(time())
+        metadata = {'X-Timestamp': timestamp.internal,
+                    'X-Object-Meta-test': 'data',
+                    'Content-Type': 'foo',
+                    'Content-Type-Timestamp': timestamp.internal}
+        df.write_metadata(metadata)
+        dl = os.listdir(df._datadir)
+        self.assertEqual(len(dl), file_count + 1)
+        exp_name = '%s+0.meta' % timestamp.internal
+        self.assertTrue(exp_name in set(dl),
+                        'Expected file %s not found in %s' % (exp_name, dl))
+
+    def test_write_metadata_with_older_content_type(self):
+        # if metadata has content-type then its time should be in file name
+        ts_iter = make_timestamp_iter()
+        df = self._create_test_file('1234567890', timestamp=ts_iter.next())
+        file_count = len(os.listdir(df._datadir))
+        timestamp = ts_iter.next()
+        timestamp2 = ts_iter.next()
+        metadata = {'X-Timestamp': timestamp2.internal,
+                    'X-Object-Meta-test': 'data',
+                    'Content-Type': 'foo',
+                    'Content-Type-Timestamp': timestamp.internal}
+        df.write_metadata(metadata)
+        dl = os.listdir(df._datadir)
+        self.assertEqual(len(dl), file_count + 1, dl)
+        exp_name = '%s-%x.meta' % (timestamp2.internal,
+                                   timestamp2.raw - timestamp.raw)
+        self.assertTrue(exp_name in set(dl),
+                        'Expected file %s not found in %s' % (exp_name, dl))
+
+    def test_write_metadata_with_content_type_removes_same_time_meta(self):
+        # a meta file without content-type should be cleaned up in favour of
+        # a meta file at same time with content-type
+        ts_iter = make_timestamp_iter()
+        df = self._create_test_file('1234567890', timestamp=ts_iter.next())
+        file_count = len(os.listdir(df._datadir))
+        timestamp = ts_iter.next()
+        timestamp2 = ts_iter.next()
+        metadata = {'X-Timestamp': timestamp2.internal,
+                    'X-Object-Meta-test': 'data'}
+        df.write_metadata(metadata)
+        metadata = {'X-Timestamp': timestamp2.internal,
+                    'X-Object-Meta-test': 'data',
+                    'Content-Type': 'foo',
+                    'Content-Type-Timestamp': timestamp.internal}
+        df.write_metadata(metadata)
+
+        dl = os.listdir(df._datadir)
+        self.assertEqual(len(dl), file_count + 1, dl)
+        exp_name = '%s-%x.meta' % (timestamp2.internal,
+                                   timestamp2.raw - timestamp.raw)
+        self.assertTrue(exp_name in set(dl),
+                        'Expected file %s not found in %s' % (exp_name, dl))
+
+    def test_write_metadata_with_content_type_removes_multiple_metas(self):
+        # a combination of a meta file without content-type and an older meta
+        # file with content-type should be cleaned up in favour of a meta file
+        # at newer time with content-type
+        ts_iter = make_timestamp_iter()
+        df = self._create_test_file('1234567890', timestamp=ts_iter.next())
+        file_count = len(os.listdir(df._datadir))
+        timestamp = ts_iter.next()
+        timestamp2 = ts_iter.next()
+        metadata = {'X-Timestamp': timestamp2.internal,
+                    'X-Object-Meta-test': 'data'}
+        df.write_metadata(metadata)
+        metadata = {'X-Timestamp': timestamp.internal,
+                    'X-Object-Meta-test': 'data',
+                    'Content-Type': 'foo',
+                    'Content-Type-Timestamp': timestamp.internal}
+        df.write_metadata(metadata)
+
+        dl = os.listdir(df._datadir)
+        self.assertEqual(len(dl), file_count + 2, dl)
+
+        metadata = {'X-Timestamp': timestamp2.internal,
+                    'X-Object-Meta-test': 'data',
+                    'Content-Type': 'foo',
+                    'Content-Type-Timestamp': timestamp.internal}
+        df.write_metadata(metadata)
+
+        dl = os.listdir(df._datadir)
+        self.assertEqual(len(dl), file_count + 1, dl)
+        exp_name = '%s-%x.meta' % (timestamp2.internal,
+                                   timestamp2.raw - timestamp.raw)
+        self.assertTrue(exp_name in set(dl),
+                        'Expected file %s not found in %s' % (exp_name, dl))
+
     def test_write_metadata_no_xattr(self):
         timestamp = Timestamp(time()).internal
         metadata = {'X-Timestamp': timestamp, 'X-Object-Meta-test': 'data'}
@@ -3133,7 +3319,54 @@ class DiskFileMixin(BaseDiskFileTestMixin):
                              Timestamp(10).internal)
             self.assertTrue('deleted' not in df._metadata)
 
-    def test_ondisk_search_loop_data_meta_ts(self):
+    def test_ondisk_search_loop_multiple_meta_data(self):
+        df = self._simple_get_diskfile()
+        self._create_ondisk_file(df, '', ext='.meta', timestamp=10,
+                                 metadata={'X-Object-Meta-User': 'user-meta'})
+        self._create_ondisk_file(df, '', ext='.meta', timestamp=9,
+                                 ctype_timestamp=9,
+                                 metadata={'Content-Type': 'newest',
+                                           'X-Object-Meta-User': 'blah'})
+        self._create_ondisk_file(df, 'B', ext='.data', timestamp=8,
+                                 metadata={'Content-Type': 'newer'})
+        self._create_ondisk_file(df, 'A', ext='.data', timestamp=7,
+                                 metadata={'Content-Type': 'oldest'})
+        if df.policy.policy_type == EC_POLICY:
+            self._create_ondisk_file(df, '', ext='.durable', timestamp=8)
+            self._create_ondisk_file(df, '', ext='.durable', timestamp=7)
+        df = self._simple_get_diskfile()
+        with df.open():
+            self.assertTrue('X-Timestamp' in df._metadata)
+            self.assertEqual(df._metadata['X-Timestamp'],
+                             Timestamp(10).internal)
+            self.assertTrue('Content-Type' in df._metadata)
+            self.assertEqual(df._metadata['Content-Type'], 'newest')
+            self.assertTrue('X-Object-Meta-User' in df._metadata)
+            self.assertEqual(df._metadata['X-Object-Meta-User'], 'user-meta')
+
+    def test_ondisk_search_loop_stale_meta_data(self):
+        df = self._simple_get_diskfile()
+        self._create_ondisk_file(df, '', ext='.meta', timestamp=10,
+                                 metadata={'X-Object-Meta-User': 'user-meta'})
+        self._create_ondisk_file(df, '', ext='.meta', timestamp=9,
+                                 ctype_timestamp=7,
+                                 metadata={'Content-Type': 'older',
+                                           'X-Object-Meta-User': 'blah'})
+        self._create_ondisk_file(df, 'B', ext='.data', timestamp=8,
+                                 metadata={'Content-Type': 'newer'})
+        if df.policy.policy_type == EC_POLICY:
+            self._create_ondisk_file(df, '', ext='.durable', timestamp=8)
+        df = self._simple_get_diskfile()
+        with df.open():
+            self.assertTrue('X-Timestamp' in df._metadata)
+            self.assertEqual(df._metadata['X-Timestamp'],
+                             Timestamp(10).internal)
+            self.assertTrue('Content-Type' in df._metadata)
+            self.assertEqual(df._metadata['Content-Type'], 'newer')
+            self.assertTrue('X-Object-Meta-User' in df._metadata)
+            self.assertEqual(df._metadata['X-Object-Meta-User'], 'user-meta')
+
+    def test_ondisk_search_loop_data_ts_meta(self):
         df = self._simple_get_diskfile()
         self._create_ondisk_file(df, 'B', ext='.data', timestamp=10)
         self._create_ondisk_file(df, 'A', ext='.data', timestamp=9)
@@ -3295,6 +3528,37 @@ class DiskFileMixin(BaseDiskFileTestMixin):
         with self.assertRaises(DiskFileNotOpen):
             df.data_timestamp
 
+    def test_content_type_and_timestamp(self):
+        ts_1 = self.ts()
+        self._get_open_disk_file(ts=ts_1.internal,
+                                 extra_metadata={'Content-Type': 'image/jpeg'})
+        df = self._simple_get_diskfile()
+        with df.open():
+            self.assertEqual(ts_1.internal, df.data_timestamp)
+            self.assertEqual(ts_1.internal, df.timestamp)
+            self.assertEqual(ts_1.internal, df.content_type_timestamp)
+            self.assertEqual('image/jpeg', df.content_type)
+        ts_2 = self.ts()
+        ts_3 = self.ts()
+        df.write_metadata({'X-Timestamp': ts_3.internal,
+                           'Content-Type': 'image/gif',
+                           'Content-Type-Timestamp': ts_2.internal})
+        with df.open():
+            self.assertEqual(ts_1.internal, df.data_timestamp)
+            self.assertEqual(ts_3.internal, df.timestamp)
+            self.assertEqual(ts_2.internal, df.content_type_timestamp)
+            self.assertEqual('image/gif', df.content_type)
+
+    def test_content_type_timestamp_not_open(self):
+        df = self._simple_get_diskfile()
+        with self.assertRaises(DiskFileNotOpen):
+            df.content_type_timestamp
+
+    def test_content_type_not_open(self):
+        df = self._simple_get_diskfile()
+        with self.assertRaises(DiskFileNotOpen):
+            df.content_type
+
     def test_durable_timestamp(self):
         ts_1 = self.ts()
         df = self._get_open_disk_file(ts=ts_1.internal)
@@ -4211,6 +4475,14 @@ class TestSuffixHashes(unittest.TestCase):
         filename += '.data'
         return filename
 
+    def _metafilename(self, meta_timestamp, ctype_timestamp=None):
+        filename = meta_timestamp.internal
+        if ctype_timestamp is not None:
+            delta = meta_timestamp.raw - ctype_timestamp.raw
+            filename = '%s-%x' % (filename, delta)
+        filename += '.meta'
+        return filename
+
     def check_hash_cleanup_listdir(self, policy, input_files, output_files):
         orig_unlink = os.unlink
         file_list = list(input_files)
@@ -4771,6 +5043,175 @@ class TestSuffixHashes(unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertEqual(sorted(os.listdir(df._datadir)),
                              sorted(expected_files))
 
+    def _verify_get_hashes(self, filenames, ts_data, ts_meta, ts_ctype,
+                           policy):
+        """
+        Helper method to create a set of ondisk files and verify suffix_hashes.
+
+        :param filenames: list of filenames to create in an object hash dir
+        :param ts_data: newest data timestamp, used for expected result
+        :param ts_meta: newest meta timestamp, used for expected result
+        :param ts_ctype: newest content-type timestamp, used for expected
+                         result
+        :param policy: storage policy to use for test
+        """
+        df_mgr = self.df_router[policy]
+        df = df_mgr.get_diskfile('sda1', '0', 'a', 'c', 'o',
+                                 policy=policy, frag_index=4)
+        suffix = os.path.basename(os.path.dirname(df._datadir))
+        mkdirs(df._datadir)
+
+        # calculate expected result
+        hasher = md5()
+        if policy.policy_type == EC_POLICY:
+            hasher.update(ts_meta.internal + '.meta')
+            hasher.update(ts_data.internal + '.durable')
+            if ts_ctype:
+                hasher.update(ts_ctype.internal + '_ctype')
+            expected = {
+                suffix: {
+                    None: hasher.hexdigest(),
+                    4: md5(ts_data.internal).hexdigest(),
+                }
+            }
+        elif policy.policy_type == REPL_POLICY:
+            hasher.update(ts_meta.internal + '.meta')
+            hasher.update(ts_data.internal + '.data')
+            if ts_ctype:
+                hasher.update(ts_ctype.internal + '_ctype')
+            expected = {suffix: hasher.hexdigest()}
+        else:
+            self.fail('unknown policy type %r' % policy.policy_type)
+
+        for fname in filenames:
+            open(os.path.join(df._datadir, fname), 'w').close()
+
+        hashes = df_mgr.get_hashes('sda1', '0', [], policy)
+
+        msg = 'expected %r != %r for policy %r' % (
+            expected, hashes, policy)
+        self.assertEqual(hashes, expected, msg)
+
+    def test_hash_suffix_with_older_content_type_in_meta(self):
+        # single meta file having older content-type
+        for policy in self.iter_policies():
+            ts_data, ts_ctype, ts_meta = (
+                self.ts(), self.ts(), self.ts())
+
+            filenames = [self._datafilename(ts_data, policy, frag_index=4),
+                         self._metafilename(ts_meta, ts_ctype)]
+            if policy.policy_type == EC_POLICY:
+                filenames.append(ts_data.internal + '.durable')
+
+            self._verify_get_hashes(
+                filenames, ts_data, ts_meta, ts_ctype, policy)
+
+    def test_hash_suffix_with_same_age_content_type_in_meta(self):
+        # single meta file having same age content-type
+        for policy in self.iter_policies():
+            ts_data, ts_meta = (self.ts(), self.ts())
+
+            filenames = [self._datafilename(ts_data, policy, frag_index=4),
+                         self._metafilename(ts_meta, ts_meta)]
+            if policy.policy_type == EC_POLICY:
+                filenames.append(ts_data.internal + '.durable')
+
+            self._verify_get_hashes(
+                filenames, ts_data, ts_meta, ts_meta, policy)
+
+    def test_hash_suffix_with_obsolete_content_type_in_meta(self):
+        # After rsync replication we could have a single meta file having
+        # content-type older than a replicated data file
+        for policy in self.iter_policies():
+            ts_ctype, ts_data, ts_meta = (self.ts(), self.ts(), self.ts())
+
+            filenames = [self._datafilename(ts_data, policy, frag_index=4),
+                         self._metafilename(ts_meta, ts_ctype)]
+            if policy.policy_type == EC_POLICY:
+                filenames.append(ts_data.internal + '.durable')
+
+            self._verify_get_hashes(
+                filenames, ts_data, ts_meta, None, policy)
+
+    def test_hash_suffix_with_older_content_type_in_newer_meta(self):
+        # After rsync replication we could have two meta files: newest
+        # content-type is in newer meta file, older than newer meta file
+        for policy in self.iter_policies():
+            ts_data, ts_older_meta, ts_ctype, ts_newer_meta = (
+                self.ts() for _ in range(4))
+
+            filenames = [self._datafilename(ts_data, policy, frag_index=4),
+                         self._metafilename(ts_older_meta),
+                         self._metafilename(ts_newer_meta, ts_ctype)]
+            if policy.policy_type == EC_POLICY:
+                filenames.append(ts_data.internal + '.durable')
+
+            self._verify_get_hashes(
+                filenames, ts_data, ts_newer_meta, ts_ctype, policy)
+
+    def test_hash_suffix_with_same_age_content_type_in_newer_meta(self):
+        # After rsync replication we could have two meta files: newest
+        # content-type is in newer meta file, at same age as newer meta file
+        for policy in self.iter_policies():
+            ts_data, ts_older_meta, ts_newer_meta = (
+                self.ts() for _ in range(3))
+
+            filenames = [self._datafilename(ts_data, policy, frag_index=4),
+                         self._metafilename(ts_newer_meta, ts_newer_meta)]
+            if policy.policy_type == EC_POLICY:
+                filenames.append(ts_data.internal + '.durable')
+
+            self._verify_get_hashes(
+                filenames, ts_data, ts_newer_meta, ts_newer_meta, policy)
+
+    def test_hash_suffix_with_older_content_type_in_older_meta(self):
+        # After rsync replication we could have two meta files: newest
+        # content-type is in older meta file, older than older meta file
+        for policy in self.iter_policies():
+            ts_data, ts_ctype, ts_older_meta, ts_newer_meta = (
+                self.ts() for _ in range(4))
+
+            filenames = [self._datafilename(ts_data, policy, frag_index=4),
+                         self._metafilename(ts_newer_meta),
+                         self._metafilename(ts_older_meta, ts_ctype)]
+            if policy.policy_type == EC_POLICY:
+                filenames.append(ts_data.internal + '.durable')
+
+            self._verify_get_hashes(
+                filenames, ts_data, ts_newer_meta, ts_ctype, policy)
+
+    def test_hash_suffix_with_same_age_content_type_in_older_meta(self):
+        # After rsync replication we could have two meta files: newest
+        # content-type is in older meta file, at same age as older meta file
+        for policy in self.iter_policies():
+            ts_data, ts_older_meta, ts_newer_meta = (
+                self.ts() for _ in range(3))
+
+            filenames = [self._datafilename(ts_data, policy, frag_index=4),
+                         self._metafilename(ts_newer_meta),
+                         self._metafilename(ts_older_meta, ts_older_meta)]
+            if policy.policy_type == EC_POLICY:
+                filenames.append(ts_data.internal + '.durable')
+
+            self._verify_get_hashes(
+                filenames, ts_data, ts_newer_meta, ts_older_meta, policy)
+
+    def test_hash_suffix_with_obsolete_content_type_in_older_meta(self):
+        # After rsync replication we could have two meta files: newest
+        # content-type is in older meta file, but older than data file
+        for policy in self.iter_policies():
+            ts_ctype, ts_data, ts_older_meta, ts_newer_meta = (
+                self.ts() for _ in range(4))
+
+            filenames = [self._datafilename(ts_data, policy, frag_index=4),
+                         self._metafilename(ts_newer_meta),
+                         self._metafilename(ts_older_meta, ts_ctype)]
+            if policy.policy_type == EC_POLICY:
+                filenames.append(ts_data.internal + '.durable')
+
+            self._verify_get_hashes(
+                filenames, ts_data, ts_newer_meta, None, policy)
+
     def test_hash_suffix_removes_empty_hashdir_and_suffix(self):
         for policy in self.iter_policies():
             df_mgr = self.df_router[policy]
diff --git a/test/unit/obj/test_server.py b/test/unit/obj/test_server.py
index 81fd79e42f..40c37ee39c 100755
--- a/test/unit/obj/test_server.py
+++ b/test/unit/obj/test_server.py
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ from swift.obj import server as object_server
 from swift.obj import diskfile
 from swift.common import utils, bufferedhttp
 from swift.common.utils import hash_path, mkdirs, normalize_timestamp, \
-    NullLogger, storage_directory, public, replication
+    NullLogger, storage_directory, public, replication, encode_timestamps, \
+    Timestamp
 from swift.common import constraints
 from swift.common.swob import Request, HeaderKeyDict, WsgiBytesIO
 from swift.common.splice import splice
@@ -168,7 +169,7 @@ class TestObjectController(unittest.TestCase):
         dah = ['content-disposition', 'content-encoding', 'x-delete-at',
                'x-object-manifest', 'x-static-large-object']
         conf = {'devices': self.testdir, 'mount_check': 'false',
-                'allowed_headers': ','.join(['content-type'] + dah)}
+                'allowed_headers': ','.join(['content-length'] + dah)}
         self.object_controller = object_server.ObjectController(
             conf, logger=debug_logger())
         self.assertEqual(self.object_controller.allowed_headers, set(dah))
@@ -416,12 +417,14 @@ class TestObjectController(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 400)
 
     def test_POST_container_connection(self):
-
-        def mock_http_connect(response, with_exc=False):
+        # Test that POST does call container_update and returns success
+        # whether update to container server succeeds or fails
+        def mock_http_connect(calls, response, with_exc=False):
 
             class FakeConn(object):
 
-                def __init__(self, status, with_exc):
+                def __init__(self, calls, status, with_exc):
+                    self.calls = calls
                     self.status = status
                     self.reason = 'Fake'
                     self.host = '1.2.3.4'
@@ -429,6 +432,7 @@ class TestObjectController(unittest.TestCase):
                     self.with_exc = with_exc
 
                 def getresponse(self):
+                    calls[0] += 1
                     if self.with_exc:
                         raise Exception('test')
                     return self
@@ -436,7 +440,7 @@ class TestObjectController(unittest.TestCase):
                 def read(self, amt=None):
                     return ''
 
-            return lambda *args, **kwargs: FakeConn(response, with_exc)
+            return lambda *args, **kwargs: FakeConn(calls, response, with_exc)
 
         ts = time()
         timestamp = normalize_timestamp(ts)
@@ -456,8 +460,9 @@ class TestObjectController(unittest.TestCase):
                      'X-Container-Device': 'sda1',
                      'X-Container-Timestamp': '1',
                      'Content-Type': 'application/new1'})
+        calls = [0]
         with mock.patch.object(object_server, 'http_connect',
-                               mock_http_connect(202)):
+                               mock_http_connect(calls, 202)):
             resp = req.get_response(self.object_controller)
         self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 202)
         req = Request.blank(
@@ -469,8 +474,9 @@ class TestObjectController(unittest.TestCase):
                      'X-Container-Device': 'sda1',
                      'X-Container-Timestamp': '1',
                      'Content-Type': 'application/new1'})
+        calls = [0]
         with mock.patch.object(object_server, 'http_connect',
-                               mock_http_connect(202, with_exc=True)):
+                               mock_http_connect(calls, 202, with_exc=True)):
             resp = req.get_response(self.object_controller)
         self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 202)
         req = Request.blank(
@@ -482,11 +488,215 @@ class TestObjectController(unittest.TestCase):
                      'X-Container-Device': 'sda1',
                      'X-Container-Timestamp': '1',
                      'Content-Type': 'application/new2'})
+        calls = [0]
         with mock.patch.object(object_server, 'http_connect',
-                               mock_http_connect(500)):
+                               mock_http_connect(calls, 500)):
             resp = req.get_response(self.object_controller)
         self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 202)
 
+    def _test_POST_container_updates(self, policy, update_etag=None):
+        # Test that POST requests result in correct calls to container_update
+        ts_iter = (Timestamp(t) for t in itertools.count(int(time())))
+        t = [ts_iter.next() for _ in range(0, 5)]
+        calls_made = []
+        update_etag = update_etag or '098f6bcd4621d373cade4e832627b4f6'
+
+        def mock_container_update(ctlr, op, account, container, obj, request,
+                                  headers_out, objdevice, policy_idx):
+            calls_made.append(headers_out)
+
+        headers = {
+            'X-Timestamp': t[1].internal,
+            'Content-Type': 'application/octet-stream;swift_bytes=123456789',
+            'Content-Length': '4',
+            'X-Backend-Storage-Policy': int(policy)}
+        if policy.policy_type == EC_POLICY:
+            headers['X-Backend-Container-Update-Override-Etag'] = update_etag
+            headers['X-Object-Sysmeta-Ec-Etag'] = update_etag
+
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c/o',
+                            environ={'REQUEST_METHOD': 'PUT'},
+                            headers=headers)
+        req.body = 'test'
+
+        with mock.patch('swift.obj.server.ObjectController.container_update',
+                        mock_container_update):
+            resp = req.get_response(self.object_controller)
+
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 201)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(calls_made))
+        expected_headers = HeaderKeyDict({
+            'x-size': '4',
+            'x-content-type': 'application/octet-stream;swift_bytes=123456789',
+            'x-timestamp': t[1].internal,
+            'x-etag': update_etag})
+        self.assertDictEqual(expected_headers, calls_made[0])
+
+        # POST with no metadata newer than the data should return 409,
+        # container update not expected
+        calls_made = []
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c/o',
+                            environ={'REQUEST_METHOD': 'POST'},
+                            headers={'X-Timestamp': t[0].internal,
+                                     'X-Backend-Storage-Policy': int(policy)})
+
+        with mock.patch('swift.obj.server.ObjectController.container_update',
+                        mock_container_update):
+            resp = req.get_response(self.object_controller)
+
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 409)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.headers['x-backend-timestamp'],
+                         t[1].internal)
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(calls_made))
+
+        # POST with newer metadata returns success and container update
+        # is expected
+        calls_made = []
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c/o',
+                            environ={'REQUEST_METHOD': 'POST'},
+                            headers={'X-Timestamp': t[3].internal,
+                                     'X-Backend-Storage-Policy': int(policy)})
+
+        with mock.patch('swift.obj.server.ObjectController.container_update',
+                        mock_container_update):
+            resp = req.get_response(self.object_controller)
+
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 202)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(calls_made))
+        expected_headers = HeaderKeyDict({
+            'x-size': '4',
+            'x-content-type': 'application/octet-stream;swift_bytes=123456789',
+            'x-timestamp': t[1].internal,
+            'x-content-type-timestamp': t[1].internal,
+            'x-meta-timestamp': t[3].internal,
+            'x-etag': update_etag})
+        self.assertDictEqual(expected_headers, calls_made[0])
+
+        # POST with no metadata newer than existing metadata should return
+        # 409, container update not expected
+        calls_made = []
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c/o',
+                            environ={'REQUEST_METHOD': 'POST'},
+                            headers={'X-Timestamp': t[2].internal,
+                                     'X-Backend-Storage-Policy': int(policy)})
+
+        with mock.patch('swift.obj.server.ObjectController.container_update',
+                        mock_container_update):
+            resp = req.get_response(self.object_controller)
+
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 409)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.headers['x-backend-timestamp'],
+                         t[3].internal)
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(calls_made))
+
+        # POST with newer content-type but older metadata returns success
+        # and container update is expected newer content-type should have
+        # existing swift_bytes appended
+        calls_made = []
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c/o',
+                            environ={'REQUEST_METHOD': 'POST'},
+                            headers={
+                                'X-Timestamp': t[2].internal,
+                                'Content-Type': 'text/plain',
+                                'Content-Type-Timestamp': t[2].internal,
+                                'X-Backend-Storage-Policy': int(policy)
+                            })
+
+        with mock.patch('swift.obj.server.ObjectController.container_update',
+                        mock_container_update):
+            resp = req.get_response(self.object_controller)
+
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 202)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(calls_made))
+        expected_headers = HeaderKeyDict({
+            'x-size': '4',
+            'x-content-type': 'text/plain;swift_bytes=123456789',
+            'x-timestamp': t[1].internal,
+            'x-content-type-timestamp': t[2].internal,
+            'x-meta-timestamp': t[3].internal,
+            'x-etag': update_etag})
+        self.assertDictEqual(expected_headers, calls_made[0])
+
+        # POST with older content-type but newer metadata returns success
+        # and container update is expected
+        calls_made = []
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c/o',
+                            environ={'REQUEST_METHOD': 'POST'},
+                            headers={
+                                'X-Timestamp': t[4].internal,
+                                'Content-Type': 'older',
+                                'Content-Type-Timestamp': t[1].internal,
+                                'X-Backend-Storage-Policy': int(policy)
+                            })
+
+        with mock.patch('swift.obj.server.ObjectController.container_update',
+                        mock_container_update):
+            resp = req.get_response(self.object_controller)
+
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 202)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(calls_made))
+        expected_headers = HeaderKeyDict({
+            'x-size': '4',
+            'x-content-type': 'text/plain;swift_bytes=123456789',
+            'x-timestamp': t[1].internal,
+            'x-content-type-timestamp': t[2].internal,
+            'x-meta-timestamp': t[4].internal,
+            'x-etag': update_etag})
+        self.assertDictEqual(expected_headers, calls_made[0])
+
+        # POST with same-time content-type and metadata returns 409
+        # and no container update is expected
+        calls_made = []
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c/o',
+                            environ={'REQUEST_METHOD': 'POST'},
+                            headers={
+                                'X-Timestamp': t[4].internal,
+                                'Content-Type': 'ignored',
+                                'Content-Type-Timestamp': t[2].internal,
+                                'X-Backend-Storage-Policy': int(policy)
+                            })
+
+        with mock.patch('swift.obj.server.ObjectController.container_update',
+                        mock_container_update):
+            resp = req.get_response(self.object_controller)
+
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 409)
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(calls_made))
+
+        # POST with implicit newer content-type but older metadata
+        # returns success and container update is expected,
+        # update reports existing metadata timestamp
+        calls_made = []
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c/o',
+                            environ={'REQUEST_METHOD': 'POST'},
+                            headers={
+                                'X-Timestamp': t[3].internal,
+                                'Content-Type': 'text/newer',
+                                'X-Backend-Storage-Policy': int(policy)
+                            })
+
+        with mock.patch('swift.obj.server.ObjectController.container_update',
+                        mock_container_update):
+            resp = req.get_response(self.object_controller)
+
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 202)
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(calls_made))
+        expected_headers = HeaderKeyDict({
+            'x-size': '4',
+            'x-content-type': 'text/newer;swift_bytes=123456789',
+            'x-timestamp': t[1].internal,
+            'x-content-type-timestamp': t[3].internal,
+            'x-meta-timestamp': t[4].internal,
+            'x-etag': update_etag})
+        self.assertDictEqual(expected_headers, calls_made[0])
+
+    def test_POST_container_updates_with_replication_policy(self):
+        self._test_POST_container_updates(POLICIES[0])
+
+    def test_POST_container_updates_with_EC_policy(self):
+        self._test_POST_container_updates(
+            POLICIES[1], update_etag='override_etag')
+
     def test_POST_quarantine_zbyte(self):
         timestamp = normalize_timestamp(time())
         req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c/o', environ={'REQUEST_METHOD': 'PUT'},
@@ -1332,6 +1542,84 @@ class TestObjectController(unittest.TestCase):
                           'name': '/a/c/o',
                           'X-Object-Meta-1': 'Not One'})
 
+    def test_POST_then_fetch_content_type(self):
+        # check that content_type is updated by a POST
+        timestamp1 = normalize_timestamp(time())
+        req = Request.blank(
+            '/sda1/p/a/c/o', environ={'REQUEST_METHOD': 'PUT'},
+            headers={'X-Timestamp': timestamp1,
+                     'Content-Type': 'text/plain',
+                     'ETag': '1000d172764c9dbc3a5798a67ec5bb76',
+                     'X-Object-Meta-1': 'One'})
+        req.body = 'VERIFY SYSMETA'
+        resp = req.get_response(self.object_controller)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 201)
+
+        timestamp2 = normalize_timestamp(time())
+        req = Request.blank(
+            '/sda1/p/a/c/o', environ={'REQUEST_METHOD': 'POST'},
+            headers={'X-Timestamp': timestamp2,
+                     'X-Object-Meta-1': 'Not One',
+                     'Content-Type': 'text/html'})
+        resp = req.get_response(self.object_controller)
+        self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 202)
+
+        # original .data file metadata should be unchanged
+        objfile = os.path.join(
+            self.testdir, 'sda1',
+            storage_directory(diskfile.get_data_dir(0), 'p',
+                              hash_path('a', 'c', 'o')),
+            timestamp1 + '.data')
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isfile(objfile))
+        self.assertEqual(open(objfile).read(), 'VERIFY SYSMETA')
+        self.assertEqual(diskfile.read_metadata(objfile),
+                         {'X-Timestamp': timestamp1,
+                          'Content-Length': '14',
+                          'Content-Type': 'text/plain',
+                          'ETag': '1000d172764c9dbc3a5798a67ec5bb76',
+                          'name': '/a/c/o',
+                          'X-Object-Meta-1': 'One'})
+
+        # .meta file metadata should have updated content-type
+        metafile_name = encode_timestamps(Timestamp(timestamp2),
+                                          Timestamp(timestamp2),
+                                          explicit=True)
+        metafile = os.path.join(
+            self.testdir, 'sda1',
+            storage_directory(diskfile.get_data_dir(0), 'p',
+                              hash_path('a', 'c', 'o')),
+            metafile_name + '.meta')
+        self.assertTrue(os.path.isfile(metafile))
+        self.assertEqual(diskfile.read_metadata(metafile),
+                         {'X-Timestamp': timestamp2,
+                          'name': '/a/c/o',
+                          'Content-Type': 'text/html',
+                          'Content-Type-Timestamp': timestamp2,
+                          'X-Object-Meta-1': 'Not One'})
+
+        def check_response(resp):
+            self.assertEqual(resp.status_int, 200)
+            self.assertEqual(resp.content_length, 14)
+            self.assertEqual(resp.content_type, 'text/html')
+            self.assertEqual(resp.headers['content-type'], 'text/html')
+            self.assertEqual(
+                resp.headers['last-modified'],
+                strftime('%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S GMT',
+                         gmtime(math.ceil(float(timestamp2)))))
+            self.assertEqual(resp.headers['etag'],
+                             '"1000d172764c9dbc3a5798a67ec5bb76"')
+            self.assertEqual(resp.headers['x-object-meta-1'], 'Not One')
+
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c/o',
+                            environ={'REQUEST_METHOD': 'HEAD'})
+        resp = req.get_response(self.object_controller)
+        check_response(resp)
+
+        req = Request.blank('/sda1/p/a/c/o',
+                            environ={'REQUEST_METHOD': 'GET'})
+        resp = req.get_response(self.object_controller)
+        check_response(resp)
+
     def test_PUT_then_fetch_system_metadata(self):
         timestamp = normalize_timestamp(time())
         req = Request.blank(
diff --git a/test/unit/obj/test_ssync.py b/test/unit/obj/test_ssync.py
index 94c463606c..1349e16440 100644
--- a/test/unit/obj/test_ssync.py
+++ b/test/unit/obj/test_ssync.py
@@ -904,6 +904,165 @@ class TestSsyncReplication(TestBaseSsync):
         # tx meta file should not have been sync'd to rx data file
         self.assertNotIn('X-Object-Meta-Test', rx_obj.get_metadata())
 
+    def test_content_type_sync(self):
+        policy = POLICIES.default
+        rx_node_index = 0
+
+        # create diskfiles...
+        tx_objs = {}
+        rx_objs = {}
+        tx_df_mgr = self.daemon._diskfile_router[policy]
+        rx_df_mgr = self.rx_controller._diskfile_router[policy]
+
+        expected_subreqs = defaultdict(list)
+
+        # o1 on tx only with two meta files
+        name = 'o1'
+        t1 = self.ts_iter.next()
+        tx_objs[name] = self._create_ondisk_files(tx_df_mgr, name, policy, t1)
+        t1_type = self.ts_iter.next()
+        metadata_1 = {'X-Timestamp': t1_type.internal,
+                      'Content-Type': 'text/test',
+                      'Content-Type-Timestamp': t1_type.internal}
+        tx_objs[name][0].write_metadata(metadata_1)
+        t1_meta = self.ts_iter.next()
+        metadata_2 = {'X-Timestamp': t1_meta.internal,
+                      'X-Object-Meta-Test': name}
+        tx_objs[name][0].write_metadata(metadata_2)
+        expected_subreqs['PUT'].append(name)
+        expected_subreqs['POST'].append(name)
+
+        # o2 on tx with two meta files, rx has .data and newest .meta but is
+        # missing latest content-type
+        name = 'o2'
+        t2 = self.ts_iter.next()
+        tx_objs[name] = self._create_ondisk_files(tx_df_mgr, name, policy, t2)
+        t2_type = self.ts_iter.next()
+        metadata_1 = {'X-Timestamp': t2_type.internal,
+                      'Content-Type': 'text/test',
+                      'Content-Type-Timestamp': t2_type.internal}
+        tx_objs[name][0].write_metadata(metadata_1)
+        t2_meta = self.ts_iter.next()
+        metadata_2 = {'X-Timestamp': t2_meta.internal,
+                      'X-Object-Meta-Test': name}
+        tx_objs[name][0].write_metadata(metadata_2)
+        rx_objs[name] = self._create_ondisk_files(rx_df_mgr, name, policy, t2)
+        rx_objs[name][0].write_metadata(metadata_2)
+        expected_subreqs['POST'].append(name)
+
+        # o3 on tx with two meta files, rx has .data and one .meta but does
+        # have latest content-type so nothing to sync
+        name = 'o3'
+        t3 = self.ts_iter.next()
+        tx_objs[name] = self._create_ondisk_files(tx_df_mgr, name, policy, t3)
+        t3_type = self.ts_iter.next()
+        metadata_1 = {'X-Timestamp': t3_type.internal,
+                      'Content-Type': 'text/test',
+                      'Content-Type-Timestamp': t3_type.internal}
+        tx_objs[name][0].write_metadata(metadata_1)
+        t3_meta = self.ts_iter.next()
+        metadata_2 = {'X-Timestamp': t3_meta.internal,
+                      'X-Object-Meta-Test': name}
+        tx_objs[name][0].write_metadata(metadata_2)
+        rx_objs[name] = self._create_ondisk_files(rx_df_mgr, name, policy, t3)
+        metadata_2b = {'X-Timestamp': t3_meta.internal,
+                       'X-Object-Meta-Test': name,
+                       'Content-Type': 'text/test',
+                       'Content-Type-Timestamp': t3_type.internal}
+        rx_objs[name][0].write_metadata(metadata_2b)
+
+        # o4 on tx with one meta file having latest content-type, rx has
+        # .data and two .meta having latest content-type so nothing to sync
+        # i.e. o4 is the reverse of o3 scenario
+        name = 'o4'
+        t4 = self.ts_iter.next()
+        tx_objs[name] = self._create_ondisk_files(tx_df_mgr, name, policy, t4)
+        t4_type = self.ts_iter.next()
+        t4_meta = self.ts_iter.next()
+        metadata_2b = {'X-Timestamp': t4_meta.internal,
+                       'X-Object-Meta-Test': name,
+                       'Content-Type': 'text/test',
+                       'Content-Type-Timestamp': t4_type.internal}
+        tx_objs[name][0].write_metadata(metadata_2b)
+        rx_objs[name] = self._create_ondisk_files(rx_df_mgr, name, policy, t4)
+        metadata_1 = {'X-Timestamp': t4_type.internal,
+                      'Content-Type': 'text/test',
+                      'Content-Type-Timestamp': t4_type.internal}
+        rx_objs[name][0].write_metadata(metadata_1)
+        metadata_2 = {'X-Timestamp': t4_meta.internal,
+                      'X-Object-Meta-Test': name}
+        rx_objs[name][0].write_metadata(metadata_2)
+
+        # o5 on tx with one meta file having latest content-type, rx has
+        # .data and no .meta
+        name = 'o5'
+        t5 = self.ts_iter.next()
+        tx_objs[name] = self._create_ondisk_files(tx_df_mgr, name, policy, t5)
+        t5_type = self.ts_iter.next()
+        t5_meta = self.ts_iter.next()
+        metadata = {'X-Timestamp': t5_meta.internal,
+                    'X-Object-Meta-Test': name,
+                    'Content-Type': 'text/test',
+                    'Content-Type-Timestamp': t5_type.internal}
+        tx_objs[name][0].write_metadata(metadata)
+        rx_objs[name] = self._create_ondisk_files(rx_df_mgr, name, policy, t5)
+        expected_subreqs['POST'].append(name)
+
+        suffixes = set()
+        for diskfiles in tx_objs.values():
+            for df in diskfiles:
+                suffixes.add(os.path.basename(os.path.dirname(df._datadir)))
+
+        # create ssync sender instance...
+        job = {'device': self.device,
+               'partition': self.partition,
+               'policy': policy}
+        node = dict(self.rx_node)
+        node.update({'index': rx_node_index})
+        sender = ssync_sender.Sender(self.daemon, node, job, suffixes)
+        # wrap connection from tx to rx to capture ssync messages...
+        sender.connect, trace = self.make_connect_wrapper(sender)
+
+        # run the sync protocol...
+        success, in_sync_objs = sender()
+
+        self.assertEqual(5, len(in_sync_objs), trace['messages'])
+        self.assertTrue(success)
+
+        # verify protocol
+        results = self._analyze_trace(trace)
+        self.assertEqual(5, len(results['tx_missing']))
+        self.assertEqual(3, len(results['rx_missing']))
+        for subreq in results.get('tx_updates'):
+            obj = subreq['path'].split('/')[3]
+            method = subreq['method']
+            self.assertTrue(obj in expected_subreqs[method],
+                            'Unexpected %s subreq for object %s, expected %s'
+                            % (method, obj, expected_subreqs[method]))
+            expected_subreqs[method].remove(obj)
+            if method == 'PUT':
+                expected_body = '%s___None' % subreq['path']
+                self.assertEqual(expected_body, subreq['body'])
+        # verify all expected subreqs consumed
+        for _method, expected in expected_subreqs.items():
+            self.assertFalse(expected,
+                             'Expected subreqs not seen for %s for objects %s'
+                             % (_method, expected))
+        self.assertFalse(results['rx_updates'])
+
+        # verify on disk files...
+        self._verify_ondisk_files(tx_objs, policy)
+        for oname, rx_obj in rx_objs.items():
+            df = rx_obj[0].open()
+            metadata = df.get_metadata()
+            self.assertEqual(metadata['X-Object-Meta-Test'], oname)
+            self.assertEqual(metadata['Content-Type'], 'text/test')
+        # verify that tx and rx both generate the same suffix hashes...
+        tx_hashes = tx_df_mgr.get_hashes(
+            self.device, self.partition, suffixes, policy)
+        rx_hashes = rx_df_mgr.get_hashes(
+            self.device, self.partition, suffixes, policy)
+        self.assertEqual(tx_hashes, rx_hashes)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/test/unit/obj/test_ssync_receiver.py b/test/unit/obj/test_ssync_receiver.py
index cb92608a85..037828741a 100644
--- a/test/unit/obj/test_ssync_receiver.py
+++ b/test/unit/obj/test_ssync_receiver.py
@@ -1927,27 +1927,57 @@ class TestModuleMethods(unittest.TestCase):
         ts_iter = make_timestamp_iter()
         t_data = next(ts_iter)
         t_meta = next(ts_iter)
+        t_ctype = next(ts_iter)
         d_meta_data = t_meta.raw - t_data.raw
+        d_ctype_data = t_ctype.raw - t_data.raw
 
         # legacy single timestamp string
         msg = '%s %s' % (object_hash, t_data.internal)
         expected = dict(object_hash=object_hash,
                         ts_meta=t_data,
-                        ts_data=t_data)
+                        ts_data=t_data,
+                        ts_ctype=t_data)
         self.assertEqual(expected, ssync_receiver.decode_missing(msg))
 
         # hex meta delta encoded as extra message part
         msg = '%s %s m:%x' % (object_hash, t_data.internal, d_meta_data)
         expected = dict(object_hash=object_hash,
                         ts_data=t_data,
-                        ts_meta=t_meta)
+                        ts_meta=t_meta,
+                        ts_ctype=t_data)
         self.assertEqual(expected, ssync_receiver.decode_missing(msg))
 
+        # hex content type delta encoded in extra message part
+        msg = '%s %s t:%x,m:%x' % (object_hash, t_data.internal,
+                                   d_ctype_data, d_meta_data)
+        expected = dict(object_hash=object_hash,
+                        ts_data=t_data,
+                        ts_meta=t_meta,
+                        ts_ctype=t_ctype)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            expected, ssync_receiver.decode_missing(msg))
+
+        # order of subparts does not matter
+        msg = '%s %s m:%x,t:%x' % (object_hash, t_data.internal,
+                                   d_meta_data, d_ctype_data)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            expected, ssync_receiver.decode_missing(msg))
+
+        # hex content type delta may be zero
+        msg = '%s %s t:0,m:%x' % (object_hash, t_data.internal, d_meta_data)
+        expected = dict(object_hash=object_hash,
+                        ts_data=t_data,
+                        ts_meta=t_meta,
+                        ts_ctype=t_data)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            expected, ssync_receiver.decode_missing(msg))
+
         # unexpected zero delta is tolerated
         msg = '%s %s m:0' % (object_hash, t_data.internal)
         expected = dict(object_hash=object_hash,
                         ts_meta=t_data,
-                        ts_data=t_data)
+                        ts_data=t_data,
+                        ts_ctype=t_data)
         self.assertEqual(expected, ssync_receiver.decode_missing(msg))
 
         # unexpected subparts in timestamp delta part are tolerated
@@ -1956,7 +1986,8 @@ class TestModuleMethods(unittest.TestCase):
                                            d_meta_data)
         expected = dict(object_hash=object_hash,
                         ts_meta=t_meta,
-                        ts_data=t_data)
+                        ts_data=t_data,
+                        ts_ctype=t_data)
         self.assertEqual(
             expected, ssync_receiver.decode_missing(msg))
 
@@ -1966,7 +1997,8 @@ class TestModuleMethods(unittest.TestCase):
                                            d_meta_data)
         expected = dict(object_hash=object_hash,
                         ts_meta=t_meta,
-                        ts_data=t_data)
+                        ts_data=t_data,
+                        ts_ctype=t_data)
         self.assertEqual(expected, ssync_receiver.decode_missing(msg))
 
     def test_encode_wanted(self):
diff --git a/test/unit/obj/test_ssync_sender.py b/test/unit/obj/test_ssync_sender.py
index b7286527fd..40f7e25527 100644
--- a/test/unit/obj/test_ssync_sender.py
+++ b/test/unit/obj/test_ssync_sender.py
@@ -763,12 +763,14 @@ class TestSender(BaseTest):
                     '/srv/node/dev/objects/9/def/'
                     '9d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf0def',
                     '9d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf0def',
-                    {'ts_data': Timestamp(1380144472.22222)})
+                    {'ts_data': Timestamp(1380144472.22222),
+                     'ts_meta': Timestamp(1380144473.22222)})
                 yield (
                     '/srv/node/dev/objects/9/def/'
                     '9d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf1def',
                     '9d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf1def',
                     {'ts_data': Timestamp(1380144474.44444),
+                     'ts_ctype': Timestamp(1380144474.44448),
                      'ts_meta': Timestamp(1380144475.44444)})
             else:
                 raise Exception(
@@ -792,18 +794,21 @@ class TestSender(BaseTest):
             ''.join(self.sender.connection.sent),
             '17\r\n:MISSING_CHECK: START\r\n\r\n'
             '33\r\n9d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf0abc 1380144470.00000\r\n\r\n'
-            '33\r\n9d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf0def 1380144472.22222\r\n\r\n'
-            '3b\r\n9d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf1def 1380144474.44444 '
+            '3b\r\n9d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf0def 1380144472.22222 '
             'm:186a0\r\n\r\n'
+            '3f\r\n9d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf1def 1380144474.44444 '
+            'm:186a0,t:4\r\n\r\n'
             '15\r\n:MISSING_CHECK: END\r\n\r\n')
         self.assertEqual(self.sender.send_map, {})
         candidates = [('9d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf0abc',
                        dict(ts_data=Timestamp(1380144470.00000))),
                       ('9d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf0def',
-                       dict(ts_data=Timestamp(1380144472.22222))),
+                       dict(ts_data=Timestamp(1380144472.22222),
+                            ts_meta=Timestamp(1380144473.22222))),
                       ('9d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf1def',
                        dict(ts_data=Timestamp(1380144474.44444),
-                            ts_meta=Timestamp(1380144475.44444)))]
+                            ts_meta=Timestamp(1380144475.44444),
+                            ts_ctype=Timestamp(1380144474.44448)))]
         self.assertEqual(self.sender.available_map, dict(candidates))
 
     def test_missing_check_far_end_disconnect(self):
@@ -1545,8 +1550,10 @@ class TestModuleMethods(unittest.TestCase):
         object_hash = '9d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf0abc'
         ts_iter = make_timestamp_iter()
         t_data = next(ts_iter)
+        t_type = next(ts_iter)
         t_meta = next(ts_iter)
         d_meta_data = t_meta.raw - t_data.raw
+        d_type_data = t_type.raw - t_data.raw
 
         # equal data and meta timestamps -> legacy single timestamp string
         expected = '%s %s' % (object_hash, t_data.internal)
@@ -1560,9 +1567,36 @@ class TestModuleMethods(unittest.TestCase):
             expected,
             ssync_sender.encode_missing(object_hash, t_data, ts_meta=t_meta))
 
+        # newer meta timestamp -> hex data delta encoded as extra message part
+        # content type timestamp equals data timestamp -> no delta
+        expected = '%s %s m:%x' % (object_hash, t_data.internal, d_meta_data)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            expected,
+            ssync_sender.encode_missing(object_hash, t_data, t_meta, t_data))
+
+        # content type timestamp newer data timestamp -> delta encoded
+        expected = ('%s %s m:%x,t:%x'
+                    % (object_hash, t_data.internal, d_meta_data, d_type_data))
+        self.assertEqual(
+            expected,
+            ssync_sender.encode_missing(object_hash, t_data, t_meta, t_type))
+
+        # content type timestamp equal to meta timestamp -> delta encoded
+        expected = ('%s %s m:%x,t:%x'
+                    % (object_hash, t_data.internal, d_meta_data, d_type_data))
+        self.assertEqual(
+            expected,
+            ssync_sender.encode_missing(object_hash, t_data, t_meta, t_type))
+
         # test encode and decode functions invert
         expected = {'object_hash': object_hash, 'ts_meta': t_meta,
-                    'ts_data': t_data}
+                    'ts_data': t_data, 'ts_ctype': t_type}
+        msg = ssync_sender.encode_missing(**expected)
+        actual = ssync_receiver.decode_missing(msg)
+        self.assertEqual(expected, actual)
+
+        expected = {'object_hash': object_hash, 'ts_meta': t_meta,
+                    'ts_data': t_meta, 'ts_ctype': t_meta}
         msg = ssync_sender.encode_missing(**expected)
         actual = ssync_receiver.decode_missing(msg)
         self.assertEqual(expected, actual)
diff --git a/test/unit/proxy/test_server.py b/test/unit/proxy/test_server.py
index 961c7fd3b2..551b51af22 100644
--- a/test/unit/proxy/test_server.py
+++ b/test/unit/proxy/test_server.py
@@ -3210,7 +3210,8 @@ class TestObjectController(unittest.TestCase):
             backend_requests.append((method, path, headers))
 
         req = Request.blank('/v1/a/c/o', {}, method='POST',
-                            headers={'X-Object-Meta-Color': 'Blue'})
+                            headers={'X-Object-Meta-Color': 'Blue',
+                                     'Content-Type': 'text/plain'})
 
         # we want the container_info response to says a policy index of 1
         resp_headers = {'X-Backend-Storage-Policy-Index': 1}
@@ -3271,6 +3272,7 @@ class TestObjectController(unittest.TestCase):
         backend_requests = []
         req = Request.blank('/v1/a/c/o', {}, method='POST',
                             headers={'X-Object-Meta-Color': 'Blue',
+                                     'Content-Type': 'text/plain',
                                      'X-Backend-Storage-Policy-Index': 0})
         with mocked_http_conn(
                 200, 200, 202, 202, 202,