How to prevent test server from changing production

[Mark Wolff]

We have a clone of the production system that we use to test upgrades and the like, as is suggested by the documentation.  The issue is that whatever we do to the clone, happens to the production.  We even went into the "General Configuration" page and change the server's address and it changes both systems.  We do not have and do not want clustering in this case.  What are we doing wrong?