diff --git a/tempest/openstack/common/excutils.py b/tempest/openstack/common/excutils.py
index db37660..c7bce72 100644
--- a/tempest/openstack/common/excutils.py
+++ b/tempest/openstack/common/excutils.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
             try:
                 return infunc(*args, **kwargs)
             except Exception as exc:
-                this_exc_message = unicode(exc)
+                this_exc_message = six.u(str(exc))
                 if this_exc_message == last_exc_message:
                     exc_count += 1
                 else:
diff --git a/tempest/openstack/common/fileutils.py b/tempest/openstack/common/fileutils.py
index 6cf68ba..15530af 100644
--- a/tempest/openstack/common/fileutils.py
+++ b/tempest/openstack/common/fileutils.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 import contextlib
 import errno
 import os
+import tempfile
 
 from tempest.openstack.common import excutils
 from tempest.openstack.common.gettextutils import _  # noqa
@@ -109,3 +110,30 @@
     state at all (for unit tests)
     """
     return file(*args, **kwargs)
+
+
+def write_to_tempfile(content, path=None, suffix='', prefix='tmp'):
+    """Create temporary file or use existing file.
+
+    This util is needed for creating temporary file with
+    specified content, suffix and prefix. If path is not None,
+    it will be used for writing content. If the path doesn't
+    exist it'll be created.
+
+    :param content: content for temporary file.
+    :param path: same as parameter 'dir' for mkstemp
+    :param suffix: same as parameter 'suffix' for mkstemp
+    :param prefix: same as parameter 'prefix' for mkstemp
+
+    For example: it can be used in database tests for creating
+    configuration files.
+    """
+    if path:
+        ensure_tree(path)
+
+    (fd, path) = tempfile.mkstemp(suffix=suffix, dir=path, prefix=prefix)
+    try:
+        os.write(fd, content)
+    finally:
+        os.close(fd)
+    return path
diff --git a/tempest/openstack/common/gettextutils.py b/tempest/openstack/common/gettextutils.py
index cbf570a..2939ed9 100644
--- a/tempest/openstack/common/gettextutils.py
+++ b/tempest/openstack/common/gettextutils.py
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@
     if USE_LAZY:
         return Message(msg, 'tempest')
     else:
+        if six.PY3:
+            return _t.gettext(msg)
         return _t.ugettext(msg)
 
 
@@ -105,13 +107,17 @@
             """
             return Message(msg, domain)
 
-        import __builtin__
-        __builtin__.__dict__['_'] = _lazy_gettext
+        from six import moves
+        moves.builtins.__dict__['_'] = _lazy_gettext
     else:
         localedir = '%s_LOCALEDIR' % domain.upper()
-        gettext.install(domain,
-                        localedir=os.environ.get(localedir),
-                        unicode=True)
+        if six.PY3:
+            gettext.install(domain,
+                            localedir=os.environ.get(localedir))
+        else:
+            gettext.install(domain,
+                            localedir=os.environ.get(localedir),
+                            unicode=True)
 
 
 class Message(_userString.UserString, object):
@@ -121,8 +127,8 @@
         self._msg = msg
         self._left_extra_msg = ''
         self._right_extra_msg = ''
+        self._locale = None
         self.params = None
-        self.locale = None
         self.domain = domain
 
     @property
@@ -142,8 +148,13 @@
                                        localedir=localedir,
                                        fallback=True)
 
+        if six.PY3:
+            ugettext = lang.gettext
+        else:
+            ugettext = lang.ugettext
+
         full_msg = (self._left_extra_msg +
-                    lang.ugettext(self._msg) +
+                    ugettext(self._msg) +
                     self._right_extra_msg)
 
         if self.params is not None:
@@ -151,6 +162,33 @@
 
         return six.text_type(full_msg)
 
+    @property
+    def locale(self):
+        return self._locale
+
+    @locale.setter
+    def locale(self, value):
+        self._locale = value
+        if not self.params:
+            return
+
+        # This Message object may have been constructed with one or more
+        # Message objects as substitution parameters, given as a single
+        # Message, or a tuple or Map containing some, so when setting the
+        # locale for this Message we need to set it for those Messages too.
+        if isinstance(self.params, Message):
+            self.params.locale = value
+            return
+        if isinstance(self.params, tuple):
+            for param in self.params:
+                if isinstance(param, Message):
+                    param.locale = value
+            return
+        if isinstance(self.params, dict):
+            for param in self.params.values():
+                if isinstance(param, Message):
+                    param.locale = value
+
     def _save_dictionary_parameter(self, dict_param):
         full_msg = self.data
         # look for %(blah) fields in string;
@@ -169,7 +207,7 @@
                     params[key] = copy.deepcopy(dict_param[key])
                 except TypeError:
                     # cast uncopyable thing to unicode string
-                    params[key] = unicode(dict_param[key])
+                    params[key] = six.text_type(dict_param[key])
 
         return params
 
@@ -188,7 +226,7 @@
             try:
                 self.params = copy.deepcopy(other)
             except TypeError:
-                self.params = unicode(other)
+                self.params = six.text_type(other)
 
         return self
 
@@ -197,11 +235,13 @@
         return self.data
 
     def __str__(self):
+        if six.PY3:
+            return self.__unicode__()
         return self.data.encode('utf-8')
 
     def __getstate__(self):
         to_copy = ['_msg', '_right_extra_msg', '_left_extra_msg',
-                   'domain', 'params', 'locale']
+                   'domain', 'params', '_locale']
         new_dict = self.__dict__.fromkeys(to_copy)
         for attr in to_copy:
             new_dict[attr] = copy.deepcopy(self.__dict__[attr])
@@ -289,13 +329,21 @@
 
 
 def get_localized_message(message, user_locale):
-    """Gets a localized version of the given message in the given locale."""
+    """Gets a localized version of the given message in the given locale.
+
+    If the message is not a Message object the message is returned as-is.
+    If the locale is None the message is translated to the default locale.
+
+    :returns: the translated message in unicode, or the original message if
+              it could not be translated
+    """
+    translated = message
     if isinstance(message, Message):
-        if user_locale:
-            message.locale = user_locale
-        return unicode(message)
-    else:
-        return message
+        original_locale = message.locale
+        message.locale = user_locale
+        translated = six.text_type(message)
+        message.locale = original_locale
+    return translated
 
 
 class LocaleHandler(logging.Handler):
diff --git a/tempest/openstack/common/jsonutils.py b/tempest/openstack/common/jsonutils.py
index c568a06..b589545 100644
--- a/tempest/openstack/common/jsonutils.py
+++ b/tempest/openstack/common/jsonutils.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 
 import six
 
+from tempest.openstack.common import gettextutils
 from tempest.openstack.common import importutils
 from tempest.openstack.common import timeutils
 
@@ -135,6 +136,8 @@
 
         if convert_datetime and isinstance(value, datetime.datetime):
             return timeutils.strtime(value)
+        elif isinstance(value, gettextutils.Message):
+            return value.data
         elif hasattr(value, 'iteritems'):
             return recursive(dict(value.iteritems()), level=level + 1)
         elif hasattr(value, '__iter__'):
diff --git a/tempest/openstack/common/lockutils.py b/tempest/openstack/common/lockutils.py
index a55fd94..8ea8766 100644
--- a/tempest/openstack/common/lockutils.py
+++ b/tempest/openstack/common/lockutils.py
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
 import time
 import weakref
 
-import fixtures
 from oslo.config import cfg
 
 from tempest.openstack.common import fileutils
@@ -242,13 +241,14 @@
     def wrap(f):
         @functools.wraps(f)
         def inner(*args, **kwargs):
-            with lock(name, lock_file_prefix, external, lock_path):
-                LOG.debug(_('Got semaphore / lock "%(function)s"'),
+            try:
+                with lock(name, lock_file_prefix, external, lock_path):
+                    LOG.debug(_('Got semaphore / lock "%(function)s"'),
+                              {'function': f.__name__})
+                    return f(*args, **kwargs)
+            finally:
+                LOG.debug(_('Semaphore / lock released "%(function)s"'),
                           {'function': f.__name__})
-                return f(*args, **kwargs)
-
-            LOG.debug(_('Semaphore / lock released "%(function)s"'),
-                      {'function': f.__name__})
         return inner
     return wrap
 
@@ -276,36 +276,3 @@
     """
 
     return functools.partial(synchronized, lock_file_prefix=lock_file_prefix)
-
-
-class LockFixture(fixtures.Fixture):
-    """External locking fixture.
-
-    This fixture is basically an alternative to the synchronized decorator with
-    the external flag so that tearDowns and addCleanups will be included in
-    the lock context for locking between tests. The fixture is recommended to
-    be the first line in a test method, like so::
-
-        def test_method(self):
-            self.useFixture(LockFixture)
-                ...
-
-    or the first line in setUp if all the test methods in the class are
-    required to be serialized. Something like::
-
-        class TestCase(testtools.testcase):
-            def setUp(self):
-                self.useFixture(LockFixture)
-                super(TestCase, self).setUp()
-                    ...
-
-    This is because addCleanups are put on a LIFO queue that gets run after the
-    test method exits. (either by completing or raising an exception)
-    """
-    def __init__(self, name, lock_file_prefix=None):
-        self.mgr = lock(name, lock_file_prefix, True)
-
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(LockFixture, self).setUp()
-        self.addCleanup(self.mgr.__exit__, None, None, None)
-        self.mgr.__enter__()
diff --git a/tempest/openstack/common/log.py b/tempest/openstack/common/log.py
index 4133c30..5cf8ed6 100644
--- a/tempest/openstack/common/log.py
+++ b/tempest/openstack/common/log.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 import traceback
 
 from oslo.config import cfg
+import six
 from six import moves
 
 from tempest.openstack.common.gettextutils import _  # noqa
@@ -131,7 +132,6 @@
                     'boto=WARN',
                     'suds=INFO',
                     'keystone=INFO',
-                    'eventlet.wsgi.server=WARN'
                 ],
                 help='list of logger=LEVEL pairs'),
     cfg.BoolOpt('publish_errors',
@@ -207,6 +207,8 @@
         binary = binary or _get_binary_name()
         return '%s.log' % (os.path.join(logdir, binary),)
 
+    return None
+
 
 class BaseLoggerAdapter(logging.LoggerAdapter):
 
@@ -249,6 +251,13 @@
             self.warn(stdmsg, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def process(self, msg, kwargs):
+        # NOTE(mrodden): catch any Message/other object and
+        #                coerce to unicode before they can get
+        #                to the python logging and possibly
+        #                cause string encoding trouble
+        if not isinstance(msg, six.string_types):
+            msg = six.text_type(msg)
+
         if 'extra' not in kwargs:
             kwargs['extra'] = {}
         extra = kwargs['extra']
@@ -260,14 +269,14 @@
             extra.update(_dictify_context(context))
 
         instance = kwargs.pop('instance', None)
+        instance_uuid = (extra.get('instance_uuid', None) or
+                         kwargs.pop('instance_uuid', None))
         instance_extra = ''
         if instance:
             instance_extra = CONF.instance_format % instance
-        else:
-            instance_uuid = kwargs.pop('instance_uuid', None)
-            if instance_uuid:
-                instance_extra = (CONF.instance_uuid_format
-                                  % {'uuid': instance_uuid})
+        elif instance_uuid:
+            instance_extra = (CONF.instance_uuid_format
+                              % {'uuid': instance_uuid})
         extra.update({'instance': instance_extra})
 
         extra.update({"project": self.project})
diff --git a/tempest/openstack/common/timeutils.py b/tempest/openstack/common/timeutils.py
index 60f02bc..98d877d 100644
--- a/tempest/openstack/common/timeutils.py
+++ b/tempest/openstack/common/timeutils.py
@@ -117,12 +117,15 @@
 utcnow.override_time = None
 
 
-def set_time_override(override_time=datetime.datetime.utcnow()):
+def set_time_override(override_time=None):
     """Overrides utils.utcnow.
 
     Make it return a constant time or a list thereof, one at a time.
+
+    :param override_time: datetime instance or list thereof. If not
+                          given, defaults to the current UTC time.
     """
-    utcnow.override_time = override_time
+    utcnow.override_time = override_time or datetime.datetime.utcnow()
 
 
 def advance_time_delta(timedelta):
diff --git a/tools/install_venv_common.py b/tools/install_venv_common.py
index 92d66ae..1bab88a 100644
--- a/tools/install_venv_common.py
+++ b/tools/install_venv_common.py
@@ -121,9 +121,6 @@
 
         self.pip_install('-r', self.requirements, '-r', self.test_requirements)
 
-    def post_process(self):
-        self.get_distro().post_process()
-
     def parse_args(self, argv):
         """Parses command-line arguments."""
         parser = optparse.OptionParser()
@@ -156,14 +153,6 @@
                  ' requires virtualenv, please install it using your'
                  ' favorite package management tool' % self.project)
 
-    def post_process(self):
-        """Any distribution-specific post-processing gets done here.
-
-        In particular, this is useful for applying patches to code inside
-        the venv.
-        """
-        pass
-
 
 class Fedora(Distro):
     """This covers all Fedora-based distributions.
@@ -175,10 +164,6 @@
         return self.run_command_with_code(['rpm', '-q', pkg],
                                           check_exit_code=False)[1] == 0
 
-    def apply_patch(self, originalfile, patchfile):
-        self.run_command(['patch', '-N', originalfile, patchfile],
-                         check_exit_code=False)
-
     def install_virtualenv(self):
         if self.check_cmd('virtualenv'):
             return
@@ -187,27 +172,3 @@
             self.die("Please install 'python-virtualenv'.")
 
         super(Fedora, self).install_virtualenv()
-
-    def post_process(self):
-        """Workaround for a bug in eventlet.
-
-        This currently affects RHEL6.1, but the fix can safely be
-        applied to all RHEL and Fedora distributions.
-
-        This can be removed when the fix is applied upstream.
-
-        Nova: https://bugs.launchpad.net/nova/+bug/884915
-        Upstream: https://bitbucket.org/eventlet/eventlet/issue/89
-        RHEL: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/958868
-        """
-
-        if os.path.exists('contrib/redhat-eventlet.patch'):
-            # Install "patch" program if it's not there
-            if not self.check_pkg('patch'):
-                self.die("Please install 'patch'.")
-
-            # Apply the eventlet patch
-            self.apply_patch(os.path.join(self.venv, 'lib', self.py_version,
-                                          'site-packages',
-                                          'eventlet/green/subprocess.py'),
-                             'contrib/redhat-eventlet.patch')