diff --git a/libraries/classes/Bookmark.php b/libraries/classes/Bookmark.php
index e062e5c317..04f087c253 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/Bookmark.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/Bookmark.php
@@ -105,13 +105,9 @@ class Bookmark
      * @return boolean whether the INSERT succeeds or not
      *
      * @access public
-     *
-     * @global resource $controllink the controluser db connection handle
      */
     public function save()
     {
-        global $controllink;
-
         $cfgBookmark = self::getParams();
         if (empty($cfgBookmark)) {
             return false;
@@ -124,7 +120,7 @@ class Bookmark
             . "'" . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($this->_user) . "', "
             . "'" . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($this->_query) . "', "
             . "'" . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($this->_label) . "')";
-        return $GLOBALS['dbi']->query($query, $controllink);
+        return $GLOBALS['dbi']->query($query, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -133,13 +129,9 @@ class Bookmark
      * @return bool true if successful
      *
      * @access public
-     *
-     * @global resource $controllink the controluser db connection handle
      */
     public function delete()
     {
-        global $controllink;
-
         $cfgBookmark = self::getParams();
         if (empty($cfgBookmark)) {
             return false;
@@ -148,7 +140,7 @@ class Bookmark
         $query  = "DELETE FROM " . Util::backquote($cfgBookmark['db'])
             . "." . Util::backquote($cfgBookmark['table'])
             . " WHERE id = " . $this->_id;
-        return $GLOBALS['dbi']->tryQuery($query, $controllink);
+        return $GLOBALS['dbi']->tryQuery($query, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -259,13 +251,9 @@ class Bookmark
      * @return Bookmark[] the bookmarks list
      *
      * @access public
-     *
-     * @global resource $controllink the controluser db connection handle
      */
     public static function getList($db = false)
     {
-        global $controllink;
-
         $cfgBookmark = self::getParams();
         if (empty($cfgBookmark)) {
             return array();
@@ -284,7 +272,7 @@ class Bookmark
             $query,
             null,
             null,
-            $controllink,
+            DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
             DatabaseInterface::QUERY_STORE
         );
 
@@ -320,14 +308,10 @@ class Bookmark
      *
      * @access  public
      *
-     * @global  resource $controllink the controluser db connection handle
-     *
      */
     public static function get($db, $id, $id_field = 'id',
         $action_bookmark_all = false, $exact_user_match = false
     ) {
-        global $controllink;
-
         $cfgBookmark = self::getParams();
         if (empty($cfgBookmark)) {
             return null;
@@ -347,7 +331,7 @@ class Bookmark
         $query .= " AND " . Util::backquote($id_field)
             . " = " . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($id) . " LIMIT 1";
 
-        $result = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchSingleRow($query, 'ASSOC', $controllink);
+        $result = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchSingleRow($query, 'ASSOC', DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
         if (! empty($result)) {
             $bookmark = new Bookmark();
             $bookmark->_id = $result['id'];
diff --git a/libraries/classes/CentralColumns.php b/libraries/classes/CentralColumns.php
index 1ba23cfcf3..fb80f87f12 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/CentralColumns.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/CentralColumns.php
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 namespace PhpMyAdmin;
 
 use PhpMyAdmin\Charsets;
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Message;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Relation;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Template;
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ class CentralColumns
             return array();
         }
         $pmadb = $cfgCentralColumns['db'];
-        $GLOBALS['dbi']->selectDb($pmadb, $GLOBALS['controllink']);
+        $GLOBALS['dbi']->selectDb($pmadb, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
         $central_list_table = $cfgCentralColumns['table'];
         //get current values of $db from central column list
         if ($num == 0) {
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ class CentralColumns
                 . 'LIMIT ' . $from . ', ' . $num . ';';
         }
         $has_list = (array) $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchResult(
-            $query, null, null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+            $query, null, null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
         );
         self::handleColumnExtra($has_list);
         return $has_list;
@@ -100,13 +101,13 @@ class CentralColumns
             return 0;
         }
         $pmadb = $cfgCentralColumns['db'];
-        $GLOBALS['dbi']->selectDb($pmadb, $GLOBALS['controllink']);
+        $GLOBALS['dbi']->selectDb($pmadb, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
         $central_list_table = $cfgCentralColumns['table'];
         $query = 'SELECT count(db_name) FROM ' .
             Util::backquote($central_list_table) . ' '
             . 'WHERE db_name = \'' . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($db) . '\';';
         $res = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchResult(
-            $query, null, null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+            $query, null, null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
         );
         if (isset($res[0])) {
             return $res[0];
@@ -131,13 +132,13 @@ class CentralColumns
             return array();
         }
         $pmadb = $cfgCentralColumns['db'];
-        $GLOBALS['dbi']->selectDb($pmadb, $GLOBALS['controllink']);
+        $GLOBALS['dbi']->selectDb($pmadb, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
         $central_list_table = $cfgCentralColumns['table'];
         if ($allFields) {
             $query = 'SELECT * FROM ' . Util::backquote($central_list_table) . ' '
                 . 'WHERE db_name = \'' . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($db) . '\' AND col_name IN (' . $cols . ');';
             $has_list = (array) $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchResult(
-                $query, null, null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                $query, null, null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             );
             self::handleColumnExtra($has_list);
         } else {
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ class CentralColumns
                 . Util::backquote($central_list_table) . ' '
                 . 'WHERE db_name = \'' . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($db) . '\' AND col_name IN (' . $cols . ');';
             $has_list = (array) $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchResult(
-                $query, null, null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                $query, null, null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             );
         }
 
@@ -301,14 +302,14 @@ class CentralColumns
                 )
             );
         }
-        $GLOBALS['dbi']->selectDb($pmadb, $GLOBALS['controllink']);
+        $GLOBALS['dbi']->selectDb($pmadb, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
         if (! empty($insQuery)) {
             foreach ($insQuery as $query) {
-                if (!$GLOBALS['dbi']->tryQuery($query, $GLOBALS['controllink'])) {
+                if (!$GLOBALS['dbi']->tryQuery($query, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)) {
                     $message = Message::error(__('Could not add columns!'));
                     $message->addMessage(
                         Message::rawError(
-                            $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError($GLOBALS['controllink'])
+                            $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)
                         )
                     );
                     break;
@@ -386,17 +387,17 @@ class CentralColumns
                 )
             );
         }
-        $GLOBALS['dbi']->selectDb($pmadb, $GLOBALS['controllink']);
+        $GLOBALS['dbi']->selectDb($pmadb, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
 
         $query = 'DELETE FROM ' . Util::backquote($central_list_table) . ' '
             . 'WHERE db_name = \'' . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($db) . '\' AND col_name IN (' . $cols . ');';
 
-        if (!$GLOBALS['dbi']->tryQuery($query, $GLOBALS['controllink'])) {
+        if (!$GLOBALS['dbi']->tryQuery($query, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)) {
             $message = Message::error(__('Could not remove columns!'));
             $message->addHtml('<br />' . htmlspecialchars($cols) . '<br />');
             $message->addMessage(
                 Message::rawError(
-                    $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError($GLOBALS['controllink'])
+                    $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)
                 )
             );
         }
@@ -529,7 +530,7 @@ class CentralColumns
             return self::configErrorMessage();
         }
         $centralTable = $cfgCentralColumns['table'];
-        $GLOBALS['dbi']->selectDb($cfgCentralColumns['db'], $GLOBALS['controllink']);
+        $GLOBALS['dbi']->selectDb($cfgCentralColumns['db'], DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
         if ($orig_col_name == "") {
             $def = array();
             $def['Type'] = $col_type;
@@ -556,9 +557,9 @@ class CentralColumns
                 . 'AND col_name = \'' . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($orig_col_name)
                 . '\'';
         }
-        if (!$GLOBALS['dbi']->tryQuery($query, $GLOBALS['controllink'])) {
+        if (!$GLOBALS['dbi']->tryQuery($query, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)) {
             return Message::error(
-                $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError($GLOBALS['controllink'])
+                $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)
             );
         }
         return true;
@@ -1173,9 +1174,9 @@ class CentralColumns
             }
             $query .= ';';
         }
-        $GLOBALS['dbi']->selectDb($cfgCentralColumns['db'], $GLOBALS['controllink']);
+        $GLOBALS['dbi']->selectDb($cfgCentralColumns['db'], DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
         $columns_list = (array)$GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchResult(
-            $query, null, null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+            $query, null, null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
         );
         self::handleColumnExtra($columns_list);
         return json_encode($columns_list);
diff --git a/libraries/classes/Controllers/Server/ServerDatabasesController.php b/libraries/classes/Controllers/Server/ServerDatabasesController.php
index 74b4e6d719..3d52df193c 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/Controllers/Server/ServerDatabasesController.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/Controllers/Server/ServerDatabasesController.php
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ namespace PhpMyAdmin\Controllers\Server;
 
 use PhpMyAdmin\Controllers\Controller;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Charsets;
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Message;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Response;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Server\Common;
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ class ServerDatabasesController extends Controller
          */
         if ($GLOBALS['server'] > 0) {
             $this->_databases = $this->dbi->getDatabasesFull(
-                null, $this->_dbstats, null, $this->_sort_by,
+                null, $this->_dbstats, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER, $this->_sort_by,
                 $this->_sort_order, $this->_pos, true
             );
             $this->_database_count = count($GLOBALS['dblist']->databases);
diff --git a/libraries/classes/Database/Qbe.php b/libraries/classes/Database/Qbe.php
index d019ab6186..088f19d3f3 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/Database/Qbe.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/Database/Qbe.php
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ class Qbe
         } // end if
         $all_tables = $GLOBALS['dbi']->query(
             'SHOW TABLES FROM ' . Util::backquote($this->_db) . ';',
-            null,
+            DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
             DatabaseInterface::QUERY_STORE
         );
         $all_tables_count = $GLOBALS['dbi']->numRows($all_tables);
diff --git a/libraries/classes/DatabaseInterface.php b/libraries/classes/DatabaseInterface.php
index 7edaa94516..265385b6c6 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/DatabaseInterface.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/DatabaseInterface.php
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      *
      * @return mixed
      */
-    public function query($query, $link = null, $options = 0,
+    public function query($query, $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER, $options = 0,
         $cache_affected_rows = true
     ) {
         $res = $this->tryQuery($query, $link, $options, $cache_affected_rows)
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      * Stores query data into session data for debugging purposes
      *
      * @param string         $query  Query text
-     * @param object         $link   database link
+     * @param integer        $link   link type
      * @param object|boolean $result Query result
      * @param integer        $time   Time to execute query
      *
@@ -293,20 +293,20 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      * runs a query and returns the result
      *
      * @param string  $query               query to run
-     * @param object  $link                mysql link resource
+     * @param integer $link                link type
      * @param integer $options             query options
      * @param bool    $cache_affected_rows whether to cache affected row
      *
      * @return mixed
      */
-    public function tryQuery($query, $link = null, $options = 0,
+    public function tryQuery($query, $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER, $options = 0,
         $cache_affected_rows = true
     ) {
         $debug = $GLOBALS['cfg']['DBG']['sql'];
-        $link = $this->getLink($link);
-        if ($link === false) {
+        if (! isset($this->_links[$link])) {
             return false;
         }
+        $link = $this->_links[$link];
 
         if ($debug) {
             $time = microtime(true);
@@ -357,12 +357,12 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      *
      * @return mysqli_result collection | boolean(false)
      */
-    public function tryMultiQuery($multi_query = '', $link = null)
+    public function tryMultiQuery($multi_query = '', $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
-        $link = $this->getLink($link);
-        if ($link === false) {
+        if (! isset($this->_links[$link])) {
             return false;
         }
+        $link = $this->_links[$link];
 
         return $this->_extension->realMultiQuery($link, $multi_query);
     }
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      *
      * @return array   tables names
      */
-    public function getTables($database, $link = null)
+    public function getTables($database, $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
         $tables = $this->fetchResult(
             'SHOW TABLES FROM ' . Util::backquote($database) . ';',
@@ -497,7 +497,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      * @param string          $database     database
      * @param string|array    $table        table name(s)
      * @param boolean         $tbl_is_group $table is a table group
-     * @param mixed           $link         mysql link
+     * @param integer         $link         link type
      * @param integer         $limit_offset zero-based offset for the count
      * @param boolean|integer $limit_count  number of tables to return
      * @param string          $sort_by      table attribute to sort by
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      * @return array           list of tables in given db(s)
      */
     public function getTablesFull($database, $table = '',
-        $tbl_is_group = false,  $link = null, $limit_offset = 0,
+        $tbl_is_group = false,  $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER, $limit_offset = 0,
         $limit_count = false, $sort_by = 'Name', $sort_order = 'ASC',
         $table_type = null
     ) {
@@ -810,7 +810,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      *
      * @param string   $database     database
      * @param boolean  $force_stats  retrieve stats also for MySQL < 5
-     * @param object   $link         mysql link
+     * @param integer  $link         link type
      * @param string   $sort_by      column to order by
      * @param string   $sort_order   ASC or DESC
      * @param integer  $limit_offset starting offset for LIMIT
@@ -822,7 +822,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      * @return array $databases
      */
     public function getDatabasesFull($database = null, $force_stats = false,
-        $link = null, $sort_by = 'SCHEMA_NAME', $sort_order = 'ASC',
+        $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER, $sort_by = 'SCHEMA_NAME', $sort_order = 'ASC',
         $limit_offset = 0, $limit_count = false
     ) {
         $sort_order = strtoupper($sort_order);
@@ -1077,7 +1077,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      * @return array
      */
     public function getColumnsFull($database = null, $table = null,
-        $column = null, $link = null
+        $column = null, $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER
     ) {
         if (! $GLOBALS['cfg']['Server']['DisableIS']) {
             $sql_wheres = array();
@@ -1240,13 +1240,13 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      * @param string  $table    name of table to retrieve columns from
      * @param string  $column   name of column, null to show all columns
      * @param boolean $full     whether to return full info or only column names
-     * @param mixed   $link     mysql link resource
+     * @param integer $link     link type
      *
      * @return array array indexed by column names or,
      *               if $column is given, flat array description
      */
     public function getColumns($database, $table, $column = null, $full = false,
-        $link = null
+        $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER
     ) {
         $sql = $this->getColumnsSql($database, $table, $column, $full);
         $fields = $this->fetchResult($sql, 'Field', null, $link);
@@ -1289,7 +1289,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      *
      * @return null|array
      */
-    public function getColumnNames($database, $table, $link = null)
+    public function getColumnNames($database, $table, $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
         $sql = $this->getColumnsSql($database, $table);
         // We only need the 'Field' column which contains the table's column names
@@ -1329,7 +1329,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      *
      * @return array   $indexes
      */
-    public function getTableIndexes($database, $table, $link = null)
+    public function getTableIndexes($database, $table, $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
         $sql = $this->getTableIndexesSql($database, $table);
         $indexes = $this->fetchResult($sql, null, null, $link);
@@ -1351,10 +1351,9 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      * @return mixed   value for mysql server variable
      */
     public function getVariable(
-        $var, $type = self::GETVAR_SESSION, $link = null
+        $var, $type = self::GETVAR_SESSION, $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER
     ) {
-        $link = $this->getLink($link);
-        if ($link === false) {
+        if (! isset($this->_links[$link])) {
             return false;
         }
 
@@ -1382,10 +1381,9 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      *
      * @return bool whether query was a successful
      */
-    public function setVariable($var, $value, $link = null)
+    public function setVariable($var, $value, $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
-        $link = $this->getLink($link);
-        if ($link === false) {
+        if (! isset($this->_links[$link])) {
             return false;
         }
         $current_value = $this->getVariable(
@@ -1395,7 +1393,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
             return true;
         }
 
-        return $this->query("SET " . $var . " = " . $value . ';', $link);
+        return $this->query("SET " . $var . " = " . $value . ';', $this->_links[$link]);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -1416,7 +1414,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      * been established. It sets the connection collation, and determines the
      * version of MySQL which is running.
      *
-     * @param mixed $link mysql link resource|object
+     * @param integer $link link type
      *
      * @return void
      */
@@ -1546,12 +1544,12 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      *                                   starting at 0, with 0 being default
      * @param integer|string $field      field to fetch the value from,
      *                                   starting at 0, with 0 being default
-     * @param object         $link       mysql link
+     * @param integer        $link       link type
      *
      * @return mixed value of first field in first row from result
      *               or false if not found
      */
-    public function fetchValue($query, $row_number = 0, $field = 0, $link = null)
+    public function fetchValue($query, $row_number = 0, $field = 0, $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
         $value = false;
 
@@ -1605,12 +1603,12 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      * @param string $query The query to execute
      * @param string $type  NUM|ASSOC|BOTH returned array should either
      *                      numeric associative or both
-     * @param object $link  mysql link
+     * @param integer $link  link type
      *
      * @return array|boolean first row from result
      *                       or false if result is empty
      */
-    public function fetchSingleRow($query, $type = 'ASSOC', $link = null)
+    public function fetchSingleRow($query, $type = 'ASSOC', $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
         $result = $this->tryQuery(
             $query,
@@ -1710,13 +1708,13 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      *                                      or array of those
      * @param string|integer       $value   value-name or offset
      *                                      used as value for array
-     * @param object               $link    mysql link
+     * @param integer              $link    link type
      * @param integer              $options query options
      *
      * @return array resultrows or values indexed by $key
      */
     public function fetchResult($query, $key = null, $value = null,
-        $link = null, $options = 0
+        $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER, $options = 0
     ) {
         $resultrows = array();
 
@@ -1798,16 +1796,16 @@ class DatabaseInterface
     /**
      * returns warnings for last query
      *
-     * @param object $link mysql link resource
+     * @param integer $link link type
      *
      * @return array warnings
      */
-    public function getWarnings($link = null)
+    public function getWarnings($link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
-        $link = $this->getLink($link);
-        if ($link === false) {
+        if (! isset($this->_links[$link])) {
             return false;
         }
+        $link = $this->_links[$link];
 
         return $this->fetchResult('SHOW WARNINGS', null, null, $link);
     }
@@ -1817,11 +1815,11 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      *
      * @param string $db    db name
      * @param string $which PROCEDURE | FUNCTION
-     * @param object $link  mysql link
+     * @param integer $link  link type
      *
      * @return array the procedure names or function names
      */
-    public function getProceduresOrFunctions($db, $which, $link = null)
+    public function getProceduresOrFunctions($db, $which, $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
         $shows = $this->fetchResult(
             'SHOW ' . $which . ' STATUS;', null, null, $link
@@ -1845,7 +1843,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      *
      * @return string the definition
      */
-    public function getDefinition($db, $which, $name, $link = null)
+    public function getDefinition($db, $which, $name, $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
         $returned_field = array(
             'PROCEDURE' => 'Create Procedure',
@@ -2229,7 +2227,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
             $is = false;
             $result = $this->tryQuery(
                 $query,
-                null,
+                self::CONNECT_USER,
                 self::QUERY_STORE
             );
             if ($result) {
@@ -2244,7 +2242,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
                 "SHOW GRANTS FOR CURRENT_USER();",
                 null,
                 null,
-                null,
+                self::CONNECT_USER,
                 self::QUERY_STORE
             );
             if ($grants) {
@@ -2462,7 +2460,7 @@ class DatabaseInterface
             $this->_links[$target] = $result;
             /* Run post connect for user connections */
             if ($target == DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER) {
-                $this->postConnect($result);
+                $this->postConnect(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER);
             }
             return $result;
         }
@@ -2489,16 +2487,16 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      * selects given database
      *
      * @param string $dbname database name to select
-     * @param object $link   connection object
+     * @param integer $link   link type
      *
      * @return boolean
      */
-    public function selectDb($dbname, $link = null)
+    public function selectDb($dbname, $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
-        $link = $this->getLink($link);
-        if ($link === false) {
+        if (! isset($this->_links[$link])) {
             return false;
         }
+        $link = $this->_links[$link];
         return $this->_extension->selectDb($dbname, $link);
     }
 
@@ -2566,80 +2564,80 @@ class DatabaseInterface
     /**
      * Check if there are any more query results from a multi query
      *
-     * @param object $link the connection object
+     * @param integer $link link type
      *
      * @return bool true or false
      */
-    public function moreResults($link = null)
+    public function moreResults($link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
-        $link = $this->getLink($link);
-        if ($link === false) {
+        if (! isset($this->_links[$link])) {
             return false;
         }
+        $link = $this->_links[$link];
         return $this->_extension->moreResults($link);
     }
 
     /**
      * Prepare next result from multi_query
      *
-     * @param object $link the connection object
+     * @param integer $link link type
      *
      * @return bool true or false
      */
-    public function nextResult($link = null)
+    public function nextResult($link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
-        $link = $this->getLink($link);
-        if ($link === false) {
+        if (! isset($this->_links[$link])) {
             return false;
         }
+        $link = $this->_links[$link];
         return $this->_extension->nextResult($link);
     }
 
     /**
      * Store the result returned from multi query
      *
-     * @param object $link the connection object
+     * @param integer $link link type
      *
      * @return mixed false when empty results / result set when not empty
      */
-    public function storeResult($link = null)
+    public function storeResult($link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
-        $link = $this->getLink($link);
-        if ($link === false) {
+        if (! isset($this->_links[$link])) {
             return false;
         }
+        $link = $this->_links[$link];
         return $this->_extension->storeResult($link);
     }
 
     /**
      * Returns a string representing the type of connection used
      *
-     * @param object $link mysql link
+     * @param integer $link link type
      *
      * @return string type of connection used
      */
-    public function getHostInfo($link = null)
+    public function getHostInfo($link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
-        $link = $this->getLink($link);
-        if ($link === false) {
+        if (! isset($this->_links[$link])) {
             return false;
         }
+        $link = $this->_links[$link];
         return $this->_extension->getHostInfo($link);
     }
 
     /**
      * Returns the version of the MySQL protocol used
      *
-     * @param object $link mysql link
+     * @param integer $link link type
      *
      * @return integer version of the MySQL protocol used
      */
-    public function getProtoInfo($link = null)
+    public function getProtoInfo($link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
-        $link = $this->getLink($link);
-        if ($link === false) {
+        if (! isset($this->_links[$link])) {
             return false;
         }
+        $link = $this->_links[$link];
         return $this->_extension->getProtoInfo($link);
     }
 
@@ -2656,13 +2654,16 @@ class DatabaseInterface
     /**
      * returns last error message or false if no errors occurred
      *
-     * @param object $link connection link
+     * @param integer $link link type
      *
      * @return string|bool $error or false
      */
-    public function getError($link = null)
+    public function getError($link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
-        $link = $this->getLink($link);
+        if (! isset($this->_links[$link])) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        $link = $this->_links[$link];
         return $this->_extension->getError($link);
     }
 
@@ -2682,16 +2683,16 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      * returns last inserted auto_increment id for given $link
      * or $GLOBALS['userlink']
      *
-     * @param object $link the connection object
+     * @param integer $link link type
      *
      * @return int|boolean
      */
-    public function insertId($link = null)
+    public function insertId($link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
-        $link = $this->getLink($link);
-        if ($link === false) {
+        if (! isset($this->_links[$link])) {
             return false;
         }
+        $link = $this->_links[$link];
         // If the primary key is BIGINT we get an incorrect result
         // (sometimes negative, sometimes positive)
         // and in the present function we don't know if the PK is BIGINT
@@ -2706,17 +2707,17 @@ class DatabaseInterface
     /**
      * returns the number of rows affected by last query
      *
-     * @param object $link           the connection object
+     * @param integer $link           link type
      * @param bool   $get_from_cache whether to retrieve from cache
      *
      * @return int|boolean
      */
-    public function affectedRows($link = null, $get_from_cache = true)
+    public function affectedRows($link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER, $get_from_cache = true)
     {
-        $link = $this->getLink($link);
-        if ($link === false) {
+        if (! isset($this->_links[$link])) {
             return false;
         }
+        $link = $this->_links[$link];
 
         if ($get_from_cache) {
             return $GLOBALS['cached_affected_rows'];
@@ -2814,11 +2815,9 @@ class DatabaseInterface
      *
      * @return string a MySQL escaped string
      */
-    public function escapeString($str, $link = null)
+    public function escapeString($str, $link = DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER)
     {
-        if ($link === null) {
-            $link = $this->getLink();
-        }
+        $link = $this->_links[$link];
 
         if ($this->_extension === null) {
             return $str;
@@ -2827,26 +2826,6 @@ class DatabaseInterface
         return $this->_extension->escapeString($link, $str);
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Gets correct link object.
-     *
-     * @param object $link optional database link to use
-     *
-     * @return object|boolean
-     */
-    public function getLink($link = null)
-    {
-        if (! is_null($link) && $link !== false) {
-            return $link;
-        }
-
-        if (isset($this->_links[DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER])) {
-            return $this->_links[DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER];
-        } else {
-            return false;
-        }
-    }
-
     /**
      * Checks if this database server is running on Amazon RDS.
      *
diff --git a/libraries/classes/Display/Export.php b/libraries/classes/Display/Export.php
index 272557fdd5..c0792c13c4 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/Display/Export.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/Display/Export.php
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 namespace PhpMyAdmin\Display;
 
 use PhpMyAdmin\Core;
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Encoding;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Message;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Plugins;
@@ -274,7 +275,7 @@ class Export
             return $ret;
         }
 
-        while ($row = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchAssoc($result, $GLOBALS['controllink'])) {
+        while ($row = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchAssoc($result, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)) {
             $ret .= '<option value="' . htmlspecialchars($row['id']) . '"';
             if (!empty($_GET['template_id']) && $_GET['template_id'] == $row['id']) {
                 $ret .= ' selected="selected"';
@@ -1110,7 +1111,7 @@ class Export
 
         $response = Response::getInstance();
         if (! $result) {
-            $error = $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError($GLOBALS['controllink']);
+            $error = $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
             $response->setRequestStatus(false);
             $response->addJSON('message', $error);
             exit;
@@ -1125,7 +1126,7 @@ class Export
         } elseif ('load' == $_REQUEST['templateAction']) {
             $data = null;
             while ($row = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchAssoc(
-                $result, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                $result, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             )) {
                 $data = $row['template_data'];
             }
diff --git a/libraries/classes/Navigation/Nodes/Node.php b/libraries/classes/Navigation/Nodes/Node.php
index b9e93942c1..379c5e0c7b 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/Navigation/Nodes/Node.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/Navigation/Nodes/Node.php
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  */
 namespace PhpMyAdmin\Navigation\Nodes;
 
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Relation;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Util;
 
@@ -823,7 +824,7 @@ class Node
                 $sqlQuery,
                 'db_name',
                 'count',
-                $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             );
 
             return $counts;
diff --git a/libraries/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportSql.php b/libraries/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportSql.php
index 2024da2ecd..013154191e 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportSql.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportSql.php
@@ -2198,7 +2198,7 @@ class ExportSql extends ExportPlugin
 
         $result = $GLOBALS['dbi']->tryQuery(
             $sql_query,
-            null,
+            DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
             DatabaseInterface::QUERY_UNBUFFERED
         );
         // a possible error: the table has crashed
diff --git a/libraries/classes/PmdCommon.php b/libraries/classes/PmdCommon.php
index 81d16709ac..a46a3e4e93 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/PmdCommon.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/PmdCommon.php
@@ -90,10 +90,10 @@ class PmdCommon
                 $GLOBALS['dbi']->getColumnsSql(
                     $GLOBALS['db'],
                     $GLOBALS['PMD_URL']["TABLE_NAME_SMALL"][$i],
-                    null,
+                    DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                     true
                 ),
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 DatabaseInterface::QUERY_STORE
             );
             $tbl_name_i = $GLOBALS['PMD']['TABLE_NAME'][$i];
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ class PmdCommon
             $query,
             'name',
             null,
-            $GLOBALS['controllink'],
+            DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
             DatabaseInterface::QUERY_STORE
         );
         return $tab_pos;
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ class PmdCommon
             $query,
             null,
             null,
-            $GLOBALS['controllink'],
+            DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
             DatabaseInterface::QUERY_STORE
         );
         return count($page_name) ? $page_name[0] : null;
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ class PmdCommon
             $query,
             null,
             null,
-            $GLOBALS['controllink'],
+            DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
             DatabaseInterface::QUERY_STORE
         );
 
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ class PmdCommon
                 $query,
                 null,
                 null,
-                $GLOBALS['controllink'],
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
                 DatabaseInterface::QUERY_STORE
             );
             if (count($min_page_no[0])) {
@@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ class PmdCommon
             return array(true, __('Internal relationship has been added.'));
         }
 
-        $error = $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError($GLOBALS['controllink']);
+        $error = $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
         return array(
             false,
             __('Error: Internal relationship could not be added!')
@@ -705,7 +705,7 @@ class PmdCommon
         );
 
         if (!$result) {
-            $error = $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError($GLOBALS['controllink']);
+            $error = $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
             return array(
                 false,
                 __('Error: Internal relationship could not be removed!') . "<br/>" . $error
@@ -742,7 +742,7 @@ class PmdCommon
                 . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($cfgDesigner['user']) . "';";
 
             $orig_data = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchSingleRow(
-                $orig_data_query, 'ASSOC', $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                $orig_data_query, 'ASSOC', DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             );
 
             if (! empty($orig_data)) {
diff --git a/libraries/classes/RecentFavoriteTable.php b/libraries/classes/RecentFavoriteTable.php
index 33b803e1b6..a24c7f08b5 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/RecentFavoriteTable.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/RecentFavoriteTable.php
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  */
 namespace PhpMyAdmin;
 
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Message;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Relation;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Url;
@@ -129,7 +130,7 @@ class RecentFavoriteTable
                     json_encode($this->_tables)
                 ) . "')";
 
-        $success = $GLOBALS['dbi']->tryQuery($sql_query, $GLOBALS['controllink']);
+        $success = $GLOBALS['dbi']->tryQuery($sql_query, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
 
         if (! $success) {
             $error_msg = '';
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ class RecentFavoriteTable
             $message = Message::error($error_msg);
             $message->addMessage(
                 Message::rawError(
-                    $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError($GLOBALS['controllink'])
+                    $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)
                 ),
                 '<br /><br />'
             );
diff --git a/libraries/classes/Relation.php b/libraries/classes/Relation.php
index 903790ae5f..a9ad89dda3 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/Relation.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/Relation.php
@@ -48,14 +48,14 @@ class Relation
         if ($show_error) {
             $result = $GLOBALS['dbi']->query(
                 $sql,
-                $GLOBALS['controllink'],
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
                 $options,
                 $cache_affected_rows
             );
         } else {
             $result = @$GLOBALS['dbi']->tryQuery(
                 $sql,
-                $GLOBALS['controllink'],
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
                 $options,
                 $cache_affected_rows
             );
@@ -497,9 +497,8 @@ class Relation
 
         if ($GLOBALS['server'] == 0
             || empty($GLOBALS['cfg']['Server']['pmadb'])
-            || empty($GLOBALS['controllink'])
             || ! $GLOBALS['dbi']->selectDb(
-                $GLOBALS['cfg']['Server']['pmadb'], $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                $GLOBALS['cfg']['Server']['pmadb'], DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             )
         ) {
             // No server selected -> no bookmark table
@@ -728,13 +727,13 @@ class Relation
                     ),
                     $query
                 );
-                $GLOBALS['dbi']->tryMultiQuery($query, $GLOBALS['controllink']);
+                $GLOBALS['dbi']->tryMultiQuery($query, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
                 // skips result sets of query as we are not interested in it
-                while ($GLOBALS['dbi']->moreResults($GLOBALS['controllink'])
-                    && $GLOBALS['dbi']->nextResult($GLOBALS['controllink'])
+                while ($GLOBALS['dbi']->moreResults(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)
+                    && $GLOBALS['dbi']->nextResult(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)
                 ) {
                 }
-                $error = $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError($GLOBALS['controllink']);
+                $error = $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
                 // return true if no error exists otherwise false
                 return empty($error);
             }
@@ -778,7 +777,7 @@ class Relation
                     . '\'' . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($column) . '\'';
             }
             $foreign = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchResult(
-                $rel_query, 'master_field', null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                $rel_query, 'master_field', null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             );
         }
 
@@ -854,7 +853,7 @@ class Relation
                 . '\'';
 
             $row = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchSingleRow(
-                $disp_query, 'ASSOC', $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                $disp_query, 'ASSOC', DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             );
             if (isset($row['display_field'])) {
                 return $row['display_field'];
@@ -1146,7 +1145,7 @@ class Relation
            ORDER BY `id` DESC';
 
         return $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchResult(
-            $hist_query, null, null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+            $hist_query, null, null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
         );
     } // end of 'self::getHistory()' function
 
@@ -1182,7 +1181,7 @@ class Relation
             LIMIT ' . $GLOBALS['cfg']['QueryHistoryMax'] . ', 1';
 
         if ($max_time = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchValue(
-            $search_query, 0, 0, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+            $search_query, 0, 0, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
         )) {
             self::queryAsControlUser(
                 'DELETE FROM '
@@ -1713,9 +1712,7 @@ class Relation
             . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($newpage) . '\')';
         self::queryAsControlUser($ins_query, false);
 
-        return $GLOBALS['dbi']->insertId(
-            isset($GLOBALS['controllink']) ? $GLOBALS['controllink'] : ''
-        );
+        return $GLOBALS['dbi']->insertId(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -1939,7 +1936,7 @@ class Relation
             'pma__export_templates' => 'export_templates',
         );
 
-        $existingTables = $GLOBALS['dbi']->getTables($db, $GLOBALS['controllink']);
+        $existingTables = $GLOBALS['dbi']->getTables($db, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
 
         $createQueries = null;
         $foundOne = false;
diff --git a/libraries/classes/Server/Privileges.php b/libraries/classes/Server/Privileges.php
index bdcc0cd0f8..ed4b1a8e0c 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/Server/Privileges.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/Server/Privileges.php
@@ -537,7 +537,7 @@ class Privileges
             $sql_query = "SELECT `usergroup` FROM " . $userTable
                 . " WHERE `username` = '" . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($username) . "'";
             $userGroup = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchValue(
-                $sql_query, 0, 0, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                $sql_query, 0, 0, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             );
         }
 
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ class Privileges
         $sql_query = "SELECT `usergroup` FROM " . $userTable
             . " WHERE `username` = '" . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($username) . "'";
         $oldUserGroup = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchValue(
-            $sql_query, 0, 0, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+            $sql_query, 0, 0, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
         );
 
         if ($oldUserGroup === false) {
@@ -2862,7 +2862,7 @@ class Privileges
             . '.' . Util::backquote($cfgRelation['usergroups']);
         $sql_query = 'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM ' . $user_group_table;
         $user_group_count = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchValue(
-            $sql_query, 0, 0, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+            $sql_query, 0, 0, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
         );
 
         return $user_group_count;
@@ -2892,7 +2892,7 @@ class Privileges
             . ' LIMIT 1';
 
         $usergroup = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchValue(
-            $sql_query, 0, 0, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+            $sql_query, 0, 0, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
         );
 
         if ($usergroup === false) {
@@ -4864,7 +4864,7 @@ class Privileges
         $res = $GLOBALS['dbi']->query(
             'SELECT `Db`, `Table_name`, `Table_priv` FROM `mysql`.`tables_priv`'
             . $user_host_condition,
-            null,
+            DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
             DatabaseInterface::QUERY_STORE
         );
         while ($row = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchAssoc($res)) {
diff --git a/libraries/classes/Table.php b/libraries/classes/Table.php
index f842e8c4b9..4e6c11014b 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/Table.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/Table.php
@@ -1716,7 +1716,7 @@ class Table
             . "', '" . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($this->_name) . "', '"
             . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString(json_encode($this->uiprefs)) . "')";
 
-        $success = $this->_dbi->tryQuery($sql_query, $GLOBALS['controllink']);
+        $success = $this->_dbi->tryQuery($sql_query, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
 
         if (!$success) {
             $message = Message::error(
@@ -1724,7 +1724,7 @@ class Table
             );
             $message->addMessage(
                 Message::rawError(
-                    $this->_dbi->getError($GLOBALS['controllink'])
+                    $this->_dbi->getError(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)
                 ),
                 '<br /><br />'
             );
@@ -1743,7 +1743,7 @@ class Table
                 ' ORDER BY last_update ASC' .
                 ' LIMIT ' . $num_rows_to_delete;
             $success = $this->_dbi->tryQuery(
-                $sql_query, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                $sql_query, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             );
 
             if (!$success) {
@@ -1758,7 +1758,7 @@ class Table
                 );
                 $message->addMessage(
                     Message::rawError(
-                        $this->_dbi->getError($GLOBALS['controllink'])
+                        $this->_dbi->getError(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)
                     ),
                     '<br /><br />'
                 );
@@ -2147,7 +2147,7 @@ class Table
         if ($upd_query) {
             $this->_dbi->query(
                 $upd_query,
-                $GLOBALS['controllink'],
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
                 0,
                 false
             );
@@ -2232,7 +2232,7 @@ class Table
             if (isset($upd_query)) {
                 $this->_dbi->query(
                     $upd_query,
-                    $GLOBALS['controllink'],
+                    DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
                     0,
                     false
                 );
diff --git a/libraries/classes/Tracker.php b/libraries/classes/Tracker.php
index fa9e8cdf89..8d7a59e49b 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/Tracker.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/Tracker.php
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  */
 namespace PhpMyAdmin;
 
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Plugins;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Plugins\Export\ExportSql;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Relation;
@@ -148,7 +149,7 @@ class Tracker
         " AND table_name = '" . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($tablename) . "' " .
         " ORDER BY version DESC LIMIT 1";
 
-        $result = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchValue($sql_query, 0, 0, $GLOBALS['controllink']) == 1;
+        $result = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchValue($sql_query, 0, 0, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL) == 1;
 
         self::$_tracking_cache[$dbname][$tablename] = $result;
 
diff --git a/libraries/classes/Transformations.php b/libraries/classes/Transformations.php
index d37feae387..c99da91857 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/Transformations.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/Transformations.php
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ class Transformations
                   OR `input_transformation` != \'\'
                   OR `input_transformation_options` != \'\'' : '') . ')';
         $result = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchResult(
-            $com_qry, 'column_name', null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+            $com_qry, 'column_name', null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
         );
 
         foreach ($result as $column => $values) {
diff --git a/libraries/classes/UserPreferences.php b/libraries/classes/UserPreferences.php
index 3084ada249..6937d69e9c 100644
--- a/libraries/classes/UserPreferences.php
+++ b/libraries/classes/UserPreferences.php
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ class UserPreferences
             . ' WHERE `username` = \''
             . $GLOBALS['dbi']->escapeString($cfgRelation['user'])
             . '\'';
-        $row = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchSingleRow($query, 'ASSOC', $GLOBALS['controllink']);
+        $row = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchSingleRow($query, 'ASSOC', DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL);
 
         return array(
             'config_data' => $row ? (array)json_decode($row['config_data']) : array(),
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ class UserPreferences
             . '\'';
 
         $has_config = $GLOBALS['dbi']->fetchValue(
-            $query, 0, 0, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+            $query, 0, 0, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
         );
         $config_data = json_encode($config_array);
         if ($has_config) {
@@ -140,11 +140,11 @@ class UserPreferences
         if (isset($_SESSION['cache'][$cache_key]['userprefs'])) {
             unset($_SESSION['cache'][$cache_key]['userprefs']);
         }
-        if (!$GLOBALS['dbi']->tryQuery($query, $GLOBALS['controllink'])) {
+        if (!$GLOBALS['dbi']->tryQuery($query, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)) {
             $message = Message::error(__('Could not save configuration'));
             $message->addMessage(
                 Message::rawError(
-                    $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError($GLOBALS['controllink'])
+                    $GLOBALS['dbi']->getError(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)
                 ),
                 '<br /><br />'
             );
diff --git a/libraries/dbi/dbi_dummy.inc.php b/libraries/dbi/dbi_dummy.inc.php
index 64cd6107cc..75434e7439 100644
--- a/libraries/dbi/dbi_dummy.inc.php
+++ b/libraries/dbi/dbi_dummy.inc.php
@@ -875,5 +875,4 @@ $GLOBALS['dummy_queries'] = array(
 $GLOBALS['dummy_db'] = '';
 
 /* Some basic setup for dummy driver */
-$GLOBALS['controllink'] = 2;
 $GLOBALS['cfg']['DBG']['sql'] = false;
diff --git a/test/classes/CentralColumnsTest.php b/test/classes/CentralColumnsTest.php
index 1bb1171202..8d2f594a85 100644
--- a/test/classes/CentralColumnsTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/CentralColumnsTest.php
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ namespace PhpMyAdmin\Tests;
 
 use PhpMyAdmin\CentralColumns;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Config;
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Types;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Url;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Util;
@@ -180,7 +181,7 @@ class CentralColumnsTest extends TestCase
             ->with(
                 "SELECT count(db_name) FROM `pma_central_columns` "
                 . "WHERE db_name = 'phpmyadmin';",
-                null, null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                null, null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             )
             ->will(
                 $this->returnValue(array(3))
@@ -223,7 +224,7 @@ class CentralColumnsTest extends TestCase
             ->with(
                 "SELECT col_name FROM `pma_central_columns` "
                 . "WHERE db_name = 'PMA_db' AND col_name IN ('col1');",
-                null, null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                null, null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             )
             ->will(
                 $this->returnValue(array('col1'))
@@ -234,7 +235,7 @@ class CentralColumnsTest extends TestCase
             ->with(
                 "DELETE FROM `pma_central_columns` "
                 . "WHERE db_name = 'PMA_db' AND col_name IN ('col1');",
-                $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             )
             ->will(
                 $this->returnValue(array('col1'))
@@ -291,7 +292,7 @@ class CentralColumnsTest extends TestCase
             ->with(
                 "SELECT col_name FROM `pma_central_columns` "
                 . "WHERE db_name = 'PMA_db' AND col_name IN ('id','col1','col2');",
-                null, null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                null, null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             )
             ->will(
                 $this->returnValue(array('id','col1'))
@@ -317,7 +318,7 @@ class CentralColumnsTest extends TestCase
             ->with(
                 "SELECT * FROM `pma_central_columns` "
                 . "WHERE db_name = 'PMA_db' AND col_name IN ('id','col1','col2');",
-                null, null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                null, null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             )
             ->will(
                 $this->returnValue(array_slice($this->_columnData, 0, 2))
@@ -381,7 +382,7 @@ class CentralColumnsTest extends TestCase
             ->with(
                 "SELECT * FROM `pma_central_columns` "
                 . "WHERE db_name = 'phpmyadmin' AND col_name IN ('col1','col2');",
-                null, null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                null, null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             )
             ->will(
                 $this->returnValue($this->_columnData)
@@ -485,7 +486,7 @@ class CentralColumnsTest extends TestCase
             ->with(
                 "SELECT * FROM `pma_central_columns` "
                 . "WHERE db_name = 'phpmyadmin';",
-                null, null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                null, null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             )
             ->will(
                 $this->returnValue($this->_columnData)
@@ -509,7 +510,7 @@ class CentralColumnsTest extends TestCase
                 "SELECT * FROM `pma_central_columns` "
                 . "WHERE db_name = 'phpmyadmin' AND col_name "
                 . "NOT IN ('id','col1','col2');",
-                null, null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                null, null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             )
             ->will(
                 $this->returnValue($this->_columnData)
@@ -572,7 +573,7 @@ class CentralColumnsTest extends TestCase
             ->with(
                 "SELECT * FROM `pma_central_columns` WHERE db_name = 'phpmyadmin'"
                 . " AND col_name IN ('col1');",
-                null, null, $GLOBALS['controllink']
+                null, null, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL
             )
             ->will(
                 $this->returnValue(array_slice($this->_columnData, 1, 1))
diff --git a/test/classes/Controllers/Server/ServerVariablesControllerTest.php b/test/classes/Controllers/Server/ServerVariablesControllerTest.php
index b316f8a485..7c95b0d6d3 100644
--- a/test/classes/Controllers/Server/ServerVariablesControllerTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Controllers/Server/ServerVariablesControllerTest.php
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 namespace PhpMyAdmin\Tests\Controllers\Server;
 
 use PhpMyAdmin\Core;
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Di\Container;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Tests\PmaTestCase;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Tests\Stubs\Response as ResponseStub;
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ class ServerVariablesControllerTest extends PmaTestCase
                 "SHOW SESSION VARIABLES;",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_session_variable
             ),
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ class ServerVariablesControllerTest extends PmaTestCase
                 "SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES;",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_global_variables
             )
diff --git a/test/classes/Database/DesignerTest.php b/test/classes/Database/DesignerTest.php
index 8889a16b5c..97eb660e6d 100644
--- a/test/classes/Database/DesignerTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Database/DesignerTest.php
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class DesignerTest extends TestCase
             ->with(
                 "SELECT `page_nr`, `page_descr` FROM `pmadb`.`pdf_pages`"
                 . " WHERE db_name = '" . $db . "' ORDER BY `page_descr`",
-                2,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
                 DatabaseInterface::QUERY_STORE,
                 false
             )
diff --git a/test/classes/NormalizationTest.php b/test/classes/NormalizationTest.php
index 58bf5d830a..d2cc980c8b 100644
--- a/test/classes/NormalizationTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/NormalizationTest.php
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  */
 namespace PhpMyAdmin\Tests;
 
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Normalization;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Theme;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Types;
@@ -67,13 +68,13 @@ class NormalizationTest extends TestCase
             ->method('getColumnNames')
             ->will($this->returnValue(array("id", "col1", "col2")));
         $map = array(
-          array('PMA_db', 'PMA_table1', null, array()),
+          array('PMA_db', 'PMA_table1', DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER, array()),
           array(
-            'PMA_db', 'PMA_table', null,
+            'PMA_db', 'PMA_table', DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
             array(array('Key_name'=>'PRIMARY', 'Column_name'=>'id'))
           ),
           array(
-              'PMA_db', 'PMA_table2', null,
+              'PMA_db', 'PMA_table2', DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
               array(
                 array('Key_name'=>'PRIMARY', 'Column_name'=>'id'),
                 array('Key_name'=>'PRIMARY', 'Column_name'=>'col1')
diff --git a/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportHtmlwordTest.php b/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportHtmlwordTest.php
index 7ef9d5564e..f8edc51137 100644
--- a/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportHtmlwordTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportHtmlwordTest.php
@@ -532,7 +532,6 @@ class ExportHtmlwordTest extends PmaTestCase
             ->will($this->returnValue(1));
 
         $GLOBALS['cfgRelation']['relation'] = true;
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = null;
         $_SESSION['relation'][0] = array(
             'PMA_VERSION' => PMA_VERSION,
             'relwork' => true,
diff --git a/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportOdtTest.php b/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportOdtTest.php
index 0755a8ab35..a6d43aed91 100644
--- a/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportOdtTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportOdtTest.php
@@ -744,7 +744,6 @@ class ExportOdtTest extends PmaTestCase
             'relation' => 'rel',
             'column_info' => 'col'
         );
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = null;
         $this->assertTrue(
             $this->object->getTableDef(
                 'database',
diff --git a/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportSqlTest.php b/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportSqlTest.php
index e55f66f8db..2a6ee2d6fc 100644
--- a/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportSqlTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportSqlTest.php
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ class ExportSqlTest extends PmaTestCase
         $GLOBALS['plugin_param']['export_type'] = 'table';
         $GLOBALS['plugin_param']['single_table'] = false;
         $GLOBALS['cfgRelation']['relation'] = true;
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = null;
         $this->object = new ExportSql();
     }
 
@@ -712,8 +711,8 @@ class ExportSqlTest extends PmaTestCase
             ->will(
                 $this->returnValueMap(
                     array(
-                        array('db', 'EVENT', 'f1', null, 'f1event'),
-                        array('db', 'EVENT', 'f2', null, 'f2event')
+                        array('db', 'EVENT', 'f1', DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER, 'f1event'),
+                        array('db', 'EVENT', 'f2', DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER, 'f2event')
                     )
                 )
             );
@@ -1481,7 +1480,7 @@ class ExportSqlTest extends PmaTestCase
             ->method('tryQuery')
             ->with(
                 "SELECT a FROM b WHERE 1",
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 DatabaseInterface::QUERY_UNBUFFERED
             )
             ->will($this->returnValue('res'));
@@ -1612,7 +1611,7 @@ class ExportSqlTest extends PmaTestCase
             ->method('tryQuery')
             ->with(
                 "SELECT a FROM b WHERE 1",
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 DatabaseInterface::QUERY_UNBUFFERED
             )
             ->will($this->returnValue('res'));
diff --git a/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportTexytextTest.php b/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportTexytextTest.php
index 25769f3788..d5d3f38f0b 100644
--- a/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportTexytextTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Plugins/Export/ExportTexytextTest.php
@@ -363,7 +363,6 @@ class ExportTexytextTest extends PmaTestCase
         $this->object = $this->getMockBuilder('PhpMyAdmin\Plugins\Export\ExportTexytext')
             ->setMethods(array('formatOneColumnDefinition'))
             ->getMock();
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = null;
 
         // case 1
 
diff --git a/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/DiaRelationSchemaTest.php b/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/DiaRelationSchemaTest.php
index 608db44136..753c1c92a7 100644
--- a/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/DiaRelationSchemaTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/DiaRelationSchemaTest.php
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ class DiaRelationSchemaTest extends PmaTestCase
         $_REQUEST['t_y'] = array('information_schema.files' => 0);
 
         $GLOBALS['server'] = 1;
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = null;
         $GLOBALS['db'] = 'information_schema';
         $GLOBALS['cfg']['Server']['table_coords'] = "table_name";
 
diff --git a/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/EpsRelationSchemaTest.php b/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/EpsRelationSchemaTest.php
index 66c97e09bf..10f8d52d91 100644
--- a/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/EpsRelationSchemaTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/EpsRelationSchemaTest.php
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ class EpsRelationSchemaTest extends PmaTestCase
         $_REQUEST['t_y'] = array('information_schema.files' => 0);
 
         $GLOBALS['server'] = 1;
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = null;
         $GLOBALS['db'] = 'information_schema';
         $GLOBALS['cfg']['Server']['table_coords'] = "table_name";
 
diff --git a/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/PdfRelationSchemaTest.php b/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/PdfRelationSchemaTest.php
index 868555e8f8..cd4b4a240f 100644
--- a/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/PdfRelationSchemaTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/PdfRelationSchemaTest.php
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ class PdfRelationSchemaTest extends PmaTestCase
         $_REQUEST['t_y'] = array('information_schema.files' => 0);
 
         $GLOBALS['server'] = 1;
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = null;
         $GLOBALS['db'] = 'information_schema';
         $GLOBALS['cfg']['Server']['pmadb'] = "pmadb";
         $GLOBALS['cfg']['Server']['user'] = "user";
diff --git a/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/SvgRelationSchemaTest.php b/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/SvgRelationSchemaTest.php
index 7e7a215124..34efc16cd5 100644
--- a/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/SvgRelationSchemaTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Plugins/Schema/SvgRelationSchemaTest.php
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ class SvgRelationSchemaTest extends PmaTestCase
         $_REQUEST['t_y'] = array('information_schema.files' => 0);
 
         $GLOBALS['server'] = 1;
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = null;
         $GLOBALS['db'] = 'information_schema';
         $GLOBALS['cfg']['Server']['table_coords'] = "table_name";
 
diff --git a/test/classes/PmdCommonTest.php b/test/classes/PmdCommonTest.php
index ff2771a29d..0328307116 100644
--- a/test/classes/PmdCommonTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/PmdCommonTest.php
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ class PmdCommonTest extends TestCase
     public function setup()
     {
         $GLOBALS['server'] = 1;
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = 2;
         $_SESSION = array(
             'relation' => array(
                 '1' => array(
@@ -68,7 +67,7 @@ class PmdCommonTest extends TestCase
             WHERE pdf_page_number = " . $pg,
                 'name',
                 null,
-                2,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
                 DatabaseInterface::QUERY_STORE
             );
         $GLOBALS['dbi'] = $dbi;
@@ -99,7 +98,7 @@ class PmdCommonTest extends TestCase
                 . " WHERE `page_nr` = " . $pg,
                 null,
                 null,
-                2,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
                 DatabaseInterface::QUERY_STORE
             )
             ->will($this->returnValue(array($pageName)));
@@ -161,7 +160,7 @@ class PmdCommonTest extends TestCase
                 . " AND `page_descr` = '" . $db . "'",
                 null,
                 null,
-                2,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
                 DatabaseInterface::QUERY_STORE
             )
             ->will($this->returnValue(array($default_pg)));
@@ -195,7 +194,7 @@ class PmdCommonTest extends TestCase
                 . " AND `page_descr` = '" . $db . "'",
                 null,
                 null,
-                2,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
                 DatabaseInterface::QUERY_STORE
             )
             ->will($this->returnValue(array()));
@@ -230,7 +229,7 @@ class PmdCommonTest extends TestCase
                 . " AND `page_descr` = '" . $db . "'",
                 null,
                 null,
-                2,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
                 DatabaseInterface::QUERY_STORE
             )
             ->will($this->returnValue(array($default_pg)));
diff --git a/test/classes/ReplicationGuiTest.php b/test/classes/ReplicationGuiTest.php
index e203af5763..4b12e4c473 100644
--- a/test/classes/ReplicationGuiTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/ReplicationGuiTest.php
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  */
 namespace PhpMyAdmin\Tests;
 
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\ReplicationGui;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Theme;
 use PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase as TestCase;
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ class ReplicationGuiTest extends TestCase
                 "SHOW SLAVE HOSTS",
                 null,
                 null,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $slave_host
             ),
diff --git a/test/classes/Rte/RoutinesTest.php b/test/classes/Rte/RoutinesTest.php
index e4bfffa7f1..4c07a1cdaa 100644
--- a/test/classes/Rte/RoutinesTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Rte/RoutinesTest.php
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  */
 namespace PhpMyAdmin\Tests\Rte;
 
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Response;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Rte\Routines;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Types;
@@ -1106,9 +1107,9 @@ class RoutinesTest extends TestCase
             ->will(
                 $this->returnValueMap(
                     array(
-                        array('foo', null, 'foo'),
-                        array("foo's bar", null, "foo\'s bar"),
-                        array('', null, '')
+                        array('foo', DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER, 'foo'),
+                        array("foo's bar", DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER, "foo\'s bar"),
+                        array('', DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER, '')
                     )
                 )
             );
diff --git a/test/classes/Server/Status/AdvisorTest.php b/test/classes/Server/Status/AdvisorTest.php
index 5a616b8e72..ce71d8e3db 100644
--- a/test/classes/Server/Status/AdvisorTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Server/Status/AdvisorTest.php
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 namespace PhpMyAdmin\Tests\Server\Status;
 
 use PhpMyAdmin\Core;
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Server\Status\Advisor;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Server\Status\Data;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Theme;
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ class AdvisorTest extends TestCase
                 "SHOW GLOBAL STATUS",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_status
             ),
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ class AdvisorTest extends TestCase
                 "SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_variables
             ),
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ class AdvisorTest extends TestCase
                     . "FROM data_dictionary.GLOBAL_STATEMENTS",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_status
             ),
diff --git a/test/classes/Server/Status/DataTest.php b/test/classes/Server/Status/DataTest.php
index d2ab217c39..2ecb9291ae 100644
--- a/test/classes/Server/Status/DataTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Server/Status/DataTest.php
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 namespace PhpMyAdmin\Tests\Server\Status;
 
 use PhpMyAdmin\Core;
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Server\Status\Data;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Tests\PmaTestCase;
 
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ class DataTest extends PmaTestCase
                 "SHOW GLOBAL STATUS",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_status
             ),
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ class DataTest extends PmaTestCase
                 "SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_variables
             ),
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ class DataTest extends PmaTestCase
                     . "FROM data_dictionary.GLOBAL_STATEMENTS",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_status
             ),
diff --git a/test/classes/Server/Status/MonitorTest.php b/test/classes/Server/Status/MonitorTest.php
index e638401391..b9e1c9bb2f 100644
--- a/test/classes/Server/Status/MonitorTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Server/Status/MonitorTest.php
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 namespace PhpMyAdmin\Tests\Server\Status;
 
 use PhpMyAdmin\Core;
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Server\Status\Monitor;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Server\Status\Data;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Theme;
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ class MonitorTest extends TestCase
                 "SHOW GLOBAL STATUS",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_status
             ),
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ class MonitorTest extends TestCase
                 "SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_variables
             ),
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ class MonitorTest extends TestCase
                     . "FROM data_dictionary.GLOBAL_STATEMENTS",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_status
             ),
diff --git a/test/classes/Server/Status/QueriesTest.php b/test/classes/Server/Status/QueriesTest.php
index 79ac618741..b05313bee1 100644
--- a/test/classes/Server/Status/QueriesTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Server/Status/QueriesTest.php
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 namespace PhpMyAdmin\Tests\Server\Status;
 
 use PhpMyAdmin\Core;
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Server\Status\Data;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Server\Status\Queries;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Theme;
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ class QueriesTest extends TestCase
                 "SHOW GLOBAL STATUS",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_status
             ),
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ class QueriesTest extends TestCase
                 "SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_variables
             )
diff --git a/test/classes/Server/Status/VariablesTest.php b/test/classes/Server/Status/VariablesTest.php
index 0e9a2db8ca..0e8eab0599 100644
--- a/test/classes/Server/Status/VariablesTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Server/Status/VariablesTest.php
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 namespace PhpMyAdmin\Tests\Server\Status;
 
 use PhpMyAdmin\Core;
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Server\Status\Data;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Server\Status\Variables;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Theme;
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ class VariablesTest extends TestCase
                 "SHOW GLOBAL STATUS",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_status
             ),
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ class VariablesTest extends TestCase
                 "SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_variables
             ),
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ class VariablesTest extends TestCase
                     . "FROM data_dictionary.GLOBAL_STATEMENTS",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_status
             ),
diff --git a/test/classes/Server/StatusTest.php b/test/classes/Server/StatusTest.php
index 735ef2f1f8..c342e11b1b 100644
--- a/test/classes/Server/StatusTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/Server/StatusTest.php
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 namespace PhpMyAdmin\Tests\Server;
 
 use PhpMyAdmin\Core;
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Server\Status;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Server\Status\Data;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Theme;
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ class StatusTest extends TestCase
                 "SHOW GLOBAL STATUS",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_status
             ),
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ class StatusTest extends TestCase
                 "SHOW GLOBAL VARIABLES",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_variables
             ),
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ class StatusTest extends TestCase
                     . "FROM data_dictionary.GLOBAL_STATEMENTS",
                 0,
                 1,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 $server_status
             ),
diff --git a/test/classes/TableTest.php b/test/classes/TableTest.php
index 1886ef9a3e..59e8d13429 100644
--- a/test/classes/TableTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/TableTest.php
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class TableTest extends PmaTestCase
                 $sql_isView_true,
                 null,
                 null,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 true
             ),
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class TableTest extends PmaTestCase
                 $sql_copy_data,
                 null,
                 null,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 false
             ),
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class TableTest extends PmaTestCase
                 $sql_isView_false,
                 null,
                 null,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 false
             ),
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ class TableTest extends PmaTestCase
                 $sql_isUpdatableView_true,
                 null,
                 null,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 true
             ),
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ class TableTest extends PmaTestCase
                 $sql_isUpdatableView_false,
                 null,
                 null,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 false
             ),
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ class TableTest extends PmaTestCase
                 $sql_analyzeStructure_true,
                 null,
                 null,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 array(
                     array('COLUMN_NAME'=>'COLUMN_NAME', 'DATA_TYPE'=>'DATA_TYPE')
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ class TableTest extends PmaTestCase
                 $getUniqueColumns_sql,
                 array('Key_name', null),
                 'Column_name',
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 array(
                     array('index1'),
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ class TableTest extends PmaTestCase
                 $getUniqueColumns_sql,
                 'Column_name',
                 'Column_name',
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 array(
                     'column1',
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ class TableTest extends PmaTestCase
                 'SHOW COLUMNS FROM `PMA`.`PMA_BookMark`',
                 'Field',
                 'Field',
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 array(
                     'column1',
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ class TableTest extends PmaTestCase
                 'SHOW COLUMNS FROM `PMA`.`PMA_BookMark`',
                 null,
                 null,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_USER,
                 0,
                 array(
                     array(
diff --git a/test/classes/TrackerTest.php b/test/classes/TrackerTest.php
index 93bbb20181..a658f19557 100644
--- a/test/classes/TrackerTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/TrackerTest.php
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
  */
 namespace PhpMyAdmin\Tests;
 
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Tests\PmaTestCase;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Tracker;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Util;
@@ -291,12 +292,10 @@ class TrackerTest extends PmaTestCase
         "\n',
         '11' )";
 
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = null;
-
         $queryResults = array(
             array(
                 $expectedMainQuery,
-                null,
+                DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL,
                 0,
                 false,
                 'executed'
@@ -382,11 +381,9 @@ class TrackerTest extends PmaTestCase
         "\n',
         'CREATE DATABASE,ALTER DATABASE,DROP DATABASE' )";
 
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = null;
-
         $dbi->expects($this->exactly(1))
             ->method('query')
-            ->with($expectedMainQuery, null, 0, false)
+            ->with($expectedMainQuery, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL, 0, false)
             ->will($this->returnValue("executed"));
 
         $dbi->expects($this->any())->method('escapeString')
@@ -427,11 +424,9 @@ class TrackerTest extends PmaTestCase
         " AND `table_name` = '" . $tablename . "' " .
         " AND `version` = '" . $version . "' ";
 
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = null;
-
         $dbi->expects($this->exactly(1))
             ->method('query')
-            ->with($sql_query, null, 0, false)
+            ->with($sql_query, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL, 0, false)
             ->will($this->returnValue("executed"));
 
         $dbi->expects($this->any())->method('escapeString')
@@ -473,8 +468,6 @@ class TrackerTest extends PmaTestCase
             Tracker::changeTrackingData("", "", "", "", "")
         );
 
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = null;
-
         $dbi = $this->getMockBuilder('PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface')
             ->disableOriginalConstructor()
             ->getMock();
@@ -509,8 +502,8 @@ class TrackerTest extends PmaTestCase
             ->will(
                 $this->returnValueMap(
                     array(
-                        array($sql_query_1, null, 0, false, "executed_1"),
-                        array($sql_query_2, null, 0, false, "executed_2")
+                        array($sql_query_1, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL, 0, false, "executed_1"),
+                        array($sql_query_2, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL, 0, false, "executed_2")
                     )
                 )
             );
@@ -577,8 +570,6 @@ class TrackerTest extends PmaTestCase
      */
     public function testGetTrackedData($fetchArrayReturn, $expectedArray)
     {
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = null;
-
         $dbi = $this->getMockBuilder('PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface')
             ->disableOriginalConstructor()
             ->getMock();
diff --git a/test/classes/UserPreferencesTest.php b/test/classes/UserPreferencesTest.php
index 64c9620d81..dcec3a9c53 100644
--- a/test/classes/UserPreferencesTest.php
+++ b/test/classes/UserPreferencesTest.php
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 namespace PhpMyAdmin\Tests;
 
 use PhpMyAdmin\Config\ConfigFile;
+use PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface;
 use PhpMyAdmin\Tests\PmaTestCase;
 use PhpMyAdmin\UserPreferences;
 
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ class UserPreferencesTest extends PmaTestCase
         include 'libraries/config.default.php';
         $GLOBALS['server'] = 0;
         $GLOBALS['PMA_PHP_SELF'] = '/phpmyadmin/';
+        $GLOBALS['collation_connection'] = 'utf8_general_ci';
     }
 
     /**
@@ -100,7 +102,6 @@ class UserPreferencesTest extends PmaTestCase
         $_SESSION['relation'][$GLOBALS['server']]['db'] = "pma'db";
         $_SESSION['relation'][$GLOBALS['server']]['userconfig'] = "testconf";
         $_SESSION['relation'][$GLOBALS['server']]['user'] = "user";
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = null;
 
         $dbi = $this->getMockBuilder('PhpMyAdmin\DatabaseInterface')
             ->disableOriginalConstructor()
@@ -111,7 +112,7 @@ class UserPreferencesTest extends PmaTestCase
 
         $dbi->expects($this->once())
             ->method('fetchSingleRow')
-            ->with($query, 'ASSOC', null)
+            ->with($query, 'ASSOC', DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)
             ->will(
                 $this->returnValue(
                     array(
@@ -189,7 +190,6 @@ class UserPreferencesTest extends PmaTestCase
         $_SESSION['relation'][$GLOBALS['server']]['db'] = "pmadb";
         $_SESSION['relation'][$GLOBALS['server']]['userconfig'] = "testconf";
         $_SESSION['relation'][$GLOBALS['server']]['user'] = "user";
-        $GLOBALS['controllink'] = null;
 
         $query1 = 'SELECT `username` FROM `pmadb`.`testconf` '
             . 'WHERE `username` = \'user\'';
@@ -203,12 +203,12 @@ class UserPreferencesTest extends PmaTestCase
 
         $dbi->expects($this->once())
             ->method('fetchValue')
-            ->with($query1, 0, 0, null)
+            ->with($query1, 0, 0, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)
             ->will($this->returnValue(true));
 
         $dbi->expects($this->once())
             ->method('tryQuery')
-            ->with($query2, null)
+            ->with($query2, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)
             ->will($this->returnValue(true));
 
         $dbi->expects($this->any())
@@ -234,17 +234,17 @@ class UserPreferencesTest extends PmaTestCase
 
         $dbi->expects($this->once())
             ->method('fetchValue')
-            ->with($query1, 0, 0, null)
+            ->with($query1, 0, 0, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)
             ->will($this->returnValue(false));
 
         $dbi->expects($this->once())
             ->method('tryQuery')
-            ->with($query2, null)
+            ->with($query2, DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)
             ->will($this->returnValue(false));
 
         $dbi->expects($this->once())
             ->method('getError')
-            ->with(null)
+            ->with(DatabaseInterface::CONNECT_CONTROL)
             ->will($this->returnValue("err1"));
         $dbi->expects($this->any())
             ->method('escapeString')
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ class UserPreferencesTest extends PmaTestCase
     {
         $GLOBALS['lang'] = '';
 
-        $this->mockResponse('Location: /phpmyadmin/file.html?a=b&saved=1&server=0#h+ash');
+        $this->mockResponse('Location: /phpmyadmin/file.html?a=b&saved=1&server=0&collation_connection=utf8_general_ci#h+ash');
 
         $GLOBALS['PMA_Config']->set('PmaAbsoluteUri', '');
         $GLOBALS['PMA_Config']->set('PMA_IS_IIS', false);