diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 61f9b768e7..90ecdf738f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ env:
   ON_CI: True
   PYTEST_ARGUMENTS: '-vvv -rxXsa --color=yes --durations=10 --random-order --random-order-bucket=class --maxfail=10 --reruns 3 --reruns-delay 4 --cov=ansys.mapdl.core --cov-report=html --timeout=180'
 
+
   BUILD_CHEATSHEET: True
   PYMAPDL_DEBUG_TESTING: True
 
@@ -63,7 +64,6 @@ permissions:
 
 jobs:
 
-
   update-changelog:
     name: "Update CHANGELOG (on release)"
     if: github.event_name == 'push' && contains(github.ref, 'refs/tags')
diff --git a/doc/changelog.d/3577.added.md b/doc/changelog.d/3577.added.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5299553dfa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/changelog.d/3577.added.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+refactor: small improvements to test settings
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/ansys/mapdl/core/database/database.py b/src/ansys/mapdl/core/database/database.py
index 3e395a6297..d35bf5c94d 100644
--- a/src/ansys/mapdl/core/database/database.py
+++ b/src/ansys/mapdl/core/database/database.py
@@ -313,8 +313,9 @@ def stop(self):
 
         self._mapdl._log.debug("Closing the connection with the MAPDL DB Server")
         self._stop()
-        self._channel.close()
-        self._channel = None
+        if self._channel:
+            self._channel.close()
+            self._channel = None
         self._stub = None
         self._state = None
 
diff --git a/src/ansys/mapdl/core/launcher.py b/src/ansys/mapdl/core/launcher.py
index 55a3efb8bc..a38cfc15aa 100644
--- a/src/ansys/mapdl/core/launcher.py
+++ b/src/ansys/mapdl/core/launcher.py
@@ -105,7 +105,6 @@ def version_from_path(*args, **kwargs):
     "additional_switches",
     "cleanup_on_exit",
     "clear_on_connect",
-    "running_on_hpc",
     "exec_file",
     "force_intel" "ip",
     "ip",
@@ -125,6 +124,7 @@ def version_from_path(*args, **kwargs):
     "remove_temp_dir_on_exit",
     "replace_env_vars",
     "run_location",
+    "running_on_hpc",
     "scheduler_options",
     "set_no_abort",
     "start_instance",
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ def check_mapdl_launch(
         MAPDL did not start.
     """
     LOG.debug("Generating queue object for stdout")
-    stdout_queue, _ = _create_queue_for_std(process.stdout)
+    stdout_queue, thread = _create_queue_for_std(process.stdout)
 
     # Checking connection
     try:
diff --git a/src/ansys/mapdl/core/mapdl_core.py b/src/ansys/mapdl/core/mapdl_core.py
index afce90bf67..4201a0fc3d 100644
--- a/src/ansys/mapdl/core/mapdl_core.py
+++ b/src/ansys/mapdl/core/mapdl_core.py
@@ -1396,7 +1396,8 @@ def __init__(self, parent):
             self._parent = weakref.ref(parent)
 
         def __enter__(self):
-            self._parent()._log.debug("Entering non-interactive mode")
+            self._parent()._log.debug("Entering in non-interactive mode")
+            self._parent().com("Entering in non_interactive mode")
             self._parent()._store_commands = True
 
         def __exit__(self, *args):
@@ -2283,6 +2284,7 @@ def run(
         self._before_run(command)
 
         short_cmd = parse_to_short_cmd(command)
+        self._log.debug(f"Running (verbose: {verbose}, mute={mute}): '{command}'")
         text = self._run(command, verbose=verbose, mute=mute)
 
         if (
diff --git a/src/ansys/mapdl/core/mapdl_grpc.py b/src/ansys/mapdl/core/mapdl_grpc.py
index 2ff727025c..e2c0ec759e 100644
--- a/src/ansys/mapdl/core/mapdl_grpc.py
+++ b/src/ansys/mapdl/core/mapdl_grpc.py
@@ -1334,7 +1334,12 @@ def _cache_pids(self):
                     pids = set(re.findall(r"-9 (\d+)", raw))
                 self._pids = [int(pid) for pid in pids]
 
-        if not self._pids:
+        if not self._pids and not self._mapdl_process:
+            self._log.debug(
+                f"MAPDL process is not provided. PIDs could not be retrieved."
+            )
+            return
+        elif not self._pids:
             # For the cases where the cleanup file is not generated,
             # we relay on the process.
             parent_pid = self._mapdl_process.pid
diff --git a/src/ansys/mapdl/core/misc.py b/src/ansys/mapdl/core/misc.py
index 610f6821ff..63b2e35b61 100644
--- a/src/ansys/mapdl/core/misc.py
+++ b/src/ansys/mapdl/core/misc.py
@@ -571,9 +571,10 @@ def wrapper(self, *args, **kwargs):
                     # assuming you want to select nothing because you supplied an empty list/tuple/array
                     return original_sel_func(self, "none")
 
-                self._perform_entity_list_selection(
-                    entity, original_sel_func, type_, item, comp, vmin, kabs
-                )
+                with self.non_interactive:  # to speed up
+                    self._perform_entity_list_selection(
+                        entity, original_sel_func, type_, item, comp, vmin, kabs
+                    )
 
                 if kwargs.pop("Used_P", False):
                     # we want to return the
diff --git a/src/ansys/mapdl/core/parameters.py b/src/ansys/mapdl/core/parameters.py
index 7b33bd3a8d..594b40188e 100644
--- a/src/ansys/mapdl/core/parameters.py
+++ b/src/ansys/mapdl/core/parameters.py
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ def _get_parameter_array(self, parm_name, shape):
                 f"that could not be read using '{format_str}'."
             )
 
-        arr_flat = np.fromstring(output, sep="\n").reshape(shape)
+        arr_flat = np.fromstring(output.strip(), sep="\n").reshape(shape)
 
         if len(shape) == 3:
             if shape[2] == 1:
diff --git a/src/ansys/mapdl/core/post.py b/src/ansys/mapdl/core/post.py
index 18ebc102c4..8110ec6f8a 100644
--- a/src/ansys/mapdl/core/post.py
+++ b/src/ansys/mapdl/core/post.py
@@ -139,13 +139,37 @@ def _mapdl(self):
     @supress_logging
     def __repr__(self):
         info = "PyMAPDL PostProcessing Instance\n"
-        info += "\tActive Result File:    %s\n" % self.filename
-        info += "\tNumber of result sets: %d\n" % self.nsets
-        info += "\tCurrent load step:     %d\n" % self.load_step
-        info += "\tCurrent sub step:      %d\n" % self.sub_step
+        info += f"\tActive Result File:    {self.filename}\n"
+
+        # If there is no result file, this fails.
+        try:
+            nsets = int(self.nsets)
+        except MapdlRuntimeError as error:
+            self._mapdl.logger.debug(
+                f"Error when obtaining the number of sets:\n{error}"
+            )
+            nsets = "NA"
+
+        info += f"\tNumber of result sets: {nsets}\n"
+        info += f"\tCurrent load step:     {self.load_step}\n"
+        info += f"\tCurrent sub step:      {self.sub_step}\n"
 
         if self._mapdl.parameters.routine == "POST1":
-            info += "\n\n" + self._mapdl.set("LIST")
+            try:
+                nlist = self._mapdl.set("LIST")
+            except MapdlRuntimeError as err:
+                if (
+                    "An error occurred while attempting to open the results file"
+                    in str(err)
+                ):
+                    self._mapdl.logger.debug(
+                        f"List of steps could not be obtained due to error:\n{err}"
+                    )
+                    nlist = "Results file is not available"
+                else:
+                    raise err
+
+            info += "\n\n" + nlist
         else:
             info += "\n\nEnable routine POST1 to see a table of available results"
 
diff --git a/tests/common.py b/tests/common.py
index 9c90fdd9de..51ed2e2185 100644
--- a/tests/common.py
+++ b/tests/common.py
@@ -274,7 +274,10 @@ def is_exited(mapdl: Mapdl):
 
             # we cannot connect.
             # Kill the instance
-            mapdl.exit()
+            try:
+                mapdl.exit()
+            except Exception as e:
+                LOG.error(f"An error occurred when killing the instance:\n{str(e)}")
 
             # Relaunching MAPDL
             mapdl = launch_mapdl(
@@ -285,6 +288,8 @@ def is_exited(mapdl: Mapdl):
                 log_apdl=log_apdl(),
             )
 
+        LOG.info("Successfully re-connected to MAPDL")
+
         # Restoring the local configuration
         mapdl._local = local_
         mapdl._exited = False
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 660a088a23..deebfcaa27 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -193,7 +193,9 @@ def requires_dependency(dependency: str):
 
     # the following files are also generated by MAPDL gRPC:
     # - "pymapdl.apdl": The APDL commands sent to MAPDL by PyMAPDL
-    # - "apdl.out" : MAPDL console output. Very likely only contains the output until connected.
+    # - "apdl.out" : MAPDL console output. Very likely only contains the output
+    #    until connected.
+
 ################################################################
 #
 # Importing packages
@@ -230,14 +232,12 @@ def requires_dependency(dependency: str):
 
     viz_interface.TESTING_MODE = True
 
-
 ################################################################
 #
 # Pytest configuration
 # --------------------
 #
 
-
 # check if the user wants to permit pytest to start MAPDL
 START_INSTANCE = get_start_instance()
 
@@ -558,7 +558,10 @@ def mapdl_console(request):
         )
 
     mapdl = launch_mapdl(
-        console_path, mode="console", log_apdl="pymapdl.apdl" if DEBUG_TESTING else None
+        console_path,
+        mode="console",
+        log_apdl="pymapdl.apdl" if DEBUG_TESTING else None,
+        loglevel="DEBUG" if DEBUG_TESTING else "ERROR",
     )
     from ansys.mapdl.core.mapdl_console import MapdlConsole
 
@@ -604,7 +607,7 @@ def mapdl(request, tmpdir_factory):
     if ON_CI:
         mapdl._local = ON_LOCAL  # CI: override for testing
 
-    if mapdl.is_local:
+    if ON_LOCAL and mapdl.is_local:
         assert Path(mapdl.directory) == Path(run_path)
 
     # using yield rather than return here to be able to test exit
diff --git a/tests/test_database.py b/tests/test_database.py
index a7fd1edc63..7cb8440eae 100644
--- a/tests/test_database.py
+++ b/tests/test_database.py
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ def db(mapdl):
         )
 
     mapdl.clear()
+    if mapdl.db.active or mapdl.db._stub is None:
+        mapdl.db.stop()
+
     mapdl.db.start()
     return mapdl.db
 
@@ -91,6 +94,9 @@ def test_database_start_stop(mapdl, cleared):
             f"This MAPDL version ({mapdl_version}) docker image seems to not support DB, but local does."
         )
 
+    if MapdlDb(mapdl).active:
+        MapdlDb(mapdl)._stop()
+
     # verify it can be created twice
     mapdl.prep7()
     for _ in range(2):
@@ -111,6 +117,9 @@ def test_database_start_stop(mapdl, cleared):
     with pytest.warns(UserWarning):
         database.stop()
 
+    # Starting the database for the rest of the test session
+    mapdl.db.start()
+
 
 def test_database_repr(db):
     assert db._channel_str in str(db)
@@ -138,8 +147,8 @@ def test_clear(db):
 def test__channel_str(db):
     assert db._channel_str is not None
     assert ":" in db._channel_str
-    assert re.search("\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}", db._channel_str)
-    assert re.search("\d{4,6}", db._channel_str)
+    assert re.search(r"\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}", db._channel_str)
+    assert re.search(r"\d{4,6}", db._channel_str)
 
 
 def test_off_db(mapdl, cleared, db):
@@ -186,6 +195,10 @@ def test_repr(mapdl, cleared, db):
 
 def gen_block(mapdl):
     """Generate nodes and elements in a simple block."""
+    from conftest import clear
+
+    clear(mapdl)
+
     mapdl.block(0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1)
     mapdl.et(1, 186)
     mapdl.esize(0.25)
@@ -226,8 +239,8 @@ def test_nodes_next(nodes):
     def test_nodes_info(nodes):
         assert nodes.info(1, DBDef.DB_SELECTED) == 1
 
-    @pytest.mark.parametrize("selected", [True, False])
     @staticmethod
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("selected", [True, False])
     def test_nodes_num(nodes, selected):
         assert nodes.num(selected=selected) == 425
 
@@ -250,7 +263,7 @@ def test_nodes_asarray(nodes):
         assert np.allclose(angles, 0)
 
     @staticmethod
-    def test_nodes_push(nodes):
+    def test_nodes_push(mapdl, nodes):
         nnum = 100000
         x, y, z, xang, yang, zang = 1, 5, 10, 30, 40, 50
         nodes.push(nnum, x, y, z, xang, yang, zang)
@@ -265,6 +278,10 @@ def test_nodes_push(nodes):
         with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="X and Y angles must be input"):
             nodes.push(nnum, x, y, z, zang=1)
 
+        # this test changes the database, so let's restore it back
+        # as in `nodes` fixture.
+        gen_block(mapdl)
+
 
 class Test_Elems(TestClass):
 
diff --git a/tests/test_mapdl.py b/tests/test_mapdl.py
index 01ffef4650..3455e816d2 100644
--- a/tests/test_mapdl.py
+++ b/tests/test_mapdl.py
@@ -2219,7 +2219,7 @@ def test_inquire_invalid(mapdl, cleared):
 
 def test_inquire_default(mapdl, cleared):
     mapdl.title("heeeelloo")
-    assert Path(mapdl.directory) == Path(mapdl.inquire())
+    assert str(Path(mapdl.directory)) == str(Path(mapdl.inquire()))
 
 
 def test_vwrite_error(mapdl, cleared):
diff --git a/tests/test_post.py b/tests/test_post.py
index 42619bb036..489123e589 100644
--- a/tests/test_post.py
+++ b/tests/test_post.py
@@ -55,9 +55,10 @@ def test_repr(mapdl, cleared):
     assert "Enable routine POST1 to see a table of available results" in repr_
 
     mapdl.post1()
-    repr_ = mapdl.post_processing.__repr__()
-    assert "Enable routine POST1 to see a table of available results" not in repr_
-    assert mapdl.set("LIST") in repr_
+    assert (
+        "Enable routine POST1 to see a table of available results"
+        not in mapdl.post_processing.__repr__()
+    )
 
 
 class Test_static_solve(TestClass):
@@ -770,6 +771,16 @@ def resume(mapdl, plastic_solve):
         nsigfig = 10
         mapdl.format("", "E", nsigfig + 9, nsigfig)
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def test_list_in_repr(mapdl, resume):
+        mapdl.finish()
+        assert "Enable routine POST1 to see a table of available results" in str(
+            mapdl.post_processing
+        )
+
+        mapdl.post1()
+        assert mapdl.set("LIST") in mapdl.post_processing.__str__()
+
     @staticmethod
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("comp", COMPONENT_STRESS_TYPE)
     def test_nodal_plastic_component_strain(mapdl, resume, comp):
diff --git a/tests/test_xpl.py b/tests/test_xpl.py
index 979b58d594..639e6f9a3e 100644
--- a/tests/test_xpl.py
+++ b/tests/test_xpl.py
@@ -39,114 +39,143 @@ def check_supports_extract(mapdl):
         pytest.skip("command not supported")
 
 
-@pytest.fixture(scope="function")
-def xpl(mapdl, cube_solve):
-    xpl = mapdl.xpl
-    xpl.open("file.full")
-    return xpl
+class Test_xpl:
+
+    @staticmethod
+    @pytest.fixture(scope="class")
+    def cube_solve(mapdl):
+        from conftest import clear
+
+        clear(mapdl)
+
+        # set up the full file
+        mapdl.block(0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1)
+        mapdl.et(1, 186)
+        mapdl.esize(0.5)
+        mapdl.vmesh("all")
+
+        # Define a material (nominal steel in SI)
+        mapdl.mp("EX", 1, 210e9)  # Elastic modulus in Pa (kg/(m*s**2))
+        mapdl.mp("DENS", 1, 7800)  # Density in kg/m3
+        mapdl.mp("NUXY", 1, 0.3)  # Poisson's Ratio
+
+        # solve first 10 non-trivial modes
+        mapdl.modal_analysis(nmode=10, freqb=1)
+        mapdl.save("cube_solve_xpl")
+
+    @staticmethod
+    @pytest.fixture(scope="function")
+    def xpl(mapdl, cube_solve):
+        mapdl.prep7()
+        mapdl.resume("cube_solve_xpl")
+
+        xpl = mapdl.xpl
+        xpl.open("file.full")
+
+        return xpl
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def test_close(xpl):
+        xpl.close()
+        with pytest.raises(MapdlCommandIgnoredError):
+            xpl.list()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def test_xpl_str(xpl):
+        assert "file.full" in str(xpl)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    @requires("ansys-math-core")
+    def test_read_int32(xpl):
+        vec = xpl.read("MASS")
+        arr = vec.asarray()
+        assert arr.size
+        assert arr.dtype == np.int32
+
+    @staticmethod
+    @requires("ansys-math-core")
+    def test_read_double(xpl):
+        vec = xpl.read("DIAGK")
+        arr = vec.asarray()
+        assert arr.size
+        assert arr.dtype == np.double
+
+    @staticmethod
+    @requires("ansys-math-core")
+    def test_read_asarray(xpl):
+        vec1 = xpl.read("MASS", asarray=True)
+        vec2 = xpl.read("MASS")
+        assert np.allclose(vec1, vec2.asarray())
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def test_save(xpl):
+        xpl.save()
+        with pytest.raises(MapdlCommandIgnoredError):
+            xpl.list()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def test_copy(mapdl, cleared, xpl):
+        filename = "tmpfile.full"
+        xpl.copy(filename)
+        assert filename in mapdl.list_files()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def test_list(xpl):
+        assert "::FULL::" in xpl.list(1)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def test_help(xpl):
+        assert "SAVE" in xpl.help()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def test_step_where(xpl):
+        xpl.step("MASS")
+        assert "FULL::MASS" in xpl.where()
+
+        with pytest.raises(MapdlRuntimeError):
+            xpl.step("notarecord")
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def test_info(xpl):
+        assert "Record Size" in xpl.info("NGPH")
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def test_print(xpl):
+        assert "10" in xpl.print("MASS")
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def test_json(xpl):
+        json_out = xpl.json()
+        assert json_out["name"] == "FULL"
+        assert "children" in json_out
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def test_up(xpl):
+        xpl.step("MASS")
+        xpl.up()
+        assert "Current Location : FULL" in xpl.where()
+
+        xpl.up("TOP")
+        assert "Current Location : FULL" in xpl.where()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def test_goto(xpl):
+        xpl.goto("MASS")
+        assert "Current Location : FULL::MASS" in xpl.where()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    @requires("ansys-math-core")
+    @pytest.mark.usefixtures("check_supports_extract")
+    def test_extract(xpl):
+        # expecting fixture to already have a non-result file open
+        assert xpl._filename[-3:] != "rst"
+        with pytest.raises(MapdlRuntimeError, match="result files"):
+            mat = xpl.extract("NSL")
+
+        xpl.open("file.rst")
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="the only supported recordname is 'NSL'"):
+            xpl.extract("NOD")
 
-
-def test_close(xpl):
-    xpl.close()
-    with pytest.raises(MapdlCommandIgnoredError):
-        xpl.list()
-
-
-def test_xpl_str(xpl):
-    assert "file.full" in str(xpl)
-
-
-@requires("ansys-math-core")
-def test_read_int32(xpl):
-    vec = xpl.read("MASS")
-    arr = vec.asarray()
-    assert arr.size
-    assert arr.dtype == np.int32
-
-
-@requires("ansys-math-core")
-def test_read_double(xpl):
-    vec = xpl.read("DIAGK")
-    arr = vec.asarray()
-    assert arr.size
-    assert arr.dtype == np.double
-
-
-@requires("ansys-math-core")
-def test_read_asarray(xpl):
-    vec1 = xpl.read("MASS", asarray=True)
-    vec2 = xpl.read("MASS")
-    assert np.allclose(vec1, vec2.asarray())
-
-
-def test_save(xpl):
-    xpl.save()
-    with pytest.raises(MapdlCommandIgnoredError):
-        xpl.list()
-
-
-def test_copy(mapdl, cleared, xpl):
-    filename = "tmpfile.full"
-    xpl.copy(filename)
-    assert filename in mapdl.list_files()
-
-
-def test_list(xpl):
-    assert "::FULL::" in xpl.list(1)
-
-
-def test_help(xpl):
-    assert "SAVE" in xpl.help()
-
-
-def test_step_where(xpl):
-    xpl.step("MASS")
-    assert "FULL::MASS" in xpl.where()
-
-    with pytest.raises(MapdlRuntimeError):
-        xpl.step("notarecord")
-
-
-def test_info(xpl):
-    assert "Record Size" in xpl.info("NGPH")
-
-
-def test_print(xpl):
-    assert "10" in xpl.print("MASS")
-
-
-def test_json(xpl):
-    json_out = xpl.json()
-    assert json_out["name"] == "FULL"
-    assert "children" in json_out
-
-
-def test_up(xpl):
-    xpl.step("MASS")
-    xpl.up()
-    assert "Current Location : FULL" in xpl.where()
-
-    xpl.up("TOP")
-    assert "Current Location : FULL" in xpl.where()
-
-
-def test_goto(xpl):
-    xpl.goto("MASS")
-    assert "Current Location : FULL::MASS" in xpl.where()
-
-
-@requires("ansys-math-core")
-@pytest.mark.usefixtures("check_supports_extract")
-def test_extract(xpl):
-    # expecting fixture to already have a non-result file open
-    assert xpl._filename[-3:] != "rst"
-    with pytest.raises(MapdlRuntimeError, match="result files"):
         mat = xpl.extract("NSL")
-
-    xpl.open("file.rst")
-
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="the only supported recordname is 'NSL'"):
-        xpl.extract("NOD")
-
-    mat = xpl.extract("NSL")
-    assert mat.shape == (243, 10)
+        assert mat.shape == (243, 10)