diff --git a/tests/cloud_tests/__init__.py b/tests/cloud_tests/__init__.py
index 98c1d6c7..dd436989 100644
--- a/tests/cloud_tests/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/cloud_tests/__init__.py
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@ TESTCASES_DIR = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, 'testcases')
 TEST_CONF_DIR = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, 'testcases')
 TREE_BASE = os.sep.join(BASE_DIR.split(os.sep)[:-2])
 
+# This domain contains reverse lookups for hostnames that are used.
+# The primary reason is so sudo will return quickly when it attempts
+# to look up the hostname.  i9n is just short for 'integration'.
+# see also bug 1730744 for why we had to do this.
+CI_DOMAIN = "i9n.cloud-init.io"
+
 
 def _initialize_logging():
     """Configure logging for cloud_tests."""
diff --git a/tests/cloud_tests/bddeb.py b/tests/cloud_tests/bddeb.py
index c259dfea..8681a5a3 100644
--- a/tests/cloud_tests/bddeb.py
+++ b/tests/cloud_tests/bddeb.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import tempfile
 
 from cloudinit import util as c_util
 from tests.cloud_tests import (config, LOG)
-from tests.cloud_tests.platforms import (platforms, images, snapshots,
+from tests.cloud_tests import (platforms, images, snapshots,
                                          instances)
 from tests.cloud_tests.stage import (PlatformComponent, run_stage, run_single)
 
diff --git a/tests/cloud_tests/collect.py b/tests/cloud_tests/collect.py
index db5ee99f..4805cea1 100644
--- a/tests/cloud_tests/collect.py
+++ b/tests/cloud_tests/collect.py
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ def collect_test_data(args, snapshot, os_name, test_name):
     # skip the testcase with a warning
     req_features = test_config.get('required_features', [])
     if any(feature not in snapshot.features for feature in req_features):
-        LOG.warn('test config %s requires features not supported by image, '
-                 'skipping.\nrequired features: %s\nsupported features: %s',
-                 test_name, req_features, snapshot.features)
+        LOG.warning('test config %s requires features not supported by image, '
+                    'skipping.\nrequired features: %s\nsupported features: %s',
+                    test_name, req_features, snapshot.features)
         return ({}, 0)
 
     # if there are user data overrides required for this test case, apply them
diff --git a/tests/cloud_tests/config.py b/tests/cloud_tests/config.py
index 52fc2bda..8bd569fd 100644
--- a/tests/cloud_tests/config.py
+++ b/tests/cloud_tests/config.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def load_platform_config(platform_name, require_enabled=False):
 
 
 def load_os_config(platform_name, os_name, require_enabled=False,
-                   feature_overrides={}):
+                   feature_overrides=None):
     """Load configuration for os.
 
     @param platform_name: platform name to load os config for
@@ -101,6 +101,8 @@ def load_os_config(platform_name, os_name, require_enabled=False,
     @param feature_overrides: feature flag overrides to merge with features
     @return_value: config dict
     """
+    if feature_overrides is None:
+        feature_overrides = {}
     main_conf = c_util.read_conf(RELEASES_CONF)
     default = main_conf['default_release_config']
     image = main_conf['releases'][os_name]
diff --git a/tests/cloud_tests/platforms/nocloudkvm/instance.py b/tests/cloud_tests/platforms/nocloudkvm/instance.py
index a87d76a6..df2f4c3f 100644
--- a/tests/cloud_tests/platforms/nocloudkvm/instance.py
+++ b/tests/cloud_tests/platforms/nocloudkvm/instance.py
@@ -2,21 +2,18 @@
 
 """Base NoCloud KVM instance."""
 
+import copy
 import os
 import paramiko
 import socket
 import subprocess
 import time
+import uuid
 
 from ..instances import Instance
+from cloudinit.atomic_helper import write_json
 from cloudinit import util as c_util
-from tests.cloud_tests import util
-
-# This domain contains reverse lookups for hostnames that are used.
-# The primary reason is so sudo will return quickly when it attempts
-# to look up the hostname.  i9n is just short for 'integration'.
-# see also bug 1730744 for why we had to do this.
-CI_DOMAIN = "i9n.cloud-init.io"
+from tests.cloud_tests import CI_DOMAIN, util
 
 
 class NoCloudKVMInstance(Instance):
@@ -37,14 +34,38 @@ class NoCloudKVMInstance(Instance):
         @param features: dictionary of supported feature flags
         """
         self.user_data = user_data
-        self.meta_data = meta_data
-        self.ssh_key_file = os.path.join(platform.config['data_dir'],
-                                         platform.config['private_key'])
+        if meta_data:
+            meta_data = copy.deepcopy(meta_data)
+        else:
+            meta_data = {}
+
+        if 'instance-id' in meta_data:
+            iid = meta_data['instance-id']
+        else:
+            iid = str(uuid.uuid1())
+            meta_data['instance-id'] = iid
+
+        self.instance_id = iid
+        self.ssh_key_file = os.path.join(
+            platform.config['data_dir'], platform.config['private_key'])
+        self.ssh_pubkey_file = os.path.join(
+            platform.config['data_dir'], platform.config['public_key'])
+
+        self.ssh_pubkey = None
+        if self.ssh_pubkey_file:
+            with open(self.ssh_pubkey_file, "r") as fp:
+                self.ssh_pubkey = fp.read().rstrip('\n')
+
+            if not meta_data.get('public-keys'):
+                meta_data['public-keys'] = []
+            meta_data['public-keys'].append(self.ssh_pubkey)
+
         self.ssh_port = None
         self.pid = None
         self.pid_file = None
         self.console_file = None
         self.disk = image_path
+        self.meta_data = meta_data
 
         super(NoCloudKVMInstance, self).__init__(
             platform, name, properties, config, features)
@@ -78,11 +99,15 @@ class NoCloudKVMInstance(Instance):
         """Generate nocloud seed from user-data"""
         seed_file = os.path.join(tmpdir, '%s_seed.img' % self.name)
         user_data_file = os.path.join(tmpdir, '%s_user_data' % self.name)
+        meta_data_file = os.path.join(tmpdir, '%s_meta_data' % self.name)
 
         with open(user_data_file, "w") as ud_file:
             ud_file.write(self.user_data)
 
-        c_util.subp(['cloud-localds', seed_file, user_data_file])
+        # meta-data can be yaml, but more easily pretty printed with json
+        write_json(meta_data_file, self.meta_data)
+        c_util.subp(['cloud-localds', seed_file, user_data_file,
+                     meta_data_file])
 
         return seed_file
 
diff --git a/tests/cloud_tests/platforms/nocloudkvm/snapshot.py b/tests/cloud_tests/platforms/nocloudkvm/snapshot.py
index 0005e1f2..2dae3590 100644
--- a/tests/cloud_tests/platforms/nocloudkvm/snapshot.py
+++ b/tests/cloud_tests/platforms/nocloudkvm/snapshot.py
@@ -41,10 +41,6 @@ class NoCloudKVMSnapshot(Snapshot):
         @param use_desc: description of snapshot instance use
         @return_value: an Instance
         """
-        key_file = os.path.join(self.platform.config['data_dir'],
-                                self.platform.config['public_key'])
-        user_data = self.inject_ssh_key(user_data, key_file)
-
         instance = self.platform.create_instance(
             self.properties, self.config, self.features,
             self._image_path, image_desc=str(self), use_desc=use_desc,
@@ -55,22 +51,6 @@ class NoCloudKVMSnapshot(Snapshot):
 
         return instance
 
-    def inject_ssh_key(self, user_data, key_file):
-        """Inject the authorized key into the user_data."""
-        with open(key_file) as f:
-            value = f.read()
-
-        key = 'ssh_authorized_keys:'
-        value = '  - %s' % value.strip()
-        user_data = user_data.split('\n')
-        if key in user_data:
-            user_data.insert(user_data.index(key) + 1, '%s' % value)
-        else:
-            user_data.insert(-1, '%s' % key)
-            user_data.insert(-1, '%s' % value)
-
-        return '\n'.join(user_data)
-
     def destroy(self):
         """Clean up snapshot data."""
         shutil.rmtree(self._workd)
diff --git a/tests/cloud_tests/testcases/base.py b/tests/cloud_tests/testcases/base.py
index 1706f59b..aec49eb6 100644
--- a/tests/cloud_tests/testcases/base.py
+++ b/tests/cloud_tests/testcases/base.py
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ from cloudinit import util as c_util
 class CloudTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     """Base test class for verifiers."""
 
-    data = None
+    # data gets popuulated in get_suite.setUpClass
+    data = {}
     conf = None
     _cloud_config = None
 
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ class CloudTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def get_data_file(self, name):
         """Get data file failing test if it is not present."""
+        import ipdb; ipdb.set_trace()
         if name not in self.data:
             raise AssertionError('File "{}" missing from collect data'
                                  .format(name))
diff --git a/tests/cloud_tests/testcases/modules/set_hostname_fqdn.py b/tests/cloud_tests/testcases/modules/set_hostname_fqdn.py
index eb6f0650..a405b30b 100644
--- a/tests/cloud_tests/testcases/modules/set_hostname_fqdn.py
+++ b/tests/cloud_tests/testcases/modules/set_hostname_fqdn.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # This file is part of cloud-init. See LICENSE file for license information.
 
 """cloud-init Integration Test Verify Script."""
-from tests.cloud_tests.instances.nocloudkvm import CI_DOMAIN
+from tests.cloud_tests import CI_DOMAIN
 from tests.cloud_tests.testcases import base
 
 
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 92232201..a8cba179 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ deps =
     pylint==1.7.1
     # test-requirements because unit tests are now present in cloudinit tree
     -r{toxinidir}/test-requirements.txt
-commands = {envpython} -m pylint {posargs:cloudinit}
+commands = {envpython} -m pylint {posargs:cloudinit tests/ tools/}
 
 [testenv:py3]
 basepython = python3
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ commands = {envpython} -m pyflakes {posargs:cloudinit/ tests/ tools/}
 deps = pyflakes
 
 [testenv:tip-pylint]
-commands = {envpython} -m pylint {posargs:cloudinit}
+commands = {envpython} -m pylint {posargs:cloudinit tests/ tools/}
 deps =
     # requirements
     pylint