Index: src/test/org/apache/james/test/util/Util.java
===================================================================
--- src/test/org/apache/james/test/util/Util.java	(revision 392927)
+++ src/test/org/apache/james/test/util/Util.java	(working copy)
@@ -20,12 +20,41 @@
 import org.apache.avalon.framework.configuration.DefaultConfiguration;
 import org.apache.james.smtpserver.*;
 
+/**
+ * some utilities for James unit testing
+ */
 public class Util {
 
-    public static int getRandomNonPrivilegedPort() {
-        return ((int)( Math.random() * 3000) + 8000);
+    private static final int PORT_RANGE_START =  8000; // the lowest possible port number assigned for testing
+    private static final int PORT_RANGE_END   = 11000; // the highest possible port number assigned for testing
+    private static int PORT_LAST_USED = PORT_RANGE_START;
+
+    /**
+     * assigns a port from the range of test ports
+     * @return port number
+     */
+    public static int getNonPrivilegedPort() {
+        return getNextNonPrivilegedPort(); // uses sequential assignment of ports
     }
 
+    /**
+     * assigns a random port from the range of test ports
+     * @return port number
+     */
+    protected static int getRandomNonPrivilegedPortInt() {
+        return ((int)( Math.random() * (PORT_RANGE_END - PORT_RANGE_START) + PORT_RANGE_START));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * assigns ports sequentially from the range of test ports
+     * @return port number
+     */
+    protected synchronized static int getNextNonPrivilegedPort() {
+        PORT_LAST_USED++;
+        if (PORT_LAST_USED > PORT_RANGE_END) PORT_LAST_USED = PORT_RANGE_START;
+        return PORT_LAST_USED;
+    }
+
     public static Configuration getValuedConfiguration(String name, String value) {
         DefaultConfiguration defaultConfiguration = new DefaultConfiguration(name);
         defaultConfiguration.setValue(value);
Index: src/test/org/apache/james/remotemanager/RemoteManagerTest.java
===================================================================
--- src/test/org/apache/james/remotemanager/RemoteManagerTest.java	(revision 392927)
+++ src/test/org/apache/james/remotemanager/RemoteManagerTest.java	(working copy)
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
     
     public static final String LINE_SEPARATOR = System.getProperties().getProperty("line.separator"); 
 
-    protected int m_remoteManagerListenerPort = Util.getRandomNonPrivilegedPort();
+    protected int m_remoteManagerListenerPort = Util.getNonPrivilegedPort();
     protected RemoteManager m_remoteManager;
     protected RemoteManagerTestConfiguration m_testConfiguration;
     protected String m_host = "127.0.0.1";
Index: src/test/org/apache/james/pop3server/POP3ServerTest.java
===================================================================
--- src/test/org/apache/james/pop3server/POP3ServerTest.java	(revision 392927)
+++ src/test/org/apache/james/pop3server/POP3ServerTest.java	(working copy)
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
  * Tests the org.apache.james.smtpserver.SMTPServer unit
  */
 public class POP3ServerTest extends TestCase {
-    private int m_pop3ListenerPort = Util.getRandomNonPrivilegedPort();
+    private int m_pop3ListenerPort = Util.getNonPrivilegedPort();
 
     private MockMailServer m_mailServer;
 
Index: src/test/org/apache/james/smtpserver/SMTPServerTest.java
===================================================================
--- src/test/org/apache/james/smtpserver/SMTPServerTest.java	(revision 392927)
+++ src/test/org/apache/james/smtpserver/SMTPServerTest.java	(working copy)
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
  * Tests the org.apache.james.smtpserver.SMTPServer unit 
  */
 public class SMTPServerTest extends TestCase {
-    private int m_smtpListenerPort = Util.getRandomNonPrivilegedPort();
+    private int m_smtpListenerPort = Util.getNonPrivilegedPort();
     private MockMailServer m_mailServer;
     private SMTPTestConfiguration m_testConfiguration;
     private SMTPServer m_smtpServer;