diff --git a/avocado/__init__.py b/avocado/__init__.py
index 493df6fe827153b9624f37a279550fd7295b68cf..e6ffc5afec3cde76aa256dc9671a5ba8f3c388f9 100644
--- a/avocado/__init__.py
+++ b/avocado/__init__.py
@@ -36,13 +36,18 @@ DEFAULT_LOGGING = {
             'class': 'logging.StreamHandler',
             'formatter': 'brief',
         },
+        'app': {
+            'level': 'INFO',
+            'class': 'avocado.core.output.ProgressStreamHandler',
+            'formatter': 'brief',
+        },
     },
     'loggers': {
         'avocado': {
             'handlers': ['console'],
         },
         'avocado.app': {
-            'handlers': ['console'],
+            'handlers': ['app'],
             'level': 'INFO',
             'propagate': False,
         },
diff --git a/avocado/core/output.py b/avocado/core/output.py
index a4f19c644ece310db1180c8e6d050de9fd3de402..b57d381346be3a5333bb7bf6deb401f4c945ef32 100644
--- a/avocado/core/output.py
+++ b/avocado/core/output.py
@@ -22,6 +22,29 @@ import sys
 from avocado.utils import process
 
 
+class ProgressStreamHandler(logging.StreamHandler):
+
+    """
+    Handler class that allows users to skip new lines on each emission.
+    """
+
+    def emit(self, record):
+        try:
+            msg = self.format(record)
+            stream = self.stream
+            skip_newline = False
+            if hasattr(record, 'skip_newline'):
+                skip_newline = record.skip_newline
+            stream.write(msg)
+            if not skip_newline:
+                stream.write('\n')
+            self.flush()
+        except (KeyboardInterrupt, SystemExit):
+            raise
+        except:
+            self.handleError(record)
+
+
 def get_paginator():
     """
     Get a pipe. If we can't do that, return stdout.
@@ -95,21 +118,21 @@ class TermColors(object):
         self.WARN = ''
         self.ENDC = ''
 
-    def header_str(self, sr):
+    def header_str(self, msg):
         """
         Print a header string (blue colored).
 
         If the output does not support colors, just return the original string.
         """
-        return self.HEADER + sr + self.ENDC
+        return self.HEADER + msg + self.ENDC
 
-    def fail_header_str(self, sr):
+    def fail_header_str(self, msg):
         """
         Print a fail header string (red colored).
 
         If the output does not support colors, just return the original string.
         """
-        return self.FAIL + sr + self.ENDC
+        return self.FAIL + msg + self.ENDC
 
     def pass_str(self):
         """
@@ -164,13 +187,15 @@ class OutputManager(object):
     def __init__(self, logger_name='avocado.app'):
         self.console_log = logging.getLogger('avocado.app')
 
-    def _log(self, sr, level=logging.INFO):
+    def _log(self, msg, level=logging.INFO, skip_newline=False):
         """
         Write a message to the avocado.app logger.
 
-        :param sr: String to write.
+        :param msg: Message to write
+        :type msg: string
         """
-        self.console_log.log(level, sr)
+        extra = {'skip_newline': skip_newline}
+        self.console_log.log(level=level, msg=msg, extra=extra)
 
     def start_file_logging(self, logfile, level):
         """
@@ -205,88 +230,79 @@ class OutputManager(object):
         linux_logger.removeHandler(self.file_handler)
         self.file_handler.close()
 
-    def info(self, sr):
+    def info(self, msg, skip_newline=False):
         """
         Log a :mod:`logging.INFO` message.
 
-        :param sr: String to write.
+        :param msg: Message to write.
         """
-        self._log(sr, level=logging.INFO)
+        self._log(msg, level=logging.INFO, skip_newline=skip_newline)
 
-    def error(self, sr):
+    def error(self, msg):
         """
         Log a :mod:`logging.INFO` message.
 
-        :param sr: String to write.
+        :param msg: Message to write.
         """
-        self._log(sr, level=logging.ERROR)
+        self._log(msg, level=logging.ERROR)
 
-    def log_header(self, sr):
+    def log_header(self, msg):
         """
         Log a header message.
 
-        :param sr: String to write.
+        :param msg: Message to write.
         """
-        self.info(colors.header_str(sr))
+        self.info(colors.header_str(msg))
 
-    def log_fail_header(self, sr):
+    def log_fail_header(self, msg):
         """
         Log a fail header message (red, for critical errors).
 
-        :param sr: String to write.
+        :param msg: Message to write.
         """
-        self.info(colors.fail_header_str(sr))
+        self.info(colors.fail_header_str(msg))
 
-    def log_pass(self, label, t_elapsed):
+    def log_pass(self, t_elapsed):
         """
-        Log a test PASS message.
+        Log a PASS message.
 
-        :param label: Label for the PASS message (test name + index).
-        :param t_elapsed: Time it took for test to complete.
+        :param t_elapsed: Time it took for the operation to complete.
         """
-        normal_pass_msg = (label + " " + colors.pass_str() +
-                           " (%.2f s)" % t_elapsed)
+        normal_pass_msg = colors.pass_str() + " (%.2f s)" % t_elapsed
         self.info(normal_pass_msg)
 
-    def log_error(self, label, t_elapsed):
+    def log_error(self, t_elapsed):
         """
-        Log a test ERROR message.
+        Log an ERROR message.
 
-        :param label: Label for the FAIL message (test name + index).
-        :param t_elapsed: Time it took for test to complete.
+        :param t_elapsed: Time it took for the operation to complete.
         """
-        normal_error_msg = (label + " " + colors.error_str() +
-                            " (%.2f s)" % t_elapsed)
+        normal_error_msg = colors.error_str() + " (%.2f s)" % t_elapsed
         self.error(normal_error_msg)
 
-    def log_fail(self, label, t_elapsed):
+    def log_fail(self, t_elapsed):
         """
-        Log a test FAIL message.
+        Log a FAIL message.
 
-        :param label: Label for the FAIL message (test name + index).
-        :param t_elapsed: Time it took for test to complete.
+        :param t_elapsed: Time it took for the operation to complete.
         """
-        normal_fail_msg = (label + " " + colors.fail_str() +
-                           " (%.2f s)" % t_elapsed)
+        normal_fail_msg = colors.fail_str() + " (%.2f s)" % t_elapsed
         self.error(normal_fail_msg)
 
-    def log_skip(self, label, t_elapsed):
+    def log_skip(self, t_elapsed):
         """
-        Log a test SKIP message.
+        Log a SKIP message.
 
-        :param label: Label for the SKIP message (test name + index).
-        :param t_elapsed: Time it took for test to complete.
+        :param t_elapsed: Time it took for the operation to complete.
         """
-        normal_skip_msg = (label + " " + colors.skip_str())
+        normal_skip_msg = colors.skip_str()
         self.info(normal_skip_msg)
 
-    def log_warn(self, label, t_elapsed):
+    def log_warn(self, t_elapsed):
         """
-        Log a test WARN message.
+        Log a WARN message.
 
-        :param label: Label for the WARN message (test name + index).
-        :param t_elapsed: Time it took for test to complete.
+        :param t_elapsed: Time it took for the operation to complete.
         """
-        normal_warn_msg = (label + " " + colors.warn_str() +
-                           " (%.2f s)" % t_elapsed)
+        normal_warn_msg = colors.warn_str() + " (%.2f s)" % t_elapsed
         self.error(normal_warn_msg)
diff --git a/avocado/job.py b/avocado/job.py
index 42bb3bdb108c3a09f2079f21e93a406af3f98137..298b16a399ad358c4fffbc99fe1ce4c6534c27bf 100644
--- a/avocado/job.py
+++ b/avocado/job.py
@@ -53,9 +53,9 @@ class TestRunner(object):
         self.job = job
         self.result = test_result
 
-    def _load_test_instance(self, params):
+    def load_test(self, params):
         """
-        Find the test url from the first component of the test shortname, and load the url.
+        Resolve and load the test url from the the test shortname.
 
         :param params: Dictionary with test params.
         :type params: dict
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class TestRunner(object):
         """
         shortname = params.get('shortname')
         url = shortname.split('.')[0]
-        path_attempt = os.path.abspath(url)
+        path_attempt = os.path.abspath(shortname)
         if os.path.exists(path_attempt):
             test_class = test.DropinTest
             test_instance = test_class(path=path_attempt,
@@ -85,18 +85,6 @@ class TestRunner(object):
                                            job=self.job)
         return test_instance
 
-    def run_test(self, params):
-        """
-        Run a single test.
-
-        :param params: Dictionary with test params.
-        :type params: dict
-        :return: an instance of :class:`avocado.test.Test`.
-        """
-        test_instance = self._load_test_instance(params)
-        test_instance.run_avocado()
-        return test_instance
-
     def run(self, params_list):
         """
         Run one or more tests and report with test result.
@@ -108,7 +96,9 @@ class TestRunner(object):
         failures = []
         self.result.start_tests()
         for params in params_list:
-            test_instance = self.run_test(params)
+            test_instance = self.load_test(params)
+            self.result.start_test(test_instance)
+            test_instance.run_avocado()
             self.result.check_test(test_instance)
             if not status.mapping[test_instance.status]:
                 failures.append(test_instance.name)
diff --git a/avocado/plugins/vm.py b/avocado/plugins/vm.py
index c640f13af381917c990fc2fd6d2cfc9aad91a381..ba7fc8d6af7ee2ae3c87d53d1679892f964146b2 100644
--- a/avocado/plugins/vm.py
+++ b/avocado/plugins/vm.py
@@ -184,6 +184,8 @@ class VMTestResult(TestResult):
                                             self.tests_total,
                                             test.tagged_name)
 
+        self.stream.info(msg=self.test_label, skip_newline=True)
+
     def end_test(self, test):
         """
         Called when the given test has been run.
@@ -199,7 +201,7 @@ class VMTestResult(TestResult):
         :param test: :class:`avocado.test.Test` instance.
         """
         TestResult.add_pass(self, test)
-        self.stream.log_pass(self.test_label, test.time_elapsed)
+        self.stream.log_pass(test.time_elapsed)
 
     def add_error(self, test):
         """
@@ -208,7 +210,7 @@ class VMTestResult(TestResult):
         :param test: :class:`avocado.test.Test` instance.
         """
         TestResult.add_error(self, test)
-        self.stream.log_error(self.test_label, test.time_elapsed)
+        self.stream.log_error(test.time_elapsed)
 
     def add_fail(self, test):
         """
@@ -217,7 +219,7 @@ class VMTestResult(TestResult):
         :param test: :class:`avocado.test.Test` instance.
         """
         TestResult.add_fail(self, test)
-        self.stream.log_fail(self.test_label, test.time_elapsed)
+        self.stream.log_fail(test.time_elapsed)
 
     def add_skip(self, test):
         """
@@ -226,7 +228,7 @@ class VMTestResult(TestResult):
         :param test: :class:`avocado.test.Test` instance.
         """
         TestResult.add_skip(self, test)
-        self.stream.log_skip(self.test_label, test.time_elapsed)
+        self.stream.log_skip(test.time_elapsed)
 
     def add_warn(self, test):
         """
@@ -235,7 +237,7 @@ class VMTestResult(TestResult):
         :param test: :class:`avocado.test.Test` instance.
         """
         TestResult.add_warn(self, test)
-        self.stream.log_warn(self.test_label, test.time_elapsed)
+        self.stream.log_warn(test.time_elapsed)
 
 
 class RunVM(plugin.Plugin):
diff --git a/avocado/result.py b/avocado/result.py
index 1c5e684d93a3bc2e95c93c3c17d1e16d1433e50e..072a3da35db163fe1211deb79cbd0d0bd9d7e1e6 100644
--- a/avocado/result.py
+++ b/avocado/result.py
@@ -13,7 +13,12 @@
 # Authors: Lucas Meneghel Rodrigues <lmr@redhat.com>
 #          Ruda Moura <rmoura@redhat.com>
 
-"""Test result module."""
+"""
+Contains the definition of the TestResult class, used for output in avocado.
+
+It also contains the most basic test result class, HumanTestResult,
+used by the test runner.
+"""
 
 
 class TestResult(object):
@@ -116,7 +121,6 @@ class TestResult(object):
 
         :param test: an instance of :class:`avocado.test.Test`.
         """
-        self.start_test(test)
         status_map = {'PASS': self.add_pass,
                       'ERROR': self.add_error,
                       'FAIL': self.add_fail,
@@ -161,6 +165,7 @@ class HumanTestResult(TestResult):
         self.test_label = '(%s/%s) %s: ' % (self.tests_run,
                                             self.tests_total,
                                             test.tagged_name)
+        self.stream.info(msg=self.test_label, skip_newline=True)
 
     def end_test(self, test):
         """
@@ -177,7 +182,7 @@ class HumanTestResult(TestResult):
         :param test: an instance of :class:`avocado.test.Test`.
         """
         TestResult.add_pass(self, test)
-        self.stream.log_pass(self.test_label, test.time_elapsed)
+        self.stream.log_pass(test.time_elapsed)
 
     def add_error(self, test):
         """
@@ -186,7 +191,7 @@ class HumanTestResult(TestResult):
         :param test: an instance of :class:`avocado.test.Test`.
         """
         TestResult.add_error(self, test)
-        self.stream.log_error(self.test_label, test.time_elapsed)
+        self.stream.log_error(test.time_elapsed)
 
     def add_fail(self, test):
         """
@@ -195,7 +200,7 @@ class HumanTestResult(TestResult):
         :param test: an instance of :class:`avocado.test.Test`.
         """
         TestResult.add_fail(self, test)
-        self.stream.log_fail(self.test_label, test.time_elapsed)
+        self.stream.log_fail(test.time_elapsed)
 
     def add_skip(self, test):
         """
@@ -204,7 +209,7 @@ class HumanTestResult(TestResult):
         :param test: an instance of :class:`avocado.test.Test`.
         """
         TestResult.add_skip(self, test)
-        self.stream.log_skip(self.test_label, test.time_elapsed)
+        self.stream.log_skip(test.time_elapsed)
 
     def add_warn(self, test):
         """
@@ -213,4 +218,4 @@ class HumanTestResult(TestResult):
         :param test: an instance of :class:`avocado.test.Test`.
         """
         TestResult.add_warn(self, test)
-        self.stream.log_warn(self.test_label, test.time_elapsed)
+        self.stream.log_warn(test.time_elapsed)
diff --git a/avocado/test.py b/avocado/test.py
index 91de0eed05bd312c86458c4c9bf93ad9c14bdc8f..b5dd8cfe26225467607937d48db22c4d5af8a32b 100644
--- a/avocado/test.py
+++ b/avocado/test.py
@@ -30,6 +30,40 @@ from avocado.utils import process
 from avocado.utils.params import Params
 from avocado import sysinfo
 
+log = logging.getLogger("avocado.test")
+
+
+def tb_info(exc_info):
+    """
+    Prepare traceback info.
+
+    :param exc_info: Exception info produced by sys.exc_info()
+    """
+    exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback = exc_info
+    tb_info = traceback.format_exception(exc_type, exc_value,
+                                         exc_traceback.tb_next)
+    return tb_info
+
+
+def log_exc_info(exc_info):
+    """
+    Log exception info.
+
+    :param exc_info: Exception info produced by sys.exc_info()
+    """
+    for line in tb_info(exc_info):
+        for l in line.splitlines():
+            log.error(l)
+
+
+def prepare_exc_info(exc_info):
+    """
+    Prepare traceback info.
+
+    :param exc_info: Exception info produced by sys.exc_info()
+    """
+    return "".join(tb_info(exc_info))
+
 
 class Test(unittest.TestCase):
 
@@ -239,11 +273,13 @@ class Test(unittest.TestCase):
         try:
             self.setup()
         except Exception, details:
+            log_exc_info(sys.exc_info())
             raise exceptions.TestSetupFail(details)
         self.action()
         try:
             self.cleanup()
         except Exception, details:
+            log_exc_info(sys.exc_info())
             raise exceptions.TestSetupFail(details)
         self.status = 'PASS'
 
@@ -260,18 +296,12 @@ class Test(unittest.TestCase):
             self.status = detail.status
             self.fail_class = detail.__class__.__name__
             self.fail_reason = detail
-            exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback = sys.exc_info()
-            tb_info = traceback.format_exception(exc_type, exc_value,
-                                                 exc_traceback.tb_next)
-            self.traceback = "".join(tb_info)
+            self.traceback = prepare_exc_info(sys.exc_info())
         except AssertionError, detail:
             self.status = 'FAIL'
             self.fail_class = detail.__class__.__name__
             self.fail_reason = detail
-            exc_type, exc_value, exc_traceback = sys.exc_info()
-            tb_info = traceback.format_exception(exc_type, exc_value,
-                                                 exc_traceback.tb_next)
-            self.traceback = "".join(tb_info)
+            self.traceback = prepare_exc_info(sys.exc_info())
         except Exception, detail:
             self.status = 'FAIL'
             self.fail_class = detail.__class__.__name__
diff --git a/avocado/utils/archive.py b/avocado/utils/archive.py
index 3e21eb911d541529c1f336038fa0f5ac914e53d5..9bebf7c175f72b37850ab49cb0e93192abbfa8ee 100644
--- a/avocado/utils/archive.py
+++ b/avocado/utils/archive.py
@@ -26,11 +26,14 @@
 """
 Library used to transparently uncompress compressed files.
 """
+import logging
 import os
 import shutil
 import tarfile
 import zipfile
 
+log = logging.getLogger('avocado.test')
+
 
 class ArchiveException(Exception):
 
@@ -172,14 +175,19 @@ class TarArchive(BaseArchive):
                 except (KeyError, AttributeError) as exc:
                     # Some corrupt tar files seem to produce this
                     # (specifically bad symlinks)
-                    print("In the tar file %s the member %s is invalid: %s" %
-                          (name, member.name, exc))
+                    log.error("In the tar file %s the member %s is "
+                              "invalid: %s" % (name, member.name, exc))
                 else:
                     dirname = os.path.dirname(filename)
                     if dirname and not os.path.exists(dirname):
                         os.makedirs(dirname)
                     with open(filename, 'wb') as outfile:
-                        shutil.copyfileobj(extracted, outfile)
+                        if extracted is not None:
+                            shutil.copyfileobj(extracted, outfile)
+                        else:
+                            log.error("Member correspondent to file %s does "
+                                      "not seem to be a regular file or a link",
+                                      filename)
                 finally:
                     if extracted:
                         extracted.close()
diff --git a/avocado/utils/process.py b/avocado/utils/process.py
index c4f95cf8b058f985195e4817b76797832227617b..529d73e441d7fc4a6eaa9f09c4e71e629332626c 100644
--- a/avocado/utils/process.py
+++ b/avocado/utils/process.py
@@ -18,9 +18,12 @@ Functions dedicated to find and run external commands.
 
 import logging
 import os
-import subprocess
+import StringIO
+import signal
 import shlex
+import subprocess
 import time
+import threading
 
 from avocado.core import exceptions
 from avocado.utils import misc
@@ -100,70 +103,257 @@ class CmdResult(object):
                                    self.duration, self.stdout, self.stderr))
 
 
-def run(cmd, verbose=True, ignore_status=False):
-    """
-    Run a subprocess.
+class SubProcess(object):
 
-    This is a light, yet compatible implementation of
-    :mod:`autotest.client.shared.utils.run`, so we can run commands in tests and
-    other avocado programs, if need to be.
+    """
+    Run a subprocess in the background, collecting stdout/stderr streams.
+    """
 
-    :param verbose: Wether to print the command run.
-    :param ignore_status: Wether to raise an exception when command returns
+    def __init__(self, cmd, verbose=True):
+        """
+        Creates the subprocess object, stdout/err, reader threads and locks.
+
+        :param cmd: Command line to run.
+        :type cmd: str
+        :param verbose: Whether to log the command run and stdout/stderr.
+        :type verbose: bool
+        """
+        args = shlex.split(cmd)
+        self.verbose = verbose
+        if self.verbose:
+            log.info("Running '%s'", cmd)
+        self.sp = subprocess.Popen(args,
+                                   stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                                   stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+        self.start_time = time.time()
+        self.result = CmdResult(cmd)
+        self.stdout_file = StringIO.StringIO()
+        self.stderr_file = StringIO.StringIO()
+        self.stdout_lock = threading.Lock()
+        self.stdout_thread = threading.Thread(target=self._fd_drainer,
+                                              name="%s-stdout" % cmd,
+                                              args=[self.sp.stdout])
+        self.stdout_thread.daemon = True
+        self.stderr_lock = threading.Lock()
+        self.stderr_thread = threading.Thread(target=self._fd_drainer,
+                                              name="%s-stderr" % cmd,
+                                              args=[self.sp.stderr])
+        self.stderr_thread.daemon = True
+        self.stdout_thread.start()
+        self.stderr_thread.start()
+
+    def _fd_drainer(self, input_pipe):
+        """
+        Read from input_pipe, storing and logging output.
+
+        :param input_pipe: File like object to the stream.
+        """
+        if input_pipe == self.sp.stdout:
+            prefix = '[stdout] %s'
+            output_file = self.stdout_file
+            lock = self.stdout_lock
+        elif input_pipe == self.sp.stderr:
+            prefix = '[stdout] %s'
+            output_file = self.stderr_file
+            lock = self.stderr_lock
+
+        fileno = input_pipe.fileno()
+
+        bfr = ''
+        while True:
+            tmp = os.read(fileno, 1024)
+            if tmp == '':
+                break
+            lock.acquire()
+            try:
+                output_file.write(tmp)
+                if self.verbose:
+                    bfr += tmp
+                    if tmp.endswith('\n'):
+                        for l in bfr.splitlines():
+                            log.debug(prefix, l)
+                        bfr = ''
+            finally:
+                lock.release()
+
+    def get_stdout(self):
+        """
+        Get the full stdout of the subprocess so far.
+
+        :return: Standard output of the process.
+        :rtype: str
+        """
+        self.stdout_lock.acquire()
+        stdout = self.stdout_file.getvalue()
+        self.stdout_lock.release()
+        return stdout
+
+    def get_stderr(self):
+        """
+        Get the full stderr of the subprocess so far.
+
+        :return: Standard error of the process.
+        :rtype: str
+        """
+        self.stderr_lock.acquire()
+        stderr = self.stderr_file.getvalue()
+        self.stderr_lock.release()
+        return stderr
+
+    def terminate(self):
+        """
+        Send a :attr:`signal.SIGTERM` to the process.
+        """
+        try:
+            os.kill(self.sp.pid, signal.SIGTERM)
+        except:
+            pass
+
+    def kill(self):
+        """
+        Send a :attr:`signal.SIGKILL` to the process.
+        """
+        try:
+            os.kill(self.sp.pid, signal.SIGKILL)
+        except:
+            pass
+
+    def wait(self, timeout=None):
+        """
+        Wait for the process to end, filling and returning the result attr.
+
+        :param timeout: Time (seconds) we'll wait until the process is
+                        finished. If it's not, we'll try to terminate it
+                        and get a status.
+        :type timeout: float
+        :returns: The command result object.
+        :rtype: A :class:`avocado.utils.process.CmdResult` instance.
+        """
+        if timeout is None:
+            self.sp.wait()
+            self.result.exit_status = self.sp.returncode
+
+        if timeout > 0:
+            start_time = time.time()
+            while time.time() - start_time < timeout:
+                self.result.exit_status = self.sp.poll()
+                if self.result.exit_status is not None:
+                    break
+        else:
+            # Give one second to check if we can successfully kill the process
+            timeout = 1
+
+        if self.result.exit_status is None:
+            self.terminate()
+            # Timeout here should be 1 second (see comment above)
+            stop_time = time.time() + timeout
+            while time.time() < stop_time:
+                self.result.exit_status = self.sp.poll()
+                if self.result.exit_status is not None:
+                    break
+            else:
+                self.kill()
+                self.result.exit_status = self.sp.poll()
+
+        duration = time.time() - self.start_time
+        self.result.duration = duration
+
+        self.cleanup()
+
+        return self.result
+
+    def cleanup(self):
+        """
+        Close subprocess stdout and stderr, and put values into result obj.
+        """
+        # Cleaning up threads
+        self.stdout_thread.join(1)
+        self.stderr_thread.join(1)
+        # Last sanity check
+        e_msg = 'Stdout thread for %s is still alive' % self.sp.pid
+        assert not self.stdout_thread.isAlive(), e_msg
+        e_msg = 'Stderr thread for %s is still alive' % self.sp.pid
+        assert not self.stderr_thread.isAlive(), e_msg
+        # If this fails, we're dealing with a zombie process
+        e_msg = 'Zombie Process %s' % self.sp.pid
+        assert self.result.exit_status is not None, e_msg
+        # Clean subprocess pipes and populate stdout/err
+        self.sp.stdout.close()
+        self.sp.stderr.close()
+        self.result.stdout = self.get_stdout()
+        self.result.stderr = self.get_stderr()
+
+
+def run(cmd, timeout=None, verbose=True, ignore_status=False):
+    """
+    Run a subprocess, returning a CmdResult object.
+
+    :param cmd: Command line to run.
+    :type cmd: str
+    :param timeout: Time limit in seconds before attempting to kill the
+                    running process. This function will take a few seconds
+                    longer than 'timeout' to complete if it has to kill the
+                    process.
+    :type timeout: float
+    :param verbose: Whether to log the command run and stdout/stderr.
+    :type verbose: bool
+    :param ignore_status: Whether to raise an exception when command returns
                           =! 0 (False), or not (True).
+    :type ignore_status: bool
     :return: An :class:`avocado.utils.process.CmdResult` object.
-    :raise: :class:`avocado.utils.process.CmdResult`, if ``ignore_status=False``.
+    :raise: :class:`avocado.core.exceptions.CmdError`, if ``ignore_status=False``.
     """
-    if verbose:
-        log.info("Running '%s'", cmd)
-    args = shlex.split(cmd)
-    start = time.time()
-    p = subprocess.Popen(args,
-                         stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-                         stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
-    stdout, stderr = p.communicate()
-    duration = time.time() - start
-    result = CmdResult(cmd)
-    result.exit_status = p.returncode
-    result.stdout = stdout
-    result.stderr = stderr
-    result.duration = duration
-    if p.returncode != 0 and not ignore_status:
-        raise exceptions.CmdError(cmd, result)
-    return result
-
-
-def system(cmd, verbose=True, ignore_status=False):
+    sp = SubProcess(cmd=cmd, verbose=verbose)
+    cmd_result = sp.wait(timeout=timeout)
+    if cmd_result.exit_status != 0 and not ignore_status:
+        raise exceptions.CmdError(cmd, sp.result)
+    return cmd_result
+
+
+def system(cmd, timeout=None, verbose=True, ignore_status=False):
     """
     Run a subprocess, returning its exit code.
 
-    This is a light, yet compatible implementation of
-    :mod:`autotest.client.shared.utils.run`, so we can run commands in tests and
-    other avocado programs, if need to be.
-
-    :param verbose: Wether to print the command run.
-    :param ignore_status: Wether to raise an exception when command returns
+    :param cmd: Command line to run.
+    :type cmd: str
+    :param timeout: Time limit in seconds before attempting to kill the
+                    running process. This function will take a few seconds
+                    longer than 'timeout' to complete if it has to kill the
+                    process.
+    :type timeout: float
+    :param verbose: Whether to log the command run and stdout/stderr.
+    :type verbose: bool
+    :param ignore_status: Whether to raise an exception when command returns
                           =! 0 (False), or not (True).
-    :return: An exit code.
-    :raise: :class:`avocado.utils.process.CmdResult`, if ``ignore_status=False``.
+    :type ignore_status: bool
+    :return: Exit code.
+    :rtype: int
+    :raise: :class:`avocado.core.exceptions.CmdError`, if ``ignore_status=False``.
     """
-    cmd_result = run(cmd, verbose, ignore_status)
+    cmd_result = run(cmd=cmd, timeout=timeout, verbose=verbose,
+                     ignore_status=ignore_status)
     return cmd_result.exit_status
 
 
-def system_output(cmd, verbose=True, ignore_status=False):
+def system_output(cmd, timeout=None, verbose=True, ignore_status=False):
     """
     Run a subprocess, returning its output.
 
-    This is a light, yet compatible implementation of
-    :mod:`autotest.client.shared.utils.run`, so we can run commands in tests and
-    other avocado programs, if need to be.
-
-    :param verbose: Wether to print the command run.
-    :param ignore_status: Wether to raise an exception when command returns
+    :param cmd: Command line to run.
+    :type cmd: str
+    :param timeout: Time limit in seconds before attempting to kill the
+                    running process. This function will take a few seconds
+                    longer than 'timeout' to complete if it has to kill the
+                    process.
+    :type timeout: float
+    :param verbose: Whether to log the command run and stdout/stderr.
+    :type verbose: bool
+    :param ignore_status: Whether to raise an exception when command returns
                           =! 0 (False), or not (True).
-    :return: A string with the process output.
-    :raise: :class:`avocado.utils.process.CmdResult`, if ``ignore_status=False``.
+    :return: Command output.
+    :rtype: str
+    :raise: :class:`avocado.core.exceptions.CmdError`, if ``ignore_status=False``.
     """
-    cmd_result = run(cmd, verbose, ignore_status)
+    cmd_result = run(cmd=cmd, timeout=timeout, verbose=verbose,
+                     ignore_status=ignore_status)
     return cmd_result.stdout
diff --git a/selftests/all/functional/avocado/basic_tests.py b/selftests/all/functional/avocado/basic_tests.py
index 1c41a8c9d3d4a699a1d18c989fd7840de1bae61f..fe56e25142f2da20f272dec3e5f8232c291f6306 100644
--- a/selftests/all/functional/avocado/basic_tests.py
+++ b/selftests/all/functional/avocado/basic_tests.py
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@
 
 import unittest
 import os
+import shutil
 import sys
+import tempfile
 
 # simple magic for using scripts within a source tree
 basedir = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)), '..', '..', '..', '..')
@@ -26,6 +28,14 @@ if os.path.isdir(os.path.join(basedir, 'avocado')):
 
 from avocado.utils import process
 
+PASS_SCRIPT_CONTENTS = """#!/bin/sh
+true
+"""
+
+FAIL_SCRIPT_CONTENTS = """#!/bin/sh
+false
+"""
+
 
 class RunnerOperationTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
@@ -53,5 +63,64 @@ class RunnerOperationTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(result.exit_status, expected_rc,
                          "Avocado did not return rc %d:\n%s" % (expected_rc, result))
 
+
+class RunnerDropinTest(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.base_logdir = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix='avocado_dropin_functional')
+        self.pass_script = os.path.join(self.base_logdir, 'avocado_pass.sh')
+        with open(self.pass_script, 'w') as pass_script_obj:
+            pass_script_obj.write(PASS_SCRIPT_CONTENTS)
+        os.chmod(self.pass_script, 0775)
+
+        self.fail_script = os.path.join(self.base_logdir, 'avocado_fail.sh')
+        with open(self.fail_script, 'w') as fail_script_obj:
+            fail_script_obj.write(FAIL_SCRIPT_CONTENTS)
+        os.chmod(self.fail_script, 0775)
+
+    def test_dropin_pass(self):
+        os.chdir(basedir)
+        cmd_line = './scripts/avocado run %s' % self.pass_script
+        result = process.run(cmd_line, ignore_status=True)
+        expected_rc = 0
+        self.assertEqual(result.exit_status, expected_rc,
+                         "Avocado did not return rc %d:\n%s" %
+                         (expected_rc, result))
+
+    def test_dropin_fail(self):
+        os.chdir(basedir)
+        cmd_line = './scripts/avocado run %s' % self.fail_script
+        result = process.run(cmd_line, ignore_status=True)
+        expected_rc = 1
+        self.assertEqual(result.exit_status, expected_rc,
+                         "Avocado did not return rc %d:\n%s" %
+                         (expected_rc, result))
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        if os.path.isdir(self.base_logdir):
+            shutil.rmtree(self.base_logdir, ignore_errors=True)
+
+
+class PluginsOperationTest(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.base_outputdir = tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix='avocado_plugins')
+
+    def test_sysinfo_plugin(self):
+        os.chdir(basedir)
+        cmd_line = './scripts/avocado sysinfo %s' % self.base_outputdir
+        result = process.run(cmd_line, ignore_status=True)
+        expected_rc = 0
+        self.assertEqual(result.exit_status, expected_rc,
+                         "Avocado did not return rc %d:\n%s" %
+                         (expected_rc, result))
+        sysinfo_files = os.listdir(self.base_outputdir)
+        self.assertGreater(len(sysinfo_files), 0, "Empty sysinfo files dir")
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        if os.path.isdir(self.base_outputdir):
+            shutil.rmtree(self.base_outputdir, ignore_errors=True)
+
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/selftests/all/unit/avocado/vm_unittest.py b/selftests/all/unit/avocado/vm_unittest.py
index 3592f919f085d5f95b730a5916ec25e9cb710c91..5f61293974482fb87848812ea7a5065a50e6074a 100755
--- a/selftests/all/unit/avocado/vm_unittest.py
+++ b/selftests/all/unit/avocado/vm_unittest.py
@@ -35,13 +35,16 @@ class _Stream(object):
     def start_file_logging(self, param1, param2):
         pass
 
+    def info(self, msg, skip_newline=False):
+        pass
+
     def log_header(self, param):
         pass
 
     def stop_file_logging(self):
         pass
 
-    def log_pass(self, param1, param2):
+    def log_pass(self, param1):
         pass
 
 
@@ -65,6 +68,7 @@ class VMResultTest(unittest.TestCase):
             test = vm.Test(name=tst['test'],
                            time=tst['time'],
                            status=tst['status'])
+            self.test_result.start_test(test)
             self.test_result.check_test(test)
             if not status.mapping[test.status]:
                 failures.append(test.tagged_name)