diff --git a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_common_test_helpers.erl b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_common_test_helpers.erl
index dc3a0fac7..498af53e6 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_common_test_helpers.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_common_test_helpers.erl
@@ -654,10 +654,13 @@ ensure_quic_listener(Name, UdpPort, ExtraSettings) ->
     %% Extras app starting handler. It is the second arg passed to emqx_common_test_helpers:start_apps/2
     env_handler => fun((AppName :: atom()) -> term()),
     %% Application env preset before calling `emqx_common_test_helpers:start_apps/2`
-    env => {AppName :: atom(), Key :: atom(), Val :: term()},
+    env => [{AppName :: atom(), Key :: atom(), Val :: term()}],
     %% Whether to execute `emqx_config:init_load(SchemaMod)`
     %% default: true
     load_schema => boolean(),
+    %% Which node in the cluster to join to.
+    %% default: first core node
+    join_to => node(),
     %% If we want to exercise the scenario where a node joins an
     %% existing cluster where there has already been some
     %% configuration changes (via cluster rpc), then we need to enable
@@ -692,28 +695,38 @@ emqx_cluster(Specs0, CommonOpts) ->
     ]),
     %% Set the default node of the cluster:
     CoreNodes = [node_name(Name) || {{core, Name, _}, _} <- Specs],
-    JoinTo0 =
+    JoinTo =
         case CoreNodes of
             [First | _] -> First;
             _ -> undefined
         end,
-    JoinTo =
-        case maps:find(join_to, CommonOpts) of
-            {ok, true} -> JoinTo0;
-            {ok, JT} -> JT;
-            error -> JoinTo0
-        end,
-    [
-        {Name,
-            merge_opts(Opts, #{
-                base_port => base_port(Number),
+    NodeOpts = fun(Number) ->
+        #{
+            base_port => base_port(Number),
+            env => [
+                {mria, core_nodes, CoreNodes},
+                {gen_rpc, client_config_per_node, {internal, GenRpcPorts}}
+            ]
+        }
+    end,
+    RoleOpts = fun
+        (core) ->
+            #{
                 join_to => JoinTo,
                 env => [
-                    {mria, core_nodes, CoreNodes},
-                    {mria, node_role, Role},
-                    {gen_rpc, client_config_per_node, {internal, GenRpcPorts}}
+                    {mria, node_role, core}
                 ]
-            })}
+            };
+        (replicant) ->
+            #{
+                env => [
+                    {mria, node_role, replicant},
+                    {ekka, cluster_discovery, {static, [{seeds, CoreNodes}]}}
+                ]
+            }
+    end,
+    [
+        {Name, merge_opts(merge_opts(NodeOpts(Number), RoleOpts(Role)), Opts)}
      || {{Role, Name, Opts}, Number} <- Specs
     ].
 
diff --git a/apps/emqx_bridge/test/emqx_bridge_api_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_bridge/test/emqx_bridge_api_SUITE.erl
index 1348e411c..25452eb77 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_bridge/test/emqx_bridge_api_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_bridge/test/emqx_bridge_api_SUITE.erl
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ mk_cluster_specs(Config, Opts) ->
         {core, emqx_bridge_api_SUITE1, #{}},
         {core, emqx_bridge_api_SUITE2, #{}}
     ],
-    CommonOpts = #{
+    CommonOpts = Opts#{
         env => [{emqx, boot_modules, [broker]}],
         apps => [],
         % NOTE
@@ -157,7 +157,6 @@ mk_cluster_specs(Config, Opts) ->
         load_apps => ?SUITE_APPS ++ [emqx_dashboard],
         env_handler => fun load_suite_config/1,
         load_schema => false,
-        join_to => maps:get(join_to, Opts, true),
         priv_data_dir => ?config(priv_dir, Config)
     },
     emqx_common_test_helpers:emqx_cluster(Specs, CommonOpts).
diff --git a/apps/emqx_conf/test/emqx_conf_app_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_conf/test/emqx_conf_app_SUITE.erl
index 2a9888451..34bf5c702 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_conf/test/emqx_conf_app_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_conf/test/emqx_conf_app_SUITE.erl
@@ -247,7 +247,6 @@ cluster(Specs, Config) ->
         {env, Env},
         {apps, [emqx_conf]},
         {load_schema, false},
-        {join_to, true},
         {priv_data_dir, PrivDataDir},
         {env_handler, fun
             (emqx) ->
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_assembler.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_assembler.erl
index c96df224c..0d9e86a49 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_assembler.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_assembler.erl
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ handle_event(
         complete ->
             {next_state, start_assembling, NSt, ?internal([])};
         {incomplete, _} ->
-            Nodes = mria_mnesia:running_nodes() -- [node()],
+            Nodes = emqx:running_nodes() -- [node()],
             {next_state, {list_remote_fragments, Nodes}, NSt, ?internal([])};
         % TODO: recovery?
         {error, _} = Error ->
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_exporter_fs.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_exporter_fs.erl
index 589949bda..e37ba25af 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_exporter_fs.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/src/emqx_ft_storage_exporter_fs.erl
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ list(_Options, Query) ->
     end.
 
 list(QueryIn) ->
-    {Nodes, NodeQuery} = decode_query(QueryIn, lists:sort(mria_mnesia:running_nodes())),
+    {Nodes, NodeQuery} = decode_query(QueryIn, lists:sort(emqx:running_nodes())),
     list_nodes(NodeQuery, Nodes, #{items => []}).
 
 list_nodes(Query, Nodes = [Node | Rest], Acc) ->
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_api_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_api_SUITE.erl
index 18a8e9841..d2d65750f 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_api_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_api_SUITE.erl
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 
 -import(emqx_dashboard_api_test_helpers, [host/0, uri/1]).
 
+-define(SUITE_APPS, [emqx_conf, emqx_ft]).
+
 all() ->
     [
         {group, single},
@@ -49,10 +51,9 @@ end_per_suite(_Config) ->
 init_per_group(Group = cluster, Config) ->
     Cluster = mk_cluster_specs(Config),
     ct:pal("Starting ~p", [Cluster]),
-    Nodes = [
-        emqx_common_test_helpers:start_slave(Name, Opts#{join_to => node()})
-     || {Name, Opts} <- Cluster
-    ],
+    Nodes = [emqx_common_test_helpers:start_slave(Name, Opts) || {Name, Opts} <- Cluster],
+    InitResult = erpc:multicall(Nodes, fun() -> init_node(Config) end),
+    [] = [{Node, Error} || {Node, {R, Error}} <- lists:zip(Nodes, InitResult), R /= ok],
     [{group, Group}, {cluster_nodes, Nodes} | Config];
 init_per_group(Group, Config) ->
     [{group, Group} | Config].
@@ -65,22 +66,29 @@ end_per_group(cluster, Config) ->
 end_per_group(_Group, _Config) ->
     ok.
 
-mk_cluster_specs(Config) ->
+mk_cluster_specs(_Config) ->
     Specs = [
         {core, emqx_ft_api_SUITE1, #{listener_ports => [{tcp, 2883}]}},
-        {core, emqx_ft_api_SUITE2, #{listener_ports => [{tcp, 3883}]}}
-    ],
-    CommOpts = [
-        {env, [{emqx, boot_modules, [broker, listeners]}]},
-        {apps, [emqx_ft]},
-        {conf, [{[listeners, Proto, default, enabled], false} || Proto <- [ssl, ws, wss]]},
-        {env_handler, emqx_ft_test_helpers:env_handler(Config)}
+        {core, emqx_ft_api_SUITE2, #{listener_ports => [{tcp, 3883}]}},
+        {replicant, emqx_ft_api_SUITE3, #{listener_ports => [{tcp, 4883}]}}
     ],
+    CommOpts = #{
+        env => [
+            {mria, db_backend, rlog},
+            {emqx, boot_modules, [broker, listeners]}
+        ],
+        apps => [],
+        load_apps => ?SUITE_APPS,
+        conf => [{[listeners, Proto, default, enabled], false} || Proto <- [ssl, ws, wss]]
+    },
     emqx_common_test_helpers:emqx_cluster(
         Specs,
         CommOpts
     ).
 
+init_node(Config) ->
+    ok = emqx_common_test_helpers:start_apps(?SUITE_APPS, emqx_ft_test_helpers:env_handler(Config)).
+
 init_per_testcase(Case, Config) ->
     [{tc, Case} | Config].
 end_per_testcase(t_ft_disabled, _Config) ->
@@ -96,7 +104,7 @@ t_list_files(Config) ->
     ClientId = client_id(Config),
     FileId = <<"f1">>,
 
-    Node = lists:last(cluster(Config)),
+    Node = lists:last(test_nodes(Config)),
     ok = emqx_ft_test_helpers:upload_file(ClientId, FileId, "f1", <<"data">>, Node),
 
     {ok, 200, #{<<"files">> := Files}} =
@@ -124,7 +132,7 @@ t_download_transfer(Config) ->
     ClientId = client_id(Config),
     FileId = <<"f1">>,
 
-    Node = lists:last(cluster(Config)),
+    Node = lists:last(test_nodes(Config)),
     ok = emqx_ft_test_helpers:upload_file(ClientId, FileId, "f1", <<"data">>, Node),
 
     ?assertMatch(
@@ -184,7 +192,7 @@ t_download_transfer(Config) ->
 t_list_files_paging(Config) ->
     ClientId = client_id(Config),
     NFiles = 20,
-    Nodes = cluster(Config),
+    Nodes = test_nodes(Config),
     Uploads = [
         {mk_file_id("file:", N), mk_file_name(N), pick(N, Nodes)}
      || N <- lists:seq(1, NFiles)
@@ -280,8 +288,13 @@ t_ft_disabled(_Config) ->
 %% Helpers
 %%--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-cluster(Config) ->
-    [node() | proplists:get_value(cluster_nodes, Config, [])].
+test_nodes(Config) ->
+    case proplists:get_value(cluster_nodes, Config, []) of
+        [] ->
+            [node()];
+        Nodes ->
+            Nodes
+    end.
 
 client_id(Config) ->
     iolist_to_binary(io_lib:format("~s.~s", [?config(group, Config), ?config(tc, Config)])).
diff --git a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_test_helpers.erl b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_test_helpers.erl
index a041dcd50..1b952bdd7 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_test_helpers.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_ft/test/emqx_ft_test_helpers.erl
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ start_additional_node(Config, Name) ->
     ).
 
 stop_additional_node(Node) ->
-    ok = rpc:call(Node, ekka, leave, []),
+    _ = rpc:call(Node, ekka, leave, []),
     ok = rpc:call(Node, emqx_common_test_helpers, stop_apps, [[emqx_ft]]),
     ok = emqx_common_test_helpers:stop_slave(Node),
     ok.
diff --git a/apps/emqx_management/test/emqx_mgmt_api_listeners_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_management/test/emqx_mgmt_api_listeners_SUITE.erl
index c47cea07e..e86a76e1c 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_management/test/emqx_mgmt_api_listeners_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_management/test/emqx_mgmt_api_listeners_SUITE.erl
@@ -295,7 +295,6 @@ cluster(Specs) ->
         {env, Env},
         {apps, [emqx_conf]},
         {load_schema, false},
-        {join_to, true},
         {env_handler, fun
             (emqx) ->
                 application:set_env(emqx, boot_modules, []),
diff --git a/apps/emqx_management/test/emqx_mgmt_api_nodes_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_management/test/emqx_mgmt_api_nodes_SUITE.erl
index efabe32c8..2fc51737a 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_management/test/emqx_mgmt_api_nodes_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_management/test/emqx_mgmt_api_nodes_SUITE.erl
@@ -159,7 +159,6 @@ cluster(Specs) ->
         {env, Env},
         {apps, [emqx_conf, emqx_management]},
         {load_schema, false},
-        {join_to, true},
         {env_handler, fun
             (emqx) ->
                 application:set_env(emqx, boot_modules, []),
diff --git a/apps/emqx_management/test/emqx_mgmt_data_backup_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_management/test/emqx_mgmt_data_backup_SUITE.erl
index 9df6d2138..0325ab030 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_management/test/emqx_mgmt_data_backup_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_management/test/emqx_mgmt_data_backup_SUITE.erl
@@ -444,7 +444,6 @@ cluster(Config) ->
                 env => [{mria, db_backend, rlog}],
                 load_schema => true,
                 start_autocluster => true,
-                join_to => true,
                 listener_ports => [],
                 conf => [{[dashboard, listeners, http, bind], 0}],
                 env_handler =>