diff --git a/buf/buf0buf.c b/buf/buf0buf.c
index 222acc015a6..99e365d6129 100644
--- a/buf/buf0buf.c
+++ b/buf/buf0buf.c
@@ -221,6 +221,9 @@ in the free list to the frames.
 5) When we have AWE enabled, we disable adaptive hash indexes.
 */
 
+/* Value in microseconds */
+static const int WAIT_FOR_READ	= 20000;
+
 buf_pool_t*	buf_pool = NULL; /* The buffer buf_pool of the database */
 
 #ifdef UNIV_DEBUG
@@ -539,6 +542,8 @@ buf_block_init(
 
 	block->n_pointers = 0;
 
+	mutex_create(&block->mutex, SYNC_BUF_BLOCK);
+
 	rw_lock_create(&block->lock, SYNC_LEVEL_VARYING);
 	ut_ad(rw_lock_validate(&(block->lock)));
 
@@ -813,8 +818,15 @@ buf_awe_map_page_to_frame(
 	bck = UT_LIST_GET_LAST(buf_pool->awe_LRU_free_mapped);
 
 	while (bck) {
-		if (bck->state == BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE
-		    && (bck->buf_fix_count != 0 || bck->io_fix != 0)) {
+		ibool skip;
+
+		mutex_enter(&bck->mutex);
+
+		skip = (bck->state == BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE
+			&& (bck->buf_fix_count != 0 || bck->io_fix != 0));
+
+		if (skip) {
+			mutex_exit(&bck->mutex);
 
 			/* We have to skip this */
 			bck = UT_LIST_GET_PREV(awe_LRU_free_mapped, bck);
@@ -848,6 +860,8 @@ buf_awe_map_page_to_frame(
 
 			buf_pool->n_pages_awe_remapped++;
 
+			mutex_exit(&bck->mutex);
+
 			return;
 		}
 	}
@@ -886,13 +900,22 @@ buf_block_make_young(
 /*=================*/
 	buf_block_t*	block)	/* in: block to make younger */
 {
-	if (buf_pool->freed_page_clock >= block->freed_page_clock
-	    + 1 + (buf_pool->curr_size / 1024)) {
+#ifdef UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG
+	ut_ad(!mutex_own(&(buf_pool->mutex)));
+#endif /* UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG */
 
+	/* Note that we read freed_page_clock's without holding any mutex:
+	this is allowed since the result is used only in heuristics */
+
+	if (buf_pool->freed_page_clock >= block->freed_page_clock
+				+ 1 + (buf_pool->curr_size / 4)) {
+
+		mutex_enter(&buf_pool->mutex);
 		/* There has been freeing activity in the LRU list:
 		best to move to the head of the LRU list */
 
 		buf_LRU_make_block_young(block);
+		mutex_exit(&buf_pool->mutex);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -927,12 +950,16 @@ buf_block_free(
 /*===========*/
 	buf_block_t*	block)	/* in, own: block to be freed */
 {
-	ut_a(block->state != BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE);
-
 	mutex_enter(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 
+	mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
+	ut_a(block->state != BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE);
+
 	buf_LRU_block_free_non_file_page(block);
 
+	mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
+
 	mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 }
 
@@ -1151,9 +1178,8 @@ buf_page_get_gen(
 #endif
 	buf_pool->n_page_gets++;
 loop:
-	mutex_enter_fast(&(buf_pool->mutex));
-
 	block = NULL;
+	mutex_enter_fast(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 
 	if (guess) {
 		block = buf_block_align(guess);
@@ -1191,6 +1217,8 @@ loop:
 		goto loop;
 	}
 
+	mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
 	ut_a(block->state == BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE);
 
 	must_read = FALSE;
@@ -1200,9 +1228,9 @@ loop:
 		must_read = TRUE;
 
 		if (mode == BUF_GET_IF_IN_POOL) {
-
 			/* The page is only being read to buffer */
-			mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+			mutex_exit(&buf_pool->mutex);
+			mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 
 			return(NULL);
 		}
@@ -1226,7 +1254,7 @@ loop:
 #else
 	buf_block_buf_fix_inc(block);
 #endif
-	buf_block_make_young(block);
+	mutex_exit(&buf_pool->mutex);
 
 	/* Check if this is the first access to the page */
 
@@ -1234,10 +1262,13 @@ loop:
 
 	block->accessed = TRUE;
 
+	mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
+
+	buf_block_make_young(block);
+
 #ifdef UNIV_DEBUG_FILE_ACCESSES
 	ut_a(block->file_page_was_freed == FALSE);
 #endif
-	mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 
 #ifdef UNIV_DEBUG
 	buf_dbg_counter++;
@@ -1262,13 +1293,14 @@ loop:
 		}
 
 		if (!success) {
-			mutex_enter(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+			mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
 
 			block->buf_fix_count--;
+
+			mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 #ifdef UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG
 			rw_lock_s_unlock(&(block->debug_latch));
 #endif
-			mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 
 			return(NULL);
 		}
@@ -1279,18 +1311,16 @@ loop:
 			completes */
 
 			for (;;) {
-				mutex_enter(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+				mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
 
 				if (block->io_fix == BUF_IO_READ) {
 
-					mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+					mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 
-					/* Sleep 20 milliseconds */
-
-					os_thread_sleep(20000);
+					os_thread_sleep(WAIT_FOR_READ);
 				} else {
 
-					mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+					mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 
 					break;
 				}
@@ -1349,14 +1379,14 @@ buf_page_optimistic_get_func(
 	ut_ad(mtr && block);
 	ut_ad((rw_latch == RW_S_LATCH) || (rw_latch == RW_X_LATCH));
 
-	mutex_enter(&(buf_pool->mutex));
-
 	/* If AWE is used, block may have a different frame now, e.g., NULL */
 
+	mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
 	if (UNIV_UNLIKELY(block->state != BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE)
 	    || UNIV_UNLIKELY(block->frame != guess)) {
-exit_func:
-		mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+
+		mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 
 		return(FALSE);
 	}
@@ -1366,16 +1396,15 @@ exit_func:
 #else
 	buf_block_buf_fix_inc(block);
 #endif
+	accessed = block->accessed;
+	block->accessed = TRUE;
+
+	mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
+
 	buf_block_make_young(block);
 
 	/* Check if this is the first access to the page */
 
-	accessed = block->accessed;
-
-	block->accessed = TRUE;
-
-	mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
-
 	ut_ad(!ibuf_inside() || ibuf_page(block->space, block->offset));
 
 	if (rw_latch == RW_S_LATCH) {
@@ -1389,13 +1418,16 @@ exit_func:
 	}
 
 	if (UNIV_UNLIKELY(!success)) {
-		mutex_enter(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+		mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
 
 		block->buf_fix_count--;
+
+		mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
+
 #ifdef UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG
 		rw_lock_s_unlock(&(block->debug_latch));
 #endif
-		goto exit_func;
+		return(FALSE);
 	}
 
 	if (UNIV_UNLIKELY(!UT_DULINT_EQ(modify_clock, block->modify_clock))) {
@@ -1408,13 +1440,16 @@ exit_func:
 			rw_lock_x_unlock(&(block->lock));
 		}
 
-		mutex_enter(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+		mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
 
 		block->buf_fix_count--;
+
+		mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
+
 #ifdef UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG
 		rw_lock_s_unlock(&(block->debug_latch));
 #endif
-		goto exit_func;
+		return(FALSE);
 	}
 
 	mtr_memo_push(mtr, block, fix_type);
@@ -1471,10 +1506,10 @@ buf_page_get_known_nowait(
 	ut_ad(mtr);
 	ut_ad((rw_latch == RW_S_LATCH) || (rw_latch == RW_X_LATCH));
 
-	mutex_enter(&(buf_pool->mutex));
-
 	block = buf_block_align(guess);
 
+	mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
 	if (block->state == BUF_BLOCK_REMOVE_HASH) {
 		/* Another thread is just freeing the block from the LRU list
 		of the buffer pool: do not try to access this page; this
@@ -1483,7 +1518,7 @@ buf_page_get_known_nowait(
 		we have already removed it from the page address hash table
 		of the buffer pool. */
 
-		mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+		mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 
 		return(FALSE);
 	}
@@ -1495,12 +1530,12 @@ buf_page_get_known_nowait(
 #else
 	buf_block_buf_fix_inc(block);
 #endif
+	mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
+
 	if (mode == BUF_MAKE_YOUNG) {
 		buf_block_make_young(block);
 	}
 
-	mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
-
 	ut_ad(!ibuf_inside() || (mode == BUF_KEEP_OLD));
 
 	if (rw_latch == RW_S_LATCH) {
@@ -1514,13 +1549,15 @@ buf_page_get_known_nowait(
 	}
 
 	if (!success) {
-		mutex_enter(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+		mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
 
 		block->buf_fix_count--;
+
+		mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
+
 #ifdef UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG
 		rw_lock_s_unlock(&(block->debug_latch));
 #endif
-		mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 
 		return(FALSE);
 	}
@@ -1568,7 +1605,6 @@ buf_page_init_for_backup_restore(
 	block->offset		= offset;
 
 	block->lock_hash_val	= 0;
-	block->lock_mutex	= NULL;
 
 	block->freed_page_clock = 0;
 
@@ -1601,6 +1637,7 @@ buf_page_init(
 {
 #ifdef UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG
 	ut_ad(mutex_own(&(buf_pool->mutex)));
+	ut_ad(mutex_own(&(block->mutex)));
 #endif /* UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG */
 	ut_a(block->state != BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE);
 
@@ -1615,7 +1652,6 @@ buf_page_init(
 	block->index		= NULL;
 
 	block->lock_hash_val	= lock_rec_hash(space, offset);
-	block->lock_mutex	= NULL;
 
 	/* Insert into the hash table of file pages */
 
@@ -1709,6 +1745,7 @@ buf_page_init_for_read(
 	ut_a(block);
 
 	mutex_enter(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+	mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
 
 	if (fil_tablespace_deleted_or_being_deleted_in_mem(
 		    space, tablespace_version)) {
@@ -1722,7 +1759,9 @@ buf_page_init_for_read(
 		    deleted or is being deleted, or the page is
 		    already in buf_pool, return */
 
+		mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 		    mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+
 		    buf_block_free(block);
 
 		    if (mode == BUF_READ_IBUF_PAGES_ONLY) {
@@ -1742,6 +1781,7 @@ buf_page_init_for_read(
 	buf_LRU_add_block(block, TRUE);		/* TRUE == to old blocks */
 
 	block->io_fix = BUF_IO_READ;
+
 	buf_pool->n_pend_reads++;
 
 	/* We set a pass-type x-lock on the frame because then the same
@@ -1753,6 +1793,7 @@ buf_page_init_for_read(
 
 	rw_lock_x_lock_gen(&(block->lock), BUF_IO_READ);
 
+	mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 	mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 
 	if (mode == BUF_READ_IBUF_PAGES_ONLY) {
@@ -1817,6 +1858,8 @@ buf_page_create(
 
 	block = free_block;
 
+	mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
 	buf_page_init(space, offset, block);
 
 	/* The block must be put to the LRU list */
@@ -1827,13 +1870,15 @@ buf_page_create(
 #else
 	buf_block_buf_fix_inc(block);
 #endif
+	buf_pool->n_pages_created++;
+
+	mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+
 	mtr_memo_push(mtr, block, MTR_MEMO_BUF_FIX);
 
 	block->accessed = TRUE;
 
-	buf_pool->n_pages_created++;
-
-	mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+	mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 
 	/* Delete possible entries for the page from the insert buffer:
 	such can exist if the page belonged to an index which was dropped */
@@ -1885,6 +1930,12 @@ buf_page_io_complete(
 
 	ut_a(block->state == BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE);
 
+	/* We do not need protect block->io_fix here by block->mutex to read
+	it because this is the only function where we can change the value
+	from BUF_IO_READ or BUF_IO_WRITE to some other value, and our code
+	ensures that this is the only thread that handles the i/o for this
+	block. */
+
 	io_type = block->io_fix;
 
 	if (io_type == BUF_IO_READ) {
@@ -1986,11 +2037,12 @@ buf_page_io_complete(
 		}
 	}
 
+	mutex_enter(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+	mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
 #ifdef UNIV_IBUF_DEBUG
 	ut_a(ibuf_count_get(block->space, block->offset) == 0);
 #endif
-	mutex_enter(&(buf_pool->mutex));
-
 	/* Because this thread which does the unlocking is not the same that
 	did the locking, we use a pass value != 0 in unlock, which simply
 	removes the newest lock debug record, without checking the thread
@@ -2033,6 +2085,7 @@ buf_page_io_complete(
 #endif /* UNIV_DEBUG */
 	}
 
+	mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 	mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 
 #ifdef UNIV_DEBUG
@@ -2095,6 +2148,8 @@ buf_validate(void)
 
 		block = buf_pool_get_nth_block(buf_pool, i);
 
+		mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
 		if (block->state == BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE) {
 
 			ut_a(buf_page_hash_get(block->space,
@@ -2139,6 +2194,8 @@ buf_validate(void)
 		} else if (block->state == BUF_BLOCK_NOT_USED) {
 			n_free++;
 		}
+
+		mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 	}
 
 	if (n_lru + n_free > buf_pool->curr_size) {
@@ -2286,9 +2343,14 @@ buf_get_latched_pages_number(void)
 
 		block = buf_pool_get_nth_block(buf_pool, i);
 
-		if (((block->buf_fix_count != 0) || (block->io_fix != 0))
-		    && block->magic_n == BUF_BLOCK_MAGIC_N) {
-			fixed_pages_number++;
+		if (block->magic_n == BUF_BLOCK_MAGIC_N) {
+			mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
+			if (block->buf_fix_count != 0 || block->io_fix != 0) {
+				fixed_pages_number++;
+			}
+
+			mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -2458,6 +2520,8 @@ buf_all_freed(void)
 
 		block = buf_pool_get_nth_block(buf_pool, i);
 
+		mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
 		if (block->state == BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE) {
 
 			if (!buf_flush_ready_for_replace(block)) {
@@ -2469,6 +2533,8 @@ buf_all_freed(void)
 				ut_error;
 			}
 		}
+
+		mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 	}
 
 	mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
diff --git a/buf/buf0flu.c b/buf/buf0flu.c
index 8ef8c3b9358..49b81196a64 100644
--- a/buf/buf0flu.c
+++ b/buf/buf0flu.c
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ buf_flush_ready_for_replace(
 {
 #ifdef UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG
 	ut_ad(mutex_own(&(buf_pool->mutex)));
+	ut_ad(mutex_own(&block->mutex));
 #endif /* UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG */
 	if (block->state != BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE) {
 		ut_print_timestamp(stderr);
@@ -148,6 +149,7 @@ buf_flush_ready_for_flush(
 {
 #ifdef UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG
 	ut_ad(mutex_own(&(buf_pool->mutex)));
+	ut_ad(mutex_own(&(block->mutex)));
 #endif /* UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG */
 	ut_a(block->state == BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE);
 
@@ -559,8 +561,15 @@ buf_flush_try_page(
 
 	ut_a(!block || block->state == BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE);
 
+	if (!block) {
+		mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+		return(0);
+	}
+
+	mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
 	if (flush_type == BUF_FLUSH_LIST
-	    && block && buf_flush_ready_for_flush(block, flush_type)) {
+	    && buf_flush_ready_for_flush(block, flush_type)) {
 
 		block->io_fix = BUF_IO_WRITE;
 
@@ -598,6 +607,7 @@ buf_flush_try_page(
 			locked = TRUE;
 		}
 
+		mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 		mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 
 		if (!locked) {
@@ -618,7 +628,7 @@ buf_flush_try_page(
 
 		return(1);
 
-	} else if (flush_type == BUF_FLUSH_LRU && block
+	} else if (flush_type == BUF_FLUSH_LRU
 		   && buf_flush_ready_for_flush(block, flush_type)) {
 
 		/* VERY IMPORTANT:
@@ -659,13 +669,14 @@ buf_flush_try_page(
 		buf_pool mutex: this ensures that the latch is acquired
 		immediately. */
 
+		mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 		mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 
 		buf_flush_write_block_low(block);
 
 		return(1);
 
-	} else if (flush_type == BUF_FLUSH_SINGLE_PAGE && block
+	} else if (flush_type == BUF_FLUSH_SINGLE_PAGE
 		   && buf_flush_ready_for_flush(block, flush_type)) {
 
 		block->io_fix = BUF_IO_WRITE;
@@ -692,6 +703,7 @@ buf_flush_try_page(
 
 		(buf_pool->n_flush[flush_type])++;
 
+		mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 		mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 
 		rw_lock_s_lock_gen(&(block->lock), BUF_IO_WRITE);
@@ -709,11 +721,12 @@ buf_flush_try_page(
 		buf_flush_write_block_low(block);
 
 		return(1);
-	} else {
-		mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
-
-		return(0);
 	}
+
+	mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
+	mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+
+	return(0);
 }
 
 /***************************************************************
@@ -758,34 +771,48 @@ buf_flush_try_neighbors(
 		block = buf_page_hash_get(space, i);
 		ut_a(!block || block->state == BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE);
 
-		if (block && flush_type == BUF_FLUSH_LRU && i != offset
-		    && !block->old) {
+		if (!block) {
+
+			continue;
+
+		} else if (flush_type == BUF_FLUSH_LRU && i != offset
+			   && !block->old) {
 
 			/* We avoid flushing 'non-old' blocks in an LRU flush,
 			because the flushed blocks are soon freed */
 
 			continue;
-		}
+		} else {
 
-		if (block && buf_flush_ready_for_flush(block, flush_type)
-		    && (i == offset || block->buf_fix_count == 0)) {
-			/* We only try to flush those neighbors != offset
-			where the buf fix count is zero, as we then know that
-			we probably can latch the page without a semaphore
-			wait. Semaphore waits are expensive because we must
-			flush the doublewrite buffer before we start
-			waiting. */
+			mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
 
-			mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+			if (buf_flush_ready_for_flush(block, flush_type)
+			    && (i == offset || block->buf_fix_count == 0)) {
+				/* We only try to flush those
+				neighbors != offset where the buf fix count is
+				zero, as we then know that we probably can
+				latch the page without a semaphore wait.
+				Semaphore waits are expensive because we must
+				flush the doublewrite buffer before we start
+				waiting. */
 
-			/* Note: as we release the buf_pool mutex above, in
-			buf_flush_try_page we cannot be sure the page is still
-			in a flushable state: therefore we check it again
-			inside that function. */
+				mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 
-			count += buf_flush_try_page(space, i, flush_type);
+				mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 
-			mutex_enter(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+				/* Note: as we release the buf_pool mutex
+				above, in buf_flush_try_page we cannot be sure
+				the page is still in a flushable state:
+				therefore we check it again inside that
+				function. */
+
+				count += buf_flush_try_page(space, i,
+							    flush_type);
+
+				mutex_enter(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+			} else {
+				mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -879,12 +906,15 @@ buf_flush_batch(
 		while ((block != NULL) && !found) {
 			ut_a(block->state == BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE);
 
+			mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
 			if (buf_flush_ready_for_flush(block, flush_type)) {
 
 				found = TRUE;
 				space = block->space;
 				offset = block->offset;
 
+				mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 				mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 
 				old_page_count = page_count;
@@ -901,10 +931,14 @@ buf_flush_batch(
 
 			} else if (flush_type == BUF_FLUSH_LRU) {
 
+				mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
+
 				block = UT_LIST_GET_PREV(LRU, block);
 			} else {
 				ut_ad(flush_type == BUF_FLUSH_LIST);
 
+				mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
+
 				block = UT_LIST_GET_PREV(flush_list, block);
 			}
 		}
@@ -986,10 +1020,14 @@ buf_flush_LRU_recommendation(void)
 		   + BUF_FLUSH_EXTRA_MARGIN)
 	       && (distance < BUF_LRU_FREE_SEARCH_LEN)) {
 
+		mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
 		if (buf_flush_ready_for_replace(block)) {
 			n_replaceable++;
 		}
 
+		mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
+
 		distance++;
 
 		block = UT_LIST_GET_PREV(LRU, block);
diff --git a/buf/buf0lru.c b/buf/buf0lru.c
index 4ebe94c40ec..25b15899cf0 100644
--- a/buf/buf0lru.c
+++ b/buf/buf0lru.c
@@ -86,6 +86,9 @@ scan_again:
 	block = UT_LIST_GET_LAST(buf_pool->LRU);
 
 	while (block != NULL) {
+
+		mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
 		ut_a(block->state == BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE);
 
 		if (block->space == id
@@ -112,6 +115,8 @@ scan_again:
 			if (block->is_hashed) {
 				page_no = block->offset;
 
+				mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
+
 				mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 
 				/* Note that the following call will acquire
@@ -138,6 +143,7 @@ scan_again:
 			buf_LRU_block_free_hashed_page(block);
 		}
 next_page:
+		mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 		block = UT_LIST_GET_PREV(LRU, block);
 	}
 
@@ -211,6 +217,9 @@ buf_LRU_search_and_free_block(
 
 	while (block != NULL) {
 		ut_a(block->in_LRU_list);
+
+		mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
 		if (buf_flush_ready_for_replace(block)) {
 
 #ifdef UNIV_DEBUG
@@ -226,6 +235,7 @@ buf_LRU_search_and_free_block(
 			buf_LRU_block_remove_hashed_page(block);
 
 			mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+			mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 
 			/* Remove possible adaptive hash index built on the
 			page; in the case of AWE the block may not have a
@@ -234,15 +244,21 @@ buf_LRU_search_and_free_block(
 			if (block->frame) {
 				btr_search_drop_page_hash_index(block->frame);
 			}
-			mutex_enter(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 
 			ut_a(block->buf_fix_count == 0);
 
+			mutex_enter(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+			mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
 			buf_LRU_block_free_hashed_page(block);
 			freed = TRUE;
+			mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 
 			break;
 		}
+
+		mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
+
 		block = UT_LIST_GET_PREV(LRU, block);
 		distance++;
 
@@ -428,8 +444,12 @@ loop:
 			}
 		}
 
+		mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
 		block->state = BUF_BLOCK_READY_FOR_USE;
 
+		mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
+
 		mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
 
 		if (started_monitor) {
@@ -838,6 +858,7 @@ buf_LRU_block_free_non_file_page(
 {
 #ifdef UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG
 	ut_ad(mutex_own(&(buf_pool->mutex)));
+	ut_ad(mutex_own(&block->mutex));
 #endif /* UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG */
 	ut_ad(block);
 
@@ -877,6 +898,7 @@ buf_LRU_block_remove_hashed_page(
 {
 #ifdef UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG
 	ut_ad(mutex_own(&(buf_pool->mutex)));
+	ut_ad(mutex_own(&block->mutex));
 #endif /* UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG */
 	ut_ad(block);
 
@@ -939,6 +961,7 @@ buf_LRU_block_free_hashed_page(
 {
 #ifdef UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG
 	ut_ad(mutex_own(&(buf_pool->mutex)));
+	ut_ad(mutex_own(&block->mutex));
 #endif /* UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG */
 	ut_a(block->state == BUF_BLOCK_REMOVE_HASH);
 
diff --git a/include/buf0buf.h b/include/buf0buf.h
index 2fc6bf4bcb9..979c28f64ed 100644
--- a/include/buf0buf.h
+++ b/include/buf0buf.h
@@ -461,8 +461,8 @@ Gets the mutex number protecting the page record lock hash chain in the lock
 table. */
 UNIV_INLINE
 mutex_t*
-buf_frame_get_lock_mutex(
-/*=====================*/
+buf_frame_get_mutex(
+/*================*/
 			/* out: mutex */
 	byte*	ptr);	/* in: pointer to within a buffer frame */
 /***********************************************************************
@@ -713,7 +713,10 @@ struct buf_block_struct{
 
 	ulint		magic_n;	/* magic number to check */
 	ulint		state;		/* state of the control block:
-					BUF_BLOCK_NOT_USED, ... */
+					BUF_BLOCK_NOT_USED, ...; changing
+					this is only allowed when a thread
+					has BOTH the buffer pool mutex AND
+					block->mutex locked */
 	byte*		frame;		/* pointer to buffer frame which
 					is of size UNIV_PAGE_SIZE, and
 					aligned to an address divisible by
@@ -731,8 +734,12 @@ struct buf_block_struct{
 	ulint		offset;		/* page number within the space */
 	ulint		lock_hash_val;	/* hashed value of the page address
 					in the record lock hash table */
-	mutex_t*	lock_mutex;	/* mutex protecting the chain in the
-					record lock hash table */
+	mutex_t		mutex;		/* mutex protecting this block:
+					state (also protected by the buffer
+					pool mutex), io_fix, buf_fix_count,
+					and accessed; we introduce this new
+					mutex in InnoDB-5.1 to relieve
+					contention on the buffer pool mutex */
 	rw_lock_t	lock;		/* read-write lock of the buffer
 					frame */
 	buf_block_t*	hash;		/* node used in chaining to the page
@@ -788,20 +795,27 @@ struct buf_block_struct{
 					in heuristic algorithms, because of
 					the possibility of a wrap-around! */
 	ulint		freed_page_clock;/* the value of freed_page_clock
-					buffer pool when this block was
-					last time put to the head of the
-					LRU list */
+					of the buffer pool when this block was
+					the last time put to the head of the
+					LRU list; a thread is allowed to
+					read this for heuristic purposes
+					without holding any mutex or latch */
 	ibool		old;		/* TRUE if the block is in the old
 					blocks in the LRU list */
 	ibool		accessed;	/* TRUE if the page has been accessed
 					while in the buffer pool: read-ahead
 					may read in pages which have not been
-					accessed yet */
+					accessed yet; this is protected by
+					block->mutex; a thread is allowed to
+					read this for heuristic purposes
+					without holding any mutex or latch */
 	ulint		buf_fix_count;	/* count of how manyfold this block
-					is currently bufferfixed */
+					is currently bufferfixed; this is
+					protected by block->mutex */
 	ulint		io_fix;		/* if a read is pending to the frame,
 					io_fix is BUF_IO_READ, in the case
-					of a write BUF_IO_WRITE, otherwise 0 */
+					of a write BUF_IO_WRITE, otherwise 0;
+					this is protected by block->mutex */
 	/* 4. Optimistic search field */
 
 	dulint		modify_clock;	/* this clock is incremented every
@@ -959,7 +973,9 @@ struct buf_pool_struct{
 					number of buffer blocks removed from
 					the end of the LRU list; NOTE that
 					this counter may wrap around at 4
-					billion! */
+					billion! A thread is allowed to
+					read this for heuristic purposes
+					without holding any mutex or latch */
 	ulint		LRU_flush_ended;/* when an LRU flush ends for a page,
 					this is incremented by one; this is
 					set to zero when a buffer block is
diff --git a/include/buf0buf.ic b/include/buf0buf.ic
index 015de862705..43895295734 100644
--- a/include/buf0buf.ic
+++ b/include/buf0buf.ic
@@ -337,8 +337,8 @@ Gets the mutex number protecting the page record lock hash chain in the lock
 table. */
 UNIV_INLINE
 mutex_t*
-buf_frame_get_lock_mutex(
-/*=====================*/
+buf_frame_get_mutex(
+/*================*/
 			/* out: mutex */
 	byte*	ptr)	/* in: pointer to within a buffer frame */
 {
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ buf_frame_get_lock_mutex(
 
 	block = buf_block_align(ptr);
 
-	return(block->lock_mutex);
+	return(&block->mutex);
 }
 
 /*************************************************************************
@@ -519,6 +519,7 @@ buf_block_buf_fix_inc_debug(
 	ret = rw_lock_s_lock_func_nowait(&(block->debug_latch), file, line);
 
 	ut_ad(ret == TRUE);
+	ut_ad(mutex_own(&block->mutex));
 #endif
 	block->buf_fix_count++;
 }
@@ -531,6 +532,9 @@ buf_block_buf_fix_inc(
 /*==================*/
 	buf_block_t*	block)	/* in: block to bufferfix */
 {
+#ifdef UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG
+	ut_ad(mutex_own(&block->mutex));
+#endif
 	block->buf_fix_count++;
 }
 #endif /* UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG */
@@ -625,23 +629,24 @@ buf_page_release(
 
 	ut_ad(block);
 
-	mutex_enter_fast(&(buf_pool->mutex));
-
 	ut_a(block->state == BUF_BLOCK_FILE_PAGE);
 	ut_a(block->buf_fix_count > 0);
 
 	if (rw_latch == RW_X_LATCH && mtr->modifications) {
-
+		mutex_enter(&buf_pool->mutex);
 		buf_flush_note_modification(block, mtr);
+		mutex_exit(&buf_pool->mutex);
 	}
 
+	mutex_enter(&block->mutex);
+
 #ifdef UNIV_SYNC_DEBUG
 	rw_lock_s_unlock(&(block->debug_latch));
 #endif
 	buf_fix_count = block->buf_fix_count;
 	block->buf_fix_count = buf_fix_count - 1;
 
-	mutex_exit(&(buf_pool->mutex));
+	mutex_exit(&block->mutex);
 
 	if (rw_latch == RW_S_LATCH) {
 		rw_lock_s_unlock(&(block->lock));