diff --git a/.pylintrc b/.pylintrc
index b160ce7..3ad3692 100644
--- a/.pylintrc
+++ b/.pylintrc
@@ -56,5 +56,5 @@ ignored-classes=optparse.Values,thread._local
 # List of members which are set dynamically and missed by pylint inference
 # system, and so shouldn't trigger E1101 when accessed. Python regular
 # expressions are accepted.
-generated-members=types,http.client,command_handlers
+generated-members=types,http.client,command_handlers,m_.*
 
diff --git a/tests/cloud_tests/__init__.py b/tests/cloud_tests/__init__.py
index 98c1d6c..dd43698 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 c259dfe..a6d5069 100644
--- a/tests/cloud_tests/bddeb.py
+++ b/tests/cloud_tests/bddeb.py
@@ -8,8 +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,
-                                         instances)
+from tests.cloud_tests import platforms
 from tests.cloud_tests.stage import (PlatformComponent, run_stage, run_single)
 
 pre_reqs = ['devscripts', 'equivs', 'git', 'tar']
@@ -85,18 +84,18 @@ def setup_build(args):
         # set up image
         LOG.info('acquiring image for os: %s', args.build_os)
         img_conf = config.load_os_config(platform.platform_name, args.build_os)
-        image_call = partial(images.get_image, platform, img_conf)
+        image_call = partial(platforms.get_image, platform, img_conf)
         with PlatformComponent(image_call) as image:
 
             # set up snapshot
-            snapshot_call = partial(snapshots.get_snapshot, image)
+            snapshot_call = partial(platforms.get_snapshot, image)
             with PlatformComponent(snapshot_call) as snapshot:
 
                 # create instance with cloud-config to set it up
                 LOG.info('creating instance to build deb in')
                 empty_cloud_config = "#cloud-config\n{}"
                 instance_call = partial(
-                    instances.get_instance, snapshot, empty_cloud_config,
+                    platforms.get_instance, snapshot, empty_cloud_config,
                     use_desc='build cloud-init deb')
                 with PlatformComponent(instance_call) as instance:
 
diff --git a/tests/cloud_tests/collect.py b/tests/cloud_tests/collect.py
index db5ee99..4805cea 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 52fc2bd..8bd569f 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 a87d76a..df2f4c3 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 0005e1f..2dae359 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 1706f59..73fe28e 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
 
diff --git a/tests/cloud_tests/testcases/modules/set_hostname_fqdn.py b/tests/cloud_tests/testcases/modules/set_hostname_fqdn.py
index eb6f065..a405b30 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/tests/cloud_tests/util.py b/tests/cloud_tests/util.py
index c5cd697..15442e1 100644
--- a/tests/cloud_tests/util.py
+++ b/tests/cloud_tests/util.py
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ def shell_safe(cmd):
     out = subprocess.check_output(
         ["getopt", "--shell", "sh", "--options", "", "--", "--"] + list(cmd))
     # out contains ' -- <data>\n'. drop the ' -- ' and the '\n'
-    return out[4:-1].decode()
+    return str(out)[4:-1].decode()
 
 
 def shell_pack(cmd):
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_cs_util.py b/tests/unittests/test_cs_util.py
index ee88520..2a1095b 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_cs_util.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_cs_util.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ class CepkoMock(Cepko):
 # touched the underlying Cepko class methods.
 class CepkoResultTests(test_helpers.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
+        self.c = Cepko()
         raise test_helpers.SkipTest('This test is completely useless')
 
     def test_getitem(self):
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_datasource/test_azure.py b/tests/unittests/test_datasource/test_azure.py
index 226c214..5ab4889 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_datasource/test_azure.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_datasource/test_azure.py
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@ def construct_valid_ovf_env(data=None, pubkeys=None, userdata=None):
     """
     for key, dval in data.items():
         if isinstance(dval, dict):
-            val = dval.get('text')
-            attrs = ' ' + ' '.join(["%s='%s'" % (k, v) for k, v in dval.items()
-                                    if k != 'text'])
+            val = dict(dval).get('text')
+            attrs = ' ' + ' '.join(["%s='%s'" % (k, v) for k, v
+                                    in dict(dval).items() if k != 'text'])
         else:
             val = dval
             attrs = ""
@@ -897,9 +897,6 @@ class TestCanDevBeReformatted(CiTestCase):
         setattr(self, sattr, patcher.start())
         self.addCleanup(patcher.stop)
 
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(TestCanDevBeReformatted, self).setUp()
-
     def patchup(self, devs):
         bypath = {}
         for path, data in devs.items():
@@ -954,14 +951,14 @@ class TestCanDevBeReformatted(CiTestCase):
                     '/dev/sda3': {'num': 3},
                 }}})
         value, msg = dsaz.can_dev_be_reformatted("/dev/sda")
-        self.assertFalse(False, value)
+        self.assertFalse(value)
         self.assertIn("3 or more", msg.lower())
 
     def test_no_partitions_is_false(self):
         """A disk with no partitions can not be formatted."""
         self.patchup({'/dev/sda': {}})
         value, msg = dsaz.can_dev_be_reformatted("/dev/sda")
-        self.assertEqual(False, value)
+        self.assertFalse(value)
         self.assertIn("not partitioned", msg.lower())
 
     def test_two_partitions_not_ntfs_false(self):
@@ -973,7 +970,7 @@ class TestCanDevBeReformatted(CiTestCase):
                     '/dev/sda2': {'num': 2, 'fs': 'ext4', 'files': []},
                 }}})
         value, msg = dsaz.can_dev_be_reformatted("/dev/sda")
-        self.assertFalse(False, value)
+        self.assertFalse(value)
         self.assertIn("not ntfs", msg.lower())
 
     def test_two_partitions_ntfs_populated_false(self):
@@ -986,7 +983,7 @@ class TestCanDevBeReformatted(CiTestCase):
                                   'files': ['secret.txt']},
                 }}})
         value, msg = dsaz.can_dev_be_reformatted("/dev/sda")
-        self.assertFalse(False, value)
+        self.assertFalse(value)
         self.assertIn("files on it", msg.lower())
 
     def test_two_partitions_ntfs_empty_is_true(self):
@@ -998,7 +995,7 @@ class TestCanDevBeReformatted(CiTestCase):
                     '/dev/sda2': {'num': 2, 'fs': 'ntfs', 'files': []},
                 }}})
         value, msg = dsaz.can_dev_be_reformatted("/dev/sda")
-        self.assertEqual(True, value)
+        self.assertTrue(value)
         self.assertIn("safe for", msg.lower())
 
     def test_one_partition_not_ntfs_false(self):
@@ -1009,7 +1006,7 @@ class TestCanDevBeReformatted(CiTestCase):
                     '/dev/sda1': {'num': 1, 'fs': 'zfs'},
                 }}})
         value, msg = dsaz.can_dev_be_reformatted("/dev/sda")
-        self.assertEqual(False, value)
+        self.assertFalse(value)
         self.assertIn("not ntfs", msg.lower())
 
     def test_one_partition_ntfs_populated_false(self):
@@ -1021,7 +1018,7 @@ class TestCanDevBeReformatted(CiTestCase):
                                   'files': ['file1.txt', 'file2.exe']},
                 }}})
         value, msg = dsaz.can_dev_be_reformatted("/dev/sda")
-        self.assertEqual(False, value)
+        self.assertFalse(value)
         self.assertIn("files on it", msg.lower())
 
     def test_one_partition_ntfs_empty_is_true(self):
@@ -1032,7 +1029,7 @@ class TestCanDevBeReformatted(CiTestCase):
                     '/dev/sda1': {'num': 1, 'fs': 'ntfs', 'files': []}
                 }}})
         value, msg = dsaz.can_dev_be_reformatted("/dev/sda")
-        self.assertEqual(True, value)
+        self.assertTrue(value)
         self.assertIn("safe for", msg.lower())
 
     def test_one_partition_ntfs_empty_with_dataloss_file_is_true(self):
@@ -1044,7 +1041,7 @@ class TestCanDevBeReformatted(CiTestCase):
                                   'files': ['dataloss_warning_readme.txt']}
                 }}})
         value, msg = dsaz.can_dev_be_reformatted("/dev/sda")
-        self.assertEqual(True, value)
+        self.assertTrue(value)
         self.assertIn("safe for", msg.lower())
 
     def test_one_partition_through_realpath_is_true(self):
@@ -1059,7 +1056,7 @@ class TestCanDevBeReformatted(CiTestCase):
                         'realpath': '/dev/sdb1'}
                 }}})
         value, msg = dsaz.can_dev_be_reformatted(epath)
-        self.assertEqual(True, value)
+        self.assertTrue(value)
         self.assertIn("safe for", msg.lower())
 
     def test_three_partition_through_realpath_is_false(self):
@@ -1078,7 +1075,7 @@ class TestCanDevBeReformatted(CiTestCase):
                                        'realpath': '/dev/sdb3'}
                 }}})
         value, msg = dsaz.can_dev_be_reformatted(epath)
-        self.assertEqual(False, value)
+        self.assertFalse(value)
         self.assertIn("3 or more", msg.lower())
 
 
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_datasource/test_digitalocean.py b/tests/unittests/test_datasource/test_digitalocean.py
index ec32173..3127014 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_datasource/test_digitalocean.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_datasource/test_digitalocean.py
@@ -199,9 +199,8 @@ class TestDataSourceDigitalOcean(CiTestCase):
 
 class TestNetworkConvert(CiTestCase):
 
-    @mock.patch('cloudinit.net.get_interfaces_by_mac')
-    def _get_networking(self, m_get_by_mac):
-        m_get_by_mac.return_value = {
+    def _get_networking(self):
+        self.m_get_by_mac.return_value = {
             '04:01:57:d1:9e:01': 'ens1',
             '04:01:57:d1:9e:02': 'ens2',
             'b8:ae:ed:75:5f:9a': 'enp0s25',
@@ -211,6 +210,10 @@ class TestNetworkConvert(CiTestCase):
         self.assertIn('config', netcfg)
         return netcfg
 
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestNetworkConvert, self).setUp()
+        self.add_patch('cloudinit.net.get_interfaces_by_mac', 'm_get_by_mac')
+
     def test_networking_defined(self):
         netcfg = self._get_networking()
         self.assertIsNotNone(netcfg)
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_datasource/test_ec2.py b/tests/unittests/test_datasource/test_ec2.py
index ba042ea..f0dc833 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_datasource/test_ec2.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_datasource/test_ec2.py
@@ -330,7 +330,8 @@ class TestEc2(test_helpers.HttprettyTestCase):
         ds.fallback_nic = 'eth9'
         with mock.patch(get_interface_mac_path) as m_get_interface_mac:
             m_get_interface_mac.return_value = mac1
-            ds.network_config  # Will re-crawl network metadata
+            nc = ds.network_config  # Will re-crawl network metadata
+            self.assertIsNotNone(nc)
         self.assertIn('Re-crawl of metadata service', self.logs.getvalue())
         expected = {'version': 1, 'config': [
             {'mac_address': '06:17:04:d7:26:09',
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_distros/test_create_users.py b/tests/unittests/test_distros/test_create_users.py
index aa13670..5670904 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_distros/test_create_users.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_distros/test_create_users.py
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@ from cloudinit.tests.helpers import (TestCase, mock)
 class MyBaseDistro(distros.Distro):
     # MyBaseDistro is here to test base Distro class implementations
 
-    def __init__(self, name="basedistro", cfg={}, paths={}):
+    def __init__(self, name="basedistro", cfg=None, paths=None):
+        if not cfg:
+            cfg = {}
+        if not paths:
+            paths = {}
         super(MyBaseDistro, self).__init__(name, cfg, paths)
 
     def install_packages(self, pkglist):
@@ -42,7 +46,6 @@ class MyBaseDistro(distros.Distro):
 @mock.patch("cloudinit.distros.util.subp")
 class TestCreateUser(TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
-        super(TestCase, self).setUp()
         self.dist = MyBaseDistro()
 
     def _useradd2call(self, args):
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_distros/test_netconfig.py b/tests/unittests/test_distros/test_netconfig.py
index c4bd11b..8d0b263 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_distros/test_netconfig.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_distros/test_netconfig.py
@@ -188,9 +188,6 @@ hn0: flags=8843<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> metric 0 mtu 1500
         status: active
 """
 
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(TestNetCfgDistro, self).setUp()
-
     def _get_distro(self, dname, renderers=None):
         cls = distros.fetch(dname)
         cfg = settings.CFG_BUILTIN
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_lxd.py b/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_lxd.py
index e0d9ab6..a205498 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_lxd.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_lxd.py
@@ -25,9 +25,6 @@ class TestLxd(t_help.CiTestCase):
         }
     }
 
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(TestLxd, self).setUp()
-
     def _get_cloud(self, distro):
         cls = distros.fetch(distro)
         paths = helpers.Paths({})
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_power_state.py b/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_power_state.py
index 85a0fe0..3c72642 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_power_state.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_power_state.py
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@ from cloudinit.tests.helpers import mock
 
 
 class TestLoadPowerState(t_help.TestCase):
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(self.__class__, self).setUp()
-
     def test_no_config(self):
         # completely empty config should mean do nothing
         (cmd, _timeout, _condition) = psc.load_power_state({})
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_yum_add_repo.py b/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_yum_add_repo.py
index b7adbe5..d9d18e8 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_yum_add_repo.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_yum_add_repo.py
@@ -23,6 +23,15 @@ class TestConfig(helpers.FilesystemMockingTestCase):
         self.tmp = tempfile.mkdtemp()
         self.addCleanup(shutil.rmtree, self.tmp)
 
+    def parse_and_read(self, contents):
+        parser = ConfigParser()
+        if hasattr(parser, 'read_file'):
+            parser.read_file(contents)
+        elif hasattr(parser, 'readfp'):
+            #pylint: disable=W1505
+            parser.readfp(contents)
+        return parser
+
     def test_bad_config(self):
         cfg = {
             'yum_repos': {
@@ -58,8 +67,7 @@ class TestConfig(helpers.FilesystemMockingTestCase):
         self.patchUtils(self.tmp)
         cc_yum_add_repo.handle('yum_add_repo', cfg, None, LOG, [])
         contents = util.load_file("/etc/yum.repos.d/epel_testing.repo")
-        parser = ConfigParser()
-        parser.readfp(StringIO(contents))
+        parser = self.parse_and_read(StringIO(contents))
         expected = {
             'epel_testing': {
                 'name': 'Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux 5 - Testing',
@@ -95,8 +103,7 @@ class TestConfig(helpers.FilesystemMockingTestCase):
         self.patchUtils(self.tmp)
         cc_yum_add_repo.handle('yum_add_repo', cfg, None, LOG, [])
         contents = util.load_file("/etc/yum.repos.d/puppetlabs_products.repo")
-        parser = ConfigParser()
-        parser.readfp(StringIO(contents))
+        parser = self.parse_and_read(StringIO(contents))
         expected = {
             'puppetlabs_products': {
                 'name': 'Puppet Labs Products El 6 - $basearch',
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_zypper_add_repo.py b/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_zypper_add_repo.py
index 315c2a5..506361b 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_zypper_add_repo.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_handler/test_handler_zypper_add_repo.py
@@ -25,6 +25,15 @@ class TestConfig(helpers.FilesystemMockingTestCase):
         self.tmp = self.tmp_dir()
         self.zypp_conf = 'etc/zypp/zypp.conf'
 
+    def parse_and_read(self, contents):
+        parser = ConfigParser()
+        if hasattr(parser, 'read_file'):
+            parser.readfp(contents)
+        elif hasattr(parser, 'readfp'):
+            #pylint: disable=W1505
+            parser.read_file(contents)
+        return parser
+
     def test_bad_repo_config(self):
         """Config has no baseurl, no file should be written"""
         cfg = {
@@ -70,8 +79,7 @@ class TestConfig(helpers.FilesystemMockingTestCase):
         root_d = self.tmp_dir()
         cc_zypper_add_repo._write_repos(cfg['repos'], root_d)
         contents = util.load_file("%s/testing-foo.repo" % root_d)
-        parser = ConfigParser()
-        parser.readfp(StringIO(contents))
+        parser = self.parse_and_read(StringIO(contents))
         expected = {
             'testing-foo': {
                 'name': 'test-foo',
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_reporting.py b/tests/unittests/test_reporting.py
index 571420e..e15ba6c 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_reporting.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_reporting.py
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ class TestBaseReportingHandler(TestCase):
 
     def test_base_reporting_handler_is_abstract(self):
         regexp = r".*abstract.*publish_event.*"
-        self.assertRaisesRegexp(TypeError, regexp, handlers.ReportingHandler)
+        self.assertRaisesRegex(TypeError, regexp, handlers.ReportingHandler)
 
 
 class TestLogHandler(TestCase):
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_templating.py b/tests/unittests/test_templating.py
index b911d92..53154d3 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_templating.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_templating.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ from cloudinit import templater
 try:
     import Cheetah
     HAS_CHEETAH = True
-    Cheetah  # make pyflakes happy, as Cheetah is not used here
+    c = Cheetah  # make pyflakes and pylint happy, as Cheetah is not used here
 except ImportError:
     HAS_CHEETAH = False
 
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_util.py b/tests/unittests/test_util.py
index 71f5952..787ca20 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_util.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_util.py
@@ -695,9 +695,9 @@ class TestSubp(helpers.CiTestCase):
         util.write_file(noshebang, 'true\n')
 
         os.chmod(noshebang, os.stat(noshebang).st_mode | stat.S_IEXEC)
-        self.assertRaisesRegexp(util.ProcessExecutionError,
-                                'Missing #! in script\?',
-                                util.subp, (noshebang,))
+        self.assertRaisesRegex(util.ProcessExecutionError,
+                               'Missing #! in script\?',
+                               util.subp, (noshebang,))
 
     def test_returns_none_if_no_capture(self):
         (out, err) = util.subp(self.stdin2out, data=b'', capture=False)
diff --git a/tests/unittests/test_vmware_config_file.py b/tests/unittests/test_vmware_config_file.py
index 808d303..0f8cda9 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/test_vmware_config_file.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/test_vmware_config_file.py
@@ -133,7 +133,8 @@ class TestVmwareConfigFile(CiTestCase):
 
         conf = Config(cf)
         with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
-            conf.reset_password()
+            pw = conf.reset_password
+            self.assertIsNone(pw)
 
         cf.clear()
         cf._insertKey("PASSWORD|RESET", "yes")
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 9223220..20523df 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -21,12 +21,13 @@ setenv =
     LC_ALL = en_US.utf-8
 
 [testenv:pylint]
+basepython = python3
 deps =
     # requirements
     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 +120,7 @@ commands = {envpython} -m pyflakes {posargs:cloudinit/ tests/ tools/}
 deps = pyflakes
 
 [testenv:tip-pylint]
-commands = {envpython} -m pylint {posargs:cloudinit}
+commands = {envpython} -m pylint --rcfile=.pylintrc {posargs:cloudinit tests/ tools/}
 deps =
     # requirements
     pylint