diff --git a/client/dbclient.h b/client/dbclient.h
index 35cd462148f..a5b2374fc14 100644
--- a/client/dbclient.h
+++ b/client/dbclient.h
@@ -547,6 +547,8 @@ namespace mongo {
            clears the index cache, so the subsequent call to ensureIndex for any index will go to the server
          */
         virtual void resetIndexCache();
+        
+        virtual string getServerAddress() const = 0;
 
     private:
         set<string> _seenIndexes;
@@ -639,6 +641,10 @@ namespace mongo {
         string toString() {
             return serverAddress;
         }
+        
+        string getServerAddress() const {
+            return serverAddress;
+        }
 
     protected:
         virtual bool call( Message &toSend, Message &response, bool assertOk = true );
@@ -726,6 +732,10 @@ namespace mongo {
             master = ( ( master == Left ) ? NotSetR : NotSetL );
         }
 
+        string getServerAddress() const {
+            return left.getServerAddress() + "," + right.getServerAddress();
+        }
+
         /* TODO - not yet implemented. mongos may need these. */
         virtual bool call( Message &toSend, Message &response, bool assertOk=true ) { assert(false); return false; }
         virtual void say( Message &toSend ) { assert(false); }
diff --git a/db/instance.h b/db/instance.h
index 925cdb49ac3..4b45df78e33 100644
--- a/db/instance.h
+++ b/db/instance.h
@@ -99,11 +99,14 @@ namespace mongo {
 
 
 // --- local client ---
-
+    
     class DBDirectClient : public DBClientBase {
         virtual string toString() {
             return "DBDirectClient";
         }
+        virtual string getServerAddress() const{
+            return "localhost"; // TODO: should this have the port?
+        }
         virtual bool call( Message &toSend, Message &response, bool assertOk=true );
         virtual void say( Message &toSend );
         virtual void sayPiggyBack( Message &toSend ) {