diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/hive/conf/hive-default.xml b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/hive/conf/hive-default.xml
index a4ee677..49cdedf 100644
--- a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/hive/conf/hive-default.xml
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/hive/conf/hive-default.xml
@@ -1,22 +1,66 @@
 <?xml version="1.0"?>
-<!--
- ! Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California
- ! Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- ! you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- ! you may obtain a copy of the License from
- ! 
- !     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- ! 
- ! Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- ! distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- ! WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- ! See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- ! limitations under the License.
- !-->
+<!-- ! Copyright 2009-2013 by The Regents of the University of California 
+	! Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); ! you may 
+	not use this file except in compliance with the License. ! you may obtain 
+	a copy of the License from ! ! http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 
+	! ! Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software ! 
+	distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, ! WITHOUT 
+	WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. ! See the 
+	License for the specific language governing permissions and ! limitations 
+	under the License. ! -->
 <?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="configuration.xsl"?>
 
 <configuration>
 
+	<!-- Hivesterix Execution Parameters -->
+	<property>
+		<name>hive.hyracks.connectorpolicy</name>
+		<value>PIPELINING</value>
+	</property>
+
+	<property>
+		<name>hive.hyracks.parrallelism</name>
+		<value>4</value>
+	</property>
+
+	<property>
+		<name>hive.algebricks.groupby.external</name>
+		<value>true</value>
+	</property>
+
+	<property>
+		<name>hive.algebricks.groupby.external.memory</name>
+		<value>3072</value>
+	</property>
+
+	<property>
+		<name>hive.algebricks.sort.memory</name>
+		<value>3072</value>
+	</property>
+
+	<property>
+		<name>hive.algebricks.framesize</name>
+		<value>768</value>
+	</property>
+
+	<property>
+		<name>hive.auto.convert.join</name>
+		<value>false</value>
+	</property>
+
+	<property>
+		<name>hive.auto.convert.join.noconditionaltask</name>
+		<value>false</value>
+		<description>Whether Hive enable the optimization about converting
+			common join into mapjoin based on the input file
+			size. If this paramater is on, and the sum of size for n-1 of the
+			tables/partitions for a n-way join is smaller than the
+			specified size, the join is directly converted to a mapjoin (there is no
+			conditional task).
+		</description>
+	</property>
+
+
 	<!-- Hive Configuration can either be stored in this file or in the hadoop 
 		configuration files -->
 	<!-- that are implied by Hadoop setup variables. -->
@@ -42,52 +86,6 @@
 	</property>
 
 	<property>
-		<name>hive.hyracks.connectorpolicy</name>
-		<value>SEND_SIDE_MAT_PIPELINING</value>
-	</property>
-
-	<property>
-		<name>hive.hyracks.host</name>
-		<value>127.0.0.1</value>
-	</property>
-
-	<property>
-		<name>hive.hyracks.port</name>
-		<value>13099</value>
-	</property>
-
-	<property>
-		<name>hive.hyracks.app</name>
-		<value>hivesterix</value>
-	</property>
-
-
-	<property>
-		<name>hive.hyracks.parrallelism</name>
-		<value>2</value>
-	</property>
-
-	<property>
-		<name>hive.algebricks.groupby.external</name>
-		<value>true</value>
-	</property>
-
-	<property>
-		<name>hive.algebricks.groupby.external.memory</name>
-		<value>3072</value>
-	</property>
-
-	<property>
-		<name>hive.algebricks.sort.memory</name>
-		<value>3072</value>
-	</property>
-
-	<property>
-		<name>hive.algebricks.framesize</name>
-		<value>768</value>
-	</property>
-
-	<property>
 		<name>hive.exec.reducers.bytes.per.reducer</name>
 		<value>1000000000</value>
 		<description>size per reducer.The default is 1G, i.e if the input size
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/logging.properties b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/logging.properties
index a7d8d9c..f886a44 100644
--- a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/logging.properties
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/logging.properties
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 # Note that the ConsoleHandler also has a separate level
 # setting to limit messages printed to the console.
 
-.level= WARNING
+.level= INFO
 # .level= INFO
 # .level= FINE
 # .level = FINEST
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q10_returned_item.hive b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q10_returned_item.hive
index 3f1214a..bb07665 100644
--- a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q10_returned_item.hive
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q10_returned_item.hive
@@ -13,9 +13,6 @@
 -- create the result table
 create table q10_returned_item (c_custkey int, c_name string, revenue double, c_acctbal string, n_name string, c_address string, c_phone string, c_comment string);
 
-set mapred.min.split.size=536870912;
-set hive.exec.reducers.bytes.per.reducer=1024000000;
-
 -- the query
 insert overwrite table q10_returned_item
 select 
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q12_shipping.hive b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q12_shipping.hive
index 062f7b9..8546365 100644
--- a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q12_shipping.hive
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q12_shipping.hive
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@
 -- create the result table
 create table q12_shipping(l_shipmode string, high_line_count double, low_line_count double);
 
-set mapred.min.split.size=536870912;
-set hive.exec.reducers.bytes.per.reducer=1225000000;
-
 -- the query
 insert overwrite table q12_shipping
 select 
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q14_promotion_effect.hive b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q14_promotion_effect.hive
index 988f400..4644d23 100644
--- a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q14_promotion_effect.hive
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q14_promotion_effect.hive
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@
 -- create the result table
 create table q14_promotion_effect(promo_revenue double);
 
-set mapred.min.split.size=536870912;
-set hive.exec.reducers.bytes.per.reducer=1040000000;
-
 -- the query
 insert overwrite table q14_promotion_effect
 select 
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q15_top_supplier.hive b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q15_top_supplier.hive
index 04064ed..8fa333e 100644
--- a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q15_top_supplier.hive
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q15_top_supplier.hive
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 create table q15_top_supplier(s_suppkey int, s_name string, s_address string, s_phone string, total_revenue double);
 
 
-set mapred.min.split.size=536870912;
-
 -- the query
 insert overwrite table revenue
 select 
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q18_large_volume_customer.hive b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q18_large_volume_customer.hive
index ac2902c..d1eaacc 100644
--- a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q18_large_volume_customer.hive
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q18_large_volume_customer.hive
@@ -13,9 +13,6 @@
 create table q18_tmp(l_orderkey int, t_sum_quantity double);
 create table q18_large_volume_customer(c_name string, c_custkey int, o_orderkey int, o_orderdate string, o_totalprice double, sum_quantity double);
 
-set mapred.min.split.size=268435456;
-set hive.exec.reducers.bytes.per.reducer=1164000000;
-
 -- the query
 insert overwrite table q18_tmp
 select 
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q19_discounted_revenue.hive b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q19_discounted_revenue.hive
index 2002e1e..6badfcf 100644
--- a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q19_discounted_revenue.hive
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q19_discounted_revenue.hive
@@ -9,9 +9,6 @@
 -- create the result table
 create table q19_discounted_revenue(revenue double);
 
-set mapred.min.split.size=268435456;
-set hive.exec.reducers.bytes.per.reducer=1040000000;
-
 -- the query
 insert overwrite table q19_discounted_revenue
 select
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q1_pricing_summary_report.hive b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q1_pricing_summary_report.hive
index a002068..af64a4f 100644
--- a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q1_pricing_summary_report.hive
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q1_pricing_summary_report.hive
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@
 -- create the target table
 CREATE TABLE q1_pricing_summary_report ( L_RETURNFLAG STRING, L_LINESTATUS STRING, SUM_QTY DOUBLE, SUM_BASE_PRICE DOUBLE, SUM_DISC_PRICE DOUBLE, SUM_CHARGE DOUBLE, AVE_QTY DOUBLE, AVE_PRICE DOUBLE, AVE_DISC DOUBLE, COUNT_ORDER INT);
 
-set mapred.min.split.size=536870912;
-
 -- the query
 INSERT OVERWRITE TABLE q1_pricing_summary_report 
 SELECT 
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q20_potential_part_promotion.hive b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q20_potential_part_promotion.hive
index 2bb90ea..32181bf 100644
--- a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q20_potential_part_promotion.hive
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q20_potential_part_promotion.hive
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@
 create table q20_tmp4(ps_suppkey int);
 create table q20_potential_part_promotion(s_name string, s_address string);
 
-set mapred.min.split.size=536870912;
-
 -- the query
 insert overwrite table q20_tmp1
 select distinct p_partkey
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q3_shipping_priority.hive b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q3_shipping_priority.hive
index 0049eb3..67f6dc4 100644
--- a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q3_shipping_priority.hive
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q3_shipping_priority.hive
@@ -11,9 +11,6 @@
 -- create the target table
 create table q3_shipping_priority (l_orderkey int, revenue double, o_orderdate string, o_shippriority int);
 
-set mapred.min.split.size=536870912;
-set hive.exec.reducers.bytes.per.reducer=1024000000;
-
 -- the query
 Insert overwrite table q3_shipping_priority 
 select 
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q4_order_priority.hive b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q4_order_priority.hive
index aa828e9..efbcff2 100644
--- a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q4_order_priority.hive
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q4_order_priority.hive
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 CREATE TABLE q4_order_priority_tmp (O_ORDERKEY INT);
 CREATE TABLE q4_order_priority (O_ORDERPRIORITY STRING, ORDER_COUNT INT);
 
-set mapred.min.split.size=536870912;
 -- the query
 INSERT OVERWRITE TABLE q4_order_priority_tmp 
 select 
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q5_local_supplier_volume.hive b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q5_local_supplier_volume.hive
index 9af2dd2..838a1e8 100644
--- a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q5_local_supplier_volume.hive
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q5_local_supplier_volume.hive
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 -- create the target table
 create table q5_local_supplier_volume (N_NAME STRING, REVENUE DOUBLE);
 
-set mapred.min.split.size=536870912;
 
 -- the query
 insert overwrite table q5_local_supplier_volume 
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q7_volume_shipping.hive b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q7_volume_shipping.hive
index 2678f80..12ae8ae 100644
--- a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q7_volume_shipping.hive
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q7_volume_shipping.hive
@@ -17,9 +17,6 @@
 create table q7_volume_shipping (supp_nation string, cust_nation string, l_year int, revenue double);
 create table q7_volume_shipping_tmp(supp_nation string, cust_nation string, s_nationkey int, c_nationkey int);
 
-set mapred.min.split.size=536870912;
-set hive.exec.reducers.bytes.per.reducer=1225000000;
-
 -- the query
 insert overwrite table q7_volume_shipping_tmp
 select 
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q9_product_type_profit.hive b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q9_product_type_profit.hive
index 2e5b4a1..c491997 100644
--- a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q9_product_type_profit.hive
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/q9_product_type_profit.hive
@@ -17,9 +17,6 @@
 -- create the result table
 create table q9_product_type_profit (nation string, o_year string, sum_profit double);
 
-set mapred.min.split.size=536870912;
-set hive.exec.reducers.bytes.per.reducer=1024000000;
-
 -- the query
 insert overwrite table q9_product_type_profit
 select 
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/u8_order_by.hive b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/u8_order_by.hive
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6efd2ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/queries/u8_order_by.hive
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+drop table IF EXISTS nation;
+drop table IF EXISTS u8_non_mapred;
+
+create external table nation (N_NATIONKEY INT, N_NAME STRING, N_REGIONKEY INT, N_COMMENT STRING) ROW FORMAT DELIMITED FIELDS TERMINATED BY '|' STORED AS TEXTFILE LOCATION '/tpch/nation';
+create table u8_order_by (N_NATIONKEY INT, N_NAME STRING, N_REGIONKEY INT, N_COMMENT STRING);
+
+insert overwrite table u8_order_by
+select * FROM nation order by N_NATIONKEY;
diff --git a/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/results/u8_order_by.result b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/results/u8_order_by.result
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..719b246
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hivesterix/hivesterix-dist/src/test/resources/runtimefunctionts/results/u8_order_by.result
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+0ALGERIA0 haggle. carefully final deposits detect slyly agai
+1ARGENTINA1al foxes promise slyly according to the regular accounts. bold requests alon
+2BRAZIL1y alongside of the pending deposits. carefully special packages are about the ironic forges. slyly special 
+3CANADA1eas hang ironic, silent packages. slyly regular packages are furiously over the tithes. fluffily bold
+4EGYPT4y above the carefully unusual theodolites. final dugouts are quickly across the furiously regular d
+5ETHIOPIA0ven packages wake quickly. regu
+6FRANCE3refully final requests. regular, ironi
+7GERMANY3l platelets. regular accounts x-ray: unusual, regular acco
+8INDIA2ss excuses cajole slyly across the packages. deposits print aroun
+9INDONESIA2 slyly express asymptotes. regular deposits haggle slyly. carefully ironic hockey players sleep blithely. carefull
+10IRAN4efully alongside of the slyly final dependencies. 
+11IRAQ4nic deposits boost atop the quickly final requests? quickly regula
+12JAPAN2ously. final, express gifts cajole a
+13JORDAN4ic deposits are blithely about the carefully regular pa
+14KENYA0 pending excuses haggle furiously deposits. pending, express pinto beans wake fluffily past t
+15MOROCCO0rns. blithely bold courts among the closely regular packages use furiously bold platelets?
+16MOZAMBIQUE0s. ironic, unusual asymptotes wake blithely r
+17PERU1platelets. blithely pending dependencies use fluffily across the even pinto beans. carefully silent accoun
+18CHINA2c dependencies. furiously express notornis sleep slyly regular accounts. ideas sleep. depos
+19ROMANIA3ular asymptotes are about the furious multipliers. express dependencies nag above the ironically ironic account
+20SAUDI ARABIA4ts. silent requests haggle. closely express packages sleep across the blithely
+21VIETNAM2hely enticingly express accounts. even, final 
+22RUSSIA3 requests against the platelets use never according to the quickly regular pint
+23UNITED KINGDOM3eans boost carefully special requests. accounts are. carefull
+24UNITED STATES1y final packages. slow foxes cajole quickly. quickly silent platelets breach ironic accounts. unusual pinto be