diff --git a/test_runner/batch_others/test_branch_behind.py b/test_runner/batch_others/test_branch_behind.py
index 57076b2c33..bcb66cb1f3 100644
--- a/test_runner/batch_others/test_branch_behind.py
+++ b/test_runner/batch_others/test_branch_behind.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import psycopg2
-
 pytest_plugins = ("fixtures.zenith_fixtures")
 
 
@@ -13,8 +11,7 @@ def test_branch_behind(zenith_cli, pageserver, postgres, pg_bin):
     pgmain = postgres.create_start('test_branch_behind')
     print("postgres is running on 'test_branch_behind' branch")
 
-    main_pg_conn = psycopg2.connect(pgmain.connstr())
-    main_pg_conn.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
+    main_pg_conn = pgmain.connect()
     main_cur = main_pg_conn.cursor()
 
     # Create table, and insert the first 100 rows
@@ -60,15 +57,13 @@ def test_branch_behind(zenith_cli, pageserver, postgres, pg_bin):
     pg_more = postgres.create_start("test_branch_behind_more")
 
     # On the 'hundred' branch, we should see only 100 rows
-    hundred_pg_conn = psycopg2.connect(pg_hundred.connstr())
-    hundred_pg_conn.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
+    hundred_pg_conn = pg_hundred.connect()
     hundred_cur = hundred_pg_conn.cursor()
     hundred_cur.execute('SELECT count(*) FROM foo')
     assert hundred_cur.fetchone() == (100, )
 
     # On the 'more' branch, we should see 100200 rows
-    more_pg_conn = psycopg2.connect(pg_more.connstr())
-    more_pg_conn.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
+    more_pg_conn = pg_more.connect()
     more_cur = more_pg_conn.cursor()
     more_cur.execute('SELECT count(*) FROM foo')
     assert more_cur.fetchone() == (100100, )
diff --git a/test_runner/batch_others/test_config.py b/test_runner/batch_others/test_config.py
index 2b0b04238e..00c27b1ac1 100644
--- a/test_runner/batch_others/test_config.py
+++ b/test_runner/batch_others/test_config.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import psycopg2
+from contextlib import closing
 
 pytest_plugins = ("fixtures.zenith_fixtures")
 
@@ -14,9 +14,7 @@ def test_config(zenith_cli, pageserver, postgres, pg_bin):
     pg = postgres.create_start('test_config', config_lines=['log_min_messages=debug1'])
     print('postgres is running on test_config branch')
 
-    with psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr()) as conn:
-        conn.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
-
+    with closing(pg.connect()) as conn:
         with conn.cursor() as cur:
             cur.execute('''
                 SELECT setting
diff --git a/test_runner/batch_others/test_createdb.py b/test_runner/batch_others/test_createdb.py
index ab592822c7..bfc2224e05 100644
--- a/test_runner/batch_others/test_createdb.py
+++ b/test_runner/batch_others/test_createdb.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import psycopg2
+from contextlib import closing
 
 pytest_plugins = ("fixtures.zenith_fixtures")
 
@@ -12,9 +12,7 @@ def test_createdb(zenith_cli, pageserver, postgres, pg_bin):
     pg = postgres.create_start('test_createdb')
     print("postgres is running on 'test_createdb' branch")
 
-    with psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr()) as conn:
-        conn.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
-
+    with closing(pg.connect()) as conn:
         with conn.cursor() as cur:
             # Cause a 'relmapper' change in the original branch
             cur.execute('VACUUM FULL pg_class')
@@ -31,4 +29,4 @@ def test_createdb(zenith_cli, pageserver, postgres, pg_bin):
 
     # Test that you can connect to the new database on both branches
     for db in (pg, pg2):
-        psycopg2.connect(db.connstr('foodb')).close()
+        db.connect(dbname='foodb').close()
diff --git a/test_runner/batch_others/test_createuser.py b/test_runner/batch_others/test_createuser.py
index 649559e162..b821a233d1 100644
--- a/test_runner/batch_others/test_createuser.py
+++ b/test_runner/batch_others/test_createuser.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import psycopg2
+from contextlib import closing
 
 pytest_plugins = ("fixtures.zenith_fixtures")
 
@@ -12,9 +12,7 @@ def test_createuser(zenith_cli, pageserver, postgres, pg_bin):
     pg = postgres.create_start('test_createuser')
     print("postgres is running on 'test_createuser' branch")
 
-    with psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr()) as conn:
-        conn.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
-
+    with closing(pg.connect()) as conn:
         with conn.cursor() as cur:
             # Cause a 'relmapper' change in the original branch
             cur.execute('CREATE USER testuser with password %s', ('testpwd', ))
@@ -30,7 +28,4 @@ def test_createuser(zenith_cli, pageserver, postgres, pg_bin):
     pg2 = postgres.create_start('test_createuser2')
 
     # Test that you can connect to new branch as a new user
-    conn2 = psycopg2.connect(pg2.connstr(username='testuser'))
-    with conn2.cursor() as cur:
-        cur.execute('select current_user;')
-        assert cur.fetchone() == ('testuser', )
+    assert pg2.safe_psql('select current_user', username='testuser') == [('testuser', )]
diff --git a/test_runner/batch_others/test_multixact.py b/test_runner/batch_others/test_multixact.py
index 522efdf709..f64be25bcf 100644
--- a/test_runner/batch_others/test_multixact.py
+++ b/test_runner/batch_others/test_multixact.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import psycopg2
-
 pytest_plugins = ("fixtures.zenith_fixtures")
 
 
@@ -15,8 +13,7 @@ def test_multixact(pageserver, postgres, pg_bin, zenith_cli, base_dir):
     pg = postgres.create_start('test_multixact')
 
     print("postgres is running on 'test_multixact' branch")
-    pg_conn = psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr())
-    pg_conn.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
+    pg_conn = pg.connect()
     cur = pg_conn.cursor()
 
     cur.execute('''
@@ -31,10 +28,10 @@ def test_multixact(pageserver, postgres, pg_bin, zenith_cli, base_dir):
     nclients = 3
     connections = []
     for i in range(nclients):
-        con = psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr())
         # Do not turn on autocommit. We want to hold the key-share locks.
-        con.cursor().execute('select * from t1 for key share')
-        connections.append(con)
+        conn = pg.connect(autocommit=False)
+        conn.cursor().execute('select * from t1 for key share')
+        connections.append(conn)
 
     # We should have a multixact now. We can close the connections.
     for c in connections:
@@ -56,8 +53,7 @@ def test_multixact(pageserver, postgres, pg_bin, zenith_cli, base_dir):
     pg_new = postgres.create_start('test_multixact_new')
 
     print("postgres is running on 'test_multixact_new' branch")
-    pg_new_conn = psycopg2.connect(pg_new.connstr())
-    pg_new_conn.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
+    pg_new_conn = pg_new.connect()
     cur_new = pg_new_conn.cursor()
 
     cur_new.execute('SELECT next_multixact_id FROM pg_control_checkpoint()')
diff --git a/test_runner/batch_others/test_pageserver_api.py b/test_runner/batch_others/test_pageserver_api.py
index 2cb1a74a0e..e48c3b105d 100644
--- a/test_runner/batch_others/test_pageserver_api.py
+++ b/test_runner/batch_others/test_pageserver_api.py
@@ -1,28 +1,23 @@
-import psycopg2
 import json
 
 pytest_plugins = ("fixtures.zenith_fixtures")
 
 
 def test_status(pageserver):
-    pg_conn = psycopg2.connect(pageserver.connstr())
-    pg_conn.autocommit = True
-    cur = pg_conn.cursor()
-    cur.execute('status')
-    assert cur.fetchone() == ('hello world', )
-    pg_conn.close()
+    assert pageserver.safe_psql('status') == [
+        ('hello world', ),
+    ]
 
 
 def test_branch_list(pageserver, zenith_cli):
     # Create a branch for us
     zenith_cli.run(["branch", "test_branch_list_main", "empty"])
 
-    page_server_conn = psycopg2.connect(pageserver.connstr())
-    page_server_conn.autocommit = True
-    page_server_cur = page_server_conn.cursor()
+    conn = pageserver.connect()
+    cur = conn.cursor()
 
-    page_server_cur.execute('branch_list')
-    branches = json.loads(page_server_cur.fetchone()[0])
+    cur.execute('branch_list')
+    branches = json.loads(cur.fetchone()[0])
     # Filter out branches created by other tests
     branches = [x for x in branches if x['name'].startswith('test_branch_list')]
 
@@ -37,8 +32,8 @@ def test_branch_list(pageserver, zenith_cli):
     zenith_cli.run(['branch', 'test_branch_list_experimental', 'test_branch_list_main'])
     zenith_cli.run(['pg', 'create', 'test_branch_list_experimental'])
 
-    page_server_cur.execute('branch_list')
-    new_branches = json.loads(page_server_cur.fetchone()[0])
+    cur.execute('branch_list')
+    new_branches = json.loads(cur.fetchone()[0])
     # Filter out branches created by other tests
     new_branches = [x for x in new_branches if x['name'].startswith('test_branch_list')]
     assert len(new_branches) == 2
@@ -50,4 +45,4 @@ def test_branch_list(pageserver, zenith_cli):
     # TODO: do the LSNs have to match here?
     assert new_branches[1] == branches[0]
 
-    page_server_conn.close()
+    conn.close()
diff --git a/test_runner/batch_others/test_restart_compute.py b/test_runner/batch_others/test_restart_compute.py
index a332753380..d11842e35f 100644
--- a/test_runner/batch_others/test_restart_compute.py
+++ b/test_runner/batch_others/test_restart_compute.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import psycopg2
+from contextlib import closing
 
 pytest_plugins = ("fixtures.zenith_fixtures")
 
@@ -12,39 +12,31 @@ def test_restart_compute(zenith_cli, pageserver, postgres, pg_bin):
     pg = postgres.create_start('test_restart_compute')
     print("postgres is running on 'test_restart_compute' branch")
 
-    pg_conn = psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr())
-    pg_conn.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
-    cur = pg_conn.cursor()
-
-    # Create table, and insert a row
-    cur.execute('CREATE TABLE foo (t text)')
-    cur.execute("INSERT INTO foo VALUES ('bar')")
+    with closing(pg.connect()) as conn:
+        with conn.cursor() as cur:
+            # Create table, and insert a row
+            cur.execute('CREATE TABLE foo (t text)')
+            cur.execute("INSERT INTO foo VALUES ('bar')")
 
     # Stop and restart the Postgres instance
-    pg_conn.close()
-    pg.stop()
-    pg.start()
-    pg_conn = psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr())
-    pg_conn.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
-    cur = pg_conn.cursor()
+    pg.stop().start()
 
-    # We can still see the row
-    cur.execute('SELECT count(*) FROM foo')
-    assert cur.fetchone() == (1, )
+    with closing(pg.connect()) as conn:
+        with conn.cursor() as cur:
+            # We can still see the row
+            cur.execute('SELECT count(*) FROM foo')
+            assert cur.fetchone() == (1, )
 
-    # Insert another row
-    cur.execute("INSERT INTO foo VALUES ('bar2')")
-    cur.execute('SELECT count(*) FROM foo')
-    assert cur.fetchone() == (2, )
+            # Insert another row
+            cur.execute("INSERT INTO foo VALUES ('bar2')")
+            cur.execute('SELECT count(*) FROM foo')
+            assert cur.fetchone() == (2, )
 
     # Stop, and destroy the Postgres instance. Then recreate and restart it.
-    pg_conn.close()
-    pg.stop_and_destroy()
-    pg.create_start('test_restart_compute')
-    pg_conn = psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr())
-    pg_conn.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
-    cur = pg_conn.cursor()
+    pg.stop_and_destroy().create_start('test_restart_compute')
 
-    # We can still see the rows
-    cur.execute('SELECT count(*) FROM foo')
-    assert cur.fetchone() == (2, )
+    with closing(pg.connect()) as conn:
+        with conn.cursor() as cur:
+            # We can still see the rows
+            cur.execute('SELECT count(*) FROM foo')
+            assert cur.fetchone() == (2, )
diff --git a/test_runner/batch_others/test_twophase.py b/test_runner/batch_others/test_twophase.py
index 4f95103fba..d4ffb9dc6c 100644
--- a/test_runner/batch_others/test_twophase.py
+++ b/test_runner/batch_others/test_twophase.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import psycopg2
-
 pytest_plugins = ("fixtures.zenith_fixtures")
 
 
@@ -12,8 +10,7 @@ def test_twophase(zenith_cli, pageserver, postgres, pg_bin):
     pg = postgres.create_start('test_twophase', config_lines=['max_prepared_transactions=5'])
     print("postgres is running on 'test_twophase' branch")
 
-    conn = psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr())
-    conn.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
+    conn = pg.connect()
     cur = conn.cursor()
 
     cur.execute('CREATE TABLE foo (t text)')
@@ -33,8 +30,7 @@ def test_twophase(zenith_cli, pageserver, postgres, pg_bin):
 
     pg2 = postgres.create_start('test_twophase_prepared',
                                 config_lines=['max_prepared_transactions=5'])
-    conn2 = psycopg2.connect(pg2.connstr())
-    conn2.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
+    conn2 = pg2.connect()
     cur2 = conn2.cursor()
 
     # On the new branch, commit one of the prepared transactions, abort the other one.
diff --git a/test_runner/batch_others/test_wal_acceptor.py b/test_runner/batch_others/test_wal_acceptor.py
index f709be1b6d..bf5a7f19e7 100644
--- a/test_runner/batch_others/test_wal_acceptor.py
+++ b/test_runner/batch_others/test_wal_acceptor.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-import psycopg2
 import pytest
 import random
 import time
 
+from contextlib import closing
 from multiprocessing import Process, Value
 
 pytest_plugins = ("fixtures.zenith_fixtures")
@@ -16,15 +16,14 @@ def test_normal_work(zenith_cli, pageserver, postgres, wa_factory):
     pg = postgres.create_start('test_wal_acceptors_normal_work',
                                wal_acceptors=wa_factory.get_connstrs())
 
-    pg_conn = psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr())
-    # do commit after each statement as waiting for acceptors happens there
-    pg_conn.autocommit = True
-
-    cur = pg_conn.cursor()
-    cur.execute('CREATE TABLE t(key int primary key, value text)')
-    cur.execute("INSERT INTO t SELECT generate_series(1,100000), 'payload'")
-    cur.execute('SELECT sum(key) FROM t')
-    assert cur.fetchone() == (5000050000, )
+    with closing(pg.connect()) as conn:
+        with conn.cursor() as cur:
+            # we rely upon autocommit after each statement
+            # as waiting for acceptors happens there
+            cur.execute('CREATE TABLE t(key int primary key, value text)')
+            cur.execute("INSERT INTO t SELECT generate_series(1,100000), 'payload'")
+            cur.execute('SELECT sum(key) FROM t')
+            assert cur.fetchone() == (5000050000, )
 
 
 # Run page server and multiple acceptors, and multiple compute nodes running
@@ -72,10 +71,9 @@ def test_restarts(zenith_cli, pageserver, postgres, wa_factory):
     pg = postgres.create_start('test_wal_acceptors_restarts',
                                wal_acceptors=wa_factory.get_connstrs())
 
-    pg_conn = psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr())
-    # do commit after each statement as waiting for acceptors happens there
-    pg_conn.autocommit = True
-
+    # we rely upon autocommit after each statement
+    # as waiting for acceptors happens there
+    pg_conn = pg.connect()
     cur = pg_conn.cursor()
 
     failed_node = None
@@ -110,9 +108,9 @@ def test_unavailability(zenith_cli, pageserver, postgres, wa_factory):
     pg = postgres.create_start('test_wal_acceptors_unavailability',
                                wal_acceptors=wa_factory.get_connstrs())
 
-    pg_conn = psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr())
-    # do commit after each statement as waiting for acceptors happens there
-    pg_conn.autocommit = True
+    # we rely upon autocommit after each statement
+    # as waiting for acceptors happens there
+    pg_conn = pg.connect()
     cur = pg_conn.cursor()
 
     # check basic work with table
@@ -181,9 +179,9 @@ def test_race_conditions(zenith_cli, pageserver, postgres, wa_factory, stop_valu
     pg = postgres.create_start('test_wal_acceptors_race_conditions',
                                wal_acceptors=wa_factory.get_connstrs())
 
-    pg_conn = psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr())
-    # do commit after each statement as waiting for acceptors happens there
-    pg_conn.autocommit = True
+    # we rely upon autocommit after each statement
+    # as waiting for acceptors happens there
+    pg_conn = pg.connect()
     cur = pg_conn.cursor()
 
     cur.execute('CREATE TABLE t(key int primary key, value text)')
diff --git a/test_runner/batch_others/test_zenith_cli.py b/test_runner/batch_others/test_zenith_cli.py
index 265831b5a2..987a38753a 100644
--- a/test_runner/batch_others/test_zenith_cli.py
+++ b/test_runner/batch_others/test_zenith_cli.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import psycopg2
 import json
 
 pytest_plugins = ("fixtures.zenith_fixtures")
@@ -24,8 +23,7 @@ def helper_compare_branch_list(page_server_cur, zenith_cli):
 
 def test_cli_branch_list(pageserver, zenith_cli):
 
-    page_server_conn = psycopg2.connect(pageserver.connstr())
-    page_server_conn.autocommit = True
+    page_server_conn = pageserver.connect()
     page_server_cur = page_server_conn.cursor()
 
     # Initial sanity check
diff --git a/test_runner/batch_pg_regress/test_isolation.py b/test_runner/batch_pg_regress/test_isolation.py
index c19f538540..1bd5aeb0b9 100644
--- a/test_runner/batch_pg_regress/test_isolation.py
+++ b/test_runner/batch_pg_regress/test_isolation.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import os
-import psycopg2
 
 from fixtures.utils import mkdir_if_needed
 
@@ -15,11 +14,7 @@ def test_isolation(pageserver, postgres, pg_bin, zenith_cli, test_output_dir, pg
     # Connect to postgres and create a database called "regression".
     # isolation tests use prepared transactions, so enable them
     pg = postgres.create_start('test_isolation', config_lines=['max_prepared_transactions=100'])
-    pg_conn = psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr())
-    pg_conn.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
-    cur = pg_conn.cursor()
-    cur.execute('CREATE DATABASE isolation_regression')
-    pg_conn.close()
+    pg.safe_psql('CREATE DATABASE isolation_regression')
 
     # Create some local directories for pg_isolation_regress to run in.
     runpath = os.path.join(test_output_dir, 'regress')
diff --git a/test_runner/batch_pg_regress/test_pg_regress.py b/test_runner/batch_pg_regress/test_pg_regress.py
index 08760bed39..d119fdaff9 100644
--- a/test_runner/batch_pg_regress/test_pg_regress.py
+++ b/test_runner/batch_pg_regress/test_pg_regress.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import os
-import psycopg2
 
 from fixtures.utils import mkdir_if_needed
 
@@ -14,11 +13,7 @@ def test_pg_regress(pageserver, postgres, pg_bin, zenith_cli, test_output_dir, p
 
     # Connect to postgres and create a database called "regression".
     pg = postgres.create_start('test_pg_regress')
-    pg_conn = psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr())
-    pg_conn.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
-    cur = pg_conn.cursor()
-    cur.execute('CREATE DATABASE regression')
-    pg_conn.close()
+    pg.safe_psql('CREATE DATABASE regression')
 
     # Create some local directories for pg_regress to run in.
     runpath = os.path.join(test_output_dir, 'regress')
diff --git a/test_runner/batch_pg_regress/test_zenith_regress.py b/test_runner/batch_pg_regress/test_zenith_regress.py
index 6c13643544..cf77cc41e5 100644
--- a/test_runner/batch_pg_regress/test_zenith_regress.py
+++ b/test_runner/batch_pg_regress/test_zenith_regress.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import os
-import psycopg2
 
 from fixtures.utils import mkdir_if_needed
 
@@ -14,11 +13,7 @@ def test_zenith_regress(pageserver, postgres, pg_bin, zenith_cli, test_output_di
 
     # Connect to postgres and create a database called "regression".
     pg = postgres.create_start('test_zenith_regress')
-    pg_conn = psycopg2.connect(pg.connstr())
-    pg_conn.set_isolation_level(psycopg2.extensions.ISOLATION_LEVEL_AUTOCOMMIT)
-    cur = pg_conn.cursor()
-    cur.execute('CREATE DATABASE regression')
-    pg_conn.close()
+    pg.safe_psql('CREATE DATABASE regression')
 
     # Create some local directories for pg_regress to run in.
     runpath = os.path.join(test_output_dir, 'regress')
diff --git a/test_runner/fixtures/zenith_fixtures.py b/test_runner/fixtures/zenith_fixtures.py
index e118838096..aa1557752c 100644
--- a/test_runner/fixtures/zenith_fixtures.py
+++ b/test_runner/fixtures/zenith_fixtures.py
@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
 import getpass
 import os
-import signal
+import psycopg2
 import pytest
 import shutil
+import signal
 import subprocess
-import psycopg2
 
+from contextlib import closing
 from pathlib import Path
 
-from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, Iterator, List, Optional, TypeVar
+# Type-related stuff
+from psycopg2.extensions import connection as PgConnection
+from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, Iterator, List, Optional, TypeVar, cast
 from typing_extensions import Literal
 
 from .utils import (get_self_dir, mkdir_if_needed, subprocess_capture)
@@ -75,6 +78,48 @@ def safety_check() -> None:
         raise Exception('found interfering processes running')
 
 
+class PgProtocol:
+    """ Reusable connection logic """
+    def __init__(self, host: str, port: int, username: Optional[str] = None):
+        self.host = host
+        self.port = port
+        self.username = username or getpass.getuser()
+
+    def connstr(self, *, dbname: str = 'postgres', username: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
+        """
+        Build a libpq connection string for the Postgres instance.
+        """
+
+        username = username or self.username
+        return f'host={self.host} port={self.port} user={username} dbname={dbname}'
+
+    # autocommit=True here by default because that's what we need most of the time
+    def connect(self, *, autocommit=True, **kwargs: Any) -> PgConnection:
+        """
+        Connect to the node.
+        Returns psycopg2's connection object.
+        This method passes all extra params to connstr.
+        """
+
+        conn = psycopg2.connect(self.connstr(**kwargs))
+        # WARNING: this setting affects *all* tests!
+        conn.autocommit = autocommit
+        return conn
+
+    def safe_psql(self, query: str, **kwargs: Any) -> List[Any]:
+        """
+        Execute query against the node and return all rows.
+        This method passes all extra params to connstr.
+        """
+
+        with closing(self.connect(**kwargs)) as conn:
+            with conn.cursor() as cur:
+                cur.execute(query)
+                if cur.description is None:
+                    return []  # query didn't return data
+                return cast(List[Any], cur.fetchall())
+
+
 class ZenithCli:
     """
     An object representing the CLI binary named "zenith".
@@ -120,9 +165,11 @@ def zenith_cli(zenith_binpath: str, repo_dir: str, pg_distrib_dir: str) -> Zenit
     return ZenithCli(zenith_binpath, repo_dir, pg_distrib_dir)
 
 
-class ZenithPageserver:
+class ZenithPageserver(PgProtocol):
     """ An object representing a running pageserver. """
     def __init__(self, zenith_cli: ZenithCli):
+        super().__init__(host='localhost', port=DEFAULT_PAGESERVER_PORT)
+
         self.zenith_cli = zenith_cli
         self.running = False
 
@@ -157,16 +204,6 @@ class ZenithPageserver:
 
         return self
 
-    # The page server speaks the Postgres FE/BE protocol, so you can connect
-    # to it with any Postgres client, and run special commands. This function
-    # returns a libpq connection string for connecting to it.
-    def connstr(self) -> str:
-        username = getpass.getuser()
-        conn_str = 'host={} port={} dbname=postgres user={}'.format('localhost',
-                                                                    DEFAULT_PAGESERVER_PORT,
-                                                                    username)
-        return conn_str
-
 
 @zenfixture
 def pageserver(zenith_cli: ZenithCli) -> Iterator[ZenithPageserver]:
@@ -193,15 +230,14 @@ def pageserver(zenith_cli: ZenithCli) -> Iterator[ZenithPageserver]:
     ps.stop()
 
 
-class Postgres:
+class Postgres(PgProtocol):
     """ An object representing a running postgres daemon. """
     def __init__(self, zenith_cli: ZenithCli, repo_dir: str, instance_num: int):
+        super().__init__(host='localhost', port=55431 + instance_num)
+
         self.zenith_cli = zenith_cli
         self.instance_num = instance_num
         self.running = False
-        self.username = getpass.getuser()
-        self.host = 'localhost'
-        self.port = 55431 + instance_num  # TODO: find a better way
         self.repo_dir = repo_dir
         self.branch: Optional[str] = None  # dubious, see asserts below
         # path to conf is <repo_dir>/pgdatadirs/<branch_name>/postgresql.conf
@@ -242,18 +278,18 @@ class Postgres:
 
         return self
 
-    """ Path to postgresql.conf """
-
     def config_file_path(self) -> str:
-        filename = 'pgdatadirs/{}/postgresql.conf'.format(self.branch)
+        """ Path to postgresql.conf """
+        filename = f'pgdatadirs/{self.branch}/postgresql.conf'
         return os.path.join(self.repo_dir, filename)
 
-    """
-    Adjust instance config for working with wal acceptors instead of
-    pageserver (pre-configured by CLI) directly.
-    """
+    def adjust_for_wal_acceptors(self, wal_acceptors: str) -> 'Postgres':
+        """
+        Adjust instance config for working with wal acceptors instead of
+        pageserver (pre-configured by CLI) directly.
+        """
 
-    def adjust_for_wal_acceptors(self, wal_acceptors) -> 'Postgres':
+        # TODO: reuse config()
         with open(self.config_file_path(), "r") as f:
             cfg_lines = f.readlines()
         with open(self.config_file_path(), "w") as f:
@@ -319,33 +355,11 @@ class Postgres:
 
         return self
 
-    def connstr(self, dbname: str = 'postgres', username: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
-        """
-        Build a libpq connection string for the Postgres instance.
-        """
-
-        conn_str = 'host={} port={} dbname={} user={}'.format(self.host, self.port, dbname,
-                                                              (username or self.username))
-
-        return conn_str
-
-    def safe_psql(self, query, dbname='postgres', username=None):
-        """
-        Execute query against the node and return all (fetchall) results
-        """
-        with psycopg2.connect(self.connstr(dbname, username)) as conn:
-            with conn.cursor() as curs:
-                curs.execute(query)
-                if curs.description is None:
-                    return []  # query didn't return data
-                return curs.fetchall()
-
 
 class PostgresFactory:
     """ An object representing multiple running postgres daemons. """
     def __init__(self, zenith_cli: ZenithCli, repo_dir: str):
         self.zenith_cli = zenith_cli
-        self.host = 'localhost'
         self.repo_dir = repo_dir
         self.num_instances = 0
         self.instances: List[Postgres] = []
@@ -439,17 +453,13 @@ def pg_bin(test_output_dir: str, pg_distrib_dir: str) -> PgBin:
     return PgBin(test_output_dir, pg_distrib_dir)
 
 
-""" Read content of file into number """
-
-
 def read_pid(path):
+    """ Read content of file into number """
     return int(Path(path).read_text())
 
 
-""" An object representing a running wal acceptor daemon. """
-
-
 class WalAcceptor:
+    """ An object representing a running wal acceptor daemon. """
     def __init__(self, wa_binpath, data_dir, port, num):
         self.wa_binpath = wa_binpath
         self.data_dir = data_dir
@@ -504,11 +514,12 @@ class WalAcceptorFactory:
         self.data_dir = data_dir
         self.instances = []
         self.initial_port = 54321
+
+    def start_new(self) -> WalAcceptor:
         """
         Start new wal acceptor.
         """
 
-    def start_new(self) -> WalAcceptor:
         wa_num = len(self.instances)
         wa = WalAcceptor(self.wa_binpath,
                          os.path.join(self.data_dir, "wal_acceptor_{}".format(wa_num)),
@@ -517,11 +528,11 @@ class WalAcceptorFactory:
         self.instances.append(wa)
         return wa
 
-    """
-    Start n new wal acceptors
-    """
+    def start_n_new(self, n: int) -> None:
+        """
+        Start n new wal acceptors.
+        """
 
-    def start_n_new(self, n):
         for _ in range(n):
             self.start_new()
 
@@ -530,14 +541,13 @@ class WalAcceptorFactory:
             wa.stop()
         return self
 
-    """ Get list of wal acceptor endpoints suitable for wal_acceptors GUC  """
-
     def get_connstrs(self) -> str:
+        """ Get list of wal acceptor endpoints suitable for wal_acceptors GUC  """
         return ','.join(["127.0.0.1:{}".format(wa.port) for wa in self.instances])
 
 
 @zenfixture
-def wa_factory(zenith_binpath, repo_dir) -> Iterator[WalAcceptorFactory]:
+def wa_factory(zenith_binpath: str, repo_dir: str) -> Iterator[WalAcceptorFactory]:
     """ Gives WalAcceptorFactory providing wal acceptors. """
     wafactory = WalAcceptorFactory(zenith_binpath, os.path.join(repo_dir, "wal_acceptors"))
     yield wafactory