diff --git a/include/my_sys.h b/include/my_sys.h
index d11dc4a3e46..72d4bec74b1 100644
--- a/include/my_sys.h
+++ b/include/my_sys.h
@@ -259,6 +259,8 @@ extern char	wild_many,wild_one,wild_prefix;
 extern const char *charsets_dir;
 extern char *defaults_extra_file;
 
+extern my_bool timed_mutexes;
+
 typedef struct wild_file_pack	/* Struct to hold info when selecting files */
 {
   uint		wilds;		/* How many wildcards */
diff --git a/mysql-test/include/testdb_only.inc b/mysql-test/include/testdb_only.inc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ddc3f123d45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mysql-test/include/testdb_only.inc
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#################### include/testdb_only.inc ######################
+#                                                                 #
+# We must prevent to work on databases created by customers,      #
+# because we DROP/CREATE/MODIFY objects with sometimes common     #
+# names like STAFF, EMPLOYEE etc.                                 #
+#                                                                 #
+# Therefore we check the environment variable USE_RUNNING_SERVER. #
+# USE_RUNNING_SERVER is exported by "mysql-test-run" and could    #
+# contain the following values:                                   #
+# 0  -- mysql-test-run was started without the --extern option    #
+#       That means the test will be performed within the test     #
+#       area 'mysql-test/var/...' .                               #
+# 1  -- mysql-test-run was started with the --extern option       #
+#       That means the test will be performed by an already       #
+#       running server and data modifications will most probably  #
+#       outside of the common test area 'mysql-test/var/...' .    #
+#                                                                 #
+# If USE_RUNNING_SERVER is not 0 the test will be skipped.        #
+#                                                                 #
+###################################################################
+
+--disable_query_log
+eval set @USE_RUNNING_SERVER= '$USE_RUNNING_SERVER';
+--require r/testdb_only.require
+SELECT 'use extern server'
+         AS "Variable_name    ",
+         IF(@USE_RUNNING_SERVER= '1','YES',
+            IF(@USE_RUNNING_SERVER= '0','NO','UNEXPECTED'))
+         AS "Value" ;
+--enable_query_log
diff --git a/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.sh b/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.sh
index 1e3052de8e8..73f10fca5cf 100644
--- a/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.sh
+++ b/mysql-test/mysql-test-run.sh
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ EXTRA_MASTER_OPT=""
 EXTRA_MYSQL_TEST_OPT=""
 EXTRA_MYSQLDUMP_OPT=""
 EXTRA_MYSQLBINLOG_OPT=""
-USE_RUNNING_SERVER=""
+USE_RUNNING_SERVER=0
 USE_NDBCLUSTER=""
 USE_RUNNING_NDBCLUSTER=""
 DO_GCOV=""
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ NDBD_EXTRA_OPTS=
 while test $# -gt 0; do
   case "$1" in
     --embedded-server) USE_EMBEDDED_SERVER=1 USE_MANAGER=0 NO_SLAVE=1 ; \
-      USE_RUNNING_SERVER="" RESULT_EXT=".es" TEST_MODE="embedded" ;;
+      USE_RUNNING_SERVER=0 RESULT_EXT=".es" TEST_MODE="embedded" ;;
     --user=*) DBUSER=`$ECHO "$1" | $SED -e "s;--user=;;"` ;;
     --force)  FORCE=1 ;;
     --timer)  USE_TIMER=1 ;;
@@ -265,8 +265,8 @@ while test $# -gt 0; do
       MASTER_MYSQLD=`$ECHO "$1" | $SED -e "s;--master-binary=;;"` ;;
     --slave-binary=*)
       SLAVE_MYSQLD=`$ECHO "$1" | $SED -e "s;--slave-binary=;;"` ;;
-    --local)   USE_RUNNING_SERVER="" ;;
-    --extern)  USE_RUNNING_SERVER="1" ;;
+    --local)   USE_RUNNING_SERVER=0 ;;
+    --extern)  USE_RUNNING_SERVER=1 ;;
     --with-ndbcluster)
       USE_NDBCLUSTER="--ndbcluster" ;;
     --ndb-connectstring=*)
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ while test $# -gt 0; do
     --no-manager | --skip-manager) USE_MANAGER=0 ;;
     --manager)
      USE_MANAGER=1
-     USE_RUNNING_SERVER=
+     USE_RUNNING_SERVER=0
      ;;
     --start-and-exit)
      START_AND_EXIT=1
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ while test $# -gt 0; do
       EXTRA_SLAVE_MYSQLD_OPT="$EXTRA_SLAVE_MYSQLD_OPT --gdb"
       # This needs to be checked properly
       # USE_MANAGER=1
-      USE_RUNNING_SERVER=""
+      USE_RUNNING_SERVER=0
       ;;
     --client-gdb )
       if [ x$BINARY_DIST = x1 ] ; then
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ while test $# -gt 0; do
     --manual-gdb )
       DO_GDB=1
       MANUAL_GDB=1
-      USE_RUNNING_SERVER=""
+      USE_RUNNING_SERVER=0
       EXTRA_MASTER_MYSQLD_OPT="$EXTRA_MASTER_MYSQLD_OPT --gdb"
       EXTRA_SLAVE_MYSQLD_OPT="$EXTRA_SLAVE_MYSQLD_OPT --gdb"
       ;;
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ while test $# -gt 0; do
 	$ECHO "Note: you will get more meaningful output on a source distribution compiled with debugging option when running tests with --ddd option"
       fi
       DO_DDD=1
-      USE_RUNNING_SERVER=""
+      USE_RUNNING_SERVER=0
       EXTRA_MASTER_MYSQLD_OPT="$EXTRA_MASTER_MYSQLD_OPT --gdb"
       EXTRA_SLAVE_MYSQLD_OPT="$EXTRA_SLAVE_MYSQLD_OPT --gdb"
       ;;
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ while test $# -gt 0; do
       EXTRA_SLAVE_MYSQLD_OPT="$EXTRA_SLAVE_MYSQLD_OPT --skip-safemalloc --skip-bdb"
       SLEEP_TIME_AFTER_RESTART=10
       SLEEP_TIME_FOR_DELETE=60
-      USE_RUNNING_SERVER=""
+      USE_RUNNING_SERVER=0
       if test "$1" = "--valgrind-all"
       then
         VALGRIND="$VALGRIND -v --show-reachable=yes"
@@ -627,9 +627,9 @@ fi
 
 if [ -z "$1" ]
 then
-   USE_RUNNING_SERVER=""
+   USE_RUNNING_SERVER=0
 fi
-if [ -n "$USE_RUNNING_SERVER" ]
+if [ $USE_RUNNING_SERVER -eq 1 ]
 then
    MASTER_MYSOCK=$LOCAL_SOCKET;
    DBUSER=${DBUSER:-test}
@@ -801,7 +801,7 @@ report_stats () {
         $ECHO "http://www.mysql.com/doc/en/MySQL_test_suite.html"
     fi
 
-    if test -z "$USE_RUNNING_SERVER"
+    if [ $USE_RUNNING_SERVER -eq 0 ]
     then
 
     # Report if there was any fatal warnings/errors in the log files
@@ -1511,7 +1511,7 @@ run_testcase ()
    done
  fi
 
- if [ -z "$USE_RUNNING_SERVER" ] ;
+ if [ $USE_RUNNING_SERVER -eq 0 ] ;
  then
    if [ -f $master_opt_file ] ;
    then
@@ -1655,7 +1655,7 @@ run_testcase ()
 	if [ x$FORCE != x1 ] ; then
 	 $ECHO "Aborting: $tname failed in $TEST_MODE mode. To continue, re-run with '--force'."
 	 $ECHO
-         if [ -z "$DO_GDB" ] && [ -z "$USE_RUNNING_SERVER" ] && \
+         if [ -z "$DO_GDB" ] && [ $USE_RUNNING_SERVER -eq 0 ] && \
 	    [ -z "$DO_DDD" ] && [ -z "$USE_EMBEDDED_SERVER" ]
 	 then
 	   mysql_stop
@@ -1664,7 +1664,7 @@ run_testcase ()
 	 exit 1
 	fi
 	FAILED_CASES="$FAILED_CASES $tname"
-        if [ -z "$DO_GDB" ] && [ -z "$USE_RUNNING_SERVER" ] && \
+        if [ -z "$DO_GDB" ] && [ $USE_RUNNING_SERVER -eq 0 ] && \
 	   [ -z "$DO_DDD" ] && [ -z "$USE_EMBEDDED_SERVER" ]
 	then
 	  mysql_restart
@@ -1683,7 +1683,7 @@ run_testcase ()
 [ "$DO_GCOV" ] && gcov_prepare
 [ "$DO_GPROF" ] && gprof_prepare
 
-if [ -z "$USE_RUNNING_SERVER" ]
+if [ $USE_RUNNING_SERVER -eq 0 ]
 then
   if [ -z "$FAST_START" ]
   then
@@ -1744,6 +1744,9 @@ fi
 
 $ECHO  "Starting Tests"
 
+# Some test cases need USE_RUNNING_SERVER
+export USE_RUNNING_SERVER
+
 #
 # This can probably be deleted
 #
@@ -1816,7 +1819,7 @@ fi
 $ECHO $DASH72
 $ECHO
 
-if [ -z "$DO_GDB" ] && [ -z "$USE_RUNNING_SERVER" ] && [ -z "$DO_DDD" ]
+if [ -z "$DO_GDB" ] && [ $USE_RUNNING_SERVER -eq 0 ] && [ -z "$DO_DDD" ]
 then
     mysql_stop
 fi
diff --git a/mysql-test/r/testdb_only.require b/mysql-test/r/testdb_only.require
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e717418fdb6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mysql-test/r/testdb_only.require
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Variable_name    	Value
+use extern server	NO
diff --git a/mysql-test/r/user_limits.result b/mysql-test/r/user_limits.result
index b374b05e3f0..75062e97200 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/user_limits.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/user_limits.result
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ delete from mysql.tables_priv where user like 'mysqltest\_%';
 delete from mysql.columns_priv where user like 'mysqltest\_%';
 flush privileges;
 grant usage on *.* to mysqltest_1@localhost with max_queries_per_hour 2;
+flush user_resources;
 select * from t1;
 i
 select * from t1;
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ select * from t1;
 ERROR 42000: User 'mysqltest_1' has exceeded the 'max_questions' resource (current value: 2)
 drop user mysqltest_1@localhost;
 grant usage on *.* to mysqltest_1@localhost with max_updates_per_hour 2;
+flush user_resources;
 select * from t1;
 i
 select * from t1;
@@ -34,6 +36,7 @@ select * from t1;
 i
 drop user mysqltest_1@localhost;
 grant usage on *.* to mysqltest_1@localhost with max_connections_per_hour 2;
+flush user_resources;
 select * from t1;
 i
 select * from t1;
@@ -47,6 +50,7 @@ ERROR 42000: User 'mysqltest_1' has exceeded the 'max_connections' resource (cur
 drop user mysqltest_1@localhost;
 flush privileges;
 grant usage on *.* to mysqltest_1@localhost with max_user_connections 2;
+flush user_resources;
 select * from t1;
 i
 select * from t1;
@@ -56,6 +60,7 @@ ERROR 42000: User 'mysqltest_1' has exceeded the 'max_user_connections' resource
 select * from t1;
 i
 grant usage on *.* to mysqltest_1@localhost with max_user_connections 3;
+flush user_resources;
 select * from t1;
 i
 connect(localhost,mysqltest_1,,test,MYSQL_PORT,MYSQL_SOCK);
@@ -71,6 +76,7 @@ select @@session.max_user_connections, @@global.max_user_connections;
 @@session.max_user_connections	@@global.max_user_connections
 2	2
 grant usage on *.* to mysqltest_1@localhost;
+flush user_resources;
 select @@session.max_user_connections, @@global.max_user_connections;
 @@session.max_user_connections	@@global.max_user_connections
 2	2
@@ -79,6 +85,7 @@ i
 connect(localhost,mysqltest_1,,test,MYSQL_PORT,MYSQL_SOCK);
 ERROR 42000: User mysqltest_1 already has more than 'max_user_connections' active connections
 grant usage on *.* to mysqltest_1@localhost with max_user_connections 3;
+flush user_resources;
 select @@session.max_user_connections, @@global.max_user_connections;
 @@session.max_user_connections	@@global.max_user_connections
 3	2
diff --git a/mysql-test/t/user_limits.test b/mysql-test/t/user_limits.test
index 50c16e5e114..729894a588a 100644
--- a/mysql-test/t/user_limits.test
+++ b/mysql-test/t/user_limits.test
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ flush privileges;
 
 # Test of MAX_QUERIES_PER_HOUR limit
 grant usage on *.* to mysqltest_1@localhost with max_queries_per_hour 2;
+# This ensures that counters are reset and makes test scheduling independent
+flush user_resources;
 connect (mqph, localhost, mysqltest_1,,);
 connection mqph;
 select * from t1;
@@ -37,6 +39,7 @@ disconnect mqph2;
 
 # Test of MAX_UPDATES_PER_HOUR limit
 grant usage on *.* to mysqltest_1@localhost with max_updates_per_hour 2;
+flush user_resources;
 connect (muph, localhost, mysqltest_1,,);
 connection muph;
 select * from t1;
@@ -60,6 +63,7 @@ disconnect muph2;
 
 # Test of MAX_CONNECTIONS_PER_HOUR limit
 grant usage on *.* to mysqltest_1@localhost with max_connections_per_hour 2;
+flush user_resources;
 connect (mcph1, localhost, mysqltest_1,,);
 connection mcph1;
 select * from t1;
@@ -86,6 +90,7 @@ drop user mysqltest_1@localhost;
 # We need this to reset internal mqh_used variable
 flush privileges;
 grant usage on *.* to mysqltest_1@localhost with max_user_connections 2;
+flush user_resources;
 connect (muc1, localhost, mysqltest_1,,);
 connection muc1;
 select * from t1;
@@ -102,6 +107,7 @@ select * from t1;
 # Changing of limit should also help (and immediately) 
 connection default;
 grant usage on *.* to mysqltest_1@localhost with max_user_connections 3;
+flush user_resources;
 connect (muc4, localhost, mysqltest_1,,);
 connection muc4;
 select * from t1;
@@ -127,6 +133,7 @@ set global max_user_connections= 2;
 select @@session.max_user_connections, @@global.max_user_connections;
 # Let us check that global limit works
 grant usage on *.* to mysqltest_1@localhost;
+flush user_resources;
 connect (muca1, localhost, mysqltest_1,,);
 connection muca1;
 select @@session.max_user_connections, @@global.max_user_connections;
@@ -139,6 +146,7 @@ connect (muca3, localhost, mysqltest_1,,);
 # Now we are testing that per-account limit prevails over gloabl limit
 connection default;
 grant usage on *.* to mysqltest_1@localhost with max_user_connections 3;
+flush user_resources;
 connect (muca3, localhost, mysqltest_1,,);
 connection muca3;
 select @@session.max_user_connections, @@global.max_user_connections;
diff --git a/mysys/my_static.c b/mysys/my_static.c
index 57d41676390..8207463ea50 100644
--- a/mysys/my_static.c
+++ b/mysys/my_static.c
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 #include "my_alarm.h"
 #endif
 
+my_bool timed_mutexes= 0;
+
 	/* from my_init */
 my_string	home_dir=0,my_progname=0;
 char		NEAR curr_dir[FN_REFLEN]= {0},
diff --git a/sql/mysql_priv.h b/sql/mysql_priv.h
index 5a222a1ce10..ad197f5f598 100644
--- a/sql/mysql_priv.h
+++ b/sql/mysql_priv.h
@@ -1001,8 +1001,7 @@ extern ulong ha_read_count, ha_discover_count;
 extern ulong table_cache_size;
 extern ulong max_connections,max_connect_errors, connect_timeout;
 extern ulong slave_net_timeout;
-extern ulong max_user_connections;
-extern my_bool timed_mutexes;
+extern uint max_user_connections;
 extern ulong what_to_log,flush_time;
 extern ulong query_buff_size, thread_stack,thread_stack_min;
 extern ulong binlog_cache_size, max_binlog_cache_size, open_files_limit;
diff --git a/sql/mysqld.cc b/sql/mysqld.cc
index 94eb34954ba..c9d2abb932d 100644
--- a/sql/mysqld.cc
+++ b/sql/mysqld.cc
@@ -333,9 +333,9 @@ ulong delayed_insert_errors,flush_time, thread_created;
 ulong specialflag=0;
 ulong binlog_cache_use= 0, binlog_cache_disk_use= 0;
 ulong max_connections,max_used_connections,
-      max_connect_errors, max_user_connections = 0;
+      max_connect_errors;
+uint  max_user_connections= 0;
 ulong thread_id=1L,current_pid;
-my_bool timed_mutexes= 0;
 ulong slow_launch_threads = 0, sync_binlog_period;
 ulong expire_logs_days = 0;
 ulong rpl_recovery_rank=0;
@@ -5254,8 +5254,8 @@ The minimum value for this variable is 4096.",
    REQUIRED_ARG, 32, 1, ~0L, 0, 1, 0},
   {"max_user_connections", OPT_MAX_USER_CONNECTIONS,
    "The maximum number of active connections for a single user (0 = no limit).",
-   (gptr*) &max_user_connections, (gptr*) &max_user_connections, 0, GET_ULONG,
-   REQUIRED_ARG, 0, 1, ~0L, 0, 1, 0},
+   (gptr*) &max_user_connections, (gptr*) &max_user_connections, 0, GET_UINT,
+   REQUIRED_ARG, 0, 1, ~0, 0, 1, 0},
   {"max_write_lock_count", OPT_MAX_WRITE_LOCK_COUNT,
    "After this many write locks, allow some read locks to run in between.",
    (gptr*) &max_write_lock_count, (gptr*) &max_write_lock_count, 0, GET_ULONG,
diff --git a/sql/set_var.cc b/sql/set_var.cc
index cc0ccad6a31..105b00fe7e6 100644
--- a/sql/set_var.cc
+++ b/sql/set_var.cc
@@ -1601,6 +1601,14 @@ Item *sys_var::item(THD *thd, enum_var_type var_type, LEX_STRING *base)
     var_type= OPT_GLOBAL;
   }
   switch (type()) {
+  case SHOW_INT:
+  {
+    uint value;
+    pthread_mutex_lock(&LOCK_global_system_variables);
+    value= *(uint*) value_ptr(thd, var_type, base);
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(&LOCK_global_system_variables);
+    return new Item_uint((int32) value);
+  }
   case SHOW_LONG:
   {
     ulong value;
diff --git a/sql/set_var.h b/sql/set_var.h
index 7c9f11041c8..0f30f764ed5 100644
--- a/sql/set_var.h
+++ b/sql/set_var.h
@@ -740,7 +740,7 @@ public:
     return type != OPT_GLOBAL || !option_limits;
   }
   void set_default(THD *thd, enum_var_type type);
-  SHOW_TYPE type() { return SHOW_LONG; }
+  SHOW_TYPE type() { return SHOW_INT; }
   byte *value_ptr(THD *thd, enum_var_type type, LEX_STRING *base);
 };