diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/EventManager.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/EventManager.cs
index 7bcc4dbf44..c434e4fa1e 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/EventManager.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/EventManager.cs
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes
             }
         }
 
-        public void TriggerOnBackup(IRegionDataStore dstore)
+        public void TriggerOnBackup(IRegionDataStore dstore, bool forced)
         {
             OnBackupDelegate handlerOnAttach = OnBackup;
             if (handlerOnAttach != null)
@@ -693,7 +693,7 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes
                 {
                     try
                     {
-                        d(dstore, false);
+                        d(dstore, forced);
                     }
                     catch (Exception e)
                     {
diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Scene.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Scene.cs
index 49f29ad26b..93882bad98 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Scene.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Scene.cs
@@ -1531,15 +1531,24 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes
             Backup();
         }
 
+        public void Backup()
+        {
+            Backup(false);
+        }
+        
         /// <summary>
         /// Backup the scene.  This acts as the main method of the backup thread.
         /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="forced">
+        /// If true, then any changes that have not yet been persisted are persisted.  If false,
+        /// then the persistence decision is left to the backup code (in some situations, such as object persistence,
+        /// it's much more efficient to backup multiple changes at once rather than every single one).
         /// <returns></returns>
-        public void Backup()
+        public void Backup(bool forced)
         {
             lock (m_returns)
             {
-                EventManager.TriggerOnBackup(m_storageManager.DataStore);
+                EventManager.TriggerOnBackup(m_storageManager.DataStore, forced);
                 m_backingup = false;
 
                 foreach (KeyValuePair<UUID, ReturnInfo> ret in m_returns)
diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/SceneObjectGroup.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/SceneObjectGroup.cs
index 64a6dd57fe..b8b3db5486 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/SceneObjectGroup.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/SceneObjectGroup.cs
@@ -1383,12 +1383,11 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes
             if (!m_isBackedUp)
                 return;
 
-            // Since this is the top of the section of call stack for backing up a particular scene object, don't let
-            // any exception propogate upwards.
-
             if (IsDeleted || UUID == UUID.Zero)
                 return;
 
+            // Since this is the top of the section of call stack for backing up a particular scene object, don't let
+            // any exception propogate upwards.            
             try
             {
                 if (!m_scene.ShuttingDown) // if shutting down then there will be nothing to handle the return so leave till next restart
diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/BorderTests.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/BorderTests.cs
index e140cd5785..3a0dd00ad5 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/BorderTests.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/BorderTests.cs
@@ -28,20 +28,21 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Text;
+using NUnit.Framework;
 using OpenMetaverse;
 using OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes;
-
-using NUnit.Framework;
+using OpenSim.Tests.Common;
 
 namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes.Tests
 {
     [TestFixture]
     public class BorderTests
     {
-
         [Test]
         public void TestCross()
         {
+            TestHelper.InMethod();
+            
             List<Border> testborders = new List<Border>();
 
             Border NorthBorder = new Border();
@@ -75,8 +76,6 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes.Tests
             position = new Vector3(200,280,21);
             Assert.That(NorthBorder.TestCross(position));
 
-
-
             // Test automatic border crossing
             // by setting the border crossing aabb to be the whole region
             position = new Vector3(25,25,21); // safely within one 256m region
@@ -95,12 +94,13 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes.Tests
 
             WestBorder.BorderLine = new Vector3(0, 256, 255); // automatic border cross in the region
             Assert.That(WestBorder.TestCross(position));
-
         }
 
         [Test]
         public void TestCrossSquare512()
         {
+            TestHelper.InMethod();
+            
             List<Border> testborders = new List<Border>();
 
             Border NorthBorder = new Border();
@@ -174,12 +174,13 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes.Tests
                     Assert.That(!b.TestCross(position));
 
             }
-
         }
 
         [Test]
         public void TestCrossRectangle512x256()
         {
+            TestHelper.InMethod();
+            
             List<Border> testborders = new List<Border>();
 
             Border NorthBorder = new Border();
@@ -258,6 +259,8 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes.Tests
         [Test]
         public void TestCrossOdd512x512w256hole()
         {
+            TestHelper.InMethod();
+            
             List<Border> testborders = new List<Border>();
             //   512____
             //      |  |
diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/EntityManagerTests.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/EntityManagerTests.cs
index 3e2a2af94b..b3c3e22af6 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/EntityManagerTests.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/EntityManagerTests.cs
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes.Tests
         public void T010_AddObjects()
         {
             TestHelper.InMethod();
-            // Console.WriteLine("Beginning test {0}", MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod());
             
             random = new Random();
             SceneObjectGroup found;
@@ -89,7 +88,6 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes.Tests
         public void T011_ThreadAddRemoveTest()
         {
             TestHelper.InMethod();
-            // Console.WriteLine("Beginning test {0}", MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod());
             
             // This test adds and removes with mutiple threads, attempting to break the 
             // uuid and localid dictionary coherence.
diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/SceneObjectLinkingTests.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/SceneObjectLinkingTests.cs
index 0b7608d0b8..bfed2047bf 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/SceneObjectLinkingTests.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/SceneObjectLinkingTests.cs
@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@
  */
 
 using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Reflection;
 using NUnit.Framework;
 using NUnit.Framework.SyntaxHelpers;
 using OpenMetaverse;
 using OpenSim.Framework;
 using OpenSim.Framework.Communications;
-
 using OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes;
 using OpenSim.Tests.Common;
 using OpenSim.Tests.Common.Mock;
@@ -260,5 +260,54 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes.Tests
                 && (part4.RotationOffset.W - compareQuaternion.W < 0.00003),
                 "Badness 3");
         }
+        
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Test that a new scene object which is already linked is correctly persisted to the persistence layer.
+        /// </summary>
+        [Test]
+        public void TestNewSceneObjectLinkPersistence()
+        {
+            TestHelper.InMethod();
+            log4net.Config.XmlConfigurator.Configure();
+            
+            TestScene scene = SceneSetupHelpers.SetupScene();            
+            
+            string rootPartName = "rootpart";
+            UUID rootPartUuid = new UUID("00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001");
+            string linkPartName = "linkpart";
+            UUID linkPartUuid = new UUID("00000000-0000-0000-0001-000000000000");
+
+            SceneObjectPart rootPart
+                = new SceneObjectPart(UUID.Zero, PrimitiveBaseShape.Default, Vector3.Zero, Quaternion.Identity, Vector3.Zero) 
+                    { Name = rootPartName, UUID = rootPartUuid };
+            SceneObjectPart linkPart
+                = new SceneObjectPart(UUID.Zero, PrimitiveBaseShape.Default, Vector3.Zero, Quaternion.Identity, Vector3.Zero) 
+                    { Name = linkPartName, UUID = linkPartUuid };            
+
+            SceneObjectGroup sog = new SceneObjectGroup(rootPart);
+            sog.AddPart(linkPart);            
+            scene.AddNewSceneObject(sog, true);           
+            
+            // In a test, we have to crank the backup handle manually.  Normally this would be done by the timer invoked
+            // scene backup thread.
+            scene.Backup(true);
+            
+            List<SceneObjectGroup> storedObjects = scene.StorageManager.DataStore.LoadObjects(scene.RegionInfo.RegionID);
+            Assert.That(storedObjects.Count, Is.EqualTo(1));
+            Assert.That(storedObjects[0].Children.Count, Is.EqualTo(2));
+            Assert.That(storedObjects[0].RootPart.UUID, Is.EqualTo(rootPartUuid));
+            // TODO: assertion for child prim            
+        }
+        
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Test that a delink is correctly persisted to the database
+        /// </summary>
+//        [Test]
+//        public void TestDelinkPersistence()
+//        {
+//            TestHelper.InMethod();
+//            
+//            Scene scene = SceneSetupHelpers.SetupScene();              
+//        }
     }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/ScenePresenceTests.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/ScenePresenceTests.cs
index e39a362883..ab5968c37c 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/ScenePresenceTests.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Tests/ScenePresenceTests.cs
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes.Tests
 
             Assert.That(neighbours.Count, Is.EqualTo(2));
         }
+        
         public void fixNullPresence()
         {
             string firstName = "testfirstname";
@@ -389,8 +390,6 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes.Tests
 
         public static string GetRandomCapsObjectPath()
         {
-            TestHelper.InMethod();
-
             UUID caps = UUID.Random();
             string capsPath = caps.ToString();
             capsPath = capsPath.Remove(capsPath.Length - 4, 4);
@@ -429,4 +428,4 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes.Tests
             return name.ToString();
         }
     }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/OpenSim/Tests/Common/Mock/MockRegionDataPlugin.cs b/OpenSim/Tests/Common/Mock/MockRegionDataPlugin.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1c139c5250
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenSim/Tests/Common/Mock/MockRegionDataPlugin.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) Contributors, http://opensimulator.org/
+ * See CONTRIBUTORS.TXT for a full list of copyright holders.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *       documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of the OpenSimulator Project nor the
+ *       names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products
+ *       derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE DEVELOPERS ``AS IS'' AND ANY
+ * EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+ * WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+ * DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY
+ * DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+ * (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
+ * LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
+ * ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+ * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+using System.Reflection;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using log4net;
+using OpenMetaverse;
+using OpenSim.Framework;
+using OpenSim.Region.Framework.Interfaces;
+using OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes;
+
+namespace OpenSim.Data.Null
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Mock region data plugin.  This obeys the api contract for persistence but stores everything in memory, so that
+    /// tests can check correct persistence.
+    /// </summary>
+    public class NullDataStore : IRegionDataStore
+    {
+        private static readonly ILog m_log = LogManager.GetLogger(MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType);
+        
+        protected Dictionary<UUID, RegionSettings> m_regionSettings = new Dictionary<UUID, RegionSettings>();
+        protected Dictionary<UUID, SceneObjectGroup> m_sceneObjects = new Dictionary<UUID, SceneObjectGroup>();
+        protected Dictionary<UUID, ICollection<TaskInventoryItem>> m_primItems 
+            = new Dictionary<UUID, ICollection<TaskInventoryItem>>();
+        protected Dictionary<UUID, double[,]> m_terrains = new Dictionary<UUID, double[,]>();
+        protected Dictionary<UUID, LandData> m_landData = new Dictionary<UUID, LandData>();
+        
+        public void Initialise(string dbfile)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        public void Dispose()
+        {
+        }
+
+        public void StoreRegionSettings(RegionSettings rs)
+        {
+            m_regionSettings[rs.RegionUUID] = rs;
+        }
+        
+        public RegionLightShareData LoadRegionWindlightSettings(UUID regionUUID)
+        {
+            //This connector doesn't support the windlight module yet
+            //Return default LL windlight settings
+            return new RegionLightShareData();
+        }
+        
+        public void StoreRegionWindlightSettings(RegionLightShareData wl)
+        {
+            //This connector doesn't support the windlight module yet
+        }
+        
+        public RegionSettings LoadRegionSettings(UUID regionUUID)
+        {
+            RegionSettings rs = null;
+            m_regionSettings.TryGetValue(regionUUID, out rs);
+            return rs;
+        }
+
+        public void StoreObject(SceneObjectGroup obj, UUID regionUUID)
+        {
+            m_log.DebugFormat(
+                "[MOCK REGION DATA PLUGIN]: Storing object {0} {1} in {2}", obj.Name, obj.UUID, regionUUID);
+            m_sceneObjects[obj.UUID] = obj;
+        }
+
+        public void RemoveObject(UUID obj, UUID regionUUID)
+        {
+            m_log.DebugFormat(
+                "[MOCK REGION DATA PLUGIN]: Removing object {0} from {1}", obj, regionUUID);
+            
+            if (m_sceneObjects.ContainsKey(obj))
+                m_sceneObjects.Remove(obj);
+        }
+
+        // see IRegionDatastore
+        public void StorePrimInventory(UUID primID, ICollection<TaskInventoryItem> items)
+        {
+            m_primItems[primID] = items;
+        }
+
+        public List<SceneObjectGroup> LoadObjects(UUID regionUUID)
+        {
+            m_log.DebugFormat(
+                "[MOCK REGION DATA PLUGIN]: Loading objects from {0}", regionUUID);
+            
+            return new List<SceneObjectGroup>(m_sceneObjects.Values);
+        }
+
+        public void StoreTerrain(double[,] ter, UUID regionID)
+        {
+            m_terrains[regionID] = ter;
+        }
+
+        public double[,] LoadTerrain(UUID regionID)
+        {
+            if (m_terrains.ContainsKey(regionID))
+                return m_terrains[regionID];
+            else
+                return null;
+        }
+
+        public void RemoveLandObject(UUID globalID)
+        {
+            if (m_landData.ContainsKey(globalID))
+                m_landData.Remove(globalID);
+        }
+
+        public void StoreLandObject(ILandObject land)
+        {
+            m_landData[land.LandData.GlobalID] = land.LandData;
+        }
+
+        public List<LandData> LoadLandObjects(UUID regionUUID)
+        {
+            return new List<LandData>(m_landData.Values);
+        }
+
+        public void Shutdown()
+        {
+        }
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/OpenSim/Tests/Common/Mock/TestScene.cs b/OpenSim/Tests/Common/Mock/TestScene.cs
index 01f2c146e8..615e519b2d 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Tests/Common/Mock/TestScene.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Tests/Common/Mock/TestScene.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/*
+/*
  * Copyright (c) Contributors, http://opensimulator.org/
  * See CONTRIBUTORS.TXT for a full list of copyright holders.
  *
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ using System;
 using Nini.Config;
 using OpenSim.Framework;
 using OpenSim.Framework.Communications;
-
 using OpenSim.Framework.Servers;
 using OpenSim.Region.Framework;
 using OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes;
@@ -48,6 +47,11 @@ namespace OpenSim.Tests.Common.Mock
         {
         }
         
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Allow retrieval for test check purposes
+        /// </summary>
+        public StorageManager StorageManager { get { return m_storageManager; } }
+        
         /// <summary>
         /// Temporarily override session authentication for tests (namely teleport).
         /// </summary>
diff --git a/OpenSim/Tests/Common/Setup/SceneSetupHelpers.cs b/OpenSim/Tests/Common/Setup/SceneSetupHelpers.cs
index d9ded2d0c4..9318a27d05 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Tests/Common/Setup/SceneSetupHelpers.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Tests/Common/Setup/SceneSetupHelpers.cs
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ namespace OpenSim.Tests.Common.Setup
             AgentCircuitManager acm = new AgentCircuitManager();
             SceneCommunicationService scs = new SceneCommunicationService();
 
-            StorageManager sm = new StorageManager("OpenSim.Data.Null.dll", "", "");
+            StorageManager sm = new StorageManager("OpenSim.Tests.Common.dll", "", "");
             IConfigSource configSource = new IniConfigSource();
 
             TestScene testScene = new TestScene(