diff --git a/spec/02-integration/19-incrmental_sync/01-sync_spec.lua b/spec/02-integration/19-incrmental_sync/01-sync_spec.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..baaa579f23a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/02-integration/19-incrmental_sync/01-sync_spec.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,470 @@
+local helpers = require "spec.helpers"
+local cjson = require("cjson.safe")
+
+for _, strategy in helpers.each_strategy() do
+
+describe("Incremental Sync RPC #" .. strategy, function()
+
+  lazy_setup(function()
+    helpers.get_db_utils(strategy, {
+      "clustering_data_planes",
+    }) -- runs migrations
+
+    assert(helpers.start_kong({
+      role = "control_plane",
+      cluster_cert = "spec/fixtures/kong_clustering.crt",
+      cluster_cert_key = "spec/fixtures/kong_clustering.key",
+      database = strategy,
+      cluster_listen = "127.0.0.1:9005",
+      nginx_conf = "spec/fixtures/custom_nginx.template",
+      cluster_incremental_sync = "on", -- incremental sync
+    }))
+
+    assert(helpers.start_kong({
+      role = "data_plane",
+      database = "off",
+      prefix = "servroot2",
+      cluster_cert = "spec/fixtures/kong_clustering.crt",
+      cluster_cert_key = "spec/fixtures/kong_clustering.key",
+      cluster_control_plane = "127.0.0.1:9005",
+      proxy_listen = "0.0.0.0:9002",
+      nginx_conf = "spec/fixtures/custom_nginx.template",
+      nginx_worker_processes = 4, -- multiple workers
+      cluster_incremental_sync = "on", -- incremental sync
+    }))
+  end)
+
+  lazy_teardown(function()
+    helpers.stop_kong("servroot2")
+    helpers.stop_kong()
+  end)
+
+  after_each(function()
+    helpers.clean_logfile("servroot2/logs/error.log")
+    helpers.clean_logfile()
+  end)
+
+  describe("sync works", function()
+    local route_id
+
+    it("create route on CP", function()
+      local admin_client = helpers.admin_client(10000)
+      finally(function()
+        admin_client:close()
+      end)
+
+      local res = assert(admin_client:post("/services", {
+        body = { name = "service-001", url = "https://127.0.0.1:15556/request", },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      assert.res_status(201, res)
+
+      res = assert(admin_client:post("/services/service-001/routes", {
+        body = { paths = { "/001" }, },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      local body = assert.res_status(201, res)
+      local json = cjson.decode(body)
+
+      route_id = json.id
+      helpers.wait_until(function()
+        local proxy_client = helpers.http_client("127.0.0.1", 9002)
+
+        res = proxy_client:send({
+          method  = "GET",
+          path    = "/001",
+        })
+
+        local status = res and res.status
+        proxy_client:close()
+        if status == 200 then
+          return true
+        end
+      end, 10)
+
+      assert.logfile().has.line("[kong.sync.v2] config push (connected client)", true)
+      assert.logfile().has.no.line("unable to update clustering data plane status", true)
+
+      assert.logfile("servroot2/logs/error.log").has.line("[kong.sync.v2] update entity", true)
+    end)
+
+    it("update route on CP", function()
+      local admin_client = helpers.admin_client(10000)
+      finally(function()
+        admin_client:close()
+      end)
+
+      local res = assert(admin_client:post("/services", {
+        body = { name = "service-002", url = "https://127.0.0.1:15556/request", },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      assert.res_status(201, res)
+
+      res = assert(admin_client:post("/services/service-002/routes", {
+        body = { paths = { "/002-foo" }, },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      local body = assert.res_status(201, res)
+      local json = cjson.decode(body)
+
+      route_id = json.id
+      helpers.wait_until(function()
+        local proxy_client = helpers.http_client("127.0.0.1", 9002)
+
+        res = proxy_client:send({
+          method  = "GET",
+          path    = "/002-foo",
+        })
+
+        local status = res and res.status
+        proxy_client:close()
+        if status == 200 then
+          return true
+        end
+      end, 10)
+
+      res = assert(admin_client:put("/services/service-002/routes/" .. route_id, {
+        body = { paths = { "/002-bar" }, },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      assert.res_status(200, res)
+
+      helpers.wait_until(function()
+        local proxy_client = helpers.http_client("127.0.0.1", 9002)
+
+        res = proxy_client:send({
+          method  = "GET",
+          path    = "/002-bar",
+        })
+
+        local status = res and res.status
+        proxy_client:close()
+        if status == 200 then
+          return true
+        end
+      end, 10)
+
+      assert.logfile().has.line("[kong.sync.v2] config push (connected client)", true)
+      assert.logfile().has.no.line("unable to update clustering data plane status", true)
+
+      assert.logfile("servroot2/logs/error.log").has.line("[kong.sync.v2] update entity", true)
+    end)
+
+    it("delete route on CP", function()
+      local admin_client = helpers.admin_client(10000)
+      finally(function()
+        admin_client:close()
+      end)
+
+      local res = assert(admin_client:post("/services", {
+        body = { name = "service-003", url = "https://127.0.0.1:15556/request", },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      assert.res_status(201, res)
+
+      res = assert(admin_client:post("/services/service-003/routes", {
+        body = { paths = { "/003-foo" }, },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      local body = assert.res_status(201, res)
+      local json = cjson.decode(body)
+
+      route_id = json.id
+      helpers.wait_until(function()
+        local proxy_client = helpers.http_client("127.0.0.1", 9002)
+
+        res = proxy_client:send({
+          method  = "GET",
+          path    = "/003-foo",
+        })
+
+        local status = res and res.status
+        proxy_client:close()
+        if status == 200 then
+          return true
+        end
+      end, 10)
+
+      assert.logfile().has.line("[kong.sync.v2] config push (connected client)", true)
+      assert.logfile().has.no.line("unable to update clustering data plane status", true)
+
+      assert.logfile("servroot2/logs/error.log").has.line("[kong.sync.v2] update entity", true)
+      assert.logfile("servroot2/logs/error.log").has.no.line("[kong.sync.v2] delete entity", true)
+
+      res = assert(admin_client:delete("/services/service-003/routes/" .. route_id))
+      assert.res_status(204, res)
+
+      helpers.wait_until(function()
+        local proxy_client = helpers.http_client("127.0.0.1", 9002)
+
+        res = proxy_client:send({
+          method  = "GET",
+          path    = "/003-foo",
+        })
+
+        local status = res and res.status
+        proxy_client:close()
+        if status == 404 then
+          return true
+        end
+      end, 10)
+
+      assert.logfile("servroot2/logs/error.log").has.line("[kong.sync.v2] delete entity", true)
+    end)
+
+    it("update route on CP with name", function()
+      local admin_client = helpers.admin_client(10000)
+      finally(function()
+        admin_client:close()
+      end)
+
+      local res = assert(admin_client:post("/services", {
+        body = { name = "service-004", url = "https://127.0.0.1:15556/request", },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      assert.res_status(201, res)
+
+      res = assert(admin_client:post("/services/service-004/routes", {
+        body = { name = "route-004", paths = { "/004-foo" }, },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      assert.res_status(201, res)
+
+      helpers.wait_until(function()
+        local proxy_client = helpers.http_client("127.0.0.1", 9002)
+
+        res = proxy_client:send({
+          method  = "GET",
+          path    = "/004-foo",
+        })
+
+        local status = res and res.status
+        proxy_client:close()
+        if status == 200 then
+          return true
+        end
+      end, 10)
+
+      res = assert(admin_client:put("/services/service-004/routes/route-004", {
+        body = { paths = { "/004-bar" }, },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      assert.res_status(200, res)
+
+      helpers.wait_until(function()
+        local proxy_client = helpers.http_client("127.0.0.1", 9002)
+
+        res = proxy_client:send({
+          method  = "GET",
+          path    = "/004-bar",
+        })
+
+        local status = res and res.status
+        proxy_client:close()
+        if status == 200 then
+          return true
+        end
+      end, 10)
+
+      assert.logfile().has.line("[kong.sync.v2] config push (connected client)", true)
+      assert.logfile().has.no.line("unable to update clustering data plane status", true)
+
+      assert.logfile("servroot2/logs/error.log").has.line("[kong.sync.v2] update entity", true)
+    end)
+
+    it("delete route on CP with name", function()
+      local admin_client = helpers.admin_client(10000)
+      finally(function()
+        admin_client:close()
+      end)
+
+      local res = assert(admin_client:post("/services", {
+        body = { name = "service-005", url = "https://127.0.0.1:15556/request", },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      assert.res_status(201, res)
+
+      res = assert(admin_client:post("/services/service-005/routes", {
+        body = { name = "route-005", paths = { "/005-foo" }, },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      assert.res_status(201, res)
+
+      helpers.wait_until(function()
+        local proxy_client = helpers.http_client("127.0.0.1", 9002)
+
+        res = proxy_client:send({
+          method  = "GET",
+          path    = "/005-foo",
+        })
+
+        local status = res and res.status
+        proxy_client:close()
+        if status == 200 then
+          return true
+        end
+      end, 10)
+
+      assert.logfile().has.line("[kong.sync.v2] config push (connected client)", true)
+      assert.logfile().has.no.line("unable to update clustering data plane status", true)
+
+      assert.logfile("servroot2/logs/error.log").has.line("[kong.sync.v2] update entity", true)
+      assert.logfile("servroot2/logs/error.log").has.no.line("[kong.sync.v2] delete entity", true)
+
+      res = assert(admin_client:delete("/services/service-005/routes/route-005"))
+      assert.res_status(204, res)
+
+      helpers.wait_until(function()
+        local proxy_client = helpers.http_client("127.0.0.1", 9002)
+
+        res = proxy_client:send({
+          method  = "GET",
+          path    = "/005-foo",
+        })
+
+        local status = res and res.status
+        proxy_client:close()
+        if status == 404 then
+          return true
+        end
+      end, 10)
+
+      assert.logfile("servroot2/logs/error.log").has.line("[kong.sync.v2] delete entity", true)
+    end)
+
+    it("cascade delete on CP", function()
+      local admin_client = helpers.admin_client(10000)
+      finally(function()
+        admin_client:close()
+      end)
+
+      -- create service and route
+
+      local res = assert(admin_client:post("/services", {
+        body = { name = "service-006", url = "https://127.0.0.1:15556/request", },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      assert.res_status(201, res)
+
+      res = assert(admin_client:post("/services/service-006/routes", {
+        body = { paths = { "/006-foo" }, },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      local body = assert.res_status(201, res)
+      local json = cjson.decode(body)
+
+      route_id = json.id
+      helpers.wait_until(function()
+        local proxy_client = helpers.http_client("127.0.0.1", 9002)
+
+        res = proxy_client:send({
+          method  = "GET",
+          path    = "/006-foo",
+        })
+
+        local status = res and res.status
+        proxy_client:close()
+        if status == 200 then
+          return true
+        end
+      end, 10)
+
+      assert.logfile().has.line("[kong.sync.v2] config push (connected client)", true)
+      assert.logfile().has.no.line("unable to update clustering data plane status", true)
+
+      assert.logfile("servroot2/logs/error.log").has.line("[kong.sync.v2] update entity", true)
+
+      -- create consumer and key-auth
+
+      res = assert(admin_client:post("/consumers", {
+        body = { username = "foo", },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      assert.res_status(201, res)
+
+      res = assert(admin_client:post("/consumers/foo/key-auth", {
+        body = { key = "my-key", },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      assert.res_status(201, res)
+      res = assert(admin_client:post("/plugins", {
+        body = { name = "key-auth",
+                 config = { key_names = {"apikey"} },
+                 route = { id = route_id },
+               },
+        headers = {["Content-Type"] = "application/json"}
+      }))
+      assert.res_status(201, res)
+
+      helpers.wait_until(function()
+        local proxy_client = helpers.http_client("127.0.0.1", 9002)
+
+        res = proxy_client:send({
+          method  = "GET",
+          path    = "/006-foo",
+          headers = {["apikey"] = "my-key"},
+        })
+
+        local status = res and res.status
+        proxy_client:close()
+        if status == 200 then
+          return true
+        end
+      end, 10)
+
+      assert.logfile().has.no.line("[kong.sync.v2] new delta due to cascade deleting", true)
+      assert.logfile("servroot2/logs/error.log").has.no.line("[kong.sync.v2] delete entity", true)
+
+      -- delete consumer and key-auth
+
+      res = assert(admin_client:delete("/consumers/foo"))
+      assert.res_status(204, res)
+
+      helpers.wait_until(function()
+        local proxy_client = helpers.http_client("127.0.0.1", 9002)
+
+        res = proxy_client:send({
+          method  = "GET",
+          path    = "/006-foo",
+          headers = {["apikey"] = "my-key"},
+        })
+
+        local status = res and res.status
+        proxy_client:close()
+        if status == 401 then
+          return true
+        end
+      end, 10)
+
+      assert.logfile().has.line("[kong.sync.v2] new delta due to cascade deleting", true)
+      assert.logfile("servroot2/logs/error.log").has.line("[kong.sync.v2] delete entity", true)
+
+      -- cascade deletion should be the same version
+
+      local ver
+      local count = 0
+      local patt = "delete entity, version: %d+"
+      local f = io.open("servroot2/logs/error.log", "r")
+      while true do
+        local line = f:read("*l")
+
+        if not line then
+          f:close()
+          break
+        end
+
+        local found = line:match(patt)
+        if found then
+          ver = ver or found
+          assert.equal(ver, found)
+          count = count + 1
+        end
+      end
+      assert(count > 1)
+
+    end)
+  end)
+
+end)
+
+end -- for _, strategy