diff --git a/addressbook/inc/class.addressbook_bo.inc.php b/addressbook/inc/class.addressbook_bo.inc.php
index fa8ac40d8a..0c4ef6ede8 100755
--- a/addressbook/inc/class.addressbook_bo.inc.php
+++ b/addressbook/inc/class.addressbook_bo.inc.php
@@ -291,7 +291,8 @@ class addressbook_bo extends addressbook_so
 		}
 		if ($GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['org_fileds_to_update'])
 		{
-			$this->org_fields =  unserialize($GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['org_fileds_to_update']);
+			$this->org_fields =  $GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['org_fileds_to_update'];
+			if (!is_array($this->org_fields)) $this->org_fields = unserialize($this->org_fields);
 
 			// Set country code if country name is selected
 			$supported_fields = $this->get_fields('supported',null,0);
@@ -308,8 +309,7 @@ class addressbook_bo extends addressbook_so
 
 		$this->tracking = new addressbook_tracking($this);
 
-		$config = config::read('phpgwapi');
-		$this->delete_history = $config['history'];
+		$this->delete_history = $GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['history'];
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/addressbook/inc/class.addressbook_ui.inc.php b/addressbook/inc/class.addressbook_ui.inc.php
index 7e2054258b..3a9937e2aa 100644
--- a/addressbook/inc/class.addressbook_ui.inc.php
+++ b/addressbook/inc/class.addressbook_ui.inc.php
@@ -93,7 +93,8 @@ class addressbook_ui extends addressbook_bo
 		{
 			$this->config['contact_export_limit'] = $this->config['export_limit'];
 		}
-		if ($this->config['copy_fields'] && ($fields = unserialize($this->config['copy_fields'])))
+		if ($this->config['copy_fields'] && ($fields = is_array($this->config['copy_fields']) ?
+			$this->config['copy_fields'] : unserialize($this->config['copy_fields'])))
 		{
 			// Set country code if country name is selected
 			$supported_fields = $this->get_fields('supported',null,0);
diff --git a/etemplate/inc/class.bo_merge.inc.php b/etemplate/inc/class.bo_merge.inc.php
index eb6661b3de..433738972e 100644
--- a/etemplate/inc/class.bo_merge.inc.php
+++ b/etemplate/inc/class.bo_merge.inc.php
@@ -83,7 +83,6 @@ abstract class bo_merge
 	 */
 	public static function hook_export_limit_excepted($config)
 	{
-		error_log(__METHOD__.'('.array2string($config).')');
 		$accountsel = new uiaccountsel();
 
 		return $accountsel->selection('newsettings[export_limit_excepted]','export_limit_excepted',$config['export_limit_excepted'],'both',4);
@@ -295,6 +294,33 @@ abstract class bo_merge
 		return egw_time::to($time,$format);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Checks if current user is excepted from the export-limit:
+	 * a) access to admin application
+	 * b) he or one of his memberships is named in export_limit_excepted config var
+	 *
+	 * @return boolean
+	 */
+	public static function is_export_limit_excepted()
+	{
+		static $is_excepted;
+
+		if (is_null($is_excepted))
+		{
+			$is_excepted = isset($GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['apps']['admin']);
+
+			// check export-limit and fail if user tries to export more entries then allowed
+			if (!$is_excepted && (is_array($export_limit_excepted = $GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['export_limit_excepted']) ||
+				is_array($export_limit_excepted = unserialize($export_limit_excepted))))
+			{
+				$id_and_memberships = $GLOBALS['egw']->accounts->memberships($GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['account_id'],true);
+				$id_and_memberships[] = $GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['account_id'];
+				$is_excepted = (bool) array_intersect($id_and_memberships, $export_limit_excepted);
+			}
+		}
+		return $is_excepted;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Merges a given document with contact data
 	 *
@@ -313,10 +339,7 @@ abstract class bo_merge
 			return false;
 		}
 
-		// check export-limit and fail if user tries to export more entries then allowed
-		$limit_exception = count(@array_intersect(array($GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['account_id']) + $GLOBALS['egw']->accounts->memberships($GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['account_id'],true), unserialize($GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['export_limit_excepted']))) > 0;
-		if ($this->export_limit && !($GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['apps']['admin'] || $limit_exception) &&
-			count($ids) > (int)$this->export_limit)
+		if ($this->export_limit && !self::is_export_limit_excepted() && count($ids) > (int)$this->export_limit)
 		{
 			$err = lang('No rights to export more then %1 entries!',(int)$this->export_limit);
 			return false;
@@ -1182,14 +1205,12 @@ abstract class bo_merge
 				}
 			}
 		}
-		$limit_exception = count(@array_intersect(array($GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['account_id']) + $GLOBALS['egw']->accounts->memberships($GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['account_id'],true), unserialize($GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['export_limit_excepted']))) > 0;
 		return array(
 			'icon' => 'etemplate/merge',
 			'caption' => $caption,
 			'children' => $documents,
 			// disable action if no document or export completly forbidden for non-admins
-			'enabled' => (boolean)$documents && (empty($export_limit) ||
-				(int)$export_limit > 0 || $GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['apps']['admin'] || $limit_exception),
+			'enabled' => (boolean)$documents && (empty($export_limit) || (int)$export_limit > 0 || self::is_export_limit_excepted()),
 			'hideOnDisabled' => true,	// do not show 'Insert in document', if no documents defined or no export allowed
 			'group' => $group,
 		);
diff --git a/etemplate/inc/class.nextmatch_widget.inc.php b/etemplate/inc/class.nextmatch_widget.inc.php
index 6cafc5c8b3..86d004f2e8 100644
--- a/etemplate/inc/class.nextmatch_widget.inc.php
+++ b/etemplate/inc/class.nextmatch_widget.inc.php
@@ -276,10 +276,9 @@ class nextmatch_widget
 		unset($value['rows']);
 		$extension_data += $value;
 
-		$limit_exception = count(@array_intersect(array($GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['account_id']) + $GLOBALS['egw']->accounts->memberships($GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['account_id'],true), unserialize($GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['export_limit_excepted']))) > 0;
 		$value['no_csv_export'] = $value['csv_fields'] === false ||
 			$GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['export_limit'] && !is_numeric($GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['export_limit']) &&
-			!(isset($GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['apps']['admin']) || $limit_exception);
+			!bo_merge::is_export_limit_excepted();
 
 		if (!$value['filter_onchange']) $value['filter_onchange'] = 'this.form.submit();';
 		if (!$value['filter2_onchange']) $value['filter2_onchange'] = 'this.form.submit();';
@@ -1448,8 +1447,7 @@ class nextmatch_widget
 	 */
 	static public function csv_export(&$value,$separator=';')
 	{
-		$limit_exception = count(array_intersect(array($GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['account_id']) + $GLOBALS['egw']->accounts->memberships($GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['account_id'],true), unserialize($GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['export_limit_excepted']))) > 0;
-		if (!(isset($GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['apps']['admin']) || $limit_exception))
+		if (!bo_merge::is_export_limit_excepted())
 		{
 			$export_limit = $GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['export_limit'];
 			//if (isset($value['export_limit'])) $export_limit = $value['export_limit'];
diff --git a/phpgwapi/inc/class.config.inc.php b/phpgwapi/inc/class.config.inc.php
index 8aef674be5..a423108522 100755
--- a/phpgwapi/inc/class.config.inc.php
+++ b/phpgwapi/inc/class.config.inc.php
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class config
 	 *
 	 * @var array
 	 */
-	static private $configs = array();
+	static private $configs;
 
 	/**
 	 * app the particular config class is instanciated for
@@ -82,16 +82,12 @@ class config
 	 */
 	function save_repository()
 	{
-		if (!is_object(self::$db))
-		{
-			self::init_db();
-		}
 		if (is_array($this->config_data))
 		{
 			self::$db->lock(array(config::TABLE));
 			foreach($this->config_data as $name => $value)
 			{
-				$this->save_value($name,$value);
+				$this->save_value($name,$value,null,false);
 			}
 			foreach(self::$configs[$this->appname] as $name => $value)
 			{
@@ -107,6 +103,8 @@ class config
 				$GLOBALS['egw']->invalidate_session_cache();	// in case egw_info is cached in the session (phpgwapi is in egw_info[server])
 			}
 			self::$configs[$this->appname] = $this->config_data;
+
+			egw_cache::setInstance(__CLASS__, 'configs', self::$configs);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -119,7 +117,7 @@ class config
 	 * @param mixed $value content, empty or null values are not saved, but deleted
 	 * @param string $app=null app-name, defaults to $this->appname set via the constructor
 	 */
-	/* static */ function save_value($name,$value,$app=null)
+	/* static */ function save_value($name,$value,$app=null,$update_cache=true)
 	{
 		if (!$app && (!isset($this) || !is_a($this,__CLASS__)))
 		{
@@ -131,6 +129,10 @@ class config
 			$app = $this->appname;
 			$this->config_data[$name] = $value;
 		}
+		if (!isset(self::$configs))
+		{
+			self::init_static();
+		}
 		//echo "<p>config::save_value('$name','".print_r($value,True)."','$app')</p>\n";
 		if (isset(self::$configs[$app][$name]) && self::$configs[$app][$name] === $value)
 		{
@@ -145,16 +147,18 @@ class config
 		{
 			$value = serialize($value);
 		}
-		if (!is_object(self::$db))
-		{
-			self::init_db();
-		}
 		if (!isset($value) || $value === '')
 		{
 			if (isset(self::$configs[$app])) unset(self::$configs[$app][$name]);
-			return self::$db->delete(config::TABLE,array('config_app'=>$app,'config_name'=>$name),__LINE__,__FILE__);
+			$ok = self::$db->delete(config::TABLE,array('config_app'=>$app,'config_name'=>$name),__LINE__,__FILE__);
 		}
-		return self::$db->insert(config::TABLE,array('config_value'=>$value),array('config_app'=>$app,'config_name'=>$name),__LINE__,__FILE__);
+		else
+		{
+			$ok = self::$db->insert(config::TABLE,array('config_value'=>$value),array('config_app'=>$app,'config_name'=>$name),__LINE__,__FILE__);
+		}
+		if ($update_cache) egw_cache::setInstance(__CLASS__, 'configs', self::$configs);
+
+		return $ok;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -163,13 +167,14 @@ class config
 	 */
 	function delete_repository()
 	{
-		if (!is_object(self::$db))
+		if (!isset(self::$configs))
 		{
-			self::init_db();
+			self::init_static();
 		}
 		self::$db->delete(config::TABLE,array('config_app' => $this->appname),__LINE__,__FILE__);
 
 		unset(self::$configs[$this->appname]);
+		egw_cache::setInstance(__CLASS__, 'configs', self::$configs);
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -203,31 +208,11 @@ class config
 	 */
 	static function read($app)
 	{
-		$config =& self::$configs[$app];
-
-		if (!isset($config))
+		if (!isset(self::$configs))
 		{
-			if (!is_object(self::$db))
-			{
-				self::init_db();
-			}
-			$config = array();
-			foreach(self::$db->select(config::TABLE,'*',array('config_app' => $app),__LINE__,__FILE__) as $row)
-			{
-				$name = $row['config_name'];
-				$value = $row['config_value'];
-
-				$test = @unserialize($value);
-				if($test === false)
-				{
-					// manually retrieve the string lengths of the serialized array if unserialize failed
-					$test = @unserialize(preg_replace('!s:(\d+):"(.*?)";!se', "'s:'.mb_strlen('$2','8bit').':\"$2\";'", $value));
-				}
- 
-				$config[$name] = is_array($test) ? $test : $value;
-			}
+			self::init_static();
 		}
-		return $config;
+		return self::$configs[$app];
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -300,7 +285,7 @@ class config
 	 * We use a reference here (no clone), as we no longer use egw_db::row() or egw_db::next_record()!
 	 *
 	 */
-	private static function init_db()
+	private static function init_static()
 	{
 		if (is_object($GLOBALS['egw']->db))
 		{
@@ -310,5 +295,24 @@ class config
 		{
 			config::$db = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db;
 		}
+		if (!(self::$configs = egw_cache::getInstance(__CLASS__, 'configs')))
+		{
+			self::$configs = array();
+			foreach(self::$db->select(config::TABLE,'*',false,__LINE__,__FILE__) as $row)
+			{
+				$app = $row['config_app'];
+				$name = $row['config_name'];
+				$value = $row['config_value'];
+
+				$test = @unserialize($value);
+				if($test === false)
+				{
+					// manually retrieve the string lengths of the serialized array if unserialize failed
+					$test = @unserialize(preg_replace('!s:(\d+):"(.*?)";!se', "'s:'.mb_strlen('$2','8bit').':\"$2\";'", $value));
+				}
+				self::$configs[$app][$name] = is_array($test) ? $test : $value;
+			}
+			egw_cache::setInstance(__CLASS__, 'configs', self::$configs);
+		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw.inc.php b/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw.inc.php
index c51a4d6d75..1373db40bb 100644
--- a/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw.inc.php
+++ b/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw.inc.php
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class egw extends egw_minimal
 			exit;
 		}
 		// Set the DB's client charset if a system-charset is set
-		$system_charset = $this->db->select(config::TABLE,'config_value',array(
+		$system_charset = $GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['system_charset'] = $this->db->select(config::TABLE,'config_value',array(
 			'config_app'  => 'phpgwapi',
 			'config_name' => 'system_charset',
 		),__LINE__,__FILE__)->fetchColumn();
@@ -127,11 +127,7 @@ class egw extends egw_minimal
 			$this->db->Link_ID->SetCharSet($system_charset);
 		}
 		// load up the $GLOBALS['egw_info']['server'] array
-		foreach($this->db->select(config::TABLE,'*',array('config_app'  => 'phpgwapi'),__LINE__,__FILE__) as $row)
-		{
-			$GLOBALS['egw_info']['server'][$row['config_name']] = $row['config_value'];
-		}
-		//$GLOBALS['egw_info']['server'] = config::read('phpgwapi'); would unserialize arrays
+		$GLOBALS['egw_info']['server'] += config::read('phpgwapi');
 
 		// if no server timezone set, use date_default_timezone_get() to determine it once
 		// it fills to log with deprecated warnings under 5.3 otherwise
diff --git a/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_cache.inc.php b/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_cache.inc.php
index 699a26011c..b23ad11c3c 100644
--- a/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_cache.inc.php
+++ b/phpgwapi/inc/class.egw_cache.inc.php
@@ -456,9 +456,11 @@ class egw_cache
 	{
 		if(!isset($GLOBALS['egw_info']['server'][$name]))
 		{
-			if (isset($GLOBALS['egw_setup']) && isset($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db))
+			if (isset($GLOBALS['egw_setup']) && isset($GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db) || $GLOBALS['egw']->db)
 			{
-				$GLOBALS['egw_info']['server'][$name] = $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db->select(config::TABLE,'config_value',array(
+				$db = $GLOBALS['egw']->db ? $GLOBALS['egw']->db : $GLOBALS['egw_setup']->db;
+
+				$GLOBALS['egw_info']['server'][$name] = $db->select(config::TABLE,'config_value',array(
 					'config_app'	=> 'phpgwapi',
 					'config_name'	=> $name,
 				),__LINE__,__FILE__)->fetchColumn();
diff --git a/phpgwapi/inc/class.vfs_stream_wrapper.inc.php b/phpgwapi/inc/class.vfs_stream_wrapper.inc.php
index 9dc6327281..742f9631ab 100644
--- a/phpgwapi/inc/class.vfs_stream_wrapper.inc.php
+++ b/phpgwapi/inc/class.vfs_stream_wrapper.inc.php
@@ -1212,8 +1212,8 @@ class vfs_stream_wrapper implements iface_stream_wrapper
 	{
 		stream_register_wrapper(self::SCHEME,__CLASS__);
 
-		if ($GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['vfs_fstab'] &&
-			is_array($fstab = unserialize($GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['vfs_fstab'])) && count($fstab))
+		if (($fstab = $GLOBALS['egw_info']['server']['vfs_fstab']) &&
+			(is_array($fstab) || is_array($fstab = unserialize($fstab))) && count($fstab))
 		{
 			self::$fstab = $fstab;
 		}