diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 4393ae9..ea36619 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -130,3 +130,57 @@
 unittest2.TestSuite instead. See:
 
 https://code.google.com/p/unittest-ext/issues/detail?id=79
+
+Branchless Tempest Considerations
+---------------------------------
+
+Starting with the OpenStack Icehouse release Tempest no longer has any stable
+branches. This is to better ensure API consistency between releases because
+the API behavior should not change between releases. This means that the stable
+branches are also gated by the Tempest master branch, which also means that
+proposed commits to Tempest must work against both the master and all the
+currently supported stable branches of the projects. As such there are a few
+special considerations that have to be accounted for when pushing new changes
+to tempest.
+
+1. New Tests for new features
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+When adding tests for new features that were not in previous releases of the
+projects the new test has to be properly skipped with a feature flag. Whether
+this is just as simple as using the @test.requires_ext() decorator to check
+if the required extension (or discoverable optional API) is enabled or adding
+a new config option to the appropriate section. If there isn't a method of
+selecting the new **feature** from the config file then there won't be a
+mechanism to disable the test with older stable releases and the new test won't
+be able to merge.
+
+2. Bug fix on core project needing Tempest changes
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+When trying to land a bug fix which changes a tested API you'll have to use the
+following procedure::
+
+    - Propose change to the project, get a +2 on the change even with failing
+    - Propose skip on Tempest which will only be approved after the
+      corresponding change in the project has a +2 on change
+    - Land project change in master and all open stable branches (if required)
+    - Land changed test in Tempest
+
+Otherwise the bug fix won't be able to land in the project.
+
+3. New Tests for existing features
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+If a test is being added for a feature that exists in all the current releases
+of the projects then the only concern is that the API behavior is the same
+across all the versions of the project being tested. If the behavior is not
+consistent the test will not be able to merge.
+
+API Stability
+-------------
+
+For new tests being added to Tempest the assumption is that the API being
+tested is considered stable and adheres to the OpenStack API stability
+guidelines. If an API is still considered experimental or in development then
+it should not be tested by Tempest until it is considered stable.
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index f907e7d..ab2903a 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 paramiko>=1.13.0
 netaddr>=0.7.6
 python-glanceclient>=0.9.0
-python-keystoneclient>=0.8.0
+python-keystoneclient>=0.9.0
 python-novaclient>=2.17.0
 python-neutronclient>=2.3.4,<3
 python-cinderclient>=1.0.6
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@
 python-swiftclient>=2.0.2
 testresources>=0.2.4
 testrepository>=0.0.18
-oslo.config>=1.2.0
-six>=1.6.0
+oslo.config>=1.2.1
+six>=1.7.0
 iso8601>=0.1.9
 fixtures>=0.3.14
 testscenarios>=0.4
diff --git a/tempest/api/compute/admin/test_floating_ips_bulk.py b/tempest/api/compute/admin/test_floating_ips_bulk.py
index 8f875d2..208b032 100644
--- a/tempest/api/compute/admin/test_floating_ips_bulk.py
+++ b/tempest/api/compute/admin/test_floating_ips_bulk.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
         self.assertEqual(self.ip_range, body['ip_range'])
         resp, ips_list = self.client.list_floating_ips_bulk()
         self.assertEqual(200, resp.status)
-        self.assertNotEqual(0, len(body))
+        self.assertNotEqual(0, len(ips_list))
         for ip in netaddr.IPNetwork(self.ip_range).iter_hosts():
             self.assertIn(str(ip), map(lambda x: x['address'], ips_list))
         resp, body = self.client.delete_floating_ips_bulk(self.ip_range)
diff --git a/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_server_group.py b/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_server_group.py
index 0cd23fd..f1ef5d5 100644
--- a/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_server_group.py
+++ b/tempest/api/compute/servers/test_server_group.py
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@
         policy = ['anti-affinity']
         self._create_delete_server_group(policy)
 
+    @test.skip_because(bug="1324348")
     @test.attr(type='gate')
     def test_create_delete_server_group_with_multiple_policies(self):
         # Create and Delete the server-group with multiple policies
diff --git a/tempest/api/compute/v3/admin/test_servers_negative.py b/tempest/api/compute/v3/admin/test_servers_negative.py
index a971463..5eb6395 100644
--- a/tempest/api/compute/v3/admin/test_servers_negative.py
+++ b/tempest/api/compute/v3/admin/test_servers_negative.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
             flavor_id = data_utils.rand_int_id(start=1000)
         return flavor_id
 
+    @test.skip_because(bug="1298131")
     @test.attr(type=['negative', 'gate'])
     def test_resize_server_using_overlimit_ram(self):
         flavor_name = data_utils.rand_name("flavor-")
@@ -67,11 +68,12 @@
                                                              ram, vcpus, disk,
                                                              flavor_id)
         self.addCleanup(self.flavors_client.delete_flavor, flavor_id)
-        self.assertRaises(exceptions.OverLimit,
+        self.assertRaises(exceptions.Unauthorized,
                           self.client.resize,
                           self.servers[0]['id'],
                           flavor_ref['id'])
 
+    @test.skip_because(bug="1298131")
     @test.attr(type=['negative', 'gate'])
     def test_resize_server_using_overlimit_vcpus(self):
         flavor_name = data_utils.rand_name("flavor-")
@@ -85,7 +87,7 @@
                                                              ram, vcpus, disk,
                                                              flavor_id)
         self.addCleanup(self.flavors_client.delete_flavor, flavor_id)
-        self.assertRaises(exceptions.OverLimit,
+        self.assertRaises(exceptions.Unauthorized,
                           self.client.resize,
                           self.servers[0]['id'],
                           flavor_ref['id'])
diff --git a/tempest/api/image/v1/test_images.py b/tempest/api/image/v1/test_images.py
index 2df3f7f..2cc2009 100644
--- a/tempest/api/image/v1/test_images.py
+++ b/tempest/api/image/v1/test_images.py
@@ -55,8 +55,7 @@
         resp, body = self.create_image(name='New Remote Image',
                                        container_format='bare',
                                        disk_format='raw', is_public=False,
-                                       location='http://example.com'
-                                                '/someimage.iso',
+                                       location=CONF.image.http_image,
                                        properties={'key1': 'value1',
                                                    'key2': 'value2'})
         self.assertIn('id', body)
@@ -143,7 +142,7 @@
         image
         """
         name = 'New Remote Image %s' % name
-        location = 'http://example.com/someimage_%s.iso' % name
+        location = CONF.image.http_image
         resp, image = cls.create_image(name=name,
                                        container_format=container_format,
                                        disk_format=disk_format,
diff --git a/tempest/api_schema/compute/v2/floating_ips.py b/tempest/api_schema/compute/v2/floating_ips.py
index 3ea6320..03e6aef 100644
--- a/tempest/api_schema/compute/v2/floating_ips.py
+++ b/tempest/api_schema/compute/v2/floating_ips.py
@@ -98,3 +98,22 @@
 add_remove_floating_ip = {
     'status_code': [202]
 }
+
+create_floating_ips_bulk = {
+    'status_code': [200],
+    'response_body': {
+        'type': 'object',
+        'properties': {
+            'floating_ips_bulk_create': {
+                'type': 'object',
+                'properties': {
+                    'interface': {'type': ['string', 'null']},
+                    'ip_range': {'type': 'string'},
+                    'pool': {'type': ['string', 'null']},
+                },
+                'required': ['interface', 'ip_range', 'pool']
+            }
+        },
+        'required': ['floating_ips_bulk_create']
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tempest/clients.py b/tempest/clients.py
index 7532bf2..4050a20 100644
--- a/tempest/clients.py
+++ b/tempest/clients.py
@@ -456,6 +456,7 @@
     HEATCLIENT_VERSION = '1'
     IRONICCLIENT_VERSION = '1'
     SAHARACLIENT_VERSION = '1.1'
+    CEILOMETERCLIENT_VERSION = '2'
 
     def __init__(self, credentials):
         # FIXME(andreaf) Auth provider for client_type 'official' is
@@ -476,6 +477,8 @@
             credentials)
         self.data_processing_client = self._get_data_processing_client(
             credentials)
+        self.ceilometer_client = self._get_ceilometer_client(
+            credentials)
 
     def _get_roles(self):
         admin_credentials = auth.get_default_credentials('identity_admin')
@@ -696,3 +699,34 @@
             auth_url=auth_url)
 
         return client
+
+    def _get_ceilometer_client(self, credentials):
+        if not CONF.service_available.ceilometer:
+            return None
+
+        import ceilometerclient.client
+
+        keystone = self._get_identity_client(credentials)
+        region = CONF.identity.region
+
+        endpoint_type = CONF.telemetry.endpoint_type
+        service_type = CONF.telemetry.catalog_type
+        auth_url = CONF.identity.uri
+
+        try:
+            keystone.service_catalog.url_for(
+                attr='region',
+                filter_value=region,
+                service_type=service_type,
+                endpoint_type=endpoint_type)
+        except keystoneclient.exceptions.EndpointNotFound:
+            return None
+        else:
+            return ceilometerclient.client.get_client(
+                self.CEILOMETERCLIENT_VERSION,
+                os_username=credentials.username,
+                os_password=credentials.password,
+                os_tenant_name=credentials.tenant_name,
+                os_auth_url=auth_url,
+                os_service_type=service_type,
+                os_endpoint_type=endpoint_type)
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/manager.py b/tempest/scenario/manager.py
index db26bda..07d8828 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/manager.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/manager.py
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@
         cls.object_storage_client = cls.manager.object_storage_client
         cls.orchestration_client = cls.manager.orchestration_client
         cls.data_processing_client = cls.manager.data_processing_client
+        cls.ceilometer_client = cls.manager.ceilometer_client
         cls.resource_keys = {}
         cls.os_resources = []
 
@@ -406,7 +407,16 @@
             username = CONF.scenario.ssh_user
         if private_key is None:
             private_key = self.keypair.private_key
-        return remote_client.RemoteClient(ip, username, pkey=private_key)
+        linux_client = remote_client.RemoteClient(ip, username,
+                                                  pkey=private_key)
+        try:
+            linux_client.validate_authentication()
+        except exceptions.SSHTimeout:
+            LOG.exception('ssh connection to %s failed' % ip)
+            debug.log_net_debug()
+            raise
+
+        return linux_client
 
     def _log_console_output(self, servers=None):
         if not servers:
@@ -868,9 +878,7 @@
                         msg=msg)
         if should_connect:
             # no need to check ssh for negative connectivity
-            linux_client = self.get_remote_client(ip_address, username,
-                                                  private_key)
-            linux_client.validate_authentication()
+            self.get_remote_client(ip_address, username, private_key)
 
     def _check_public_network_connectivity(self, ip_address, username,
                                            private_key, should_connect=True,
@@ -884,13 +892,15 @@
                                         username,
                                         private_key,
                                         should_connect=should_connect)
-        except Exception:
+        except Exception as e:
             ex_msg = 'Public network connectivity check failed'
             if msg:
                 ex_msg += ": " + msg
             LOG.exception(ex_msg)
             self._log_console_output(servers)
-            debug.log_net_debug()
+            # network debug is called as part of ssh init
+            if not isinstance(e, exceptions.SSHTimeout):
+                debug.log_net_debug()
             raise
 
     def _check_tenant_network_connectivity(self, server,
@@ -911,10 +921,12 @@
                                                 username,
                                                 private_key,
                                                 should_connect=should_connect)
-        except Exception:
+        except Exception as e:
             LOG.exception('Tenant network connectivity check failed')
             self._log_console_output(servers_for_debug)
-            debug.log_net_debug()
+            # network debug is called as part of ssh init
+            if not isinstance(e, exceptions.SSHTimeout):
+                debug.log_net_debug()
             raise
 
     def _check_remote_connectivity(self, source, dest, should_succeed=True):
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_load_balancer_basic.py b/tempest/scenario/test_load_balancer_basic.py
index 1c24b5c..03cfef5 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_load_balancer_basic.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_load_balancer_basic.py
@@ -148,7 +148,6 @@
             ssh_client = self.get_remote_client(
                 server_or_ip=ip,
                 private_key=private_key)
-            ssh_client.validate_authentication()
 
             # Write a backend's responce into a file
             resp = """HTTP/1.0 200 OK\r\nContent-Length: 8\r\n\r\n%s"""
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_minimum_basic.py b/tempest/scenario/test_minimum_basic.py
index 58f0dbf..0406217 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_minimum_basic.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_minimum_basic.py
@@ -93,11 +93,12 @@
     def ssh_to_server(self):
         try:
             self.linux_client = self.get_remote_client(self.floating_ip.ip)
-            self.linux_client.validate_authentication()
-        except Exception:
+        except Exception as e:
             LOG.exception('ssh to server failed')
             self._log_console_output()
-            debug.log_net_debug()
+            # network debug is called as part of ssh init
+            if not isinstance(e, test.exceptions.SSHTimeout):
+                debug.log_net_debug()
             raise
 
     def check_partitions(self):
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_security_groups_basic_ops.py b/tempest/scenario/test_security_groups_basic_ops.py
index b4e509a..dd89dc0 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_security_groups_basic_ops.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_security_groups_basic_ops.py
@@ -336,6 +336,8 @@
             self.assertTrue(self._check_remote_connectivity(access_point, ip,
                                                             should_succeed),
                             msg)
+        except test.exceptions.SSHTimeout:
+            raise
         except Exception:
             debug.log_net_debug()
             raise
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_server_basic_ops.py b/tempest/scenario/test_server_basic_ops.py
index dc7a092..54f1d9e 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_server_basic_ops.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_server_basic_ops.py
@@ -93,11 +93,10 @@
             instance.add_floating_ip(floating_ip)
             # Check ssh
             try:
-                linux_client = self.get_remote_client(
+                self.get_remote_client(
                     server_or_ip=floating_ip.ip,
                     username=self.image_utils.ssh_user(self.image_ref),
                     private_key=self.keypair.private_key)
-                linux_client.validate_authentication()
             except Exception:
                 LOG.exception('ssh to server failed')
                 self._log_console_output()
diff --git a/tempest/scenario/test_snapshot_pattern.py b/tempest/scenario/test_snapshot_pattern.py
index ab335e2..d41490a 100644
--- a/tempest/scenario/test_snapshot_pattern.py
+++ b/tempest/scenario/test_snapshot_pattern.py
@@ -49,8 +49,9 @@
         try:
             return self.get_remote_client(server_or_ip)
         except Exception:
-            LOG.exception()
+            LOG.exception('Initializing SSH connection failed')
             self._log_console_output()
+            raise
 
     def _write_timestamp(self, server_or_ip):
         ssh_client = self._ssh_to_server(server_or_ip)
diff --git a/tempest/services/compute/json/floating_ips_client.py b/tempest/services/compute/json/floating_ips_client.py
index 6fc2bc2..92b4ddf 100644
--- a/tempest/services/compute/json/floating_ips_client.py
+++ b/tempest/services/compute/json/floating_ips_client.py
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@
         post_body = json.dumps({'floating_ips_bulk_create': post_body})
         resp, body = self.post('os-floating-ips-bulk', post_body)
         body = json.loads(body)
+        self.validate_response(schema.create_floating_ips_bulk, resp, body)
         return resp, body['floating_ips_bulk_create']
 
     def list_floating_ips_bulk(self):
diff --git a/tempest/test.py b/tempest/test.py
index bc94bcd..650fad7 100644
--- a/tempest/test.py
+++ b/tempest/test.py
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@
         'identity': True,
         'object_storage': CONF.service_available.swift,
         'dashboard': CONF.service_available.horizon,
+        'ceilometer': CONF.service_available.ceilometer,
     }
 
     def decorator(f):
@@ -256,6 +257,12 @@
 
     network_resources = {}
 
+    # NOTE(sdague): log_format is defined inline here instead of using the oslo
+    # default because going through the config path recouples config to the
+    # stress tests too early, and depending on testr order will fail unit tests
+    log_format = ('%(asctime)s %(process)d %(levelname)-8s '
+                  '[%(name)s] %(message)s')
+
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
         if hasattr(super(BaseTestCase, cls), 'setUpClass'):
@@ -293,9 +300,8 @@
             self.useFixture(fixtures.MonkeyPatch('sys.stderr', stderr))
         if (os.environ.get('OS_LOG_CAPTURE') != 'False' and
             os.environ.get('OS_LOG_CAPTURE') != '0'):
-            log_format = '%(asctime)-15s %(message)s'
             self.useFixture(fixtures.LoggerFixture(nuke_handlers=False,
-                                                   format=log_format,
+                                                   format=self.log_format,
                                                    level=None))
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/tempest/tests/test_tenant_isolation.py b/tempest/tests/test_tenant_isolation.py
index 7a9b6be..485beff 100644
--- a/tempest/tests/test_tenant_isolation.py
+++ b/tempest/tests/test_tenant_isolation.py
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@
                                               '_get_object_storage_client'))
         self.useFixture(mockpatch.PatchObject(clients.OfficialClientManager,
                                               '_get_orchestration_client'))
+        self.useFixture(mockpatch.PatchObject(clients.OfficialClientManager,
+                                              '_get_ceilometer_client'))
         iso_creds = isolated_creds.IsolatedCreds('test class',
                                                  tempest_client=False)
         self.assertTrue(isinstance(iso_creds.identity_admin_client,
diff --git a/test-requirements.txt b/test-requirements.txt
index f63d34e..215f28b 100644
--- a/test-requirements.txt
+++ b/test-requirements.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 hacking>=0.9.2,<0.10
 # needed for doc build
 docutils==0.9.1
-sphinx>=1.2.1,<1.3
+sphinx>=1.1.2,!=1.2.0,<1.3
 python-subunit>=0.0.18
 oslosphinx
 mox>=0.5.3