diff --git a/test/functional/swift_test_client.py b/test/functional/swift_test_client.py
index 77dc0c1c0b..a1c105b180 100644
--- a/test/functional/swift_test_client.py
+++ b/test/functional/swift_test_client.py
@@ -482,8 +482,11 @@ class Account(Base):
         fields = [['object_count', 'x-account-object-count'],
                   ['container_count', 'x-account-container-count'],
                   ['bytes_used', 'x-account-bytes-used']]
+        optional_fields = [
+            ['temp-url-key', 'x-account-meta-temp-url-key'],
+            ['temp-url-key-2', 'x-account-meta-temp-url-key-2']]
 
-        return self.header_fields(fields)
+        return self.header_fields(fields, optional_fields=optional_fields)
 
     @property
     def path(self):
diff --git a/test/functional/test_account.py b/test/functional/test_account.py
index 57bbe6b815..cc781cc3a1 100644
--- a/test/functional/test_account.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_account.py
@@ -38,6 +38,54 @@ def tearDownModule():
 
 
 class TestAccount(unittest2.TestCase):
+    existing_metadata = None
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_meta(cls):
+        def head(url, token, parsed, conn):
+            conn.request('HEAD', parsed.path, '', {'X-Auth-Token': token})
+            return check_response(conn)
+        resp = retry(head)
+        resp.read()
+        return dict((k, v) for k, v in resp.getheaders() if
+                    k.lower().startswith('x-account-meta'))
+
+    @classmethod
+    def clear_meta(cls, remove_metadata_keys):
+        def post(url, token, parsed, conn, hdr_keys):
+            headers = {'X-Auth-Token': token}
+            headers.update((k, '') for k in hdr_keys)
+            conn.request('POST', parsed.path, '', headers)
+            return check_response(conn)
+
+        for i in range(0, len(remove_metadata_keys), 90):
+            batch = remove_metadata_keys[i:i + 90]
+            resp = retry(post, batch)
+            resp.read()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def set_meta(cls, metadata):
+        def post(url, token, parsed, conn, meta_hdrs):
+            headers = {'X-Auth-Token': token}
+            headers.update(meta_hdrs)
+            conn.request('POST', parsed.path, '', headers)
+            return check_response(conn)
+
+        if not metadata:
+            return
+        resp = retry(post, metadata)
+        resp.read()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        # remove and stash any existing account user metadata before tests
+        cls.existing_metadata = cls.get_meta()
+        cls.clear_meta(cls.existing_metadata.keys())
+
+    @classmethod
+    def tearDownClass(cls):
+        # replace any stashed account user metadata
+        cls.set_meta(cls.existing_metadata)
 
     def setUp(self):
         self.max_meta_count = load_constraint('max_meta_count')
@@ -45,35 +93,10 @@ class TestAccount(unittest2.TestCase):
         self.max_meta_overall_size = load_constraint('max_meta_overall_size')
         self.max_meta_value_length = load_constraint('max_meta_value_length')
 
-        def head(url, token, parsed, conn):
-            conn.request('HEAD', parsed.path, '', {'X-Auth-Token': token})
-            return check_response(conn)
-        resp = retry(head)
-        self.existing_metadata = set([
-            k for k, v in resp.getheaders() if
-            k.lower().startswith('x-account-meta')])
-
     def tearDown(self):
-        def head(url, token, parsed, conn):
-            conn.request('HEAD', parsed.path, '', {'X-Auth-Token': token})
-            return check_response(conn)
-        resp = retry(head)
-        resp.read()
-        new_metadata = set(
-            [k for k, v in resp.getheaders() if
-             k.lower().startswith('x-account-meta')])
-
-        def clear_meta(url, token, parsed, conn, remove_metadata_keys):
-            headers = {'X-Auth-Token': token}
-            headers.update((k, '') for k in remove_metadata_keys)
-            conn.request('POST', parsed.path, '', headers)
-            return check_response(conn)
-        extra_metadata = list(self.existing_metadata ^ new_metadata)
-        for i in range(0, len(extra_metadata), 90):
-            batch = extra_metadata[i:i + 90]
-            resp = retry(clear_meta, batch)
-            resp.read()
-            self.assertEqual(resp.status // 100, 2)
+        # clean up any account user metadata created by test
+        new_metadata = self.get_meta().keys()
+        self.clear_meta(new_metadata)
 
     def test_metadata(self):
         if tf.skip:
@@ -794,11 +817,6 @@ class TestAccount(unittest2.TestCase):
             conn.request('POST', parsed.path, '', headers)
             return check_response(conn)
 
-        # TODO: Find the test that adds these and remove them.
-        headers = {'x-remove-account-meta-temp-url-key': 'remove',
-                   'x-remove-account-meta-temp-url-key-2': 'remove'}
-        resp = retry(post, headers)
-
         headers = {}
         for x in range(self.max_meta_count):
             headers['X-Account-Meta-%d' % x] = 'v'
diff --git a/test/functional/test_dlo.py b/test/functional/test_dlo.py
index a8159eaf14..076e8d7e28 100644
--- a/test/functional/test_dlo.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_dlo.py
@@ -15,9 +15,8 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import test.functional as tf
-from test.functional.tests import Utils, Base, Base2
-from test.functional.swift_test_client import Account, Connection, \
-    ResponseError
+from test.functional.tests import Utils, Base, Base2, BaseEnv
+from test.functional.swift_test_client import Connection, ResponseError
 
 
 def setUpModule():
@@ -28,22 +27,16 @@ def tearDownModule():
     tf.teardown_package()
 
 
-class TestDloEnv(object):
+class TestDloEnv(BaseEnv):
     @classmethod
     def setUp(cls):
-        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
-        cls.conn.authenticate()
-
+        super(TestDloEnv, cls).setUp()
         config2 = tf.config.copy()
         config2['username'] = tf.config['username3']
         config2['password'] = tf.config['password3']
         cls.conn2 = Connection(config2)
         cls.conn2.authenticate()
 
-        cls.account = Account(cls.conn, tf.config.get('account',
-                                                      tf.config['username']))
-        cls.account.delete_containers()
-
         cls.container = cls.account.container(Utils.create_name())
         cls.container2 = cls.account.container(Utils.create_name())
 
@@ -92,7 +85,6 @@ class TestDloEnv(object):
 
 class TestDlo(Base):
     env = TestDloEnv
-    set_up = False
 
     def test_get_manifest(self):
         file_item = self.env.container.file('man1')
@@ -394,4 +386,4 @@ class TestDlo(Base):
 
 
 class TestDloUTF8(Base2, TestDlo):
-    set_up = False
+    pass
diff --git a/test/functional/test_slo.py b/test/functional/test_slo.py
index 9e73020912..e1c6f3d806 100644
--- a/test/functional/test_slo.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_slo.py
@@ -23,9 +23,8 @@ from unittest2 import SkipTest
 
 import test.functional as tf
 from test.functional import cluster_info
-from test.functional.tests import Utils, Base, Base2
-from test.functional.swift_test_client import Account, Connection, \
-    ResponseError
+from test.functional.tests import Utils, Base, Base2, BaseEnv
+from test.functional.swift_test_client import Connection, ResponseError
 
 
 def setUpModule():
@@ -36,7 +35,7 @@ def tearDownModule():
     tf.teardown_package()
 
 
-class TestSloEnv(object):
+class TestSloEnv(BaseEnv):
     slo_enabled = None  # tri-state: None initially, then True/False
 
     @classmethod
@@ -58,8 +57,13 @@ class TestSloEnv(object):
 
     @classmethod
     def setUp(cls):
-        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
-        cls.conn.authenticate()
+        if cls.slo_enabled is None:
+            cls.slo_enabled = 'slo' in cluster_info
+            if not cls.slo_enabled:
+                return
+
+        super(TestSloEnv, cls).setUp()
+
         config2 = deepcopy(tf.config)
         config2['account'] = tf.config['account2']
         config2['username'] = tf.config['username2']
@@ -74,15 +78,6 @@ class TestSloEnv(object):
         cls.conn3 = Connection(config3)
         cls.conn3.authenticate()
 
-        if cls.slo_enabled is None:
-            cls.slo_enabled = 'slo' in cluster_info
-            if not cls.slo_enabled:
-                return
-
-        cls.account = Account(cls.conn, tf.config.get('account',
-                                                      tf.config['username']))
-        cls.account.delete_containers()
-
         cls.container = cls.account.container(Utils.create_name())
         cls.container2 = cls.account.container(Utils.create_name())
 
@@ -214,7 +209,6 @@ class TestSloEnv(object):
 
 class TestSlo(Base):
     env = TestSloEnv
-    set_up = False
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestSlo, self).setUp()
@@ -963,4 +957,4 @@ class TestSlo(Base):
 
 
 class TestSloUTF8(Base2, TestSlo):
-    set_up = False
+    pass
diff --git a/test/functional/test_tempurl.py b/test/functional/test_tempurl.py
index 08b74b6c4c..581fb1e8fd 100644
--- a/test/functional/test_tempurl.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_tempurl.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from unittest2 import SkipTest
 
 import test.functional as tf
 from test.functional import cluster_info
-from test.functional.tests import Utils, Base, Base2
+from test.functional.tests import Utils, Base, Base2, BaseEnv
 from test.functional import requires_acls
 from test.functional.swift_test_client import Account, Connection, \
     ResponseError
@@ -38,25 +38,38 @@ def tearDownModule():
     tf.teardown_package()
 
 
-class TestTempurlEnv(object):
+class TestTempurlBaseEnv(BaseEnv):
+    original_account_meta = None
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUp(cls):
+        super(TestTempurlBaseEnv, cls).setUp()
+        cls.original_account_meta = cls.account.info()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def tearDown(cls):
+        if cls.original_account_meta:
+            # restore any tempurl keys that the tests may have overwritten
+            cls.account.update_metadata(
+                dict((k, cls.original_account_meta.get(k, ''))
+                     for k in ('temp-url-key', 'temp-url-key-2',)))
+
+
+class TestTempurlEnv(TestTempurlBaseEnv):
     tempurl_enabled = None  # tri-state: None initially, then True/False
 
     @classmethod
     def setUp(cls):
-        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
-        cls.conn.authenticate()
-
         if cls.tempurl_enabled is None:
             cls.tempurl_enabled = 'tempurl' in cluster_info
             if not cls.tempurl_enabled:
                 return
 
+        super(TestTempurlEnv, cls).setUp()
+
         cls.tempurl_key = Utils.create_name()
         cls.tempurl_key2 = Utils.create_name()
 
-        cls.account = Account(
-            cls.conn, tf.config.get('account', tf.config['username']))
-        cls.account.delete_containers()
         cls.account.update_metadata({
             'temp-url-key': cls.tempurl_key,
             'temp-url-key-2': cls.tempurl_key2
@@ -74,7 +87,6 @@ class TestTempurlEnv(object):
 
 class TestTempurl(Base):
     env = TestTempurlEnv
-    set_up = False
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestTempurl, self).setUp()
@@ -376,29 +388,24 @@ class TestTempURLPrefix(TestTempurl):
 
 
 class TestTempurlUTF8(Base2, TestTempurl):
-    set_up = False
+    pass
 
 
-class TestContainerTempurlEnv(object):
+class TestContainerTempurlEnv(BaseEnv):
     tempurl_enabled = None  # tri-state: None initially, then True/False
 
     @classmethod
     def setUp(cls):
-        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
-        cls.conn.authenticate()
-
         if cls.tempurl_enabled is None:
             cls.tempurl_enabled = 'tempurl' in cluster_info
             if not cls.tempurl_enabled:
                 return
 
+        super(TestContainerTempurlEnv, cls).setUp()
+
         cls.tempurl_key = Utils.create_name()
         cls.tempurl_key2 = Utils.create_name()
 
-        cls.account = Account(
-            cls.conn, tf.config.get('account', tf.config['username']))
-        cls.account.delete_containers()
-
         # creating another account and connection
         # for ACL tests
         config2 = deepcopy(tf.config)
@@ -426,7 +433,6 @@ class TestContainerTempurlEnv(object):
 
 class TestContainerTempurl(Base):
     env = TestContainerTempurlEnv
-    set_up = False
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestContainerTempurl, self).setUp()
@@ -647,25 +653,20 @@ class TestContainerTempurl(Base):
 
 
 class TestContainerTempurlUTF8(Base2, TestContainerTempurl):
-    set_up = False
+    pass
 
 
-class TestSloTempurlEnv(object):
+class TestSloTempurlEnv(TestTempurlBaseEnv):
     enabled = None  # tri-state: None initially, then True/False
 
     @classmethod
     def setUp(cls):
-        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
-        cls.conn.authenticate()
-
+        super(TestSloTempurlEnv, cls).setUp()
         if cls.enabled is None:
             cls.enabled = 'tempurl' in cluster_info and 'slo' in cluster_info
 
         cls.tempurl_key = Utils.create_name()
 
-        cls.account = Account(
-            cls.conn, tf.config.get('account', tf.config['username']))
-        cls.account.delete_containers()
         cls.account.update_metadata({'temp-url-key': cls.tempurl_key})
 
         cls.manifest_container = cls.account.container(Utils.create_name())
@@ -698,7 +699,6 @@ class TestSloTempurlEnv(object):
 
 class TestSloTempurl(Base):
     env = TestSloTempurlEnv
-    set_up = False
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestSloTempurl, self).setUp()
@@ -734,4 +734,4 @@ class TestSloTempurl(Base):
 
 
 class TestSloTempurlUTF8(Base2, TestSloTempurl):
-    set_up = False
+    pass
diff --git a/test/functional/test_versioned_writes.py b/test/functional/test_versioned_writes.py
index 03c627a949..b198ad0eff 100644
--- a/test/functional/test_versioned_writes.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_versioned_writes.py
@@ -16,11 +16,12 @@
 
 import json
 import time
+import unittest2
 from unittest2 import SkipTest
 
 import test.functional as tf
 from copy import deepcopy
-from test.functional.tests import Base, Base2, Utils
+from test.functional.tests import Base, Base2, BaseEnv, Utils
 from test.functional import cluster_info
 from test.functional.swift_test_client import Account, Connection, \
     ResponseError
@@ -34,18 +35,14 @@ def tearDownModule():
     tf.teardown_package()
 
 
-class TestObjectVersioningEnv(object):
+class TestObjectVersioningEnv(BaseEnv):
     versioning_enabled = None  # tri-state: None initially, then True/False
     location_header_key = 'X-Versions-Location'
+    account2 = None
 
     @classmethod
     def setUp(cls):
-        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
-        cls.storage_url, cls.storage_token = cls.conn.authenticate()
-
-        cls.account = Account(cls.conn, tf.config.get('account',
-                                                      tf.config['username']))
-
+        super(TestObjectVersioningEnv, cls).setUp()
         # Second connection for ACL tests
         config2 = deepcopy(tf.config)
         config2['account'] = tf.config['account2']
@@ -96,22 +93,23 @@ class TestObjectVersioningEnv(object):
 
     @classmethod
     def tearDown(cls):
-        cls.account.delete_containers()
-        cls.account2.delete_containers()
+        if cls.account:
+            cls.account.delete_containers()
+        if cls.account2:
+            cls.account2.delete_containers()
 
 
-class TestCrossPolicyObjectVersioningEnv(object):
+class TestCrossPolicyObjectVersioningEnv(BaseEnv):
     # tri-state: None initially, then True/False
     versioning_enabled = None
     multiple_policies_enabled = None
     policies = None
     location_header_key = 'X-Versions-Location'
+    account2 = None
 
     @classmethod
     def setUp(cls):
-        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
-        cls.conn.authenticate()
-
+        super(TestCrossPolicyObjectVersioningEnv, cls).setUp()
         if cls.multiple_policies_enabled is None:
             try:
                 cls.policies = tf.FunctionalStoragePolicyCollection.from_info()
@@ -131,9 +129,6 @@ class TestCrossPolicyObjectVersioningEnv(object):
         policy = cls.policies.select()
         version_policy = cls.policies.exclude(name=policy['name']).select()
 
-        cls.account = Account(cls.conn, tf.config.get('account',
-                                                      tf.config['username']))
-
         # Second connection for ACL tests
         config2 = deepcopy(tf.config)
         config2['account'] = tf.config['account2']
@@ -185,8 +180,10 @@ class TestCrossPolicyObjectVersioningEnv(object):
 
     @classmethod
     def tearDown(cls):
-        cls.account.delete_containers()
-        cls.account2.delete_containers()
+        if cls.account:
+            cls.account.delete_containers()
+        if cls.account2:
+            cls.account2.delete_containers()
 
 
 class TestObjectVersioningHistoryModeEnv(TestObjectVersioningEnv):
@@ -195,7 +192,6 @@ class TestObjectVersioningHistoryModeEnv(TestObjectVersioningEnv):
 
 class TestObjectVersioning(Base):
     env = TestObjectVersioningEnv
-    set_up = False
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestObjectVersioning, self).setUp()
@@ -487,7 +483,6 @@ class TestObjectVersioning(Base):
 
 
 class TestObjectVersioningUTF8(Base2, TestObjectVersioning):
-    set_up = False
 
     def tearDown(self):
         self._tear_down_files()
@@ -496,7 +491,6 @@ class TestObjectVersioningUTF8(Base2, TestObjectVersioning):
 
 class TestCrossPolicyObjectVersioning(TestObjectVersioning):
     env = TestCrossPolicyObjectVersioningEnv
-    set_up = False
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestCrossPolicyObjectVersioning, self).setUp()
@@ -511,7 +505,6 @@ class TestCrossPolicyObjectVersioning(TestObjectVersioning):
 
 class TestObjectVersioningHistoryMode(TestObjectVersioning):
     env = TestObjectVersioningHistoryModeEnv
-    set_up = False
 
     # those override tests includes assertions for delete versioned objects
     # behaviors different from default object versioning using
@@ -695,7 +688,7 @@ class TestObjectVersioningHistoryMode(TestObjectVersioning):
             self.assertEqual(expected, prev_version.read())
 
 
-class TestSloWithVersioning(Base):
+class TestSloWithVersioning(unittest2.TestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
         if 'slo' not in cluster_info:
diff --git a/test/functional/tests.py b/test/functional/tests.py
index e5bde960eb..a27fec9818 100644
--- a/test/functional/tests.py
+++ b/test/functional/tests.py
@@ -67,12 +67,33 @@ class Utils(object):
     create_name = create_ascii_name
 
 
+class BaseEnv(object):
+    account = conn = None
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUp(cls):
+        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
+        cls.conn.authenticate()
+        cls.account = Account(cls.conn, tf.config.get('account',
+                                                      tf.config['username']))
+        cls.account.delete_containers()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def tearDown(cls):
+        pass
+
+
 class Base(unittest2.TestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        cls = type(self)
-        if not cls.set_up:
-            cls.env.setUp()
-            cls.set_up = True
+    # subclasses may override env class
+    env = BaseEnv
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        cls.env.setUp()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def tearDownClass(cls):
+        cls.env.tearDown()
 
     def assert_body(self, body):
         response_body = self.env.conn.response.read()
@@ -105,15 +126,10 @@ class Base2(object):
         Utils.create_name = Utils.create_ascii_name
 
 
-class TestAccountEnv(object):
+class TestAccountEnv(BaseEnv):
     @classmethod
     def setUp(cls):
-        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
-        cls.conn.authenticate()
-        cls.account = Account(cls.conn, tf.config.get('account',
-                                                      tf.config['username']))
-        cls.account.delete_containers()
-
+        super(TestAccountEnv, cls).setUp()
         cls.containers = []
         for i in range(10):
             cont = cls.account.container(Utils.create_name())
@@ -125,16 +141,14 @@ class TestAccountEnv(object):
 
 class TestAccountDev(Base):
     env = TestAccountEnv
-    set_up = False
 
 
 class TestAccountDevUTF8(Base2, TestAccountDev):
-    set_up = False
+    pass
 
 
 class TestAccount(Base):
     env = TestAccountEnv
-    set_up = False
 
     def testNoAuthToken(self):
         self.assertRaises(ResponseError, self.env.account.info,
@@ -352,23 +366,10 @@ class TestAccount(Base):
 
 
 class TestAccountUTF8(Base2, TestAccount):
-    set_up = False
-
-
-class TestAccountNoContainersEnv(object):
-    @classmethod
-    def setUp(cls):
-        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
-        cls.conn.authenticate()
-        cls.account = Account(cls.conn, tf.config.get('account',
-                                                      tf.config['username']))
-        cls.account.delete_containers()
+    pass
 
 
 class TestAccountNoContainers(Base):
-    env = TestAccountNoContainersEnv
-    set_up = False
-
     def testGetRequest(self):
         for format_type in [None, 'json', 'xml']:
             self.assertFalse(self.env.account.containers(
@@ -381,18 +382,13 @@ class TestAccountNoContainers(Base):
 
 
 class TestAccountNoContainersUTF8(Base2, TestAccountNoContainers):
-    set_up = False
+    pass
 
 
-class TestAccountSortingEnv(object):
+class TestAccountSortingEnv(BaseEnv):
     @classmethod
     def setUp(cls):
-        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
-        cls.conn.authenticate()
-        cls.account = Account(cls.conn, tf.config.get('account',
-                                                      tf.config['username']))
-        cls.account.delete_containers()
-
+        super(TestAccountSortingEnv, cls).setUp()
         postfix = Utils.create_name()
         cls.cont_items = ('a1', 'a2', 'A3', 'b1', 'B2', 'a10', 'b10', 'zz')
         cls.cont_items = ['%s%s' % (x, postfix) for x in cls.cont_items]
@@ -405,7 +401,6 @@ class TestAccountSortingEnv(object):
 
 class TestAccountSorting(Base):
     env = TestAccountSortingEnv
-    set_up = False
 
     def testAccountContainerListSorting(self):
         # name (byte order) sorting.
@@ -470,15 +465,10 @@ class TestAccountSorting(Base):
         self.assertEqual([], cont_listing)
 
 
-class TestContainerEnv(object):
+class TestContainerEnv(BaseEnv):
     @classmethod
     def setUp(cls):
-        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
-        cls.conn.authenticate()
-        cls.account = Account(cls.conn, tf.config.get('account',
-                                                      tf.config['username']))
-        cls.account.delete_containers()
-
+        super(TestContainerEnv, cls).setUp()
         cls.container = cls.account.container(Utils.create_name())
         if not cls.container.create():
             raise ResponseError(cls.conn.response)
@@ -494,16 +484,14 @@ class TestContainerEnv(object):
 
 class TestContainerDev(Base):
     env = TestContainerEnv
-    set_up = False
 
 
 class TestContainerDevUTF8(Base2, TestContainerDev):
-    set_up = False
+    pass
 
 
 class TestContainer(Base):
     env = TestContainerEnv
-    set_up = False
 
     def testContainerNameLimit(self):
         limit = load_constraint('max_container_name_length')
@@ -889,18 +877,13 @@ class TestContainer(Base):
 
 
 class TestContainerUTF8(Base2, TestContainer):
-    set_up = False
+    pass
 
 
-class TestContainerSortingEnv(object):
+class TestContainerSortingEnv(BaseEnv):
     @classmethod
     def setUp(cls):
-        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
-        cls.conn.authenticate()
-        cls.account = Account(cls.conn, tf.config.get('account',
-                                                      tf.config['username']))
-        cls.account.delete_containers()
-
+        super(TestContainerSortingEnv, cls).setUp()
         cls.container = cls.account.container(Utils.create_name())
         if not cls.container.create():
             raise ResponseError(cls.conn.response)
@@ -916,7 +899,6 @@ class TestContainerSortingEnv(object):
 
 class TestContainerSorting(Base):
     env = TestContainerSortingEnv
-    set_up = False
 
     def testContainerFileListSortingReversed(self):
         file_list = list(sorted(self.env.file_items))
@@ -1004,15 +986,10 @@ class TestContainerSorting(Base):
         self.assertEqual(file_list, cont_files)
 
 
-class TestContainerPathsEnv(object):
+class TestContainerPathsEnv(BaseEnv):
     @classmethod
     def setUp(cls):
-        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
-        cls.conn.authenticate()
-        cls.account = Account(cls.conn, tf.config.get('account',
-                                                      tf.config['username']))
-        cls.account.delete_containers()
-
+        super(TestContainerPathsEnv, cls).setUp()
         cls.file_size = 8
 
         cls.container = cls.account.container(Utils.create_name())
@@ -1082,7 +1059,6 @@ class TestContainerPathsEnv(object):
 
 class TestContainerPaths(Base):
     env = TestContainerPathsEnv
-    set_up = False
 
     def testTraverseContainer(self):
         found_files = []
@@ -1183,13 +1159,10 @@ class TestContainerPaths(Base):
                        ['dir1/subdir with spaces/file B'])
 
 
-class TestFileEnv(object):
+class TestFileEnv(BaseEnv):
     @classmethod
     def setUp(cls):
-        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
-        cls.conn.authenticate()
-        cls.account = Account(cls.conn, tf.config.get('account',
-                                                      tf.config['username']))
+        super(TestFileEnv, cls).setUp()
         # creating another account and connection
         # for account to account copy tests
         config2 = deepcopy(tf.config)
@@ -1199,9 +1172,6 @@ class TestFileEnv(object):
         cls.conn2 = Connection(config2)
         cls.conn2.authenticate()
 
-        cls.account = Account(cls.conn, tf.config.get('account',
-                                                      tf.config['username']))
-        cls.account.delete_containers()
         cls.account2 = cls.conn2.get_account()
         cls.account2.delete_containers()
 
@@ -1223,16 +1193,14 @@ class TestFileEnv(object):
 
 class TestFileDev(Base):
     env = TestFileEnv
-    set_up = False
 
 
 class TestFileDevUTF8(Base2, TestFileDev):
-    set_up = False
+    pass
 
 
 class TestFile(Base):
     env = TestFileEnv
-    set_up = False
 
     def testCopy(self):
         # makes sure to test encoded characters
@@ -2505,18 +2473,13 @@ class TestFile(Base):
 
 
 class TestFileUTF8(Base2, TestFile):
-    set_up = False
+    pass
 
 
-class TestFileComparisonEnv(object):
+class TestFileComparisonEnv(BaseEnv):
     @classmethod
     def setUp(cls):
-        cls.conn = Connection(tf.config)
-        cls.conn.authenticate()
-        cls.account = Account(cls.conn, tf.config.get('account',
-                                                      tf.config['username']))
-        cls.account.delete_containers()
-
+        super(TestFileComparisonEnv, cls).setUp()
         cls.container = cls.account.container(Utils.create_name())
 
         if not cls.container.create():
@@ -2542,7 +2505,6 @@ class TestFileComparisonEnv(object):
 
 class TestFileComparison(Base):
     env = TestFileComparisonEnv
-    set_up = False
 
     def testIfMatch(self):
         for file_item in self.env.files:
@@ -2662,7 +2624,7 @@ class TestFileComparison(Base):
 
 
 class TestFileComparisonUTF8(Base2, TestFileComparison):
-    set_up = False
+    pass
 
 
 class TestServiceToken(unittest2.TestCase):