diff --git a/scripts/base/init-bare.bro b/scripts/base/init-bare.bro
index 9876ad03f7..e5300cdc9f 100644
--- a/scripts/base/init-bare.bro
+++ b/scripts/base/init-bare.bro
@@ -3042,6 +3042,11 @@ module GLOBAL;
 ## Number of bytes per packet to capture from live interfaces.
 const snaplen = 8192 &redef;
 
+## Seed for hashes computed internally for probabilistic data structures. Using
+## the same value here will make the hashes compatible between independent Bro
+## instances. If left unset, Bro will use a temporary local seed.  
+const global_hash_seed: string = "" &redef;
+
 # Load BiFs defined by plugins.
 @load base/bif/plugins
 
diff --git a/src/OpaqueVal.cc b/src/OpaqueVal.cc
index 66b3c081e7..e79b4435b3 100644
--- a/src/OpaqueVal.cc
+++ b/src/OpaqueVal.cc
@@ -566,14 +566,14 @@ BroType* BloomFilterVal::Type() const
 void BloomFilterVal::Add(const Val* val)
 	{
 	HashKey* key = hash->ComputeHash(val, 1);
-	bloom_filter->Add(key->Hash());
+	bloom_filter->Add(key);
 	delete key;
 	}
 
 size_t BloomFilterVal::Count(const Val* val) const
 	{
 	HashKey* key = hash->ComputeHash(val, 1);
-	size_t cnt = bloom_filter->Count(key->Hash());
+	size_t cnt = bloom_filter->Count(key);
 	delete key;
 	return cnt;
 	}
@@ -588,6 +588,11 @@ bool BloomFilterVal::Empty() const
 	return bloom_filter->Empty();
 	}
 
+string BloomFilterVal::InternalState() const
+	{
+	return bloom_filter->InternalState();
+	}
+
 BloomFilterVal* BloomFilterVal::Merge(const BloomFilterVal* x,
 				      const BloomFilterVal* y)
 	{
diff --git a/src/OpaqueVal.h b/src/OpaqueVal.h
index 52c9583fc7..08a20b1a31 100644
--- a/src/OpaqueVal.h
+++ b/src/OpaqueVal.h
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ public:
 	size_t Count(const Val* val) const;
 	void Clear();
 	bool Empty() const;
+	string InternalState() const;
 
 	static BloomFilterVal* Merge(const BloomFilterVal* x,
 				     const BloomFilterVal* y);
diff --git a/src/probabilistic/BitVector.cc b/src/probabilistic/BitVector.cc
index 6e642e62c1..f820e6df27 100644
--- a/src/probabilistic/BitVector.cc
+++ b/src/probabilistic/BitVector.cc
@@ -490,6 +490,16 @@ BitVector::size_type BitVector::FindNext(size_type i) const
 	return block ? bi * bits_per_block + lowest_bit(block) : find_from(bi + 1);
 	}
 
+size_t BitVector::Hash() const
+	{
+	size_t hash = 0;
+
+	for ( size_type i = 0; i < Blocks(); ++i )
+		hash += bits[i];
+
+	return hash;
+	}
+
 BitVector::size_type BitVector::lowest_bit(block_type block)
 	{
 	block_type x = block - (block & (block - 1));
diff --git a/src/probabilistic/BitVector.h b/src/probabilistic/BitVector.h
index d9c55d53c6..8e24336345 100644
--- a/src/probabilistic/BitVector.h
+++ b/src/probabilistic/BitVector.h
@@ -276,6 +276,13 @@ public:
 	 */
 	size_type FindNext(size_type i) const;
 
+	/** Computes a hash value of the internal representation.
+	  * This is mainly for debugging/testing purposes.
+	  *
+	  * @return The hash.
+	  */
+	size_t Hash() const;
+
 	/**
 	 * Serializes the bit vector.
 	 *
diff --git a/src/probabilistic/BloomFilter.cc b/src/probabilistic/BloomFilter.cc
index 23b812269c..bcab6c9b54 100644
--- a/src/probabilistic/BloomFilter.cc
+++ b/src/probabilistic/BloomFilter.cc
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@
 #include "CounterVector.h"
 #include "Serializer.h"
 
+#include "../util.h"
+
 using namespace probabilistic;
 
 BloomFilter::BloomFilter()
@@ -107,6 +109,11 @@ BasicBloomFilter* BasicBloomFilter::Clone() const
 	return copy;
 	}
 
+std::string BasicBloomFilter::InternalState() const
+	{
+	return fmt("%" PRIu64, (uint64_t)bits->Hash());
+	}
+
 BasicBloomFilter::BasicBloomFilter()
 	{
 	bits = 0;
@@ -133,14 +140,18 @@ bool BasicBloomFilter::DoUnserialize(UnserialInfo* info)
 	return (bits != 0);
 	}
 
-void BasicBloomFilter::AddImpl(const Hasher::digest_vector& h)
+void BasicBloomFilter::Add(const HashKey* key)
 	{
+	Hasher::digest_vector h = hasher->Hash(key);
+
 	for ( size_t i = 0; i < h.size(); ++i )
 		bits->Set(h[i] % bits->Size());
 	}
 
-size_t BasicBloomFilter::CountImpl(const Hasher::digest_vector& h) const
+size_t BasicBloomFilter::Count(const HashKey* key) const
 	{
+	Hasher::digest_vector h = hasher->Hash(key);
+
 	for ( size_t i = 0; i < h.size(); ++i )
 		{
 		if ( ! (*bits)[h[i] % bits->Size()] )
@@ -206,6 +217,11 @@ CountingBloomFilter* CountingBloomFilter::Clone() const
 	return copy;
 	}
 
+string CountingBloomFilter::InternalState() const
+	{
+	return fmt("%" PRIu64, (uint64_t)cells->Hash());
+	}
+
 IMPLEMENT_SERIAL(CountingBloomFilter, SER_COUNTINGBLOOMFILTER)
 
 bool CountingBloomFilter::DoSerialize(SerialInfo* info) const
@@ -222,14 +238,18 @@ bool CountingBloomFilter::DoUnserialize(UnserialInfo* info)
 	}
 
 // TODO: Use partitioning in add/count to allow for reusing CMS bounds.
-void CountingBloomFilter::AddImpl(const Hasher::digest_vector& h)
+void CountingBloomFilter::Add(const HashKey* key)
 	{
+	Hasher::digest_vector h = hasher->Hash(key);
+
 	for ( size_t i = 0; i < h.size(); ++i )
 		cells->Increment(h[i] % cells->Size());
 	}
 
-size_t CountingBloomFilter::CountImpl(const Hasher::digest_vector& h) const
+size_t CountingBloomFilter::Count(const HashKey* key) const
 	{
+	Hasher::digest_vector h = hasher->Hash(key);
+
 	CounterVector::size_type min =
 		std::numeric_limits<CounterVector::size_type>::max();
 
diff --git a/src/probabilistic/BloomFilter.h b/src/probabilistic/BloomFilter.h
index 4865ae145c..65dda2396d 100644
--- a/src/probabilistic/BloomFilter.h
+++ b/src/probabilistic/BloomFilter.h
@@ -22,27 +22,20 @@ public:
 	virtual ~BloomFilter();
 
 	/**
-	 * Adds an element of type T to the Bloom filter.
-	 * @param x The element to add
+	 * Adds an element to the Bloom filter.
+	 *
+	 * @param key The key associated with the element to add.
 	 */
-	template <typename T>
-	void Add(const T& x)
-		{
-		AddImpl((*hasher)(x));
-		}
+	virtual void Add(const HashKey* key) = 0;
 
 	/**
 	 * Retrieves the associated count of a given value.
 	 *
-	 * @param x The value of type `T` to check.
+	 * @param key The key associated with the element to check.
 	 *
-	 * @return The counter associated with *x*.
+	 * @return The counter associated with *key*.
 	 */
-	template <typename T>
-	size_t Count(const T& x) const
-		{
-		return CountImpl((*hasher)(x));
-		}
+	virtual size_t Count(const HashKey* key) const = 0;
 
 	/**
 	 * Checks whether the Bloom filter is empty.
@@ -72,6 +65,12 @@ public:
 	 */
 	virtual BloomFilter* Clone() const = 0;
 
+	/**
+	 * Returns a string with a representation of the Bloom filter's
+	 * internal state. This is for debugging/testing purposes only.
+	 */
+	virtual string InternalState() const = 0;
+
 	/**
 	 * Serializes the Bloom filter.
 	 *
@@ -106,25 +105,6 @@ protected:
 	 */
 	BloomFilter(const Hasher* hasher);
 
-	/**
-	 * Abstract method for implementinng the *Add* operation.
-	 *
-	 * @param hashes A set of *k* hashes for the item to add, computed by
-	 * the internal hasher object.
-	 *
-	 */
-	virtual void AddImpl(const Hasher::digest_vector& hashes) = 0;
-
-	/**
-	 * Abstract method for implementing the *Count* operation.
-	 *
-	 * @param hashes A set of *k* hashes for the item to add, computed by
-	 * the internal hasher object.
-	 *
-	 * @return Returns the counter associated with the hashed element.
-	 */
-	virtual size_t CountImpl(const Hasher::digest_vector& hashes) const = 0;
-
 	const Hasher* hasher;
 };
 
@@ -177,6 +157,7 @@ public:
 	virtual void Clear();
 	virtual bool Merge(const BloomFilter* other);
 	virtual BasicBloomFilter* Clone() const;
+	virtual string InternalState() const;
 
 protected:
 	DECLARE_SERIAL(BasicBloomFilter);
@@ -187,8 +168,8 @@ protected:
 	BasicBloomFilter();
 
 	// Overridden from BloomFilter.
-	virtual void AddImpl(const Hasher::digest_vector& h);
-	virtual size_t CountImpl(const Hasher::digest_vector& h) const;
+	virtual void Add(const HashKey* key);
+	virtual size_t Count(const HashKey* key) const;
 
 private:
 	BitVector* bits;
@@ -216,6 +197,7 @@ public:
 	virtual void Clear();
 	virtual bool Merge(const BloomFilter* other);
 	virtual CountingBloomFilter* Clone() const;
+	virtual string InternalState() const;
 
 protected:
 	DECLARE_SERIAL(CountingBloomFilter);
@@ -226,8 +208,8 @@ protected:
 	CountingBloomFilter();
 
 	// Overridden from BloomFilter.
-	virtual void AddImpl(const Hasher::digest_vector& h);
-	virtual size_t CountImpl(const Hasher::digest_vector& h) const;
+	virtual void Add(const HashKey* key);
+	virtual size_t Count(const HashKey* key) const;
 
 private:
 	CounterVector* cells;
diff --git a/src/probabilistic/CounterVector.cc b/src/probabilistic/CounterVector.cc
index d5635fc0f2..8a6feae5fd 100644
--- a/src/probabilistic/CounterVector.cc
+++ b/src/probabilistic/CounterVector.cc
@@ -153,6 +153,11 @@ CounterVector operator|(const CounterVector& x, const CounterVector& y)
 
 }
 
+size_t CounterVector::Hash() const
+	{
+	return bits->Hash();
+	}
+
 bool CounterVector::Serialize(SerialInfo* info) const
 	{
 	return SerialObj::Serialize(info);
diff --git a/src/probabilistic/CounterVector.h b/src/probabilistic/CounterVector.h
index df6fc57ac2..9ce522d61c 100644
--- a/src/probabilistic/CounterVector.h
+++ b/src/probabilistic/CounterVector.h
@@ -126,6 +126,13 @@ public:
 	 */
 	CounterVector& operator|=(const CounterVector& other);
 
+	/** Computes a hash value of the internal representation.
+	  * This is mainly for debugging/testing purposes.
+	  *
+	  * @return The hash.
+	  */
+	size_t Hash() const;
+
 	/**
 	 * Serializes the bit vector.
 	 *
diff --git a/src/probabilistic/Hasher.cc b/src/probabilistic/Hasher.cc
index 8b34aa5c77..b59274df7d 100644
--- a/src/probabilistic/Hasher.cc
+++ b/src/probabilistic/Hasher.cc
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ size_t Hasher::MakeSeed(const void* data, size_t size)
 	return *reinterpret_cast<size_t*>(buf); // Use the first bytes as seed.
 	}
 
+Hasher::digest_vector Hasher::Hash(const HashKey* key) const
+	{
+	return Hash(key->Key(), key->Size());
+	}
+
 bool Hasher::Serialize(SerialInfo* info) const
 	{
 	return SerialObj::Serialize(info);
@@ -77,7 +82,6 @@ Hasher::Hasher(size_t arg_k, size_t arg_seed)
 	seed = arg_seed;
 	}
 
-
 UHF::UHF(size_t seed)
 	: h(seed)
 	{
diff --git a/src/probabilistic/Hasher.h b/src/probabilistic/Hasher.h
index bd8f5ce5ff..6b75fa1bea 100644
--- a/src/probabilistic/Hasher.h
+++ b/src/probabilistic/Hasher.h
@@ -50,6 +50,15 @@ public:
 		return Hash(&x, sizeof(T));
 		}
 
+	/**
+	 * Computes hash values for an element.
+	 *
+	 * @param x The key of the value to hash.
+	 *
+	 * @return Vector of *k* hash values.
+	 */
+	digest_vector Hash(const HashKey* key) const;
+
 	/**
 	 * Computes the hashes for a set of bytes.
 	 *
diff --git a/src/probabilistic/bloom-filter.bif b/src/probabilistic/bloom-filter.bif
index c288171e5d..98c8dd59a8 100644
--- a/src/probabilistic/bloom-filter.bif
+++ b/src/probabilistic/bloom-filter.bif
@@ -20,11 +20,6 @@ module GLOBAL;
 
 ## Creates a basic Bloom filter.
 ##
-## .. note:: A Bloom filter can have a name associated with it. In the future,
-##    Bloom filters with the same name will be compatible across indepedent Bro
-##    instances, i.e., it will be possible to merge them. Currently, however, that is
-##    not yet supported.
-##
 ## fp: The desired false-positive rate.
 ##
 ## capacity: the maximum number of elements that guarantees a false-positive
@@ -61,11 +56,6 @@ function bloomfilter_basic_init%(fp: double, capacity: count,
 ## alternative to bloomfilter_basic_init where the user has full control over
 ## the number of hash functions and cells in the underlying bit vector.
 ##
-## .. note:: A Bloom filter can have a name associated with it. In the future,
-##    Bloom filters with the same name will be compatible across indepedent Bro
-##    instances, i.e., it will be possible to merge them. Currently, however, that is
-##    not yet supported.
-##
 ## k: The number of hash functions to use.
 ##
 ## cells: The number of cells of the underlying bit vector.
@@ -102,11 +92,6 @@ function bloomfilter_basic_init2%(k: count, cells: count,
 
 ## Creates a counting Bloom filter.
 ##
-## .. note:: A Bloom filter can have a name associated with it. In the future,
-##    Bloom filters with the same name will be compatible across indepedent Bro
-##    instances, i.e., it will be possible to merge them. Currently, however, that is
-##    not yet supported.
-##
 ## k: The number of hash functions to use.
 ##
 ## cells: The number of cells of the underlying counter vector. As there's no
@@ -250,3 +235,13 @@ function bloomfilter_merge%(bf1: opaque of bloomfilter,
 
 	return BloomFilterVal::Merge(bfv1, bfv2);
 	%}
+
+## Returns a string with a representation of a Bloom filter's internal
+## state. This is for debugging/testing purposes only.
+## 
+## bf: The Bloom filter handle.
+function bloomfilter_internal_state%(bf: opaque of bloomfilter%): string
+	%{
+	BloomFilterVal* bfv = static_cast<BloomFilterVal*>(bf);
+	return new StringVal(bfv->InternalState());
+	%}
diff --git a/testing/btest/Baseline/bifs.bloomfilter-seed/output b/testing/btest/Baseline/bifs.bloomfilter-seed/output
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..53e0f583f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/btest/Baseline/bifs.bloomfilter-seed/output
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+bf1, global_seed, 1
+bf2, global_seed, 5
+bf3, my_seed, 5
+bf4, my_seed, 6
+bf1, global_seed, 5
+bf2, global_seed, 6
+bf3, my_seed, 5
+bf4, my_seed, 6
diff --git a/testing/btest/bifs/bloomfilter-seed.bro b/testing/btest/bifs/bloomfilter-seed.bro
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..436638e2af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testing/btest/bifs/bloomfilter-seed.bro
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+# @TEST-EXEC: bro -b %INPUT global_hash_seed="foo" >>output
+# @TEST-EXEC: bro -b %INPUT global_hash_seed="my_seed" >>output 
+# @TEST-EXEC: btest-diff output
+
+type Foo: record 
+	{
+	a: count;
+	b: string;
+	};
+
+function test_bloom_filter()
+  {
+  local bf1 = bloomfilter_basic_init(0.9, 10);
+  bloomfilter_add(bf1, "foo");
+  bloomfilter_add(bf1, "bar");
+  
+  local bf2 = bloomfilter_basic_init(0.9, 10);
+  bloomfilter_add(bf2, Foo($a=1, $b="xx"));
+  bloomfilter_add(bf2, Foo($a=2, $b="yy"));
+  
+  local bf3 = bloomfilter_basic_init(0.9, 10, "my_seed");
+  bloomfilter_add(bf3, "foo");
+  bloomfilter_add(bf3, "bar");
+  
+  local bf4 = bloomfilter_basic_init(0.9, 10, "my_seed");
+  bloomfilter_add(bf4, Foo($a=1, $b="xx"));
+  bloomfilter_add(bf4, Foo($a=2, $b="yy"));
+
+  print "bf1, global_seed", bloomfilter_internal_state(bf1);
+  print "bf2, global_seed", bloomfilter_internal_state(bf2);
+  print "bf3, my_seed",     bloomfilter_internal_state(bf3);
+  print "bf4, my_seed",     bloomfilter_internal_state(bf4);
+
+  
+  }
+
+event bro_init()
+  {
+  test_bloom_filter();
+  }