diff --git a/.github/actionlint.yml b/.github/actionlint.yml
index a5282876d0..4ad8a7b460 100644
--- a/.github/actionlint.yml
+++ b/.github/actionlint.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 self-hosted-runner:
   labels:
     - arm64
-    - gen3
     - large
     - large-arm64
     - small
diff --git a/.github/actions/run-python-test-set/action.yml b/.github/actions/run-python-test-set/action.yml
index 9d39ab6ad7..4ccf190c6a 100644
--- a/.github/actions/run-python-test-set/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/run-python-test-set/action.yml
@@ -83,7 +83,6 @@ runs:
       uses: actions/checkout@v4
       with:
         submodules: true
-        fetch-depth: 1
 
     - name: Cache poetry deps
       uses: actions/cache@v4
diff --git a/.github/actions/set-docker-config-dir/action.yml b/.github/actions/set-docker-config-dir/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3ee8bec8c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/set-docker-config-dir/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+name: "Set custom docker config directory"
+description: "Create a directory for docker config and set DOCKER_CONFIG"
+
+# Use custom DOCKER_CONFIG directory to avoid conflicts with default settings
+runs:
+  using: "composite"
+  steps:
+  - name: Show warning on GitHub-hosted runners
+    if: runner.environment == 'github-hosted'
+    shell: bash -euo pipefail {0}
+    run: |
+      # Using the following environment variables to find a path to the workflow file
+      # ${GITHUB_WORKFLOW_REF} - octocat/hello-world/.github/workflows/my-workflow.yml@refs/heads/my_branch
+      # ${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}   - octocat/hello-world
+      # ${GITHUB_REF}          - refs/heads/my_branch
+      # From https://docs.github.com/en/actions/writing-workflows/choosing-what-your-workflow-does/variables
+
+      filename_with_ref=${GITHUB_WORKFLOW_REF#"$GITHUB_REPOSITORY/"}
+      filename=${filename_with_ref%"@$GITHUB_REF"}
+
+      # https://docs.github.com/en/actions/writing-workflows/choosing-what-your-workflow-does/workflow-commands-for-github-actions#setting-a-warning-message
+      title='Unnecessary usage of `.github/actions/set-docker-config-dir`'
+      message='No need to use `.github/actions/set-docker-config-dir` action on GitHub-hosted runners'
+      echo "::warning file=${filename},title=${title}::${message}"
+
+  - uses: pyTooling/Actions/with-post-step@74afc5a42a17a046c90c68cb5cfa627e5c6c5b6b # v1.0.7
+    env:
+      DOCKER_CONFIG: .docker-custom-${{ github.run_id }}-${{ github.run_attempt }}
+    with:
+      main: |
+        mkdir -p "${DOCKER_CONFIG}"
+        echo DOCKER_CONFIG=${DOCKER_CONFIG} | tee -a $GITHUB_ENV
+      post: |
+        if [ -d "${DOCKER_CONFIG}" ]; then
+          rm -r "${DOCKER_CONFIG}"
+        fi
diff --git a/.github/workflows/_benchmarking_preparation.yml b/.github/workflows/_benchmarking_preparation.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7229776cd6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/_benchmarking_preparation.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+name: Prepare benchmarking databases by restoring dumps
+
+on:
+  workflow_call:
+    # no inputs needed
+    
+defaults:
+  run:
+    shell: bash -euxo pipefail {0}
+
+jobs:
+  setup-databases:
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        platform: [ aws-rds-postgres, aws-aurora-serverless-v2-postgres, neon ] 
+        database: [ clickbench, tpch, userexample ]
+  
+    env:
+      LD_LIBRARY_PATH: /tmp/neon/pg_install/v16/lib
+      PLATFORM: ${{ matrix.platform }}
+      PG_BINARIES: /tmp/neon/pg_install/v16/bin
+
+    runs-on: [ self-hosted, us-east-2, x64 ]
+    container:
+      image: 369495373322.dkr.ecr.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/build-tools:pinned
+      options: --init
+
+    steps:
+    - name: Set up Connection String
+      id: set-up-prep-connstr
+      run: |
+        case "${PLATFORM}" in
+          neon)
+            CONNSTR=${{ secrets.BENCHMARK_CAPTEST_CONNSTR }} 
+            ;;
+          aws-rds-postgres)
+            CONNSTR=${{ secrets.BENCHMARK_RDS_POSTGRES_CONNSTR }} 
+            ;;
+          aws-aurora-serverless-v2-postgres)
+            CONNSTR=${{ secrets.BENCHMARK_RDS_AURORA_CONNSTR }} 
+            ;;
+          *)
+            echo >&2 "Unknown PLATFORM=${PLATFORM}"
+            exit 1
+            ;;
+        esac
+
+        echo "connstr=${CONNSTR}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT  
+
+    - name: Download Neon artifact
+      uses: ./.github/actions/download
+      with:
+        name: neon-${{ runner.os }}-${{ runner.arch }}-release-artifact
+        path: /tmp/neon/
+        prefix: latest
+
+    # we create a table that has one row for each database that we want to restore with the status whether the restore is done    
+    - name: Create benchmark_restore_status table if it does not exist
+      env:
+        BENCHMARK_CONNSTR: ${{ steps.set-up-prep-connstr.outputs.connstr }}
+        DATABASE_NAME: ${{ matrix.database }}
+      # to avoid a race condition of multiple jobs trying to create the table at the same time, 
+      # we use an advisory lock
+      run: |
+        ${PG_BINARIES}/psql "${{ env.BENCHMARK_CONNSTR }}" -c "
+        SELECT pg_advisory_lock(4711);  
+        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS benchmark_restore_status (
+        databasename text primary key,
+        restore_done boolean
+        );
+        SELECT pg_advisory_unlock(4711);
+        "
+    
+    - name: Check if restore is already done
+      id: check-restore-done
+      env:
+        BENCHMARK_CONNSTR: ${{ steps.set-up-prep-connstr.outputs.connstr }}
+        DATABASE_NAME: ${{ matrix.database }}
+      run: |
+        skip=false
+        if ${PG_BINARIES}/psql "${{ env.BENCHMARK_CONNSTR }}" -tAc "SELECT 1 FROM benchmark_restore_status WHERE databasename='${{ env.DATABASE_NAME }}' AND restore_done=true;" | grep -q 1; then
+          echo "Restore already done for database ${{ env.DATABASE_NAME }} on platform ${{ env.PLATFORM }}. Skipping this database."
+          skip=true
+        fi
+        echo "skip=${skip}" | tee -a $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+
+    - name: Check and create database if it does not exist
+      if: steps.check-restore-done.outputs.skip != 'true'
+      env:
+        BENCHMARK_CONNSTR: ${{ steps.set-up-prep-connstr.outputs.connstr }}
+        DATABASE_NAME: ${{ matrix.database }}
+      run: |
+        DB_EXISTS=$(${PG_BINARIES}/psql "${{ env.BENCHMARK_CONNSTR }}" -tAc "SELECT 1 FROM pg_database WHERE datname='${{ env.DATABASE_NAME }}'")
+        if [ "$DB_EXISTS" != "1" ]; then
+          echo "Database ${{ env.DATABASE_NAME }} does not exist. Creating it..."
+          ${PG_BINARIES}/psql "${{ env.BENCHMARK_CONNSTR }}" -c "CREATE DATABASE \"${{ env.DATABASE_NAME }}\";"
+        else
+          echo "Database ${{ env.DATABASE_NAME }} already exists."
+        fi
+
+    - name: Download dump from S3 to /tmp/dumps
+      if: steps.check-restore-done.outputs.skip != 'true'
+      env:
+        DATABASE_NAME: ${{ matrix.database }}
+      run: |
+        mkdir -p /tmp/dumps
+        aws s3 cp s3://neon-github-dev/performance/pgdumps/$DATABASE_NAME/$DATABASE_NAME.pg_dump /tmp/dumps/ 
+
+    - name: Replace database name in connection string
+      if: steps.check-restore-done.outputs.skip != 'true'
+      id: replace-dbname
+      env:
+        DATABASE_NAME: ${{ matrix.database }}
+        BENCHMARK_CONNSTR: ${{ steps.set-up-prep-connstr.outputs.connstr }}
+      run: |
+        # Extract the part before the database name
+        base_connstr="${BENCHMARK_CONNSTR%/*}"
+        # Extract the query parameters (if any) after the database name
+        query_params="${BENCHMARK_CONNSTR#*\?}"
+        # Reconstruct the new connection string
+        if [ "$query_params" != "$BENCHMARK_CONNSTR" ]; then
+          new_connstr="${base_connstr}/${DATABASE_NAME}?${query_params}"
+        else
+          new_connstr="${base_connstr}/${DATABASE_NAME}"
+        fi
+        echo "database_connstr=${new_connstr}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT  
+
+    - name: Restore dump
+      if: steps.check-restore-done.outputs.skip != 'true'
+      env:
+        DATABASE_NAME: ${{ matrix.database }}
+        DATABASE_CONNSTR: ${{ steps.replace-dbname.outputs.database_connstr }}
+        # the following works only with larger computes: 
+        # PGOPTIONS: "-c maintenance_work_mem=8388608 -c max_parallel_maintenance_workers=7"
+        # we add the || true because:
+        # the dumps were created with Neon and contain neon extensions that are not 
+        # available in RDS, so we will always report an error, but we can ignore it
+      run: |
+        ${PG_BINARIES}/pg_restore --clean --if-exists --no-owner --jobs=4 \
+        -d "${DATABASE_CONNSTR}" /tmp/dumps/${DATABASE_NAME}.pg_dump || true
+
+    - name: Update benchmark_restore_status table
+      if: steps.check-restore-done.outputs.skip != 'true'
+      env:
+        BENCHMARK_CONNSTR: ${{ steps.set-up-prep-connstr.outputs.connstr }}
+        DATABASE_NAME: ${{ matrix.database }}
+      run: |
+        ${PG_BINARIES}/psql "${{ env.BENCHMARK_CONNSTR }}" -c "
+        INSERT INTO benchmark_restore_status (databasename, restore_done) VALUES ('${{ env.DATABASE_NAME }}', true)
+        ON CONFLICT (databasename) DO UPDATE SET restore_done = true;
+        "
diff --git a/.github/workflows/_build-and-test-locally.yml b/.github/workflows/_build-and-test-locally.yml
index a0ed169024..af76e51ebc 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/_build-and-test-locally.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/_build-and-test-locally.yml
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           submodules: true
-          fetch-depth: 1
 
       - name: Set pg 14 revision for caching
         id: pg_v14_rev
@@ -208,7 +207,7 @@ jobs:
           export LD_LIBRARY_PATH
 
           #nextest does not yet support running doctests
-          cargo test --doc $CARGO_FLAGS $CARGO_FEATURES
+          ${cov_prefix} cargo test --doc $CARGO_FLAGS $CARGO_FEATURES
 
           for io_engine in std-fs tokio-epoll-uring ; do
             NEON_PAGESERVER_UNIT_TEST_VIRTUAL_FILE_IOENGINE=$io_engine ${cov_prefix} cargo nextest run $CARGO_FLAGS $CARGO_FEATURES
@@ -263,7 +262,6 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           submodules: true
-          fetch-depth: 1
 
       - name: Pytest regression tests
         uses: ./.github/actions/run-python-test-set
diff --git a/.github/workflows/actionlint.yml b/.github/workflows/actionlint.yml
index 34fd8b1d15..85cfe7446e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/actionlint.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/actionlint.yml
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ jobs:
             grep -ERl $PAT .github/workflows |\
             while read -r f
             do
-              l=$(grep -nE $PAT .github/workflows/release.yml | awk -F: '{print $1}' | head -1)
+              l=$(grep -nE $PAT $f | awk -F: '{print $1}' | head -1)
               echo "::error file=$f,line=$l::Please use 'ubuntu-22.04' instead of 'ubuntu-latest'"
             done
             exit 1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/benchmarking.yml b/.github/workflows/benchmarking.yml
index 6f80d6e431..a4a597acde 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/benchmarking.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/benchmarking.yml
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ jobs:
       uses: aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials@v4
       with:
         aws-region: eu-central-1
-        role-to-assume: ${{ vars.DEV_AWS_OIDC_ROLE_ARN }}  
+        role-to-assume: ${{ vars.DEV_AWS_OIDC_ROLE_ARN }}
         role-duration-seconds: 18000 # 5 hours
 
     - name: Download Neon artifact
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ jobs:
         api_key: ${{ secrets.NEON_STAGING_API_KEY }}
 
     - name: Create Allure report
+      id: create-allure-report
       if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
       uses: ./.github/actions/allure-report-generate
 
@@ -154,7 +155,10 @@ jobs:
       uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1
       with:
         channel-id: "C033QLM5P7D" # dev-staging-stream
-        slack-message: "Periodic perf testing: ${{ job.status }}\n${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}"
+        slack-message: |
+          Periodic perf testing: ${{ job.status }}
+          <${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}|GitHub Run>
+          <${{ steps.create-allure-report.outputs.report-url }}|Allure report>
       env:
         SLACK_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SLACK_BOT_TOKEN }}
 
@@ -176,7 +180,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-    
+
     - name: Download Neon artifact
       uses: ./.github/actions/download
       with:
@@ -215,15 +219,23 @@ jobs:
         NEON_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.NEON_STAGING_API_KEY }}
 
     - name: Create Allure report
+      id: create-allure-report
       if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
       uses: ./.github/actions/allure-report-generate
+      with:
+        store-test-results-into-db: true
+      env:
+        REGRESS_TEST_RESULT_CONNSTR_NEW: ${{ secrets.REGRESS_TEST_RESULT_CONNSTR_NEW }}
 
     - name: Post to a Slack channel
       if: ${{ github.event.schedule && failure() }}
       uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1
       with:
-        channel-id: "C033QLM5P7D" # dev-staging-stream
-        slack-message: "Periodic replication testing: ${{ job.status }}\n${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}"
+        channel-id: "C06T9AMNDQQ" # on-call-compute-staging-stream
+        slack-message: |
+          Periodic replication testing: ${{ job.status }}
+          <${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}|GitHub Run>
+          <${{ steps.create-allure-report.outputs.report-url }}|Allure report>
       env:
         SLACK_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SLACK_BOT_TOKEN }}
 
@@ -280,8 +292,9 @@ jobs:
                       { "pg_version": 16, "region_id": "'"$region_id_default"'", "platform": "neonvm-captest-sharding-reuse", "db_size": "50gb","runner": '"$runner_default"', "image": "'"$image_default"'" }]
         }'
 
-        if [ "$(date +%A)" = "Saturday" ]; then
-          matrix=$(echo "$matrix" | jq '.include += [{ "pg_version": 14, "region_id": "'"$region_id_default"'", "platform": "rds-postgres", "db_size": "10gb","runner": '"$runner_default"', "image": "'"$image_default"'" }]')
+        if [ "$(date +%A)" = "Saturday" ] || [ ${RUN_AWS_RDS_AND_AURORA} = "true" ]; then
+          matrix=$(echo "$matrix" | jq '.include += [{ "pg_version": 16, "region_id": "'"$region_id_default"'", "platform": "rds-postgres", "db_size": "10gb","runner": '"$runner_default"', "image": "'"$image_default"'" },
+                                                     { "pg_version": 16, "region_id": "'"$region_id_default"'", "platform": "rds-aurora", "db_size": "10gb","runner": '"$runner_default"', "image": "'"$image_default"'" }]')
         fi
 
         echo "matrix=$(echo "$matrix" | jq --compact-output '.')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
@@ -321,9 +334,13 @@ jobs:
 
         echo "matrix=$(echo "$matrix" | jq --compact-output '.')" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
 
+  prepare_AWS_RDS_databases:
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/_benchmarking_preparation.yml
+    secrets: inherit
+
   pgbench-compare:
     if: ${{ github.event.inputs.run_only_pgvector_tests == 'false' || github.event.inputs.run_only_pgvector_tests == null }}
-    needs: [ generate-matrices ]
+    needs: [ generate-matrices, prepare_AWS_RDS_databases ]
     permissions:
       contents: write
       statuses: write
@@ -360,7 +377,7 @@ jobs:
         aws-region: eu-central-1
         role-to-assume: ${{ vars.DEV_AWS_OIDC_ROLE_ARN }}
         role-duration-seconds: 18000 # 5 hours
-        
+
     - name: Download Neon artifact
       uses: ./.github/actions/download
       with:
@@ -455,6 +472,7 @@ jobs:
         api_key: ${{ secrets.NEON_STAGING_API_KEY }}
 
     - name: Create Allure report
+      id: create-allure-report
       if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
       uses: ./.github/actions/allure-report-generate
 
@@ -463,7 +481,10 @@ jobs:
       uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1
       with:
         channel-id: "C033QLM5P7D" # dev-staging-stream
-        slack-message: "Periodic perf testing ${{ matrix.platform }}: ${{ job.status }}\n${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}"
+        slack-message: |
+          Periodic perf testing on ${{ matrix.platform }}: ${{ job.status }}
+          <${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}|GitHub Run>
+          <${{ steps.create-allure-report.outputs.report-url }}|Allure report>
       env:
         SLACK_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SLACK_BOT_TOKEN }}
 
@@ -537,7 +558,7 @@ jobs:
         esac
 
         echo "connstr=${CONNSTR}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-        
+
     - name: Configure AWS credentials # necessary on Azure runners to read/write from/to S3
       uses: aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials@v4
       with:
@@ -572,8 +593,9 @@ jobs:
         BENCHMARK_CONNSTR: ${{ steps.set-up-connstr.outputs.connstr }}
         VIP_VAP_ACCESS_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.VIP_VAP_ACCESS_TOKEN }}"
         PERF_TEST_RESULT_CONNSTR: "${{ secrets.PERF_TEST_RESULT_CONNSTR }}"
-    
+
     - name: Create Allure report
+      id: create-allure-report
       if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
       uses: ./.github/actions/allure-report-generate
 
@@ -582,7 +604,10 @@ jobs:
       uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1
       with:
         channel-id: "C033QLM5P7D" # dev-staging-stream
-        slack-message: "Periodic perf testing ${PLATFORM}: ${{ job.status }}\n${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}"
+        slack-message: |
+          Periodic perf testing on ${{ env.PLATFORM }}: ${{ job.status }}
+          <${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}|GitHub Run>
+          <${{ steps.create-allure-report.outputs.report-url }}|Allure report>
       env:
         SLACK_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SLACK_BOT_TOKEN }}
 
@@ -595,7 +620,7 @@ jobs:
     # *_CLICKBENCH_CONNSTR: Genuine ClickBench DB with ~100M rows
     # *_CLICKBENCH_10M_CONNSTR: DB with the first 10M rows of ClickBench DB
     if: ${{ !cancelled() && (github.event.inputs.run_only_pgvector_tests == 'false' || github.event.inputs.run_only_pgvector_tests == null) }}
-    needs: [ generate-matrices, pgbench-compare ]
+    needs: [ generate-matrices, pgbench-compare, prepare_AWS_RDS_databases ]
 
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
@@ -603,7 +628,7 @@ jobs:
 
     env:
       POSTGRES_DISTRIB_DIR: /tmp/neon/pg_install
-      DEFAULT_PG_VERSION: 14
+      DEFAULT_PG_VERSION: 16
       TEST_OUTPUT: /tmp/test_output
       TEST_OLAP_COLLECT_EXPLAIN: ${{ github.event.inputs.collect_olap_explain }}
       TEST_OLAP_COLLECT_PG_STAT_STATEMENTS: ${{ github.event.inputs.collect_pg_stat_statements }}
@@ -655,6 +680,7 @@ jobs:
         run_in_parallel: false
         save_perf_report: ${{ env.SAVE_PERF_REPORT }}
         extra_params: -m remote_cluster --timeout 21600 -k test_clickbench
+        pg_version: ${{ env.DEFAULT_PG_VERSION }}
       env:
         VIP_VAP_ACCESS_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.VIP_VAP_ACCESS_TOKEN }}"
         PERF_TEST_RESULT_CONNSTR: "${{ secrets.PERF_TEST_RESULT_CONNSTR }}"
@@ -664,6 +690,7 @@ jobs:
         TEST_OLAP_SCALE: 10
 
     - name: Create Allure report
+      id: create-allure-report
       if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
       uses: ./.github/actions/allure-report-generate
 
@@ -672,7 +699,10 @@ jobs:
       uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1
       with:
         channel-id: "C033QLM5P7D" # dev-staging-stream
-        slack-message: "Periodic OLAP perf testing ${{ matrix.platform }}: ${{ job.status }}\n${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}"
+        slack-message: |
+          Periodic OLAP perf testing on ${{ matrix.platform }}: ${{ job.status }}
+          <${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}|GitHub Run>
+          <${{ steps.create-allure-report.outputs.report-url }}|Allure report>
       env:
         SLACK_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SLACK_BOT_TOKEN }}
 
@@ -684,7 +714,7 @@ jobs:
     #
     # *_TPCH_S10_CONNSTR: DB generated with scale factor 10 (~10 GB)
     if: ${{ !cancelled() && (github.event.inputs.run_only_pgvector_tests == 'false' || github.event.inputs.run_only_pgvector_tests == null) }}
-    needs: [ generate-matrices, clickbench-compare ]
+    needs: [ generate-matrices, clickbench-compare, prepare_AWS_RDS_databases ]
 
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
@@ -692,7 +722,7 @@ jobs:
 
     env:
       POSTGRES_DISTRIB_DIR: /tmp/neon/pg_install
-      DEFAULT_PG_VERSION: 14
+      DEFAULT_PG_VERSION: 16
       TEST_OUTPUT: /tmp/test_output
       BUILD_TYPE: remote
       SAVE_PERF_REPORT: ${{ github.event.inputs.save_perf_report || ( github.ref_name == 'main' ) }}
@@ -724,7 +754,7 @@ jobs:
             ENV_PLATFORM=RDS_AURORA_TPCH
             ;;
           rds-postgres)
-            ENV_PLATFORM=RDS_AURORA_TPCH
+            ENV_PLATFORM=RDS_POSTGRES_TPCH
             ;;
           *)
             echo >&2 "Unknown PLATFORM=${PLATFORM}. Allowed only 'neonvm-captest-reuse', 'rds-aurora', or 'rds-postgres'"
@@ -750,6 +780,7 @@ jobs:
         run_in_parallel: false
         save_perf_report: ${{ env.SAVE_PERF_REPORT }}
         extra_params: -m remote_cluster --timeout 21600 -k test_tpch
+        pg_version: ${{ env.DEFAULT_PG_VERSION }}
       env:
         VIP_VAP_ACCESS_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.VIP_VAP_ACCESS_TOKEN }}"
         PERF_TEST_RESULT_CONNSTR: "${{ secrets.PERF_TEST_RESULT_CONNSTR }}"
@@ -757,6 +788,7 @@ jobs:
         TEST_OLAP_SCALE: ${{ matrix.scale }}
 
     - name: Create Allure report
+      id: create-allure-report
       if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
       uses: ./.github/actions/allure-report-generate
 
@@ -765,13 +797,16 @@ jobs:
       uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1
       with:
         channel-id: "C033QLM5P7D" # dev-staging-stream
-        slack-message: "Periodic TPC-H perf testing ${{ matrix.platform }}: ${{ job.status }}\n${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}"
+        slack-message: |
+          Periodic TPC-H perf testing on ${{ matrix.platform }}: ${{ job.status }}
+          <${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}|GitHub Run>
+          <${{ steps.create-allure-report.outputs.report-url }}|Allure report>
       env:
         SLACK_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SLACK_BOT_TOKEN }}
 
   user-examples-compare:
     if: ${{ !cancelled() && (github.event.inputs.run_only_pgvector_tests == 'false' || github.event.inputs.run_only_pgvector_tests == null) }}
-    needs: [ generate-matrices, tpch-compare ]
+    needs: [ generate-matrices, tpch-compare, prepare_AWS_RDS_databases ]
 
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
@@ -779,7 +814,7 @@ jobs:
 
     env:
       POSTGRES_DISTRIB_DIR: /tmp/neon/pg_install
-      DEFAULT_PG_VERSION: 14
+      DEFAULT_PG_VERSION: 16
       TEST_OUTPUT: /tmp/test_output
       BUILD_TYPE: remote
       SAVE_PERF_REPORT: ${{ github.event.inputs.save_perf_report || ( github.ref_name == 'main' ) }}
@@ -836,6 +871,7 @@ jobs:
         BENCHMARK_CONNSTR: ${{ steps.set-up-connstr.outputs.connstr }}
 
     - name: Create Allure report
+      id: create-allure-report
       if: ${{ !cancelled() }}
       uses: ./.github/actions/allure-report-generate
 
@@ -844,6 +880,10 @@ jobs:
       uses: slackapi/slack-github-action@v1
       with:
         channel-id: "C033QLM5P7D" # dev-staging-stream
-        slack-message: "Periodic User example perf testing ${{ matrix.platform }}: ${{ job.status }}\n${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}"
+        slack-message: |
+          Periodic TPC-H perf testing on ${{ matrix.platform }}: ${{ job.status }}
+          <${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}|GitHub Run>
+          <${{ steps.create-allure-report.outputs.report-url }}|Allure report>
+
       env:
         SLACK_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SLACK_BOT_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-build-tools-image.yml b/.github/workflows/build-build-tools-image.yml
index 76fc58151a..ca5ff573e1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-build-tools-image.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-build-tools-image.yml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         arch: [ x64, arm64 ]
 
-    runs-on: ${{ fromJson(format('["self-hosted", "gen3", "{0}"]', matrix.arch == 'arm64' && 'large-arm64' || 'large')) }}
+    runs-on: ${{ fromJson(format('["self-hosted", "{0}"]', matrix.arch == 'arm64' && 'large-arm64' || 'large')) }}
 
     env:
       IMAGE_TAG: ${{ inputs.image-tag }}
@@ -56,13 +56,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
-      # Use custom DOCKER_CONFIG directory to avoid conflicts with default settings
-      # The default value is ~/.docker
-      - name: Set custom docker config directory
-        run: |
-          mkdir -p /tmp/.docker-custom
-          echo DOCKER_CONFIG=/tmp/.docker-custom >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
+      - uses: ./.github/actions/set-docker-config-dir
       - uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
         with:
           cache-binary: false
@@ -89,11 +83,6 @@ jobs:
           cache-to: ${{ github.ref_name == 'main' && format('type=registry,ref=cache.neon.build/build-tools:cache-{0},mode=max', matrix.arch) || '' }}
           tags: neondatabase/build-tools:${{ inputs.image-tag }}-${{ matrix.arch }}
 
-      - name: Remove custom docker config directory
-        if: always()
-        run: |
-          rm -rf /tmp/.docker-custom
-
   merge-images:
     needs: [ build-image ]
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml b/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
index c7ae2aedd4..ee6d3ba005 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ jobs:
 
   tag:
     needs: [ check-permissions ]
-    runs-on: [ self-hosted, gen3, small ]
+    runs-on: [ self-hosted, small ]
     container: 369495373322.dkr.ecr.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/base:pinned
     outputs:
       build-tag: ${{steps.build-tag.outputs.tag}}
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ jobs:
 
   check-codestyle-python:
     needs: [ check-permissions, build-build-tools-image ]
-    runs-on: [ self-hosted, gen3, small ]
+    runs-on: [ self-hosted, small ]
     container:
       image: ${{ needs.build-build-tools-image.outputs.image }}
       credentials:
@@ -101,9 +101,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          submodules: false
-          fetch-depth: 1
 
       - name: Cache poetry deps
         uses: actions/cache@v4
@@ -142,7 +139,6 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           submodules: true
-          fetch-depth: 1
 
 #      Disabled for now
 #      - name: Restore cargo deps cache
@@ -204,7 +200,7 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         arch: [ x64 ]
         # Do not build or run tests in debug for release branches
-        build-type: ${{ fromJson((startsWith(github.ref_name, 'release' && github.event_name == 'push')) && '["release"]' || '["debug", "release"]') }}
+        build-type: ${{ fromJson((startsWith(github.ref_name, 'release') && github.event_name == 'push') && '["release"]' || '["debug", "release"]') }}
         include:
           - build-type: release
             arch: arm64
@@ -224,7 +220,7 @@ jobs:
     outputs:
       json: ${{ steps.get-benchmark-durations.outputs.json }}
     needs: [ check-permissions, build-build-tools-image ]
-    runs-on: [ self-hosted, gen3, small ]
+    runs-on: [ self-hosted, small ]
     container:
       image: ${{ needs.build-build-tools-image.outputs.image }}
       credentials:
@@ -257,7 +253,7 @@ jobs:
   benchmarks:
     if: github.ref_name == 'main' || contains(github.event.pull_request.labels.*.name, 'run-benchmarks')
     needs: [ check-permissions, build-and-test-locally, build-build-tools-image, get-benchmarks-durations ]
-    runs-on: [ self-hosted, gen3, small ]
+    runs-on: [ self-hosted, small ]
     container:
       image: ${{ needs.build-build-tools-image.outputs.image }}
       credentials:
@@ -302,9 +298,8 @@ jobs:
       with:
         channel-id: C060CNA47S9 # on-call-staging-storage-stream
         slack-message: |
-          Benchmarks failed on main: ${{ github.event.head_commit.url }}
-
-          Allure report: ${{ needs.create-test-report.outputs.report-url }}
+          Benchmarks failed on main <${{ github.event.head_commit.url }}|${{ github.sha }}>
+          <${{ needs.create-test-report.outputs.report-url }}|Allure report>
       env:
         SLACK_BOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SLACK_BOT_TOKEN }}
 
@@ -314,7 +309,7 @@ jobs:
     outputs:
       report-url: ${{ steps.create-allure-report.outputs.report-url }}
 
-    runs-on: [ self-hosted, gen3, small ]
+    runs-on: [ self-hosted, small ]
     container:
       image: ${{ needs.build-build-tools-image.outputs.image }}
       credentials:
@@ -361,7 +356,7 @@ jobs:
 
   coverage-report:
     needs: [ check-permissions, build-build-tools-image, build-and-test-locally ]
-    runs-on: [ self-hosted, gen3, small ]
+    runs-on: [ self-hosted, small ]
     container:
       image: ${{ needs.build-build-tools-image.outputs.image }}
       credentials:
@@ -475,7 +470,7 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         arch: [ x64, arm64 ]
 
-    runs-on: ${{ fromJson(format('["self-hosted", "gen3", "{0}"]', matrix.arch == 'arm64' && 'large-arm64' || 'large')) }}
+    runs-on: ${{ fromJson(format('["self-hosted", "{0}"]', matrix.arch == 'arm64' && 'large-arm64' || 'large')) }}
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
@@ -484,12 +479,7 @@ jobs:
           submodules: true
           fetch-depth: 0
 
-      # Use custom DOCKER_CONFIG directory to avoid conflicts with default settings
-      # The default value is ~/.docker
-      - name: Set custom docker config directory
-        run: |
-          mkdir -p .docker-custom
-          echo DOCKER_CONFIG=$(pwd)/.docker-custom >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - uses: ./.github/actions/set-docker-config-dir
       - uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
         with:
           cache-binary: false
@@ -508,7 +498,10 @@ jobs:
       - uses: docker/build-push-action@v6
         with:
           context: .
+          # ARM-specific flags are recommended for Graviton ≥ 2, these flags are also supported by Ampere Altra (Azure)
+          # https://github.com/aws/aws-graviton-getting-started/blob/57dc813626d0266f1cc12ef83474745bb1f31fb4/rust.md
           build-args: |
+            ADDITIONAL_RUSTFLAGS=${{ matrix.arch == 'arm64' && '-Ctarget-feature=+lse -Ctarget-cpu=neoverse-n1' || '' }}
             GIT_VERSION=${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha || github.sha }}
             BUILD_TAG=${{ needs.tag.outputs.build-tag }}
             TAG=${{ needs.build-build-tools-image.outputs.image-tag }}
@@ -521,11 +514,6 @@ jobs:
           tags: |
             neondatabase/neon:${{ needs.tag.outputs.build-tag }}-${{ matrix.arch }}
 
-      - name: Remove custom docker config directory
-        if: always()
-        run: |
-          rm -rf .docker-custom
-
   neon-image:
     needs: [ neon-image-arch, tag ]
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
@@ -561,7 +549,7 @@ jobs:
         version: [ v14, v15, v16 ]
         arch: [ x64, arm64 ]
 
-    runs-on: ${{ fromJson(format('["self-hosted", "gen3", "{0}"]', matrix.arch == 'arm64' && 'large-arm64' || 'large')) }}
+    runs-on: ${{ fromJson(format('["self-hosted", "{0}"]', matrix.arch == 'arm64' && 'large-arm64' || 'large')) }}
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
@@ -570,12 +558,7 @@ jobs:
           submodules: true
           fetch-depth: 0
 
-      # Use custom DOCKER_CONFIG directory to avoid conflicts with default settings
-      # The default value is ~/.docker
-      - name: Set custom docker config directory
-        run: |
-          mkdir -p .docker-custom
-          echo DOCKER_CONFIG=$(pwd)/.docker-custom >> $GITHUB_ENV
+      - uses: ./.github/actions/set-docker-config-dir
       - uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
         with:
           cache-binary: false
@@ -658,11 +641,6 @@ jobs:
           tags: |
             neondatabase/compute-tools:${{ needs.tag.outputs.build-tag }}-${{ matrix.arch }}
 
-      - name: Remove custom docker config directory
-        if: always()
-        run: |
-          rm -rf .docker-custom
-
   compute-node-image:
     needs: [ compute-node-image-arch, tag ]
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
@@ -716,7 +694,7 @@ jobs:
 
   vm-compute-node-image:
     needs: [ check-permissions, tag, compute-node-image ]
-    runs-on: [ self-hosted, gen3, large ]
+    runs-on: [ self-hosted, large ]
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
@@ -735,13 +713,7 @@ jobs:
           curl -fL https://github.com/neondatabase/autoscaling/releases/download/$VM_BUILDER_VERSION/vm-builder -o vm-builder
           chmod +x vm-builder
 
-      # Use custom DOCKER_CONFIG directory to avoid conflicts with default settings
-      # The default value is ~/.docker
-      - name: Set custom docker config directory
-        run: |
-          mkdir -p .docker-custom
-          echo DOCKER_CONFIG=$(pwd)/.docker-custom >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
+      - uses: ./.github/actions/set-docker-config-dir
       - uses: docker/login-action@v3
         with:
           username: ${{ secrets.NEON_DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }}
@@ -764,11 +736,6 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           docker push neondatabase/vm-compute-node-${{ matrix.version }}:${{ needs.tag.outputs.build-tag }}
 
-      - name: Remove custom docker config directory
-        if: always()
-        run: |
-          rm -rf .docker-custom
-
   test-images:
     needs: [ check-permissions, tag, neon-image, compute-node-image ]
     strategy:
@@ -776,7 +743,7 @@ jobs:
       matrix:
         arch: [ x64, arm64 ]
 
-    runs-on: ${{ fromJson(format('["self-hosted", "gen3", "{0}"]', matrix.arch == 'arm64' && 'small-arm64' || 'small')) }}
+    runs-on: ${{ fromJson(format('["self-hosted", "{0}"]', matrix.arch == 'arm64' && 'small-arm64' || 'small')) }}
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
@@ -784,13 +751,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
 
-      # Use custom DOCKER_CONFIG directory to avoid conflicts with default settings
-      # The default value is ~/.docker
-      - name: Set custom docker config directory
-        run: |
-          mkdir -p .docker-custom
-          echo DOCKER_CONFIG=$(pwd)/.docker-custom >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
+      - uses: ./.github/actions/set-docker-config-dir
       - uses: docker/login-action@v3
         with:
           username: ${{ secrets.NEON_DOCKERHUB_USERNAME }}
@@ -830,11 +791,6 @@ jobs:
           docker compose -f ./docker-compose/docker-compose.yml logs || 0
           docker compose -f ./docker-compose/docker-compose.yml down
 
-      - name: Remove custom docker config directory
-        if: always()
-        run: |
-          rm -rf .docker-custom
-
   promote-images:
     permissions:
       contents: read  # This is required for actions/checkout
@@ -1002,7 +958,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [ check-permissions, promote-images, tag, build-and-test-locally, trigger-custom-extensions-build-and-wait ]
     if: github.ref_name == 'main' || github.ref_name == 'release'|| github.ref_name == 'release-proxy'
 
-    runs-on: [ self-hosted, gen3, small ]
+    runs-on: [ self-hosted, small ]
     container: 369495373322.dkr.ecr.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/ansible:latest
     steps:
       - name: Fix git ownership
@@ -1022,7 +978,6 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
-          submodules: false
           fetch-depth: 0
 
       - name: Trigger deploy workflow
@@ -1103,7 +1058,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: [ check-permissions, promote-images, tag, build-and-test-locally ]
     if: github.ref_name == 'release'
 
-    runs-on: [ self-hosted, gen3, small ]
+    runs-on: [ self-hosted, small ]
     container:
       image: 369495373322.dkr.ecr.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/base:pinned
       options: --init
@@ -1159,10 +1114,12 @@ jobs:
     # Format `needs` differently to make the list more readable.
     # Usually we do `needs: [...]`
     needs:
+      - build-and-test-locally
       - check-codestyle-python
       - check-codestyle-rust
-      - build-and-test-locally
+      - promote-images
       - test-images
+      - trigger-custom-extensions-build-and-wait
     runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
     steps:
       # The list of possible results:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/label-for-external-users.yml b/.github/workflows/label-for-external-users.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..585d118dfb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/label-for-external-users.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+name: Add `external` label to issues and PRs created by external users
+
+on:
+  issues:
+    types:
+      - opened
+  pull_request_target:
+    types:
+      - opened
+
+# No permission for GITHUB_TOKEN by default; the **minimal required** set of permissions should be granted in each job.
+permissions: {}
+
+env:
+  LABEL: external
+
+jobs:
+  check-user:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+
+    outputs:
+      is-member: ${{ steps.check-user.outputs.is-member }}
+
+    steps:
+    - name: Check whether `${{ github.actor }}` is a member of `${{ github.repository_owner }}`
+      id: check-user
+      env:
+        GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
+      run: |
+        if gh api -H "Accept: application/vnd.github+json" -H "X-GitHub-Api-Version: 2022-11-28" "/orgs/${GITHUB_REPOSITORY_OWNER}/members/${GITHUB_ACTOR}"; then
+          is_member=true
+        else
+          is_member=false
+        fi
+
+        echo "is-member=${is_member}" | tee -a ${GITHUB_OUTPUT}
+
+  add-label:
+    if: needs.check-user.outputs.is-member == 'false'
+    needs: [ check-user ]
+
+    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
+    permissions:
+      pull-requests: write # for `gh pr edit`
+      issues: write        # for `gh issue edit`
+
+    steps:
+    - name: Add `${{ env.LABEL }}` label
+      env:
+        GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+        ITEM_NUMBER: ${{ github.event[github.event_name == 'pull_request_target' && 'pull_request' || 'issue'].number }}
+        GH_CLI_COMMAND: ${{ github.event_name == 'pull_request_target' && 'pr' || 'issue' }}
+      run: |
+        gh ${GH_CLI_COMMAND} --repo ${GITHUB_REPOSITORY} edit --add-label=${LABEL} ${ITEM_NUMBER}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/neon_extra_builds.yml b/.github/workflows/neon_extra_builds.yml
index 2ee66cfdc1..7fecdbde8c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/neon_extra_builds.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/neon_extra_builds.yml
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           submodules: true
-          fetch-depth: 1
 
       - name: Install macOS postgres dependencies
         run: brew install flex bison openssl protobuf icu4c pkg-config
@@ -158,7 +157,6 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
           submodules: true
-          fetch-depth: 1
 
       # Some of our rust modules use FFI and need those to be checked
       - name: Get postgres headers
diff --git a/.github/workflows/periodic_pagebench.yml b/.github/workflows/periodic_pagebench.yml
index ed4e6be712..615937b5a1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/periodic_pagebench.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/periodic_pagebench.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ concurrency:
 
 jobs:
   trigger_bench_on_ec2_machine_in_eu_central_1:
-    runs-on: [ self-hosted, gen3, small ]
+    runs-on: [ self-hosted, small ]
     container:
       image: neondatabase/build-tools:pinned
       credentials:
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 031fae0f37..dee15b6aa7 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "http 0.2.9",
  "http 1.1.0",
  "once_cell",
- "p256",
+ "p256 0.11.1",
  "percent-encoding",
  "ring 0.17.6",
  "sha2",
@@ -848,6 +848,12 @@ version = "0.1.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "349a06037c7bf932dd7e7d1f653678b2038b9ad46a74102f1fc7bd7872678cce"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "base16ct"
+version = "0.2.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "4c7f02d4ea65f2c1853089ffd8d2787bdbc63de2f0d29dedbcf8ccdfa0ccd4cf"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "base64"
 version = "0.13.1"
@@ -971,9 +977,9 @@ checksum = "a3e2c3daef883ecc1b5d58c15adae93470a91d425f3532ba1695849656af3fc1"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "bytemuck"
-version = "1.16.0"
+version = "1.16.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "78834c15cb5d5efe3452d58b1e8ba890dd62d21907f867f383358198e56ebca5"
+checksum = "102087e286b4677862ea56cf8fc58bb2cdfa8725c40ffb80fe3a008eb7f2fc83"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "byteorder"
@@ -1526,8 +1532,10 @@ version = "0.5.5"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "0dc92fb57ca44df6db8059111ab3af99a63d5d0f8375d9972e319a379c6bab76"
 dependencies = [
+ "generic-array",
  "rand_core 0.6.4",
  "subtle",
+ "zeroize",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -1621,6 +1629,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "fffa369a668c8af7dbf8b5e56c9f744fbd399949ed171606040001947de40b1c"
 dependencies = [
  "const-oid",
+ "pem-rfc7468",
  "zeroize",
 ]
 
@@ -1720,6 +1729,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "9ed9a281f7bc9b7576e61468ba615a66a5c8cfdff42420a70aa82701a3b1e292"
 dependencies = [
  "block-buffer",
+ "const-oid",
  "crypto-common",
  "subtle",
 ]
@@ -1771,11 +1781,25 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "413301934810f597c1d19ca71c8710e99a3f1ba28a0d2ebc01551a2daeea3c5c"
 dependencies = [
  "der 0.6.1",
- "elliptic-curve",
- "rfc6979",
+ "elliptic-curve 0.12.3",
+ "rfc6979 0.3.1",
  "signature 1.6.4",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "ecdsa"
+version = "0.16.9"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "ee27f32b5c5292967d2d4a9d7f1e0b0aed2c15daded5a60300e4abb9d8020bca"
+dependencies = [
+ "der 0.7.8",
+ "digest",
+ "elliptic-curve 0.13.8",
+ "rfc6979 0.4.0",
+ "signature 2.2.0",
+ "spki 0.7.3",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "either"
 version = "1.8.1"
@@ -1788,16 +1812,36 @@ version = "0.12.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "e7bb888ab5300a19b8e5bceef25ac745ad065f3c9f7efc6de1b91958110891d3"
 dependencies = [
- "base16ct",
+ "base16ct 0.1.1",
  "crypto-bigint 0.4.9",
  "der 0.6.1",
  "digest",
- "ff",
+ "ff 0.12.1",
  "generic-array",
- "group",
- "pkcs8",
+ "group 0.12.1",
+ "pkcs8 0.9.0",
  "rand_core 0.6.4",
- "sec1",
+ "sec1 0.3.0",
+ "subtle",
+ "zeroize",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "elliptic-curve"
+version = "0.13.8"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "b5e6043086bf7973472e0c7dff2142ea0b680d30e18d9cc40f267efbf222bd47"
+dependencies = [
+ "base16ct 0.2.0",
+ "crypto-bigint 0.5.5",
+ "digest",
+ "ff 0.13.0",
+ "generic-array",
+ "group 0.13.0",
+ "pem-rfc7468",
+ "pkcs8 0.10.2",
+ "rand_core 0.6.4",
+ "sec1 0.7.3",
  "subtle",
  "zeroize",
 ]
@@ -1951,6 +1995,16 @@ dependencies = [
  "subtle",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "ff"
+version = "0.13.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "ded41244b729663b1e574f1b4fb731469f69f79c17667b5d776b16cda0479449"
+dependencies = [
+ "rand_core 0.6.4",
+ "subtle",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "filetime"
 version = "0.2.22"
@@ -2148,6 +2202,7 @@ checksum = "85649ca51fd72272d7821adaf274ad91c288277713d9c18820d8499a7ff69e9a"
 dependencies = [
  "typenum",
  "version_check",
+ "zeroize",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -2214,7 +2269,18 @@ version = "0.12.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "5dfbfb3a6cfbd390d5c9564ab283a0349b9b9fcd46a706c1eb10e0db70bfbac7"
 dependencies = [
- "ff",
+ "ff 0.12.1",
+ "rand_core 0.6.4",
+ "subtle",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "group"
+version = "0.13.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "f0f9ef7462f7c099f518d754361858f86d8a07af53ba9af0fe635bbccb151a63"
+dependencies = [
+ "ff 0.13.0",
  "rand_core 0.6.4",
  "subtle",
 ]
@@ -2776,6 +2842,42 @@ dependencies = [
  "libc",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "jose-b64"
+version = "0.1.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "bec69375368709666b21c76965ce67549f2d2db7605f1f8707d17c9656801b56"
+dependencies = [
+ "base64ct",
+ "serde",
+ "subtle",
+ "zeroize",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "jose-jwa"
+version = "0.1.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "9ab78e053fe886a351d67cf0d194c000f9d0dcb92906eb34d853d7e758a4b3a7"
+dependencies = [
+ "serde",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "jose-jwk"
+version = "0.1.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "280fa263807fe0782ecb6f2baadc28dffc04e00558a58e33bfdb801d11fd58e7"
+dependencies = [
+ "jose-b64",
+ "jose-jwa",
+ "p256 0.13.2",
+ "p384",
+ "rsa",
+ "serde",
+ "zeroize",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "js-sys"
 version = "0.3.69"
@@ -2835,6 +2937,9 @@ name = "lazy_static"
 version = "1.4.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "e2abad23fbc42b3700f2f279844dc832adb2b2eb069b2df918f455c4e18cc646"
+dependencies = [
+ "spin 0.5.2",
+]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lazycell"
@@ -3204,6 +3309,23 @@ dependencies = [
  "num-traits",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "num-bigint-dig"
+version = "0.8.4"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "dc84195820f291c7697304f3cbdadd1cb7199c0efc917ff5eafd71225c136151"
+dependencies = [
+ "byteorder",
+ "lazy_static",
+ "libm",
+ "num-integer",
+ "num-iter",
+ "num-traits",
+ "rand 0.8.5",
+ "smallvec",
+ "zeroize",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "num-complex"
 version = "0.4.4"
@@ -3481,11 +3603,33 @@ version = "0.11.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "51f44edd08f51e2ade572f141051021c5af22677e42b7dd28a88155151c33594"
 dependencies = [
- "ecdsa",
- "elliptic-curve",
+ "ecdsa 0.14.8",
+ "elliptic-curve 0.12.3",
  "sha2",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "p256"
+version = "0.13.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "c9863ad85fa8f4460f9c48cb909d38a0d689dba1f6f6988a5e3e0d31071bcd4b"
+dependencies = [
+ "ecdsa 0.16.9",
+ "elliptic-curve 0.13.8",
+ "primeorder",
+ "sha2",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "p384"
+version = "0.13.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "70786f51bcc69f6a4c0360e063a4cac5419ef7c5cd5b3c99ad70f3be5ba79209"
+dependencies = [
+ "elliptic-curve 0.13.8",
+ "primeorder",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "pagebench"
 version = "0.1.0"
@@ -3847,6 +3991,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "pem-rfc7468"
+version = "0.7.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "88b39c9bfcfc231068454382784bb460aae594343fb030d46e9f50a645418412"
+dependencies = [
+ "base64ct",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "percent-encoding"
 version = "2.2.0"
@@ -3913,6 +4066,17 @@ version = "0.1.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "8b870d8c151b6f2fb93e84a13146138f05d02ed11c7e7c54f8826aaaf7c9f184"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "pkcs1"
+version = "0.7.5"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "c8ffb9f10fa047879315e6625af03c164b16962a5368d724ed16323b68ace47f"
+dependencies = [
+ "der 0.7.8",
+ "pkcs8 0.10.2",
+ "spki 0.7.3",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "pkcs8"
 version = "0.9.0"
@@ -3923,6 +4087,16 @@ dependencies = [
  "spki 0.6.0",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "pkcs8"
+version = "0.10.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "f950b2377845cebe5cf8b5165cb3cc1a5e0fa5cfa3e1f7f55707d8fd82e0a7b7"
+dependencies = [
+ "der 0.7.8",
+ "spki 0.7.3",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "pkg-config"
 version = "0.3.27"
@@ -4116,6 +4290,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "syn 2.0.52",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "primeorder"
+version = "0.13.6"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "353e1ca18966c16d9deb1c69278edbc5f194139612772bd9537af60ac231e1e6"
+dependencies = [
+ "elliptic-curve 0.13.8",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "proc-macro-hack"
 version = "0.5.20+deprecated"
@@ -4233,6 +4416,7 @@ version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
  "ahash",
  "anyhow",
+ "arc-swap",
  "async-compression",
  "async-trait",
  "atomic-take",
@@ -4250,6 +4434,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "consumption_metrics",
  "crossbeam-deque",
  "dashmap",
+ "ecdsa 0.16.9",
  "env_logger",
  "fallible-iterator",
  "framed-websockets",
@@ -4270,12 +4455,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "indexmap 2.0.1",
  "ipnet",
  "itertools 0.10.5",
+ "jose-jwa",
+ "jose-jwk",
  "lasso",
  "md5",
  "measured",
  "metrics",
  "once_cell",
  "opentelemetry",
+ "p256 0.13.2",
  "parking_lot 0.12.1",
  "parquet",
  "parquet_derive",
@@ -4296,6 +4484,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "reqwest-retry",
  "reqwest-tracing",
  "routerify",
+ "rsa",
  "rstest",
  "rustc-hash",
  "rustls 0.22.4",
@@ -4305,6 +4494,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
  "sha2",
+ "signature 2.2.0",
  "smallvec",
  "smol_str",
  "socket2 0.5.5",
@@ -4807,6 +4997,16 @@ dependencies = [
  "zeroize",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "rfc6979"
+version = "0.4.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "f8dd2a808d456c4a54e300a23e9f5a67e122c3024119acbfd73e3bf664491cb2"
+dependencies = [
+ "hmac",
+ "subtle",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "ring"
 version = "0.16.20"
@@ -4867,6 +5067,26 @@ dependencies = [
  "archery",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "rsa"
+version = "0.9.6"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "5d0e5124fcb30e76a7e79bfee683a2746db83784b86289f6251b54b7950a0dfc"
+dependencies = [
+ "const-oid",
+ "digest",
+ "num-bigint-dig",
+ "num-integer",
+ "num-traits",
+ "pkcs1",
+ "pkcs8 0.10.2",
+ "rand_core 0.6.4",
+ "signature 2.2.0",
+ "spki 0.7.3",
+ "subtle",
+ "zeroize",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "rstest"
 version = "0.18.2"
@@ -5195,10 +5415,24 @@ version = "0.3.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "3be24c1842290c45df0a7bf069e0c268a747ad05a192f2fd7dcfdbc1cba40928"
 dependencies = [
- "base16ct",
+ "base16ct 0.1.1",
  "der 0.6.1",
  "generic-array",
- "pkcs8",
+ "pkcs8 0.9.0",
+ "subtle",
+ "zeroize",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "sec1"
+version = "0.7.3"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "d3e97a565f76233a6003f9f5c54be1d9c5bdfa3eccfb189469f11ec4901c47dc"
+dependencies = [
+ "base16ct 0.2.0",
+ "der 0.7.8",
+ "generic-array",
+ "pkcs8 0.10.2",
  "subtle",
  "zeroize",
 ]
@@ -5545,6 +5779,7 @@ version = "2.2.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "77549399552de45a898a580c1b41d445bf730df867cc44e6c0233bbc4b8329de"
 dependencies = [
+ "digest",
  "rand_core 0.6.4",
 ]
 
@@ -7379,13 +7614,17 @@ dependencies = [
  "clap",
  "clap_builder",
  "crossbeam-utils",
+ "crypto-bigint 0.5.5",
+ "der 0.7.8",
  "deranged",
+ "digest",
  "either",
  "fail",
  "futures-channel",
  "futures-executor",
  "futures-io",
  "futures-util",
+ "generic-array",
  "getrandom 0.2.11",
  "hashbrown 0.14.5",
  "hex",
@@ -7393,6 +7632,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "hyper 0.14.26",
  "indexmap 1.9.3",
  "itertools 0.10.5",
+ "lazy_static",
  "libc",
  "log",
  "memchr",
@@ -7416,7 +7656,9 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
  "sha2",
+ "signature 2.2.0",
  "smallvec",
+ "spki 0.7.3",
  "subtle",
  "syn 1.0.109",
  "syn 2.0.52",
@@ -7527,6 +7769,7 @@ version = "1.7.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "525b4ec142c6b68a2d10f01f7bbf6755599ca3f81ea53b8431b7dd348f5fdb2d"
 dependencies = [
+ "serde",
  "zeroize_derive",
 ]
 
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index ceb1c7cb55..d3d12330c6 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -35,8 +35,9 @@ COPY --from=pg-build /home/nonroot/pg_install/v16/include/postgresql/server pg_i
 COPY --from=pg-build /home/nonroot/pg_install/v16/lib                       pg_install/v16/lib
 COPY --chown=nonroot . .
 
+ARG ADDITIONAL_RUSTFLAGS
 RUN set -e \
-    && PQ_LIB_DIR=$(pwd)/pg_install/v16/lib RUSTFLAGS="-Clinker=clang -Clink-arg=-fuse-ld=mold -Clink-arg=-Wl,--no-rosegment" cargo build \
+    && PQ_LIB_DIR=$(pwd)/pg_install/v16/lib RUSTFLAGS="-Clinker=clang -Clink-arg=-fuse-ld=mold -Clink-arg=-Wl,--no-rosegment ${ADDITIONAL_RUSTFLAGS}" cargo build \
       --bin pg_sni_router  \
       --bin pageserver  \
       --bin pagectl  \
diff --git a/control_plane/src/background_process.rs b/control_plane/src/background_process.rs
index bf8a27e550..619c5bce3e 100644
--- a/control_plane/src/background_process.rs
+++ b/control_plane/src/background_process.rs
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-fn process_has_stopped(pid: Pid) -> anyhow::Result<bool> {
+pub(crate) fn process_has_stopped(pid: Pid) -> anyhow::Result<bool> {
     match kill(pid, None) {
         // Process exists, keep waiting
         Ok(_) => Ok(false),
diff --git a/control_plane/src/bin/neon_local.rs b/control_plane/src/bin/neon_local.rs
index 51e9a51a57..edd88dc71c 100644
--- a/control_plane/src/bin/neon_local.rs
+++ b/control_plane/src/bin/neon_local.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ use control_plane::local_env::{
 };
 use control_plane::pageserver::PageServerNode;
 use control_plane::safekeeper::SafekeeperNode;
-use control_plane::storage_controller::StorageController;
+use control_plane::storage_controller::{
+    NeonStorageControllerStartArgs, NeonStorageControllerStopArgs, StorageController,
+};
 use control_plane::{broker, local_env};
 use pageserver_api::config::{
     DEFAULT_HTTP_LISTEN_PORT as DEFAULT_PAGESERVER_HTTP_PORT,
@@ -1052,6 +1054,36 @@ fn get_start_timeout(args: &ArgMatches) -> &Duration {
     humantime_duration.as_ref()
 }
 
+fn storage_controller_start_args(args: &ArgMatches) -> NeonStorageControllerStartArgs {
+    let maybe_instance_id = args.get_one::<u8>("instance-id");
+
+    let base_port = args.get_one::<u16>("base-port");
+
+    if maybe_instance_id.is_some() && base_port.is_none() {
+        panic!("storage-controller start specificied instance-id but did not provide base-port");
+    }
+
+    let start_timeout = args
+        .get_one::<humantime::Duration>("start-timeout")
+        .expect("invalid value for start-timeout");
+
+    NeonStorageControllerStartArgs {
+        instance_id: maybe_instance_id.copied().unwrap_or(1),
+        base_port: base_port.copied(),
+        start_timeout: *start_timeout,
+    }
+}
+
+fn storage_controller_stop_args(args: &ArgMatches) -> NeonStorageControllerStopArgs {
+    let maybe_instance_id = args.get_one::<u8>("instance-id");
+    let immediate = args.get_one::<String>("stop-mode").map(|s| s.as_str()) == Some("immediate");
+
+    NeonStorageControllerStopArgs {
+        instance_id: maybe_instance_id.copied().unwrap_or(1),
+        immediate,
+    }
+}
+
 async fn handle_pageserver(sub_match: &ArgMatches, env: &local_env::LocalEnv) -> Result<()> {
     match sub_match.subcommand() {
         Some(("start", subcommand_args)) => {
@@ -1113,19 +1145,14 @@ async fn handle_storage_controller(
     let svc = StorageController::from_env(env);
     match sub_match.subcommand() {
         Some(("start", start_match)) => {
-            if let Err(e) = svc.start(get_start_timeout(start_match)).await {
+            if let Err(e) = svc.start(storage_controller_start_args(start_match)).await {
                 eprintln!("start failed: {e}");
                 exit(1);
             }
         }
 
         Some(("stop", stop_match)) => {
-            let immediate = stop_match
-                .get_one::<String>("stop-mode")
-                .map(|s| s.as_str())
-                == Some("immediate");
-
-            if let Err(e) = svc.stop(immediate).await {
+            if let Err(e) = svc.stop(storage_controller_stop_args(stop_match)).await {
                 eprintln!("stop failed: {}", e);
                 exit(1);
             }
@@ -1228,7 +1255,12 @@ async fn handle_start_all(
     // Only start the storage controller if the pageserver is configured to need it
     if env.control_plane_api.is_some() {
         let storage_controller = StorageController::from_env(env);
-        if let Err(e) = storage_controller.start(retry_timeout).await {
+        if let Err(e) = storage_controller
+            .start(NeonStorageControllerStartArgs::with_default_instance_id(
+                (*retry_timeout).into(),
+            ))
+            .await
+        {
             eprintln!("storage_controller start failed: {:#}", e);
             try_stop_all(env, true).await;
             exit(1);
@@ -1358,10 +1390,21 @@ async fn try_stop_all(env: &local_env::LocalEnv, immediate: bool) {
         eprintln!("neon broker stop failed: {e:#}");
     }
 
-    if env.control_plane_api.is_some() {
+    // Stop all storage controller instances. In the most common case there's only one,
+    // but iterate though the base data directory in order to discover the instances.
+    let storcon_instances = env
+        .storage_controller_instances()
+        .await
+        .expect("Must inspect data dir");
+    for (instance_id, _instance_dir_path) in storcon_instances {
         let storage_controller = StorageController::from_env(env);
-        if let Err(e) = storage_controller.stop(immediate).await {
-            eprintln!("storage controller stop failed: {e:#}");
+        let stop_args = NeonStorageControllerStopArgs {
+            instance_id,
+            immediate,
+        };
+
+        if let Err(e) = storage_controller.stop(stop_args).await {
+            eprintln!("Storage controller instance {instance_id} stop failed: {e:#}");
         }
     }
 }
@@ -1501,6 +1544,18 @@ fn cli() -> Command {
         .action(ArgAction::SetTrue)
         .required(false);
 
+    let instance_id = Arg::new("instance-id")
+        .long("instance-id")
+        .help("Identifier used to distinguish storage controller instances (default 1)")
+        .value_parser(value_parser!(u8))
+        .required(false);
+
+    let base_port = Arg::new("base-port")
+        .long("base-port")
+        .help("Base port for the storage controller instance idenfified by instance-id (defaults to pagserver cplane api)")
+        .value_parser(value_parser!(u16))
+        .required(false);
+
     Command::new("Neon CLI")
         .arg_required_else_help(true)
         .version(GIT_VERSION)
@@ -1609,9 +1664,12 @@ fn cli() -> Command {
                 .arg_required_else_help(true)
                 .about("Manage storage_controller")
                 .subcommand(Command::new("start").about("Start storage controller")
-                            .arg(timeout_arg.clone()))
+                            .arg(timeout_arg.clone())
+                            .arg(instance_id.clone())
+                            .arg(base_port))
                 .subcommand(Command::new("stop").about("Stop storage controller")
-                            .arg(stop_mode_arg.clone()))
+                            .arg(stop_mode_arg.clone())
+                            .arg(instance_id))
         )
         .subcommand(
             Command::new("safekeeper")
diff --git a/control_plane/src/endpoint.rs b/control_plane/src/endpoint.rs
index f9bb2da7e7..9f879c4b08 100644
--- a/control_plane/src/endpoint.rs
+++ b/control_plane/src/endpoint.rs
@@ -824,11 +824,12 @@ impl Endpoint {
         // cleanup work to do after postgres stops, like syncing safekeepers,
         // etc.
         //
-        // If destroying, send it SIGTERM before waiting. Sometimes we do *not*
-        // want this cleanup: tests intentionally do stop when majority of
-        // safekeepers is down, so sync-safekeepers would hang otherwise. This
-        // could be a separate flag though.
-        self.wait_for_compute_ctl_to_exit(destroy)?;
+        // If destroying or stop mode is immediate, send it SIGTERM before
+        // waiting. Sometimes we do *not* want this cleanup: tests intentionally
+        // do stop when majority of safekeepers is down, so sync-safekeepers
+        // would hang otherwise. This could be a separate flag though.
+        let send_sigterm = destroy || mode == "immediate";
+        self.wait_for_compute_ctl_to_exit(send_sigterm)?;
         if destroy {
             println!(
                 "Destroying postgres data directory '{}'",
diff --git a/control_plane/src/local_env.rs b/control_plane/src/local_env.rs
index 15bbac702f..807519c88d 100644
--- a/control_plane/src/local_env.rs
+++ b/control_plane/src/local_env.rs
@@ -156,6 +156,11 @@ pub struct NeonStorageControllerConf {
     #[serde(with = "humantime_serde")]
     pub max_warming_up: Duration,
 
+    pub start_as_candidate: bool,
+
+    /// Database url used when running multiple storage controller instances
+    pub database_url: Option<SocketAddr>,
+
     /// Threshold for auto-splitting a tenant into shards
     pub split_threshold: Option<u64>,
 
@@ -174,6 +179,8 @@ impl Default for NeonStorageControllerConf {
         Self {
             max_offline: Self::DEFAULT_MAX_OFFLINE_INTERVAL,
             max_warming_up: Self::DEFAULT_MAX_WARMING_UP_INTERVAL,
+            start_as_candidate: false,
+            database_url: None,
             split_threshold: None,
             max_secondary_lag_bytes: None,
         }
@@ -392,6 +399,36 @@ impl LocalEnv {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Inspect the base data directory and extract the instance id and instance directory path
+    /// for all storage controller instances
+    pub async fn storage_controller_instances(&self) -> std::io::Result<Vec<(u8, PathBuf)>> {
+        let mut instances = Vec::default();
+
+        let dir = std::fs::read_dir(self.base_data_dir.clone())?;
+        for dentry in dir {
+            let dentry = dentry?;
+            let is_dir = dentry.metadata()?.is_dir();
+            let filename = dentry.file_name().into_string().unwrap();
+            let parsed_instance_id = match filename.strip_prefix("storage_controller_") {
+                Some(suffix) => suffix.parse::<u8>().ok(),
+                None => None,
+            };
+
+            let is_instance_dir = is_dir && parsed_instance_id.is_some();
+
+            if !is_instance_dir {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            instances.push((
+                parsed_instance_id.expect("Checked previously"),
+                dentry.path(),
+            ));
+        }
+
+        Ok(instances)
+    }
+
     pub fn register_branch_mapping(
         &mut self,
         branch_name: String,
diff --git a/control_plane/src/storage_controller.rs b/control_plane/src/storage_controller.rs
index f180e922e8..2c077595a1 100644
--- a/control_plane/src/storage_controller.rs
+++ b/control_plane/src/storage_controller.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ use crate::{
     local_env::{LocalEnv, NeonStorageControllerConf},
 };
 use camino::{Utf8Path, Utf8PathBuf};
+use hyper::Uri;
+use nix::unistd::Pid;
 use pageserver_api::{
     controller_api::{
         NodeConfigureRequest, NodeDescribeResponse, NodeRegisterRequest, TenantCreateRequest,
@@ -18,7 +20,7 @@ use pageserver_client::mgmt_api::ResponseErrorMessageExt;
 use postgres_backend::AuthType;
 use reqwest::Method;
 use serde::{de::DeserializeOwned, Deserialize, Serialize};
-use std::{fs, str::FromStr, time::Duration};
+use std::{fs, net::SocketAddr, path::PathBuf, str::FromStr, sync::OnceLock};
 use tokio::process::Command;
 use tracing::instrument;
 use url::Url;
@@ -29,12 +31,14 @@ use utils::{
 
 pub struct StorageController {
     env: LocalEnv,
-    listen: String,
     private_key: Option<Vec<u8>>,
     public_key: Option<String>,
-    postgres_port: u16,
     client: reqwest::Client,
     config: NeonStorageControllerConf,
+
+    // The listen addresses is learned when starting the storage controller,
+    // hence the use of OnceLock to init it at the right time.
+    listen: OnceLock<SocketAddr>,
 }
 
 const COMMAND: &str = "storage_controller";
@@ -43,6 +47,36 @@ const STORAGE_CONTROLLER_POSTGRES_VERSION: u32 = 16;
 
 const DB_NAME: &str = "storage_controller";
 
+pub struct NeonStorageControllerStartArgs {
+    pub instance_id: u8,
+    pub base_port: Option<u16>,
+    pub start_timeout: humantime::Duration,
+}
+
+impl NeonStorageControllerStartArgs {
+    pub fn with_default_instance_id(start_timeout: humantime::Duration) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            instance_id: 1,
+            base_port: None,
+            start_timeout,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct NeonStorageControllerStopArgs {
+    pub instance_id: u8,
+    pub immediate: bool,
+}
+
+impl NeonStorageControllerStopArgs {
+    pub fn with_default_instance_id(immediate: bool) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            instance_id: 1,
+            immediate,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct AttachHookRequest {
     pub tenant_shard_id: TenantShardId,
@@ -67,23 +101,6 @@ pub struct InspectResponse {
 
 impl StorageController {
     pub fn from_env(env: &LocalEnv) -> Self {
-        // Makes no sense to construct this if pageservers aren't going to use it: assume
-        // pageservers have control plane API set
-        let listen_url = env.control_plane_api.clone().unwrap();
-
-        let listen = format!(
-            "{}:{}",
-            listen_url.host_str().unwrap(),
-            listen_url.port().unwrap()
-        );
-
-        // Convention: NeonEnv in python tests reserves the next port after the control_plane_api
-        // port, for use by our captive postgres.
-        let postgres_port = listen_url
-            .port()
-            .expect("Control plane API setting should always have a port")
-            + 1;
-
         // Assume all pageservers have symmetric auth configuration: this service
         // expects to use one JWT token to talk to all of them.
         let ps_conf = env
@@ -126,20 +143,28 @@ impl StorageController {
 
         Self {
             env: env.clone(),
-            listen,
             private_key,
             public_key,
-            postgres_port,
             client: reqwest::ClientBuilder::new()
                 .build()
                 .expect("Failed to construct http client"),
             config: env.storage_controller.clone(),
+            listen: OnceLock::default(),
         }
     }
 
-    fn pid_file(&self) -> Utf8PathBuf {
-        Utf8PathBuf::from_path_buf(self.env.base_data_dir.join("storage_controller.pid"))
-            .expect("non-Unicode path")
+    fn storage_controller_instance_dir(&self, instance_id: u8) -> PathBuf {
+        self.env
+            .base_data_dir
+            .join(format!("storage_controller_{}", instance_id))
+    }
+
+    fn pid_file(&self, instance_id: u8) -> Utf8PathBuf {
+        Utf8PathBuf::from_path_buf(
+            self.storage_controller_instance_dir(instance_id)
+                .join("storage_controller.pid"),
+        )
+        .expect("non-Unicode path")
     }
 
     /// PIDFile for the postgres instance used to store storage controller state
@@ -184,9 +209,9 @@ impl StorageController {
     }
 
     /// Readiness check for our postgres process
-    async fn pg_isready(&self, pg_bin_dir: &Utf8Path) -> anyhow::Result<bool> {
+    async fn pg_isready(&self, pg_bin_dir: &Utf8Path, postgres_port: u16) -> anyhow::Result<bool> {
         let bin_path = pg_bin_dir.join("pg_isready");
-        let args = ["-h", "localhost", "-p", &format!("{}", self.postgres_port)];
+        let args = ["-h", "localhost", "-p", &format!("{}", postgres_port)];
         let exitcode = Command::new(bin_path).args(args).spawn()?.wait().await?;
 
         Ok(exitcode.success())
@@ -199,8 +224,8 @@ impl StorageController {
     /// who just want to run `cargo neon_local` without knowing about diesel.
     ///
     /// Returns the database url
-    pub async fn setup_database(&self) -> anyhow::Result<String> {
-        let database_url = format!("postgresql://localhost:{}/{DB_NAME}", self.postgres_port);
+    pub async fn setup_database(&self, postgres_port: u16) -> anyhow::Result<String> {
+        let database_url = format!("postgresql://localhost:{}/{DB_NAME}", postgres_port);
 
         let pg_bin_dir = self.get_pg_bin_dir().await?;
         let createdb_path = pg_bin_dir.join("createdb");
@@ -209,7 +234,7 @@ impl StorageController {
                 "-h",
                 "localhost",
                 "-p",
-                &format!("{}", self.postgres_port),
+                &format!("{}", postgres_port),
                 DB_NAME,
             ])
             .output()
@@ -230,13 +255,14 @@ impl StorageController {
 
     pub async fn connect_to_database(
         &self,
+        postgres_port: u16,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<(
         tokio_postgres::Client,
         tokio_postgres::Connection<tokio_postgres::Socket, tokio_postgres::tls::NoTlsStream>,
     )> {
         tokio_postgres::Config::new()
             .host("localhost")
-            .port(self.postgres_port)
+            .port(postgres_port)
             // The user is the ambient operating system user name.
             // That is an impurity which we want to fix in => TODO https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/issues/8400
             //
@@ -252,72 +278,115 @@ impl StorageController {
             .map_err(anyhow::Error::new)
     }
 
-    pub async fn start(&self, retry_timeout: &Duration) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
-        // Start a vanilla Postgres process used by the storage controller for persistence.
-        let pg_data_path = Utf8PathBuf::from_path_buf(self.env.base_data_dir.clone())
-            .unwrap()
-            .join("storage_controller_db");
-        let pg_bin_dir = self.get_pg_bin_dir().await?;
-        let pg_lib_dir = self.get_pg_lib_dir().await?;
-        let pg_log_path = pg_data_path.join("postgres.log");
+    pub async fn start(&self, start_args: NeonStorageControllerStartArgs) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        let instance_dir = self.storage_controller_instance_dir(start_args.instance_id);
+        if let Err(err) = tokio::fs::create_dir(&instance_dir).await {
+            if err.kind() != std::io::ErrorKind::AlreadyExists {
+                panic!("Failed to create instance dir {instance_dir:?}");
+            }
+        }
 
-        if !tokio::fs::try_exists(&pg_data_path).await? {
-            // Initialize empty database
-            let initdb_path = pg_bin_dir.join("initdb");
-            let mut child = Command::new(&initdb_path)
-                .envs(vec![
-                    ("LD_LIBRARY_PATH".to_owned(), pg_lib_dir.to_string()),
-                    ("DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH".to_owned(), pg_lib_dir.to_string()),
-                ])
-                .args(["-D", pg_data_path.as_ref()])
-                .spawn()
-                .expect("Failed to spawn initdb");
-            let status = child.wait().await?;
-            if !status.success() {
-                anyhow::bail!("initdb failed with status {status}");
+        let (listen, postgres_port) = {
+            if let Some(base_port) = start_args.base_port {
+                (
+                    format!("127.0.0.1:{base_port}"),
+                    self.config
+                        .database_url
+                        .expect("--base-port requires NeonStorageControllerConf::database_url")
+                        .port(),
+                )
+            } else {
+                let listen_url = self.env.control_plane_api.clone().unwrap();
+
+                let listen = format!(
+                    "{}:{}",
+                    listen_url.host_str().unwrap(),
+                    listen_url.port().unwrap()
+                );
+
+                (listen, listen_url.port().unwrap() + 1)
             }
         };
 
-        // Write a minimal config file:
-        // - Specify the port, since this is chosen dynamically
-        // - Switch off fsync, since we're running on lightweight test environments and when e.g. scale testing
-        //   the storage controller we don't want a slow local disk to interfere with that.
-        //
-        // NB: it's important that we rewrite this file on each start command so we propagate changes
-        // from `LocalEnv`'s config file (`.neon/config`).
-        tokio::fs::write(
-            &pg_data_path.join("postgresql.conf"),
-            format!("port = {}\nfsync=off\n", self.postgres_port),
-        )
-        .await?;
+        let socket_addr = listen
+            .parse()
+            .expect("listen address is a valid socket address");
+        self.listen
+            .set(socket_addr)
+            .expect("StorageController::listen is only set here");
 
-        println!("Starting storage controller database...");
-        let db_start_args = [
-            "-w",
-            "-D",
-            pg_data_path.as_ref(),
-            "-l",
-            pg_log_path.as_ref(),
-            "start",
-        ];
+        // Do we remove the pid file on stop?
+        let pg_started = self.is_postgres_running().await?;
+        let pg_lib_dir = self.get_pg_lib_dir().await?;
 
-        background_process::start_process(
-            "storage_controller_db",
-            &self.env.base_data_dir,
-            pg_bin_dir.join("pg_ctl").as_std_path(),
-            db_start_args,
-            vec![
-                ("LD_LIBRARY_PATH".to_owned(), pg_lib_dir.to_string()),
-                ("DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH".to_owned(), pg_lib_dir.to_string()),
-            ],
-            background_process::InitialPidFile::Create(self.postgres_pid_file()),
-            retry_timeout,
-            || self.pg_isready(&pg_bin_dir),
-        )
-        .await?;
+        if !pg_started {
+            // Start a vanilla Postgres process used by the storage controller for persistence.
+            let pg_data_path = Utf8PathBuf::from_path_buf(self.env.base_data_dir.clone())
+                .unwrap()
+                .join("storage_controller_db");
+            let pg_bin_dir = self.get_pg_bin_dir().await?;
+            let pg_log_path = pg_data_path.join("postgres.log");
 
-        // Run migrations on every startup, in case something changed.
-        let database_url = self.setup_database().await?;
+            if !tokio::fs::try_exists(&pg_data_path).await? {
+                // Initialize empty database
+                let initdb_path = pg_bin_dir.join("initdb");
+                let mut child = Command::new(&initdb_path)
+                    .envs(vec![
+                        ("LD_LIBRARY_PATH".to_owned(), pg_lib_dir.to_string()),
+                        ("DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH".to_owned(), pg_lib_dir.to_string()),
+                    ])
+                    .args(["-D", pg_data_path.as_ref()])
+                    .spawn()
+                    .expect("Failed to spawn initdb");
+                let status = child.wait().await?;
+                if !status.success() {
+                    anyhow::bail!("initdb failed with status {status}");
+                }
+            };
+
+            // Write a minimal config file:
+            // - Specify the port, since this is chosen dynamically
+            // - Switch off fsync, since we're running on lightweight test environments and when e.g. scale testing
+            //   the storage controller we don't want a slow local disk to interfere with that.
+            //
+            // NB: it's important that we rewrite this file on each start command so we propagate changes
+            // from `LocalEnv`'s config file (`.neon/config`).
+            tokio::fs::write(
+                &pg_data_path.join("postgresql.conf"),
+                format!("port = {}\nfsync=off\n", postgres_port),
+            )
+            .await?;
+
+            println!("Starting storage controller database...");
+            let db_start_args = [
+                "-w",
+                "-D",
+                pg_data_path.as_ref(),
+                "-l",
+                pg_log_path.as_ref(),
+                "start",
+            ];
+
+            background_process::start_process(
+                "storage_controller_db",
+                &self.env.base_data_dir,
+                pg_bin_dir.join("pg_ctl").as_std_path(),
+                db_start_args,
+                vec![
+                    ("LD_LIBRARY_PATH".to_owned(), pg_lib_dir.to_string()),
+                    ("DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH".to_owned(), pg_lib_dir.to_string()),
+                ],
+                background_process::InitialPidFile::Create(self.postgres_pid_file()),
+                &start_args.start_timeout,
+                || self.pg_isready(&pg_bin_dir, postgres_port),
+            )
+            .await?;
+
+            // Run migrations on every startup, in case something changed.
+            self.setup_database(postgres_port).await?;
+        }
+
+        let database_url = format!("postgresql://localhost:{}/{DB_NAME}", postgres_port);
 
         // We support running a startup SQL script to fiddle with the database before we launch storcon.
         // This is used by the test suite.
@@ -339,7 +408,7 @@ impl StorageController {
                 }
             }
         };
-        let (mut client, conn) = self.connect_to_database().await?;
+        let (mut client, conn) = self.connect_to_database(postgres_port).await?;
         let conn = tokio::spawn(conn);
         let tx = client.build_transaction();
         let tx = tx.start().await?;
@@ -348,9 +417,20 @@ impl StorageController {
         drop(client);
         conn.await??;
 
+        let listen = self
+            .listen
+            .get()
+            .expect("cell is set earlier in this function");
+        let address_for_peers = Uri::builder()
+            .scheme("http")
+            .authority(format!("{}:{}", listen.ip(), listen.port()))
+            .path_and_query("")
+            .build()
+            .unwrap();
+
         let mut args = vec![
             "-l",
-            &self.listen,
+            &listen.to_string(),
             "--dev",
             "--database-url",
             &database_url,
@@ -358,10 +438,17 @@ impl StorageController {
             &humantime::Duration::from(self.config.max_offline).to_string(),
             "--max-warming-up-interval",
             &humantime::Duration::from(self.config.max_warming_up).to_string(),
+            "--address-for-peers",
+            &address_for_peers.to_string(),
         ]
         .into_iter()
         .map(|s| s.to_string())
         .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+
+        if self.config.start_as_candidate {
+            args.push("--start-as-candidate".to_string());
+        }
+
         if let Some(private_key) = &self.private_key {
             let claims = Claims::new(None, Scope::PageServerApi);
             let jwt_token =
@@ -394,15 +481,15 @@ impl StorageController {
 
         background_process::start_process(
             COMMAND,
-            &self.env.base_data_dir,
+            &instance_dir,
             &self.env.storage_controller_bin(),
             args,
             vec![
                 ("LD_LIBRARY_PATH".to_owned(), pg_lib_dir.to_string()),
                 ("DYLD_LIBRARY_PATH".to_owned(), pg_lib_dir.to_string()),
             ],
-            background_process::InitialPidFile::Create(self.pid_file()),
-            retry_timeout,
+            background_process::InitialPidFile::Create(self.pid_file(start_args.instance_id)),
+            &start_args.start_timeout,
             || async {
                 match self.ready().await {
                     Ok(_) => Ok(true),
@@ -415,8 +502,35 @@ impl StorageController {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    pub async fn stop(&self, immediate: bool) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
-        background_process::stop_process(immediate, COMMAND, &self.pid_file())?;
+    pub async fn stop(&self, stop_args: NeonStorageControllerStopArgs) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        background_process::stop_process(
+            stop_args.immediate,
+            COMMAND,
+            &self.pid_file(stop_args.instance_id),
+        )?;
+
+        let storcon_instances = self.env.storage_controller_instances().await?;
+        for (instance_id, instanced_dir_path) in storcon_instances {
+            if instance_id == stop_args.instance_id {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            let pid_file = instanced_dir_path.join("storage_controller.pid");
+            let pid = tokio::fs::read_to_string(&pid_file)
+                .await
+                .map_err(|err| {
+                    anyhow::anyhow!("Failed to read storcon pid file at {pid_file:?}: {err}")
+                })?
+                .parse::<i32>()
+                .expect("pid is valid i32");
+
+            let other_proc_alive = !background_process::process_has_stopped(Pid::from_raw(pid))?;
+            if other_proc_alive {
+                // There is another storage controller instance running, so we return
+                // and leave the database running.
+                return Ok(());
+            }
+        }
 
         let pg_data_path = self.env.base_data_dir.join("storage_controller_db");
         let pg_bin_dir = self.get_pg_bin_dir().await?;
@@ -429,27 +543,51 @@ impl StorageController {
             .wait()
             .await?;
         if !stop_status.success() {
-            let pg_status_args = ["-D", &pg_data_path.to_string_lossy(), "status"];
-            let status_exitcode = Command::new(pg_bin_dir.join("pg_ctl"))
-                .args(pg_status_args)
-                .spawn()?
-                .wait()
-                .await?;
-
-            // pg_ctl status returns this exit code if postgres is not running: in this case it is
-            // fine that stop failed.  Otherwise it is an error that stop failed.
-            const PG_STATUS_NOT_RUNNING: i32 = 3;
-            if Some(PG_STATUS_NOT_RUNNING) == status_exitcode.code() {
-                println!("Storage controller database is already stopped");
-                return Ok(());
-            } else {
-                anyhow::bail!("Failed to stop storage controller database: {stop_status}")
+            match self.is_postgres_running().await {
+                Ok(false) => {
+                    println!("Storage controller database is already stopped");
+                    return Ok(());
+                }
+                Ok(true) => {
+                    anyhow::bail!("Failed to stop storage controller database");
+                }
+                Err(err) => {
+                    anyhow::bail!("Failed to stop storage controller database: {err}");
+                }
             }
         }
 
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    async fn is_postgres_running(&self) -> anyhow::Result<bool> {
+        let pg_data_path = self.env.base_data_dir.join("storage_controller_db");
+        let pg_bin_dir = self.get_pg_bin_dir().await?;
+
+        let pg_status_args = ["-D", &pg_data_path.to_string_lossy(), "status"];
+        let status_exitcode = Command::new(pg_bin_dir.join("pg_ctl"))
+            .args(pg_status_args)
+            .spawn()?
+            .wait()
+            .await?;
+
+        // pg_ctl status returns this exit code if postgres is not running: in this case it is
+        // fine that stop failed.  Otherwise it is an error that stop failed.
+        const PG_STATUS_NOT_RUNNING: i32 = 3;
+        const PG_NO_DATA_DIR: i32 = 4;
+        const PG_STATUS_RUNNING: i32 = 0;
+        match status_exitcode.code() {
+            Some(PG_STATUS_NOT_RUNNING) => Ok(false),
+            Some(PG_NO_DATA_DIR) => Ok(false),
+            Some(PG_STATUS_RUNNING) => Ok(true),
+            Some(code) => Err(anyhow::anyhow!(
+                "pg_ctl status returned unexpected status code: {:?}",
+                code
+            )),
+            None => Err(anyhow::anyhow!("pg_ctl status returned no status code")),
+        }
+    }
+
     fn get_claims_for_path(path: &str) -> anyhow::Result<Option<Claims>> {
         let category = match path.find('/') {
             Some(idx) => &path[..idx],
@@ -475,15 +613,31 @@ impl StorageController {
         RQ: Serialize + Sized,
         RS: DeserializeOwned + Sized,
     {
-        // The configured URL has the /upcall path prefix for pageservers to use: we will strip that out
-        // for general purpose API access.
-        let listen_url = self.env.control_plane_api.clone().unwrap();
-        let url = Url::from_str(&format!(
-            "http://{}:{}/{path}",
-            listen_url.host_str().unwrap(),
-            listen_url.port().unwrap()
-        ))
-        .unwrap();
+        // In the special case of the `storage_controller start` subcommand, we wish
+        // to use the API endpoint of the newly started storage controller in order
+        // to pass the readiness check. In this scenario [`Self::listen`] will be set
+        // (see [`Self::start`]).
+        //
+        // Otherwise, we infer the storage controller api endpoint from the configured
+        // control plane API.
+        let url = if let Some(socket_addr) = self.listen.get() {
+            Url::from_str(&format!(
+                "http://{}:{}/{path}",
+                socket_addr.ip().to_canonical(),
+                socket_addr.port()
+            ))
+            .unwrap()
+        } else {
+            // The configured URL has the /upcall path prefix for pageservers to use: we will strip that out
+            // for general purpose API access.
+            let listen_url = self.env.control_plane_api.clone().unwrap();
+            Url::from_str(&format!(
+                "http://{}:{}/{path}",
+                listen_url.host_str().unwrap(),
+                listen_url.port().unwrap()
+            ))
+            .unwrap()
+        };
 
         let mut builder = self.client.request(method, url);
         if let Some(body) = body {
diff --git a/control_plane/storcon_cli/src/main.rs b/control_plane/storcon_cli/src/main.rs
index 5c1add070a..e27491c1c8 100644
--- a/control_plane/storcon_cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/control_plane/storcon_cli/src/main.rs
@@ -622,6 +622,7 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                                 threshold: threshold.into(),
                             },
                         )),
+                        heatmap_period: Some("300s".to_string()),
                         ..Default::default()
                     },
                 })
diff --git a/deny.toml b/deny.toml
index dc985138e6..327ac58db7 100644
--- a/deny.toml
+++ b/deny.toml
@@ -22,7 +22,10 @@ feature-depth = 1
 [advisories]
 db-urls = ["https://github.com/rustsec/advisory-db"]
 yanked = "warn"
-ignore = []
+
+[[advisories.ignore]]
+id = "RUSTSEC-2023-0071"
+reason = "the marvin attack only affects private key decryption, not public key signature verification"
 
 # This section is considered when running `cargo deny check licenses`
 # More documentation for the licenses section can be found here:
diff --git a/docs/rfcs/035-safekeeper-dynamic-membership-change.md b/docs/rfcs/035-safekeeper-dynamic-membership-change.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..239ec58186
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/rfcs/035-safekeeper-dynamic-membership-change.md
@@ -0,0 +1,495 @@
+# Safekeeper dynamic membership change
+
+To quickly recover from safekeeper node failures and do rebalancing we need to
+be able to change set of safekeepers the timeline resides on. The procedure must
+be safe (not lose committed log) regardless of safekeepers and compute state. It
+should be able to progress if any majority of old safekeeper set, any majority
+of new safekeeper set and compute are up and connected. This is known as a
+consensus membership change. It always involves two phases: 1) switch old
+majority to old + new configuration, preventing commits without acknowledge from
+the new set 2) bootstrap the new set by ensuring majority of the new set has all
+data which ever could have been committed before the first phase completed;
+after that switch is safe to finish. Without two phases switch to the new set
+which quorum might not intersect with quorum of the old set (and typical case of
+ABC -> ABD switch is an example of that, because quorums AC and BD don't
+intersect). Furthermore, procedure is typically carried out by the consensus
+leader, and so enumeration of configurations which establishes order between
+them is done through consensus log.
+
+In our case consensus leader is compute (walproposer), and we don't want to wake
+up all computes for the change. Neither we want to fully reimplement the leader
+logic second time outside compute. Because of that the proposed algorithm relies
+for issuing configurations on the external fault tolerant (distributed) strongly
+consisent storage with simple API: CAS (compare-and-swap) on the single key.
+Properly configured postgres suits this.
+
+In the system consensus is implemented at the timeline level, so algorithm below
+applies to the single timeline.
+
+## Algorithm
+
+### Definitions
+
+A configuration is
+
+```
+struct Configuration {
+    generation: Generation, // a number uniquely identifying configuration
+    sk_set: Vec<NodeId>, // current safekeeper set
+    new_sk_set: Optional<Vec<NodeId>>,
+}
+```
+
+Configuration with `new_set` present is used for the intermediate step during
+the change and called joint configuration. Generations establish order of
+generations: we say `c1` is higher than `c2` if `c1.generation` >
+`c2.generation`.
+
+### Persistently stored data changes
+
+Safekeeper starts storing its current configuration in the control file. Update
+of is atomic, so in-memory value always matches the persistent one.
+
+External CAS providing storage (let's call it configuration storage here) also
+stores configuration for each timeline. It is initialized with generation 1 and
+initial set of safekeepers during timeline creation. Executed CAS on it must
+never be lost.
+
+### Compute <-> safekeeper protocol changes
+
+`ProposerGreeting` message carries walproposer's configuration if it is already
+established (see below), else null.  `AcceptorGreeting` message carries
+safekeeper's current `Configuration`. All further messages (`VoteRequest`,
+`VoteResponse`, `ProposerElected`, `AppendRequest`, `AppendResponse`) carry
+generation number, of walproposer in case of wp->sk message or of safekeeper in
+case of sk->wp message.
+
+### Safekeeper changes
+
+Basic rule: once safekeeper observes configuration higher than his own it
+immediately switches to it. It must refuse all messages with lower generation
+that his. It also refuses messages if it is not member of the current generation
+(that is, of either `sk_set` of `sk_new_set`), though it is likely not unsafe to
+process them (walproposer should ignore result anyway).
+
+If there is non null configuration in `ProposerGreeting` and it is higher than
+current safekeeper one, safekeeper switches to it.
+
+Safekeeper sends its current configuration in its first message to walproposer
+`AcceptorGreeting`. It refuses all other walproposer messages if the
+configuration generation in them is less than its current one. Namely, it
+refuses to vote, to truncate WAL in `handle_elected` and to accept WAL. In
+response it sends its current configuration generation to let walproposer know.
+
+Safekeeper gets `PUT /v1/tenants/{tenant_id}/timelines/{timeline_id}/configuration` 
+accepting `Configuration`. Safekeeper switches to the given conf it is higher than its
+current one and ignores it otherwise. In any case it replies with
+```
+struct ConfigurationSwitchResponse {
+    conf: Configuration,
+    term: Term,
+    last_log_term: Term,
+    flush_lsn: Lsn,
+}
+```
+
+### Compute (walproposer) changes
+
+Basic rule is that joint configuration requires votes from majorities in the
+both `set` and `new_sk_set`.
+
+Compute receives list of safekeepers to connect to from the control plane as
+currently and tries to communicate with all of them. However, the list does not
+define consensus members. Instead, on start walproposer tracks highest
+configuration it receives from `AcceptorGreeting`s. Once it assembles greetings
+from majority of `sk_set` and majority of `new_sk_set` (if it is present), it
+establishes this configuration as its own and moves to voting. 
+
+It should stop talking to safekeepers not listed in the configuration at this
+point, though it is not unsafe to continue doing so.
+
+To be elected it must receive votes from both majorites if `new_sk_set` is present.
+Similarly, to commit WAL it must receive flush acknowledge from both majorities.
+
+If walproposer hears from safekeeper configuration higher than his own (i.e.
+refusal to accept due to configuration change) it simply restarts.
+
+### Change algorithm
+
+The following algorithm can be executed anywhere having access to configuration
+storage and safekeepers. It is safe to interrupt / restart it and run multiple
+instances of it concurrently, though likely one of them won't make
+progress then. It accepts `desired_set: Vec<NodeId>` as input. 
+
+Algorithm will refuse to make the change if it encounters previous interrupted
+change attempt, but in this case it will try to finish it.
+
+It will eventually converge if old majority, new majority and configuration
+storage are reachable.
+
+1) Fetch current timeline configuration from the configuration storage.
+2) If it is already joint one and `new_set` is different from `desired_set`
+   refuse to change. However, assign join conf to (in memory) var
+   `join_conf` and proceed to step 4 to finish the ongoing change.
+3) Else, create joint `joint_conf: Configuration`: increment current conf number
+   `n` and put `desired_set` to `new_sk_set`. Persist it in the configuration
+   storage by doing CAS on the current generation: change happens only if
+   current configuration number is still `n`. Apart from guaranteeing uniqueness
+   of configurations, CAS linearizes them, ensuring that new configuration is
+   created only following the previous one when we know that the transition is
+   safe. Failed CAS aborts the procedure.
+4) Call `PUT` `configuration` on safekeepers from the current set,
+   delivering them `joint_conf`. Collecting responses from majority is required
+   to proceed. If any response returned generation higher than 
+   `joint_conf.generation`, abort (another switch raced us). Otherwise, choose
+   max `<last_log_term, flush_lsn>` among responses and establish it as
+   (in memory) `sync_position`. Also choose max `term` and establish it as (in
+   memory) `sync_term`. We can't finish the switch until majority of the new set
+   catches up to this `sync_position` because data before it could be committed
+   without ack from the new set. Similarly, we'll bump term on new majority
+   to `sync_term` so that two computes with the same term are never elected.
+4) Initialize timeline on safekeeper(s) from `new_sk_set` where it
+   doesn't exist yet by doing `pull_timeline` from the majority of the 
+   current set. Doing that on majority of `new_sk_set` is enough to
+   proceed, but it is reasonable to ensure that all `new_sk_set` members
+   are initialized -- if some of them are down why are we migrating there?
+5) Call `POST` `bump_term(sync_term)` on safekeepers from the new set. 
+   Success on majority is enough.
+6) Repeatedly call `PUT` `configuration` on safekeepers from the new set,
+   delivering them `joint_conf` and collecting their positions. This will
+   switch them to the `joint_conf` which generally won't be needed 
+   because `pull_timeline` already includes it and plus additionally would be
+   broadcast by compute. More importantly, we may proceed to the next step
+   only when `<last_log_term, flush_lsn>` on the majority of the new set reached 
+   `sync_position`. Similarly, on the happy path no waiting is not needed because 
+   `pull_timeline` already includes it. However, we should double
+    check to be safe. For example, timeline could have been created earlier e.g.
+    manually or after try-to-migrate, abort, try-to-migrate-again sequence. 
+7) Create `new_conf: Configuration` incrementing `join_conf` generation and having new 
+   safekeeper set as `sk_set` and None `new_sk_set`. Write it to configuration 
+   storage under one more CAS.
+8) Call `PUT` `configuration` on safekeepers from the new set,
+   delivering them `new_conf`. It is enough to deliver it to the majority 
+   of the new set; the rest can be updated by compute.
+
+I haven't put huge effort to make the description above very precise, because it
+is natural language prone to interpretations anyway. Instead I'd like to make TLA+
+spec of it.
+
+Description above focuses on safety. To make the flow practical and live, here a few more 
+considerations.
+1) It makes sense to ping new set to ensure it we are migrating to live node(s) before 
+  step 3.
+2) If e.g. accidentally wrong new sk set has been specified, before CAS in step `6` is completed 
+   it is safe to rollback to the old conf with one more CAS.
+3) On step 4 timeline might be already created on members of the new set for various reasons; 
+   the simplest is the procedure restart. There are more complicated scenarious like mentioned
+   in step 5. Deleting and re-doing `pull_timeline` is generally unsafe without involving 
+   generations, so seems simpler to treat existing timeline as success. However, this also 
+   has a disadvantage: you might imagine an surpassingly unlikely schedule where condition in
+   the step 5 is never reached until compute is (re)awaken up to synchronize new member(s).
+   I don't think we'll observe this in practice, but can add waking up compute if needed.
+4) In the end timeline should be locally deleted on the safekeeper(s) which are
+   in the old set but not in the new one, unless they are unreachable. To be
+   safe this also should be done under generation number (deletion proceeds only if 
+   current configuration is <= than one in request and safekeeper is not memeber of it).
+5) If current conf fetched on step 1 is already not joint and members equal to `desired_set`,
+   jump to step 7, using it as `new_conf`.
+
+## Implementation
+
+The procedure ought to be driven from somewhere. Obvious candidates are control
+plane and storage_controller; and as each of them already has db we don't want
+yet another storage. I propose to manage safekeepers in storage_controller
+because 1) since it is in rust it simplifies simulation testing (more on this
+below) 2) it already manages pageservers. 
+
+This assumes that migration will be fully usable only after we migrate all
+tenants/timelines to storage_controller. It is discussible whether we want also
+to manage pageserver attachments for all of these, but likely we do.
+
+This requires us to define storcon <-> cplane interface.
+
+### storage_controller <-> control plane interface
+
+First of all, control plane should
+[change](https://neondb.slack.com/archives/C03438W3FLZ/p1719226543199829)
+storing safekeepers per timeline instead of per tenant because we can't migrate
+tenants atomically. 
+
+The important question is how updated configuration is delivered from
+storage_controller to control plane to provide it to computes. As always, there
+are two options, pull and push. Let's do it the same push as with pageserver
+`/notify-attach` because 1) it keeps storage_controller out of critical compute
+start path 2) provides easier upgrade: there won't be such a thing as 'timeline
+managed by control plane / storcon', cplane just takes the value out of its db
+when needed 3) uniformity. It makes storage_controller responsible for retrying notifying
+control plane until it succeeds.
+
+So, cplane `/notify-safekeepers` for the timeline accepts `Configuration` and
+updates it in the db if the provided conf generation is higher (the cplane db
+should also store generations for this). Similarly to [`/notify-attach`](https://www.notion.so/neondatabase/Storage-Controller-Control-Plane-interface-6de56dd310a043bfa5c2f5564fa98365), it
+should update db which makes the call successful, and then try to schedule
+`apply_config` if possible, it is ok if not. storage_controller 
+should rate limit calling the endpoint, but likely this won't be needed, as migration
+throughput is limited by `pull_timeline`.
+
+Timeline (branch) creation in cplane should call storage_controller POST
+`tenant/:tenant_id/timeline` like it currently does for sharded tenants.
+Response should be augmented with `safekeeper_conf: Configuration`. The call
+should be retried until succeeds.
+
+Timeline deletion and tenant deletion in cplane should call appropriate
+storage_controller endpoints like it currently does for sharded tenants. The
+calls should be retried until they succeed.
+
+### storage_controller implementation
+
+Current 'load everything on startup and keep in memory' easy design is fine.
+Single timeline shouldn't take more than 100 bytes (it's 16 byte tenant_id, 16
+byte timeline_id, int generation, vec of ~3 safekeeper ids plus some flags), so
+10^6 of timelines shouldn't take more than 100MB.
+
+Similar to pageserver attachment Intents storage_controller would have in-memory
+`MigrationRequest` (or its absense) for each timeline and pool of tasks trying
+to make these request reality; this ensures one instance of storage_controller
+won't do several migrations on the same timeline concurrently. In the first
+version it is simpler to have more manual control and no retries, i.e. migration
+failure removes the request. Later we can build retries and automatic
+scheduling/migration. `MigrationRequest` is
+```
+enum MigrationRequest {
+    To(Vec<NodeId>),
+    FinishPending,
+}
+```
+
+`FinishPending` requests to run the procedure to ensure state is clean: current
+configuration is not joint and majority of safekeepers are aware of it, but do
+not attempt to migrate anywhere. If current configuration fetched on step 1 is
+not joint it jumps to step 7. It should be run at startup for all timelines (but
+similarly, in the first version it is ok to trigger it manually).
+
+#### Schema
+
+`safekeepers` table mirroring current `nodes` should be added, except that for
+`scheduling_policy` field (seems like `status` is a better name for it): it is enough
+to have at least in the beginning only 3 fields: 1) `active` 2) `offline` 3)
+`decomissioned`.
+
+`timelines` table:
+```
+table! {
+    // timeline_id is primary key
+    timelines (tenant_id, timeline_id) {
+        timeline_id -> Varchar,
+        tenant_id -> Varchar,
+        generation -> Int4,
+        sk_set -> Array<Int4>, // list of safekeeper ids
+        new_sk_set -> Nullable<Array<Int4>>, // list of safekeeper ids, null if not joint conf
+        cplane_notified_generation -> Int4,
+    }
+}
+```
+
+#### API
+
+Node management is similar to pageserver:
+1) POST `/control/v1/safekeepers` upserts safekeeper.
+2) GET `/control/v1/safekeepers` lists safekeepers.
+3) GET `/control/v1/safekeepers/:node_id` gets safekeeper.
+4) PUT `/control/v1/safekepers/:node_id/status` changes status to e.g.
+   `offline` or `decomissioned`. Initially it is simpler not to schedule any
+    migrations here.
+
+Safekeeper deploy scripts should register safekeeper at storage_contorller as
+they currently do with cplane, under the same id.
+
+Timeline creation/deletion: already existing POST `tenant/:tenant_id/timeline`
+would 1) choose initial set of safekeepers; 2) write to the db initial
+`Configuration` with `INSERT ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING` returning existing row in
+case of conflict; 3) create timeline on the majority of safekeepers (already
+created is ok).
+
+We don't want to block timeline creation when one safekeeper is down. Currently
+this is solved by compute implicitly creating timeline on any safekeeper it is
+connected to. This creates ugly timeline state on safekeeper when timeline is
+created, but start LSN is not defined yet. It would be nice to remove this; to
+do that, controller can in the background retry to create timeline on
+safekeeper(s) which missed that during initial creation call. It can do that
+through `pull_timeline` from majority so it doesn't need to remember
+`parent_lsn` in its db.
+
+Timeline deletion removes the row from the db and forwards deletion to the
+current configuration members. Without additional actions deletions might leak,
+see below on this; initially let's ignore these, reporting to cplane success if
+at least one safekeeper deleted the timeline (this will remove s3 data).
+
+Tenant deletion repeats timeline deletion for all timelines.
+
+Migration API: the first version is the simplest and the most imperative:
+1) PUT `/control/v1/safekeepers/migrate` schedules `MigrationRequest`s to move
+all timelines from one safekeeper to another. It accepts json
+```
+{
+    "src_sk": u32,
+    "dst_sk": u32,
+    "limit": Optional<u32>,
+}
+```
+
+Returns list of scheduled requests.
+
+2) PUT `/control/v1/tenant/:tenant_id/timeline/:timeline_id/safekeeper_migrate` schedules `MigrationRequest`
+   to move single timeline to given set of safekeepers:
+```
+{
+    "desired_set": Vec<u32>,
+}
+```
+
+Returns scheduled request.
+
+Similar call should be added for the tenant.
+
+It would be great to have some way of subscribing to the results (apart from
+looking at logs/metrics).
+
+Migration is executed as described above. One subtlety is that (local) deletion on
+source safekeeper might fail, which is not a problem if we are going to
+decomission the node but leaves garbage otherwise. I'd propose in the first version
+1) Don't attempt deletion at all if node status is `offline`.
+2) If it failed, just issue warning.
+And add PUT `/control/v1/safekeepers/:node_id/scrub` endpoint which would find and 
+remove garbage timelines for manual use. It will 1) list all timelines on the 
+safekeeper 2) compare each one against configuration storage: if timeline 
+doesn't exist at all (had been deleted), it can be deleted. Otherwise, it can 
+be deleted under generation number if node is not member of current generation.
+
+Automating this is untrivial; we'd need to register all potential missing
+deletions <tenant_id, timeline_id, generation, node_id> in the same transaction
+which switches configurations. Similarly when timeline is fully deleted to
+prevent cplane operation from blocking when some safekeeper is not available
+deletion should be also registered.
+
+One more task pool should infinitely retry notifying control plane about changed
+safekeeper sets.
+
+3) GET `/control/v1/tenant/:tenant_id/timeline/:timeline_id/` should return
+   current in memory state of the timeline and pending `MigrationRequest`,
+   if any.
+
+4) PUT `/control/v1/tenant/:tenant_id/timeline/:timeline_id/safekeeper_migrate_abort` tries to abort the
+   migration by switching configuration from the joint to the one with (previous) `sk_set` under CAS
+   (incrementing generation as always).
+
+#### Dealing with multiple instances of storage_controller
+
+Operations described above executed concurrently might create some errors but do
+not prevent progress, so while we normally don't want to run multiple instances
+of storage_controller it is fine to have it temporarily, e.g. during redeploy.
+
+Any interactions with db update in-memory controller state, e.g. if migration
+request failed because different one is in progress, controller remembers that
+and tries to finish it.
+
+## Testing
+
+`neon_local` should be switched to use storage_controller, playing role of
+control plane.
+
+There should be following layers of tests:
+1) Model checked TLA+ spec specifies the algorithm and verifies its basic safety.
+
+2) To cover real code and at the same time test many schedules we should have
+   simulation tests. For that, configuration storage, storage_controller <->
+   safekeeper communication and pull_timeline need to be mocked and main switch
+   procedure wrapped to as a node (thread) in simulation tests, using these
+   mocks. Test would inject migrations like it currently injects
+   safekeeper/walproposer restars. Main assert is the same -- committed WAL must
+   not be lost.
+
+3) Since simulation testing injects at relatively high level points (not
+   syscalls), it omits some code, in particular `pull_timeline`. Thus it is
+   better to have basic tests covering whole system as well. Extended version of
+   `test_restarts_under_load` would do: start background load and do migration 
+   under it, then restart endpoint and check that no reported commits 
+   had been lost. I'd also add one more creating classic network split scenario, with
+   one compute talking to AC and another to BD while migration from nodes ABC to ABD
+   happens.
+
+4) Simple e2e test should ensure that full flow including cplane notification works.
+
+## Order of implementation and rollout
+
+Note that 
+- Control plane parts and integration with it is fully independent from everything else
+  (tests would use simulation and neon_local).
+- There is a lot of infra work making storage_controller aware of timelines and safekeepers
+  and its impl/rollout should be separate from migration itself.
+- Initially walproposer can just stop working while it observers joint configuration.
+  Such window would be typically very short anyway.
+
+To rollout smoothly, both walproposer and safekeeper should have flag
+`configurations_enabled`; when set to false, they would work as currently, i.e.
+walproposer is able to commit on whatever safekeeper set it is provided. Until
+all timelines are managed by storcon we'd need to use current script to migrate
+and update/drop entries in the storage_controller database if it has any.
+
+Safekeepers would need to be able to talk both current and new protocol version
+with compute to reduce number of computes restarted in prod once v2 protocol is
+deployed (though before completely switching we'd need to force this).
+
+Let's have the following rollout order:
+- storage_controller becomes aware of safekeepers;
+- storage_controller gets timeline creation for new timelines and deletion requests, but
+  doesn't manage all timelines yet. Migration can be tested on these new timelines.
+  To keep control plane and storage_controller databases in sync while control 
+  plane still chooses the safekeepers initially (until all timelines are imported
+  it can choose better), `TimelineCreateRequest` can get optional safekeepers
+  field with safekeepers chosen by cplane.
+- Then we can import all existing timelines from control plane to
+  storage_controller and gradually enable configurations region by region.
+
+
+Very rough implementation order:
+- Add concept of configurations to safekeepers (including control file),
+  implement v3 protocol.
+- Implement walproposer changes, including protocol.
+- Implement storconn part. Use it in neon_local (and pytest).
+- Make cplane store safekeepers per timeline instead of per tenant.
+- Implement cplane/storcon integration. Route branch creation/deletion 
+  through storcon. Then we can test migration of new branches.
+- Finally import existing branches. Then we can drop cplane 
+  safekeeper selection code. Gradually enable configurations at 
+  computes and safekeepers. Before that, all computes must talk only
+  v3 protocol version.
+
+## Integration with evicted timelines
+
+Currently, `pull_timeline` doesn't work correctly with evicted timelines because
+copy would point to original partial file. To fix let's just do s3 copy of the
+file. It is a bit stupid as generally unnecessary work, but it makes sense to
+implement proper migration before doing smarter timeline archival. [Issue](https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/issues/8542)
+
+## Possible optimizations
+
+Steps above suggest walproposer restart (with re-election) and thus reconnection
+to safekeepers. Since by bumping term on new majority we ensure that leader
+terms are unique even across generation switches it is possible to preserve
+connections. However, it is more complicated, reconnection is very fast and it
+is much more important to avoid compute restart than millisecond order of write
+stall.
+
+Multiple joint consensus: algorithm above rejects attempt to change membership
+while another attempt is in progress. It is possible to overlay them and AFAIK
+Aurora does this but similarly I don't think this is needed.
+
+## Misc
+
+We should use Compute <-> safekeeper protocol change to include other (long
+yearned) modifications:
+- send data in network order to make arm work.
+- remove term_start_lsn from AppendRequest
+- add horizon to TermHistory
+- add to ProposerGreeting number of connection from this wp to sk
diff --git a/docs/rfcs/036-physical-replication.md b/docs/rfcs/036-physical-replication.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..41aced0545
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/rfcs/036-physical-replication.md
@@ -0,0 +1,265 @@
+# Physical Replication
+
+This RFC is a bit special in that we have already implemented physical
+replication a long time ago. However, we never properly wrote down all
+the decisions and assumptions, and in the last months when more users
+have started to use the feature, numerous issues have surfaced.
+
+This RFC documents the design decisions that have been made.
+
+## Summary
+
+PostgreSQL has a feature called streaming replication, where a replica
+streams WAL from the primary and continuously applies it. It is also
+known as "physical replication", to distinguish it from logical
+replication.  In PostgreSQL, a replica is initialized by taking a
+physical backup of the primary. In Neon, the replica is initialized
+from a slim "base backup" from the pageserver, just like a primary,
+and the primary and the replicas connect to the same pageserver,
+sharing the storage.
+
+There are two kinds of read-only replicas in Neon:
+- replicas that follow the primary, and
+- "static" replicas that are pinned at a particular LSN.
+
+A static replica is useful e.g. for performing time-travel queries and
+running one-off slow queries without affecting the primary. A replica
+that follows the primary can be used e.g. to scale out read-only
+workloads.
+
+## Motivation
+
+Read-only replicas allow offloading read-only queries. It's useful for
+isolation, if you want to make sure that read-only queries don't
+affect the primary, and it's also an easy way to provide guaranteed
+read-only access to an application, without having to mess with access
+controls.
+
+## Non Goals (if relevant)
+
+This RFC is all about WAL-based *physical* replication. Logical
+replication is a different feature.
+
+Neon also has the capability to launch "static" read-only nodes which
+do not follow the primary, but are pinned to a particular LSN. They
+can be used for long-running one-off queries, or for Point-in-time
+queries. They work similarly to read replicas that follow the primary,
+but some things are simpler: there are no concerns about cache
+invalidation when the data changes on the primary, or worrying about
+transactions that are in-progress on the primary.
+
+## Impacted components (e.g. pageserver, safekeeper, console, etc)
+
+- Control plane launches the replica
+- Replica Postgres instance connects to the safekeepers, to stream the WAL
+- The primary does not know about the standby, except for the hot standby feedback
+- The primary and replicas all connect to the same pageservers
+
+
+# Context
+
+Some useful things to know about hot standby and replicas in
+PostgreSQL.
+
+## PostgreSQL startup sequence
+
+"Running" and "start up" terms are little imprecise. PostgreSQL
+replica startup goes through several stages:
+
+1. First, the process is started up, and various initialization steps
+   are performed, like initializing shared memory. If you try to
+   connect to the server in this stage, you get an error: ERROR: the
+   database system is starting up. This stage happens very quickly, no
+
+2. Then the server reads the checpoint record from the WAL and starts
+   the WAL replay starting from the checkpoint. This works differently
+   in Neon: we start the WAL replay at the basebackup LSN, not from a
+   checkpoint! If you connect to the server in this state, you get an
+   error: ERROR: the database system is not yet accepting
+   connections. We proceed to the next stage, when the WAL replay sees
+   a running-xacts record. Or in Neon, the "CLOG scanning" mechanism
+   can allow us to move directly to next stage, with all the caveats
+   listed in this RFC.
+
+3. When the running-xacts information is established, the server
+   starts to accept connections normally.
+
+From PostgreSQL's point of view, the server is already running in
+stage 2, even though it's not accepting connections yet. Our
+`compute_ctl` does not consider it as running until stage 3. If the
+transition from stage 2 to 3 doesn't happen fast enough, the control
+plane will mark the start operation as failed.
+
+
+## Decisions, Issues
+
+### Cache invalidation in replica
+
+When a read replica follows the primary in PostgreSQL, it needs to
+stream all the WAL from the primary and apply all the records, to keep
+the local copy of the data consistent with the primary. In Neon, the
+replica can fetch the updated page versions from the pageserver, so
+it's not necessary to apply all the WAL. However, it needs to ensure
+that any pages that are currently in the Postgres buffer cache, or the
+Local File Cache, are either updated, or thrown away so that the next
+read of the page will fetch the latest version.
+
+We choose to apply the WAL records for pages that are already in the
+buffer cache, and skip records for other pages. Somewhat arbitrarily,
+we also apply records affecting catalog relations, fetching the old
+page version from the pageserver if necessary first. See
+`neon_redo_read_buffer_filter()` function.
+
+The replica wouldn't necessarily need to see all the WAL records, only
+the records that apply to cached pages. For simplicity, we do stream
+all the WAL to the replica, and the replica simply ignores WAL records
+that require no action.
+
+Like in PostgreSQL, the read replica maintains a "replay LSN", which
+is the LSN up to which the replica has received and replayed the
+WAL. The replica can lag behind the primary, if it cannot quite keep
+up with the primary, or if a long-running query conflicts with changes
+that are about to be applied, or even intentionally if the user wishes
+to see delayed data (see recovery_min_apply_delay). It's important
+that the replica sees a consistent view of the whole cluster at the
+replay LSN, when it's lagging behind.
+
+In Neon, the replica connects to a safekeeper to get the WAL
+stream. That means that the safekeepers must be able to regurgitate
+the original WAL as far back as the replay LSN of any running read
+replica. (A static read-only node that does not follow the primary
+does not require a WAL stream however). The primary does not need to
+be running, and when it is, the replicas don't incur any extra
+overhead to the primary (see hot standby feedback though).
+
+### In-progress transactions
+
+In PostgreSQL, when a hot standby server starts up, it cannot
+immediately open up for queries (see [PostgreSQL startup
+sequence]). It first needs to establish a complete list of in-progress
+transactions, including subtransactions, that are running at the
+primary, at the current replay LSN. Normally that happens quickly,
+when the replica sees a "running-xacts" WAL record, because the
+primary writes a running-xacts WAL record at every checkpoint, and in
+PostgreSQL the replica always starts the WAL replay from a checkpoint
+REDO point. (A shutdown checkpoint WAL record also implies that all
+the non-prepared transactions have ended.) If there are a lot of
+subtransactions in progress, however, the standby might need to wait
+for old transactions to complete before it can open up for queries.
+
+In Neon that problem is worse: a replica can start at any LSN, so
+there's no guarantee that it will see a running-xacts record any time
+soon. In particular, if the primary is not running when the replica is
+started, it might never see a running-xacts record.
+
+To make things worse, we initially missed this issue, and always
+started accepting queries at replica startup, even if it didn't have
+the transaction information. That could lead to incorrect query
+results and data corruption later. However, as we fixed that, we
+introduced a new problem compared to what we had before: previously
+the replica would always start up, but after fixing that bug, it might
+not. In a superficial way, the old behavior was better (but could lead
+to serious issues later!). That made fixing that bug was very hard,
+because as we fixed it, we made things (superficially) worse for
+others.
+
+See https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/pull/7288 which fixed the
+bug, and follow-up PRs https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/pull/8323
+and https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/pull/8484 to try to claw back
+the cases that started to cause trouble as fixing it. As of this
+writing, there are still cases where a replica might not immediately
+start up, causing the control plane operation to fail, the remaining
+issues are tracked in https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/issues/6211.
+
+One long-term fix for this is to switch to using so-called CSN
+snapshots in read replica. That would make it unnecessary to have the
+full in-progress transaction list in the replica at startup time. See
+https://commitfest.postgresql.org/48/4912/ for a work-in-progress
+patch to upstream to implement that.
+
+Another thing we could do is to teach the control plane about that
+distinction between "starting up" and "running but haven't received
+running-xacts information yet", so that we could keep the replica
+waiting longer in that stage, and also give any client connections the
+same `ERROR: the database system is not yet accepting connections`
+error that you get in standalone PostgreSQL in that state.
+
+
+### Recovery conflicts and Hot standby feedback
+
+It's possible that a tuple version is vacuumed away in the primary,
+even though it is still needed by a running transactions in the
+replica. This is called a "recovery conflict", and PostgreSQL provides
+various options for dealing with it. By default, the WAL replay will
+wait up to 30 s for the conflicting query to finish. After that, it
+will kill the running query, so that the WAL replay can proceed.
+
+Another way to avoid the situation is to enable the
+[`hot_standby_feedback`](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/runtime-config-replication.html#GUC-HOT-STANDBY-FEEDBACK)
+option. When it is enabled, the primary will refrain from vacuuming
+tuples that are still needed in the primary. That means potentially
+bloating the primary, which violates the usual rule that read replicas
+don't affect the operations on the primary, which is why it's off by
+default. We leave it to users to decide if they want to turn it on,
+same as PostgreSQL.
+
+Neon supports `hot_standby_feedback` by passing the feedback messages
+from the replica to the safekeepers, and from safekeepers to the
+primary.
+
+### Relationship of settings between primary and replica
+
+In order to enter hot standby mode, some configuration options need to
+be set to the same or larger values in the standby, compared to the
+primary.  See [explanation in the PostgreSQL
+docs](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/hot-standby.html#HOT-STANDBY-ADMIN)
+
+In Neon, we have this problem too. To prevent customers from hitting
+it, the control plane automatically adjusts the settings of a replica,
+so that they match or exceed the primary's settings (see
+https://github.com/neondatabase/cloud/issues/14903). However, you
+can still hit the issue if the primary is restarted with larger
+settings, while the replica is running.
+
+
+### Interaction with Pageserver GC
+
+The read replica can lag behind the primary. If there are recovery
+conflicts or the replica cannot keep up for some reason, the lag can
+in principle grow indefinitely. The replica will issue all GetPage
+requests to the pageservers at the current replay LSN, and needs to
+see the old page versions.
+
+If the retention period in the pageserver is set to be small, it may
+have already garbage collected away the old page versions. That will
+cause read errors in the compute, and can mean that the replica cannot
+make progress with the replication anymore.
+
+There is a mechanism for replica to pass information about its replay
+LSN to the pageserver, so that the pageserver refrains from GC'ing
+data that is still needed by the standby. It's called
+'standby_horizon' in the pageserver code, see
+https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/pull/7368. A separate "lease"
+mechanism also is in the works, where the replica could hold a lease
+on the old LSN, preventing the pageserver from advancing the GC
+horizon past that point. The difference is that the standby_horizon
+mechanism relies on a feedback message from replica to safekeeper,
+while the least API is exposed directly from the pageserver. A static
+read-only node is not connected to safekeepers, so it cannot use the
+standby_horizon mechanism.
+
+
+### Synchronous replication
+
+We haven't put any effort into synchronous replication yet.
+
+PostgreSQL provides multiple levels of synchronicity. In the weaker
+levels, a transaction is not acknowledged as committed to the client
+in the primary until the WAL has been streamed to a replica or flushed
+to disk there. Those modes don't make senses in Neon, because the
+safekeepers handle durability.
+
+`synchronous_commit=remote_apply` mode would make sense. In that mode,
+the commit is not acknowledged to the client until it has been
+replayed in the replica. That ensures that after commit, you can see
+the commit in the replica too (aka. read-your-write consistency).
diff --git a/libs/pageserver_api/src/controller_api.rs b/libs/pageserver_api/src/controller_api.rs
index a5b452da83..a50707a1b8 100644
--- a/libs/pageserver_api/src/controller_api.rs
+++ b/libs/pageserver_api/src/controller_api.rs
@@ -313,20 +313,17 @@ pub struct MetadataHealthUpdateRequest {
 pub struct MetadataHealthUpdateResponse {}
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
-
 pub struct MetadataHealthListUnhealthyResponse {
     pub unhealthy_tenant_shards: Vec<TenantShardId>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
-
 pub struct MetadataHealthListOutdatedRequest {
     #[serde(with = "humantime_serde")]
     pub not_scrubbed_for: Duration,
 }
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
-
 pub struct MetadataHealthListOutdatedResponse {
     pub health_records: Vec<MetadataHealthRecord>,
 }
diff --git a/libs/pageserver_api/src/key.rs b/libs/pageserver_api/src/key.rs
index 3af3f74e9c..2fdd7de38f 100644
--- a/libs/pageserver_api/src/key.rs
+++ b/libs/pageserver_api/src/key.rs
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@ pub struct Key {
     pub field6: u32,
 }
 
+/// When working with large numbers of Keys in-memory, it is more efficient to handle them as i128 than as
+/// a struct of fields.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Hash, PartialEq, Eq, Ord, PartialOrd)]
+pub struct CompactKey(i128);
+
 /// The storage key size.
 pub const KEY_SIZE: usize = 18;
 
@@ -130,6 +135,14 @@ impl Key {
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn to_compact(&self) -> CompactKey {
+        CompactKey(self.to_i128())
+    }
+
+    pub fn from_compact(k: CompactKey) -> Self {
+        Self::from_i128(k.0)
+    }
+
     pub const fn next(&self) -> Key {
         self.add(1)
     }
@@ -199,6 +212,13 @@ impl fmt::Display for Key {
     }
 }
 
+impl fmt::Display for CompactKey {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        let k = Key::from_compact(*self);
+        k.fmt(f)
+    }
+}
+
 impl Key {
     pub const MIN: Key = Key {
         field1: u8::MIN,
diff --git a/libs/pageserver_api/src/models/utilization.rs b/libs/pageserver_api/src/models/utilization.rs
index e88cab5d6a..0fec221276 100644
--- a/libs/pageserver_api/src/models/utilization.rs
+++ b/libs/pageserver_api/src/models/utilization.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-use utils::serde_system_time::SystemTime;
+use std::time::SystemTime;
+use utils::{serde_percent::Percent, serde_system_time};
 
 /// Pageserver current utilization and scoring for how good candidate the pageserver would be for
 /// the next tenant.
@@ -9,19 +10,88 @@ use utils::serde_system_time::SystemTime;
 /// not handle full u64 values properly.
 #[derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize, Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct PageserverUtilization {
-    /// Used disk space
+    /// Used disk space (physical, ground truth from statfs())
     #[serde(serialize_with = "ser_saturating_u63")]
     pub disk_usage_bytes: u64,
     /// Free disk space
     #[serde(serialize_with = "ser_saturating_u63")]
     pub free_space_bytes: u64,
-    /// Lower is better score for how good candidate for a next tenant would this pageserver be.
-    #[serde(serialize_with = "ser_saturating_u63")]
+
+    /// Wanted disk space, based on the tenant shards currently present on this pageserver: this
+    /// is like disk_usage_bytes, but it is stable and does not change with the cache state of
+    /// tenants, whereas disk_usage_bytes may reach the disk eviction `max_usage_pct` and stay
+    /// there, or may be unrealistically low if the pageserver has attached tenants which haven't
+    /// downloaded layers yet.
+    #[serde(serialize_with = "ser_saturating_u63", default)]
+    pub disk_wanted_bytes: u64,
+
+    // What proportion of total disk space will this pageserver use before it starts evicting data?
+    #[serde(default = "unity_percent")]
+    pub disk_usable_pct: Percent,
+
+    // How many shards are currently on this node?
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub shard_count: u32,
+
+    // How many shards should this node be able to handle at most?
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub max_shard_count: u32,
+
+    /// Cached result of [`Self::score`]
     pub utilization_score: u64,
+
     /// When was this snapshot captured, pageserver local time.
     ///
     /// Use millis to give confidence that the value is regenerated often enough.
-    pub captured_at: SystemTime,
+    pub captured_at: serde_system_time::SystemTime,
+}
+
+fn unity_percent() -> Percent {
+    Percent::new(0).unwrap()
+}
+
+impl PageserverUtilization {
+    const UTILIZATION_FULL: u64 = 1000000;
+
+    /// Calculate a utilization score.  The result is to be inrepreted as a fraction of
+    /// Self::UTILIZATION_FULL.
+    ///
+    /// Lower values are more affine to scheduling more work on this node.
+    /// - UTILIZATION_FULL represents an ideal node which is fully utilized but should not receive any more work.
+    /// - 0.0 represents an empty node.
+    /// - Negative values are forbidden
+    /// - Values over UTILIZATION_FULL indicate an overloaded node, which may show degraded performance due to
+    ///   layer eviction.
+    pub fn score(&self) -> u64 {
+        let disk_usable_capacity = ((self.disk_usage_bytes + self.free_space_bytes)
+            * self.disk_usable_pct.get() as u64)
+            / 100;
+        let disk_utilization_score =
+            self.disk_wanted_bytes * Self::UTILIZATION_FULL / disk_usable_capacity;
+
+        let shard_utilization_score =
+            self.shard_count as u64 * Self::UTILIZATION_FULL / self.max_shard_count as u64;
+        std::cmp::max(disk_utilization_score, shard_utilization_score)
+    }
+
+    pub fn refresh_score(&mut self) {
+        self.utilization_score = self.score();
+    }
+
+    /// A utilization structure that has a full utilization score: use this as a placeholder when
+    /// you need a utilization but don't have real values yet.
+    pub fn full() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            disk_usage_bytes: 1,
+            free_space_bytes: 0,
+            disk_wanted_bytes: 1,
+            disk_usable_pct: Percent::new(100).unwrap(),
+            shard_count: 1,
+            max_shard_count: 1,
+            utilization_score: Self::UTILIZATION_FULL,
+            captured_at: serde_system_time::SystemTime(SystemTime::now()),
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 /// openapi knows only `format: int64`, so avoid outputting a non-parseable value by generated clients.
@@ -49,15 +119,19 @@ mod tests {
         let doc = PageserverUtilization {
             disk_usage_bytes: u64::MAX,
             free_space_bytes: 0,
-            utilization_score: u64::MAX,
-            captured_at: SystemTime(
+            disk_wanted_bytes: u64::MAX,
+            utilization_score: 13,
+            disk_usable_pct: Percent::new(90).unwrap(),
+            shard_count: 100,
+            max_shard_count: 200,
+            captured_at: serde_system_time::SystemTime(
                 std::time::SystemTime::UNIX_EPOCH + Duration::from_secs(1708509779),
             ),
         };
 
         let s = serde_json::to_string(&doc).unwrap();
 
-        let expected = r#"{"disk_usage_bytes":9223372036854775807,"free_space_bytes":0,"utilization_score":9223372036854775807,"captured_at":"2024-02-21T10:02:59.000Z"}"#;
+        let expected = "{\"disk_usage_bytes\":9223372036854775807,\"free_space_bytes\":0,\"disk_wanted_bytes\":9223372036854775807,\"disk_usable_pct\":90,\"shard_count\":100,\"max_shard_count\":200,\"utilization_score\":13,\"captured_at\":\"2024-02-21T10:02:59.000Z\"}";
 
         assert_eq!(s, expected);
     }
diff --git a/libs/postgres_ffi/src/lib.rs b/libs/postgres_ffi/src/lib.rs
index 729f57f829..0940ad207f 100644
--- a/libs/postgres_ffi/src/lib.rs
+++ b/libs/postgres_ffi/src/lib.rs
@@ -143,8 +143,8 @@ pub use v14::xlog_utils::XLogFileName;
 
 pub use v14::bindings::DBState_DB_SHUTDOWNED;
 
-pub fn bkpimage_is_compressed(bimg_info: u8, version: u32) -> anyhow::Result<bool> {
-    dispatch_pgversion!(version, Ok(pgv::bindings::bkpimg_is_compressed(bimg_info)))
+pub fn bkpimage_is_compressed(bimg_info: u8, version: u32) -> bool {
+    dispatch_pgversion!(version, pgv::bindings::bkpimg_is_compressed(bimg_info))
 }
 
 pub fn generate_wal_segment(
diff --git a/libs/remote_storage/src/error.rs b/libs/remote_storage/src/error.rs
index 66422853e1..5fd0eaabc7 100644
--- a/libs/remote_storage/src/error.rs
+++ b/libs/remote_storage/src/error.rs
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ impl DownloadError {
             Timeout | Other(_) => false,
         }
     }
+
+    pub fn is_cancelled(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self, DownloadError::Cancelled)
+    }
 }
 
 impl From<std::io::Error> for DownloadError {
diff --git a/libs/utils/src/completion.rs b/libs/utils/src/completion.rs
index 2fef8d35df..f65c080ad4 100644
--- a/libs/utils/src/completion.rs
+++ b/libs/utils/src/completion.rs
@@ -5,13 +5,40 @@ use tokio_util::task::{task_tracker::TaskTrackerToken, TaskTracker};
 /// Can be cloned, moved and kept around in futures as "guard objects".
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct Completion {
-    _token: TaskTrackerToken,
+    token: TaskTrackerToken,
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Debug for Completion {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("Completion")
+            .field("siblings", &self.token.task_tracker().len())
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
+impl Completion {
+    /// Returns true if this completion is associated with the given barrier.
+    pub fn blocks(&self, barrier: &Barrier) -> bool {
+        TaskTracker::ptr_eq(self.token.task_tracker(), &barrier.0)
+    }
+
+    pub fn barrier(&self) -> Barrier {
+        Barrier(self.token.task_tracker().clone())
+    }
 }
 
 /// Barrier will wait until all clones of [`Completion`] have been dropped.
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct Barrier(TaskTracker);
 
+impl std::fmt::Debug for Barrier {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("Barrier")
+            .field("remaining", &self.0.len())
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
 impl Default for Barrier {
     fn default() -> Self {
         let (_, rx) = channel();
@@ -51,5 +78,5 @@ pub fn channel() -> (Completion, Barrier) {
     tracker.close();
 
     let token = tracker.token();
-    (Completion { _token: token }, Barrier(tracker))
+    (Completion { token }, Barrier(tracker))
 }
diff --git a/pageserver/benches/bench_ingest.rs b/pageserver/benches/bench_ingest.rs
index 9bab02e46c..0336302de0 100644
--- a/pageserver/benches/bench_ingest.rs
+++ b/pageserver/benches/bench_ingest.rs
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ async fn ingest(
             }
         }
 
-        layer.put_value(key, lsn, &data, &ctx).await?;
+        layer.put_value(key.to_compact(), lsn, &data, &ctx).await?;
     }
     layer.freeze(lsn + 1).await;
 
diff --git a/pageserver/src/bin/pageserver.rs b/pageserver/src/bin/pageserver.rs
index 932918410c..da0c11d9bf 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/bin/pageserver.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/bin/pageserver.rs
@@ -124,8 +124,6 @@ fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     // after setting up logging, log the effective IO engine choice and read path implementations
     info!(?conf.virtual_file_io_engine, "starting with virtual_file IO engine");
     info!(?conf.virtual_file_direct_io, "starting with virtual_file Direct IO settings");
-    info!(?conf.get_impl, "starting with get page implementation");
-    info!(?conf.get_vectored_impl, "starting with vectored get page implementation");
     info!(?conf.compact_level0_phase1_value_access, "starting with setting for compact_level0_phase1_value_access");
 
     let tenants_path = conf.tenants_path();
diff --git a/pageserver/src/config.rs b/pageserver/src/config.rs
index f4c367bd4d..0ebaf78840 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/config.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/config.rs
@@ -29,12 +29,12 @@ use utils::{
     logging::LogFormat,
 };
 
+use crate::l0_flush::L0FlushConfig;
+use crate::tenant::config::TenantConfOpt;
 use crate::tenant::timeline::compaction::CompactL0Phase1ValueAccess;
 use crate::tenant::vectored_blob_io::MaxVectoredReadBytes;
-use crate::tenant::{config::TenantConfOpt, timeline::GetImpl};
 use crate::tenant::{TENANTS_SEGMENT_NAME, TIMELINES_SEGMENT_NAME};
 use crate::{disk_usage_eviction_task::DiskUsageEvictionTaskConfig, virtual_file::io_engine};
-use crate::{l0_flush::L0FlushConfig, tenant::timeline::GetVectoredImpl};
 use crate::{tenant::config::TenantConf, virtual_file};
 use crate::{TENANT_HEATMAP_BASENAME, TENANT_LOCATION_CONFIG_NAME, TIMELINE_DELETE_MARK_SUFFIX};
 
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ pub mod defaults {
         DEFAULT_HTTP_LISTEN_ADDR, DEFAULT_HTTP_LISTEN_PORT, DEFAULT_PG_LISTEN_ADDR,
         DEFAULT_PG_LISTEN_PORT,
     };
-    use pageserver_api::models::ImageCompressionAlgorithm;
     pub use storage_broker::DEFAULT_ENDPOINT as BROKER_DEFAULT_ENDPOINT;
 
     pub const DEFAULT_WAIT_LSN_TIMEOUT: &str = "300 s";
@@ -90,8 +89,7 @@ pub mod defaults {
 
     pub const DEFAULT_MAX_VECTORED_READ_BYTES: usize = 128 * 1024; // 128 KiB
 
-    pub const DEFAULT_IMAGE_COMPRESSION: ImageCompressionAlgorithm =
-        ImageCompressionAlgorithm::Disabled;
+    pub const DEFAULT_IMAGE_COMPRESSION: &str = "zstd(1)";
 
     pub const DEFAULT_VALIDATE_VECTORED_GET: bool = false;
 
@@ -133,14 +131,8 @@ pub mod defaults {
 
 #virtual_file_io_engine = '{DEFAULT_VIRTUAL_FILE_IO_ENGINE}'
 
-#get_vectored_impl = '{DEFAULT_GET_VECTORED_IMPL}'
-
-#get_impl = '{DEFAULT_GET_IMPL}'
-
 #max_vectored_read_bytes = '{DEFAULT_MAX_VECTORED_READ_BYTES}'
 
-#validate_vectored_get = '{DEFAULT_VALIDATE_VECTORED_GET}'
-
 [tenant_config]
 #checkpoint_distance = {DEFAULT_CHECKPOINT_DISTANCE} # in bytes
 #checkpoint_timeout = {DEFAULT_CHECKPOINT_TIMEOUT}
@@ -278,14 +270,8 @@ pub struct PageServerConf {
 
     pub virtual_file_io_engine: virtual_file::IoEngineKind,
 
-    pub get_vectored_impl: GetVectoredImpl,
-
-    pub get_impl: GetImpl,
-
     pub max_vectored_read_bytes: MaxVectoredReadBytes,
 
-    pub validate_vectored_get: bool,
-
     pub image_compression: ImageCompressionAlgorithm,
 
     /// How many bytes of ephemeral layer content will we allow per kilobyte of RAM.  When this
@@ -396,14 +382,8 @@ struct PageServerConfigBuilder {
 
     virtual_file_io_engine: BuilderValue<virtual_file::IoEngineKind>,
 
-    get_vectored_impl: BuilderValue<GetVectoredImpl>,
-
-    get_impl: BuilderValue<GetImpl>,
-
     max_vectored_read_bytes: BuilderValue<MaxVectoredReadBytes>,
 
-    validate_vectored_get: BuilderValue<bool>,
-
     image_compression: BuilderValue<ImageCompressionAlgorithm>,
 
     ephemeral_bytes_per_memory_kb: BuilderValue<usize>,
@@ -493,13 +473,10 @@ impl PageServerConfigBuilder {
 
             virtual_file_io_engine: Set(DEFAULT_VIRTUAL_FILE_IO_ENGINE.parse().unwrap()),
 
-            get_vectored_impl: Set(DEFAULT_GET_VECTORED_IMPL.parse().unwrap()),
-            get_impl: Set(DEFAULT_GET_IMPL.parse().unwrap()),
             max_vectored_read_bytes: Set(MaxVectoredReadBytes(
                 NonZeroUsize::new(DEFAULT_MAX_VECTORED_READ_BYTES).unwrap(),
             )),
-            image_compression: Set(DEFAULT_IMAGE_COMPRESSION),
-            validate_vectored_get: Set(DEFAULT_VALIDATE_VECTORED_GET),
+            image_compression: Set(DEFAULT_IMAGE_COMPRESSION.parse().unwrap()),
             ephemeral_bytes_per_memory_kb: Set(DEFAULT_EPHEMERAL_BYTES_PER_MEMORY_KB),
             l0_flush: Set(L0FlushConfig::default()),
             compact_level0_phase1_value_access: Set(CompactL0Phase1ValueAccess::default()),
@@ -659,22 +636,10 @@ impl PageServerConfigBuilder {
         self.virtual_file_io_engine = BuilderValue::Set(value);
     }
 
-    pub fn get_vectored_impl(&mut self, value: GetVectoredImpl) {
-        self.get_vectored_impl = BuilderValue::Set(value);
-    }
-
-    pub fn get_impl(&mut self, value: GetImpl) {
-        self.get_impl = BuilderValue::Set(value);
-    }
-
     pub fn get_max_vectored_read_bytes(&mut self, value: MaxVectoredReadBytes) {
         self.max_vectored_read_bytes = BuilderValue::Set(value);
     }
 
-    pub fn get_validate_vectored_get(&mut self, value: bool) {
-        self.validate_vectored_get = BuilderValue::Set(value);
-    }
-
     pub fn get_image_compression(&mut self, value: ImageCompressionAlgorithm) {
         self.image_compression = BuilderValue::Set(value);
     }
@@ -745,10 +710,7 @@ impl PageServerConfigBuilder {
                 heatmap_upload_concurrency,
                 secondary_download_concurrency,
                 ingest_batch_size,
-                get_vectored_impl,
-                get_impl,
                 max_vectored_read_bytes,
-                validate_vectored_get,
                 image_compression,
                 ephemeral_bytes_per_memory_kb,
                 l0_flush,
@@ -1002,21 +964,12 @@ impl PageServerConf {
                 "virtual_file_io_engine" => {
                     builder.virtual_file_io_engine(parse_toml_from_str("virtual_file_io_engine", item)?)
                 }
-                "get_vectored_impl" => {
-                    builder.get_vectored_impl(parse_toml_from_str("get_vectored_impl", item)?)
-                }
-                "get_impl" => {
-                    builder.get_impl(parse_toml_from_str("get_impl", item)?)
-                }
                 "max_vectored_read_bytes" => {
                     let bytes = parse_toml_u64("max_vectored_read_bytes", item)? as usize;
                     builder.get_max_vectored_read_bytes(
                         MaxVectoredReadBytes(
                             NonZeroUsize::new(bytes).expect("Max byte size of vectored read must be greater than 0")))
                 }
-                "validate_vectored_get" => {
-                    builder.get_validate_vectored_get(parse_toml_bool("validate_vectored_get", item)?)
-                }
                 "image_compression" => {
                     builder.get_image_compression(parse_toml_from_str("image_compression", item)?)
                 }
@@ -1106,14 +1059,11 @@ impl PageServerConf {
             secondary_download_concurrency: defaults::DEFAULT_SECONDARY_DOWNLOAD_CONCURRENCY,
             ingest_batch_size: defaults::DEFAULT_INGEST_BATCH_SIZE,
             virtual_file_io_engine: DEFAULT_VIRTUAL_FILE_IO_ENGINE.parse().unwrap(),
-            get_vectored_impl: defaults::DEFAULT_GET_VECTORED_IMPL.parse().unwrap(),
-            get_impl: defaults::DEFAULT_GET_IMPL.parse().unwrap(),
             max_vectored_read_bytes: MaxVectoredReadBytes(
                 NonZeroUsize::new(defaults::DEFAULT_MAX_VECTORED_READ_BYTES)
                     .expect("Invalid default constant"),
             ),
-            image_compression: defaults::DEFAULT_IMAGE_COMPRESSION,
-            validate_vectored_get: defaults::DEFAULT_VALIDATE_VECTORED_GET,
+            image_compression: defaults::DEFAULT_IMAGE_COMPRESSION.parse().unwrap(),
             ephemeral_bytes_per_memory_kb: defaults::DEFAULT_EPHEMERAL_BYTES_PER_MEMORY_KB,
             l0_flush: L0FlushConfig::default(),
             compact_level0_phase1_value_access: CompactL0Phase1ValueAccess::default(),
@@ -1349,14 +1299,11 @@ background_task_maximum_delay = '334 s'
                 secondary_download_concurrency: defaults::DEFAULT_SECONDARY_DOWNLOAD_CONCURRENCY,
                 ingest_batch_size: defaults::DEFAULT_INGEST_BATCH_SIZE,
                 virtual_file_io_engine: DEFAULT_VIRTUAL_FILE_IO_ENGINE.parse().unwrap(),
-                get_vectored_impl: defaults::DEFAULT_GET_VECTORED_IMPL.parse().unwrap(),
-                get_impl: defaults::DEFAULT_GET_IMPL.parse().unwrap(),
                 max_vectored_read_bytes: MaxVectoredReadBytes(
                     NonZeroUsize::new(defaults::DEFAULT_MAX_VECTORED_READ_BYTES)
                         .expect("Invalid default constant")
                 ),
-                validate_vectored_get: defaults::DEFAULT_VALIDATE_VECTORED_GET,
-                image_compression: defaults::DEFAULT_IMAGE_COMPRESSION,
+                image_compression: defaults::DEFAULT_IMAGE_COMPRESSION.parse().unwrap(),
                 ephemeral_bytes_per_memory_kb: defaults::DEFAULT_EPHEMERAL_BYTES_PER_MEMORY_KB,
                 l0_flush: L0FlushConfig::default(),
                 compact_level0_phase1_value_access: CompactL0Phase1ValueAccess::default(),
@@ -1425,14 +1372,11 @@ background_task_maximum_delay = '334 s'
                 secondary_download_concurrency: defaults::DEFAULT_SECONDARY_DOWNLOAD_CONCURRENCY,
                 ingest_batch_size: 100,
                 virtual_file_io_engine: DEFAULT_VIRTUAL_FILE_IO_ENGINE.parse().unwrap(),
-                get_vectored_impl: defaults::DEFAULT_GET_VECTORED_IMPL.parse().unwrap(),
-                get_impl: defaults::DEFAULT_GET_IMPL.parse().unwrap(),
                 max_vectored_read_bytes: MaxVectoredReadBytes(
                     NonZeroUsize::new(defaults::DEFAULT_MAX_VECTORED_READ_BYTES)
                         .expect("Invalid default constant")
                 ),
-                validate_vectored_get: defaults::DEFAULT_VALIDATE_VECTORED_GET,
-                image_compression: defaults::DEFAULT_IMAGE_COMPRESSION,
+                image_compression: defaults::DEFAULT_IMAGE_COMPRESSION.parse().unwrap(),
                 ephemeral_bytes_per_memory_kb: defaults::DEFAULT_EPHEMERAL_BYTES_PER_MEMORY_KB,
                 l0_flush: L0FlushConfig::default(),
                 compact_level0_phase1_value_access: CompactL0Phase1ValueAccess::default(),
diff --git a/pageserver/src/disk_usage_eviction_task.rs b/pageserver/src/disk_usage_eviction_task.rs
index 92dcf6ee61..5e4a49bc56 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/disk_usage_eviction_task.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/disk_usage_eviction_task.rs
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ use crate::{
         mgr::TenantManager,
         remote_timeline_client::LayerFileMetadata,
         secondary::SecondaryTenant,
-        storage_layer::{AsLayerDesc, EvictionError, Layer, LayerName},
+        storage_layer::{AsLayerDesc, EvictionError, Layer, LayerName, LayerVisibilityHint},
     },
     CancellableTask, DiskUsageEvictionTask,
 };
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ fn default_highest_layer_count_loses_first() -> bool {
 }
 
 impl EvictionOrder {
-    fn sort(&self, candidates: &mut [(MinResidentSizePartition, EvictionCandidate)]) {
+    fn sort(&self, candidates: &mut [(EvictionPartition, EvictionCandidate)]) {
         use EvictionOrder::*;
 
         match self {
@@ -644,6 +644,7 @@ pub(crate) struct EvictionCandidate {
     pub(crate) layer: EvictionLayer,
     pub(crate) last_activity_ts: SystemTime,
     pub(crate) relative_last_activity: finite_f32::FiniteF32,
+    pub(crate) visibility: LayerVisibilityHint,
 }
 
 impl std::fmt::Display for EvictionLayer {
@@ -685,14 +686,22 @@ impl std::fmt::Debug for EvictionCandidate {
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord)]
-enum MinResidentSizePartition {
+enum EvictionPartition {
+    // A layer that is un-wanted by the tenant: evict all these first, before considering
+    // any other layers
+    EvictNow,
+
+    // Above the minimum size threshold: this layer is a candidate for eviction.
     Above,
+
+    // Below the minimum size threshold: this layer should only be evicted if all the
+    // tenants' layers above the minimum size threshold have already been considered.
     Below,
 }
 
 enum EvictionCandidates {
     Cancelled,
-    Finished(Vec<(MinResidentSizePartition, EvictionCandidate)>),
+    Finished(Vec<(EvictionPartition, EvictionCandidate)>),
 }
 
 /// Gather the eviction candidates.
@@ -890,8 +899,10 @@ async fn collect_eviction_candidates(
             max_layer_size
         };
 
-        // Sort layers most-recently-used first, then partition by
-        // cumsum above/below min_resident_size.
+        // Sort layers most-recently-used first, then calculate [`EvictionPartition`] for each layer,
+        // where the inputs are:
+        //  - whether the layer is visible
+        //  - whether the layer is above/below the min_resident_size cutline
         tenant_candidates
             .sort_unstable_by_key(|layer_info| std::cmp::Reverse(layer_info.last_activity_ts));
         let mut cumsum: i128 = 0;
@@ -908,12 +919,23 @@ async fn collect_eviction_candidates(
                     candidate.relative_last_activity =
                         eviction_order.relative_last_activity(total, i);
 
-                    let partition = if cumsum > min_resident_size as i128 {
-                        MinResidentSizePartition::Above
-                    } else {
-                        MinResidentSizePartition::Below
+                    let partition = match candidate.visibility {
+                        LayerVisibilityHint::Covered => {
+                            // Covered layers are evicted first
+                            EvictionPartition::EvictNow
+                        }
+                        LayerVisibilityHint::Visible => {
+                            cumsum += i128::from(candidate.layer.get_file_size());
+
+                            if cumsum > min_resident_size as i128 {
+                                EvictionPartition::Above
+                            } else {
+                                // The most recent layers below the min_resident_size threshold
+                                // are the last to be evicted.
+                                EvictionPartition::Below
+                            }
+                        }
                     };
-                    cumsum += i128::from(candidate.layer.get_file_size());
 
                     (partition, candidate)
                 });
@@ -981,7 +1003,7 @@ async fn collect_eviction_candidates(
                         // Secondary locations' layers are always considered above the min resident size,
                         // i.e. secondary locations are permitted to be trimmed to zero layers if all
                         // the layers have sufficiently old access times.
-                        MinResidentSizePartition::Above,
+                        EvictionPartition::Above,
                         candidate,
                     )
                 });
@@ -1009,7 +1031,9 @@ async fn collect_eviction_candidates(
         }
     }
 
-    debug_assert!(MinResidentSizePartition::Above < MinResidentSizePartition::Below,
+    debug_assert!(EvictionPartition::Above < EvictionPartition::Below,
+        "as explained in the function's doc comment, layers that aren't in the tenant's min_resident_size are evicted first");
+    debug_assert!(EvictionPartition::EvictNow < EvictionPartition::Above,
         "as explained in the function's doc comment, layers that aren't in the tenant's min_resident_size are evicted first");
 
     eviction_order.sort(&mut candidates);
@@ -1022,7 +1046,7 @@ async fn collect_eviction_candidates(
 ///
 /// Returns the amount of candidates selected, with the planned usage.
 fn select_victims<U: Usage>(
-    candidates: &[(MinResidentSizePartition, EvictionCandidate)],
+    candidates: &[(EvictionPartition, EvictionCandidate)],
     usage_pre: U,
 ) -> VictimSelection<U> {
     let mut usage_when_switched = None;
@@ -1034,7 +1058,7 @@ fn select_victims<U: Usage>(
             break;
         }
 
-        if partition == &MinResidentSizePartition::Below && usage_when_switched.is_none() {
+        if partition == &EvictionPartition::Below && usage_when_switched.is_none() {
             usage_when_switched = Some((usage_planned, i));
         }
 
diff --git a/pageserver/src/http/routes.rs b/pageserver/src/http/routes.rs
index a983d8c4c2..a4da8506d6 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/http/routes.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/http/routes.rs
@@ -178,10 +178,8 @@ fn check_permission(request: &Request<Body>, tenant_id: Option<TenantId>) -> Res
 impl From<PageReconstructError> for ApiError {
     fn from(pre: PageReconstructError) -> ApiError {
         match pre {
-            PageReconstructError::Other(pre) => ApiError::InternalServerError(pre),
-            PageReconstructError::MissingKey(e) => {
-                ApiError::InternalServerError(anyhow::anyhow!("{e}"))
-            }
+            PageReconstructError::Other(other) => ApiError::InternalServerError(other),
+            PageReconstructError::MissingKey(e) => ApiError::InternalServerError(e.into()),
             PageReconstructError::Cancelled => ApiError::Cancelled,
             PageReconstructError::AncestorLsnTimeout(e) => ApiError::Timeout(format!("{e}").into()),
             PageReconstructError::WalRedo(pre) => ApiError::InternalServerError(pre),
@@ -1787,9 +1785,11 @@ async fn timeline_checkpoint_handler(
         }
 
         if wait_until_uploaded {
+            tracing::info!("Waiting for uploads to complete...");
             timeline.remote_client.wait_completion().await
             // XXX map to correct ApiError for the cases where it's due to shutdown
             .context("wait completion").map_err(ApiError::InternalServerError)?;
+            tracing::info!("Uploads completed up to {}", timeline.get_remote_consistent_lsn_projected().unwrap_or(Lsn(0)));
         }
 
         json_response(StatusCode::OK, ())
@@ -1887,7 +1887,7 @@ async fn timeline_detach_ancestor_handler(
         // drop(tenant);
 
         let resp = match progress {
-            detach_ancestor::Progress::Prepared(_guard, prepared) => {
+            detach_ancestor::Progress::Prepared(attempt, prepared) => {
                 // it would be great to tag the guard on to the tenant activation future
                 let reparented_timelines = state
                     .tenant_manager
@@ -1895,11 +1895,10 @@ async fn timeline_detach_ancestor_handler(
                         tenant_shard_id,
                         timeline_id,
                         prepared,
+                        attempt,
                         ctx,
                     )
-                    .await
-                    .context("timeline detach ancestor completion")
-                    .map_err(ApiError::InternalServerError)?;
+                    .await?;
 
                 AncestorDetached {
                     reparented_timelines,
@@ -2357,8 +2356,9 @@ async fn get_utilization(
     // regenerate at most 1Hz to allow polling at any rate.
     if !still_valid {
         let path = state.conf.tenants_path();
-        let doc = crate::utilization::regenerate(path.as_std_path())
-            .map_err(ApiError::InternalServerError)?;
+        let doc =
+            crate::utilization::regenerate(state.conf, path.as_std_path(), &state.tenant_manager)
+                .map_err(ApiError::InternalServerError)?;
 
         let mut buf = Vec::new();
         serde_json::to_writer(&mut buf, &doc)
diff --git a/pageserver/src/pgdatadir_mapping.rs b/pageserver/src/pgdatadir_mapping.rs
index 85f3a6e0fb..4f7eb1a00c 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/pgdatadir_mapping.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/pgdatadir_mapping.rs
@@ -287,10 +287,7 @@ impl Timeline {
         // then check if the database was already initialized.
         // get_rel_exists can be called before dbdir is created.
         let buf = version.get(self, DBDIR_KEY, ctx).await?;
-        let dbdirs = match DbDirectory::des(&buf).context("deserialization failure") {
-            Ok(dir) => Ok(dir.dbdirs),
-            Err(e) => Err(PageReconstructError::from(e)),
-        }?;
+        let dbdirs = DbDirectory::des(&buf)?.dbdirs;
         if !dbdirs.contains_key(&(tag.spcnode, tag.dbnode)) {
             return Ok(false);
         }
@@ -298,13 +295,8 @@ impl Timeline {
         let key = rel_dir_to_key(tag.spcnode, tag.dbnode);
         let buf = version.get(self, key, ctx).await?;
 
-        match RelDirectory::des(&buf).context("deserialization failure") {
-            Ok(dir) => {
-                let exists = dir.rels.contains(&(tag.relnode, tag.forknum));
-                Ok(exists)
-            }
-            Err(e) => Err(PageReconstructError::from(e)),
-        }
+        let dir = RelDirectory::des(&buf)?;
+        Ok(dir.rels.contains(&(tag.relnode, tag.forknum)))
     }
 
     /// Get a list of all existing relations in given tablespace and database.
@@ -323,20 +315,16 @@ impl Timeline {
         let key = rel_dir_to_key(spcnode, dbnode);
         let buf = version.get(self, key, ctx).await?;
 
-        match RelDirectory::des(&buf).context("deserialization failure") {
-            Ok(dir) => {
-                let rels: HashSet<RelTag> =
-                    HashSet::from_iter(dir.rels.iter().map(|(relnode, forknum)| RelTag {
-                        spcnode,
-                        dbnode,
-                        relnode: *relnode,
-                        forknum: *forknum,
-                    }));
+        let dir = RelDirectory::des(&buf)?;
+        let rels: HashSet<RelTag> =
+            HashSet::from_iter(dir.rels.iter().map(|(relnode, forknum)| RelTag {
+                spcnode,
+                dbnode,
+                relnode: *relnode,
+                forknum: *forknum,
+            }));
 
-                Ok(rels)
-            }
-            Err(e) => Err(PageReconstructError::from(e)),
-        }
+        Ok(rels)
     }
 
     /// Get the whole SLRU segment
@@ -398,13 +386,8 @@ impl Timeline {
         let key = slru_dir_to_key(kind);
         let buf = version.get(self, key, ctx).await?;
 
-        match SlruSegmentDirectory::des(&buf).context("deserialization failure") {
-            Ok(dir) => {
-                let exists = dir.segments.contains(&segno);
-                Ok(exists)
-            }
-            Err(e) => Err(PageReconstructError::from(e)),
-        }
+        let dir = SlruSegmentDirectory::des(&buf)?;
+        Ok(dir.segments.contains(&segno))
     }
 
     /// Locate LSN, such that all transactions that committed before
@@ -620,10 +603,7 @@ impl Timeline {
         let key = slru_dir_to_key(kind);
 
         let buf = version.get(self, key, ctx).await?;
-        match SlruSegmentDirectory::des(&buf).context("deserialization failure") {
-            Ok(dir) => Ok(dir.segments),
-            Err(e) => Err(PageReconstructError::from(e)),
-        }
+        Ok(SlruSegmentDirectory::des(&buf)?.segments)
     }
 
     pub(crate) async fn get_relmap_file(
@@ -647,10 +627,7 @@ impl Timeline {
         // fetch directory entry
         let buf = self.get(DBDIR_KEY, lsn, ctx).await?;
 
-        match DbDirectory::des(&buf).context("deserialization failure") {
-            Ok(dir) => Ok(dir.dbdirs),
-            Err(e) => Err(PageReconstructError::from(e)),
-        }
+        Ok(DbDirectory::des(&buf)?.dbdirs)
     }
 
     pub(crate) async fn get_twophase_file(
@@ -672,10 +649,7 @@ impl Timeline {
         // fetch directory entry
         let buf = self.get(TWOPHASEDIR_KEY, lsn, ctx).await?;
 
-        match TwoPhaseDirectory::des(&buf).context("deserialization failure") {
-            Ok(dir) => Ok(dir.xids),
-            Err(e) => Err(PageReconstructError::from(e)),
-        }
+        Ok(TwoPhaseDirectory::des(&buf)?.xids)
     }
 
     pub(crate) async fn get_control_file(
@@ -700,10 +674,7 @@ impl Timeline {
         ctx: &RequestContext,
     ) -> Result<HashMap<String, Bytes>, PageReconstructError> {
         match self.get(AUX_FILES_KEY, lsn, ctx).await {
-            Ok(buf) => match AuxFilesDirectory::des(&buf).context("deserialization failure") {
-                Ok(dir) => Ok(dir.files),
-                Err(e) => Err(PageReconstructError::from(e)),
-            },
+            Ok(buf) => Ok(AuxFilesDirectory::des(&buf)?.files),
             Err(e) => {
                 // This is expected: historical databases do not have the key.
                 debug!("Failed to get info about AUX files: {}", e);
@@ -719,13 +690,14 @@ impl Timeline {
     ) -> Result<HashMap<String, Bytes>, PageReconstructError> {
         let kv = self
             .scan(KeySpace::single(Key::metadata_aux_key_range()), lsn, ctx)
-            .await
-            .context("scan")?;
+            .await?;
         let mut result = HashMap::new();
         let mut sz = 0;
         for (_, v) in kv {
-            let v = v.context("get value")?;
-            let v = aux_file::decode_file_value_bytes(&v).context("value decode")?;
+            let v = v?;
+            let v = aux_file::decode_file_value_bytes(&v)
+                .context("value decode")
+                .map_err(PageReconstructError::Other)?;
             for (fname, content) in v {
                 sz += fname.len();
                 sz += content.len();
@@ -793,11 +765,10 @@ impl Timeline {
     ) -> Result<HashMap<RepOriginId, Lsn>, PageReconstructError> {
         let kv = self
             .scan(KeySpace::single(repl_origin_key_range()), lsn, ctx)
-            .await
-            .context("scan")?;
+            .await?;
         let mut result = HashMap::new();
         for (k, v) in kv {
-            let v = v.context("get value")?;
+            let v = v?;
             let origin_id = k.field6 as RepOriginId;
             let origin_lsn = Lsn::des(&v).unwrap();
             if origin_lsn != Lsn::INVALID {
@@ -1733,12 +1704,17 @@ impl<'a> DatadirModification<'a> {
                     // the original code assumes all other errors are missing keys. Therefore, we keep the code path
                     // the same for now, though in theory, we should only match the `MissingKey` variant.
                     Err(
-                        PageReconstructError::Other(_)
+                        e @ (PageReconstructError::Other(_)
                         | PageReconstructError::WalRedo(_)
-                        | PageReconstructError::MissingKey { .. },
+                        | PageReconstructError::MissingKey(_)),
                     ) => {
                         // Key is missing, we must insert an image as the basis for subsequent deltas.
 
+                        if !matches!(e, PageReconstructError::MissingKey(_)) {
+                            let e = utils::error::report_compact_sources(&e);
+                            tracing::warn!("treating error as if it was a missing key: {}", e);
+                        }
+
                         let mut dir = AuxFilesDirectory {
                             files: HashMap::new(),
                         };
@@ -1893,7 +1869,7 @@ impl<'a> DatadirModification<'a> {
                     // work directly with Images, and we never need to read actual
                     // data pages. We could handle this if we had to, by calling
                     // the walredo manager, but let's keep it simple for now.
-                    Err(PageReconstructError::from(anyhow::anyhow!(
+                    Err(PageReconstructError::Other(anyhow::anyhow!(
                         "unexpected pending WAL record"
                     )))
                 };
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant.rs
index 90c0e28bc4..8ab8d08ce1 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant.rs
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ use tokio::sync::watch;
 use tokio::task::JoinSet;
 use tokio_util::sync::CancellationToken;
 use tracing::*;
+use upload_queue::NotInitialized;
 use utils::backoff;
 use utils::circuit_breaker::CircuitBreaker;
 use utils::completion;
@@ -301,7 +302,11 @@ pub struct Tenant {
     pub(crate) timeline_get_throttle:
         Arc<throttle::Throttle<&'static crate::metrics::tenant_throttling::TimelineGet>>,
 
-    /// An ongoing timeline detach must be checked during attempts to GC or compact a timeline.
+    /// An ongoing timeline detach concurrency limiter.
+    ///
+    /// As a tenant will likely be restarted as part of timeline detach ancestor it makes no sense
+    /// to have two running at the same time. A different one can be started if an earlier one
+    /// has failed for whatever reason.
     ongoing_timeline_detach: std::sync::Mutex<Option<(TimelineId, utils::completion::Barrier)>>,
 
     /// `index_part.json` based gc blocking reason tracking.
@@ -601,6 +606,15 @@ impl From<PageReconstructError> for GcError {
     }
 }
 
+impl From<NotInitialized> for GcError {
+    fn from(value: NotInitialized) -> Self {
+        match value {
+            NotInitialized::Uninitialized => GcError::Remote(value.into()),
+            NotInitialized::Stopped | NotInitialized::ShuttingDown => GcError::TimelineCancelled,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl From<timeline::layer_manager::Shutdown> for GcError {
     fn from(_: timeline::layer_manager::Shutdown) -> Self {
         GcError::TimelineCancelled
@@ -823,9 +837,9 @@ impl Tenant {
                             // The Stopping case is for when we have passed control on to DeleteTenantFlow:
                             // if it errors, we will call make_broken when tenant is already in Stopping.
                             assert!(
-                            matches!(*state, TenantState::Attaching | TenantState::Stopping { .. }),
-                            "the attach task owns the tenant state until activation is complete"
-                        );
+                                matches!(*state, TenantState::Attaching | TenantState::Stopping { .. }),
+                                "the attach task owns the tenant state until activation is complete"
+                            );
 
                             *state = TenantState::broken_from_reason(err.to_string());
                         });
@@ -3722,6 +3736,19 @@ impl Tenant {
     pub(crate) fn get_tenant_conf(&self) -> TenantConfOpt {
         self.tenant_conf.load().tenant_conf.clone()
     }
+
+    /// How much local storage would this tenant like to have?  It can cope with
+    /// less than this (via eviction and on-demand downloads), but this function enables
+    /// the Tenant to advertise how much storage it would prefer to have to provide fast I/O
+    /// by keeping important things on local disk.
+    pub(crate) fn local_storage_wanted(&self) -> u64 {
+        let mut wanted = 0;
+        let timelines = self.timelines.lock().unwrap();
+        for timeline in timelines.values() {
+            wanted += timeline.metrics.visible_physical_size_gauge.get();
+        }
+        wanted
+    }
 }
 
 /// Create the cluster temporarily in 'initdbpath' directory inside the repository
@@ -4464,10 +4491,13 @@ mod tests {
 
         // This needs to traverse to the parent, and fails.
         let err = newtline.get(*TEST_KEY, Lsn(0x50), &ctx).await.unwrap_err();
-        assert!(err.to_string().starts_with(&format!(
-            "Bad state on timeline {}: Broken",
-            tline.timeline_id
-        )));
+        assert!(
+            err.to_string().starts_with(&format!(
+                "bad state on timeline {}: Broken",
+                tline.timeline_id
+            )),
+            "{err}"
+        );
 
         Ok(())
     }
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/blob_io.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/blob_io.rs
index 8e9d349ca8..a245c99a88 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/blob_io.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/blob_io.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ use tracing::warn;
 use crate::context::RequestContext;
 use crate::page_cache::PAGE_SZ;
 use crate::tenant::block_io::BlockCursor;
+use crate::virtual_file::owned_buffers_io::io_buf_ext::{FullSlice, IoBufExt};
 use crate::virtual_file::VirtualFile;
 use std::cmp::min;
 use std::io::{Error, ErrorKind};
@@ -186,11 +187,11 @@ impl<const BUFFERED: bool> BlobWriter<BUFFERED> {
     /// You need to make sure that the internal buffer is empty, otherwise
     /// data will be written in wrong order.
     #[inline(always)]
-    async fn write_all_unbuffered<B: BoundedBuf<Buf = Buf>, Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
+    async fn write_all_unbuffered<Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
         &mut self,
-        src_buf: B,
+        src_buf: FullSlice<Buf>,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> (B::Buf, Result<(), Error>) {
+    ) -> (FullSlice<Buf>, Result<(), Error>) {
         let (src_buf, res) = self.inner.write_all(src_buf, ctx).await;
         let nbytes = match res {
             Ok(nbytes) => nbytes,
@@ -204,8 +205,9 @@ impl<const BUFFERED: bool> BlobWriter<BUFFERED> {
     /// Flushes the internal buffer to the underlying `VirtualFile`.
     pub async fn flush_buffer(&mut self, ctx: &RequestContext) -> Result<(), Error> {
         let buf = std::mem::take(&mut self.buf);
-        let (mut buf, res) = self.inner.write_all(buf, ctx).await;
+        let (slice, res) = self.inner.write_all(buf.slice_len(), ctx).await;
         res?;
+        let mut buf = slice.into_raw_slice().into_inner();
         buf.clear();
         self.buf = buf;
         Ok(())
@@ -222,19 +224,30 @@ impl<const BUFFERED: bool> BlobWriter<BUFFERED> {
     }
 
     /// Internal, possibly buffered, write function
-    async fn write_all<B: BoundedBuf<Buf = Buf>, Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
+    async fn write_all<Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
         &mut self,
-        src_buf: B,
+        src_buf: FullSlice<Buf>,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> (B::Buf, Result<(), Error>) {
+    ) -> (FullSlice<Buf>, Result<(), Error>) {
+        let src_buf = src_buf.into_raw_slice();
+        let src_buf_bounds = src_buf.bounds();
+        let restore = move |src_buf_slice: Slice<_>| {
+            FullSlice::must_new(Slice::from_buf_bounds(
+                src_buf_slice.into_inner(),
+                src_buf_bounds,
+            ))
+        };
+
         if !BUFFERED {
             assert!(self.buf.is_empty());
-            return self.write_all_unbuffered(src_buf, ctx).await;
+            return self
+                .write_all_unbuffered(FullSlice::must_new(src_buf), ctx)
+                .await;
         }
         let remaining = Self::CAPACITY - self.buf.len();
         let src_buf_len = src_buf.bytes_init();
         if src_buf_len == 0 {
-            return (Slice::into_inner(src_buf.slice_full()), Ok(()));
+            return (restore(src_buf), Ok(()));
         }
         let mut src_buf = src_buf.slice(0..src_buf_len);
         // First try to copy as much as we can into the buffer
@@ -245,7 +258,7 @@ impl<const BUFFERED: bool> BlobWriter<BUFFERED> {
         // Then, if the buffer is full, flush it out
         if self.buf.len() == Self::CAPACITY {
             if let Err(e) = self.flush_buffer(ctx).await {
-                return (Slice::into_inner(src_buf), Err(e));
+                return (restore(src_buf), Err(e));
             }
         }
         // Finally, write the tail of src_buf:
@@ -258,27 +271,29 @@ impl<const BUFFERED: bool> BlobWriter<BUFFERED> {
                 let copied = self.write_into_buffer(&src_buf);
                 // We just verified above that src_buf fits into our internal buffer.
                 assert_eq!(copied, src_buf.len());
-                Slice::into_inner(src_buf)
+                restore(src_buf)
             } else {
-                let (src_buf, res) = self.write_all_unbuffered(src_buf, ctx).await;
+                let (src_buf, res) = self
+                    .write_all_unbuffered(FullSlice::must_new(src_buf), ctx)
+                    .await;
                 if let Err(e) = res {
                     return (src_buf, Err(e));
                 }
                 src_buf
             }
         } else {
-            Slice::into_inner(src_buf)
+            restore(src_buf)
         };
         (src_buf, Ok(()))
     }
 
     /// Write a blob of data. Returns the offset that it was written to,
     /// which can be used to retrieve the data later.
-    pub async fn write_blob<B: BoundedBuf<Buf = Buf>, Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
+    pub async fn write_blob<Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
         &mut self,
-        srcbuf: B,
+        srcbuf: FullSlice<Buf>,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> (B::Buf, Result<u64, Error>) {
+    ) -> (FullSlice<Buf>, Result<u64, Error>) {
         let (buf, res) = self
             .write_blob_maybe_compressed(srcbuf, ctx, ImageCompressionAlgorithm::Disabled)
             .await;
@@ -287,43 +302,40 @@ impl<const BUFFERED: bool> BlobWriter<BUFFERED> {
 
     /// Write a blob of data. Returns the offset that it was written to,
     /// which can be used to retrieve the data later.
-    pub async fn write_blob_maybe_compressed<B: BoundedBuf<Buf = Buf>, Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
+    pub(crate) async fn write_blob_maybe_compressed<Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
         &mut self,
-        srcbuf: B,
+        srcbuf: FullSlice<Buf>,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
         algorithm: ImageCompressionAlgorithm,
-    ) -> (B::Buf, Result<(u64, CompressionInfo), Error>) {
+    ) -> (FullSlice<Buf>, Result<(u64, CompressionInfo), Error>) {
         let offset = self.offset;
         let mut compression_info = CompressionInfo {
             written_compressed: false,
             compressed_size: None,
         };
 
-        let len = srcbuf.bytes_init();
+        let len = srcbuf.len();
 
         let mut io_buf = self.io_buf.take().expect("we always put it back below");
         io_buf.clear();
         let mut compressed_buf = None;
-        let ((io_buf, hdr_res), srcbuf) = async {
+        let ((io_buf_slice, hdr_res), srcbuf) = async {
             if len < 128 {
                 // Short blob. Write a 1-byte length header
                 io_buf.put_u8(len as u8);
-                (
-                    self.write_all(io_buf, ctx).await,
-                    srcbuf.slice_full().into_inner(),
-                )
+                (self.write_all(io_buf.slice_len(), ctx).await, srcbuf)
             } else {
                 // Write a 4-byte length header
                 if len > MAX_SUPPORTED_LEN {
                     return (
                         (
-                            io_buf,
+                            io_buf.slice_len(),
                             Err(Error::new(
                                 ErrorKind::Other,
                                 format!("blob too large ({len} bytes)"),
                             )),
                         ),
-                        srcbuf.slice_full().into_inner(),
+                        srcbuf,
                     );
                 }
                 let (high_bit_mask, len_written, srcbuf) = match algorithm {
@@ -336,8 +348,7 @@ impl<const BUFFERED: bool> BlobWriter<BUFFERED> {
                         } else {
                             async_compression::tokio::write::ZstdEncoder::new(Vec::new())
                         };
-                        let slice = srcbuf.slice_full();
-                        encoder.write_all(&slice[..]).await.unwrap();
+                        encoder.write_all(&srcbuf[..]).await.unwrap();
                         encoder.shutdown().await.unwrap();
                         let compressed = encoder.into_inner();
                         compression_info.compressed_size = Some(compressed.len());
@@ -345,31 +356,29 @@ impl<const BUFFERED: bool> BlobWriter<BUFFERED> {
                             compression_info.written_compressed = true;
                             let compressed_len = compressed.len();
                             compressed_buf = Some(compressed);
-                            (BYTE_ZSTD, compressed_len, slice.into_inner())
+                            (BYTE_ZSTD, compressed_len, srcbuf)
                         } else {
-                            (BYTE_UNCOMPRESSED, len, slice.into_inner())
+                            (BYTE_UNCOMPRESSED, len, srcbuf)
                         }
                     }
-                    ImageCompressionAlgorithm::Disabled => {
-                        (BYTE_UNCOMPRESSED, len, srcbuf.slice_full().into_inner())
-                    }
+                    ImageCompressionAlgorithm::Disabled => (BYTE_UNCOMPRESSED, len, srcbuf),
                 };
                 let mut len_buf = (len_written as u32).to_be_bytes();
                 assert_eq!(len_buf[0] & 0xf0, 0);
                 len_buf[0] |= high_bit_mask;
                 io_buf.extend_from_slice(&len_buf[..]);
-                (self.write_all(io_buf, ctx).await, srcbuf)
+                (self.write_all(io_buf.slice_len(), ctx).await, srcbuf)
             }
         }
         .await;
-        self.io_buf = Some(io_buf);
+        self.io_buf = Some(io_buf_slice.into_raw_slice().into_inner());
         match hdr_res {
             Ok(_) => (),
-            Err(e) => return (Slice::into_inner(srcbuf.slice(..)), Err(e)),
+            Err(e) => return (srcbuf, Err(e)),
         }
         let (srcbuf, res) = if let Some(compressed_buf) = compressed_buf {
-            let (_buf, res) = self.write_all(compressed_buf, ctx).await;
-            (Slice::into_inner(srcbuf.slice(..)), res)
+            let (_buf, res) = self.write_all(compressed_buf.slice_len(), ctx).await;
+            (srcbuf, res)
         } else {
             self.write_all(srcbuf, ctx).await
         };
@@ -432,21 +441,21 @@ pub(crate) mod tests {
                 let (_, res) = if compression {
                     let res = wtr
                         .write_blob_maybe_compressed(
-                            blob.clone(),
+                            blob.clone().slice_len(),
                             ctx,
                             ImageCompressionAlgorithm::Zstd { level: Some(1) },
                         )
                         .await;
                     (res.0, res.1.map(|(off, _)| off))
                 } else {
-                    wtr.write_blob(blob.clone(), ctx).await
+                    wtr.write_blob(blob.clone().slice_len(), ctx).await
                 };
                 let offs = res?;
                 offsets.push(offs);
             }
             // Write out one page worth of zeros so that we can
             // read again with read_blk
-            let (_, res) = wtr.write_blob(vec![0; PAGE_SZ], ctx).await;
+            let (_, res) = wtr.write_blob(vec![0; PAGE_SZ].slice_len(), ctx).await;
             let offs = res?;
             println!("Writing final blob at offs={offs}");
             wtr.flush_buffer(ctx).await?;
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/ephemeral_file/page_caching.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/ephemeral_file/page_caching.rs
index 0a12b64a7c..7355b3b5a3 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/ephemeral_file/page_caching.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/ephemeral_file/page_caching.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 use crate::context::RequestContext;
 use crate::page_cache::{self, PAGE_SZ};
 use crate::tenant::block_io::BlockLease;
+use crate::virtual_file::owned_buffers_io::io_buf_ext::FullSlice;
 use crate::virtual_file::VirtualFile;
 
 use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
@@ -208,21 +209,11 @@ impl PreWarmingWriter {
 }
 
 impl crate::virtual_file::owned_buffers_io::write::OwnedAsyncWriter for PreWarmingWriter {
-    async fn write_all<
-        B: tokio_epoll_uring::BoundedBuf<Buf = Buf>,
-        Buf: tokio_epoll_uring::IoBuf + Send,
-    >(
+    async fn write_all<Buf: tokio_epoll_uring::IoBuf + Send>(
         &mut self,
-        buf: B,
+        buf: FullSlice<Buf>,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> std::io::Result<(usize, B::Buf)> {
-        let buf = buf.slice(..);
-        let saved_bounds = buf.bounds(); // save for reconstructing the Slice from iobuf after the IO is done
-        let check_bounds_stuff_works = if cfg!(test) && cfg!(debug_assertions) {
-            Some(buf.to_vec())
-        } else {
-            None
-        };
+    ) -> std::io::Result<(usize, FullSlice<Buf>)> {
         let buflen = buf.len();
         assert_eq!(
             buflen % PAGE_SZ,
@@ -231,10 +222,10 @@ impl crate::virtual_file::owned_buffers_io::write::OwnedAsyncWriter for PreWarmi
         );
 
         // Do the IO.
-        let iobuf = match self.file.write_all(buf, ctx).await {
-            (iobuf, Ok(nwritten)) => {
+        let buf = match self.file.write_all(buf, ctx).await {
+            (buf, Ok(nwritten)) => {
                 assert_eq!(nwritten, buflen);
-                iobuf
+                buf
             }
             (_, Err(e)) => {
                 return Err(std::io::Error::new(
@@ -248,12 +239,6 @@ impl crate::virtual_file::owned_buffers_io::write::OwnedAsyncWriter for PreWarmi
             }
         };
 
-        // Reconstruct the Slice (the write path consumed the Slice and returned us the underlying IoBuf)
-        let buf = tokio_epoll_uring::Slice::from_buf_bounds(iobuf, saved_bounds);
-        if let Some(check_bounds_stuff_works) = check_bounds_stuff_works {
-            assert_eq!(&check_bounds_stuff_works, &*buf);
-        }
-
         let nblocks = buflen / PAGE_SZ;
         let nblocks32 = u32::try_from(nblocks).unwrap();
 
@@ -300,6 +285,6 @@ impl crate::virtual_file::owned_buffers_io::write::OwnedAsyncWriter for PreWarmi
         }
 
         self.nwritten_blocks = self.nwritten_blocks.checked_add(nblocks32).unwrap();
-        Ok((buflen, buf.into_inner()))
+        Ok((buflen, buf))
     }
 }
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/ephemeral_file/zero_padded_read_write/zero_padded.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/ephemeral_file/zero_padded_read_write/zero_padded.rs
index f90291bbf8..2dc0277638 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/ephemeral_file/zero_padded_read_write/zero_padded.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/ephemeral_file/zero_padded_read_write/zero_padded.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 
 use std::mem::MaybeUninit;
 
+use crate::virtual_file::owned_buffers_io::io_buf_ext::FullSlice;
+
 /// See module-level comment.
 pub struct Buffer<const N: usize> {
     allocation: Box<[u8; N]>,
@@ -60,10 +62,10 @@ impl<const N: usize> crate::virtual_file::owned_buffers_io::write::Buffer for Bu
         self.written
     }
 
-    fn flush(self) -> tokio_epoll_uring::Slice<Self> {
+    fn flush(self) -> FullSlice<Self> {
         self.invariants();
         let written = self.written;
-        tokio_epoll_uring::BoundedBuf::slice(self, 0..written)
+        FullSlice::must_new(tokio_epoll_uring::BoundedBuf::slice(self, 0..written))
     }
 
     fn reuse_after_flush(iobuf: Self::IoBuf) -> Self {
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/metadata.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/metadata.rs
index bbc070a81b..6073abc8c3 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/metadata.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/metadata.rs
@@ -285,12 +285,15 @@ impl TimelineMetadata {
     }
 
     /// When reparenting, the `ancestor_lsn` does not change.
+    ///
+    /// Returns true if anything was changed.
     pub fn reparent(&mut self, timeline: &TimelineId) {
         assert!(self.body.ancestor_timeline.is_some());
         // no assertion for redoing this: it's fine, we may have to repeat this multiple times over
         self.body.ancestor_timeline = Some(*timeline);
     }
 
+    /// Returns true if anything was changed
     pub fn detach_from_ancestor(&mut self, branchpoint: &(TimelineId, Lsn)) {
         if let Some(ancestor) = self.body.ancestor_timeline {
             assert_eq!(ancestor, branchpoint.0);
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/mgr.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/mgr.rs
index 3316627540..4e6ea0c8f9 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/mgr.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/mgr.rs
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ use utils::id::{TenantId, TimelineId};
 
 use super::remote_timeline_client::remote_tenant_path;
 use super::secondary::SecondaryTenant;
-use super::timeline::detach_ancestor::PreparedTimelineDetach;
+use super::timeline::detach_ancestor::{self, PreparedTimelineDetach};
 use super::{GlobalShutDown, TenantSharedResources};
 
 /// For a tenant that appears in TenantsMap, it may either be
@@ -1927,93 +1927,149 @@ impl TenantManager {
         tenant_shard_id: TenantShardId,
         timeline_id: TimelineId,
         prepared: PreparedTimelineDetach,
+        mut attempt: detach_ancestor::Attempt,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> Result<HashSet<TimelineId>, anyhow::Error> {
-        // FIXME: this is unnecessary, slotguard already has these semantics
-        struct RevertOnDropSlot(Option<SlotGuard>);
+    ) -> Result<HashSet<TimelineId>, detach_ancestor::Error> {
+        use detach_ancestor::Error;
 
-        impl Drop for RevertOnDropSlot {
-            fn drop(&mut self) {
-                if let Some(taken) = self.0.take() {
-                    taken.revert();
-                }
-            }
-        }
+        let slot_guard =
+            tenant_map_acquire_slot(&tenant_shard_id, TenantSlotAcquireMode::MustExist).map_err(
+                |e| {
+                    use TenantSlotError::*;
 
-        impl RevertOnDropSlot {
-            fn into_inner(mut self) -> SlotGuard {
-                self.0.take().unwrap()
-            }
-        }
-
-        impl std::ops::Deref for RevertOnDropSlot {
-            type Target = SlotGuard;
-
-            fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
-                self.0.as_ref().unwrap()
-            }
-        }
-
-        let slot_guard = tenant_map_acquire_slot(&tenant_shard_id, TenantSlotAcquireMode::Any)?;
-        let slot_guard = RevertOnDropSlot(Some(slot_guard));
+                    match e {
+                        MapState(TenantMapError::ShuttingDown) => Error::ShuttingDown,
+                        NotFound(_) | InProgress | MapState(_) => Error::DetachReparent(e.into()),
+                    }
+                },
+            )?;
 
         let tenant = {
-            let Some(old_slot) = slot_guard.get_old_value() else {
-                anyhow::bail!(
-                    "Tenant not found when trying to complete detaching timeline ancestor"
-                );
-            };
+            let old_slot = slot_guard
+                .get_old_value()
+                .as_ref()
+                .expect("requested MustExist");
 
             let Some(tenant) = old_slot.get_attached() else {
-                anyhow::bail!("Tenant is not in attached state");
+                return Err(Error::DetachReparent(anyhow::anyhow!(
+                    "Tenant is not in attached state"
+                )));
             };
 
             if !tenant.is_active() {
-                anyhow::bail!("Tenant is not active");
+                return Err(Error::DetachReparent(anyhow::anyhow!(
+                    "Tenant is not active"
+                )));
             }
 
             tenant.clone()
         };
 
-        let timeline = tenant.get_timeline(timeline_id, true)?;
+        let timeline = tenant
+            .get_timeline(timeline_id, true)
+            .map_err(Error::NotFound)?;
 
-        let reparented = timeline
-            .complete_detaching_timeline_ancestor(&tenant, prepared, ctx)
+        let resp = timeline
+            .detach_from_ancestor_and_reparent(&tenant, prepared, ctx)
             .await?;
 
-        let mut slot_guard = slot_guard.into_inner();
+        let mut slot_guard = slot_guard;
 
-        let (_guard, progress) = utils::completion::channel();
-        match tenant.shutdown(progress, ShutdownMode::Hard).await {
-            Ok(()) => {
-                slot_guard.drop_old_value()?;
+        let tenant = if resp.reset_tenant_required() {
+            attempt.before_reset_tenant();
+
+            let (_guard, progress) = utils::completion::channel();
+            match tenant.shutdown(progress, ShutdownMode::Hard).await {
+                Ok(()) => {
+                    slot_guard.drop_old_value().expect("it was just shutdown");
+                }
+                Err(_barrier) => {
+                    slot_guard.revert();
+                    // this really should not happen, at all, unless a shutdown without acquiring
+                    // tenant slot was already going? regardless, on restart the attempt tracking
+                    // will reset to retryable.
+                    return Err(Error::ShuttingDown);
+                }
             }
-            Err(_barrier) => {
-                slot_guard.revert();
-                // this really should not happen, at all, unless shutdown was already going?
-                anyhow::bail!("Cannot restart Tenant, already shutting down");
+
+            let tenant_path = self.conf.tenant_path(&tenant_shard_id);
+            let config = Tenant::load_tenant_config(self.conf, &tenant_shard_id)
+                .map_err(|e| Error::DetachReparent(e.into()))?;
+
+            let shard_identity = config.shard;
+            let tenant = tenant_spawn(
+                self.conf,
+                tenant_shard_id,
+                &tenant_path,
+                self.resources.clone(),
+                AttachedTenantConf::try_from(config).map_err(Error::DetachReparent)?,
+                shard_identity,
+                None,
+                SpawnMode::Eager,
+                ctx,
+            )
+            .map_err(|_| Error::ShuttingDown)?;
+
+            {
+                let mut g = tenant.ongoing_timeline_detach.lock().unwrap();
+                assert!(
+                    g.is_none(),
+                    "there cannot be any new timeline detach ancestor on newly created tenant"
+                );
+                *g = Some((attempt.timeline_id, attempt.new_barrier()));
             }
+
+            // if we bail out here, we will not allow a new attempt, which should be fine.
+            // pageserver should be shutting down regardless? tenant_reset would help, unless it
+            // runs into the same problem.
+            slot_guard
+                .upsert(TenantSlot::Attached(tenant.clone()))
+                .map_err(|e| match e {
+                    TenantSlotUpsertError::ShuttingDown(_) => Error::ShuttingDown,
+                    other => Error::DetachReparent(other.into()),
+                })?;
+            tenant
+        } else {
+            tracing::info!("skipping tenant_reset as no changes made required it");
+            tenant
+        };
+
+        if let Some(reparented) = resp.completed() {
+            // finally ask the restarted tenant to complete the detach
+            //
+            // rationale for 9999s: we don't really have a timetable here; if retried, the caller
+            // will get an 503.
+            tenant
+                .wait_to_become_active(std::time::Duration::from_secs(9999))
+                .await
+                .map_err(|e| {
+                    use pageserver_api::models::TenantState;
+                    use GetActiveTenantError::{Cancelled, WillNotBecomeActive};
+                    match e {
+                        Cancelled | WillNotBecomeActive(TenantState::Stopping { .. }) => {
+                            Error::ShuttingDown
+                        }
+                        other => Error::Complete(other.into()),
+                    }
+                })?;
+
+            utils::pausable_failpoint!(
+                "timeline-detach-ancestor::after_activating_before_finding-pausable"
+            );
+
+            let timeline = tenant
+                .get_timeline(attempt.timeline_id, true)
+                .map_err(Error::NotFound)?;
+
+            timeline
+                .complete_detaching_timeline_ancestor(&tenant, attempt, ctx)
+                .await
+                .map(|()| reparented)
+        } else {
+            // at least the latest versions have now been downloaded and refreshed; be ready to
+            // retry another time.
+            Err(Error::FailedToReparentAll)
         }
-
-        let tenant_path = self.conf.tenant_path(&tenant_shard_id);
-        let config = Tenant::load_tenant_config(self.conf, &tenant_shard_id)?;
-
-        let shard_identity = config.shard;
-        let tenant = tenant_spawn(
-            self.conf,
-            tenant_shard_id,
-            &tenant_path,
-            self.resources.clone(),
-            AttachedTenantConf::try_from(config)?,
-            shard_identity,
-            None,
-            SpawnMode::Eager,
-            ctx,
-        )?;
-
-        slot_guard.upsert(TenantSlot::Attached(tenant))?;
-
-        Ok(reparented)
     }
 
     /// A page service client sends a TenantId, and to look up the correct Tenant we must
@@ -2085,6 +2141,57 @@ impl TenantManager {
             }
         }
     }
+
+    /// Calculate the tenant shards' contributions to this pageserver's utilization metrics.  The
+    /// returned values are:
+    ///  - the number of bytes of local disk space this pageserver's shards are requesting, i.e.
+    ///    how much space they would use if not impacted by disk usage eviction.
+    ///  - the number of tenant shards currently on this pageserver, including attached
+    ///    and secondary.
+    ///
+    /// This function is quite expensive: callers are expected to cache the result and
+    /// limit how often they call it.
+    pub(crate) fn calculate_utilization(&self) -> Result<(u64, u32), TenantMapListError> {
+        let tenants = self.tenants.read().unwrap();
+        let m = match &*tenants {
+            TenantsMap::Initializing => return Err(TenantMapListError::Initializing),
+            TenantsMap::Open(m) | TenantsMap::ShuttingDown(m) => m,
+        };
+        let shard_count = m.len();
+        let mut wanted_bytes = 0;
+
+        for tenant_slot in m.values() {
+            match tenant_slot {
+                TenantSlot::InProgress(_barrier) => {
+                    // While a slot is being changed, we can't know how much storage it wants.  This
+                    // means this function's output can fluctuate if a lot of changes are going on
+                    // (such as transitions from secondary to attached).
+                    //
+                    // We could wait for the barrier and retry, but it's important that the utilization
+                    // API is responsive, and the data quality impact is not very significant.
+                    continue;
+                }
+                TenantSlot::Attached(tenant) => {
+                    wanted_bytes += tenant.local_storage_wanted();
+                }
+                TenantSlot::Secondary(secondary) => {
+                    let progress = secondary.progress.lock().unwrap();
+                    wanted_bytes += if progress.heatmap_mtime.is_some() {
+                        // If we have heatmap info, then we will 'want' the sum
+                        // of the size of layers in the heatmap: this is how much space
+                        // we would use if not doing any eviction.
+                        progress.bytes_total
+                    } else {
+                        // In the absence of heatmap info, assume that the secondary location simply
+                        // needs as much space as it is currently using.
+                        secondary.resident_size_metric.get()
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        Ok((wanted_bytes, shard_count as u32))
+    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
@@ -2284,6 +2391,9 @@ impl SlotGuard {
 
     /// Get any value that was present in the slot before we acquired ownership
     /// of it: in state transitions, this will be the old state.
+    ///
+    // FIXME: get_ prefix
+    // FIXME: this should be .as_ref() -- unsure why no clippy
     fn get_old_value(&self) -> &Option<TenantSlot> {
         &self.old_value
     }
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client.rs
index 1344fe4192..b4d7ad1e97 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client.rs
@@ -736,12 +736,13 @@ impl RemoteTimelineClient {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    /// Reparent this timeline to a new parent.
+    ///
+    /// A retryable step of timeline ancestor detach.
     pub(crate) async fn schedule_reparenting_and_wait(
         self: &Arc<Self>,
         new_parent: &TimelineId,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
-        // FIXME: because of how Timeline::schedule_uploads works when called from layer flushing
-        // and reads the in-memory part we cannot do the detaching like this
         let receiver = {
             let mut guard = self.upload_queue.lock().unwrap();
             let upload_queue = guard.initialized_mut()?;
@@ -752,17 +753,25 @@ impl RemoteTimelineClient {
                 ));
             };
 
-            upload_queue.dirty.metadata.reparent(new_parent);
-            upload_queue.dirty.lineage.record_previous_ancestor(&prev);
+            let uploaded = &upload_queue.clean.0.metadata;
 
-            self.schedule_index_upload(upload_queue)?;
+            if uploaded.ancestor_timeline().is_none() && !uploaded.ancestor_lsn().is_valid() {
+                // nothing to do
+                None
+            } else {
+                upload_queue.dirty.metadata.reparent(new_parent);
+                upload_queue.dirty.lineage.record_previous_ancestor(&prev);
 
-            self.schedule_barrier0(upload_queue)
+                self.schedule_index_upload(upload_queue)?;
+
+                Some(self.schedule_barrier0(upload_queue))
+            }
         };
 
-        Self::wait_completion0(receiver)
-            .await
-            .context("wait completion")
+        if let Some(receiver) = receiver {
+            Self::wait_completion0(receiver).await?;
+        }
+        Ok(())
     }
 
     /// Schedules uploading a new version of `index_part.json` with the given layers added,
@@ -778,26 +787,30 @@ impl RemoteTimelineClient {
             let mut guard = self.upload_queue.lock().unwrap();
             let upload_queue = guard.initialized_mut()?;
 
-            upload_queue.dirty.metadata.detach_from_ancestor(&adopted);
-            upload_queue.dirty.lineage.record_detaching(&adopted);
+            if upload_queue.clean.0.lineage.detached_previous_ancestor() == Some(adopted) {
+                None
+            } else {
+                upload_queue.dirty.metadata.detach_from_ancestor(&adopted);
+                upload_queue.dirty.lineage.record_detaching(&adopted);
 
-            for layer in layers {
-                upload_queue
-                    .dirty
-                    .layer_metadata
-                    .insert(layer.layer_desc().layer_name(), layer.metadata());
+                for layer in layers {
+                    let prev = upload_queue
+                        .dirty
+                        .layer_metadata
+                        .insert(layer.layer_desc().layer_name(), layer.metadata());
+                    assert!(prev.is_none(), "copied layer existed already {layer}");
+                }
+
+                self.schedule_index_upload(upload_queue)?;
+
+                Some(self.schedule_barrier0(upload_queue))
             }
-
-            self.schedule_index_upload(upload_queue)?;
-
-            let barrier = self.schedule_barrier0(upload_queue);
-            self.launch_queued_tasks(upload_queue);
-            barrier
         };
 
-        Self::wait_completion0(barrier)
-            .await
-            .context("wait completion")
+        if let Some(barrier) = barrier {
+            Self::wait_completion0(barrier).await?;
+        }
+        Ok(())
     }
 
     /// Adds a gc blocking reason for this timeline if one does not exist already.
@@ -873,12 +886,7 @@ impl RemoteTimelineClient {
             let upload_queue = guard.initialized_mut()?;
 
             if let index::GcBlockingReason::DetachAncestor = reason {
-                if !upload_queue
-                    .clean
-                    .0
-                    .lineage
-                    .is_detached_from_original_ancestor()
-                {
+                if !upload_queue.clean.0.lineage.is_detached_from_ancestor() {
                     drop(guard);
                     panic!("cannot complete timeline_ancestor_detach while not detached");
                 }
@@ -985,7 +993,10 @@ impl RemoteTimelineClient {
     ///
     /// The files will be leaked in remote storage unless [`Self::schedule_deletion_of_unlinked`]
     /// is invoked on them.
-    pub(crate) fn schedule_gc_update(self: &Arc<Self>, gc_layers: &[Layer]) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    pub(crate) fn schedule_gc_update(
+        self: &Arc<Self>,
+        gc_layers: &[Layer],
+    ) -> Result<(), NotInitialized> {
         let mut guard = self.upload_queue.lock().unwrap();
         let upload_queue = guard.initialized_mut()?;
 
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/download.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/download.rs
index a17b32c983..d9725ad756 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/download.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/download.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ use crate::span::debug_assert_current_span_has_tenant_and_timeline_id;
 use crate::tenant::remote_timeline_client::{remote_layer_path, remote_timelines_path};
 use crate::tenant::storage_layer::LayerName;
 use crate::tenant::Generation;
+#[cfg_attr(target_os = "macos", allow(unused_imports))]
+use crate::virtual_file::owned_buffers_io::io_buf_ext::IoBufExt;
 use crate::virtual_file::{on_fatal_io_error, MaybeFatalIo, VirtualFile};
 use crate::TEMP_FILE_SUFFIX;
 use remote_storage::{DownloadError, GenericRemoteStorage, ListingMode, RemotePath};
@@ -219,9 +221,7 @@ async fn download_object<'a>(
                             Ok(chunk) => chunk,
                             Err(e) => return Err(e),
                         };
-                        buffered
-                            .write_buffered(tokio_epoll_uring::BoundedBuf::slice_full(chunk), ctx)
-                            .await?;
+                        buffered.write_buffered(chunk.slice_len(), ctx).await?;
                     }
                     let size_tracking = buffered.flush_and_into_inner(ctx).await?;
                     Ok(size_tracking.into_inner())
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/index.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/index.rs
index 90453b1922..757fb9d032 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/index.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/index.rs
@@ -216,26 +216,47 @@ fn is_false(b: &bool) -> bool {
 impl Lineage {
     const REMEMBER_AT_MOST: usize = 100;
 
-    pub(crate) fn record_previous_ancestor(&mut self, old_ancestor: &TimelineId) {
+    pub(crate) fn record_previous_ancestor(&mut self, old_ancestor: &TimelineId) -> bool {
         if self.reparenting_history.last() == Some(old_ancestor) {
             // do not re-record it
-            return;
-        }
+            false
+        } else {
+            #[cfg(feature = "testing")]
+            {
+                let existing = self
+                    .reparenting_history
+                    .iter()
+                    .position(|x| x == old_ancestor);
+                assert_eq!(
+                    existing, None,
+                    "we cannot reparent onto and off and onto the same timeline twice"
+                );
+            }
+            let drop_oldest = self.reparenting_history.len() + 1 >= Self::REMEMBER_AT_MOST;
 
-        let drop_oldest = self.reparenting_history.len() + 1 >= Self::REMEMBER_AT_MOST;
-
-        self.reparenting_history_truncated |= drop_oldest;
-        if drop_oldest {
-            self.reparenting_history.remove(0);
+            self.reparenting_history_truncated |= drop_oldest;
+            if drop_oldest {
+                self.reparenting_history.remove(0);
+            }
+            self.reparenting_history.push(*old_ancestor);
+            true
         }
-        self.reparenting_history.push(*old_ancestor);
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn record_detaching(&mut self, branchpoint: &(TimelineId, Lsn)) {
-        assert!(self.original_ancestor.is_none());
-
-        self.original_ancestor =
-            Some((branchpoint.0, branchpoint.1, chrono::Utc::now().naive_utc()));
+    /// Returns true if anything changed.
+    pub(crate) fn record_detaching(&mut self, branchpoint: &(TimelineId, Lsn)) -> bool {
+        if let Some((id, lsn, _)) = self.original_ancestor {
+            assert_eq!(
+                &(id, lsn),
+                branchpoint,
+                "detaching attempt has to be for the same ancestor we are already detached from"
+            );
+            false
+        } else {
+            self.original_ancestor =
+                Some((branchpoint.0, branchpoint.1, chrono::Utc::now().naive_utc()));
+            true
+        }
     }
 
     /// The queried lsn is most likely the basebackup lsn, and this answers question "is it allowed
@@ -247,10 +268,16 @@ impl Lineage {
             .is_some_and(|(_, ancestor_lsn, _)| ancestor_lsn == lsn)
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn is_detached_from_original_ancestor(&self) -> bool {
+    /// Returns true if the timeline originally had an ancestor, and no longer has one.
+    pub(crate) fn is_detached_from_ancestor(&self) -> bool {
         self.original_ancestor.is_some()
     }
 
+    /// Returns original ancestor timeline id and lsn that this timeline has been detached from.
+    pub(crate) fn detached_previous_ancestor(&self) -> Option<(TimelineId, Lsn)> {
+        self.original_ancestor.map(|(id, lsn, _)| (id, lsn))
+    }
+
     pub(crate) fn is_reparented(&self) -> bool {
         !self.reparenting_history.is_empty()
     }
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/secondary/downloader.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/secondary/downloader.rs
index 135e73b57f..8cff1d2864 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/secondary/downloader.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/secondary/downloader.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ use crate::{
             FAILED_REMOTE_OP_RETRIES,
         },
         span::debug_assert_current_span_has_tenant_id,
-        storage_layer::{layer::local_layer_path, LayerName},
+        storage_layer::{layer::local_layer_path, LayerName, LayerVisibilityHint},
         tasks::{warn_when_period_overrun, BackgroundLoopKind},
     },
     virtual_file::{on_fatal_io_error, MaybeFatalIo, VirtualFile},
@@ -296,6 +296,9 @@ impl SecondaryDetail {
                         }),
                         last_activity_ts: ods.access_time,
                         relative_last_activity: finite_f32::FiniteF32::ZERO,
+                        // Secondary location layers are presumed visible, because Covered layers
+                        // are excluded from the heatmap
+                        visibility: LayerVisibilityHint::Visible,
                     }
                 }));
 
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/secondary/heatmap.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/secondary/heatmap.rs
index 166483ba5d..4a8e66d38a 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/secondary/heatmap.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/secondary/heatmap.rs
@@ -29,16 +29,16 @@ pub(super) struct HeatMapTenant {
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub(crate) struct HeatMapTimeline {
     #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
-    pub(super) timeline_id: TimelineId,
+    pub(crate) timeline_id: TimelineId,
 
-    pub(super) layers: Vec<HeatMapLayer>,
+    pub(crate) layers: Vec<HeatMapLayer>,
 }
 
 #[serde_as]
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub(crate) struct HeatMapLayer {
-    pub(super) name: LayerName,
-    pub(super) metadata: LayerFileMetadata,
+    pub(crate) name: LayerName,
+    pub(crate) metadata: LayerFileMetadata,
 
     #[serde_as(as = "TimestampSeconds<i64>")]
     pub(super) access_time: SystemTime,
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/delta_layer.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/delta_layer.rs
index f4e965b99a..6c2391d72d 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/delta_layer.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/delta_layer.rs
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ use crate::tenant::vectored_blob_io::{
     VectoredReadPlanner,
 };
 use crate::tenant::PageReconstructError;
+use crate::virtual_file::owned_buffers_io::io_buf_ext::{FullSlice, IoBufExt};
 use crate::virtual_file::{self, VirtualFile};
 use crate::{walrecord, TEMP_FILE_SUFFIX};
 use crate::{DELTA_FILE_MAGIC, STORAGE_FORMAT_VERSION};
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ use std::os::unix::fs::FileExt;
 use std::str::FromStr;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use tokio::sync::OnceCell;
+use tokio_epoll_uring::IoBufMut;
 use tracing::*;
 
 use utils::{
@@ -436,19 +438,28 @@ impl DeltaLayerWriterInner {
         ctx: &RequestContext,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         let (_, res) = self
-            .put_value_bytes(key, lsn, Value::ser(&val)?, val.will_init(), ctx)
+            .put_value_bytes(
+                key,
+                lsn,
+                Value::ser(&val)?.slice_len(),
+                val.will_init(),
+                ctx,
+            )
             .await;
         res
     }
 
-    async fn put_value_bytes(
+    async fn put_value_bytes<Buf>(
         &mut self,
         key: Key,
         lsn: Lsn,
-        val: Vec<u8>,
+        val: FullSlice<Buf>,
         will_init: bool,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> (Vec<u8>, anyhow::Result<()>) {
+    ) -> (FullSlice<Buf>, anyhow::Result<()>)
+    where
+        Buf: IoBufMut + Send,
+    {
         assert!(
             self.lsn_range.start <= lsn,
             "lsn_start={}, lsn={}",
@@ -514,7 +525,7 @@ impl DeltaLayerWriterInner {
         file.seek(SeekFrom::Start(index_start_blk as u64 * PAGE_SZ as u64))
             .await?;
         for buf in block_buf.blocks {
-            let (_buf, res) = file.write_all(buf, ctx).await;
+            let (_buf, res) = file.write_all(buf.slice_len(), ctx).await;
             res?;
         }
         assert!(self.lsn_range.start < self.lsn_range.end);
@@ -534,7 +545,7 @@ impl DeltaLayerWriterInner {
         // TODO: could use smallvec here but it's a pain with Slice<T>
         Summary::ser_into(&summary, &mut buf)?;
         file.seek(SeekFrom::Start(0)).await?;
-        let (_buf, res) = file.write_all(buf, ctx).await;
+        let (_buf, res) = file.write_all(buf.slice_len(), ctx).await;
         res?;
 
         let metadata = file
@@ -646,14 +657,17 @@ impl DeltaLayerWriter {
             .await
     }
 
-    pub async fn put_value_bytes(
+    pub async fn put_value_bytes<Buf>(
         &mut self,
         key: Key,
         lsn: Lsn,
-        val: Vec<u8>,
+        val: FullSlice<Buf>,
         will_init: bool,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> (Vec<u8>, anyhow::Result<()>) {
+    ) -> (FullSlice<Buf>, anyhow::Result<()>)
+    where
+        Buf: IoBufMut + Send,
+    {
         self.inner
             .as_mut()
             .unwrap()
@@ -743,7 +757,7 @@ impl DeltaLayer {
         // TODO: could use smallvec here, but it's a pain with Slice<T>
         Summary::ser_into(&new_summary, &mut buf).context("serialize")?;
         file.seek(SeekFrom::Start(0)).await?;
-        let (_buf, res) = file.write_all(buf, ctx).await;
+        let (_buf, res) = file.write_all(buf.slice_len(), ctx).await;
         res?;
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -1020,7 +1034,7 @@ impl DeltaLayerInner {
                     for (_, blob_meta) in read.blobs_at.as_slice() {
                         reconstruct_state.on_key_error(
                             blob_meta.key,
-                            PageReconstructError::from(anyhow!(
+                            PageReconstructError::Other(anyhow!(
                                 "Failed to read blobs from virtual file {}: {}",
                                 self.file.path,
                                 kind
@@ -1047,7 +1061,7 @@ impl DeltaLayerInner {
                     Err(e) => {
                         reconstruct_state.on_key_error(
                             meta.meta.key,
-                            PageReconstructError::from(anyhow!(e).context(format!(
+                            PageReconstructError::Other(anyhow!(e).context(format!(
                                 "Failed to deserialize blob from virtual file {}",
                                 self.file.path,
                             ))),
@@ -1291,12 +1305,12 @@ impl DeltaLayerInner {
                         .put_value_bytes(
                             key,
                             lsn,
-                            std::mem::take(&mut per_blob_copy),
+                            std::mem::take(&mut per_blob_copy).slice_len(),
                             will_init,
                             ctx,
                         )
                         .await;
-                    per_blob_copy = tmp;
+                    per_blob_copy = tmp.into_raw_slice().into_inner();
 
                     res?;
 
@@ -1871,7 +1885,7 @@ pub(crate) mod test {
 
         for entry in entries {
             let (_, res) = writer
-                .put_value_bytes(entry.key, entry.lsn, entry.value, false, &ctx)
+                .put_value_bytes(entry.key, entry.lsn, entry.value.slice_len(), false, &ctx)
                 .await;
             res?;
         }
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/image_layer.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/image_layer.rs
index 16ba0fda94..9a19e4e2c7 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/image_layer.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/image_layer.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ use crate::tenant::vectored_blob_io::{
     VectoredReadPlanner,
 };
 use crate::tenant::{PageReconstructError, Timeline};
+use crate::virtual_file::owned_buffers_io::io_buf_ext::IoBufExt;
 use crate::virtual_file::{self, VirtualFile};
 use crate::{IMAGE_FILE_MAGIC, STORAGE_FORMAT_VERSION, TEMP_FILE_SUFFIX};
 use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, ensure, Context, Result};
@@ -354,7 +355,7 @@ impl ImageLayer {
         // TODO: could use smallvec here but it's a pain with Slice<T>
         Summary::ser_into(&new_summary, &mut buf).context("serialize")?;
         file.seek(SeekFrom::Start(0)).await?;
-        let (_buf, res) = file.write_all(buf, ctx).await;
+        let (_buf, res) = file.write_all(buf.slice_len(), ctx).await;
         res?;
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -369,9 +370,6 @@ impl ImageLayerInner {
         self.lsn
     }
 
-    /// Returns nested result following Result<Result<_, OpErr>, Critical>:
-    /// - inner has the success or transient failure
-    /// - outer has the permanent failure
     pub(super) async fn load(
         path: &Utf8Path,
         lsn: Lsn,
@@ -789,7 +787,7 @@ impl ImageLayerWriterInner {
         self.num_keys += 1;
         let (_img, res) = self
             .blob_writer
-            .write_blob_maybe_compressed(img, ctx, compression)
+            .write_blob_maybe_compressed(img.slice_len(), ctx, compression)
             .await;
         // TODO: re-use the buffer for `img` further upstack
         let (off, compression_info) = res?;
@@ -841,7 +839,7 @@ impl ImageLayerWriterInner {
             .await?;
         let (index_root_blk, block_buf) = self.tree.finish()?;
         for buf in block_buf.blocks {
-            let (_buf, res) = file.write_all(buf, ctx).await;
+            let (_buf, res) = file.write_all(buf.slice_len(), ctx).await;
             res?;
         }
 
@@ -861,7 +859,7 @@ impl ImageLayerWriterInner {
         // TODO: could use smallvec here but it's a pain with Slice<T>
         Summary::ser_into(&summary, &mut buf)?;
         file.seek(SeekFrom::Start(0)).await?;
-        let (_buf, res) = file.write_all(buf, ctx).await;
+        let (_buf, res) = file.write_all(buf.slice_len(), ctx).await;
         res?;
 
         let metadata = file
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/inmemory_layer.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/inmemory_layer.rs
index 57d93feaaf..748d79c149 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/inmemory_layer.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/inmemory_layer.rs
@@ -12,9 +12,11 @@ use crate::tenant::block_io::{BlockCursor, BlockReader, BlockReaderRef};
 use crate::tenant::ephemeral_file::EphemeralFile;
 use crate::tenant::timeline::GetVectoredError;
 use crate::tenant::PageReconstructError;
+use crate::virtual_file::owned_buffers_io::io_buf_ext::IoBufExt;
 use crate::{l0_flush, page_cache, walrecord};
 use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
 use camino::Utf8PathBuf;
+use pageserver_api::key::CompactKey;
 use pageserver_api::keyspace::KeySpace;
 use pageserver_api::models::InMemoryLayerInfo;
 use pageserver_api::shard::TenantShardId;
@@ -78,7 +80,7 @@ pub struct InMemoryLayerInner {
     /// All versions of all pages in the layer are kept here. Indexed
     /// by block number and LSN. The value is an offset into the
     /// ephemeral file where the page version is stored.
-    index: BTreeMap<Key, VecMap<Lsn, u64>>,
+    index: BTreeMap<CompactKey, VecMap<Lsn, u64>>,
 
     /// The values are stored in a serialized format in this file.
     /// Each serialized Value is preceded by a 'u32' length field.
@@ -312,8 +314,12 @@ impl InMemoryLayer {
         let reader = inner.file.block_cursor();
 
         for range in keyspace.ranges.iter() {
-            for (key, vec_map) in inner.index.range(range.start..range.end) {
-                let lsn_range = match reconstruct_state.get_cached_lsn(key) {
+            for (key, vec_map) in inner
+                .index
+                .range(range.start.to_compact()..range.end.to_compact())
+            {
+                let key = Key::from_compact(*key);
+                let lsn_range = match reconstruct_state.get_cached_lsn(&key) {
                     Some(cached_lsn) => (cached_lsn + 1)..end_lsn,
                     None => self.start_lsn..end_lsn,
                 };
@@ -324,20 +330,18 @@ impl InMemoryLayer {
                     // TODO: this uses the page cache => https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/issues/8183
                     let buf = reader.read_blob(*pos, &ctx).await;
                     if let Err(e) = buf {
-                        reconstruct_state
-                            .on_key_error(*key, PageReconstructError::from(anyhow!(e)));
+                        reconstruct_state.on_key_error(key, PageReconstructError::from(anyhow!(e)));
                         break;
                     }
 
                     let value = Value::des(&buf.unwrap());
                     if let Err(e) = value {
-                        reconstruct_state
-                            .on_key_error(*key, PageReconstructError::from(anyhow!(e)));
+                        reconstruct_state.on_key_error(key, PageReconstructError::from(anyhow!(e)));
                         break;
                     }
 
                     let key_situation =
-                        reconstruct_state.update_key(key, *entry_lsn, value.unwrap());
+                        reconstruct_state.update_key(&key, *entry_lsn, value.unwrap());
                     if key_situation == ValueReconstructSituation::Complete {
                         break;
                     }
@@ -417,7 +421,7 @@ impl InMemoryLayer {
     /// Adds the page version to the in-memory tree
     pub async fn put_value(
         &self,
-        key: Key,
+        key: CompactKey,
         lsn: Lsn,
         buf: &[u8],
         ctx: &RequestContext,
@@ -430,7 +434,7 @@ impl InMemoryLayer {
     async fn put_value_locked(
         &self,
         locked_inner: &mut RwLockWriteGuard<'_, InMemoryLayerInner>,
-        key: Key,
+        key: CompactKey,
         lsn: Lsn,
         buf: &[u8],
         ctx: &RequestContext,
@@ -539,6 +543,8 @@ impl InMemoryLayer {
         let end_lsn = *self.end_lsn.get().unwrap();
 
         let key_count = if let Some(key_range) = key_range {
+            let key_range = key_range.start.to_compact()..key_range.end.to_compact();
+
             inner
                 .index
                 .iter()
@@ -576,11 +582,17 @@ impl InMemoryLayer {
                     for (lsn, pos) in vec_map.as_slice() {
                         cursor.read_blob_into_buf(*pos, &mut buf, &ctx).await?;
                         let will_init = Value::des(&buf)?.will_init();
-                        let res;
-                        (buf, res) = delta_layer_writer
-                            .put_value_bytes(*key, *lsn, buf, will_init, &ctx)
+                        let (tmp, res) = delta_layer_writer
+                            .put_value_bytes(
+                                Key::from_compact(*key),
+                                *lsn,
+                                buf.slice_len(),
+                                will_init,
+                                &ctx,
+                            )
                             .await;
                         res?;
+                        buf = tmp.into_raw_slice().into_inner();
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -615,11 +627,17 @@ impl InMemoryLayer {
                         // => https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/issues/8183
                         cursor.read_blob_into_buf(*pos, &mut buf, ctx).await?;
                         let will_init = Value::des(&buf)?.will_init();
-                        let res;
-                        (buf, res) = delta_layer_writer
-                            .put_value_bytes(*key, *lsn, buf, will_init, ctx)
+                        let (tmp, res) = delta_layer_writer
+                            .put_value_bytes(
+                                Key::from_compact(*key),
+                                *lsn,
+                                buf.slice_len(),
+                                will_init,
+                                ctx,
+                            )
                             .await;
                         res?;
+                        buf = tmp.into_raw_slice().into_inner();
                     }
                 }
             }
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/layer.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/layer.rs
index 83450d24bb..774f97e1d9 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/layer.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/layer.rs
@@ -312,7 +312,9 @@ impl Layer {
             .get_or_maybe_download(true, Some(ctx))
             .await
             .map_err(|err| match err {
-                DownloadError::DownloadCancelled => GetVectoredError::Cancelled,
+                DownloadError::TimelineShutdown | DownloadError::DownloadCancelled => {
+                    GetVectoredError::Cancelled
+                }
                 other => GetVectoredError::Other(anyhow::anyhow!(other)),
             })?;
 
@@ -1612,6 +1614,12 @@ pub(crate) enum DownloadError {
     Failpoint(failpoints::FailpointKind),
 }
 
+impl DownloadError {
+    pub(crate) fn is_cancelled(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self, DownloadError::DownloadCancelled)
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub(crate) enum NeedsDownload {
     NotFound,
@@ -1848,8 +1856,8 @@ impl ResidentLayer {
     /// Read all they keys in this layer which match the ShardIdentity, and write them all to
     /// the provided writer.  Return the number of keys written.
     #[tracing::instrument(level = tracing::Level::DEBUG, skip_all, fields(layer=%self))]
-    pub(crate) async fn filter<'a>(
-        &'a self,
+    pub(crate) async fn filter(
+        &self,
         shard_identity: &ShardIdentity,
         writer: &mut ImageLayerWriter,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/split_writer.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/split_writer.rs
index d7bfe48c60..e12e29cd45 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/split_writer.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/split_writer.rs
@@ -208,6 +208,8 @@ impl SplitDeltaLayerWriter {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
+    use rand::{RngCore, SeedableRng};
+
     use crate::{
         tenant::{
             harness::{TenantHarness, TIMELINE_ID},
@@ -229,7 +231,10 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     fn get_large_img() -> Bytes {
-        vec![0; 8192].into()
+        let mut rng = rand::rngs::SmallRng::seed_from_u64(42);
+        let mut data = vec![0; 8192];
+        rng.fill_bytes(&mut data);
+        data.into()
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/tasks.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/tasks.rs
index b4706ea59d..dbcd704b4e 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/tasks.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/tasks.rs
@@ -211,6 +211,11 @@ async fn compaction_loop(tenant: Arc<Tenant>, cancel: CancellationToken) {
             } else {
                 // Run compaction
                 match tenant.compaction_iteration(&cancel, &ctx).await {
+                    Ok(has_pending_task) => {
+                        error_run_count = 0;
+                        // schedule the next compaction immediately in case there is a pending compaction task
+                        if has_pending_task { Duration::ZERO } else { period }
+                    }
                     Err(e) => {
                         let wait_duration = backoff::exponential_backoff_duration_seconds(
                             error_run_count + 1,
@@ -227,11 +232,6 @@ async fn compaction_loop(tenant: Arc<Tenant>, cancel: CancellationToken) {
                         );
                         wait_duration
                     }
-                    Ok(has_pending_task) => {
-                        error_run_count = 0;
-                        // schedule the next compaction immediately in case there is a pending compaction task
-                        if has_pending_task { Duration::from_secs(0) } else { period }
-                    }
                 }
             };
 
@@ -265,7 +265,8 @@ async fn compaction_loop(tenant: Arc<Tenant>, cancel: CancellationToken) {
                     count_throttled,
                     sum_throttled_usecs,
                     allowed_rps=%format_args!("{allowed_rps:.0}"),
-                    "shard was throttled in the last n_seconds")
+                    "shard was throttled in the last n_seconds"
+                );
             });
 
             // Sleep
@@ -365,14 +366,13 @@ async fn gc_loop(tenant: Arc<Tenant>, cancel: CancellationToken) {
             if first {
                 first = false;
 
-                if delay_by_lease_length(tenant.get_lsn_lease_length(), &cancel)
-                    .await
-                    .is_err()
-                {
-                    break;
-                }
+                let delays = async {
+                    delay_by_lease_length(tenant.get_lsn_lease_length(), &cancel).await?;
+                    random_init_delay(period, &cancel).await?;
+                    Ok::<_, Cancelled>(())
+                };
 
-                if random_init_delay(period, &cancel).await.is_err() {
+                if delays.await.is_err() {
                     break;
                 }
             }
@@ -424,7 +424,6 @@ async fn gc_loop(tenant: Arc<Tenant>, cancel: CancellationToken) {
 
             warn_when_period_overrun(started_at.elapsed(), period, BackgroundLoopKind::Gc);
 
-            // Sleep
             if tokio::time::timeout(sleep_duration, cancel.cancelled())
                 .await
                 .is_ok()
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline.rs
index f810df5a56..26dc87c373 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline.rs
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ pub(crate) struct TimelineVisitOutcome {
 #[derive(thiserror::Error, Debug)]
 pub(crate) enum PageReconstructError {
     #[error(transparent)]
-    Other(#[from] anyhow::Error),
+    Other(anyhow::Error),
 
     #[error("Ancestor LSN wait error: {0}")]
     AncestorLsnTimeout(WaitLsnError),
@@ -527,6 +527,22 @@ pub(crate) enum PageReconstructError {
     MissingKey(MissingKeyError),
 }
 
+impl From<anyhow::Error> for PageReconstructError {
+    fn from(value: anyhow::Error) -> Self {
+        // with walingest.rs many PageReconstructError are wrapped in as anyhow::Error
+        match value.downcast::<PageReconstructError>() {
+            Ok(pre) => pre,
+            Err(other) => PageReconstructError::Other(other),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<utils::bin_ser::DeserializeError> for PageReconstructError {
+    fn from(value: utils::bin_ser::DeserializeError) -> Self {
+        PageReconstructError::Other(anyhow::Error::new(value).context("deserialization failure"))
+    }
+}
+
 impl From<layer_manager::Shutdown> for PageReconstructError {
     fn from(_: layer_manager::Shutdown) -> Self {
         PageReconstructError::Cancelled
@@ -546,6 +562,7 @@ impl From<layer_manager::Shutdown> for GetVectoredError {
     }
 }
 
+#[derive(thiserror::Error)]
 pub struct MissingKeyError {
     key: Key,
     shard: ShardNumber,
@@ -585,11 +602,8 @@ impl PageReconstructError {
     pub(crate) fn is_stopping(&self) -> bool {
         use PageReconstructError::*;
         match self {
-            Other(_) => false,
-            AncestorLsnTimeout(_) => false,
             Cancelled => true,
-            WalRedo(_) => false,
-            MissingKey { .. } => false,
+            Other(_) | AncestorLsnTimeout(_) | WalRedo(_) | MissingKey(_) => false,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -599,11 +613,11 @@ pub(crate) enum CreateImageLayersError {
     #[error("timeline shutting down")]
     Cancelled,
 
-    #[error(transparent)]
-    GetVectoredError(GetVectoredError),
+    #[error("read failed")]
+    GetVectoredError(#[source] GetVectoredError),
 
-    #[error(transparent)]
-    PageReconstructError(PageReconstructError),
+    #[error("reconstruction failed")]
+    PageReconstructError(#[source] PageReconstructError),
 
     #[error(transparent)]
     Other(#[from] anyhow::Error),
@@ -627,10 +641,10 @@ pub(crate) enum FlushLayerError {
 
     // Arc<> the following non-clonable error types: we must be Clone-able because the flush error is propagated from the flush
     // loop via a watch channel, where we can only borrow it.
-    #[error(transparent)]
+    #[error("create image layers (shared)")]
     CreateImageLayersError(Arc<CreateImageLayersError>),
 
-    #[error(transparent)]
+    #[error("other (shared)")]
     Other(#[from] Arc<anyhow::Error>),
 }
 
@@ -663,34 +677,46 @@ pub(crate) enum GetVectoredError {
     #[error("timeline shutting down")]
     Cancelled,
 
-    #[error("Requested too many keys: {0} > {}", Timeline::MAX_GET_VECTORED_KEYS)]
+    #[error("requested too many keys: {0} > {}", Timeline::MAX_GET_VECTORED_KEYS)]
     Oversized(u64),
 
-    #[error("Requested at invalid LSN: {0}")]
+    #[error("requested at invalid LSN: {0}")]
     InvalidLsn(Lsn),
 
-    #[error("Requested key not found: {0}")]
+    #[error("requested key not found: {0}")]
     MissingKey(MissingKeyError),
 
-    #[error(transparent)]
-    GetReadyAncestorError(GetReadyAncestorError),
+    #[error("ancestry walk")]
+    GetReadyAncestorError(#[source] GetReadyAncestorError),
 
     #[error(transparent)]
     Other(#[from] anyhow::Error),
 }
 
+impl From<GetReadyAncestorError> for GetVectoredError {
+    fn from(value: GetReadyAncestorError) -> Self {
+        use GetReadyAncestorError::*;
+        match value {
+            Cancelled => GetVectoredError::Cancelled,
+            AncestorLsnTimeout(_) | BadState { .. } => {
+                GetVectoredError::GetReadyAncestorError(value)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(thiserror::Error, Debug)]
 pub(crate) enum GetReadyAncestorError {
-    #[error("Ancestor LSN wait error: {0}")]
+    #[error("ancestor LSN wait error")]
     AncestorLsnTimeout(#[from] WaitLsnError),
 
-    #[error("Bad state on timeline {timeline_id}: {state:?}")]
+    #[error("bad state on timeline {timeline_id}: {state:?}")]
     BadState {
         timeline_id: TimelineId,
         state: TimelineState,
     },
 
-    #[error("Cancelled")]
+    #[error("cancelled")]
     Cancelled,
 }
 
@@ -802,40 +828,6 @@ impl From<GetReadyAncestorError> for PageReconstructError {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(
-    Eq,
-    PartialEq,
-    Debug,
-    Copy,
-    Clone,
-    strum_macros::EnumString,
-    strum_macros::Display,
-    serde_with::DeserializeFromStr,
-    serde_with::SerializeDisplay,
-)]
-#[strum(serialize_all = "kebab-case")]
-pub enum GetVectoredImpl {
-    Sequential,
-    Vectored,
-}
-
-#[derive(
-    Eq,
-    PartialEq,
-    Debug,
-    Copy,
-    Clone,
-    strum_macros::EnumString,
-    strum_macros::Display,
-    serde_with::DeserializeFromStr,
-    serde_with::SerializeDisplay,
-)]
-#[strum(serialize_all = "kebab-case")]
-pub enum GetImpl {
-    Legacy,
-    Vectored,
-}
-
 pub(crate) enum WaitLsnWaiter<'a> {
     Timeline(&'a Timeline),
     Tenant,
@@ -995,11 +987,10 @@ impl Timeline {
         }
 
         trace!(
-            "get vectored request for {:?}@{} from task kind {:?} will use {} implementation",
+            "get vectored request for {:?}@{} from task kind {:?}",
             keyspace,
             lsn,
             ctx.task_kind(),
-            self.conf.get_vectored_impl
         );
 
         let start = crate::metrics::GET_VECTORED_LATENCY
@@ -1654,6 +1645,20 @@ impl Timeline {
         self.last_record_lsn.shutdown();
 
         if try_freeze_and_flush {
+            if let Some((open, frozen)) = self
+                .layers
+                .read()
+                .await
+                .layer_map()
+                .map(|lm| (lm.open_layer.is_some(), lm.frozen_layers.len()))
+                .ok()
+                .filter(|(open, frozen)| *open || *frozen > 0)
+            {
+                tracing::info!(?open, frozen, "flushing and freezing on shutdown");
+            } else {
+                // this is double-shutdown, ignore it
+            }
+
             // we shut down walreceiver above, so, we won't add anything more
             // to the InMemoryLayer; freeze it and wait for all frozen layers
             // to reach the disk & upload queue, then shut the upload queue and
@@ -2972,11 +2977,7 @@ impl Timeline {
                 LayerVisibilityHint::Visible => {
                     // Layer is visible to one or more read LSNs: elegible for inclusion in layer map
                     let last_activity_ts = layer.latest_activity();
-                    Some(HeatMapLayer::new(
-                        layer.layer_desc().layer_name(),
-                        layer.metadata(),
-                        last_activity_ts,
-                    ))
+                    Some((layer.layer_desc(), layer.metadata(), last_activity_ts))
                 }
                 LayerVisibilityHint::Covered => {
                     // Layer is resident but unlikely to be read: not elegible for inclusion in heatmap.
@@ -2985,7 +2986,23 @@ impl Timeline {
             }
         });
 
-        let layers = resident.collect();
+        let mut layers = resident.collect::<Vec<_>>();
+
+        // Sort layers in order of which to download first.  For a large set of layers to download, we
+        // want to prioritize those layers which are most likely to still be in the resident many minutes
+        // or hours later:
+        // - Download L0s last, because they churn the fastest: L0s on a fast-writing tenant might
+        //   only exist for a few minutes before being compacted into L1s.
+        // - For L1 & image layers, download most recent LSNs first: the older the LSN, the sooner
+        //   the layer is likely to be covered by an image layer during compaction.
+        layers.sort_by_key(|(desc, _meta, _atime)| {
+            std::cmp::Reverse((!LayerMap::is_l0(&desc.key_range), desc.lsn_range.end))
+        });
+
+        let layers = layers
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|(desc, meta, atime)| HeatMapLayer::new(desc.layer_name(), meta, atime))
+            .collect();
 
         Some(HeatMapTimeline::new(self.timeline_id, layers))
     }
@@ -3081,8 +3098,7 @@ impl Timeline {
             cont_lsn = std::cmp::min(Lsn(request_lsn.0 + 1), Lsn(timeline.ancestor_lsn.0 + 1));
             timeline_owned = timeline
                 .get_ready_ancestor_timeline(ancestor_timeline, ctx)
-                .await
-                .map_err(GetVectoredError::GetReadyAncestorError)?;
+                .await?;
             timeline = &*timeline_owned;
         };
 
@@ -3952,6 +3968,10 @@ impl Timeline {
                         .get_vectored(key_request_accum.consume_keyspace(), lsn, ctx)
                         .await?;
 
+                    if self.cancel.is_cancelled() {
+                        return Err(CreateImageLayersError::Cancelled);
+                    }
+
                     for (img_key, img) in results {
                         let img = match img {
                             Ok(img) => img,
@@ -3975,7 +3995,7 @@ impl Timeline {
                                     warn!("could not reconstruct FSM or VM key {img_key}, filling with zeros: {err:?}");
                                     ZERO_PAGE.clone()
                                 } else {
-                                    return Err(CreateImageLayersError::PageReconstructError(err));
+                                    return Err(CreateImageLayersError::from(err));
                                 }
                             }
                         };
@@ -4035,7 +4055,7 @@ impl Timeline {
             let mut total_kb_retrieved = 0;
             let mut total_keys_retrieved = 0;
             for (k, v) in data {
-                let v = v.map_err(CreateImageLayersError::PageReconstructError)?;
+                let v = v?;
                 total_kb_retrieved += KEY_SIZE + v.len();
                 total_keys_retrieved += 1;
                 new_data.insert(k, v);
@@ -4059,6 +4079,9 @@ impl Timeline {
                 next_start_key: img_range.end,
             });
         }
+        if self.cancel.is_cancelled() {
+            return Err(CreateImageLayersError::Cancelled);
+        }
         let mut wrote_any_image = false;
         for (k, v) in data {
             if v.is_empty() {
@@ -4173,6 +4196,10 @@ impl Timeline {
         let check_for_image_layers = self.should_check_if_image_layers_required(lsn);
 
         for partition in partitioning.parts.iter() {
+            if self.cancel.is_cancelled() {
+                return Err(CreateImageLayersError::Cancelled);
+            }
+
             let img_range = start..partition.ranges.last().unwrap().end;
             let compact_metadata = partition.overlaps(&Key::metadata_key_range());
             if compact_metadata {
@@ -4352,18 +4379,34 @@ impl Timeline {
         detach_ancestor::prepare(self, tenant, options, ctx).await
     }
 
-    /// Completes the ancestor detach. This method is to be called while holding the
-    /// TenantManager's tenant slot, so during this method we cannot be deleted nor can any
-    /// timeline be deleted. After this method returns successfully, tenant must be reloaded.
+    /// Second step of detach from ancestor; detaches the `self` from it's current ancestor and
+    /// reparents any reparentable children of previous ancestor.
     ///
-    /// Pageserver receiving a SIGKILL during this operation is not supported (yet).
-    pub(crate) async fn complete_detaching_timeline_ancestor(
+    /// This method is to be called while holding the TenantManager's tenant slot, so during this
+    /// method we cannot be deleted nor can any timeline be deleted. After this method returns
+    /// successfully, tenant must be reloaded.
+    ///
+    /// Final step will be to [`Self::complete_detaching_timeline_ancestor`] after optionally
+    /// resetting the tenant.
+    pub(crate) async fn detach_from_ancestor_and_reparent(
         self: &Arc<Timeline>,
         tenant: &crate::tenant::Tenant,
         prepared: detach_ancestor::PreparedTimelineDetach,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> Result<HashSet<TimelineId>, anyhow::Error> {
-        detach_ancestor::complete(self, tenant, prepared, ctx).await
+    ) -> Result<detach_ancestor::DetachingAndReparenting, detach_ancestor::Error> {
+        detach_ancestor::detach_and_reparent(self, tenant, prepared, ctx).await
+    }
+
+    /// Final step which unblocks the GC.
+    ///
+    /// The tenant must've been reset if ancestry was modified previously (in tenant manager).
+    pub(crate) async fn complete_detaching_timeline_ancestor(
+        self: &Arc<Timeline>,
+        tenant: &crate::tenant::Tenant,
+        attempt: detach_ancestor::Attempt,
+        ctx: &RequestContext,
+    ) -> Result<(), detach_ancestor::Error> {
+        detach_ancestor::complete(self, tenant, attempt, ctx).await
     }
 
     /// Switch aux file policy and schedule upload to the index part.
@@ -4421,22 +4464,24 @@ impl From<super::upload_queue::NotInitialized> for CompactionError {
     }
 }
 
-impl CompactionError {
-    /// We cannot do compaction because we could not download a layer that is input to the compaction.
-    pub(crate) fn input_layer_download_failed(
-        e: super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError,
-    ) -> Self {
+impl From<super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError> for CompactionError {
+    fn from(e: super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError) -> Self {
         match e {
-            super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::TimelineShutdown |
-            /* TODO DownloadCancelled correct here? */
-            super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::DownloadCancelled  => CompactionError::ShuttingDown,
-            super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::ContextAndConfigReallyDeniesDownloads |
-            super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::DownloadRequired |
-            super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::NotFile(_) |
-            super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::DownloadFailed |
-            super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::PreStatFailed(_)=>CompactionError::Other(anyhow::anyhow!(e)),
+            super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::TimelineShutdown
+            | super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::DownloadCancelled => {
+                CompactionError::ShuttingDown
+            }
+            super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::ContextAndConfigReallyDeniesDownloads
+            | super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::DownloadRequired
+            | super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::NotFile(_)
+            | super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::DownloadFailed
+            | super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::PreStatFailed(_) => {
+                CompactionError::Other(anyhow::anyhow!(e))
+            }
             #[cfg(test)]
-            super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::Failpoint(_) =>  CompactionError::Other(anyhow::anyhow!(e)),
+            super::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError::Failpoint(_) => {
+                CompactionError::Other(anyhow::anyhow!(e))
+            }
         }
     }
 }
@@ -4483,6 +4528,7 @@ impl DurationRecorder {
 /// the layer descriptor requires the user to provide the ranges, which should cover all
 /// keys specified in the `data` field.
 #[cfg(test)]
+#[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct DeltaLayerTestDesc {
     pub lsn_range: Range<Lsn>,
     pub key_range: Range<Key>,
@@ -4512,6 +4558,13 @@ impl DeltaLayerTestDesc {
             data,
         }
     }
+
+    pub(crate) fn layer_name(&self) -> LayerName {
+        LayerName::Delta(super::storage_layer::DeltaLayerName {
+            key_range: self.key_range.clone(),
+            lsn_range: self.lsn_range.clone(),
+        })
+    }
 }
 
 impl Timeline {
@@ -4521,7 +4574,12 @@ impl Timeline {
         new_images: &[ResidentLayer],
         layers_to_remove: &[Layer],
     ) -> Result<(), CompactionError> {
-        let mut guard = self.layers.write().await;
+        let mut guard = tokio::select! {
+            guard = self.layers.write() => guard,
+            _ = self.cancel.cancelled() => {
+                return Err(CompactionError::ShuttingDown);
+            }
+        };
 
         let mut duplicated_layers = HashSet::new();
 
@@ -4990,15 +5048,7 @@ impl Timeline {
 
             result.layers_removed = gc_layers.len() as u64;
 
-            self.remote_client
-                .schedule_gc_update(&gc_layers)
-                .map_err(|e| {
-                    if self.cancel.is_cancelled() {
-                        GcError::TimelineCancelled
-                    } else {
-                        GcError::Remote(e)
-                    }
-                })?;
+            self.remote_client.schedule_gc_update(&gc_layers)?;
 
             guard.open_mut()?.finish_gc_timeline(&gc_layers);
 
@@ -5275,6 +5325,7 @@ impl Timeline {
                     layer: layer.to_owned().into(),
                     last_activity_ts,
                     relative_last_activity: finite_f32::FiniteF32::ZERO,
+                    visibility: layer.visibility(),
                 }
             })
             .collect();
@@ -5559,7 +5610,7 @@ impl<'a> TimelineWriter<'a> {
 
         let action = self.get_open_layer_action(lsn, buf_size);
         let layer = self.handle_open_layer_action(lsn, action, ctx).await?;
-        let res = layer.put_value(key, lsn, &buf, ctx).await;
+        let res = layer.put_value(key.to_compact(), lsn, &buf, ctx).await;
 
         if res.is_ok() {
             // Update the current size only when the entire write was ok.
@@ -5737,12 +5788,110 @@ fn is_send() {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
+    use pageserver_api::key::Key;
     use utils::{id::TimelineId, lsn::Lsn};
 
-    use crate::tenant::{
-        harness::TenantHarness, storage_layer::Layer, timeline::EvictionError, Timeline,
+    use crate::{
+        repository::Value,
+        tenant::{
+            harness::{test_img, TenantHarness},
+            layer_map::LayerMap,
+            storage_layer::{Layer, LayerName},
+            timeline::{DeltaLayerTestDesc, EvictionError},
+            Timeline,
+        },
     };
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_heatmap_generation() {
+        let harness = TenantHarness::create("heatmap_generation").await.unwrap();
+
+        let covered_delta = DeltaLayerTestDesc::new_with_inferred_key_range(
+            Lsn(0x10)..Lsn(0x20),
+            vec![(
+                Key::from_hex("620000000033333333444444445500000000").unwrap(),
+                Lsn(0x11),
+                Value::Image(test_img("foo")),
+            )],
+        );
+        let visible_delta = DeltaLayerTestDesc::new_with_inferred_key_range(
+            Lsn(0x10)..Lsn(0x20),
+            vec![(
+                Key::from_hex("720000000033333333444444445500000000").unwrap(),
+                Lsn(0x11),
+                Value::Image(test_img("foo")),
+            )],
+        );
+        let l0_delta = DeltaLayerTestDesc::new(
+            Lsn(0x20)..Lsn(0x30),
+            Key::from_hex("000000000000000000000000000000000000").unwrap()
+                ..Key::from_hex("FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF").unwrap(),
+            vec![(
+                Key::from_hex("720000000033333333444444445500000000").unwrap(),
+                Lsn(0x25),
+                Value::Image(test_img("foo")),
+            )],
+        );
+        let delta_layers = vec![
+            covered_delta.clone(),
+            visible_delta.clone(),
+            l0_delta.clone(),
+        ];
+
+        let image_layer = (
+            Lsn(0x40),
+            vec![(
+                Key::from_hex("620000000033333333444444445500000000").unwrap(),
+                test_img("bar"),
+            )],
+        );
+        let image_layers = vec![image_layer];
+
+        let (tenant, ctx) = harness.load().await;
+        let timeline = tenant
+            .create_test_timeline_with_layers(
+                TimelineId::generate(),
+                Lsn(0x10),
+                14,
+                &ctx,
+                delta_layers,
+                image_layers,
+                Lsn(0x100),
+            )
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        // Layer visibility is an input to heatmap generation, so refresh it first
+        timeline.update_layer_visibility().await.unwrap();
+
+        let heatmap = timeline
+            .generate_heatmap()
+            .await
+            .expect("Infallible while timeline is not shut down");
+
+        assert_eq!(heatmap.timeline_id, timeline.timeline_id);
+
+        // L0 should come last
+        assert_eq!(heatmap.layers.last().unwrap().name, l0_delta.layer_name());
+
+        let mut last_lsn = Lsn::MAX;
+        for layer in heatmap.layers {
+            // Covered layer should be omitted
+            assert!(layer.name != covered_delta.layer_name());
+
+            let layer_lsn = match &layer.name {
+                LayerName::Delta(d) => d.lsn_range.end,
+                LayerName::Image(i) => i.lsn,
+            };
+
+            // Apart from L0s, newest Layers should come first
+            if !LayerMap::is_l0(layer.name.key_range()) {
+                assert!(layer_lsn <= last_lsn);
+                last_lsn = layer_lsn;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn two_layer_eviction_attempts_at_the_same_time() {
         let harness = TenantHarness::create("two_layer_eviction_attempts_at_the_same_time")
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/compaction.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/compaction.rs
index 87ec46c0b5..7370ec1386 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/compaction.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/compaction.rs
@@ -489,10 +489,7 @@ impl Timeline {
             // - We do not run concurrently with other kinds of compaction, so the only layer map writes we race with are:
             //    - GC, which at worst witnesses us "undelete" a layer that they just deleted.
             //    - ingestion, which only inserts layers, therefore cannot collide with us.
-            let resident = layer
-                .download_and_keep_resident()
-                .await
-                .map_err(CompactionError::input_layer_download_failed)?;
+            let resident = layer.download_and_keep_resident().await?;
 
             let keys_written = resident
                 .filter(&self.shard_identity, &mut image_layer_writer, ctx)
@@ -693,23 +690,14 @@ impl Timeline {
 
         let mut fully_compacted = true;
 
-        deltas_to_compact.push(
-            first_level0_delta
-                .download_and_keep_resident()
-                .await
-                .map_err(CompactionError::input_layer_download_failed)?,
-        );
+        deltas_to_compact.push(first_level0_delta.download_and_keep_resident().await?);
         for l in level0_deltas_iter {
             let lsn_range = &l.layer_desc().lsn_range;
 
             if lsn_range.start != prev_lsn_end {
                 break;
             }
-            deltas_to_compact.push(
-                l.download_and_keep_resident()
-                    .await
-                    .map_err(CompactionError::input_layer_download_failed)?,
-            );
+            deltas_to_compact.push(l.download_and_keep_resident().await?);
             deltas_to_compact_bytes += l.metadata().file_size;
             prev_lsn_end = lsn_range.end;
 
@@ -760,6 +748,9 @@ impl Timeline {
         let all_keys = {
             let mut all_keys = Vec::new();
             for l in deltas_to_compact.iter() {
+                if self.cancel.is_cancelled() {
+                    return Err(CompactionError::ShuttingDown);
+                }
                 all_keys.extend(l.load_keys(ctx).await.map_err(CompactionError::Other)?);
             }
             // The current stdlib sorting implementation is designed in a way where it is
@@ -842,6 +833,11 @@ impl Timeline {
         };
         stats.read_lock_held_compute_holes_micros = stats.read_lock_held_key_sort_micros.till_now();
         drop_rlock(guard);
+
+        if self.cancel.is_cancelled() {
+            return Err(CompactionError::ShuttingDown);
+        }
+
         stats.read_lock_drop_micros = stats.read_lock_held_compute_holes_micros.till_now();
 
         // This iterator walks through all key-value pairs from all the layers
@@ -1052,11 +1048,22 @@ impl Timeline {
         let mut dup_end_lsn: Lsn = Lsn::INVALID; // end LSN of layer containing values of the single key
         let mut next_hole = 0; // index of next hole in holes vector
 
+        let mut keys = 0;
+
         while let Some((key, lsn, value)) = all_values_iter
             .next(ctx)
             .await
             .map_err(CompactionError::Other)?
         {
+            keys += 1;
+
+            if keys % 32_768 == 0 && self.cancel.is_cancelled() {
+                // avoid hitting the cancellation token on every key. in benches, we end up
+                // shuffling an order of million keys per layer, this means we'll check it
+                // around tens of times per layer.
+                return Err(CompactionError::ShuttingDown);
+            }
+
             let same_key = prev_key.map_or(false, |prev_key| prev_key == key);
             // We need to check key boundaries once we reach next key or end of layer with the same key
             if !same_key || lsn == dup_end_lsn {
@@ -1137,6 +1144,10 @@ impl Timeline {
 
             if !self.shard_identity.is_key_disposable(&key) {
                 if writer.is_none() {
+                    if self.cancel.is_cancelled() {
+                        // to be somewhat responsive to cancellation, check for each new layer
+                        return Err(CompactionError::ShuttingDown);
+                    }
                     // Create writer if not initiaized yet
                     writer = Some(
                         DeltaLayerWriter::new(
@@ -1157,6 +1168,8 @@ impl Timeline {
                         .await
                         .map_err(CompactionError::Other)?,
                     );
+
+                    keys = 0;
                 }
 
                 writer
@@ -2325,7 +2338,7 @@ impl CompactionJobExecutor for TimelineAdaptor {
                 key_range,
             ))
         } else {
-            // The current compaction implementatin only ever requests the key space
+            // The current compaction implementation only ever requests the key space
             // at the compaction end LSN.
             anyhow::bail!("keyspace not available for requested lsn");
         }
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/detach_ancestor.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/detach_ancestor.rs
index 3b52adc77b..641faada25 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/detach_ancestor.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/detach_ancestor.rs
@@ -5,12 +5,15 @@ use crate::{
     context::{DownloadBehavior, RequestContext},
     task_mgr::TaskKind,
     tenant::{
+        remote_timeline_client::index::GcBlockingReason::DetachAncestor,
         storage_layer::{AsLayerDesc as _, DeltaLayerWriter, Layer, ResidentLayer},
         Tenant,
     },
     virtual_file::{MaybeFatalIo, VirtualFile},
 };
+use anyhow::Context;
 use pageserver_api::models::detach_ancestor::AncestorDetached;
+use tokio::sync::Semaphore;
 use tokio_util::sync::CancellationToken;
 use tracing::Instrument;
 use utils::{completion, generation::Generation, http::error::ApiError, id::TimelineId, lsn::Lsn};
@@ -19,50 +22,74 @@ use utils::{completion, generation::Generation, http::error::ApiError, id::Timel
 pub(crate) enum Error {
     #[error("no ancestors")]
     NoAncestor,
+
     #[error("too many ancestors")]
     TooManyAncestors,
+
     #[error("shutting down, please retry later")]
     ShuttingDown,
-    #[error("flushing failed")]
-    FlushAncestor(#[source] FlushLayerError),
-    #[error("layer download failed")]
-    RewrittenDeltaDownloadFailed(#[source] crate::tenant::storage_layer::layer::DownloadError),
-    #[error("copying LSN prefix locally failed")]
-    CopyDeltaPrefix(#[source] anyhow::Error),
-    #[error("upload rewritten layer")]
-    UploadRewritten(#[source] anyhow::Error),
+
+    #[error(transparent)]
+    NotFound(crate::tenant::GetTimelineError),
+
+    #[error("failed to reparent all candidate timelines, please retry")]
+    FailedToReparentAll,
 
     #[error("ancestor is already being detached by: {}", .0)]
     OtherTimelineDetachOngoing(TimelineId),
 
-    #[error("remote copying layer failed")]
-    CopyFailed(#[source] anyhow::Error),
+    #[error("preparing to timeline ancestor detach failed")]
+    Prepare(#[source] anyhow::Error),
 
-    #[error("unexpected error")]
-    Unexpected(#[source] anyhow::Error),
+    #[error("detaching and reparenting failed")]
+    DetachReparent(#[source] anyhow::Error),
+
+    #[error("completing ancestor detach failed")]
+    Complete(#[source] anyhow::Error),
 
     #[error("failpoint: {}", .0)]
     Failpoint(&'static str),
 }
 
+impl Error {
+    /// Try to catch cancellation from within the `anyhow::Error`, or wrap the anyhow as the given
+    /// variant or fancier `or_else`.
+    fn launder<F>(e: anyhow::Error, or_else: F) -> Error
+    where
+        F: Fn(anyhow::Error) -> Error,
+    {
+        use crate::tenant::remote_timeline_client::WaitCompletionError;
+        use crate::tenant::upload_queue::NotInitialized;
+        use remote_storage::TimeoutOrCancel;
+
+        if e.is::<NotInitialized>()
+            || TimeoutOrCancel::caused_by_cancel(&e)
+            || e.downcast_ref::<remote_storage::DownloadError>()
+                .is_some_and(|e| e.is_cancelled())
+            || e.is::<WaitCompletionError>()
+        {
+            Error::ShuttingDown
+        } else {
+            or_else(e)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl From<Error> for ApiError {
     fn from(value: Error) -> Self {
         match value {
-            e @ Error::NoAncestor => ApiError::Conflict(e.to_string()),
-            // TODO: ApiError converts the anyhow using debug formatting ... just stop using ApiError?
-            e @ Error::TooManyAncestors => ApiError::BadRequest(anyhow::anyhow!("{}", e)),
+            Error::NoAncestor => ApiError::Conflict(value.to_string()),
+            Error::TooManyAncestors => ApiError::BadRequest(anyhow::anyhow!("{}", value)),
             Error::ShuttingDown => ApiError::ShuttingDown,
-            Error::OtherTimelineDetachOngoing(_) => {
-                ApiError::ResourceUnavailable("other timeline detach is already ongoing".into())
+            Error::OtherTimelineDetachOngoing(_) | Error::FailedToReparentAll => {
+                ApiError::ResourceUnavailable(value.to_string().into())
             }
-            // All of these contain shutdown errors, in fact, it's the most common
-            e @ Error::FlushAncestor(_)
-            | e @ Error::RewrittenDeltaDownloadFailed(_)
-            | e @ Error::CopyDeltaPrefix(_)
-            | e @ Error::UploadRewritten(_)
-            | e @ Error::CopyFailed(_)
-            | e @ Error::Unexpected(_)
-            | e @ Error::Failpoint(_) => ApiError::InternalServerError(e.into()),
+            Error::NotFound(e) => ApiError::from(e),
+            // these variants should have no cancellation errors because of Error::launder
+            Error::Prepare(_)
+            | Error::DetachReparent(_)
+            | Error::Complete(_)
+            | Error::Failpoint(_) => ApiError::InternalServerError(value.into()),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -80,24 +107,8 @@ impl From<super::layer_manager::Shutdown> for Error {
     }
 }
 
-impl From<FlushLayerError> for Error {
-    fn from(value: FlushLayerError) -> Self {
-        match value {
-            FlushLayerError::Cancelled => Error::ShuttingDown,
-            FlushLayerError::NotRunning(_) => {
-                // FIXME(#6424): technically statically unreachable right now, given how we never
-                // drop the sender
-                Error::ShuttingDown
-            }
-            FlushLayerError::CreateImageLayersError(_) | FlushLayerError::Other(_) => {
-                Error::FlushAncestor(value)
-            }
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 pub(crate) enum Progress {
-    Prepared(completion::Completion, PreparedTimelineDetach),
+    Prepared(Attempt, PreparedTimelineDetach),
     Done(AncestorDetached),
 }
 
@@ -121,6 +132,26 @@ impl Default for Options {
     }
 }
 
+/// Represents an across tenant reset exclusive single attempt to detach ancestor.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub(crate) struct Attempt {
+    pub(crate) timeline_id: TimelineId,
+
+    _guard: completion::Completion,
+    gate_entered: Option<utils::sync::gate::GateGuard>,
+}
+
+impl Attempt {
+    pub(crate) fn before_reset_tenant(&mut self) {
+        let taken = self.gate_entered.take();
+        assert!(taken.is_some());
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn new_barrier(&self) -> completion::Barrier {
+        self._guard.barrier()
+    }
+}
+
 /// See [`Timeline::prepare_to_detach_from_ancestor`]
 pub(super) async fn prepare(
     detached: &Arc<Timeline>,
@@ -135,15 +166,33 @@ pub(super) async fn prepare(
         .as_ref()
         .map(|tl| (tl.clone(), detached.ancestor_lsn))
     else {
-        {
+        let still_in_progress = {
             let accessor = detached.remote_client.initialized_upload_queue()?;
 
             // we are safe to inspect the latest uploaded, because we can only witness this after
             // restart is complete and ancestor is no more.
             let latest = accessor.latest_uploaded_index_part();
-            if !latest.lineage.is_detached_from_original_ancestor() {
+            if latest.lineage.detached_previous_ancestor().is_none() {
                 return Err(NoAncestor);
-            }
+            };
+
+            latest
+                .gc_blocking
+                .as_ref()
+                .is_some_and(|b| b.blocked_by(DetachAncestor))
+        };
+
+        if still_in_progress {
+            // gc is still blocked, we can still reparent and complete.
+            // we are safe to reparent remaining, because they were locked in in the beginning.
+            let attempt = continue_with_blocked_gc(detached, tenant).await?;
+
+            // because the ancestor of detached is already set to none, we have published all
+            // of the layers, so we are still "prepared."
+            return Ok(Progress::Prepared(
+                attempt,
+                PreparedTimelineDetach { layers: Vec::new() },
+            ));
         }
 
         let reparented_timelines = reparented_direct_children(detached, tenant)?;
@@ -164,24 +213,9 @@ pub(super) async fn prepare(
         return Err(TooManyAncestors);
     }
 
-    // before we acquire the gate, we must mark the ancestor as having a detach operation
-    // ongoing which will block other concurrent detach operations so we don't get to ackward
-    // situations where there would be two branches trying to reparent earlier branches.
-    let (guard, barrier) = completion::channel();
+    let attempt = start_new_attempt(detached, tenant).await?;
 
-    {
-        let mut guard = tenant.ongoing_timeline_detach.lock().unwrap();
-        if let Some((tl, other)) = guard.as_ref() {
-            if !other.is_ready() {
-                return Err(OtherTimelineDetachOngoing(*tl));
-            }
-        }
-        *guard = Some((detached.timeline_id, barrier));
-    }
-
-    let _gate_entered = detached.gate.enter().map_err(|_| ShuttingDown)?;
-
-    utils::pausable_failpoint!("timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking_pausable");
+    utils::pausable_failpoint!("timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking-pausable");
 
     fail::fail_point!(
         "timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking",
@@ -210,7 +244,17 @@ pub(super) async fn prepare(
                 }
             };
 
-            res?;
+            res.map_err(|e| {
+                use FlushLayerError::*;
+                match e {
+                    Cancelled | NotRunning(_) => {
+                        // FIXME(#6424): technically statically unreachable right now, given how we never
+                        // drop the sender
+                        Error::ShuttingDown
+                    }
+                    CreateImageLayersError(_) | Other(_) => Error::Prepare(e.into()),
+                }
+            })?;
 
             // we do not need to wait for uploads to complete but we do need `struct Layer`,
             // copying delta prefix is unsupported currently for `InMemoryLayer`.
@@ -245,7 +289,8 @@ pub(super) async fn prepare(
     };
 
     // TODO: layers are already sorted by something: use that to determine how much of remote
-    // copies are already done.
+    // copies are already done -- gc is blocked, but a compaction could had happened on ancestor,
+    // which is something to keep in mind if copy skipping is implemented.
     tracing::info!(filtered=%filtered_layers, to_rewrite = straddling_branchpoint.len(), historic=%rest_of_historic.len(), "collected layers");
 
     // TODO: copying and lsn prefix copying could be done at the same time with a single fsync after
@@ -259,34 +304,38 @@ pub(super) async fn prepare(
 
         let mut wrote_any = false;
 
-        let limiter = Arc::new(tokio::sync::Semaphore::new(
-            options.rewrite_concurrency.get(),
-        ));
+        let limiter = Arc::new(Semaphore::new(options.rewrite_concurrency.get()));
 
         for layer in straddling_branchpoint {
             let limiter = limiter.clone();
             let timeline = detached.clone();
             let ctx = ctx.detached_child(TaskKind::DetachAncestor, DownloadBehavior::Download);
 
-            tasks.spawn(async move {
-                let _permit = limiter.acquire().await;
-                let copied =
-                    upload_rewritten_layer(end_lsn, &layer, &timeline, &timeline.cancel, &ctx)
-                        .await?;
-                Ok(copied)
-            });
+            let span = tracing::info_span!("upload_rewritten_layer", %layer);
+            tasks.spawn(
+                async move {
+                    let _permit = limiter.acquire().await;
+                    let copied =
+                        upload_rewritten_layer(end_lsn, &layer, &timeline, &timeline.cancel, &ctx)
+                            .await?;
+                    if let Some(copied) = copied.as_ref() {
+                        tracing::info!(%copied, "rewrote and uploaded");
+                    }
+                    Ok(copied)
+                }
+                .instrument(span),
+            );
         }
 
         while let Some(res) = tasks.join_next().await {
             match res {
                 Ok(Ok(Some(copied))) => {
                     wrote_any = true;
-                    tracing::info!(layer=%copied, "rewrote and uploaded");
                     new_layers.push(copied);
                 }
                 Ok(Ok(None)) => {}
                 Ok(Err(e)) => return Err(e),
-                Err(je) => return Err(Unexpected(je.into())),
+                Err(je) => return Err(Error::Prepare(je.into())),
             }
         }
 
@@ -308,7 +357,7 @@ pub(super) async fn prepare(
     }
 
     let mut tasks = tokio::task::JoinSet::new();
-    let limiter = Arc::new(tokio::sync::Semaphore::new(options.copy_concurrency.get()));
+    let limiter = Arc::new(Semaphore::new(options.copy_concurrency.get()));
 
     for adopted in rest_of_historic {
         let limiter = limiter.clone();
@@ -334,7 +383,7 @@ pub(super) async fn prepare(
             Ok(Err(failed)) => {
                 return Err(failed);
             }
-            Err(je) => return Err(Unexpected(je.into())),
+            Err(je) => return Err(Error::Prepare(je.into())),
         }
     }
 
@@ -342,7 +391,55 @@ pub(super) async fn prepare(
 
     let prepared = PreparedTimelineDetach { layers: new_layers };
 
-    Ok(Progress::Prepared(guard, prepared))
+    Ok(Progress::Prepared(attempt, prepared))
+}
+
+async fn start_new_attempt(detached: &Timeline, tenant: &Tenant) -> Result<Attempt, Error> {
+    let attempt = obtain_exclusive_attempt(detached, tenant)?;
+
+    // insert the block in the index_part.json, if not already there.
+    let _dont_care = tenant
+        .gc_block
+        .insert(
+            detached,
+            crate::tenant::remote_timeline_client::index::GcBlockingReason::DetachAncestor,
+        )
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| Error::launder(e, Error::Prepare))?;
+
+    Ok(attempt)
+}
+
+async fn continue_with_blocked_gc(detached: &Timeline, tenant: &Tenant) -> Result<Attempt, Error> {
+    // FIXME: it would be nice to confirm that there is an in-memory version, since we've just
+    // verified there is a persistent one?
+    obtain_exclusive_attempt(detached, tenant)
+}
+
+fn obtain_exclusive_attempt(detached: &Timeline, tenant: &Tenant) -> Result<Attempt, Error> {
+    use Error::{OtherTimelineDetachOngoing, ShuttingDown};
+
+    // ensure we are the only active attempt for this tenant
+    let (guard, barrier) = completion::channel();
+    {
+        let mut guard = tenant.ongoing_timeline_detach.lock().unwrap();
+        if let Some((tl, other)) = guard.as_ref() {
+            if !other.is_ready() {
+                return Err(OtherTimelineDetachOngoing(*tl));
+            }
+            // FIXME: no test enters here
+        }
+        *guard = Some((detached.timeline_id, barrier));
+    }
+
+    // ensure the gate is still open
+    let _gate_entered = detached.gate.enter().map_err(|_| ShuttingDown)?;
+
+    Ok(Attempt {
+        timeline_id: detached.timeline_id,
+        _guard: guard,
+        gate_entered: Some(_gate_entered),
+    })
 }
 
 fn reparented_direct_children(
@@ -437,19 +534,17 @@ async fn upload_rewritten_layer(
     cancel: &CancellationToken,
     ctx: &RequestContext,
 ) -> Result<Option<Layer>, Error> {
-    use Error::UploadRewritten;
     let copied = copy_lsn_prefix(end_lsn, layer, target, ctx).await?;
 
     let Some(copied) = copied else {
         return Ok(None);
     };
 
-    // FIXME: better shuttingdown error
     target
         .remote_client
         .upload_layer_file(&copied, cancel)
         .await
-        .map_err(UploadRewritten)?;
+        .map_err(|e| Error::launder(e, Error::Prepare))?;
 
     Ok(Some(copied.into()))
 }
@@ -460,10 +555,8 @@ async fn copy_lsn_prefix(
     target_timeline: &Arc<Timeline>,
     ctx: &RequestContext,
 ) -> Result<Option<ResidentLayer>, Error> {
-    use Error::{CopyDeltaPrefix, RewrittenDeltaDownloadFailed, ShuttingDown};
-
     if target_timeline.cancel.is_cancelled() {
-        return Err(ShuttingDown);
+        return Err(Error::ShuttingDown);
     }
 
     tracing::debug!(%layer, %end_lsn, "copying lsn prefix");
@@ -477,18 +570,22 @@ async fn copy_lsn_prefix(
         ctx,
     )
     .await
-    .map_err(CopyDeltaPrefix)?;
+    .with_context(|| format!("prepare to copy lsn prefix of ancestors {layer}"))
+    .map_err(Error::Prepare)?;
 
-    let resident = layer
-        .download_and_keep_resident()
-        .await
-        // likely shutdown
-        .map_err(RewrittenDeltaDownloadFailed)?;
+    let resident = layer.download_and_keep_resident().await.map_err(|e| {
+        if e.is_cancelled() {
+            Error::ShuttingDown
+        } else {
+            Error::Prepare(e.into())
+        }
+    })?;
 
     let records = resident
         .copy_delta_prefix(&mut writer, end_lsn, ctx)
         .await
-        .map_err(CopyDeltaPrefix)?;
+        .with_context(|| format!("copy lsn prefix of ancestors {layer}"))
+        .map_err(Error::Prepare)?;
 
     drop(resident);
 
@@ -506,9 +603,9 @@ async fn copy_lsn_prefix(
         let (desc, path) = writer
             .finish(reused_highest_key, ctx)
             .await
-            .map_err(CopyDeltaPrefix)?;
+            .map_err(Error::Prepare)?;
         let copied = Layer::finish_creating(target_timeline.conf, target_timeline, desc, &path)
-            .map_err(CopyDeltaPrefix)?;
+            .map_err(Error::Prepare)?;
 
         tracing::debug!(%layer, %copied, "new layer produced");
 
@@ -524,8 +621,6 @@ async fn remote_copy(
     generation: Generation,
     cancel: &CancellationToken,
 ) -> Result<Layer, Error> {
-    use Error::CopyFailed;
-
     // depending if Layer::keep_resident we could hardlink
 
     let mut metadata = adopted.metadata();
@@ -539,105 +634,216 @@ async fn remote_copy(
         metadata,
     );
 
-    // FIXME: better shuttingdown error
     adoptee
         .remote_client
         .copy_timeline_layer(adopted, &owned, cancel)
         .await
         .map(move |()| owned)
-        .map_err(CopyFailed)
+        .map_err(|e| Error::launder(e, Error::Prepare))
 }
 
-/// See [`Timeline::complete_detaching_timeline_ancestor`].
-pub(super) async fn complete(
+pub(crate) enum DetachingAndReparenting {
+    /// All of the following timeline ids were reparented and the timeline ancestor detach must be
+    /// marked as completed.
+    Reparented(HashSet<TimelineId>),
+
+    /// Some of the reparentings failed. The timeline ancestor detach must **not** be marked as
+    /// completed.
+    ///
+    /// Nested `must_reset_tenant` is set to true when any restart requiring changes were made.
+    SomeReparentingFailed { must_reset_tenant: bool },
+
+    /// Detaching and reparentings were completed in a previous attempt. Timeline ancestor detach
+    /// must be marked as completed.
+    AlreadyDone(HashSet<TimelineId>),
+}
+
+impl DetachingAndReparenting {
+    pub(crate) fn reset_tenant_required(&self) -> bool {
+        use DetachingAndReparenting::*;
+        match self {
+            Reparented(_) => true,
+            SomeReparentingFailed { must_reset_tenant } => *must_reset_tenant,
+            AlreadyDone(_) => false,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn completed(self) -> Option<HashSet<TimelineId>> {
+        use DetachingAndReparenting::*;
+        match self {
+            Reparented(x) | AlreadyDone(x) => Some(x),
+            SomeReparentingFailed { .. } => None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// See [`Timeline::detach_from_ancestor_and_reparent`].
+pub(super) async fn detach_and_reparent(
     detached: &Arc<Timeline>,
     tenant: &Tenant,
     prepared: PreparedTimelineDetach,
     _ctx: &RequestContext,
-) -> Result<HashSet<TimelineId>, anyhow::Error> {
+) -> Result<DetachingAndReparenting, Error> {
     let PreparedTimelineDetach { layers } = prepared;
 
-    let ancestor = detached
-        .ancestor_timeline
-        .as_ref()
-        .expect("must still have a ancestor");
-    let ancestor_lsn = detached.get_ancestor_lsn();
+    #[derive(Debug)]
+    enum Ancestor {
+        NotDetached(Arc<Timeline>, Lsn),
+        Detached(Arc<Timeline>, Lsn),
+    }
+
+    let (recorded_branchpoint, still_ongoing) = {
+        let access = detached.remote_client.initialized_upload_queue()?;
+        let latest = access.latest_uploaded_index_part();
+
+        (
+            latest.lineage.detached_previous_ancestor(),
+            latest
+                .gc_blocking
+                .as_ref()
+                .is_some_and(|b| b.blocked_by(DetachAncestor)),
+        )
+    };
+    assert!(
+        still_ongoing,
+        "cannot (detach? reparent)? complete if the operation is not still ongoing"
+    );
+
+    let ancestor = match (detached.ancestor_timeline.as_ref(), recorded_branchpoint) {
+        (Some(ancestor), None) => {
+            assert!(
+                !layers.is_empty(),
+                "there should always be at least one layer to inherit"
+            );
+            Ancestor::NotDetached(ancestor.clone(), detached.ancestor_lsn)
+        }
+        (Some(_), Some(_)) => {
+            panic!(
+                "it should be impossible to get to here without having gone through the tenant reset; if the tenant was reset, then the ancestor_timeline would be None"
+            );
+        }
+        (None, Some((ancestor_id, ancestor_lsn))) => {
+            // it has been either:
+            // - detached but still exists => we can try reparenting
+            // - detached and deleted
+            //
+            // either way, we must complete
+            assert!(
+                layers.is_empty(),
+                "no layers should had been copied as detach is done"
+            );
+
+            let existing = tenant.timelines.lock().unwrap().get(&ancestor_id).cloned();
+
+            if let Some(ancestor) = existing {
+                Ancestor::Detached(ancestor, ancestor_lsn)
+            } else {
+                let direct_children = reparented_direct_children(detached, tenant)?;
+                return Ok(DetachingAndReparenting::AlreadyDone(direct_children));
+            }
+        }
+        (None, None) => {
+            // TODO: make sure there are no `?` before tenant_reset from after a questionmark from
+            // here.
+            panic!(
+            "bug: detach_and_reparent called on a timeline which has not been detached or which has no live ancestor"
+            );
+        }
+    };
 
     // publish the prepared layers before we reparent any of the timelines, so that on restart
     // reparented timelines find layers. also do the actual detaching.
     //
-    // if we crash after this operation, we will at least come up having detached a timeline, but
-    // we cannot go back and reparent the timelines which would had been reparented in normal
-    // execution.
-    //
-    // this is not perfect, but it avoids us a retry happening after a compaction or gc on restart
-    // which could give us a completely wrong layer combination.
-    detached
-        .remote_client
-        .schedule_adding_existing_layers_to_index_detach_and_wait(
-            &layers,
-            (ancestor.timeline_id, ancestor_lsn),
-        )
-        .await?;
+    // if we crash after this operation, a retry will allow reparenting the remaining timelines as
+    // gc is blocked.
+
+    let (ancestor, ancestor_lsn, was_detached) = match ancestor {
+        Ancestor::NotDetached(ancestor, ancestor_lsn) => {
+            // this has to complete before any reparentings because otherwise they would not have
+            // layers on the new parent.
+            detached
+                .remote_client
+                .schedule_adding_existing_layers_to_index_detach_and_wait(
+                    &layers,
+                    (ancestor.timeline_id, ancestor_lsn),
+                )
+                .await
+                .context("publish layers and detach ancestor")
+                .map_err(|e| Error::launder(e, Error::DetachReparent))?;
+
+            tracing::info!(
+                ancestor=%ancestor.timeline_id,
+                %ancestor_lsn,
+                inherited_layers=%layers.len(),
+                "detached from ancestor"
+            );
+            (ancestor, ancestor_lsn, true)
+        }
+        Ancestor::Detached(ancestor, ancestor_lsn) => (ancestor, ancestor_lsn, false),
+    };
 
     let mut tasks = tokio::task::JoinSet::new();
 
+    // Returns a single permit semaphore which will be used to make one reparenting succeed,
+    // others will fail as if those timelines had been stopped for whatever reason.
+    #[cfg(feature = "testing")]
+    let failpoint_sem = || -> Option<Arc<Semaphore>> {
+        fail::fail_point!("timeline-detach-ancestor::allow_one_reparented", |_| Some(
+            Arc::new(Semaphore::new(1))
+        ));
+        None
+    }();
+
     // because we are now keeping the slot in progress, it is unlikely that there will be any
     // timeline deletions during this time. if we raced one, then we'll just ignore it.
-    tenant
-        .timelines
-        .lock()
-        .unwrap()
-        .values()
-        .filter_map(|tl| {
-            if Arc::ptr_eq(tl, detached) {
-                return None;
-            }
+    {
+        let g = tenant.timelines.lock().unwrap();
+        reparentable_timelines(g.values(), detached, &ancestor, ancestor_lsn)
+            .cloned()
+            .for_each(|timeline| {
+                // important in this scope: we are holding the Tenant::timelines lock
+                let span = tracing::info_span!("reparent", reparented=%timeline.timeline_id);
+                let new_parent = detached.timeline_id;
+                #[cfg(feature = "testing")]
+                let failpoint_sem = failpoint_sem.clone();
 
-            if !tl.is_active() {
-                return None;
-            }
+                tasks.spawn(
+                    async move {
+                        let res = async {
+                            #[cfg(feature = "testing")]
+                            if let Some(failpoint_sem) = failpoint_sem {
+                                let _permit = failpoint_sem.acquire().await.map_err(|_| {
+                                    anyhow::anyhow!(
+                                        "failpoint: timeline-detach-ancestor::allow_one_reparented",
+                                    )
+                                })?;
+                                failpoint_sem.close();
+                            }
 
-            let tl_ancestor = tl.ancestor_timeline.as_ref()?;
-            let is_same = Arc::ptr_eq(ancestor, tl_ancestor);
-            let is_earlier = tl.get_ancestor_lsn() <= ancestor_lsn;
-
-            let is_deleting = tl
-                .delete_progress
-                .try_lock()
-                .map(|flow| !flow.is_not_started())
-                .unwrap_or(true);
-
-            if is_same && is_earlier && !is_deleting {
-                Some(tl.clone())
-            } else {
-                None
-            }
-        })
-        .for_each(|timeline| {
-            // important in this scope: we are holding the Tenant::timelines lock
-            let span = tracing::info_span!("reparent", reparented=%timeline.timeline_id);
-            let new_parent = detached.timeline_id;
-
-            tasks.spawn(
-                async move {
-                    let res = timeline
-                        .remote_client
-                        .schedule_reparenting_and_wait(&new_parent)
+                            timeline
+                                .remote_client
+                                .schedule_reparenting_and_wait(&new_parent)
+                                .await
+                        }
                         .await;
 
-                    match res {
-                        Ok(()) => Some(timeline),
-                        Err(e) => {
-                            // with the use of tenant slot, we no longer expect these.
-                            tracing::warn!("reparenting failed: {e:#}");
-                            None
+                        match res {
+                            Ok(()) => {
+                                tracing::info!("reparented");
+                                Some(timeline)
+                            }
+                            Err(e) => {
+                                // with the use of tenant slot, raced timeline deletion is the most
+                                // likely reason.
+                                tracing::warn!("reparenting failed: {e:#}");
+                                None
+                            }
                         }
                     }
-                }
-                .instrument(span),
-            );
-        });
+                    .instrument(span),
+                );
+            });
+    }
 
     let reparenting_candidates = tasks.len();
     let mut reparented = HashSet::with_capacity(tasks.len());
@@ -645,33 +851,102 @@ pub(super) async fn complete(
     while let Some(res) = tasks.join_next().await {
         match res {
             Ok(Some(timeline)) => {
-                tracing::info!(reparented=%timeline.timeline_id, "reparenting done");
-
                 assert!(
                     reparented.insert(timeline.timeline_id),
                     "duplicate reparenting? timeline_id={}",
                     timeline.timeline_id
                 );
             }
-            Ok(None) => {
-                // lets just ignore this for now. one or all reparented timelines could had
-                // started deletion, and that is fine.
-            }
             Err(je) if je.is_cancelled() => unreachable!("not used"),
-            Err(je) if je.is_panic() => {
-                // ignore; it's better to continue with a single reparenting failing (or even
-                // all of them) in order to get to the goal state.
-                //
-                // these timelines will never be reparentable, but they can be always detached as
-                // separate tree roots.
-            }
+            // just ignore failures now, we can retry
+            Ok(None) => {}
+            Err(je) if je.is_panic() => {}
             Err(je) => tracing::error!("unexpected join error: {je:?}"),
         }
     }
 
-    if reparenting_candidates != reparented.len() {
-        tracing::info!("failed to reparent some candidates");
+    let reparented_all = reparenting_candidates == reparented.len();
+
+    if reparented_all {
+        Ok(DetachingAndReparenting::Reparented(reparented))
+    } else {
+        tracing::info!(
+            reparented = reparented.len(),
+            candidates = reparenting_candidates,
+            "failed to reparent all candidates; they can be retried after the tenant_reset",
+        );
+
+        let must_reset_tenant = !reparented.is_empty() || was_detached;
+        Ok(DetachingAndReparenting::SomeReparentingFailed { must_reset_tenant })
+    }
+}
+
+pub(super) async fn complete(
+    detached: &Arc<Timeline>,
+    tenant: &Tenant,
+    mut attempt: Attempt,
+    _ctx: &RequestContext,
+) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    assert_eq!(detached.timeline_id, attempt.timeline_id);
+
+    if attempt.gate_entered.is_none() {
+        let entered = detached.gate.enter().map_err(|_| Error::ShuttingDown)?;
+        attempt.gate_entered = Some(entered);
+    } else {
+        // Some(gate_entered) means the tenant was not restarted, as is not required
     }
 
-    Ok(reparented)
+    assert!(detached.ancestor_timeline.is_none());
+
+    // this should be an 503 at least...?
+    fail::fail_point!(
+        "timeline-detach-ancestor::complete_before_uploading",
+        |_| Err(Error::Failpoint(
+            "timeline-detach-ancestor::complete_before_uploading"
+        ))
+    );
+
+    tenant
+        .gc_block
+        .remove(
+            detached,
+            crate::tenant::remote_timeline_client::index::GcBlockingReason::DetachAncestor,
+        )
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| Error::launder(e, Error::Complete))?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Query against a locked `Tenant::timelines`.
+fn reparentable_timelines<'a, I>(
+    timelines: I,
+    detached: &'a Arc<Timeline>,
+    ancestor: &'a Arc<Timeline>,
+    ancestor_lsn: Lsn,
+) -> impl Iterator<Item = &'a Arc<Timeline>> + 'a
+where
+    I: Iterator<Item = &'a Arc<Timeline>> + 'a,
+{
+    timelines.filter_map(move |tl| {
+        if Arc::ptr_eq(tl, detached) {
+            return None;
+        }
+
+        let tl_ancestor = tl.ancestor_timeline.as_ref()?;
+        let is_same = Arc::ptr_eq(ancestor, tl_ancestor);
+        let is_earlier = tl.get_ancestor_lsn() <= ancestor_lsn;
+
+        let is_deleting = tl
+            .delete_progress
+            .try_lock()
+            .map(|flow| !flow.is_not_started())
+            .unwrap_or(true);
+
+        if is_same && is_earlier && !is_deleting {
+            Some(tl)
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    })
 }
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/eviction_task.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/eviction_task.rs
index 07d860eb80..eaa9c0ff62 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/eviction_task.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/eviction_task.rs
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ use crate::{
     pgdatadir_mapping::CollectKeySpaceError,
     task_mgr::{self, TaskKind, BACKGROUND_RUNTIME},
     tenant::{
-        tasks::BackgroundLoopKind, timeline::EvictionError, LogicalSizeCalculationCause, Tenant,
+        storage_layer::LayerVisibilityHint, tasks::BackgroundLoopKind, timeline::EvictionError,
+        LogicalSizeCalculationCause, Tenant,
     },
 };
 
@@ -241,7 +242,22 @@ impl Timeline {
                         }
                     };
 
-                    no_activity_for > p.threshold
+                    match layer.visibility() {
+                        LayerVisibilityHint::Visible => {
+                            // Usual case: a visible layer might be read any time, and we will keep it
+                            // resident until it hits our configured TTL threshold.
+                            no_activity_for > p.threshold
+                        }
+                        LayerVisibilityHint::Covered => {
+                            // Covered layers: this is probably a layer that was recently covered by
+                            // an image layer during compaction.  We don't evict it immediately, but
+                            // it doesn't stay resident for the full `threshold`: we just keep it
+                            // for a shorter time in case
+                            // - it is used for Timestamp->LSN lookups
+                            // - a new branch is created in recent history which will read this layer
+                            no_activity_for > p.period
+                        }
+                    }
                 })
                 .cloned()
                 .for_each(|layer| {
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/walreceiver/walreceiver_connection.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/walreceiver/walreceiver_connection.rs
index a66900522a..b5c577af72 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/walreceiver/walreceiver_connection.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline/walreceiver/walreceiver_connection.rs
@@ -335,6 +335,9 @@ pub(super) async fn handle_walreceiver_connection(
                             filtered_records += 1;
                         }
 
+                        // FIXME: this cannot be made pausable_failpoint without fixing the
+                        // failpoint library; in tests, the added amount of debugging will cause us
+                        // to timeout the tests.
                         fail_point!("walreceiver-after-ingest");
 
                         last_rec_lsn = lsn;
diff --git a/pageserver/src/utilization.rs b/pageserver/src/utilization.rs
index e6c835aa75..3c48c84598 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/utilization.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/utilization.rs
@@ -5,12 +5,17 @@
 
 use anyhow::Context;
 use std::path::Path;
+use utils::serde_percent::Percent;
 
 use pageserver_api::models::PageserverUtilization;
 
-pub(crate) fn regenerate(tenants_path: &Path) -> anyhow::Result<PageserverUtilization> {
-    // TODO: currently the http api ratelimits this to 1Hz at most, which is probably good enough
+use crate::{config::PageServerConf, tenant::mgr::TenantManager};
 
+pub(crate) fn regenerate(
+    conf: &PageServerConf,
+    tenants_path: &Path,
+    tenant_manager: &TenantManager,
+) -> anyhow::Result<PageserverUtilization> {
     let statvfs = nix::sys::statvfs::statvfs(tenants_path)
         .map_err(std::io::Error::from)
         .context("statvfs tenants directory")?;
@@ -34,16 +39,31 @@ pub(crate) fn regenerate(tenants_path: &Path) -> anyhow::Result<PageserverUtiliz
 
     let captured_at = std::time::SystemTime::now();
 
-    let doc = PageserverUtilization {
+    // Calculate aggregate utilization from tenants on this pageserver
+    let (disk_wanted_bytes, shard_count) = tenant_manager.calculate_utilization()?;
+
+    // Fetch the fraction of disk space which may be used
+    let disk_usable_pct = match conf.disk_usage_based_eviction.clone() {
+        Some(e) => e.max_usage_pct,
+        None => Percent::new(100).unwrap(),
+    };
+
+    // Express a static value for how many shards we may schedule on one node
+    const MAX_SHARDS: u32 = 20000;
+
+    let mut doc = PageserverUtilization {
         disk_usage_bytes: used,
         free_space_bytes: free,
-        // lower is better; start with a constant
-        //
-        // note that u64::MAX will be output as i64::MAX as u64, but that should not matter
-        utilization_score: u64::MAX,
+        disk_wanted_bytes,
+        disk_usable_pct,
+        shard_count,
+        max_shard_count: MAX_SHARDS,
+        utilization_score: 0,
         captured_at: utils::serde_system_time::SystemTime(captured_at),
     };
 
+    doc.refresh_score();
+
     // TODO: make utilization_score into a metric
 
     Ok(doc)
diff --git a/pageserver/src/virtual_file.rs b/pageserver/src/virtual_file.rs
index 27f6fe90a4..b4695e5f40 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/virtual_file.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/virtual_file.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ use crate::page_cache::{PageWriteGuard, PAGE_SZ};
 use crate::tenant::TENANTS_SEGMENT_NAME;
 use camino::{Utf8Path, Utf8PathBuf};
 use once_cell::sync::OnceCell;
+use owned_buffers_io::io_buf_ext::FullSlice;
 use pageserver_api::shard::TenantShardId;
 use std::fs::File;
 use std::io::{Error, ErrorKind, Seek, SeekFrom};
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ pub(crate) mod owned_buffers_io {
     //! but for the time being we're proving out the primitives in the neon.git repo
     //! for faster iteration.
 
+    pub(crate) mod io_buf_ext;
     pub(crate) mod slice;
     pub(crate) mod write;
     pub(crate) mod util {
@@ -637,24 +639,24 @@ impl VirtualFile {
     }
 
     // Copied from https://doc.rust-lang.org/1.72.0/src/std/os/unix/fs.rs.html#219-235
-    pub async fn write_all_at<B: BoundedBuf<Buf = Buf>, Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
+    pub async fn write_all_at<Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
         &self,
-        buf: B,
+        buf: FullSlice<Buf>,
         mut offset: u64,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> (B::Buf, Result<(), Error>) {
-        let buf_len = buf.bytes_init();
-        if buf_len == 0 {
-            return (Slice::into_inner(buf.slice_full()), Ok(()));
-        }
-        let mut buf = buf.slice(0..buf_len);
+    ) -> (FullSlice<Buf>, Result<(), Error>) {
+        let buf = buf.into_raw_slice();
+        let bounds = buf.bounds();
+        let restore =
+            |buf: Slice<_>| FullSlice::must_new(Slice::from_buf_bounds(buf.into_inner(), bounds));
+        let mut buf = buf;
         while !buf.is_empty() {
-            let res;
-            (buf, res) = self.write_at(buf, offset, ctx).await;
+            let (tmp, res) = self.write_at(FullSlice::must_new(buf), offset, ctx).await;
+            buf = tmp.into_raw_slice();
             match res {
                 Ok(0) => {
                     return (
-                        Slice::into_inner(buf),
+                        restore(buf),
                         Err(Error::new(
                             std::io::ErrorKind::WriteZero,
                             "failed to write whole buffer",
@@ -666,33 +668,33 @@ impl VirtualFile {
                     offset += n as u64;
                 }
                 Err(e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::Interrupted => {}
-                Err(e) => return (Slice::into_inner(buf), Err(e)),
+                Err(e) => return (restore(buf), Err(e)),
             }
         }
-        (Slice::into_inner(buf), Ok(()))
+        (restore(buf), Ok(()))
     }
 
-    /// Writes `buf.slice(0..buf.bytes_init())`.
-    /// Returns the IoBuf that is underlying the BoundedBuf `buf`.
-    /// I.e., the returned value's `bytes_init()` method returns something different than the `bytes_init()` that was passed in.
-    /// It's quite brittle and easy to mis-use, so, we return the size in the Ok() variant.
-    pub async fn write_all<B: BoundedBuf<Buf = Buf>, Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
+    /// Writes `buf` to the file at the current offset.
+    ///
+    /// Panics if there is an uninitialized range in `buf`, as that is most likely a bug in the caller.
+    pub async fn write_all<Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
         &mut self,
-        buf: B,
+        buf: FullSlice<Buf>,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> (B::Buf, Result<usize, Error>) {
-        let nbytes = buf.bytes_init();
-        if nbytes == 0 {
-            return (Slice::into_inner(buf.slice_full()), Ok(0));
-        }
-        let mut buf = buf.slice(0..nbytes);
+    ) -> (FullSlice<Buf>, Result<usize, Error>) {
+        let buf = buf.into_raw_slice();
+        let bounds = buf.bounds();
+        let restore =
+            |buf: Slice<_>| FullSlice::must_new(Slice::from_buf_bounds(buf.into_inner(), bounds));
+        let nbytes = buf.len();
+        let mut buf = buf;
         while !buf.is_empty() {
-            let res;
-            (buf, res) = self.write(buf, ctx).await;
+            let (tmp, res) = self.write(FullSlice::must_new(buf), ctx).await;
+            buf = tmp.into_raw_slice();
             match res {
                 Ok(0) => {
                     return (
-                        Slice::into_inner(buf),
+                        restore(buf),
                         Err(Error::new(
                             std::io::ErrorKind::WriteZero,
                             "failed to write whole buffer",
@@ -703,17 +705,17 @@ impl VirtualFile {
                     buf = buf.slice(n..);
                 }
                 Err(ref e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::Interrupted => {}
-                Err(e) => return (Slice::into_inner(buf), Err(e)),
+                Err(e) => return (restore(buf), Err(e)),
             }
         }
-        (Slice::into_inner(buf), Ok(nbytes))
+        (restore(buf), Ok(nbytes))
     }
 
     async fn write<B: IoBuf + Send>(
         &mut self,
-        buf: Slice<B>,
+        buf: FullSlice<B>,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> (Slice<B>, Result<usize, std::io::Error>) {
+    ) -> (FullSlice<B>, Result<usize, std::io::Error>) {
         let pos = self.pos;
         let (buf, res) = self.write_at(buf, pos, ctx).await;
         let n = match res {
@@ -756,10 +758,10 @@ impl VirtualFile {
 
     async fn write_at<B: IoBuf + Send>(
         &self,
-        buf: Slice<B>,
+        buf: FullSlice<B>,
         offset: u64,
         _ctx: &RequestContext, /* TODO: use for metrics: https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/issues/6107 */
-    ) -> (Slice<B>, Result<usize, Error>) {
+    ) -> (FullSlice<B>, Result<usize, Error>) {
         let file_guard = match self.lock_file().await {
             Ok(file_guard) => file_guard,
             Err(e) => return (buf, Err(e)),
@@ -1093,11 +1095,11 @@ impl Drop for VirtualFile {
 
 impl OwnedAsyncWriter for VirtualFile {
     #[inline(always)]
-    async fn write_all<B: BoundedBuf<Buf = Buf>, Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
+    async fn write_all<Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
         &mut self,
-        buf: B,
+        buf: FullSlice<Buf>,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> std::io::Result<(usize, B::Buf)> {
+    ) -> std::io::Result<(usize, FullSlice<Buf>)> {
         let (buf, res) = VirtualFile::write_all(self, buf, ctx).await;
         res.map(move |v| (v, buf))
     }
@@ -1159,7 +1161,8 @@ mod tests {
     use crate::task_mgr::TaskKind;
 
     use super::*;
-    use owned_buffers_io::slice::SliceExt;
+    use owned_buffers_io::io_buf_ext::IoBufExt;
+    use owned_buffers_io::slice::SliceMutExt;
     use rand::seq::SliceRandom;
     use rand::thread_rng;
     use rand::Rng;
@@ -1193,9 +1196,9 @@ mod tests {
                 }
             }
         }
-        async fn write_all_at<B: BoundedBuf<Buf = Buf>, Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
+        async fn write_all_at<Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
             &self,
-            buf: B,
+            buf: FullSlice<Buf>,
             offset: u64,
             ctx: &RequestContext,
         ) -> Result<(), Error> {
@@ -1204,13 +1207,7 @@ mod tests {
                     let (_buf, res) = file.write_all_at(buf, offset, ctx).await;
                     res
                 }
-                MaybeVirtualFile::File(file) => {
-                    let buf_len = buf.bytes_init();
-                    if buf_len == 0 {
-                        return Ok(());
-                    }
-                    file.write_all_at(&buf.slice(0..buf_len), offset)
-                }
+                MaybeVirtualFile::File(file) => file.write_all_at(&buf[..], offset),
             }
         }
         async fn seek(&mut self, pos: SeekFrom) -> Result<u64, Error> {
@@ -1219,9 +1216,9 @@ mod tests {
                 MaybeVirtualFile::File(file) => file.seek(pos),
             }
         }
-        async fn write_all<B: BoundedBuf<Buf = Buf>, Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
+        async fn write_all<Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
             &mut self,
-            buf: B,
+            buf: FullSlice<Buf>,
             ctx: &RequestContext,
         ) -> Result<(), Error> {
             match self {
@@ -1229,13 +1226,7 @@ mod tests {
                     let (_buf, res) = file.write_all(buf, ctx).await;
                     res.map(|_| ())
                 }
-                MaybeVirtualFile::File(file) => {
-                    let buf_len = buf.bytes_init();
-                    if buf_len == 0 {
-                        return Ok(());
-                    }
-                    file.write_all(&buf.slice(0..buf_len))
-                }
+                MaybeVirtualFile::File(file) => file.write_all(&buf[..]),
             }
         }
 
@@ -1347,7 +1338,9 @@ mod tests {
             &ctx,
         )
         .await?;
-        file_a.write_all(b"foobar".to_vec(), &ctx).await?;
+        file_a
+            .write_all(b"foobar".to_vec().slice_len(), &ctx)
+            .await?;
 
         // cannot read from a file opened in write-only mode
         let _ = file_a.read_string(&ctx).await.unwrap_err();
@@ -1356,7 +1349,10 @@ mod tests {
         let mut file_a = A::open(path_a, OpenOptions::new().read(true).to_owned(), &ctx).await?;
 
         // cannot write to a file opened in read-only mode
-        let _ = file_a.write_all(b"bar".to_vec(), &ctx).await.unwrap_err();
+        let _ = file_a
+            .write_all(b"bar".to_vec().slice_len(), &ctx)
+            .await
+            .unwrap_err();
 
         // Try simple read
         assert_eq!("foobar", file_a.read_string(&ctx).await?);
@@ -1399,8 +1395,12 @@ mod tests {
             &ctx,
         )
         .await?;
-        file_b.write_all_at(b"BAR".to_vec(), 3, &ctx).await?;
-        file_b.write_all_at(b"FOO".to_vec(), 0, &ctx).await?;
+        file_b
+            .write_all_at(b"BAR".to_vec().slice_len(), 3, &ctx)
+            .await?;
+        file_b
+            .write_all_at(b"FOO".to_vec().slice_len(), 0, &ctx)
+            .await?;
 
         assert_eq!(file_b.read_string_at(2, 3, &ctx).await?, "OBA");
 
diff --git a/pageserver/src/virtual_file/io_engine.rs b/pageserver/src/virtual_file/io_engine.rs
index 0ffcd9fa05..faef1ba9ff 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/virtual_file/io_engine.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/virtual_file/io_engine.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
 pub(super) mod tokio_epoll_uring_ext;
 
-use tokio_epoll_uring::{IoBuf, Slice};
+use tokio_epoll_uring::IoBuf;
 use tracing::Instrument;
 
 pub(crate) use super::api::IoEngineKind;
@@ -107,7 +107,10 @@ use std::{
     sync::atomic::{AtomicU8, Ordering},
 };
 
-use super::{owned_buffers_io::slice::SliceExt, FileGuard, Metadata};
+use super::{
+    owned_buffers_io::{io_buf_ext::FullSlice, slice::SliceMutExt},
+    FileGuard, Metadata,
+};
 
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
 fn epoll_uring_error_to_std(e: tokio_epoll_uring::Error<std::io::Error>) -> std::io::Error {
@@ -206,8 +209,8 @@ impl IoEngine {
         &self,
         file_guard: FileGuard,
         offset: u64,
-        buf: Slice<B>,
-    ) -> ((FileGuard, Slice<B>), std::io::Result<usize>) {
+        buf: FullSlice<B>,
+    ) -> ((FileGuard, FullSlice<B>), std::io::Result<usize>) {
         match self {
             IoEngine::NotSet => panic!("not initialized"),
             IoEngine::StdFs => {
@@ -217,8 +220,12 @@ impl IoEngine {
             #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
             IoEngine::TokioEpollUring => {
                 let system = tokio_epoll_uring_ext::thread_local_system().await;
-                let (resources, res) = system.write(file_guard, offset, buf).await;
-                (resources, res.map_err(epoll_uring_error_to_std))
+                let ((file_guard, slice), res) =
+                    system.write(file_guard, offset, buf.into_raw_slice()).await;
+                (
+                    (file_guard, FullSlice::must_new(slice)),
+                    res.map_err(epoll_uring_error_to_std),
+                )
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/pageserver/src/virtual_file/owned_buffers_io/io_buf_ext.rs b/pageserver/src/virtual_file/owned_buffers_io/io_buf_ext.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7c773b6b21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pageserver/src/virtual_file/owned_buffers_io/io_buf_ext.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+//! See [`FullSlice`].
+
+use bytes::{Bytes, BytesMut};
+use std::ops::{Deref, Range};
+use tokio_epoll_uring::{BoundedBuf, IoBuf, Slice};
+
+/// The true owned equivalent for Rust [`slice`]. Use this for the write path.
+///
+/// Unlike [`tokio_epoll_uring::Slice`], which we unfortunately inherited from `tokio-uring`,
+/// [`FullSlice`] is guaranteed to have all its bytes initialized. This means that
+/// [`<FullSlice as Deref<Target = [u8]>>::len`] is equal to [`Slice::bytes_init`] and [`Slice::bytes_total`].
+///
+pub struct FullSlice<B> {
+    slice: Slice<B>,
+}
+
+impl<B> FullSlice<B>
+where
+    B: IoBuf,
+{
+    pub(crate) fn must_new(slice: Slice<B>) -> Self {
+        assert_eq!(slice.bytes_init(), slice.bytes_total());
+        FullSlice { slice }
+    }
+    pub(crate) fn into_raw_slice(self) -> Slice<B> {
+        let FullSlice { slice: s } = self;
+        s
+    }
+}
+
+impl<B> Deref for FullSlice<B>
+where
+    B: IoBuf,
+{
+    type Target = [u8];
+
+    fn deref(&self) -> &[u8] {
+        let rust_slice = &self.slice[..];
+        assert_eq!(rust_slice.len(), self.slice.bytes_init());
+        assert_eq!(rust_slice.len(), self.slice.bytes_total());
+        rust_slice
+    }
+}
+
+pub(crate) trait IoBufExt {
+    /// Get a [`FullSlice`] for the entire buffer, i.e., `self[..]` or `self[0..self.len()]`.
+    fn slice_len(self) -> FullSlice<Self>
+    where
+        Self: Sized;
+}
+
+macro_rules! impl_io_buf_ext {
+    ($T:ty) => {
+        impl IoBufExt for $T {
+            #[inline(always)]
+            fn slice_len(self) -> FullSlice<Self> {
+                let len = self.len();
+                let s = if len == 0 {
+                    // `BoundedBuf::slice(0..len)` or `BoundedBuf::slice(..)` has an incorrect assertion,
+                    // causing a panic if len == 0.
+                    // The Slice::from_buf_bounds has the correct assertion (<= instead of <).
+                    // => https://github.com/neondatabase/tokio-epoll-uring/issues/46
+                    let slice = self.slice_full();
+                    let mut bounds: Range<_> = slice.bounds();
+                    bounds.end = bounds.start;
+                    Slice::from_buf_bounds(slice.into_inner(), bounds)
+                } else {
+                    self.slice(0..len)
+                };
+                FullSlice::must_new(s)
+            }
+        }
+    };
+}
+
+impl_io_buf_ext!(Bytes);
+impl_io_buf_ext!(BytesMut);
+impl_io_buf_ext!(Vec<u8>);
diff --git a/pageserver/src/virtual_file/owned_buffers_io/slice.rs b/pageserver/src/virtual_file/owned_buffers_io/slice.rs
index d19e5ddffe..6100593663 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/virtual_file/owned_buffers_io/slice.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/virtual_file/owned_buffers_io/slice.rs
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@ use tokio_epoll_uring::BoundedBufMut;
 use tokio_epoll_uring::IoBufMut;
 use tokio_epoll_uring::Slice;
 
-pub(crate) trait SliceExt {
+pub(crate) trait SliceMutExt {
     /// Get a `&mut[0..self.bytes_total()`] slice, for when you need to do borrow-based IO.
     ///
     /// See the test case `test_slice_full_zeroed` for the difference to just doing `&slice[..]`
     fn as_mut_rust_slice_full_zeroed(&mut self) -> &mut [u8];
 }
 
-impl<B> SliceExt for Slice<B>
+impl<B> SliceMutExt for Slice<B>
 where
     B: IoBufMut,
 {
diff --git a/pageserver/src/virtual_file/owned_buffers_io/util/size_tracking_writer.rs b/pageserver/src/virtual_file/owned_buffers_io/util/size_tracking_writer.rs
index 55b1d0b46b..efcb61ba65 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/virtual_file/owned_buffers_io/util/size_tracking_writer.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/virtual_file/owned_buffers_io/util/size_tracking_writer.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
-use crate::{context::RequestContext, virtual_file::owned_buffers_io::write::OwnedAsyncWriter};
-use tokio_epoll_uring::{BoundedBuf, IoBuf};
+use crate::{
+    context::RequestContext,
+    virtual_file::owned_buffers_io::{io_buf_ext::FullSlice, write::OwnedAsyncWriter},
+};
+use tokio_epoll_uring::IoBuf;
 
 pub struct Writer<W> {
     dst: W,
@@ -35,11 +38,11 @@ where
     W: OwnedAsyncWriter,
 {
     #[inline(always)]
-    async fn write_all<B: BoundedBuf<Buf = Buf>, Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
+    async fn write_all<Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
         &mut self,
-        buf: B,
+        buf: FullSlice<Buf>,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> std::io::Result<(usize, B::Buf)> {
+    ) -> std::io::Result<(usize, FullSlice<Buf>)> {
         let (nwritten, buf) = self.dst.write_all(buf, ctx).await?;
         self.bytes_amount += u64::try_from(nwritten).unwrap();
         Ok((nwritten, buf))
diff --git a/pageserver/src/virtual_file/owned_buffers_io/write.rs b/pageserver/src/virtual_file/owned_buffers_io/write.rs
index 8599d95cdf..f8f37b17e3 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/virtual_file/owned_buffers_io/write.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/virtual_file/owned_buffers_io/write.rs
@@ -1,16 +1,18 @@
 use bytes::BytesMut;
-use tokio_epoll_uring::{BoundedBuf, IoBuf, Slice};
+use tokio_epoll_uring::IoBuf;
 
 use crate::context::RequestContext;
 
+use super::io_buf_ext::{FullSlice, IoBufExt};
+
 /// A trait for doing owned-buffer write IO.
 /// Think [`tokio::io::AsyncWrite`] but with owned buffers.
 pub trait OwnedAsyncWriter {
-    async fn write_all<B: BoundedBuf<Buf = Buf>, Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
+    async fn write_all<Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
         &mut self,
-        buf: B,
+        buf: FullSlice<Buf>,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> std::io::Result<(usize, B::Buf)>;
+    ) -> std::io::Result<(usize, FullSlice<Buf>)>;
 }
 
 /// A wrapper aorund an [`OwnedAsyncWriter`] that uses a [`Buffer`] to batch
@@ -79,9 +81,11 @@ where
     #[cfg_attr(target_os = "macos", allow(dead_code))]
     pub async fn write_buffered<S: IoBuf + Send>(
         &mut self,
-        chunk: Slice<S>,
+        chunk: FullSlice<S>,
         ctx: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> std::io::Result<(usize, S)> {
+    ) -> std::io::Result<(usize, FullSlice<S>)> {
+        let chunk = chunk.into_raw_slice();
+
         let chunk_len = chunk.len();
         // avoid memcpy for the middle of the chunk
         if chunk.len() >= self.buf().cap() {
@@ -94,7 +98,10 @@ where
                     .pending(),
                 0
             );
-            let (nwritten, chunk) = self.writer.write_all(chunk, ctx).await?;
+            let (nwritten, chunk) = self
+                .writer
+                .write_all(FullSlice::must_new(chunk), ctx)
+                .await?;
             assert_eq!(nwritten, chunk_len);
             return Ok((nwritten, chunk));
         }
@@ -114,7 +121,7 @@ where
             }
         }
         assert!(slice.is_empty(), "by now we should have drained the chunk");
-        Ok((chunk_len, chunk.into_inner()))
+        Ok((chunk_len, FullSlice::must_new(chunk)))
     }
 
     /// Strictly less performant variant of [`Self::write_buffered`] that allows writing borrowed data.
@@ -150,9 +157,12 @@ where
             self.buf = Some(buf);
             return Ok(());
         }
-        let (nwritten, io_buf) = self.writer.write_all(buf.flush(), ctx).await?;
+        let slice = buf.flush();
+        let (nwritten, slice) = self.writer.write_all(slice, ctx).await?;
         assert_eq!(nwritten, buf_len);
-        self.buf = Some(Buffer::reuse_after_flush(io_buf));
+        self.buf = Some(Buffer::reuse_after_flush(
+            slice.into_raw_slice().into_inner(),
+        ));
         Ok(())
     }
 }
@@ -172,9 +182,9 @@ pub trait Buffer {
     /// Number of bytes in the buffer.
     fn pending(&self) -> usize;
 
-    /// Turns `self` into a [`tokio_epoll_uring::Slice`] of the pending data
+    /// Turns `self` into a [`FullSlice`] of the pending data
     /// so we can use [`tokio_epoll_uring`] to write it to disk.
-    fn flush(self) -> Slice<Self::IoBuf>;
+    fn flush(self) -> FullSlice<Self::IoBuf>;
 
     /// After the write to disk is done and we have gotten back the slice,
     /// [`BufferedWriter`] uses this method to re-use the io buffer.
@@ -198,12 +208,8 @@ impl Buffer for BytesMut {
         self.len()
     }
 
-    fn flush(self) -> Slice<BytesMut> {
-        if self.is_empty() {
-            return self.slice_full();
-        }
-        let len = self.len();
-        self.slice(0..len)
+    fn flush(self) -> FullSlice<BytesMut> {
+        self.slice_len()
     }
 
     fn reuse_after_flush(mut iobuf: BytesMut) -> Self {
@@ -213,18 +219,13 @@ impl Buffer for BytesMut {
 }
 
 impl OwnedAsyncWriter for Vec<u8> {
-    async fn write_all<B: BoundedBuf<Buf = Buf>, Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
+    async fn write_all<Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
         &mut self,
-        buf: B,
+        buf: FullSlice<Buf>,
         _: &RequestContext,
-    ) -> std::io::Result<(usize, B::Buf)> {
-        let nbytes = buf.bytes_init();
-        if nbytes == 0 {
-            return Ok((0, Slice::into_inner(buf.slice_full())));
-        }
-        let buf = buf.slice(0..nbytes);
+    ) -> std::io::Result<(usize, FullSlice<Buf>)> {
         self.extend_from_slice(&buf[..]);
-        Ok((buf.len(), Slice::into_inner(buf)))
+        Ok((buf.len(), buf))
     }
 }
 
@@ -241,19 +242,13 @@ mod tests {
         writes: Vec<Vec<u8>>,
     }
     impl OwnedAsyncWriter for RecorderWriter {
-        async fn write_all<B: BoundedBuf<Buf = Buf>, Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
+        async fn write_all<Buf: IoBuf + Send>(
             &mut self,
-            buf: B,
+            buf: FullSlice<Buf>,
             _: &RequestContext,
-        ) -> std::io::Result<(usize, B::Buf)> {
-            let nbytes = buf.bytes_init();
-            if nbytes == 0 {
-                self.writes.push(vec![]);
-                return Ok((0, Slice::into_inner(buf.slice_full())));
-            }
-            let buf = buf.slice(0..nbytes);
+        ) -> std::io::Result<(usize, FullSlice<Buf>)> {
             self.writes.push(Vec::from(&buf[..]));
-            Ok((buf.len(), Slice::into_inner(buf)))
+            Ok((buf.len(), buf))
         }
     }
 
@@ -264,7 +259,7 @@ mod tests {
     macro_rules! write {
         ($writer:ident, $data:literal) => {{
             $writer
-                .write_buffered(::bytes::Bytes::from_static($data).slice_full(), &test_ctx())
+                .write_buffered(::bytes::Bytes::from_static($data).slice_len(), &test_ctx())
                 .await?;
         }};
     }
diff --git a/pageserver/src/walingest.rs b/pageserver/src/walingest.rs
index 804c7fca97..8425528740 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/walingest.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/walingest.rs
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ impl WalIngest {
             && (decoded.xl_info == pg_constants::XLOG_FPI
                 || decoded.xl_info == pg_constants::XLOG_FPI_FOR_HINT)
             // compression of WAL is not yet supported: fall back to storing the original WAL record
-            && !postgres_ffi::bkpimage_is_compressed(blk.bimg_info, modification.tline.pg_version)?
+            && !postgres_ffi::bkpimage_is_compressed(blk.bimg_info, modification.tline.pg_version)
             // do not materialize null pages because them most likely be soon replaced with real data
             && blk.bimg_len != 0
         {
@@ -1702,7 +1702,7 @@ async fn get_relsize(
     modification: &DatadirModification<'_>,
     rel: RelTag,
     ctx: &RequestContext,
-) -> anyhow::Result<BlockNumber> {
+) -> Result<BlockNumber, PageReconstructError> {
     let nblocks = if !modification
         .tline
         .get_rel_exists(rel, Version::Modified(modification), ctx)
diff --git a/pageserver/src/walrecord.rs b/pageserver/src/walrecord.rs
index 62a3a91b0b..edddcefbe1 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/walrecord.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/walrecord.rs
@@ -1018,7 +1018,7 @@ pub fn decode_wal_record(
                     );
 
                     let blk_img_is_compressed =
-                        postgres_ffi::bkpimage_is_compressed(blk.bimg_info, pg_version)?;
+                        postgres_ffi::bkpimage_is_compressed(blk.bimg_info, pg_version);
 
                     if blk_img_is_compressed {
                         debug!("compressed block image , pg_version = {}", pg_version);
diff --git a/pageserver/src/walredo.rs b/pageserver/src/walredo.rs
index 770081b3b4..82585f9ed8 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/walredo.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/walredo.rs
@@ -107,8 +107,10 @@ enum ProcessOnceCell {
 }
 
 struct Process {
-    _launched_processes_guard: utils::sync::gate::GateGuard,
     process: process::WalRedoProcess,
+    /// This field is last in this struct so the guard gets dropped _after_ [`Self::process`].
+    /// (Reminder: dropping [`Self::process`] synchronously sends SIGKILL and then `wait()`s for it to exit).
+    _launched_processes_guard: utils::sync::gate::GateGuard,
 }
 
 impl std::ops::Deref for Process {
@@ -327,20 +329,23 @@ impl PostgresRedoManager {
                 },
                 Err(permit) => {
                     let start = Instant::now();
-                    let proc = Arc::new(Process {
-                            _launched_processes_guard: match self.launched_processes.enter() {
+                    // acquire guard before spawning process, so that we don't spawn new processes
+                    // if the gate is already closed.
+                    let _launched_processes_guard = match self.launched_processes.enter() {
                                 Ok(guard) => guard,
                                 Err(GateError::GateClosed) => unreachable!(
                                     "shutdown sets the once cell to `ManagerShutDown` state before closing the gate"
                                 ),
-                            },
-                            process: process::WalRedoProcess::launch(
-                                self.conf,
-                                self.tenant_shard_id,
-                                pg_version,
-                            )
-                            .context("launch walredo process")?,
-                        });
+                            };
+                    let proc = Arc::new(Process {
+                        process: process::WalRedoProcess::launch(
+                            self.conf,
+                            self.tenant_shard_id,
+                            pg_version,
+                        )
+                        .context("launch walredo process")?,
+                        _launched_processes_guard,
+                    });
                     let duration = start.elapsed();
                     WAL_REDO_PROCESS_LAUNCH_DURATION_HISTOGRAM.observe(duration.as_secs_f64());
                     info!(
diff --git a/pgxn/neon/file_cache.c b/pgxn/neon/file_cache.c
index 1894e8c72a..479209a537 100644
--- a/pgxn/neon/file_cache.c
+++ b/pgxn/neon/file_cache.c
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@
 
 #include "hll.h"
 
+#define CriticalAssert(cond) do if (!(cond)) elog(PANIC, "Assertion %s failed at %s:%d: ", #cond, __FILE__, __LINE__); while (0)
+
 /*
  * Local file cache is used to temporary store relations pages in local file system.
  * All blocks of all relations are stored inside one file and addressed using shared hash map.
@@ -51,19 +53,43 @@
  *
  * Cache is always reconstructed at node startup, so we do not need to save mapping somewhere and worry about
  * its consistency.
+
+ *
+ * ## Holes
+ *
+ * The LFC can be resized on the fly, up to a maximum size that's determined
+ * at server startup (neon.max_file_cache_size). After server startup, we
+ * expand the underlying file when needed, until it reaches the soft limit
+ * (neon.file_cache_size_limit). If the soft limit is later reduced, we shrink
+ * the LFC by punching holes in the underlying file with a
+ * fallocate(FALLOC_FL_PUNCH_HOLE) call. The nominal size of the file doesn't
+ * shrink, but the disk space it uses does.
+ *
+ * Each hole is tracked by a dummy FileCacheEntry, which are kept in the
+ * 'holes' linked list. They are entered into the chunk hash table, with a
+ * special key where the blockNumber is used to store the 'offset' of the
+ * hole, and all other fields are zero. Holes are never looked up in the hash
+ * table, we only enter them there to have a FileCacheEntry that we can keep
+ * in the linked list. If the soft limit is raised again, we reuse the holes
+ * before extending the nominal size of the file.
  */
 
 /* Local file storage allocation chunk.
- * Should be power of two and not less than 32. Using larger than page chunks can
+ * Should be power of two. Using larger than page chunks can
  * 1. Reduce hash-map memory footprint: 8TB database contains billion pages
  *    and size of hash entry is 40 bytes, so we need 40Gb just for hash map.
  *    1Mb chunks can reduce hash map size to 320Mb.
  * 2. Improve access locality, subsequent pages will be allocated together improving seqscan speed
  */
 #define BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK	128 /* 1Mb chunk */
+/*
+ * Smaller chunk seems to be better for OLTP workload
+ */
+// #define BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK	8 /* 64kb chunk */
 #define MB					((uint64)1024*1024)
 
 #define SIZE_MB_TO_CHUNKS(size) ((uint32)((size) * MB / BLCKSZ / BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK))
+#define CHUNK_BITMAP_SIZE ((BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK + 31) / 32)
 
 typedef struct FileCacheEntry
 {
@@ -71,8 +97,8 @@ typedef struct FileCacheEntry
 	uint32		hash;
 	uint32		offset;
 	uint32		access_count;
-	uint32		bitmap[BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK / 32];
-	dlist_node	lru_node;		/* LRU list node */
+	uint32		bitmap[CHUNK_BITMAP_SIZE];
+	dlist_node	list_node;		/* LRU/holes list node */
 } FileCacheEntry;
 
 typedef struct FileCacheControl
@@ -87,6 +113,7 @@ typedef struct FileCacheControl
 	uint64		writes;
 	dlist_head	lru;			/* double linked list for LRU replacement
 								 * algorithm */
+	dlist_head  holes;          /* double linked list of punched holes */
 	HyperLogLogState wss_estimation; /* estimation of working set size */
 } FileCacheControl;
 
@@ -135,6 +162,7 @@ lfc_disable(char const *op)
 		lfc_ctl->used = 0;
 		lfc_ctl->limit = 0;
 		dlist_init(&lfc_ctl->lru);
+		dlist_init(&lfc_ctl->holes);
 
 		if (lfc_desc > 0)
 		{
@@ -214,18 +242,18 @@ lfc_shmem_startup(void)
 	if (!found)
 	{
 		int			fd;
-		uint32		lfc_size = SIZE_MB_TO_CHUNKS(lfc_max_size);
+		uint32		n_chunks = SIZE_MB_TO_CHUNKS(lfc_max_size);
 
 		lfc_lock = (LWLockId) GetNamedLWLockTranche("lfc_lock");
 		info.keysize = sizeof(BufferTag);
 		info.entrysize = sizeof(FileCacheEntry);
 
 		/*
-		 * lfc_size+1 because we add new element to hash table before eviction
+		 * n_chunks+1 because we add new element to hash table before eviction
 		 * of victim
 		 */
 		lfc_hash = ShmemInitHash("lfc_hash",
-								 lfc_size + 1, lfc_size + 1,
+								 n_chunks + 1, n_chunks + 1,
 								 &info,
 								 HASH_ELEM | HASH_BLOBS);
 		lfc_ctl->generation = 0;
@@ -235,6 +263,7 @@ lfc_shmem_startup(void)
 		lfc_ctl->misses = 0;
 		lfc_ctl->writes = 0;
 		dlist_init(&lfc_ctl->lru);
+		dlist_init(&lfc_ctl->holes);
 
 		/* Initialize hyper-log-log structure for estimating working set size */
 		initSHLL(&lfc_ctl->wss_estimation);
@@ -310,14 +339,31 @@ lfc_change_limit_hook(int newval, void *extra)
 		 * Shrink cache by throwing away least recently accessed chunks and
 		 * returning their space to file system
 		 */
-		FileCacheEntry *victim = dlist_container(FileCacheEntry, lru_node, dlist_pop_head_node(&lfc_ctl->lru));
+		FileCacheEntry *victim = dlist_container(FileCacheEntry, list_node, dlist_pop_head_node(&lfc_ctl->lru));
+		FileCacheEntry *hole;
+		uint32		offset = victim->offset;
+		uint32		hash;
+		bool		found;
+		BufferTag	holetag;
 
-		Assert(victim->access_count == 0);
+		CriticalAssert(victim->access_count == 0);
 #ifdef FALLOC_FL_PUNCH_HOLE
 		if (fallocate(lfc_desc, FALLOC_FL_PUNCH_HOLE | FALLOC_FL_KEEP_SIZE, (off_t) victim->offset * BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK * BLCKSZ, BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK * BLCKSZ) < 0)
 			neon_log(LOG, "Failed to punch hole in file: %m");
 #endif
+		/* We remove the old entry, and re-enter a hole to the hash table */
 		hash_search_with_hash_value(lfc_hash, &victim->key, victim->hash, HASH_REMOVE, NULL);
+
+		memset(&holetag, 0, sizeof(holetag));
+		holetag.blockNum = offset;
+		hash = get_hash_value(lfc_hash, &holetag);
+		hole = hash_search_with_hash_value(lfc_hash, &holetag, hash, HASH_ENTER, &found);
+		hole->hash = hash;
+		hole->offset = offset;
+		hole->access_count = 0;
+		CriticalAssert(!found);
+		dlist_push_tail(&lfc_ctl->holes, &hole->list_node);
+
 		lfc_ctl->used -= 1;
 	}
 	lfc_ctl->limit = new_size;
@@ -409,6 +455,8 @@ lfc_cache_contains(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno)
 	CopyNRelFileInfoToBufTag(tag, rinfo);
 	tag.forkNum = forkNum;
 	tag.blockNum = blkno & ~(BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK - 1);
+
+	CriticalAssert(BufTagGetRelNumber(&tag) != InvalidRelFileNumber);
 	hash = get_hash_value(lfc_hash, &tag);
 
 	LWLockAcquire(lfc_lock, LW_SHARED);
@@ -440,6 +488,7 @@ lfc_evict(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno)
 	tag.forkNum = forkNum;
 	tag.blockNum = (blkno & ~(BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK - 1));
 
+	CriticalAssert(BufTagGetRelNumber(&tag) != InvalidRelFileNumber);
 	hash = get_hash_value(lfc_hash, &tag);
 
 	LWLockAcquire(lfc_lock, LW_EXCLUSIVE);
@@ -470,7 +519,7 @@ lfc_evict(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno)
 	{
 		bool		has_remaining_pages;
 
-		for (int i = 0; i < (BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK / 32); i++)
+		for (int i = 0; i < CHUNK_BITMAP_SIZE; i++)
 		{
 			if (entry->bitmap[i] != 0)
 			{
@@ -485,8 +534,8 @@ lfc_evict(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno)
 		 */
 		if (!has_remaining_pages)
 		{
-			dlist_delete(&entry->lru_node);
-			dlist_push_head(&lfc_ctl->lru, &entry->lru_node);
+			dlist_delete(&entry->list_node);
+			dlist_push_head(&lfc_ctl->lru, &entry->list_node);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -525,6 +574,8 @@ lfc_read(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno,
 	CopyNRelFileInfoToBufTag(tag, rinfo);
 	tag.forkNum = forkNum;
 	tag.blockNum = blkno & ~(BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK - 1);
+
+	CriticalAssert(BufTagGetRelNumber(&tag) != InvalidRelFileNumber);
 	hash = get_hash_value(lfc_hash, &tag);
 
 	LWLockAcquire(lfc_lock, LW_EXCLUSIVE);
@@ -551,7 +602,7 @@ lfc_read(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno,
 	}
 	/* Unlink entry from LRU list to pin it for the duration of IO operation */
 	if (entry->access_count++ == 0)
-		dlist_delete(&entry->lru_node);
+		dlist_delete(&entry->list_node);
 	generation = lfc_ctl->generation;
 	entry_offset = entry->offset;
 
@@ -569,12 +620,12 @@ lfc_read(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno,
 
 	if (lfc_ctl->generation == generation)
 	{
-		Assert(LFC_ENABLED());
+		CriticalAssert(LFC_ENABLED());
 		lfc_ctl->hits += 1;
 		pgBufferUsage.file_cache.hits += 1;
-		Assert(entry->access_count > 0);
+		CriticalAssert(entry->access_count > 0);
 		if (--entry->access_count == 0)
-			dlist_push_tail(&lfc_ctl->lru, &entry->lru_node);
+			dlist_push_tail(&lfc_ctl->lru, &entry->list_node);
 	}
 	else
 		result = false;
@@ -613,6 +664,8 @@ lfc_write(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno, const void
 	tag.forkNum = forkNum;
 	tag.blockNum = blkno & ~(BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK - 1);
 	CopyNRelFileInfoToBufTag(tag, rinfo);
+
+	CriticalAssert(BufTagGetRelNumber(&tag) != InvalidRelFileNumber);
 	hash = get_hash_value(lfc_hash, &tag);
 
 	LWLockAcquire(lfc_lock, LW_EXCLUSIVE);
@@ -632,7 +685,7 @@ lfc_write(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno, const void
 		 * operation
 		 */
 		if (entry->access_count++ == 0)
-			dlist_delete(&entry->lru_node);
+			dlist_delete(&entry->list_node);
 	}
 	else
 	{
@@ -655,13 +708,26 @@ lfc_write(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno, const void
 		if (lfc_ctl->used >= lfc_ctl->limit && !dlist_is_empty(&lfc_ctl->lru))
 		{
 			/* Cache overflow: evict least recently used chunk */
-			FileCacheEntry *victim = dlist_container(FileCacheEntry, lru_node, dlist_pop_head_node(&lfc_ctl->lru));
+			FileCacheEntry *victim = dlist_container(FileCacheEntry, list_node, dlist_pop_head_node(&lfc_ctl->lru));
 
-			Assert(victim->access_count == 0);
+			CriticalAssert(victim->access_count == 0);
 			entry->offset = victim->offset; /* grab victim's chunk */
 			hash_search_with_hash_value(lfc_hash, &victim->key, victim->hash, HASH_REMOVE, NULL);
 			neon_log(DEBUG2, "Swap file cache page");
 		}
+		else if (!dlist_is_empty(&lfc_ctl->holes))
+		{
+			/* We can reuse a hole that was left behind when the LFC was shrunk previously */
+			FileCacheEntry *hole = dlist_container(FileCacheEntry, list_node, dlist_pop_head_node(&lfc_ctl->holes));
+			uint32		offset = hole->offset;
+			bool		found;
+
+			hash_search_with_hash_value(lfc_hash, &hole->key, hole->hash, HASH_REMOVE, &found);
+			CriticalAssert(found);
+
+			lfc_ctl->used += 1;
+			entry->offset = offset;	/* reuse the hole */
+		}
 		else
 		{
 			lfc_ctl->used += 1;
@@ -689,11 +755,11 @@ lfc_write(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno, const void
 
 		if (lfc_ctl->generation == generation)
 		{
-			Assert(LFC_ENABLED());
+			CriticalAssert(LFC_ENABLED());
 			/* Place entry to the head of LRU list */
-			Assert(entry->access_count > 0);
+			CriticalAssert(entry->access_count > 0);
 			if (--entry->access_count == 0)
-				dlist_push_tail(&lfc_ctl->lru, &entry->lru_node);
+				dlist_push_tail(&lfc_ctl->lru, &entry->list_node);
 
 			entry->bitmap[chunk_offs >> 5] |= (1 << (chunk_offs & 31));
 		}
@@ -708,7 +774,6 @@ typedef struct
 } NeonGetStatsCtx;
 
 #define NUM_NEON_GET_STATS_COLS	2
-#define NUM_NEON_GET_STATS_ROWS	3
 
 PG_FUNCTION_INFO_V1(neon_get_lfc_stats);
 Datum
@@ -744,7 +809,6 @@ neon_get_lfc_stats(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
 						   INT8OID, -1, 0);
 
 		fctx->tupdesc = BlessTupleDesc(tupledesc);
-		funcctx->max_calls = NUM_NEON_GET_STATS_ROWS;
 		funcctx->user_fctx = fctx;
 
 		/* Return to original context when allocating transient memory */
@@ -778,6 +842,11 @@ neon_get_lfc_stats(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
 			if (lfc_ctl)
 				value = lfc_ctl->writes;
 			break;
+		case 4:
+			key = "file_cache_size";
+			if (lfc_ctl)
+				value = lfc_ctl->size;
+			break;
 		default:
 			SRF_RETURN_DONE(funcctx);
 	}
@@ -901,7 +970,7 @@ local_cache_pages(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
 				hash_seq_init(&status, lfc_hash);
 				while ((entry = hash_seq_search(&status)) != NULL)
 				{
-					for (int i = 0; i < BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK / 32; i++)
+					for (int i = 0; i < CHUNK_BITMAP_SIZE; i++)
 						n_pages += pg_popcount32(entry->bitmap[i]);
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/pgxn/neon/neon.c b/pgxn/neon/neon.c
index d107cdc1c2..fe8e276d1c 100644
--- a/pgxn/neon/neon.c
+++ b/pgxn/neon/neon.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "utils/builtins.h"
 #include "utils/pg_lsn.h"
 #include "utils/guc.h"
+#include "utils/guc_tables.h"
 #include "utils/wait_event.h"
 
 #include "extension_server.h"
@@ -68,10 +69,10 @@ InitLogicalReplicationMonitor(void)
 
 	DefineCustomIntVariable(
 							"neon.logical_replication_max_snap_files",
-							"Maximum allowed logical replication .snap files",
+							"Maximum allowed logical replication .snap files. When exceeded, slots are dropped until the limit is met. -1 disables the limit.",
 							NULL,
 							&logical_replication_max_snap_files,
-							300, 0, INT_MAX,
+							300, -1, INT_MAX,
 							PGC_SIGHUP,
 							0,
 							NULL, NULL, NULL);
@@ -191,6 +192,13 @@ LogicalSlotsMonitorMain(Datum main_arg)
 	{
 		XLogRecPtr	cutoff_lsn;
 
+		/* In case of a SIGHUP, just reload the configuration. */
+		if (ConfigReloadPending)
+		{
+			ConfigReloadPending = false;
+			ProcessConfigFile(PGC_SIGHUP);
+		}
+
 		/*
 		 * If there are too many .snap files, just drop all logical slots to
 		 * prevent aux files bloat.
@@ -584,6 +592,40 @@ RestoreRunningXactsFromClog(CheckPoint *checkpoint, TransactionId **xids, int *n
 	return false;
 }
 
+
+/*
+ * pgbouncer is able to track GUCs reported by Postgres.
+ * But most parameters cannot be tracked this way. The only parameters that can be tracked are ones
+ * that Postgres reports to the client. Unfortunately `search_path` is not reported by Postgres:
+ * https://www.postgresql.org/message-id/flat/CAGECzQQ6xFcgrg%2Be0p9mCumtK362TiA6vTiiZKoYbS8OXggwuQ%40mail.gmail.com#be4bfd7a9cf1f0633bdb2d1790a0a1be
+ * This code sets GUC_REPORT flag for `search_path`making it possible to include it in
+ * pgbouncer's `track_extra_parameters` list.
+ *
+ * This code is inspired by how the Citus extension does this, see
+ * https://github.com/citusdata/citus/blob/2a263fe69a707d16ef24378f7650742386b0968f/src/backend/distributed/shared_library_init.c#L2694
+ */
+static void
+ReportSearchPath(void)
+{
+#if PG_VERSION_NUM >= 160000
+	int nGucs = 0;
+	struct config_generic **gucs = get_guc_variables(&nGucs);
+#else
+	struct config_generic **gucs = get_guc_variables();
+	int nGucs = GetNumConfigOptions();
+#endif
+
+	for (int i = 0; i < nGucs; i++)
+	{
+		struct config_generic *guc = (struct config_generic *) gucs[i];
+
+		if (strcmp(guc->name, "search_path") == 0)
+		{
+			guc->flags |= GUC_REPORT;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 void
 _PG_init(void)
 {
@@ -599,6 +641,7 @@ _PG_init(void)
 	pg_init_walproposer();
 	WalSender_Custom_XLogReaderRoutines = NeonOnDemandXLogReaderRoutines;
 	LogicalFuncs_Custom_XLogReaderRoutines = NeonOnDemandXLogReaderRoutines;
+	SlotFuncs_Custom_XLogReaderRoutines = NeonOnDemandXLogReaderRoutines;
 
 	InitLogicalReplicationMonitor();
 
@@ -626,6 +669,8 @@ _PG_init(void)
 	 * extension was loaded will be removed.
 	 */
 	EmitWarningsOnPlaceholders("neon");
+
+	ReportSearchPath();
 }
 
 PG_FUNCTION_INFO_V1(pg_cluster_size);
diff --git a/pgxn/neon/neon_pgversioncompat.h b/pgxn/neon/neon_pgversioncompat.h
index f19732cbbb..addb6ccce6 100644
--- a/pgxn/neon/neon_pgversioncompat.h
+++ b/pgxn/neon/neon_pgversioncompat.h
@@ -54,6 +54,10 @@
 
 #define BufTagGetNRelFileInfo(tag) tag.rnode
 
+#define BufTagGetRelNumber(tagp) ((tagp)->rnode.relNode)
+
+#define InvalidRelFileNumber InvalidOid
+
 #define SMgrRelGetRelInfo(reln) \
 	(reln->smgr_rnode.node)
 
diff --git a/pgxn/neon/walproposer_pg.c b/pgxn/neon/walproposer_pg.c
index 944b316344..f3ddc64061 100644
--- a/pgxn/neon/walproposer_pg.c
+++ b/pgxn/neon/walproposer_pg.c
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ replication_feedback_get_lsns(XLogRecPtr *writeLsn, XLogRecPtr *flushLsn, XLogRe
 }
 
 /*
- * Start walsender streaming replication
+ * Start walproposer streaming replication
  */
 static void
 walprop_pg_start_streaming(WalProposer *wp, XLogRecPtr startpos)
diff --git a/pgxn/neon/walsender_hooks.c b/pgxn/neon/walsender_hooks.c
index 8f8d1dfc01..bd3856e9d9 100644
--- a/pgxn/neon/walsender_hooks.c
+++ b/pgxn/neon/walsender_hooks.c
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 #include "utils/guc.h"
 #include "postmaster/interrupt.h"
 
+#include "neon.h"
 #include "neon_walreader.h"
 #include "walproposer.h"
 
@@ -181,6 +182,13 @@ NeonWALReadSegmentClose(XLogReaderState *xlogreader)
 void
 NeonOnDemandXLogReaderRoutines(XLogReaderRoutine *xlr)
 {
+	/*
+	 * If safekeepers are not configured, assume we don't need neon_walreader,
+	 * i.e. running neon fork locally.
+	 */
+	if (wal_acceptors_list[0] == '\0')
+		return;
+
 	if (!wal_reader)
 	{
 		XLogRecPtr	epochStartLsn = pg_atomic_read_u64(&GetWalpropShmemState()->propEpochStartLsn);
diff --git a/pgxn/neon_rmgr/neon_rmgr.c b/pgxn/neon_rmgr/neon_rmgr.c
index 496ca08c08..c3f726db84 100644
--- a/pgxn/neon_rmgr/neon_rmgr.c
+++ b/pgxn/neon_rmgr/neon_rmgr.c
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ static void
 fix_infomask_from_infobits(uint8 infobits, uint16 *infomask, uint16 *infomask2)
 {
 	*infomask &= ~(HEAP_XMAX_IS_MULTI | HEAP_XMAX_LOCK_ONLY |
-				   HEAP_XMAX_KEYSHR_LOCK | HEAP_XMAX_EXCL_LOCK);
+				   HEAP_XMAX_KEYSHR_LOCK | HEAP_XMAX_EXCL_LOCK | HEAP_COMBOCID);
 	*infomask2 &= ~HEAP_KEYS_UPDATED;
 
 	if (infobits & XLHL_XMAX_IS_MULTI)
@@ -195,6 +195,8 @@ fix_infomask_from_infobits(uint8 infobits, uint16 *infomask, uint16 *infomask2)
 		*infomask |= HEAP_XMAX_LOCK_ONLY;
 	if (infobits & XLHL_XMAX_EXCL_LOCK)
 		*infomask |= HEAP_XMAX_EXCL_LOCK;
+	if (infobits & XLHL_COMBOCID)
+		*infomask |= HEAP_COMBOCID;
 	/* note HEAP_XMAX_SHR_LOCK isn't considered here */
 	if (infobits & XLHL_XMAX_KEYSHR_LOCK)
 		*infomask |= HEAP_XMAX_KEYSHR_LOCK;
@@ -284,7 +286,7 @@ redo_neon_heap_insert(XLogReaderState *record)
 		htup->t_infomask = xlhdr.t_infomask;
 		htup->t_hoff = xlhdr.t_hoff;
 		HeapTupleHeaderSetXmin(htup, XLogRecGetXid(record));
-		HeapTupleHeaderSetCmin(htup, xlhdr.t_cid);
+		htup->t_choice.t_heap.t_field3.t_cid = xlhdr.t_cid;
 		htup->t_ctid = target_tid;
 
 		if (PageAddItem(page, (Item) htup, newlen, xlrec->offnum,
@@ -373,7 +375,7 @@ redo_neon_heap_delete(XLogReaderState *record)
 			HeapTupleHeaderSetXmax(htup, xlrec->xmax);
 		else
 			HeapTupleHeaderSetXmin(htup, InvalidTransactionId);
-		HeapTupleHeaderSetCmax(htup, xlrec->t_cid, false);
+		htup->t_choice.t_heap.t_field3.t_cid = xlrec->t_cid;
 
 		/* Mark the page as a candidate for pruning */
 		PageSetPrunable(page, XLogRecGetXid(record));
@@ -490,7 +492,7 @@ redo_neon_heap_update(XLogReaderState *record, bool hot_update)
 		fix_infomask_from_infobits(xlrec->old_infobits_set, &htup->t_infomask,
 								   &htup->t_infomask2);
 		HeapTupleHeaderSetXmax(htup, xlrec->old_xmax);
-		HeapTupleHeaderSetCmax(htup, xlrec->t_cid, false);
+		htup->t_choice.t_heap.t_field3.t_cid = xlrec->t_cid;
 		/* Set forward chain link in t_ctid */
 		htup->t_ctid = newtid;
 
@@ -623,7 +625,7 @@ redo_neon_heap_update(XLogReaderState *record, bool hot_update)
 		htup->t_hoff = xlhdr.t_hoff;
 
 		HeapTupleHeaderSetXmin(htup, XLogRecGetXid(record));
-		HeapTupleHeaderSetCmin(htup, xlhdr.t_cid);
+		htup->t_choice.t_heap.t_field3.t_cid = xlhdr.t_cid;
 		HeapTupleHeaderSetXmax(htup, xlrec->new_xmax);
 		/* Make sure there is no forward chain link in t_ctid */
 		htup->t_ctid = newtid;
@@ -728,7 +730,7 @@ redo_neon_heap_lock(XLogReaderState *record)
 						   offnum);
 		}
 		HeapTupleHeaderSetXmax(htup, xlrec->xmax);
-		HeapTupleHeaderSetCmax(htup, xlrec->t_cid, false);
+		htup->t_choice.t_heap.t_field3.t_cid = xlrec->t_cid;
 		PageSetLSN(page, lsn);
 		MarkBufferDirty(buffer);
 	}
@@ -840,7 +842,7 @@ redo_neon_heap_multi_insert(XLogReaderState *record)
 			htup->t_infomask = xlhdr->t_infomask;
 			htup->t_hoff = xlhdr->t_hoff;
 			HeapTupleHeaderSetXmin(htup, XLogRecGetXid(record));
-			HeapTupleHeaderSetCmin(htup, xlrec->t_cid);
+			htup->t_choice.t_heap.t_field3.t_cid = xlrec->t_cid;
 			ItemPointerSetBlockNumber(&htup->t_ctid, blkno);
 			ItemPointerSetOffsetNumber(&htup->t_ctid, offnum);
 
diff --git a/proxy/Cargo.toml b/proxy/Cargo.toml
index b316c53034..21d92abb20 100644
--- a/proxy/Cargo.toml
+++ b/proxy/Cargo.toml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ testing = []
 [dependencies]
 ahash.workspace = true
 anyhow.workspace = true
+arc-swap.workspace = true
 async-compression.workspace = true
 async-trait.workspace = true
 atomic-take.workspace = true
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ rustls.workspace = true
 scopeguard.workspace = true
 serde.workspace = true
 serde_json.workspace = true
-sha2 = { workspace = true, features = ["asm"] }
+sha2 = { workspace = true, features = ["asm", "oid"] }
 smol_str.workspace = true
 smallvec.workspace = true
 socket2.workspace = true
@@ -103,6 +104,14 @@ x509-parser.workspace = true
 postgres-protocol.workspace = true
 redis.workspace = true
 
+# jwt stuff
+jose-jwa = "0.1.2"
+jose-jwk = { version = "0.1.2", features = ["p256", "p384", "rsa"] }
+signature = "2"
+ecdsa = "0.16"
+p256 = "0.13"
+rsa = "0.9"
+
 workspace_hack.workspace = true
 
 [dev-dependencies]
diff --git a/proxy/src/auth/backend.rs b/proxy/src/auth/backend.rs
index 90dea01bf3..c6a0b2af5a 100644
--- a/proxy/src/auth/backend.rs
+++ b/proxy/src/auth/backend.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 mod classic;
 mod hacks;
+pub mod jwt;
 mod link;
 
 use std::net::IpAddr;
diff --git a/proxy/src/auth/backend/jwt.rs b/proxy/src/auth/backend/jwt.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0c2ca8fb97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proxy/src/auth/backend/jwt.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,556 @@
+use std::{future::Future, sync::Arc, time::Duration};
+
+use anyhow::{bail, ensure, Context};
+use arc_swap::ArcSwapOption;
+use dashmap::DashMap;
+use jose_jwk::crypto::KeyInfo;
+use signature::Verifier;
+use tokio::time::Instant;
+
+use crate::{http::parse_json_body_with_limit, intern::EndpointIdInt};
+
+// TODO(conrad): make these configurable.
+const MIN_RENEW: Duration = Duration::from_secs(30);
+const AUTO_RENEW: Duration = Duration::from_secs(300);
+const MAX_RENEW: Duration = Duration::from_secs(3600);
+const MAX_JWK_BODY_SIZE: usize = 64 * 1024;
+
+/// How to get the JWT auth rules
+pub trait FetchAuthRules: Clone + Send + Sync + 'static {
+    fn fetch_auth_rules(&self) -> impl Future<Output = anyhow::Result<AuthRules>> + Send;
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+struct FetchAuthRulesFromCplane {
+    #[allow(dead_code)]
+    endpoint: EndpointIdInt,
+}
+
+impl FetchAuthRules for FetchAuthRulesFromCplane {
+    async fn fetch_auth_rules(&self) -> anyhow::Result<AuthRules> {
+        Err(anyhow::anyhow!("not yet implemented"))
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct AuthRules {
+    jwks_urls: Vec<url::Url>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub struct JwkCache {
+    client: reqwest::Client,
+
+    map: DashMap<EndpointIdInt, Arc<JwkCacheEntryLock>>,
+}
+
+pub struct JwkCacheEntryLock {
+    cached: ArcSwapOption<JwkCacheEntry>,
+    lookup: tokio::sync::Semaphore,
+}
+
+impl Default for JwkCacheEntryLock {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        JwkCacheEntryLock {
+            cached: ArcSwapOption::empty(),
+            lookup: tokio::sync::Semaphore::new(1),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct JwkCacheEntry {
+    /// Should refetch at least every hour to verify when old keys have been removed.
+    /// Should refetch when new key IDs are seen only every 5 minutes or so
+    last_retrieved: Instant,
+
+    /// cplane will return multiple JWKs urls that we need to scrape.
+    key_sets: ahash::HashMap<url::Url, jose_jwk::JwkSet>,
+}
+
+impl JwkCacheEntryLock {
+    async fn acquire_permit<'a>(self: &'a Arc<Self>) -> JwkRenewalPermit<'a> {
+        JwkRenewalPermit::acquire_permit(self).await
+    }
+
+    fn try_acquire_permit<'a>(self: &'a Arc<Self>) -> Option<JwkRenewalPermit<'a>> {
+        JwkRenewalPermit::try_acquire_permit(self)
+    }
+
+    async fn renew_jwks<F: FetchAuthRules>(
+        &self,
+        _permit: JwkRenewalPermit<'_>,
+        client: &reqwest::Client,
+        auth_rules: &F,
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<Arc<JwkCacheEntry>> {
+        // double check that no one beat us to updating the cache.
+        let now = Instant::now();
+        let guard = self.cached.load_full();
+        if let Some(cached) = guard {
+            let last_update = now.duration_since(cached.last_retrieved);
+            if last_update < Duration::from_secs(300) {
+                return Ok(cached);
+            }
+        }
+
+        let rules = auth_rules.fetch_auth_rules().await?;
+        let mut key_sets = ahash::HashMap::with_capacity_and_hasher(
+            rules.jwks_urls.len(),
+            ahash::RandomState::new(),
+        );
+        // TODO(conrad): run concurrently
+        // TODO(conrad): strip the JWKs urls (should be checked by cplane as well - cloud#16284)
+        for url in rules.jwks_urls {
+            let req = client.get(url.clone());
+            // TODO(conrad): eventually switch to using reqwest_middleware/`new_client_with_timeout`.
+            match req.send().await.and_then(|r| r.error_for_status()) {
+                // todo: should we re-insert JWKs if we want to keep this JWKs URL?
+                // I expect these failures would be quite sparse.
+                Err(e) => tracing::warn!(?url, error=?e, "could not fetch JWKs"),
+                Ok(r) => {
+                    let resp: http::Response<reqwest::Body> = r.into();
+                    match parse_json_body_with_limit::<jose_jwk::JwkSet>(
+                        resp.into_body(),
+                        MAX_JWK_BODY_SIZE,
+                    )
+                    .await
+                    {
+                        Err(e) => tracing::warn!(?url, error=?e, "could not decode JWKs"),
+                        Ok(jwks) => {
+                            key_sets.insert(url, jwks);
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        let entry = Arc::new(JwkCacheEntry {
+            last_retrieved: now,
+            key_sets,
+        });
+        self.cached.swap(Some(Arc::clone(&entry)));
+
+        Ok(entry)
+    }
+
+    async fn get_or_update_jwk_cache<F: FetchAuthRules>(
+        self: &Arc<Self>,
+        client: &reqwest::Client,
+        fetch: &F,
+    ) -> Result<Arc<JwkCacheEntry>, anyhow::Error> {
+        let now = Instant::now();
+        let guard = self.cached.load_full();
+
+        // if we have no cached JWKs, try and get some
+        let Some(cached) = guard else {
+            let permit = self.acquire_permit().await;
+            return self.renew_jwks(permit, client, fetch).await;
+        };
+
+        let last_update = now.duration_since(cached.last_retrieved);
+
+        // check if the cached JWKs need updating.
+        if last_update > MAX_RENEW {
+            let permit = self.acquire_permit().await;
+
+            // it's been too long since we checked the keys. wait for them to update.
+            return self.renew_jwks(permit, client, fetch).await;
+        }
+
+        // every 5 minutes we should spawn a job to eagerly update the token.
+        if last_update > AUTO_RENEW {
+            if let Some(permit) = self.try_acquire_permit() {
+                tracing::debug!("JWKs should be renewed. Renewal permit acquired");
+                let permit = permit.into_owned();
+                let entry = self.clone();
+                let client = client.clone();
+                let fetch = fetch.clone();
+                tokio::spawn(async move {
+                    if let Err(e) = entry.renew_jwks(permit, &client, &fetch).await {
+                        tracing::warn!(error=?e, "could not fetch JWKs in background job");
+                    }
+                });
+            } else {
+                tracing::debug!("JWKs should be renewed. Renewal permit already taken, skipping");
+            }
+        }
+
+        Ok(cached)
+    }
+
+    async fn check_jwt<F: FetchAuthRules>(
+        self: &Arc<Self>,
+        jwt: String,
+        client: &reqwest::Client,
+        fetch: &F,
+    ) -> Result<(), anyhow::Error> {
+        // JWT compact form is defined to be
+        // <B64(Header)> || . || <B64(Payload)> || . || <B64(Signature)>
+        // where Signature = alg(<B64(Header)> || . || <B64(Payload)>);
+
+        let (header_payload, signature) = jwt
+            .rsplit_once(".")
+            .context("Provided authentication token is not a valid JWT encoding")?;
+        let (header, _payload) = header_payload
+            .split_once(".")
+            .context("Provided authentication token is not a valid JWT encoding")?;
+
+        let header = base64::decode_config(header, base64::URL_SAFE_NO_PAD)
+            .context("Provided authentication token is not a valid JWT encoding")?;
+        let header = serde_json::from_slice::<JWTHeader>(&header)
+            .context("Provided authentication token is not a valid JWT encoding")?;
+
+        let sig = base64::decode_config(signature, base64::URL_SAFE_NO_PAD)
+            .context("Provided authentication token is not a valid JWT encoding")?;
+
+        ensure!(header.typ == "JWT");
+        let kid = header.kid.context("missing key id")?;
+
+        let mut guard = self.get_or_update_jwk_cache(client, fetch).await?;
+
+        // get the key from the JWKs if possible. If not, wait for the keys to update.
+        let jwk = loop {
+            let jwk = guard
+                .key_sets
+                .values()
+                .flat_map(|jwks| &jwks.keys)
+                .find(|jwk| jwk.prm.kid.as_deref() == Some(kid));
+
+            match jwk {
+                Some(jwk) => break jwk,
+                None if guard.last_retrieved.elapsed() > MIN_RENEW => {
+                    let permit = self.acquire_permit().await;
+                    guard = self.renew_jwks(permit, client, fetch).await?;
+                }
+                _ => {
+                    bail!("jwk not found");
+                }
+            }
+        };
+
+        ensure!(
+            jwk.is_supported(&header.alg),
+            "signature algorithm not supported"
+        );
+
+        match &jwk.key {
+            jose_jwk::Key::Ec(key) => {
+                verify_ec_signature(header_payload.as_bytes(), &sig, key)?;
+            }
+            jose_jwk::Key::Rsa(key) => {
+                verify_rsa_signature(header_payload.as_bytes(), &sig, key, &jwk.prm.alg)?;
+            }
+            key => bail!("unsupported key type {key:?}"),
+        };
+
+        // TODO(conrad): verify iss, exp, nbf, etc...
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+impl JwkCache {
+    pub async fn check_jwt(
+        &self,
+        endpoint: EndpointIdInt,
+        jwt: String,
+    ) -> Result<(), anyhow::Error> {
+        // try with just a read lock first
+        let entry = self.map.get(&endpoint).as_deref().map(Arc::clone);
+        let entry = match entry {
+            Some(entry) => entry,
+            None => {
+                // acquire a write lock after to insert.
+                let entry = self.map.entry(endpoint).or_default();
+                Arc::clone(&*entry)
+            }
+        };
+
+        let fetch = FetchAuthRulesFromCplane { endpoint };
+        entry.check_jwt(jwt, &self.client, &fetch).await
+    }
+}
+
+fn verify_ec_signature(data: &[u8], sig: &[u8], key: &jose_jwk::Ec) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    use ecdsa::Signature;
+    use signature::Verifier;
+
+    match key.crv {
+        jose_jwk::EcCurves::P256 => {
+            let pk =
+                p256::PublicKey::try_from(key).map_err(|_| anyhow::anyhow!("invalid P256 key"))?;
+            let key = p256::ecdsa::VerifyingKey::from(&pk);
+            let sig = Signature::from_slice(sig)?;
+            key.verify(data, &sig)?;
+        }
+        key => bail!("unsupported ec key type {key:?}"),
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn verify_rsa_signature(
+    data: &[u8],
+    sig: &[u8],
+    key: &jose_jwk::Rsa,
+    alg: &Option<jose_jwa::Algorithm>,
+) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    use jose_jwa::{Algorithm, Signing};
+    use rsa::{
+        pkcs1v15::{Signature, VerifyingKey},
+        RsaPublicKey,
+    };
+
+    let key = RsaPublicKey::try_from(key).map_err(|_| anyhow::anyhow!("invalid RSA key"))?;
+
+    match alg {
+        Some(Algorithm::Signing(Signing::Rs256)) => {
+            let key = VerifyingKey::<sha2::Sha256>::new(key);
+            let sig = Signature::try_from(sig)?;
+            key.verify(data, &sig)?;
+        }
+        _ => bail!("invalid RSA signing algorithm"),
+    };
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc7515#section-4.1>
+#[derive(serde::Deserialize, serde::Serialize)]
+struct JWTHeader<'a> {
+    /// must be "JWT"
+    typ: &'a str,
+    /// must be a supported alg
+    alg: jose_jwa::Algorithm,
+    /// key id, must be provided for our usecase
+    kid: Option<&'a str>,
+}
+
+struct JwkRenewalPermit<'a> {
+    inner: Option<JwkRenewalPermitInner<'a>>,
+}
+
+enum JwkRenewalPermitInner<'a> {
+    Owned(Arc<JwkCacheEntryLock>),
+    Borrowed(&'a Arc<JwkCacheEntryLock>),
+}
+
+impl JwkRenewalPermit<'_> {
+    fn into_owned(mut self) -> JwkRenewalPermit<'static> {
+        JwkRenewalPermit {
+            inner: self.inner.take().map(JwkRenewalPermitInner::into_owned),
+        }
+    }
+
+    async fn acquire_permit(from: &Arc<JwkCacheEntryLock>) -> JwkRenewalPermit {
+        match from.lookup.acquire().await {
+            Ok(permit) => {
+                permit.forget();
+                JwkRenewalPermit {
+                    inner: Some(JwkRenewalPermitInner::Borrowed(from)),
+                }
+            }
+            Err(_) => panic!("semaphore should not be closed"),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn try_acquire_permit(from: &Arc<JwkCacheEntryLock>) -> Option<JwkRenewalPermit> {
+        match from.lookup.try_acquire() {
+            Ok(permit) => {
+                permit.forget();
+                Some(JwkRenewalPermit {
+                    inner: Some(JwkRenewalPermitInner::Borrowed(from)),
+                })
+            }
+            Err(tokio::sync::TryAcquireError::NoPermits) => None,
+            Err(tokio::sync::TryAcquireError::Closed) => panic!("semaphore should not be closed"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl JwkRenewalPermitInner<'_> {
+    fn into_owned(self) -> JwkRenewalPermitInner<'static> {
+        match self {
+            JwkRenewalPermitInner::Owned(p) => JwkRenewalPermitInner::Owned(p),
+            JwkRenewalPermitInner::Borrowed(p) => JwkRenewalPermitInner::Owned(Arc::clone(p)),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for JwkRenewalPermit<'_> {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        let entry = match &self.inner {
+            None => return,
+            Some(JwkRenewalPermitInner::Owned(p)) => p,
+            Some(JwkRenewalPermitInner::Borrowed(p)) => *p,
+        };
+        entry.lookup.add_permits(1);
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    use std::{future::IntoFuture, net::SocketAddr, time::SystemTime};
+
+    use base64::URL_SAFE_NO_PAD;
+    use bytes::Bytes;
+    use http::Response;
+    use http_body_util::Full;
+    use hyper1::service::service_fn;
+    use hyper_util::rt::TokioIo;
+    use rand::rngs::OsRng;
+    use signature::Signer;
+    use tokio::net::TcpListener;
+
+    fn new_ec_jwk(kid: String) -> (p256::SecretKey, jose_jwk::Jwk) {
+        let sk = p256::SecretKey::random(&mut OsRng);
+        let pk = sk.public_key().into();
+        let jwk = jose_jwk::Jwk {
+            key: jose_jwk::Key::Ec(pk),
+            prm: jose_jwk::Parameters {
+                kid: Some(kid),
+                alg: Some(jose_jwa::Algorithm::Signing(jose_jwa::Signing::Es256)),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+        };
+        (sk, jwk)
+    }
+
+    fn new_rsa_jwk(kid: String) -> (rsa::RsaPrivateKey, jose_jwk::Jwk) {
+        let sk = rsa::RsaPrivateKey::new(&mut OsRng, 2048).unwrap();
+        let pk = sk.to_public_key().into();
+        let jwk = jose_jwk::Jwk {
+            key: jose_jwk::Key::Rsa(pk),
+            prm: jose_jwk::Parameters {
+                kid: Some(kid),
+                alg: Some(jose_jwa::Algorithm::Signing(jose_jwa::Signing::Rs256)),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+        };
+        (sk, jwk)
+    }
+
+    fn build_jwt_payload(kid: String, sig: jose_jwa::Signing) -> String {
+        let header = JWTHeader {
+            typ: "JWT",
+            alg: jose_jwa::Algorithm::Signing(sig),
+            kid: Some(&kid),
+        };
+        let body = typed_json::json! {{
+            "exp": SystemTime::now().duration_since(SystemTime::UNIX_EPOCH).unwrap().as_secs() + 3600,
+        }};
+
+        let header =
+            base64::encode_config(serde_json::to_string(&header).unwrap(), URL_SAFE_NO_PAD);
+        let body = base64::encode_config(body.to_string(), URL_SAFE_NO_PAD);
+
+        format!("{header}.{body}")
+    }
+
+    fn new_ec_jwt(kid: String, key: p256::SecretKey) -> String {
+        use p256::ecdsa::{Signature, SigningKey};
+
+        let payload = build_jwt_payload(kid, jose_jwa::Signing::Es256);
+        let sig: Signature = SigningKey::from(key).sign(payload.as_bytes());
+        let sig = base64::encode_config(sig.to_bytes(), URL_SAFE_NO_PAD);
+
+        format!("{payload}.{sig}")
+    }
+
+    fn new_rsa_jwt(kid: String, key: rsa::RsaPrivateKey) -> String {
+        use rsa::pkcs1v15::SigningKey;
+        use rsa::signature::SignatureEncoding;
+
+        let payload = build_jwt_payload(kid, jose_jwa::Signing::Rs256);
+        let sig = SigningKey::<sha2::Sha256>::new(key).sign(payload.as_bytes());
+        let sig = base64::encode_config(sig.to_bytes(), URL_SAFE_NO_PAD);
+
+        format!("{payload}.{sig}")
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn renew() {
+        let (rs1, jwk1) = new_rsa_jwk("1".into());
+        let (rs2, jwk2) = new_rsa_jwk("2".into());
+        let (ec1, jwk3) = new_ec_jwk("3".into());
+        let (ec2, jwk4) = new_ec_jwk("4".into());
+
+        let jwt1 = new_rsa_jwt("1".into(), rs1);
+        let jwt2 = new_rsa_jwt("2".into(), rs2);
+        let jwt3 = new_ec_jwt("3".into(), ec1);
+        let jwt4 = new_ec_jwt("4".into(), ec2);
+
+        let foo_jwks = jose_jwk::JwkSet {
+            keys: vec![jwk1, jwk3],
+        };
+        let bar_jwks = jose_jwk::JwkSet {
+            keys: vec![jwk2, jwk4],
+        };
+
+        let service = service_fn(move |req| {
+            let foo_jwks = foo_jwks.clone();
+            let bar_jwks = bar_jwks.clone();
+            async move {
+                let jwks = match req.uri().path() {
+                    "/foo" => &foo_jwks,
+                    "/bar" => &bar_jwks,
+                    _ => {
+                        return Response::builder()
+                            .status(404)
+                            .body(Full::new(Bytes::new()));
+                    }
+                };
+                let body = serde_json::to_vec(jwks).unwrap();
+                Response::builder()
+                    .status(200)
+                    .body(Full::new(Bytes::from(body)))
+            }
+        });
+
+        let listener = TcpListener::bind("0.0.0.0:0").await.unwrap();
+        let server = hyper1::server::conn::http1::Builder::new();
+        let addr = listener.local_addr().unwrap();
+        tokio::spawn(async move {
+            loop {
+                let (s, _) = listener.accept().await.unwrap();
+                let serve = server.serve_connection(TokioIo::new(s), service.clone());
+                tokio::spawn(serve.into_future());
+            }
+        });
+
+        let client = reqwest::Client::new();
+
+        #[derive(Clone)]
+        struct Fetch(SocketAddr);
+
+        impl FetchAuthRules for Fetch {
+            async fn fetch_auth_rules(&self) -> anyhow::Result<AuthRules> {
+                Ok(AuthRules {
+                    jwks_urls: vec![
+                        format!("http://{}/foo", self.0).parse().unwrap(),
+                        format!("http://{}/bar", self.0).parse().unwrap(),
+                    ],
+                })
+            }
+        }
+
+        let jwk_cache = Arc::new(JwkCacheEntryLock::default());
+
+        jwk_cache
+            .check_jwt(jwt1, &client, &Fetch(addr))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        jwk_cache
+            .check_jwt(jwt2, &client, &Fetch(addr))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        jwk_cache
+            .check_jwt(jwt3, &client, &Fetch(addr))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        jwk_cache
+            .check_jwt(jwt4, &client, &Fetch(addr))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/proxy/src/http.rs b/proxy/src/http.rs
index dd7164181d..1f1dd8c415 100644
--- a/proxy/src/http.rs
+++ b/proxy/src/http.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@ pub mod health_server;
 
 use std::time::Duration;
 
+use anyhow::bail;
+use bytes::Bytes;
+use http_body_util::BodyExt;
+use hyper1::body::Body;
+use serde::de::DeserializeOwned;
+
 pub use reqwest::{Request, Response, StatusCode};
 pub use reqwest_middleware::{ClientWithMiddleware, Error};
 pub use reqwest_retry::{policies::ExponentialBackoff, RetryTransientMiddleware};
@@ -96,6 +102,33 @@ impl Endpoint {
     }
 }
 
+pub async fn parse_json_body_with_limit<D: DeserializeOwned>(
+    mut b: impl Body<Data = Bytes, Error = reqwest::Error> + Unpin,
+    limit: usize,
+) -> anyhow::Result<D> {
+    // We could use `b.limited().collect().await.to_bytes()` here
+    // but this ends up being slightly more efficient as far as I can tell.
+
+    // check the lower bound of the size hint.
+    // in reqwest, this value is influenced by the Content-Length header.
+    let lower_bound = match usize::try_from(b.size_hint().lower()) {
+        Ok(bound) if bound <= limit => bound,
+        _ => bail!("Content length exceeds limit of {limit} bytes"),
+    };
+    let mut bytes = Vec::with_capacity(lower_bound);
+
+    while let Some(frame) = b.frame().await.transpose()? {
+        if let Ok(data) = frame.into_data() {
+            if bytes.len() + data.len() > limit {
+                bail!("Content length exceeds limit of {limit} bytes")
+            }
+            bytes.extend_from_slice(&data);
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(serde_json::from_slice::<D>(&bytes)?)
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
diff --git a/proxy/src/serverless/sql_over_http.rs b/proxy/src/serverless/sql_over_http.rs
index e5b6536328..c41df07a4d 100644
--- a/proxy/src/serverless/sql_over_http.rs
+++ b/proxy/src/serverless/sql_over_http.rs
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ use tracing::error;
 use tracing::info;
 use typed_json::json;
 use url::Url;
+use urlencoding;
 use utils::http::error::ApiError;
 
 use crate::auth::backend::ComputeUserInfo;
@@ -168,7 +169,8 @@ fn get_conn_info(
         .path_segments()
         .ok_or(ConnInfoError::MissingDbName)?;
 
-    let dbname: DbName = url_path.next().ok_or(ConnInfoError::InvalidDbName)?.into();
+    let dbname: DbName =
+        urlencoding::decode(url_path.next().ok_or(ConnInfoError::InvalidDbName)?)?.into();
     ctx.set_dbname(dbname.clone());
 
     let username = RoleName::from(urlencoding::decode(connection_url.username())?);
diff --git a/safekeeper/src/control_file.rs b/safekeeper/src/control_file.rs
index d574bb438f..c551cd3122 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/control_file.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/control_file.rs
@@ -164,6 +164,30 @@ impl Deref for FileStorage {
     }
 }
 
+impl TimelinePersistentState {
+    pub(crate) fn write_to_buf(&self) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
+        let mut buf: Vec<u8> = Vec::new();
+        WriteBytesExt::write_u32::<LittleEndian>(&mut buf, SK_MAGIC)?;
+
+        if self.eviction_state == EvictionState::Present {
+            // temp hack for forward compatibility
+            const PREV_FORMAT_VERSION: u32 = 8;
+            let prev = downgrade_v9_to_v8(self);
+            WriteBytesExt::write_u32::<LittleEndian>(&mut buf, PREV_FORMAT_VERSION)?;
+            prev.ser_into(&mut buf)?;
+        } else {
+            // otherwise, we write the current format version
+            WriteBytesExt::write_u32::<LittleEndian>(&mut buf, SK_FORMAT_VERSION)?;
+            self.ser_into(&mut buf)?;
+        }
+
+        // calculate checksum before resize
+        let checksum = crc32c::crc32c(&buf);
+        buf.extend_from_slice(&checksum.to_le_bytes());
+        Ok(buf)
+    }
+}
+
 #[async_trait::async_trait]
 impl Storage for FileStorage {
     /// Persists state durably to the underlying storage.
@@ -180,24 +204,8 @@ impl Storage for FileStorage {
                 &control_partial_path
             )
         })?;
-        let mut buf: Vec<u8> = Vec::new();
-        WriteBytesExt::write_u32::<LittleEndian>(&mut buf, SK_MAGIC)?;
 
-        if s.eviction_state == EvictionState::Present {
-            // temp hack for forward compatibility
-            const PREV_FORMAT_VERSION: u32 = 8;
-            let prev = downgrade_v9_to_v8(s);
-            WriteBytesExt::write_u32::<LittleEndian>(&mut buf, PREV_FORMAT_VERSION)?;
-            prev.ser_into(&mut buf)?;
-        } else {
-            // otherwise, we write the current format version
-            WriteBytesExt::write_u32::<LittleEndian>(&mut buf, SK_FORMAT_VERSION)?;
-            s.ser_into(&mut buf)?;
-        }
-
-        // calculate checksum before resize
-        let checksum = crc32c::crc32c(&buf);
-        buf.extend_from_slice(&checksum.to_le_bytes());
+        let buf: Vec<u8> = s.write_to_buf()?;
 
         control_partial.write_all(&buf).await.with_context(|| {
             format!(
diff --git a/safekeeper/src/http/client.rs b/safekeeper/src/http/client.rs
index 0bb31c200d..c56f7880d4 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/http/client.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/http/client.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 use reqwest::{IntoUrl, Method, StatusCode};
 use utils::{
     http::error::HttpErrorBody,
-    id::{TenantId, TimelineId},
+    id::{NodeId, TenantId, TimelineId},
     logging::SecretString,
 };
 
@@ -97,10 +97,11 @@ impl Client {
         &self,
         tenant_id: TenantId,
         timeline_id: TimelineId,
+        stream_to: NodeId,
     ) -> Result<reqwest::Response> {
         let uri = format!(
-            "{}/v1/tenant/{}/timeline/{}/snapshot",
-            self.mgmt_api_endpoint, tenant_id, timeline_id
+            "{}/v1/tenant/{}/timeline/{}/snapshot/{}",
+            self.mgmt_api_endpoint, tenant_id, timeline_id, stream_to.0
         );
         self.get(&uri).await
     }
diff --git a/safekeeper/src/http/routes.rs b/safekeeper/src/http/routes.rs
index fe6d325cee..c9defb0bcf 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/http/routes.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/http/routes.rs
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ async fn timeline_pull_handler(mut request: Request<Body>) -> Result<Response<Bo
 
 /// Stream tar archive with all timeline data.
 async fn timeline_snapshot_handler(request: Request<Body>) -> Result<Response<Body>, ApiError> {
+    let destination = parse_request_param(&request, "destination_id")?;
     let ttid = TenantTimelineId::new(
         parse_request_param(&request, "tenant_id")?,
         parse_request_param(&request, "timeline_id")?,
@@ -225,7 +226,13 @@ async fn timeline_snapshot_handler(request: Request<Body>) -> Result<Response<Bo
     // so create the chan and write to it in another task.
     let (tx, rx) = mpsc::channel(1);
 
-    task::spawn(pull_timeline::stream_snapshot(tli, tx));
+    let conf = get_conf(&request);
+    task::spawn(pull_timeline::stream_snapshot(
+        tli,
+        conf.my_id,
+        destination,
+        tx,
+    ));
 
     let rx_stream = ReceiverStream::new(rx);
     let body = Body::wrap_stream(rx_stream);
@@ -565,7 +572,7 @@ pub fn make_router(conf: SafeKeeperConf) -> RouterBuilder<hyper::Body, ApiError>
             request_span(r, tenant_delete_handler)
         })
         .get(
-            "/v1/tenant/:tenant_id/timeline/:timeline_id/snapshot",
+            "/v1/tenant/:tenant_id/timeline/:timeline_id/snapshot/:destination_id",
             |r| request_span(r, timeline_snapshot_handler),
         )
         .post("/v1/pull_timeline", |r| {
diff --git a/safekeeper/src/pull_timeline.rs b/safekeeper/src/pull_timeline.rs
index 618c6b278f..1eacec9981 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/pull_timeline.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/pull_timeline.rs
@@ -11,13 +11,8 @@ use std::{
     io::{self, ErrorKind},
     sync::Arc,
 };
-use tokio::{
-    fs::{File, OpenOptions},
-    io::AsyncWrite,
-    sync::mpsc,
-    task,
-};
-use tokio_tar::{Archive, Builder};
+use tokio::{fs::OpenOptions, io::AsyncWrite, sync::mpsc, task};
+use tokio_tar::{Archive, Builder, Header};
 use tokio_util::{
     io::{CopyToBytes, SinkWriter},
     sync::PollSender,
@@ -32,13 +27,15 @@ use crate::{
         routes::TimelineStatus,
     },
     safekeeper::Term,
+    state::TimelinePersistentState,
     timeline::{get_tenant_dir, get_timeline_dir, Timeline, TimelineError, WalResidentTimeline},
+    wal_backup,
     wal_storage::{self, open_wal_file, Storage},
     GlobalTimelines, SafeKeeperConf,
 };
 use utils::{
     crashsafe::{durable_rename, fsync_async_opt},
-    id::{TenantId, TenantTimelineId, TimelineId},
+    id::{NodeId, TenantId, TenantTimelineId, TimelineId},
     logging::SecretString,
     lsn::Lsn,
     pausable_failpoint,
@@ -46,8 +43,13 @@ use utils::{
 
 /// Stream tar archive of timeline to tx.
 #[instrument(name = "snapshot", skip_all, fields(ttid = %tli.ttid))]
-pub async fn stream_snapshot(tli: WalResidentTimeline, tx: mpsc::Sender<Result<Bytes>>) {
-    if let Err(e) = stream_snapshot_guts(tli, tx.clone()).await {
+pub async fn stream_snapshot(
+    tli: WalResidentTimeline,
+    source: NodeId,
+    destination: NodeId,
+    tx: mpsc::Sender<Result<Bytes>>,
+) {
+    if let Err(e) = stream_snapshot_guts(tli, source, destination, tx.clone()).await {
         // Error type/contents don't matter as they won't can't reach the client
         // (hyper likely doesn't do anything with it), but http stream will be
         // prematurely terminated. It would be nice to try to send the error in
@@ -81,6 +83,8 @@ impl Drop for SnapshotContext {
 
 pub async fn stream_snapshot_guts(
     tli: WalResidentTimeline,
+    source: NodeId,
+    destination: NodeId,
     tx: mpsc::Sender<Result<Bytes>>,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     // tokio-tar wants Write implementor, but we have mpsc tx <Result<Bytes>>;
@@ -104,7 +108,7 @@ pub async fn stream_snapshot_guts(
     // which is also likely suboptimal.
     let mut ar = Builder::new_non_terminated(pinned_writer);
 
-    let bctx = tli.start_snapshot(&mut ar).await?;
+    let bctx = tli.start_snapshot(&mut ar, source, destination).await?;
     pausable_failpoint!("sk-snapshot-after-list-pausable");
 
     let tli_dir = tli.get_timeline_dir();
@@ -158,13 +162,43 @@ impl WalResidentTimeline {
     async fn start_snapshot<W: AsyncWrite + Unpin + Send>(
         &self,
         ar: &mut tokio_tar::Builder<W>,
+        source: NodeId,
+        destination: NodeId,
     ) -> Result<SnapshotContext> {
         let mut shared_state = self.write_shared_state().await;
         let wal_seg_size = shared_state.get_wal_seg_size();
 
-        let cf_path = self.get_timeline_dir().join(CONTROL_FILE_NAME);
-        let mut cf = File::open(cf_path).await?;
-        ar.append_file(CONTROL_FILE_NAME, &mut cf).await?;
+        let mut control_store = TimelinePersistentState::clone(shared_state.sk.state());
+        // Modify the partial segment of the in-memory copy for the control file to
+        // point to the destination safekeeper.
+        let replace = control_store
+            .partial_backup
+            .replace_uploaded_segment(source, destination)?;
+
+        if let Some(replace) = replace {
+            // The deserialized control file has an uploaded partial. We upload a copy
+            // of it to object storage for the destination safekeeper and send an updated
+            // control file in the snapshot.
+            tracing::info!(
+                "Replacing uploaded partial segment in in-mem control file: {replace:?}"
+            );
+
+            let remote_timeline_path = wal_backup::remote_timeline_path(&self.tli.ttid)?;
+            wal_backup::copy_partial_segment(
+                &replace.previous.remote_path(&remote_timeline_path),
+                &replace.current.remote_path(&remote_timeline_path),
+            )
+            .await?;
+        }
+
+        let buf = control_store
+            .write_to_buf()
+            .with_context(|| "failed to serialize control store")?;
+        let mut header = Header::new_gnu();
+        header.set_size(buf.len().try_into().expect("never breaches u64"));
+        ar.append_data(&mut header, CONTROL_FILE_NAME, buf.as_slice())
+            .await
+            .with_context(|| "failed to append to archive")?;
 
         // We need to stream since the oldest segment someone (s3 or pageserver)
         // still needs. This duplicates calc_horizon_lsn logic.
@@ -342,7 +376,7 @@ async fn pull_timeline(
     let client = Client::new(host.clone(), sk_auth_token.clone());
     // Request stream with basebackup archive.
     let bb_resp = client
-        .snapshot(status.tenant_id, status.timeline_id)
+        .snapshot(status.tenant_id, status.timeline_id, conf.my_id)
         .await?;
 
     // Make Stream of Bytes from it...
diff --git a/safekeeper/src/safekeeper.rs b/safekeeper/src/safekeeper.rs
index 33ec39b852..0814d9ba67 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/safekeeper.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/safekeeper.rs
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ impl TermHistory {
     }
 
     /// Find point of divergence between leader (walproposer) term history and
-    /// safekeeper. Arguments are not symmetrics as proposer history ends at
+    /// safekeeper. Arguments are not symmetric as proposer history ends at
     /// +infinity while safekeeper at flush_lsn.
     /// C version is at walproposer SendProposerElected.
     pub fn find_highest_common_point(
@@ -701,7 +701,13 @@ where
             .with_label_values(&["handle_elected"])
             .start_timer();
 
-        info!("received ProposerElected {:?}", msg);
+        info!(
+            "received ProposerElected {:?}, term={}, last_log_term={}, flush_lsn={}",
+            msg,
+            self.state.acceptor_state.term,
+            self.get_last_log_term(),
+            self.flush_lsn()
+        );
         if self.state.acceptor_state.term < msg.term {
             let mut state = self.state.start_change();
             state.acceptor_state.term = msg.term;
@@ -713,22 +719,43 @@ where
             return Ok(None);
         }
 
-        // This might happen in a rare race when another (old) connection from
-        // the same walproposer writes + flushes WAL after this connection
-        // already sent flush_lsn in VoteRequest. It is generally safe to
-        // proceed, but to prevent commit_lsn surprisingly going down we should
-        // either refuse the session (simpler) or skip the part we already have
-        // from the stream (can be implemented).
-        if msg.term == self.get_last_log_term() && self.flush_lsn() > msg.start_streaming_at {
-            bail!("refusing ProposerElected which is going to overwrite correct WAL: term={}, flush_lsn={}, start_streaming_at={}; restarting the handshake should help",
-                   msg.term, self.flush_lsn(), msg.start_streaming_at)
+        // Before truncating WAL check-cross the check divergence point received
+        // from the walproposer.
+        let sk_th = self.get_term_history();
+        let last_common_point = match TermHistory::find_highest_common_point(
+            &msg.term_history,
+            &sk_th,
+            self.flush_lsn(),
+        ) {
+            // No common point. Expect streaming from the beginning of the
+            // history like walproposer while we don't have proper init.
+            None => *msg.term_history.0.first().ok_or(anyhow::anyhow!(
+                "empty walproposer term history {:?}",
+                msg.term_history
+            ))?,
+            Some(lcp) => lcp,
+        };
+        // This is expected to happen in a rare race when another connection
+        // from the same walproposer writes + flushes WAL after this connection
+        // sent flush_lsn in VoteRequest; for instance, very late
+        // ProposerElected message delivery after another connection was
+        // established and wrote WAL. In such cases error is transient;
+        // reconnection makes safekeeper send newest term history and flush_lsn
+        // and walproposer recalculates the streaming point. OTOH repeating
+        // error indicates a serious bug.
+        if last_common_point.lsn != msg.start_streaming_at {
+            bail!("refusing ProposerElected with unexpected truncation point: lcp={:?} start_streaming_at={}, term={}, sk_th={:?} flush_lsn={}, wp_th={:?}",
+                    last_common_point, msg.start_streaming_at,
+                    self.state.acceptor_state.term, sk_th, self.flush_lsn(), msg.term_history,
+            );
         }
-        // Otherwise we must never attempt to truncate committed data.
+
+        // We are also expected to never attempt to truncate committed data.
         assert!(
             msg.start_streaming_at >= self.state.inmem.commit_lsn,
-            "attempt to truncate committed data: start_streaming_at={}, commit_lsn={}",
-            msg.start_streaming_at,
-            self.state.inmem.commit_lsn
+            "attempt to truncate committed data: start_streaming_at={}, commit_lsn={}, term={}, sk_th={:?} flush_lsn={}, wp_th={:?}",
+            msg.start_streaming_at, self.state.inmem.commit_lsn,
+            self.state.acceptor_state.term, sk_th, self.flush_lsn(), msg.term_history,
         );
 
         // Before first WAL write initialize its segment. It makes first segment
@@ -743,9 +770,6 @@ where
                 .await?;
         }
 
-        // TODO: cross check divergence point, check if msg.start_streaming_at corresponds to
-        // intersection of our history and history from msg
-
         // truncate wal, update the LSNs
         self.wal_store.truncate_wal(msg.start_streaming_at).await?;
 
@@ -1069,7 +1093,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         let pem = ProposerElected {
             term: 1,
-            start_streaming_at: Lsn(1),
+            start_streaming_at: Lsn(3),
             term_history: TermHistory(vec![TermLsn {
                 term: 1,
                 lsn: Lsn(3),
diff --git a/safekeeper/src/wal_backup.rs b/safekeeper/src/wal_backup.rs
index 234273e133..aa1a6696a1 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/wal_backup.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/wal_backup.rs
@@ -483,6 +483,16 @@ pub(crate) async fn backup_partial_segment(
         .await
 }
 
+pub(crate) async fn copy_partial_segment(
+    source: &RemotePath,
+    destination: &RemotePath,
+) -> Result<()> {
+    let storage = get_configured_remote_storage();
+    let cancel = CancellationToken::new();
+
+    storage.copy_object(source, destination, &cancel).await
+}
+
 pub async fn read_object(
     file_path: &RemotePath,
     offset: u64,
diff --git a/safekeeper/src/wal_backup_partial.rs b/safekeeper/src/wal_backup_partial.rs
index 52765b0e98..675a051887 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/wal_backup_partial.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/wal_backup_partial.rs
@@ -17,14 +17,13 @@
 //! file. Code updates state in the control file before doing any S3 operations.
 //! This way control file stores information about all potentially existing
 //! remote partial segments and can clean them up after uploading a newer version.
-
 use camino::Utf8PathBuf;
 use postgres_ffi::{XLogFileName, XLogSegNo, PG_TLI};
 use remote_storage::RemotePath;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 use tracing::{debug, error, info, instrument, warn};
-use utils::lsn::Lsn;
+use utils::{id::NodeId, lsn::Lsn};
 
 use crate::{
     metrics::{MISC_OPERATION_SECONDS, PARTIAL_BACKUP_UPLOADED_BYTES, PARTIAL_BACKUP_UPLOADS},
@@ -82,6 +81,12 @@ pub struct State {
     pub segments: Vec<PartialRemoteSegment>,
 }
 
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub(crate) struct ReplaceUploadedSegment {
+    pub(crate) previous: PartialRemoteSegment,
+    pub(crate) current: PartialRemoteSegment,
+}
+
 impl State {
     /// Find an Uploaded segment. There should be only one Uploaded segment at a time.
     pub(crate) fn uploaded_segment(&self) -> Option<PartialRemoteSegment> {
@@ -90,6 +95,54 @@ impl State {
             .find(|seg| seg.status == UploadStatus::Uploaded)
             .cloned()
     }
+
+    /// Replace the name of the Uploaded segment (if one exists) in order to match
+    /// it with `destination` safekeeper. Returns a description of the change or None
+    /// wrapped in anyhow::Result.
+    pub(crate) fn replace_uploaded_segment(
+        &mut self,
+        source: NodeId,
+        destination: NodeId,
+    ) -> anyhow::Result<Option<ReplaceUploadedSegment>> {
+        let current = self
+            .segments
+            .iter_mut()
+            .find(|seg| seg.status == UploadStatus::Uploaded);
+
+        let current = match current {
+            Some(some) => some,
+            None => {
+                return anyhow::Ok(None);
+            }
+        };
+
+        // Sanity check that the partial segment we are replacing is belongs
+        // to the `source` SK.
+        if !current
+            .name
+            .ends_with(format!("sk{}.partial", source.0).as_str())
+        {
+            anyhow::bail!(
+                "Partial segment name ({}) doesn't match self node id ({})",
+                current.name,
+                source
+            );
+        }
+
+        let previous = current.clone();
+
+        let new_name = current.name.replace(
+            format!("_sk{}", source.0).as_str(),
+            format!("_sk{}", destination.0).as_str(),
+        );
+
+        current.name = new_name;
+
+        anyhow::Ok(Some(ReplaceUploadedSegment {
+            previous,
+            current: current.clone(),
+        }))
+    }
 }
 
 struct PartialBackup {
diff --git a/storage_controller/migrations/2024-07-26-140924_create_leader/down.sql b/storage_controller/migrations/2024-07-26-140924_create_leader/down.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..53222c614e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/storage_controller/migrations/2024-07-26-140924_create_leader/down.sql
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+DROP TABLE controllers;
diff --git a/storage_controller/migrations/2024-07-26-140924_create_leader/up.sql b/storage_controller/migrations/2024-07-26-140924_create_leader/up.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..90546948cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/storage_controller/migrations/2024-07-26-140924_create_leader/up.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+CREATE TABLE controllers (
+  address VARCHAR NOT NULL,
+  started_at TIMESTAMPTZ NOT NULL,
+  PRIMARY KEY(address, started_at)
+);
diff --git a/storage_controller/src/http.rs b/storage_controller/src/http.rs
index e8513b31eb..7bbd1541cf 100644
--- a/storage_controller/src/http.rs
+++ b/storage_controller/src/http.rs
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ async fn handle_node_configure(mut req: Request<Body>) -> Result<Response<Body>,
         StatusCode::OK,
         state
             .service
-            .node_configure(
+            .external_node_configure(
                 config_req.node_id,
                 config_req.availability.map(NodeAvailability::from),
                 config_req.scheduling,
@@ -520,6 +520,19 @@ async fn handle_node_status(req: Request<Body>) -> Result<Response<Body>, ApiErr
     json_response(StatusCode::OK, node_status)
 }
 
+async fn handle_get_leader(req: Request<Body>) -> Result<Response<Body>, ApiError> {
+    check_permissions(&req, Scope::Admin)?;
+
+    let state = get_state(&req);
+    let leader = state.service.get_leader().await.map_err(|err| {
+        ApiError::InternalServerError(anyhow::anyhow!(
+            "Failed to read leader from database: {err}"
+        ))
+    })?;
+
+    json_response(StatusCode::OK, leader)
+}
+
 async fn handle_node_drain(req: Request<Body>) -> Result<Response<Body>, ApiError> {
     check_permissions(&req, Scope::Admin)?;
 
@@ -1016,6 +1029,9 @@ pub fn make_router(
         .get("/control/v1/node/:node_id", |r| {
             named_request_span(r, handle_node_status, RequestName("control_v1_node_status"))
         })
+        .get("/control/v1/leader", |r| {
+            named_request_span(r, handle_get_leader, RequestName("control_v1_get_leader"))
+        })
         .put("/control/v1/node/:node_id/drain", |r| {
             named_request_span(r, handle_node_drain, RequestName("control_v1_node_drain"))
         })
diff --git a/storage_controller/src/lib.rs b/storage_controller/src/lib.rs
index 26c258c466..2034addbe1 100644
--- a/storage_controller/src/lib.rs
+++ b/storage_controller/src/lib.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ mod id_lock_map;
 pub mod metrics;
 mod node;
 mod pageserver_client;
+mod peer_client;
 pub mod persistence;
 mod reconciler;
 mod scheduler;
diff --git a/storage_controller/src/main.rs b/storage_controller/src/main.rs
index a66e9128bc..7387d36690 100644
--- a/storage_controller/src/main.rs
+++ b/storage_controller/src/main.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use anyhow::{anyhow, Context};
 use clap::Parser;
 use diesel::Connection;
+use hyper::Uri;
 use metrics::launch_timestamp::LaunchTimestamp;
 use metrics::BuildInfo;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
@@ -83,6 +84,13 @@ struct Cli {
     #[arg(long, default_value = "5s")]
     db_connect_timeout: humantime::Duration,
 
+    #[arg(long, default_value = "false")]
+    start_as_candidate: bool,
+
+    // TODO: make this mandatory once the helm chart gets updated
+    #[arg(long)]
+    address_for_peers: Option<Uri>,
+
     /// `neon_local` sets this to the path of the neon_local repo dir.
     /// Only relevant for testing.
     // TODO: make `cfg(feature = "testing")`
@@ -188,14 +196,26 @@ async fn migration_run(database_url: &str) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 }
 
 fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
-    let default_panic = std::panic::take_hook();
-    std::panic::set_hook(Box::new(move |info| {
-        default_panic(info);
-        std::process::exit(1);
-    }));
+    logging::init(
+        LogFormat::Plain,
+        logging::TracingErrorLayerEnablement::Disabled,
+        logging::Output::Stdout,
+    )?;
+
+    // log using tracing so we don't get confused output by default hook writing to stderr
+    utils::logging::replace_panic_hook_with_tracing_panic_hook().forget();
 
     let _sentry_guard = init_sentry(Some(GIT_VERSION.into()), &[]);
 
+    let hook = std::panic::take_hook();
+    std::panic::set_hook(Box::new(move |info| {
+        // let sentry send a message (and flush)
+        // and trace the error
+        hook(info);
+
+        std::process::exit(1);
+    }));
+
     tokio::runtime::Builder::new_current_thread()
         // We use spawn_blocking for database operations, so require approximately
         // as many blocking threads as we will open database connections.
@@ -209,12 +229,6 @@ fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 async fn async_main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let launch_ts = Box::leak(Box::new(LaunchTimestamp::generate()));
 
-    logging::init(
-        LogFormat::Plain,
-        logging::TracingErrorLayerEnablement::Disabled,
-        logging::Output::Stdout,
-    )?;
-
     preinitialize_metrics();
 
     let args = Cli::parse();
@@ -285,6 +299,9 @@ async fn async_main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         split_threshold: args.split_threshold,
         neon_local_repo_dir: args.neon_local_repo_dir,
         max_secondary_lag_bytes: args.max_secondary_lag_bytes,
+        address_for_peers: args.address_for_peers,
+        start_as_candidate: args.start_as_candidate,
+        http_service_port: args.listen.port() as i32,
     };
 
     // After loading secrets & config, but before starting anything else, apply database migrations
diff --git a/storage_controller/src/metrics.rs b/storage_controller/src/metrics.rs
index a1a4b8543d..c2303e7a7f 100644
--- a/storage_controller/src/metrics.rs
+++ b/storage_controller/src/metrics.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ use measured::{label::LabelValue, metric::histogram, FixedCardinalityLabel, Metr
 use metrics::NeonMetrics;
 use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
 use std::sync::Mutex;
+use strum::IntoEnumIterator;
 
 use crate::{
     persistence::{DatabaseError, DatabaseOperation},
@@ -241,3 +242,18 @@ impl DatabaseError {
         }
     }
 }
+
+/// Update the leadership status metric gauges to reflect the requested status
+pub(crate) fn update_leadership_status(status: LeadershipStatus) {
+    let status_metric = &METRICS_REGISTRY
+        .metrics_group
+        .storage_controller_leadership_status;
+
+    for s in LeadershipStatus::iter() {
+        if s == status {
+            status_metric.set(LeadershipStatusGroup { status: s }, 1);
+        } else {
+            status_metric.set(LeadershipStatusGroup { status: s }, 0);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/storage_controller/src/peer_client.rs b/storage_controller/src/peer_client.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3f8520fe55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/storage_controller/src/peer_client.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+use crate::tenant_shard::ObservedState;
+use pageserver_api::shard::TenantShardId;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use std::{collections::HashMap, time::Duration};
+use tokio_util::sync::CancellationToken;
+
+use hyper::Uri;
+use reqwest::{StatusCode, Url};
+use utils::{backoff, http::error::HttpErrorBody};
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub(crate) struct PeerClient {
+    uri: Uri,
+    jwt: Option<String>,
+    client: reqwest::Client,
+}
+
+#[derive(thiserror::Error, Debug)]
+pub(crate) enum StorageControllerPeerError {
+    #[error("failed to deserialize error response with status code {0} at {1}: {2}")]
+    DeserializationError(StatusCode, Url, reqwest::Error),
+    #[error("storage controller peer API error ({0}): {1}")]
+    ApiError(StatusCode, String),
+    #[error("failed to send HTTP request: {0}")]
+    SendError(reqwest::Error),
+    #[error("Cancelled")]
+    Cancelled,
+}
+
+pub(crate) type Result<T> = std::result::Result<T, StorageControllerPeerError>;
+
+pub(crate) trait ResponseErrorMessageExt: Sized {
+    fn error_from_body(self) -> impl std::future::Future<Output = Result<Self>> + Send;
+}
+
+impl ResponseErrorMessageExt for reqwest::Response {
+    async fn error_from_body(self) -> Result<Self> {
+        let status = self.status();
+        if !(status.is_client_error() || status.is_server_error()) {
+            return Ok(self);
+        }
+
+        let url = self.url().to_owned();
+        Err(match self.json::<HttpErrorBody>().await {
+            Ok(HttpErrorBody { msg }) => StorageControllerPeerError::ApiError(status, msg),
+            Err(err) => StorageControllerPeerError::DeserializationError(status, url, err),
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Default)]
+pub(crate) struct GlobalObservedState(pub(crate) HashMap<TenantShardId, ObservedState>);
+
+impl PeerClient {
+    pub(crate) fn new(uri: Uri, jwt: Option<String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            uri,
+            jwt,
+            client: reqwest::Client::new(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    async fn request_step_down(&self) -> Result<GlobalObservedState> {
+        let step_down_path = format!("{}control/v1/step_down", self.uri);
+        let req = self.client.put(step_down_path);
+        let req = if let Some(jwt) = &self.jwt {
+            req.header(reqwest::header::AUTHORIZATION, format!("Bearer {jwt}"))
+        } else {
+            req
+        };
+
+        let req = req.timeout(Duration::from_secs(2));
+
+        let res = req
+            .send()
+            .await
+            .map_err(StorageControllerPeerError::SendError)?;
+        let response = res.error_from_body().await?;
+
+        let status = response.status();
+        let url = response.url().to_owned();
+
+        response
+            .json()
+            .await
+            .map_err(|err| StorageControllerPeerError::DeserializationError(status, url, err))
+    }
+
+    /// Request the peer to step down and return its current observed state
+    /// All errors are retried with exponential backoff for a maximum of 4 attempts.
+    /// Assuming all retries are performed, the function times out after roughly 4 seconds.
+    pub(crate) async fn step_down(
+        &self,
+        cancel: &CancellationToken,
+    ) -> Result<GlobalObservedState> {
+        backoff::retry(
+            || self.request_step_down(),
+            |_e| false,
+            2,
+            4,
+            "Send step down request",
+            cancel,
+        )
+        .await
+        .ok_or_else(|| StorageControllerPeerError::Cancelled)
+        .and_then(|x| x)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/storage_controller/src/persistence.rs b/storage_controller/src/persistence.rs
index 64a3e597ce..aebbdec0d1 100644
--- a/storage_controller/src/persistence.rs
+++ b/storage_controller/src/persistence.rs
@@ -95,6 +95,8 @@ pub(crate) enum DatabaseOperation {
     ListMetadataHealth,
     ListMetadataHealthUnhealthy,
     ListMetadataHealthOutdated,
+    GetLeader,
+    UpdateLeader,
 }
 
 #[must_use]
@@ -785,6 +787,69 @@ impl Persistence {
         )
         .await
     }
+
+    /// Get the current entry from the `leader` table if one exists.
+    /// It is an error for the table to contain more than one entry.
+    pub(crate) async fn get_leader(&self) -> DatabaseResult<Option<ControllerPersistence>> {
+        let mut leader: Vec<ControllerPersistence> = self
+            .with_measured_conn(
+                DatabaseOperation::GetLeader,
+                move |conn| -> DatabaseResult<_> {
+                    Ok(crate::schema::controllers::table.load::<ControllerPersistence>(conn)?)
+                },
+            )
+            .await?;
+
+        if leader.len() > 1 {
+            return Err(DatabaseError::Logical(format!(
+                "More than one entry present in the leader table: {leader:?}"
+            )));
+        }
+
+        Ok(leader.pop())
+    }
+
+    /// Update the new leader with compare-exchange semantics. If `prev` does not
+    /// match the current leader entry, then the update is treated as a failure.
+    /// When `prev` is not specified, the update is forced.
+    pub(crate) async fn update_leader(
+        &self,
+        prev: Option<ControllerPersistence>,
+        new: ControllerPersistence,
+    ) -> DatabaseResult<()> {
+        use crate::schema::controllers::dsl::*;
+
+        let updated = self
+            .with_measured_conn(
+                DatabaseOperation::UpdateLeader,
+                move |conn| -> DatabaseResult<usize> {
+                    let updated = match &prev {
+                        Some(prev) => diesel::update(controllers)
+                            .filter(address.eq(prev.address.clone()))
+                            .filter(started_at.eq(prev.started_at))
+                            .set((
+                                address.eq(new.address.clone()),
+                                started_at.eq(new.started_at),
+                            ))
+                            .execute(conn)?,
+                        None => diesel::insert_into(controllers)
+                            .values(new.clone())
+                            .execute(conn)?,
+                    };
+
+                    Ok(updated)
+                },
+            )
+            .await?;
+
+        if updated == 0 {
+            return Err(DatabaseError::Logical(
+                "Leader table update failed".to_string(),
+            ));
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }
 
 /// Parts of [`crate::tenant_shard::TenantShard`] that are stored durably
@@ -910,3 +975,12 @@ impl From<MetadataHealthPersistence> for MetadataHealthRecord {
         }
     }
 }
+
+#[derive(
+    Serialize, Deserialize, Queryable, Selectable, Insertable, Eq, PartialEq, Debug, Clone,
+)]
+#[diesel(table_name = crate::schema::controllers)]
+pub(crate) struct ControllerPersistence {
+    pub(crate) address: String,
+    pub(crate) started_at: chrono::DateTime<chrono::Utc>,
+}
diff --git a/storage_controller/src/schema.rs b/storage_controller/src/schema.rs
index cb5ba3f38b..77ba47e114 100644
--- a/storage_controller/src/schema.rs
+++ b/storage_controller/src/schema.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 // @generated automatically by Diesel CLI.
 
+diesel::table! {
+    controllers (address, started_at) {
+        address -> Varchar,
+        started_at -> Timestamptz,
+    }
+}
+
 diesel::table! {
     metadata_health (tenant_id, shard_number, shard_count) {
         tenant_id -> Varchar,
@@ -36,4 +43,4 @@ diesel::table! {
     }
 }
 
-diesel::allow_tables_to_appear_in_same_query!(metadata_health, nodes, tenant_shards,);
+diesel::allow_tables_to_appear_in_same_query!(controllers, metadata_health, nodes, tenant_shards,);
diff --git a/storage_controller/src/service.rs b/storage_controller/src/service.rs
index 31b2d0c3f5..3459b44774 100644
--- a/storage_controller/src/service.rs
+++ b/storage_controller/src/service.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use hyper::Uri;
 use std::{
     borrow::Cow,
     cmp::Ordering,
@@ -16,8 +17,12 @@ use crate::{
     compute_hook::NotifyError,
     drain_utils::{self, TenantShardDrain, TenantShardIterator},
     id_lock_map::{trace_exclusive_lock, trace_shared_lock, IdLockMap, TracingExclusiveGuard},
-    metrics::LeadershipStatusGroup,
-    persistence::{AbortShardSplitStatus, MetadataHealthPersistence, TenantFilter},
+    metrics,
+    peer_client::{GlobalObservedState, PeerClient},
+    persistence::{
+        AbortShardSplitStatus, ControllerPersistence, DatabaseResult, MetadataHealthPersistence,
+        TenantFilter,
+    },
     reconciler::{ReconcileError, ReconcileUnits, ReconcilerConfig, ReconcilerConfigBuilder},
     scheduler::{MaySchedule, ScheduleContext, ScheduleMode},
     tenant_shard::{
@@ -83,7 +88,6 @@ use crate::{
         ReconcilerWaiter, TenantShard,
     },
 };
-use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 pub mod chaos_injector;
 
@@ -140,7 +144,15 @@ enum NodeOperations {
 /// Allowed transitions are:
 /// 1. Leader -> SteppedDown
 /// 2. Candidate -> Leader
-#[derive(Copy, Clone, strum_macros::Display, measured::FixedCardinalityLabel)]
+#[derive(
+    Eq,
+    PartialEq,
+    Copy,
+    Clone,
+    strum_macros::Display,
+    strum_macros::EnumIter,
+    measured::FixedCardinalityLabel,
+)]
 #[strum(serialize_all = "snake_case")]
 pub(crate) enum LeadershipStatus {
     /// This is the steady state where the storage controller can produce
@@ -226,22 +238,12 @@ impl ServiceState {
         tenants: BTreeMap<TenantShardId, TenantShard>,
         scheduler: Scheduler,
         delayed_reconcile_rx: tokio::sync::mpsc::Receiver<TenantShardId>,
+        initial_leadership_status: LeadershipStatus,
     ) -> Self {
-        let status = &crate::metrics::METRICS_REGISTRY
-            .metrics_group
-            .storage_controller_leadership_status;
-
-        status.set(
-            LeadershipStatusGroup {
-                status: LeadershipStatus::Leader,
-            },
-            1,
-        );
+        metrics::update_leadership_status(initial_leadership_status);
 
         Self {
-            // TODO: Starting up as Leader is a transient state. Once we enable rolling
-            // upgrades on the k8s side, we should start up as Candidate.
-            leadership_status: LeadershipStatus::Leader,
+            leadership_status: initial_leadership_status,
             tenants,
             nodes: Arc::new(nodes),
             scheduler,
@@ -266,29 +268,12 @@ impl ServiceState {
 
     fn step_down(&mut self) {
         self.leadership_status = LeadershipStatus::SteppedDown;
+        metrics::update_leadership_status(self.leadership_status);
+    }
 
-        let status = &crate::metrics::METRICS_REGISTRY
-            .metrics_group
-            .storage_controller_leadership_status;
-
-        status.set(
-            LeadershipStatusGroup {
-                status: LeadershipStatus::SteppedDown,
-            },
-            1,
-        );
-        status.set(
-            LeadershipStatusGroup {
-                status: LeadershipStatus::Leader,
-            },
-            0,
-        );
-        status.set(
-            LeadershipStatusGroup {
-                status: LeadershipStatus::Candidate,
-            },
-            0,
-        );
+    fn become_leader(&mut self) {
+        self.leadership_status = LeadershipStatus::Leader;
+        metrics::update_leadership_status(self.leadership_status);
     }
 }
 
@@ -332,6 +317,12 @@ pub struct Config {
     // by more than the configured amount, then the secondary is not
     // upgraded to primary.
     pub max_secondary_lag_bytes: Option<u64>,
+
+    pub address_for_peers: Option<Uri>,
+
+    pub start_as_candidate: bool,
+
+    pub http_service_port: i32,
 }
 
 impl From<DatabaseError> for ApiError {
@@ -499,10 +490,6 @@ pub(crate) enum ReconcileResultRequest {
     Stop,
 }
 
-// TODO: move this into the storcon peer client when that gets added
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Default)]
-pub(crate) struct GlobalObservedState(HashMap<TenantShardId, ObservedState>);
-
 impl Service {
     pub fn get_config(&self) -> &Config {
         &self.config
@@ -513,15 +500,12 @@ impl Service {
     #[instrument(skip_all)]
     async fn startup_reconcile(
         self: &Arc<Service>,
+        current_leader: Option<ControllerPersistence>,
+        leader_step_down_state: Option<GlobalObservedState>,
         bg_compute_notify_result_tx: tokio::sync::mpsc::Sender<
             Result<(), (TenantShardId, NotifyError)>,
         >,
     ) {
-        // For all tenant shards, a vector of observed states on nodes (where None means
-        // indeterminate, same as in [`ObservedStateLocation`])
-        let mut observed: HashMap<TenantShardId, Vec<(NodeId, Option<LocationConfig>)>> =
-            HashMap::new();
-
         // Startup reconciliation does I/O to other services: whether they
         // are responsive or not, we should aim to finish within our deadline, because:
         // - If we don't, a k8s readiness hook watching /ready will kill us.
@@ -535,26 +519,26 @@ impl Service {
             .checked_add(STARTUP_RECONCILE_TIMEOUT / 2)
             .expect("Reconcile timeout is a modest constant");
 
+        let observed = if let Some(state) = leader_step_down_state {
+            tracing::info!(
+                "Using observed state received from leader at {}",
+                current_leader.as_ref().unwrap().address
+            );
+
+            state
+        } else {
+            self.build_global_observed_state(node_scan_deadline).await
+        };
+
         // Accumulate a list of any tenant locations that ought to be detached
         let mut cleanup = Vec::new();
 
-        let node_listings = self.scan_node_locations(node_scan_deadline).await;
-        // Send initial heartbeat requests to nodes that replied to the location listing above.
-        let nodes_online = self.initial_heartbeat_round(node_listings.keys()).await;
-
-        for (node_id, list_response) in node_listings {
-            let tenant_shards = list_response.tenant_shards;
-            tracing::info!(
-                "Received {} shard statuses from pageserver {}, setting it to Active",
-                tenant_shards.len(),
-                node_id
-            );
-
-            for (tenant_shard_id, conf_opt) in tenant_shards {
-                let shard_observations = observed.entry(tenant_shard_id).or_default();
-                shard_observations.push((node_id, conf_opt));
-            }
-        }
+        // Send initial heartbeat requests to all nodes loaded from the database
+        let all_nodes = {
+            let locked = self.inner.read().unwrap();
+            locked.nodes.clone()
+        };
+        let nodes_online = self.initial_heartbeat_round(all_nodes.keys()).await;
 
         // List of tenants for which we will attempt to notify compute of their location at startup
         let mut compute_notifications = Vec::new();
@@ -577,17 +561,16 @@ impl Service {
             }
             *nodes = Arc::new(new_nodes);
 
-            for (tenant_shard_id, shard_observations) in observed {
-                for (node_id, observed_loc) in shard_observations {
-                    let Some(tenant_shard) = tenants.get_mut(&tenant_shard_id) else {
-                        cleanup.push((tenant_shard_id, node_id));
-                        continue;
-                    };
-                    tenant_shard
-                        .observed
-                        .locations
-                        .insert(node_id, ObservedStateLocation { conf: observed_loc });
-                }
+            for (tenant_shard_id, observed_state) in observed.0 {
+                let Some(tenant_shard) = tenants.get_mut(&tenant_shard_id) else {
+                    for node_id in observed_state.locations.keys() {
+                        cleanup.push((tenant_shard_id, *node_id));
+                    }
+
+                    continue;
+                };
+
+                tenant_shard.observed = observed_state;
             }
 
             // Populate each tenant's intent state
@@ -621,6 +604,28 @@ impl Service {
             tenants.len()
         };
 
+        // Before making any obeservable changes to the cluster, persist self
+        // as leader in database and memory.
+        if let Some(address_for_peers) = &self.config.address_for_peers {
+            // TODO: `address-for-peers` can become a mandatory cli arg
+            // after we update the k8s setup
+            let proposed_leader = ControllerPersistence {
+                address: address_for_peers.to_string(),
+                started_at: chrono::Utc::now(),
+            };
+
+            if let Err(err) = self
+                .persistence
+                .update_leader(current_leader, proposed_leader)
+                .await
+            {
+                tracing::error!("Failed to persist self as leader: {err}. Aborting start-up ...");
+                std::process::exit(1);
+            }
+        }
+
+        self.inner.write().unwrap().become_leader();
+
         // TODO: if any tenant's intent now differs from its loaded generation_pageserver, we should clear that
         // generation_pageserver in the database.
 
@@ -786,6 +791,31 @@ impl Service {
         node_results
     }
 
+    async fn build_global_observed_state(&self, deadline: Instant) -> GlobalObservedState {
+        let node_listings = self.scan_node_locations(deadline).await;
+        let mut observed = GlobalObservedState::default();
+
+        for (node_id, location_confs) in node_listings {
+            tracing::info!(
+                "Received {} shard statuses from pageserver {}",
+                location_confs.tenant_shards.len(),
+                node_id
+            );
+
+            for (tid, location_conf) in location_confs.tenant_shards {
+                let entry = observed.0.entry(tid).or_default();
+                entry.locations.insert(
+                    node_id,
+                    ObservedStateLocation {
+                        conf: location_conf,
+                    },
+                );
+            }
+        }
+
+        observed
+    }
+
     /// Used during [`Self::startup_reconcile`]: detach a list of unknown-to-us tenants from pageservers.
     ///
     /// This is safe to run in the background, because if we don't have this TenantShardId in our map of
@@ -1264,12 +1294,20 @@ impl Service {
             config.max_warming_up_interval,
             cancel.clone(),
         );
+
+        let initial_leadership_status = if config.start_as_candidate {
+            LeadershipStatus::Candidate
+        } else {
+            LeadershipStatus::Leader
+        };
+
         let this = Arc::new(Self {
             inner: Arc::new(std::sync::RwLock::new(ServiceState::new(
                 nodes,
                 tenants,
                 scheduler,
                 delayed_reconcile_rx,
+                initial_leadership_status,
             ))),
             config: config.clone(),
             persistence,
@@ -1338,7 +1376,35 @@ impl Service {
                     return;
                 };
 
-                this.startup_reconcile(bg_compute_notify_result_tx).await;
+                let leadership_status = this.inner.read().unwrap().get_leadership_status();
+                let leader = match this.get_leader().await {
+                    Ok(ok) => ok,
+                    Err(err) => {
+                        tracing::error!(
+                            "Failed to query database for current leader: {err}. Aborting start-up ..."
+                        );
+                        std::process::exit(1);
+                    }
+                };
+
+                let leader_step_down_state = match leadership_status {
+                    LeadershipStatus::Candidate => {
+                        if let Some(ref leader) = leader {
+                            this.request_step_down(leader).await
+                        } else {
+                            tracing::info!(
+                                "No leader found to request step down from. Will build observed state."
+                            );
+                            None
+                        }
+                    }
+                    LeadershipStatus::Leader => None,
+                    LeadershipStatus::SteppedDown => unreachable!(),
+                };
+
+                this.startup_reconcile(leader, leader_step_down_state, bg_compute_notify_result_tx)
+                    .await;
+
                 drop(startup_completion);
             }
         });
@@ -2937,6 +3003,7 @@ impl Service {
             );
 
             let client = PageserverClient::new(node.get_id(), node.base_url(), jwt.as_deref());
+
             client
                 .timeline_detach_ancestor(tenant_shard_id, timeline_id)
                 .await
@@ -2953,7 +3020,13 @@ impl Service {
                         Error::ApiError(StatusCode::BAD_REQUEST, msg) => {
                             ApiError::BadRequest(anyhow::anyhow!("{node}: {msg}"))
                         }
-                        // rest can be mapped
+                        Error::ApiError(StatusCode::INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR, msg) => {
+                            // avoid turning these into conflicts to remain compatible with
+                            // pageservers, 500 errors are sadly retryable with timeline ancestor
+                            // detach
+                            ApiError::InternalServerError(anyhow::anyhow!("{node}: {msg}"))
+                        }
+                        // rest can be mapped as usual
                         other => passthrough_api_error(&node, other),
                     }
                 })
@@ -2987,6 +3060,8 @@ impl Service {
                 ?mismatching,
                 "shards returned different results"
             );
+
+            return Err(ApiError::InternalServerError(anyhow::anyhow!("pageservers returned mixed results for ancestor detach; manual intervention is required.")));
         }
 
         Ok(any.1)
@@ -4589,6 +4664,10 @@ impl Service {
             ))
     }
 
+    pub(crate) async fn get_leader(&self) -> DatabaseResult<Option<ControllerPersistence>> {
+        self.persistence.get_leader().await
+    }
+
     pub(crate) async fn node_register(
         &self,
         register_req: NodeRegisterRequest,
@@ -4851,6 +4930,26 @@ impl Service {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    /// Wrapper around [`Self::node_configure`] which only allows changes while there is no ongoing
+    /// operation for HTTP api.
+    pub(crate) async fn external_node_configure(
+        &self,
+        node_id: NodeId,
+        availability: Option<NodeAvailability>,
+        scheduling: Option<NodeSchedulingPolicy>,
+    ) -> Result<(), ApiError> {
+        {
+            let locked = self.inner.read().unwrap();
+            if let Some(op) = locked.ongoing_operation.as_ref().map(|op| op.operation) {
+                return Err(ApiError::PreconditionFailed(
+                    format!("Ongoing background operation forbids configuring: {op}").into(),
+                ));
+            }
+        }
+
+        self.node_configure(node_id, availability, scheduling).await
+    }
+
     pub(crate) async fn start_node_drain(
         self: &Arc<Self>,
         node_id: NodeId,
@@ -4908,6 +5007,8 @@ impl Service {
                     cancel: cancel.clone(),
                 });
 
+                let span = tracing::info_span!(parent: None, "drain_node", %node_id);
+
                 tokio::task::spawn({
                     let service = self.clone();
                     let cancel = cancel.clone();
@@ -4924,21 +5025,21 @@ impl Service {
                             }
                         }
 
-                        tracing::info!(%node_id, "Drain background operation starting");
+                        tracing::info!("Drain background operation starting");
                         let res = service.drain_node(node_id, cancel).await;
                         match res {
                             Ok(()) => {
-                                tracing::info!(%node_id, "Drain background operation completed successfully");
+                                tracing::info!("Drain background operation completed successfully");
                             }
                             Err(OperationError::Cancelled) => {
-                                tracing::info!(%node_id, "Drain background operation was cancelled");
+                                tracing::info!("Drain background operation was cancelled");
                             }
                             Err(err) => {
-                                tracing::error!(%node_id, "Drain background operation encountered: {err}")
+                                tracing::error!("Drain background operation encountered: {err}")
                             }
                         }
                     }
-                });
+                }.instrument(span));
             }
             NodeSchedulingPolicy::Draining => {
                 return Err(ApiError::Conflict(format!(
@@ -4956,14 +5057,14 @@ impl Service {
     }
 
     pub(crate) async fn cancel_node_drain(&self, node_id: NodeId) -> Result<(), ApiError> {
-        let (node_available, node_policy) = {
+        let node_available = {
             let locked = self.inner.read().unwrap();
             let nodes = &locked.nodes;
             let node = nodes.get(&node_id).ok_or(ApiError::NotFound(
                 anyhow::anyhow!("Node {} not registered", node_id).into(),
             ))?;
 
-            (node.is_available(), node.get_scheduling())
+            node.is_available()
         };
 
         if !node_available {
@@ -4972,12 +5073,6 @@ impl Service {
             ));
         }
 
-        if !matches!(node_policy, NodeSchedulingPolicy::Draining) {
-            return Err(ApiError::PreconditionFailed(
-                format!("Node {node_id} has no drain in progress").into(),
-            ));
-        }
-
         if let Some(op_handler) = self.inner.read().unwrap().ongoing_operation.as_ref() {
             if let Operation::Drain(drain) = op_handler.operation {
                 if drain.node_id == node_id {
@@ -5043,6 +5138,8 @@ impl Service {
                     cancel: cancel.clone(),
                 });
 
+                let span = tracing::info_span!(parent: None, "fill_node", %node_id);
+
                 tokio::task::spawn({
                     let service = self.clone();
                     let cancel = cancel.clone();
@@ -5059,21 +5156,21 @@ impl Service {
                             }
                         }
 
-                        tracing::info!(%node_id, "Fill background operation starting");
+                        tracing::info!("Fill background operation starting");
                         let res = service.fill_node(node_id, cancel).await;
                         match res {
                             Ok(()) => {
-                                tracing::info!(%node_id, "Fill background operation completed successfully");
+                                tracing::info!("Fill background operation completed successfully");
                             }
                             Err(OperationError::Cancelled) => {
-                                tracing::info!(%node_id, "Fill background operation was cancelled");
+                                tracing::info!("Fill background operation was cancelled");
                             }
                             Err(err) => {
-                                tracing::error!(%node_id, "Fill background operation encountered: {err}")
+                                tracing::error!("Fill background operation encountered: {err}")
                             }
                         }
                     }
-                });
+                }.instrument(span));
             }
             NodeSchedulingPolicy::Filling => {
                 return Err(ApiError::Conflict(format!(
@@ -5091,14 +5188,14 @@ impl Service {
     }
 
     pub(crate) async fn cancel_node_fill(&self, node_id: NodeId) -> Result<(), ApiError> {
-        let (node_available, node_policy) = {
+        let node_available = {
             let locked = self.inner.read().unwrap();
             let nodes = &locked.nodes;
             let node = nodes.get(&node_id).ok_or(ApiError::NotFound(
                 anyhow::anyhow!("Node {} not registered", node_id).into(),
             ))?;
 
-            (node.is_available(), node.get_scheduling())
+            node.is_available()
         };
 
         if !node_available {
@@ -5107,12 +5204,6 @@ impl Service {
             ));
         }
 
-        if !matches!(node_policy, NodeSchedulingPolicy::Filling) {
-            return Err(ApiError::PreconditionFailed(
-                format!("Node {node_id} has no fill in progress").into(),
-            ));
-        }
-
         if let Some(op_handler) = self.inner.read().unwrap().ongoing_operation.as_ref() {
             if let Operation::Fill(fill) = op_handler.operation {
                 if fill.node_id == node_id {
@@ -5921,7 +6012,7 @@ impl Service {
                 .await_waiters_remainder(waiters, SHORT_RECONCILE_TIMEOUT)
                 .await;
 
-            failpoint_support::sleep_millis_async!("sleepy-drain-loop");
+            failpoint_support::sleep_millis_async!("sleepy-drain-loop", &cancel);
         }
 
         while !waiters.is_empty() {
@@ -6269,6 +6360,7 @@ impl Service {
 
     pub(crate) async fn step_down(&self) -> GlobalObservedState {
         tracing::info!("Received step down request from peer");
+        failpoint_support::sleep_millis_async!("sleep-on-step-down-handling");
 
         self.inner.write().unwrap().step_down();
         // TODO: would it make sense to have a time-out for this?
@@ -6285,4 +6377,42 @@ impl Service {
 
         global_observed
     }
+
+    /// Request step down from the currently registered leader in the database
+    ///
+    /// If such an entry is persisted, the success path returns the observed
+    /// state and details of the leader. Otherwise, None is returned indicating
+    /// there is no leader currently.
+    ///
+    /// On failures to query the database or step down error responses the process is killed
+    /// and we rely on k8s to retry.
+    async fn request_step_down(
+        &self,
+        leader: &ControllerPersistence,
+    ) -> Option<GlobalObservedState> {
+        tracing::info!("Sending step down request to {leader:?}");
+
+        // TODO: jwt token
+        let client = PeerClient::new(
+            Uri::try_from(leader.address.as_str()).expect("Failed to build leader URI"),
+            self.config.jwt_token.clone(),
+        );
+        let state = client.step_down(&self.cancel).await;
+        match state {
+            Ok(state) => Some(state),
+            Err(err) => {
+                // TODO: Make leaders periodically update a timestamp field in the
+                // database and, if the leader is not reachable from the current instance,
+                // but inferred as alive from the timestamp, abort start-up. This avoids
+                // a potential scenario in which we have two controllers acting as leaders.
+                tracing::error!(
+                    "Leader ({}) did not respond to step-down request: {}",
+                    leader.address,
+                    err
+                );
+
+                None
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/storage_scrubber/src/main.rs b/storage_scrubber/src/main.rs
index cbc836755a..3935e513e3 100644
--- a/storage_scrubber/src/main.rs
+++ b/storage_scrubber/src/main.rs
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@ use camino::Utf8PathBuf;
 use pageserver_api::controller_api::{MetadataHealthUpdateRequest, MetadataHealthUpdateResponse};
 use pageserver_api::shard::TenantShardId;
 use reqwest::{Method, Url};
+use storage_controller_client::control_api;
 use storage_scrubber::garbage::{find_garbage, purge_garbage, PurgeMode};
 use storage_scrubber::pageserver_physical_gc::GcMode;
-use storage_scrubber::scan_pageserver_metadata::scan_metadata;
+use storage_scrubber::scan_pageserver_metadata::scan_pageserver_metadata;
 use storage_scrubber::tenant_snapshot::SnapshotDownloader;
 use storage_scrubber::{find_large_objects, ControllerClientConfig};
 use storage_scrubber::{
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ enum Command {
         #[arg(long = "tenant-id", num_args = 0..)]
         tenant_ids: Vec<TenantShardId>,
         #[arg(long = "post", default_value_t = false)]
-        post_to_storage_controller: bool,
+        post_to_storcon: bool,
         #[arg(long, default_value = None)]
         /// For safekeeper node_kind only, points to db with debug dump
         dump_db_connstr: Option<String>,
@@ -100,6 +101,16 @@ enum Command {
         #[arg(long = "concurrency", short = 'j', default_value_t = 64)]
         concurrency: usize,
     },
+    CronJob {
+        // PageserverPhysicalGc
+        #[arg(long = "min-age")]
+        gc_min_age: humantime::Duration,
+        #[arg(short, long, default_value_t = GcMode::IndicesOnly)]
+        gc_mode: GcMode,
+        // ScanMetadata
+        #[arg(long = "post", default_value_t = false)]
+        post_to_storcon: bool,
+    },
 }
 
 #[tokio::main]
@@ -117,6 +128,7 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         Command::TenantSnapshot { .. } => "tenant-snapshot",
         Command::PageserverPhysicalGc { .. } => "pageserver-physical-gc",
         Command::FindLargeObjects { .. } => "find-large-objects",
+        Command::CronJob { .. } => "cron-job",
     };
     let _guard = init_logging(&format!(
         "{}_{}_{}_{}.log",
@@ -126,12 +138,13 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         chrono::Utc::now().format("%Y_%m_%d__%H_%M_%S")
     ));
 
-    let controller_client_conf = cli.controller_api.map(|controller_api| {
+    let controller_client = cli.controller_api.map(|controller_api| {
         ControllerClientConfig {
             controller_api,
             // Default to no key: this is a convenience when working in a development environment
             controller_jwt: cli.controller_jwt.unwrap_or("".to_owned()),
         }
+        .build_client()
     });
 
     match cli.command {
@@ -139,7 +152,7 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
             json,
             tenant_ids,
             node_kind,
-            post_to_storage_controller,
+            post_to_storcon,
             dump_db_connstr,
             dump_db_table,
         } => {
@@ -178,53 +191,14 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                 }
                 Ok(())
             } else {
-                if controller_client_conf.is_none() && post_to_storage_controller {
-                    return Err(anyhow!("Posting pageserver scan health status to storage controller requires `--controller-api` and `--controller-jwt` to run"));
-                }
-                match scan_metadata(bucket_config.clone(), tenant_ids).await {
-                    Err(e) => {
-                        tracing::error!("Failed: {e}");
-                        Err(e)
-                    }
-                    Ok(summary) => {
-                        if json {
-                            println!("{}", serde_json::to_string(&summary).unwrap())
-                        } else {
-                            println!("{}", summary.summary_string());
-                        }
-
-                        if post_to_storage_controller {
-                            if let Some(conf) = controller_client_conf {
-                                let controller_client = conf.build_client();
-                                let body = summary.build_health_update_request();
-                                controller_client
-                                    .dispatch::<MetadataHealthUpdateRequest, MetadataHealthUpdateResponse>(
-                                        Method::POST,
-                                        "control/v1/metadata_health/update".to_string(),
-                                        Some(body),
-                                    )
-                                    .await?;
-                            }
-                        }
-
-                        if summary.is_fatal() {
-                            tracing::error!("Fatal scrub errors detected");
-                        } else if summary.is_empty() {
-                            // Strictly speaking an empty bucket is a valid bucket, but if someone ran the
-                            // scrubber they were likely expecting to scan something, and if we see no timelines
-                            // at all then it's likely due to some configuration issues like a bad prefix
-                            tracing::error!(
-                                "No timelines found in bucket {} prefix {}",
-                                bucket_config.bucket,
-                                bucket_config
-                                    .prefix_in_bucket
-                                    .unwrap_or("<none>".to_string())
-                            );
-                        }
-
-                        Ok(())
-                    }
-                }
+                scan_pageserver_metadata_cmd(
+                    bucket_config,
+                    controller_client.as_ref(),
+                    tenant_ids,
+                    json,
+                    post_to_storcon,
+                )
+                .await
             }
         }
         Command::FindGarbage {
@@ -254,31 +228,14 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
             min_age,
             mode,
         } => {
-            match (&controller_client_conf, mode) {
-                (Some(_), _) => {
-                    // Any mode may run when controller API is set
-                }
-                (None, GcMode::Full) => {
-                    // The part of physical GC where we erase ancestor layers cannot be done safely without
-                    // confirming the most recent complete shard split with the controller.  Refuse to run, rather
-                    // than doing it unsafely.
-                    return Err(anyhow!("Full physical GC requires `--controller-api` and `--controller-jwt` to run"));
-                }
-                (None, GcMode::DryRun | GcMode::IndicesOnly) => {
-                    // These GcModes do not require the controller to run.
-                }
-            }
-
-            let summary = pageserver_physical_gc(
-                bucket_config,
-                controller_client_conf,
+            pageserver_physical_gc_cmd(
+                &bucket_config,
+                controller_client.as_ref(),
                 tenant_ids,
-                min_age.into(),
+                min_age,
                 mode,
             )
-            .await?;
-            println!("{}", serde_json::to_string(&summary).unwrap());
-            Ok(())
+            .await
         }
         Command::FindLargeObjects {
             min_size,
@@ -295,5 +252,142 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
             println!("{}", serde_json::to_string(&summary).unwrap());
             Ok(())
         }
+        Command::CronJob {
+            gc_min_age,
+            gc_mode,
+            post_to_storcon,
+        } => {
+            run_cron_job(
+                bucket_config,
+                controller_client.as_ref(),
+                gc_min_age,
+                gc_mode,
+                post_to_storcon,
+            )
+            .await
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Runs the scrubber cron job.
+/// 1. Do pageserver physical gc
+/// 2. Scan pageserver metadata
+pub async fn run_cron_job(
+    bucket_config: BucketConfig,
+    controller_client: Option<&control_api::Client>,
+    gc_min_age: humantime::Duration,
+    gc_mode: GcMode,
+    post_to_storcon: bool,
+) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    tracing::info!(%gc_min_age, %gc_mode, "Running pageserver-physical-gc");
+    pageserver_physical_gc_cmd(
+        &bucket_config,
+        controller_client,
+        Vec::new(),
+        gc_min_age,
+        gc_mode,
+    )
+    .await?;
+    tracing::info!(%post_to_storcon, node_kind = %NodeKind::Pageserver, "Running scan-metadata");
+    scan_pageserver_metadata_cmd(
+        bucket_config,
+        controller_client,
+        Vec::new(),
+        true,
+        post_to_storcon,
+    )
+    .await?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+pub async fn pageserver_physical_gc_cmd(
+    bucket_config: &BucketConfig,
+    controller_client: Option<&control_api::Client>,
+    tenant_shard_ids: Vec<TenantShardId>,
+    min_age: humantime::Duration,
+    mode: GcMode,
+) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    match (controller_client, mode) {
+        (Some(_), _) => {
+            // Any mode may run when controller API is set
+        }
+        (None, GcMode::Full) => {
+            // The part of physical GC where we erase ancestor layers cannot be done safely without
+            // confirming the most recent complete shard split with the controller.  Refuse to run, rather
+            // than doing it unsafely.
+            return Err(anyhow!(
+                "Full physical GC requires `--controller-api` and `--controller-jwt` to run"
+            ));
+        }
+        (None, GcMode::DryRun | GcMode::IndicesOnly) => {
+            // These GcModes do not require the controller to run.
+        }
+    }
+
+    let summary = pageserver_physical_gc(
+        bucket_config,
+        controller_client,
+        tenant_shard_ids,
+        min_age.into(),
+        mode,
+    )
+    .await?;
+    println!("{}", serde_json::to_string(&summary).unwrap());
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+pub async fn scan_pageserver_metadata_cmd(
+    bucket_config: BucketConfig,
+    controller_client: Option<&control_api::Client>,
+    tenant_shard_ids: Vec<TenantShardId>,
+    json: bool,
+    post_to_storcon: bool,
+) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    if controller_client.is_none() && post_to_storcon {
+        return Err(anyhow!("Posting pageserver scan health status to storage controller requires `--controller-api` and `--controller-jwt` to run"));
+    }
+    match scan_pageserver_metadata(bucket_config.clone(), tenant_shard_ids).await {
+        Err(e) => {
+            tracing::error!("Failed: {e}");
+            Err(e)
+        }
+        Ok(summary) => {
+            if json {
+                println!("{}", serde_json::to_string(&summary).unwrap())
+            } else {
+                println!("{}", summary.summary_string());
+            }
+
+            if post_to_storcon {
+                if let Some(client) = controller_client {
+                    let body = summary.build_health_update_request();
+                    client
+                        .dispatch::<MetadataHealthUpdateRequest, MetadataHealthUpdateResponse>(
+                            Method::POST,
+                            "control/v1/metadata_health/update".to_string(),
+                            Some(body),
+                        )
+                        .await?;
+                }
+            }
+
+            if summary.is_fatal() {
+                tracing::error!("Fatal scrub errors detected");
+            } else if summary.is_empty() {
+                // Strictly speaking an empty bucket is a valid bucket, but if someone ran the
+                // scrubber they were likely expecting to scan something, and if we see no timelines
+                // at all then it's likely due to some configuration issues like a bad prefix
+                tracing::error!(
+                    "No timelines found in bucket {} prefix {}",
+                    bucket_config.bucket,
+                    bucket_config
+                        .prefix_in_bucket
+                        .unwrap_or("<none>".to_string())
+                );
+            }
+
+            Ok(())
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/storage_scrubber/src/pageserver_physical_gc.rs b/storage_scrubber/src/pageserver_physical_gc.rs
index ff230feae3..20d9bd6dd4 100644
--- a/storage_scrubber/src/pageserver_physical_gc.rs
+++ b/storage_scrubber/src/pageserver_physical_gc.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
-use std::collections::{BTreeMap, HashMap};
+use std::collections::{BTreeMap, BTreeSet, HashMap};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::{Duration, SystemTime};
 
 use crate::checks::{list_timeline_blobs, BlobDataParseResult};
 use crate::metadata_stream::{stream_tenant_timelines, stream_tenants};
-use crate::{
-    init_remote, BucketConfig, ControllerClientConfig, NodeKind, RootTarget, TenantShardTimelineId,
-};
+use crate::{init_remote, BucketConfig, NodeKind, RootTarget, TenantShardTimelineId};
 use aws_sdk_s3::Client;
 use futures_util::{StreamExt, TryStreamExt};
 use pageserver::tenant::remote_timeline_client::index::LayerFileMetadata;
@@ -117,7 +115,7 @@ use refs::AncestorRefs;
 // - Are there any refs to ancestor shards' layers?
 #[derive(Default)]
 struct TenantRefAccumulator {
-    shards_seen: HashMap<TenantId, Vec<ShardIndex>>,
+    shards_seen: HashMap<TenantId, BTreeSet<ShardIndex>>,
 
     // For each shard that has refs to an ancestor's layers, the set of ancestor layers referred to
     ancestor_ref_shards: AncestorRefs,
@@ -130,7 +128,7 @@ impl TenantRefAccumulator {
             .shards_seen
             .entry(ttid.tenant_shard_id.tenant_id)
             .or_default())
-        .push(this_shard_idx);
+        .insert(this_shard_idx);
 
         let mut ancestor_refs = Vec::new();
         for (layer_name, layer_metadata) in &index_part.layer_metadata {
@@ -154,7 +152,7 @@ impl TenantRefAccumulator {
         summary: &mut GcSummary,
     ) -> (Vec<TenantShardId>, AncestorRefs) {
         let mut ancestors_to_gc = Vec::new();
-        for (tenant_id, mut shard_indices) in self.shards_seen {
+        for (tenant_id, shard_indices) in self.shards_seen {
             // Find the highest shard count
             let latest_count = shard_indices
                 .iter()
@@ -162,6 +160,7 @@ impl TenantRefAccumulator {
                 .max()
                 .expect("Always at least one shard");
 
+            let mut shard_indices = shard_indices.iter().collect::<Vec<_>>();
             let (mut latest_shards, ancestor_shards) = {
                 let at =
                     itertools::partition(&mut shard_indices, |i| i.shard_count == latest_count);
@@ -174,7 +173,7 @@ impl TenantRefAccumulator {
             // to scan the S3 bucket halfway through a shard split.
             if latest_shards.len() != latest_count.count() as usize {
                 // This should be extremely rare, so we warn on it.
-                tracing::warn!(%tenant_id, "Missed some shards at count {:?}", latest_count);
+                tracing::warn!(%tenant_id, "Missed some shards at count {:?}: {latest_shards:?}", latest_count);
                 continue;
             }
 
@@ -212,7 +211,7 @@ impl TenantRefAccumulator {
                         .iter()
                         .map(|s| s.tenant_shard_id.to_index())
                         .collect();
-                    if controller_indices != latest_shards {
+                    if !controller_indices.iter().eq(latest_shards.iter().copied()) {
                         tracing::info!(%tenant_id, "Latest shards seen in S3 ({latest_shards:?}) don't match controller state ({controller_indices:?})");
                         continue;
                     }
@@ -472,8 +471,8 @@ async fn gc_ancestor(
 /// This type of GC is not necessary for correctness: rather it serves to reduce wasted storage capacity, and
 /// make sure that object listings don't get slowed down by large numbers of garbage objects.
 pub async fn pageserver_physical_gc(
-    bucket_config: BucketConfig,
-    controller_client_conf: Option<ControllerClientConfig>,
+    bucket_config: &BucketConfig,
+    controller_client: Option<&control_api::Client>,
     tenant_shard_ids: Vec<TenantShardId>,
     min_age: Duration,
     mode: GcMode,
@@ -557,7 +556,7 @@ pub async fn pageserver_physical_gc(
         let timelines = timelines.map_ok(|ttid| {
             gc_timeline(
                 &s3_client,
-                &bucket_config,
+                bucket_config,
                 &min_age,
                 &target,
                 mode,
@@ -573,7 +572,7 @@ pub async fn pageserver_physical_gc(
     }
 
     // Execute cross-shard GC, using the accumulator's full view of all the shards built in the per-shard GC
-    let Some(controller_client) = controller_client_conf.map(|c| c.build_client()) else {
+    let Some(client) = controller_client else {
         tracing::info!("Skipping ancestor layer GC, because no `--controller-api` was specified");
         return Ok(summary);
     };
@@ -582,13 +581,13 @@ pub async fn pageserver_physical_gc(
         .unwrap()
         .into_inner()
         .unwrap()
-        .into_gc_ancestors(&controller_client, &mut summary)
+        .into_gc_ancestors(client, &mut summary)
         .await;
 
     for ancestor_shard in ancestor_shards {
         gc_ancestor(
             &s3_client,
-            &bucket_config,
+            bucket_config,
             &target,
             &min_age,
             ancestor_shard,
diff --git a/storage_scrubber/src/scan_pageserver_metadata.rs b/storage_scrubber/src/scan_pageserver_metadata.rs
index b9630056e1..2409b7b132 100644
--- a/storage_scrubber/src/scan_pageserver_metadata.rs
+++ b/storage_scrubber/src/scan_pageserver_metadata.rs
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ Index versions: {version_summary}
 }
 
 /// Scan the pageserver metadata in an S3 bucket, reporting errors and statistics.
-pub async fn scan_metadata(
+pub async fn scan_pageserver_metadata(
     bucket_config: BucketConfig,
     tenant_ids: Vec<TenantShardId>,
 ) -> anyhow::Result<MetadataSummary> {
diff --git a/test_runner/conftest.py b/test_runner/conftest.py
index 4b0c9ac71d..996ca4d652 100644
--- a/test_runner/conftest.py
+++ b/test_runner/conftest.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ pytest_plugins = (
     "fixtures.parametrize",
     "fixtures.httpserver",
     "fixtures.compute_reconfigure",
+    "fixtures.storage_controller_proxy",
     "fixtures.neon_fixtures",
     "fixtures.benchmark_fixture",
     "fixtures.pg_stats",
diff --git a/test_runner/fixtures/compare_fixtures.py b/test_runner/fixtures/compare_fixtures.py
index 08215438e1..5fe544b3bd 100644
--- a/test_runner/fixtures/compare_fixtures.py
+++ b/test_runner/fixtures/compare_fixtures.py
@@ -42,7 +42,11 @@ class PgCompare(ABC):
         pass
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def flush(self):
+    def flush(self, compact: bool = False, gc: bool = False):
+        pass
+
+    @abstractmethod
+    def compact(self):
         pass
 
     @abstractmethod
@@ -129,13 +133,16 @@ class NeonCompare(PgCompare):
     def pg_bin(self) -> PgBin:
         return self._pg_bin
 
-    def flush(self):
+    def flush(self, compact: bool = True, gc: bool = True):
         wait_for_last_flush_lsn(self.env, self._pg, self.tenant, self.timeline)
-        self.pageserver_http_client.timeline_checkpoint(self.tenant, self.timeline)
-        self.pageserver_http_client.timeline_gc(self.tenant, self.timeline, 0)
+        self.pageserver_http_client.timeline_checkpoint(self.tenant, self.timeline, compact=compact)
+        if gc:
+            self.pageserver_http_client.timeline_gc(self.tenant, self.timeline, 0)
 
     def compact(self):
-        self.pageserver_http_client.timeline_compact(self.tenant, self.timeline)
+        self.pageserver_http_client.timeline_compact(
+            self.tenant, self.timeline, wait_until_uploaded=True
+        )
 
     def report_peak_memory_use(self):
         self.zenbenchmark.record(
@@ -215,9 +222,12 @@ class VanillaCompare(PgCompare):
     def pg_bin(self) -> PgBin:
         return self._pg.pg_bin
 
-    def flush(self):
+    def flush(self, compact: bool = False, gc: bool = False):
         self.cur.execute("checkpoint")
 
+    def compact(self):
+        pass
+
     def report_peak_memory_use(self):
         pass  # TODO find something
 
@@ -266,6 +276,9 @@ class RemoteCompare(PgCompare):
         # TODO: flush the remote pageserver
         pass
 
+    def compact(self):
+        pass
+
     def report_peak_memory_use(self):
         # TODO: get memory usage from remote pageserver
         pass
diff --git a/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py b/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
index 844a23d327..ba6fbc003a 100644
--- a/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
+++ b/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from functools import cached_property, partial
 from itertools import chain, product
 from pathlib import Path
 from types import TracebackType
-from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, Iterator, List, Optional, Tuple, Type, Union, cast
+from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, Iterable, Iterator, List, Optional, Tuple, Type, Union, cast
 from urllib.parse import quote, urlparse
 
 import asyncpg
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ from fixtures.pageserver.utils import (
 from fixtures.pg_version import PgVersion
 from fixtures.port_distributor import PortDistributor
 from fixtures.remote_storage import (
+    LocalFsStorage,
     MockS3Server,
     RemoteStorage,
     RemoteStorageKind,
@@ -388,7 +389,7 @@ class PgProtocol:
         return self.safe_psql_many([query], **kwargs)[0]
 
     def safe_psql_many(
-        self, queries: List[str], log_query=True, **kwargs: Any
+        self, queries: Iterable[str], log_query=True, **kwargs: Any
     ) -> List[List[Tuple[Any, ...]]]:
         """
         Execute queries against the node and return all rows.
@@ -496,6 +497,7 @@ class NeonEnvBuilder:
         pageserver_aux_file_policy: Optional[AuxFileStore] = None,
         pageserver_default_tenant_config_compaction_algorithm: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
         safekeeper_extra_opts: Optional[list[str]] = None,
+        storage_controller_port_override: Optional[int] = None,
     ):
         self.repo_dir = repo_dir
         self.rust_log_override = rust_log_override
@@ -548,6 +550,8 @@ class NeonEnvBuilder:
 
         self.safekeeper_extra_opts = safekeeper_extra_opts
 
+        self.storage_controller_port_override = storage_controller_port_override
+
         assert test_name.startswith(
             "test_"
         ), "Unexpectedly instantiated from outside a test function"
@@ -963,7 +967,7 @@ class NeonEnvBuilder:
         if self.env:
             log.info("Cleaning up all storage and compute nodes")
             self.env.stop(
-                immediate=True,
+                immediate=False,
                 # if the test threw an exception, don't check for errors
                 # as a failing assertion would cause the cleanup below to fail
                 ps_assert_metric_no_errors=(exc_type is None),
@@ -1053,6 +1057,7 @@ class NeonEnv:
     """
 
     BASE_PAGESERVER_ID = 1
+    storage_controller: NeonStorageController | NeonProxiedStorageController
 
     def __init__(self, config: NeonEnvBuilder):
         self.repo_dir = config.repo_dir
@@ -1083,27 +1088,41 @@ class NeonEnv:
         self.initial_tenant = config.initial_tenant
         self.initial_timeline = config.initial_timeline
 
-        # Find two adjacent ports for storage controller and its postgres DB.  This
-        # loop would eventually throw from get_port() if we run out of ports (extremely
-        # unlikely): usually we find two adjacent free ports on the first iteration.
-        while True:
-            self.storage_controller_port = self.port_distributor.get_port()
-            storage_controller_pg_port = self.port_distributor.get_port()
-            if storage_controller_pg_port == self.storage_controller_port + 1:
-                break
-
         # The URL for the pageserver to use as its control_plane_api config
-        self.control_plane_api: str = f"http://127.0.0.1:{self.storage_controller_port}/upcall/v1"
-        # The base URL of the storage controller
-        self.storage_controller_api: str = f"http://127.0.0.1:{self.storage_controller_port}"
+        if config.storage_controller_port_override is not None:
+            log.info(
+                f"Using storage controller api override {config.storage_controller_port_override}"
+            )
+
+            self.storage_controller_port = config.storage_controller_port_override
+            self.storage_controller = NeonProxiedStorageController(
+                self, config.storage_controller_port_override, config.auth_enabled
+            )
+        else:
+            # Find two adjacent ports for storage controller and its postgres DB.  This
+            # loop would eventually throw from get_port() if we run out of ports (extremely
+            # unlikely): usually we find two adjacent free ports on the first iteration.
+            while True:
+                storage_controller_port = self.port_distributor.get_port()
+                storage_controller_pg_port = self.port_distributor.get_port()
+                if storage_controller_pg_port == storage_controller_port + 1:
+                    break
+
+            self.storage_controller_port = storage_controller_port
+            self.storage_controller = NeonStorageController(
+                self, storage_controller_port, config.auth_enabled
+            )
+
+            log.info(
+                f"Using generated control_plane_api: {self.storage_controller.upcall_api_endpoint()}"
+            )
+
+        self.storage_controller_api: str = self.storage_controller.api_root()
+        self.control_plane_api: str = self.storage_controller.upcall_api_endpoint()
 
         # For testing this with a fake HTTP server, enable passing through a URL from config
         self.control_plane_compute_hook_api = config.control_plane_compute_hook_api
 
-        self.storage_controller: NeonStorageController = NeonStorageController(
-            self, config.auth_enabled
-        )
-
         self.pageserver_virtual_file_io_engine = config.pageserver_virtual_file_io_engine
         self.pageserver_aux_file_policy = config.pageserver_aux_file_policy
 
@@ -1143,7 +1162,6 @@ class NeonEnv:
                 "listen_http_addr": f"localhost:{pageserver_port.http}",
                 "pg_auth_type": pg_auth_type,
                 "http_auth_type": http_auth_type,
-                "image_compression": "zstd",
             }
             if self.pageserver_virtual_file_io_engine is not None:
                 ps_cfg["virtual_file_io_engine"] = self.pageserver_virtual_file_io_engine
@@ -1251,21 +1269,57 @@ class NeonEnv:
     def stop(self, immediate=False, ps_assert_metric_no_errors=False, fail_on_endpoint_errors=True):
         """
         After this method returns, there should be no child processes running.
+
+        Unless of course, some stopping failed, in that case, all remaining child processes are leaked.
         """
-        self.endpoints.stop_all(fail_on_endpoint_errors)
+
+        # the commonly failing components have special try-except behavior,
+        # trying to get us to actually shutdown all processes over easier error
+        # reporting.
+
+        raise_later = None
+        try:
+            self.endpoints.stop_all(fail_on_endpoint_errors)
+        except Exception as e:
+            raise_later = e
 
         # Stop storage controller before pageservers: we don't want it to spuriously
         # detect a pageserver "failure" during test teardown
         self.storage_controller.stop(immediate=immediate)
 
+        stop_later = []
+        metric_errors = []
+
         for sk in self.safekeepers:
             sk.stop(immediate=immediate)
         for pageserver in self.pageservers:
             if ps_assert_metric_no_errors:
-                pageserver.assert_no_metric_errors()
-            pageserver.stop(immediate=immediate)
+                try:
+                    pageserver.assert_no_metric_errors()
+                except Exception as e:
+                    metric_errors.append(e)
+                    log.error(f"metric validation failed on {pageserver.id}: {e}")
+            try:
+                pageserver.stop(immediate=immediate)
+            except RuntimeError:
+                stop_later.append(pageserver)
         self.broker.stop(immediate=immediate)
 
+        # TODO: for nice logging we need python 3.11 ExceptionGroup
+        for ps in stop_later:
+            ps.stop(immediate=True)
+
+        if raise_later is not None:
+            raise raise_later
+
+        for error in metric_errors:
+            raise error
+
+        if len(stop_later) > 0:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                f"{len(stop_later)} out of {len(self.pageservers)} pageservers failed to stop gracefully"
+            )
+
     @property
     def pageserver(self) -> NeonPageserver:
         """
@@ -1832,16 +1886,24 @@ class NeonCli(AbstractNeonCli):
     def storage_controller_start(
         self,
         timeout_in_seconds: Optional[int] = None,
+        instance_id: Optional[int] = None,
+        base_port: Optional[int] = None,
     ):
         cmd = ["storage_controller", "start"]
         if timeout_in_seconds is not None:
             cmd.append(f"--start-timeout={timeout_in_seconds}s")
+        if instance_id is not None:
+            cmd.append(f"--instance-id={instance_id}")
+        if base_port is not None:
+            cmd.append(f"--base-port={base_port}")
         return self.raw_cli(cmd)
 
-    def storage_controller_stop(self, immediate: bool):
+    def storage_controller_stop(self, immediate: bool, instance_id: Optional[int] = None):
         cmd = ["storage_controller", "stop"]
         if immediate:
             cmd.extend(["-m", "immediate"])
+        if instance_id is not None:
+            cmd.append(f"--instance-id={instance_id}")
         return self.raw_cli(cmd)
 
     def pageserver_start(
@@ -2152,17 +2214,30 @@ class PageserverSchedulingPolicy(str, Enum):
     PAUSE_FOR_RESTART = "PauseForRestart"
 
 
+class StorageControllerLeadershipStatus(str, Enum):
+    LEADER = "leader"
+    STEPPED_DOWN = "stepped_down"
+    CANDIDATE = "candidate"
+
+
 class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
-    def __init__(self, env: NeonEnv, auth_enabled: bool):
+    def __init__(self, env: NeonEnv, port: int, auth_enabled: bool):
         self.env = env
+        self.port: int = port
+        self.api: str = f"http://127.0.0.1:{port}"
         self.running = False
         self.auth_enabled = auth_enabled
         self.allowed_errors: list[str] = DEFAULT_STORAGE_CONTROLLER_ALLOWED_ERRORS
-        self.logfile = self.workdir / "storage_controller.log"
+        self.logfile = self.env.repo_dir / "storage_controller_1" / "storage_controller.log"
 
-    def start(self, timeout_in_seconds: Optional[int] = None):
+    def start(
+        self,
+        timeout_in_seconds: Optional[int] = None,
+        instance_id: Optional[int] = None,
+        base_port: Optional[int] = None,
+    ):
         assert not self.running
-        self.env.neon_cli.storage_controller_start(timeout_in_seconds)
+        self.env.neon_cli.storage_controller_start(timeout_in_seconds, instance_id, base_port)
         self.running = True
         return self
 
@@ -2172,6 +2247,12 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
             self.running = False
         return self
 
+    def upcall_api_endpoint(self) -> str:
+        return f"{self.api}/upcall/v1"
+
+    def api_root(self) -> str:
+        return self.api
+
     @staticmethod
     def retryable_node_operation(op, ps_id, max_attempts, backoff):
         while max_attempts > 0:
@@ -2200,7 +2281,9 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
 
     def assert_no_errors(self):
         assert_no_errors(
-            self.env.repo_dir / "storage_controller.log", "storage_controller", self.allowed_errors
+            self.logfile,
+            "storage_controller",
+            self.allowed_errors,
         )
 
     def pageserver_api(self) -> PageserverHttpClient:
@@ -2212,7 +2295,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         auth_token = None
         if self.auth_enabled:
             auth_token = self.env.auth_keys.generate_token(scope=TokenScope.PAGE_SERVER_API)
-        return PageserverHttpClient(self.env.storage_controller_port, lambda: True, auth_token)
+        return PageserverHttpClient(self.port, lambda: True, auth_token)
 
     def request(self, method, *args, **kwargs) -> requests.Response:
         resp = requests.request(method, *args, **kwargs)
@@ -2229,13 +2312,13 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         return headers
 
     def get_metrics(self) -> Metrics:
-        res = self.request("GET", f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/metrics")
+        res = self.request("GET", f"{self.api}/metrics")
         return parse_metrics(res.text)
 
     def ready(self) -> bool:
         status = None
         try:
-            resp = self.request("GET", f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/ready")
+            resp = self.request("GET", f"{self.api}/ready")
             status = resp.status_code
         except StorageControllerApiException as e:
             status = e.status_code
@@ -2268,7 +2351,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
 
         response = self.request(
             "POST",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/debug/v1/attach-hook",
+            f"{self.api}/debug/v1/attach-hook",
             json=body,
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
@@ -2279,7 +2362,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
     def attach_hook_drop(self, tenant_shard_id: Union[TenantId, TenantShardId]):
         self.request(
             "POST",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/debug/v1/attach-hook",
+            f"{self.api}/debug/v1/attach-hook",
             json={"tenant_shard_id": str(tenant_shard_id), "node_id": None},
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
@@ -2290,7 +2373,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         """
         response = self.request(
             "POST",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/debug/v1/inspect",
+            f"{self.api}/debug/v1/inspect",
             json={"tenant_shard_id": str(tenant_shard_id)},
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
@@ -2313,7 +2396,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         log.info(f"node_register({body})")
         self.request(
             "POST",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/node",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/node",
             json=body,
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
@@ -2322,7 +2405,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         log.info(f"node_delete({node_id})")
         self.request(
             "DELETE",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/node/{node_id}",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/node/{node_id}",
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
 
@@ -2330,7 +2413,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         log.info(f"node_drain({node_id})")
         self.request(
             "PUT",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/node/{node_id}/drain",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/node/{node_id}/drain",
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
 
@@ -2338,7 +2421,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         log.info(f"cancel_node_drain({node_id})")
         self.request(
             "DELETE",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/node/{node_id}/drain",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/node/{node_id}/drain",
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
 
@@ -2346,7 +2429,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         log.info(f"node_fill({node_id})")
         self.request(
             "PUT",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/node/{node_id}/fill",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/node/{node_id}/fill",
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
 
@@ -2354,14 +2437,22 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         log.info(f"cancel_node_fill({node_id})")
         self.request(
             "DELETE",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/node/{node_id}/fill",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/node/{node_id}/fill",
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
 
     def node_status(self, node_id):
         response = self.request(
             "GET",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/node/{node_id}",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/node/{node_id}",
+            headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
+        )
+        return response.json()
+
+    def get_leader(self):
+        response = self.request(
+            "GET",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/leader",
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
         return response.json()
@@ -2369,7 +2460,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
     def node_list(self):
         response = self.request(
             "GET",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/node",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/node",
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
         return response.json()
@@ -2377,7 +2468,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
     def tenant_list(self):
         response = self.request(
             "GET",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/debug/v1/tenant",
+            f"{self.api}/debug/v1/tenant",
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
         return response.json()
@@ -2387,7 +2478,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         body["node_id"] = node_id
         self.request(
             "PUT",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/node/{node_id}/config",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/node/{node_id}/config",
             json=body,
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
@@ -2422,7 +2513,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
 
         response = self.request(
             "POST",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/v1/tenant",
+            f"{self.api}/v1/tenant",
             json=body,
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.PAGE_SERVER_API),
         )
@@ -2435,7 +2526,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         """
         response = self.request(
             "GET",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/debug/v1/tenant/{tenant_id}/locate",
+            f"{self.api}/debug/v1/tenant/{tenant_id}/locate",
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
         body = response.json()
@@ -2448,7 +2539,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         """
         response = self.request(
             "GET",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/tenant/{tenant_id}",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/tenant/{tenant_id}",
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
         response.raise_for_status()
@@ -2459,7 +2550,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
     ) -> list[TenantShardId]:
         response = self.request(
             "PUT",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/tenant/{tenant_id}/shard_split",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/tenant/{tenant_id}/shard_split",
             json={"new_shard_count": shard_count, "new_stripe_size": shard_stripe_size},
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
@@ -2471,7 +2562,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
     def tenant_shard_migrate(self, tenant_shard_id: TenantShardId, dest_ps_id: int):
         self.request(
             "PUT",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/tenant/{tenant_shard_id}/migrate",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/tenant/{tenant_shard_id}/migrate",
             json={"tenant_shard_id": str(tenant_shard_id), "node_id": dest_ps_id},
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
@@ -2482,7 +2573,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         log.info(f"tenant_policy_update({tenant_id}, {body})")
         self.request(
             "PUT",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/tenant/{tenant_id}/policy",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/tenant/{tenant_id}/policy",
             json=body,
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
@@ -2490,14 +2581,14 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
     def tenant_import(self, tenant_id: TenantId):
         self.request(
             "POST",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/debug/v1/tenant/{tenant_id}/import",
+            f"{self.api}/debug/v1/tenant/{tenant_id}/import",
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
 
     def reconcile_all(self):
         r = self.request(
             "POST",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/debug/v1/reconcile_all",
+            f"{self.api}/debug/v1/reconcile_all",
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
         r.raise_for_status()
@@ -2530,7 +2621,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         """
         self.request(
             "POST",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/debug/v1/consistency_check",
+            f"{self.api}/debug/v1/consistency_check",
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
         log.info("storage controller passed consistency check")
@@ -2603,7 +2694,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
 
         self.request(
             "POST",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/metadata_health/update",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/metadata_health/update",
             json=body,
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.SCRUBBER),
         )
@@ -2611,7 +2702,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
     def metadata_health_list_unhealthy(self):
         response = self.request(
             "GET",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/metadata_health/unhealthy",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/metadata_health/unhealthy",
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
         return response.json()
@@ -2621,7 +2712,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
 
         response = self.request(
             "POST",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/metadata_health/outdated",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/metadata_health/outdated",
             json=body,
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
@@ -2644,7 +2735,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         log.info("Asking storage controller to step down")
         response = self.request(
             "PUT",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/control/v1/step_down",
+            f"{self.api}/control/v1/step_down",
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
 
@@ -2661,7 +2752,7 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
 
         res = self.request(
             "PUT",
-            f"{self.env.storage_controller_api}/debug/v1/failpoints",
+            f"{self.api}/debug/v1/failpoints",
             json=[{"name": name, "actions": actions} for name, actions in pairs],
             headers=self.headers(TokenScope.ADMIN),
         )
@@ -2731,9 +2822,21 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
                 parsed_tid, wait_ms=250
             )
 
-    @property
-    def workdir(self) -> Path:
-        return self.env.repo_dir
+    def get_leadership_status(self) -> StorageControllerLeadershipStatus:
+        metric_values = {}
+        for status in StorageControllerLeadershipStatus:
+            metric_value = self.get_metric_value(
+                "storage_controller_leadership_status", filter={"status": status}
+            )
+            metric_values[status] = metric_value
+
+        assert list(metric_values.values()).count(1) == 1
+
+        for status, metric_value in metric_values.items():
+            if metric_value == 1:
+                return status
+
+        raise AssertionError("unreachable")
 
     def __enter__(self) -> "NeonStorageController":
         return self
@@ -2747,6 +2850,59 @@ class NeonStorageController(MetricsGetter, LogUtils):
         self.stop(immediate=True)
 
 
+class NeonProxiedStorageController(NeonStorageController):
+    def __init__(self, env: NeonEnv, proxy_port: int, auth_enabled: bool):
+        super(NeonProxiedStorageController, self).__init__(env, proxy_port, auth_enabled)
+        self.instances: dict[int, dict[str, Any]] = {}
+
+    def start(
+        self,
+        timeout_in_seconds: Optional[int] = None,
+        instance_id: Optional[int] = None,
+        base_port: Optional[int] = None,
+    ):
+        assert instance_id is not None and base_port is not None
+
+        self.env.neon_cli.storage_controller_start(timeout_in_seconds, instance_id, base_port)
+        self.instances[instance_id] = {"running": True}
+
+        self.running = True
+        return self
+
+    def stop_instance(
+        self, immediate: bool = False, instance_id: Optional[int] = None
+    ) -> "NeonStorageController":
+        assert instance_id in self.instances
+        if self.instances[instance_id]["running"]:
+            self.env.neon_cli.storage_controller_stop(immediate, instance_id)
+            self.instances[instance_id]["running"] = False
+
+        self.running = any(meta["running"] for meta in self.instances.values())
+        return self
+
+    def stop(self, immediate: bool = False) -> "NeonStorageController":
+        for iid, details in self.instances.items():
+            if details["running"]:
+                self.env.neon_cli.storage_controller_stop(immediate, iid)
+                self.instances[iid]["running"] = False
+
+        self.running = False
+        return self
+
+    def assert_no_errors(self):
+        for instance_id in self.instances.keys():
+            assert_no_errors(
+                self.env.repo_dir / f"storage_controller_{instance_id}" / "storage_controller.log",
+                "storage_controller",
+                self.allowed_errors,
+            )
+
+    def log_contains(
+        self, pattern: str, offset: None | LogCursor = None
+    ) -> Optional[Tuple[str, LogCursor]]:
+        raise NotImplementedError()
+
+
 @dataclass
 class LogCursor:
     _line_no: int
@@ -4098,6 +4254,17 @@ class Endpoint(PgProtocol, LogUtils):
         assert self.pgdata_dir is not None  # please mypy
         return get_dir_size(os.path.join(self.pgdata_dir, "pg_wal")) / 1024 / 1024
 
+    def clear_shared_buffers(self, cursor: Optional[Any] = None):
+        """
+        Best-effort way to clear postgres buffers. Pinned buffers will not be 'cleared.'
+
+        Might also clear LFC.
+        """
+        if cursor is not None:
+            cursor.execute("select clear_buffer_cache()")
+        else:
+            self.safe_psql("select clear_buffer_cache()")
+
 
 class EndpointFactory:
     """An object representing multiple compute endpoints."""
@@ -4378,14 +4545,32 @@ class Safekeeper(LogUtils):
     def timeline_dir(self, tenant_id, timeline_id) -> Path:
         return self.data_dir / str(tenant_id) / str(timeline_id)
 
+    def list_uploaded_segments(self, tenant_id: TenantId, timeline_id: TimelineId):
+        tline_path = (
+            self.env.repo_dir
+            / "local_fs_remote_storage"
+            / "safekeeper"
+            / str(tenant_id)
+            / str(timeline_id)
+        )
+        assert isinstance(self.env.safekeepers_remote_storage, LocalFsStorage)
+        return self._list_segments_in_dir(
+            tline_path, lambda name: ".metadata" not in name and ".___temp" not in name
+        )
+
     def list_segments(self, tenant_id, timeline_id) -> List[str]:
         """
         Get list of segment names of the given timeline.
         """
         tli_dir = self.timeline_dir(tenant_id, timeline_id)
+        return self._list_segments_in_dir(
+            tli_dir, lambda name: not name.startswith("safekeeper.control")
+        )
+
+    def _list_segments_in_dir(self, path: Path, keep_filter: Callable[[str], bool]) -> list[str]:
         segments = []
-        for _, _, filenames in os.walk(tli_dir):
-            segments.extend([f for f in filenames if not f.startswith("safekeeper.control")])
+        for _, _, filenames in os.walk(path):
+            segments.extend([f for f in filenames if keep_filter(f)])
         segments.sort()
         return segments
 
@@ -4454,7 +4639,7 @@ class StorageScrubber:
 
         base_args = [
             str(self.env.neon_binpath / "storage_scrubber"),
-            f"--controller-api={self.env.storage_controller_api}",
+            f"--controller-api={self.env.storage_controller.api_root()}",
         ]
         args = base_args + args
 
@@ -4893,7 +5078,7 @@ def check_restored_datadir_content(
     assert (mismatch, error) == ([], [])
 
 
-def logical_replication_sync(subscriber: VanillaPostgres, publisher: Endpoint) -> Lsn:
+def logical_replication_sync(subscriber: PgProtocol, publisher: PgProtocol) -> Lsn:
     """Wait logical replication subscriber to sync with publisher."""
     publisher_lsn = Lsn(publisher.safe_psql("SELECT pg_current_wal_flush_lsn()")[0][0])
     while True:
diff --git a/test_runner/fixtures/storage_controller_proxy.py b/test_runner/fixtures/storage_controller_proxy.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3477f8b1f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_runner/fixtures/storage_controller_proxy.py
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import re
+from typing import Any, Optional
+
+import pytest
+import requests
+from pytest_httpserver import HTTPServer
+from werkzeug.datastructures import Headers
+from werkzeug.wrappers.request import Request
+from werkzeug.wrappers.response import Response
+
+from fixtures.log_helper import log
+
+
+class StorageControllerProxy:
+    def __init__(self, server: HTTPServer):
+        self.server: HTTPServer = server
+        self.listen: str = f"http://{server.host}:{server.port}"
+        self.routing_to: Optional[str] = None
+
+    def route_to(self, storage_controller_api: str):
+        self.routing_to = storage_controller_api
+
+    def port(self) -> int:
+        return self.server.port
+
+    def upcall_api_endpoint(self) -> str:
+        return f"{self.listen}/upcall/v1"
+
+
+def proxy_request(method: str, url: str, **kwargs) -> requests.Response:
+    return requests.request(method, url, **kwargs)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="function")
+def storage_controller_proxy(make_httpserver):
+    """
+    Proxies requests into the storage controller to the currently
+    selected storage controller instance via `StorageControllerProxy.route_to`.
+
+    This fixture is intended for tests that need to run multiple instances
+    of the storage controller at the same time.
+    """
+    server = make_httpserver
+
+    self = StorageControllerProxy(server)
+
+    log.info(f"Storage controller proxy listening on {self.listen}")
+
+    def handler(request: Request):
+        if self.route_to is None:
+            log.info(f"Storage controller proxy has no routing configured for {request.url}")
+            return Response("Routing not configured", status=503)
+
+        route_to_url = f"{self.routing_to}{request.path}"
+
+        log.info(f"Routing {request.url} to {route_to_url}")
+
+        args: dict[str, Any] = {"headers": request.headers}
+        if request.is_json:
+            args["json"] = request.json
+
+        response = proxy_request(request.method, route_to_url, **args)
+
+        headers = Headers()
+        for key, value in response.headers.items():
+            headers.add(key, value)
+
+        return Response(response.content, headers=headers, status=response.status_code)
+
+    self.server.expect_request(re.compile(".*")).respond_with_handler(handler)
+
+    yield self
+    server.clear()
diff --git a/test_runner/fixtures/utils.py b/test_runner/fixtures/utils.py
index 4dc9f7caae..80f1c9e4e3 100644
--- a/test_runner/fixtures/utils.py
+++ b/test_runner/fixtures/utils.py
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ def wait_until(
         try:
             res = func()
         except Exception as e:
-            log.info("waiting for %s iteration %s failed", func, i + 1)
+            log.info("waiting for %s iteration %s failed: %s", func, i + 1, e)
             last_exception = e
             if show_intermediate_error:
                 log.info(e)
diff --git a/test_runner/fixtures/workload.py b/test_runner/fixtures/workload.py
index dfd9caba3e..cc93762175 100644
--- a/test_runner/fixtures/workload.py
+++ b/test_runner/fixtures/workload.py
@@ -182,14 +182,8 @@ class Workload:
 
     def validate(self, pageserver_id: Optional[int] = None):
         endpoint = self.endpoint(pageserver_id)
-        result = endpoint.safe_psql_many(
-            [
-                "select clear_buffer_cache()",
-                f"""
-            SELECT COUNT(*) FROM {self.table}
-            """,
-            ]
-        )
+        endpoint.clear_shared_buffers()
+        result = endpoint.safe_psql(f"SELECT COUNT(*) FROM {self.table}")
 
         log.info(f"validate({self.expect_rows}): {result}")
-        assert result == [[("",)], [(self.expect_rows,)]]
+        assert result == [(self.expect_rows,)]
diff --git a/test_runner/performance/pageserver/pagebench/test_large_slru_basebackup.py b/test_runner/performance/pageserver/pagebench/test_large_slru_basebackup.py
index 3258d4dcfa..8b934057e4 100644
--- a/test_runner/performance/pageserver/pagebench/test_large_slru_basebackup.py
+++ b/test_runner/performance/pageserver/pagebench/test_large_slru_basebackup.py
@@ -44,8 +44,7 @@ def test_basebackup_with_high_slru_count(
     page_cache_size = 16384
     max_file_descriptors = 500000
     neon_env_builder.pageserver_config_override = (
-        f"page_cache_size={page_cache_size}; max_file_descriptors={max_file_descriptors}; "
-        f"get_vectored_impl='vectored'; validate_vectored_get=false"
+        f"page_cache_size={page_cache_size}; max_file_descriptors={max_file_descriptors}"
     )
     params.update(
         {
diff --git a/test_runner/performance/pageserver/pagebench/test_ondemand_download_churn.py b/test_runner/performance/pageserver/pagebench/test_ondemand_download_churn.py
index 644c1f559b..0348b08f04 100644
--- a/test_runner/performance/pageserver/pagebench/test_ondemand_download_churn.py
+++ b/test_runner/performance/pageserver/pagebench/test_ondemand_download_churn.py
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ def test_download_churn(
 
     run_benchmark(env, pg_bin, record, io_engine, concurrency_per_target, duration)
 
+    # see https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/issues/8712
+    env.stop(immediate=True)
+
 
 def setup_env(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder, pg_bin: PgBin):
     remote_storage_kind = s3_storage()
diff --git a/test_runner/performance/test_bulk_insert.py b/test_runner/performance/test_bulk_insert.py
index 3dad348976..69df7974b9 100644
--- a/test_runner/performance/test_bulk_insert.py
+++ b/test_runner/performance/test_bulk_insert.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 from contextlib import closing
 
-import pytest
 from fixtures.benchmark_fixture import MetricReport
 from fixtures.common_types import Lsn
 from fixtures.compare_fixtures import NeonCompare, PgCompare
+from fixtures.log_helper import log
 from fixtures.pg_version import PgVersion
 
 
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ from fixtures.pg_version import PgVersion
 # 3. Disk space used
 # 4. Peak memory usage
 #
-@pytest.mark.skip("See https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/issues/7124")
 def test_bulk_insert(neon_with_baseline: PgCompare):
     env = neon_with_baseline
 
@@ -30,8 +29,8 @@ def test_bulk_insert(neon_with_baseline: PgCompare):
             # Run INSERT, recording the time and I/O it takes
             with env.record_pageserver_writes("pageserver_writes"):
                 with env.record_duration("insert"):
-                    cur.execute("insert into huge values (generate_series(1, 5000000), 0);")
-                    env.flush()
+                    cur.execute("insert into huge values (generate_series(1, 20000000), 0);")
+                    env.flush(compact=False, gc=False)
 
             env.report_peak_memory_use()
             env.report_size()
@@ -49,6 +48,9 @@ def test_bulk_insert(neon_with_baseline: PgCompare):
     if isinstance(env, NeonCompare):
         measure_recovery_time(env)
 
+    with env.record_duration("compaction"):
+        env.compact()
+
 
 def measure_recovery_time(env: NeonCompare):
     client = env.env.pageserver.http_client()
@@ -71,7 +73,9 @@ def measure_recovery_time(env: NeonCompare):
 
     # Measure recovery time
     with env.record_duration("wal_recovery"):
+        log.info("Entering recovery...")
         client.timeline_create(pg_version, env.tenant, env.timeline)
 
         # Flush, which will also wait for lsn to catch up
-        env.flush()
+        env.flush(compact=False, gc=False)
+        log.info("Finished recovery.")
diff --git a/test_runner/performance/test_layer_map.py b/test_runner/performance/test_layer_map.py
index 9b20954d45..890b70b9fc 100644
--- a/test_runner/performance/test_layer_map.py
+++ b/test_runner/performance/test_layer_map.py
@@ -36,3 +36,6 @@ def test_layer_map(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder, zenbenchmark):
     with zenbenchmark.record_duration("test_query"):
         cur.execute("SELECT count(*) from t")
         assert cur.fetchone() == (n_iters * n_records,)
+
+    # see https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/issues/8712
+    env.stop(immediate=True)
diff --git a/test_runner/performance/test_logical_replication.py b/test_runner/performance/test_logical_replication.py
index 4b4ffc1fee..077f73ac06 100644
--- a/test_runner/performance/test_logical_replication.py
+++ b/test_runner/performance/test_logical_replication.py
@@ -262,3 +262,86 @@ def test_publisher_restart(
             sub_workload.terminate()
     finally:
         pub_workload.terminate()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.remote_cluster
+@pytest.mark.timeout(2 * 60 * 60)
+def test_snap_files(
+    pg_bin: PgBin,
+    benchmark_project_pub: NeonApiEndpoint,
+    zenbenchmark: NeonBenchmarker,
+):
+    """
+    Creates a node with a replication slot. Generates pgbench into the replication slot,
+    then runs pgbench inserts while generating large numbers of snapfiles. Then restarts
+    the node and tries to peek the replication changes.
+    """
+    test_duration_min = 60
+    test_interval_min = 5
+    pgbench_duration = f"-T{test_duration_min * 60 * 2}"
+
+    env = benchmark_project_pub.pgbench_env
+    connstr = benchmark_project_pub.connstr
+
+    with psycopg2.connect(connstr) as conn:
+        conn.autocommit = True
+        with conn.cursor() as cur:
+            cur.execute("SELECT rolsuper FROM pg_roles WHERE rolname = 'neondb_owner'")
+            is_super = cur.fetchall()[0][0]
+            assert is_super, "This benchmark won't work if we don't have superuser"
+
+    pg_bin.run_capture(["pgbench", "-i", "-s100"], env=env)
+
+    conn = psycopg2.connect(connstr)
+    conn.autocommit = True
+    cur = conn.cursor()
+    cur.execute("ALTER SYSTEM SET neon.logical_replication_max_snap_files = -1")
+
+    with psycopg2.connect(connstr) as conn:
+        conn.autocommit = True
+        with conn.cursor() as cur:
+            cur.execute("SELECT pg_reload_conf()")
+
+    with psycopg2.connect(connstr) as conn:
+        conn.autocommit = True
+        with conn.cursor() as cur:
+            cur.execute(
+                """
+                DO $$
+                    BEGIN
+                    IF EXISTS (
+                        SELECT 1
+                        FROM pg_replication_slots
+                        WHERE slot_name = 'slotter'
+                    ) THEN
+                        PERFORM pg_drop_replication_slot('slotter');
+                    END IF;
+                END $$;
+            """
+            )
+            cur.execute("SELECT pg_create_logical_replication_slot('slotter', 'test_decoding')")
+
+    workload = pg_bin.run_nonblocking(["pgbench", "-c10", pgbench_duration, "-Mprepared"], env=env)
+    try:
+        start = time.time()
+        prev_measurement = time.time()
+        while time.time() - start < test_duration_min * 60:
+            with psycopg2.connect(connstr) as conn:
+                with conn.cursor() as cur:
+                    cur.execute(
+                        "SELECT count(*) FROM (SELECT pg_log_standby_snapshot() FROM generate_series(1, 10000) g) s"
+                    )
+                    check_pgbench_still_running(workload)
+                    cur.execute(
+                        "SELECT pg_replication_slot_advance('slotter', pg_current_wal_lsn())"
+                    )
+
+            # Measure storage
+            if time.time() - prev_measurement > test_interval_min * 60:
+                storage = benchmark_project_pub.get_synthetic_storage_size()
+                zenbenchmark.record("storage", storage, "B", MetricReport.LOWER_IS_BETTER)
+                prev_measurement = time.time()
+            time.sleep(test_interval_min * 60 / 3)
+
+    finally:
+        workload.terminate()
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_ancestor_branch.py b/test_runner/regress/test_ancestor_branch.py
index 7e40081aa2..f83b44a7ad 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_ancestor_branch.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_ancestor_branch.py
@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@ def test_ancestor_branch(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
         }
     )
 
-    pageserver_http.configure_failpoints(("flush-frozen-pausable", "sleep(10000)"))
+    failpoint = "flush-frozen-pausable"
+
+    pageserver_http.configure_failpoints((failpoint, "sleep(10000)"))
 
     endpoint_branch0 = env.endpoints.create_start("main", tenant_id=tenant)
     branch0_cur = endpoint_branch0.connect().cursor()
@@ -96,3 +98,5 @@ def test_ancestor_branch(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
     assert query_scalar(branch1_cur, "SELECT count(*) FROM foo") == 200000
 
     assert query_scalar(branch2_cur, "SELECT count(*) FROM foo") == 300000
+
+    pageserver_http.configure_failpoints((failpoint, "off"))
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_combocid.py b/test_runner/regress/test_combocid.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6d2567b7ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_combocid.py
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+from fixtures.neon_fixtures import NeonEnvBuilder
+
+
+def do_combocid_op(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder, op):
+    env = neon_env_builder.init_start()
+    endpoint = env.endpoints.create_start(
+        "main",
+        config_lines=[
+            "shared_buffers='1MB'",
+        ],
+    )
+
+    conn = endpoint.connect()
+    cur = conn.cursor()
+    n_records = 1000
+
+    cur.execute("CREATE EXTENSION neon_test_utils")
+
+    cur.execute("create table t(id integer, val integer)")
+
+    cur.execute("begin")
+    cur.execute("insert into t values (1, 0)")
+    cur.execute("insert into t values (2, 0)")
+    cur.execute(f"insert into t select g, 0 from generate_series(3,{n_records}) g")
+
+    # Open a cursor that scroll it halfway through
+    cur.execute("DECLARE c1 NO SCROLL CURSOR WITHOUT HOLD FOR SELECT * FROM t")
+    cur.execute("fetch 500 from c1")
+    rows = cur.fetchall()
+    assert len(rows) == 500
+
+    # Perform specified operation
+    cur.execute(op)
+
+    # Clear the cache, so that we exercise reconstructing the pages
+    # from WAL
+    cur.execute("SELECT clear_buffer_cache()")
+
+    # Check that the cursor opened earlier still works. If the
+    # combocids are not restored correctly, it won't.
+    cur.execute("fetch all from c1")
+    rows = cur.fetchall()
+    assert len(rows) == 500
+
+    cur.execute("rollback")
+
+
+def test_combocid_delete(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
+    do_combocid_op(neon_env_builder, "delete from t")
+
+
+def test_combocid_update(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
+    do_combocid_op(neon_env_builder, "update t set val=val+1")
+
+
+def test_combocid_lock(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
+    do_combocid_op(neon_env_builder, "select * from t for update")
+
+
+def test_combocid_multi_insert(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
+    env = neon_env_builder.init_start()
+    endpoint = env.endpoints.create_start(
+        "main",
+        config_lines=[
+            "shared_buffers='1MB'",
+        ],
+    )
+
+    conn = endpoint.connect()
+    cur = conn.cursor()
+    n_records = 1000
+
+    cur.execute("CREATE EXTENSION neon_test_utils")
+
+    cur.execute("create table t(id integer, val integer)")
+    file_path = f"{endpoint.pg_data_dir_path()}/t.csv"
+    cur.execute(f"insert into t select g, 0 from generate_series(1,{n_records}) g")
+    cur.execute(f"copy t to '{file_path}'")
+    cur.execute("truncate table t")
+
+    cur.execute("begin")
+    cur.execute(f"copy t from '{file_path}'")
+
+    # Open a cursor that scroll it halfway through
+    cur.execute("DECLARE c1 NO SCROLL CURSOR WITHOUT HOLD FOR SELECT * FROM t")
+    cur.execute("fetch 500 from c1")
+    rows = cur.fetchall()
+    assert len(rows) == 500
+
+    # Delete all the rows. Because all of the rows were inserted earlier in the
+    # same transaction, all the rows will get a combocid.
+    cur.execute("delete from t")
+    # Clear the cache, so that we exercise reconstructing the pages
+    # from WAL
+    cur.execute("SELECT clear_buffer_cache()")
+
+    # Check that the cursor opened earlier still works. If the
+    # combocids are not restored correctly, it won't.
+    cur.execute("fetch all from c1")
+    rows = cur.fetchall()
+    assert len(rows) == 500
+
+    cur.execute("rollback")
+
+
+def test_combocid(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
+    env = neon_env_builder.init_start()
+    endpoint = env.endpoints.create_start("main")
+
+    conn = endpoint.connect()
+    cur = conn.cursor()
+    n_records = 100000
+
+    cur.execute("create table t(id integer, val integer)")
+    cur.execute(f"insert into t values (generate_series(1,{n_records}), 0)")
+
+    cur.execute("begin")
+
+    cur.execute("update t set val=val+1")
+    assert cur.rowcount == n_records
+    cur.execute("update t set val=val+1")
+    assert cur.rowcount == n_records
+    cur.execute("update t set val=val+1")
+    assert cur.rowcount == n_records
+
+    cur.execute("delete from t")
+    assert cur.rowcount == n_records
+    cur.execute("delete from t")
+    assert cur.rowcount == 0
+
+    cur.execute(f"insert into t values (generate_series(1,{n_records}), 0)")
+    cur.execute("update t set val=val+1")
+    assert cur.rowcount == n_records
+    cur.execute("update t set val=val+1")
+    assert cur.rowcount == n_records
+    cur.execute("update t set val=val+1")
+    assert cur.rowcount == n_records
+
+    cur.execute("rollback")
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_hot_standby.py b/test_runner/regress/test_hot_standby.py
index 8edc8c554c..ae63136abb 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_hot_standby.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_hot_standby.py
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ def test_hot_standby_gc(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder, pause_apply: bool):
             # re-execute the query, it will make GetPage
             # requests. This does not clear the last-written LSN cache
             # so we still remember the LSNs of the pages.
-            s_cur.execute("SELECT clear_buffer_cache()")
+            secondary.clear_shared_buffers(cursor=s_cur)
 
             if pause_apply:
                 s_cur.execute("SELECT pg_wal_replay_pause()")
@@ -332,6 +332,7 @@ def test_replica_query_race(neon_simple_env: NeonEnv):
                 log.info(f"read {reads}: counter {readcounter}, last update {writecounter}")
             reads += 1
 
+            # FIXME: what about LFC clearing?
             await conn.execute("SELECT clear_buffer_cache()")
 
     async def both():
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_lfc_resize.py b/test_runner/regress/test_lfc_resize.py
index 2a3442448a..1b2c7f808f 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_lfc_resize.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_lfc_resize.py
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+import os
+import random
+import re
+import subprocess
 import threading
 import time
 
@@ -17,17 +21,17 @@ def test_lfc_resize(neon_simple_env: NeonEnv, pg_bin: PgBin):
         "test_lfc_resize",
         config_lines=[
             "neon.file_cache_path='file.cache'",
-            "neon.max_file_cache_size=1GB",
-            "neon.file_cache_size_limit=1GB",
+            "neon.max_file_cache_size=512MB",
+            "neon.file_cache_size_limit=512MB",
         ],
     )
     n_resize = 10
-    scale = 10
+    scale = 100
 
     def run_pgbench(connstr: str):
         log.info(f"Start a pgbench workload on pg {connstr}")
         pg_bin.run_capture(["pgbench", "-i", f"-s{scale}", connstr])
-        pg_bin.run_capture(["pgbench", "-c4", f"-T{n_resize}", "-Mprepared", connstr])
+        pg_bin.run_capture(["pgbench", "-c10", f"-T{n_resize}", "-Mprepared", "-S", connstr])
 
     thread = threading.Thread(target=run_pgbench, args=(endpoint.connstr(),), daemon=True)
     thread.start()
@@ -35,9 +39,21 @@ def test_lfc_resize(neon_simple_env: NeonEnv, pg_bin: PgBin):
     conn = endpoint.connect()
     cur = conn.cursor()
 
-    for i in range(n_resize):
-        cur.execute(f"alter system set neon.file_cache_size_limit='{i*10}MB'")
+    for _ in range(n_resize):
+        size = random.randint(1, 512)
+        cur.execute(f"alter system set neon.file_cache_size_limit='{size}MB'")
         cur.execute("select pg_reload_conf()")
         time.sleep(1)
 
+    cur.execute("alter system set neon.file_cache_size_limit='100MB'")
+    cur.execute("select pg_reload_conf()")
+
     thread.join()
+
+    lfc_file_path = f"{endpoint.pg_data_dir_path()}/file.cache"
+    lfc_file_size = os.path.getsize(lfc_file_path)
+    res = subprocess.run(["ls", "-sk", lfc_file_path], check=True, text=True, capture_output=True)
+    lfc_file_blocks = re.findall("([0-9A-F]+)", res.stdout)[0]
+    log.info(f"Size of LFC file {lfc_file_size}, blocks {lfc_file_blocks}")
+    assert lfc_file_size <= 512 * 1024 * 1024
+    assert int(lfc_file_blocks) <= 128 * 1024
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_logical_replication.py b/test_runner/regress/test_logical_replication.py
index 66afe9ddfd..0d18aa43b7 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_logical_replication.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_logical_replication.py
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@ from random import choice
 from string import ascii_lowercase
 
 import pytest
+from fixtures.common_types import Lsn
 from fixtures.log_helper import log
 from fixtures.neon_fixtures import (
     AuxFileStore,
     NeonEnv,
     NeonEnvBuilder,
+    PgProtocol,
     logical_replication_sync,
     wait_for_last_flush_lsn,
 )
@@ -253,6 +255,21 @@ FROM generate_series(1, 16384) AS seq; -- Inserts enough rows to exceed 16MB of
         cur.execute(
             "SELECT * FROM pg_logical_slot_peek_binary_changes('slotty_mcslotface', NULL, NULL, 'include-xids', '0')"
         )
+        cur.execute(
+            """
+INSERT INTO wal_generator (data)
+SELECT repeat('A', 1024) -- Generates a kilobyte of data per row
+FROM generate_series(1, 16384) AS seq; -- Inserts enough rows to exceed 16MB of data
+"""
+        )
+
+    endpoint.stop_and_destroy()
+    endpoint = env.endpoints.create_start("init")
+    with endpoint.connect().cursor() as cur:
+        log.info("advance slot")
+        cur.execute(
+            "SELECT * from pg_replication_slot_advance('slotty_mcslotface', pg_current_wal_lsn())"
+        )
 
 
 # Tests that walsender correctly blocks until WAL is downloaded from safekeepers
@@ -524,3 +541,90 @@ def test_replication_shutdown(neon_simple_env: NeonEnv):
             assert [r[0] for r in res] == [10, 20, 30, 40]
 
         wait_until(10, 0.5, check_that_changes_propagated)
+
+
+def logical_replication_wait_flush_lsn_sync(publisher: PgProtocol) -> Lsn:
+    """
+    Wait for logical replication subscriber reported flush_lsn to reach
+    pg_current_wal_flush_lsn on publisher. Note that this is somewhat unreliable
+    because for some WAL records like vacuum subscriber won't get any data at
+    all.
+    """
+    publisher_flush_lsn = Lsn(publisher.safe_psql("SELECT pg_current_wal_flush_lsn()")[0][0])
+
+    def check_caughtup():
+        res = publisher.safe_psql(
+            """
+select sent_lsn, flush_lsn, pg_current_wal_flush_lsn() from pg_stat_replication sr, pg_replication_slots s
+   where s.active_pid = sr.pid and s.slot_type = 'logical';
+                                  """
+        )[0]
+        sent_lsn, flush_lsn, curr_publisher_flush_lsn = Lsn(res[0]), Lsn(res[1]), Lsn(res[2])
+        log.info(
+            f"sent_lsn={sent_lsn}, flush_lsn={flush_lsn}, publisher_flush_lsn={curr_publisher_flush_lsn}, waiting flush_lsn to reach {publisher_flush_lsn}"
+        )
+        assert flush_lsn >= publisher_flush_lsn
+
+    wait_until(30, 0.5, check_caughtup)
+    return publisher_flush_lsn
+
+
+# Test that subscriber takes into account quorum committed flush_lsn in
+# flush_lsn reporting to publisher. Without this, it may ack too far, losing
+# data on restart because publisher advances START_REPLICATION position to the
+# confirmed_flush_lsn of the slot.
+def test_subscriber_synchronous_commit(neon_simple_env: NeonEnv, vanilla_pg):
+    env = neon_simple_env
+    # use vanilla as publisher to allow writes on it when safekeeper is down
+    vanilla_pg.configure(
+        [
+            "wal_level = 'logical'",
+            # neon fork uses custom WAL records which won't work without extension installed with obscure
+            # ERROR:  resource manager with ID 134 not registered
+            # error.
+            "shared_preload_libraries = 'neon'",
+        ]
+    )
+    vanilla_pg.start()
+    vanilla_pg.safe_psql("create extension neon;")
+
+    env.neon_cli.create_branch("subscriber")
+    sub = env.endpoints.create("subscriber")
+    sub.start()
+
+    with vanilla_pg.cursor() as pcur:
+        with sub.cursor() as scur:
+            pcur.execute("CREATE TABLE t (pk integer primary key, sk integer)")
+            pcur.execute("CREATE PUBLICATION pub FOR TABLE t")
+            scur.execute("CREATE TABLE t (pk integer primary key, sk integer)")
+
+            pub_connstr = vanilla_pg.connstr().replace("'", "''")
+            log.info(f"pub connstr is {pub_connstr}, subscriber connstr {sub.connstr()}")
+            query = f"CREATE SUBSCRIPTION sub CONNECTION '{pub_connstr}' PUBLICATION pub with (synchronous_commit=off)"
+            scur.execute(query)
+            time.sleep(2)  # let initial table sync complete
+
+    # stop safekeeper so it won't get any data
+    for sk in env.safekeepers:
+        sk.stop()
+    # and insert to publisher
+    with vanilla_pg.cursor() as pcur:
+        for i in range(0, 1000):
+            pcur.execute("INSERT into t values (%s, random()*100000)", (i,))
+    # wait until sub receives all data
+    logical_replication_sync(sub, vanilla_pg)
+    # Update confirmed_flush_lsn of the slot. If subscriber ack'ed recevied data
+    # as flushed we'll now lose it if subscriber restars. That's why
+    # logical_replication_wait_flush_lsn_sync is expected to hang while
+    # safekeeper is down.
+    vanilla_pg.safe_psql("checkpoint;")
+    assert sub.safe_psql_scalar("SELECT count(*) FROM t") == 1000
+
+    # restart subscriber and ensure it can catch up lost tail again
+    sub.stop(mode="immediate")
+    for sk in env.safekeepers:
+        sk.start()
+    sub.start()
+    log.info("waiting for sync after restart")
+    logical_replication_wait_flush_lsn_sync(vanilla_pg)
+    assert sub.safe_psql_scalar("SELECT count(*) FROM t") == 1000
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_oid_overflow.py b/test_runner/regress/test_oid_overflow.py
index a94ae99ed9..e8eefc2414 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_oid_overflow.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_oid_overflow.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def test_oid_overflow(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
     oid = cur.fetchall()[0][0]
     log.info(f"t2.relfilenode={oid}")
 
-    cur.execute("SELECT clear_buffer_cache()")
+    endpoint.clear_shared_buffers(cursor=cur)
 
     cur.execute("SELECT x from t1")
     assert cur.fetchone() == (1,)
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_pageserver_restart.py b/test_runner/regress/test_pageserver_restart.py
index 68a45f957c..bbf82fea4c 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_pageserver_restart.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_pageserver_restart.py
@@ -159,6 +159,8 @@ def test_pageserver_chaos(
     if build_type == "debug":
         pytest.skip("times out in debug builds")
 
+    # same rationale as with the immediate stop; we might leave orphan layers behind.
+    neon_env_builder.disable_scrub_on_exit()
     neon_env_builder.enable_pageserver_remote_storage(s3_storage())
     if shard_count is not None:
         neon_env_builder.num_pageservers = shard_count
@@ -220,3 +222,11 @@ def test_pageserver_chaos(
         # Check that all the updates are visible
         num_updates = endpoint.safe_psql("SELECT sum(updates) FROM foo")[0][0]
         assert num_updates == i * 100000
+
+    # currently pageserver cannot tolerate the fact that "s3" goes away, and if
+    # we succeeded in a compaction before shutdown, there might be a lot of
+    # uploads pending, certainly more than what we can ingest with MOCK_S3
+    #
+    # so instead, do a fast shutdown for this one test.
+    # See https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/issues/8709
+    env.stop(immediate=True)
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_proxy.py b/test_runner/regress/test_proxy.py
index f446f4f200..d2b8c2ed8b 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_proxy.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_proxy.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import asyncio
 import json
 import subprocess
 import time
+import urllib.parse
 from typing import Any, List, Optional, Tuple
 
 import psycopg2
@@ -275,6 +276,31 @@ def test_sql_over_http(static_proxy: NeonProxy):
     assert res["rowCount"] is None
 
 
+def test_sql_over_http_db_name_with_space(static_proxy: NeonProxy):
+    db = "db with spaces"
+    static_proxy.safe_psql_many(
+        (
+            f'create database "{db}"',
+            "create role http with login password 'http' superuser",
+        )
+    )
+
+    def q(sql: str, params: Optional[List[Any]] = None) -> Any:
+        params = params or []
+        connstr = f"postgresql://http:http@{static_proxy.domain}:{static_proxy.proxy_port}/{urllib.parse.quote(db)}"
+        response = requests.post(
+            f"https://{static_proxy.domain}:{static_proxy.external_http_port}/sql",
+            data=json.dumps({"query": sql, "params": params}),
+            headers={"Content-Type": "application/sql", "Neon-Connection-String": connstr},
+            verify=str(static_proxy.test_output_dir / "proxy.crt"),
+        )
+        assert response.status_code == 200, response.text
+        return response.json()
+
+    rows = q("select 42 as answer")["rows"]
+    assert rows == [{"answer": 42}]
+
+
 def test_sql_over_http_output_options(static_proxy: NeonProxy):
     static_proxy.safe_psql("create role http2 with login password 'http2' superuser")
 
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_read_validation.py b/test_runner/regress/test_read_validation.py
index 2437c8f806..d128c60a99 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_read_validation.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_read_validation.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def test_read_validation(neon_simple_env: NeonEnv):
 
             log.info("Clear buffer cache to ensure no stale pages are brought into the cache")
 
-            c.execute("select clear_buffer_cache()")
+            endpoint.clear_shared_buffers(cursor=c)
 
             cache_entries = query_scalar(
                 c, f"select count(*) from pg_buffercache where relfilenode = {relfilenode}"
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_storage_controller.py b/test_runner/regress/test_storage_controller.py
index 9b2557a165..95c35e9641 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_storage_controller.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_storage_controller.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import concurrent.futures
 import json
 import threading
 import time
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ from fixtures.neon_fixtures import (
     PageserverSchedulingPolicy,
     PgBin,
     StorageControllerApiException,
+    StorageControllerLeadershipStatus,
     TokenScope,
     last_flush_lsn_upload,
 )
@@ -30,7 +32,9 @@ from fixtures.pageserver.utils import (
     timeline_delete_wait_completed,
 )
 from fixtures.pg_version import PgVersion
+from fixtures.port_distributor import PortDistributor
 from fixtures.remote_storage import RemoteStorageKind, s3_storage
+from fixtures.storage_controller_proxy import StorageControllerProxy
 from fixtures.utils import run_pg_bench_small, subprocess_capture, wait_until
 from fixtures.workload import Workload
 from mypy_boto3_s3.type_defs import (
@@ -2091,3 +2095,172 @@ def test_storage_controller_step_down(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
         )
         == 0
     )
+
+
+# This is a copy of NeonEnv.start which injects the instance id and port
+# into the call to NeonStorageController.start
+def start_env(env: NeonEnv, storage_controller_port: int):
+    timeout_in_seconds = 30
+
+    # Storage controller starts first, so that pageserver /re-attach calls don't
+    # bounce through retries on startup
+    env.storage_controller.start(timeout_in_seconds, 1, storage_controller_port)
+
+    # Wait for storage controller readiness to prevent unnecessary post start-up
+    # reconcile.
+    env.storage_controller.wait_until_ready()
+
+    # Start up broker, pageserver and all safekeepers
+    futs = []
+    with concurrent.futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(
+        max_workers=2 + len(env.pageservers) + len(env.safekeepers)
+    ) as executor:
+        futs.append(
+            executor.submit(lambda: env.broker.try_start() or None)
+        )  # The `or None` is for the linter
+
+        for pageserver in env.pageservers:
+            futs.append(
+                executor.submit(
+                    lambda ps=pageserver: ps.start(timeout_in_seconds=timeout_in_seconds)
+                )
+            )
+
+        for safekeeper in env.safekeepers:
+            futs.append(
+                executor.submit(
+                    lambda sk=safekeeper: sk.start(timeout_in_seconds=timeout_in_seconds)
+                )
+            )
+
+    for f in futs:
+        f.result()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("step_down_times_out", [False, True])
+def test_storage_controller_leadership_transfer(
+    neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder,
+    storage_controller_proxy: StorageControllerProxy,
+    port_distributor: PortDistributor,
+    step_down_times_out: bool,
+):
+    neon_env_builder.num_pageservers = 3
+
+    neon_env_builder.storage_controller_config = {
+        "database_url": f"127.0.0.1:{port_distributor.get_port()}",
+        "start_as_candidate": True,
+    }
+
+    neon_env_builder.storage_controller_port_override = storage_controller_proxy.port()
+
+    storage_controller_1_port = port_distributor.get_port()
+    storage_controller_2_port = port_distributor.get_port()
+
+    storage_controller_proxy.route_to(f"http://127.0.0.1:{storage_controller_1_port}")
+
+    env = neon_env_builder.init_configs()
+    start_env(env, storage_controller_1_port)
+
+    assert (
+        env.storage_controller.get_leadership_status() == StorageControllerLeadershipStatus.LEADER
+    )
+    leader = env.storage_controller.get_leader()
+    assert leader["address"] == f"http://127.0.0.1:{storage_controller_1_port}/"
+
+    if step_down_times_out:
+        env.storage_controller.configure_failpoints(
+            ("sleep-on-step-down-handling", "return(10000)")
+        )
+        env.storage_controller.allowed_errors.append(".*request was dropped before completing.*")
+
+    tenant_count = 2
+    shard_count = 4
+    tenants = set(TenantId.generate() for _ in range(0, tenant_count))
+
+    for tid in tenants:
+        env.storage_controller.tenant_create(
+            tid, shard_count=shard_count, placement_policy={"Attached": 1}
+        )
+    env.storage_controller.reconcile_until_idle()
+
+    env.storage_controller.start(
+        timeout_in_seconds=30, instance_id=2, base_port=storage_controller_2_port
+    )
+
+    if not step_down_times_out:
+
+        def previous_stepped_down():
+            assert (
+                env.storage_controller.get_leadership_status()
+                == StorageControllerLeadershipStatus.STEPPED_DOWN
+            )
+
+        wait_until(5, 1, previous_stepped_down)
+
+    storage_controller_proxy.route_to(f"http://127.0.0.1:{storage_controller_2_port}")
+
+    def new_becomes_leader():
+        assert (
+            env.storage_controller.get_leadership_status()
+            == StorageControllerLeadershipStatus.LEADER
+        )
+
+    wait_until(15, 1, new_becomes_leader)
+    leader = env.storage_controller.get_leader()
+    assert leader["address"] == f"http://127.0.0.1:{storage_controller_2_port}/"
+
+    env.storage_controller.wait_until_ready()
+    env.storage_controller.consistency_check()
+
+    if step_down_times_out:
+        env.storage_controller.allowed_errors.extend(
+            [
+                ".*Leader.*did not respond to step-down request.*",
+                ".*Send step down request failed.*",
+                ".*Send step down request still failed.*",
+            ]
+        )
+
+
+def test_storage_controller_ps_restarted_during_drain(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
+    # single unsharded tenant, two locations
+    neon_env_builder.num_pageservers = 2
+
+    env = neon_env_builder.init_start()
+
+    env.storage_controller.tenant_policy_update(env.initial_tenant, {"placement": {"Attached": 1}})
+    env.storage_controller.reconcile_until_idle()
+
+    attached_id = int(env.storage_controller.locate(env.initial_tenant)[0]["node_id"])
+    attached = next((ps for ps in env.pageservers if ps.id == attached_id))
+
+    def attached_is_draining():
+        details = env.storage_controller.node_status(attached.id)
+        assert details["scheduling"] == "Draining"
+
+    env.storage_controller.configure_failpoints(("sleepy-drain-loop", "return(10000)"))
+    env.storage_controller.node_drain(attached.id)
+
+    wait_until(10, 0.5, attached_is_draining)
+
+    attached.restart()
+
+    # we are unable to reconfigure node while the operation is still ongoing
+    with pytest.raises(
+        StorageControllerApiException,
+        match="Precondition failed: Ongoing background operation forbids configuring: drain.*",
+    ):
+        env.storage_controller.node_configure(attached.id, {"scheduling": "Pause"})
+    with pytest.raises(
+        StorageControllerApiException,
+        match="Precondition failed: Ongoing background operation forbids configuring: drain.*",
+    ):
+        env.storage_controller.node_configure(attached.id, {"availability": "Offline"})
+
+    env.storage_controller.cancel_node_drain(attached.id)
+
+    def reconfigure_node_again():
+        env.storage_controller.node_configure(attached.id, {"scheduling": "Pause"})
+
+    # allow for small delay between actually having cancelled and being able reconfigure again
+    wait_until(4, 0.5, reconfigure_node_again)
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_storage_scrubber.py b/test_runner/regress/test_storage_scrubber.py
index 388f6a9e92..2844d1b1d2 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_storage_scrubber.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_storage_scrubber.py
@@ -204,6 +204,11 @@ def test_scrubber_physical_gc_ancestors(
         },
     )
 
+    # Create an extra timeline, to ensure the scrubber isn't confused by multiple timelines
+    env.storage_controller.pageserver_api().timeline_create(
+        env.pg_version, tenant_id=tenant_id, new_timeline_id=TimelineId.generate()
+    )
+
     # Make sure the original shard has some layers
     workload = Workload(env, tenant_id, timeline_id)
     workload.init()
@@ -214,6 +219,11 @@ def test_scrubber_physical_gc_ancestors(
     shards = env.storage_controller.tenant_shard_split(tenant_id, shard_count=new_shard_count)
     env.storage_controller.reconcile_until_idle()  # Move shards to their final locations immediately
 
+    # Create a timeline after split, to ensure scrubber can handle timelines that exist in child shards but not ancestors
+    env.storage_controller.pageserver_api().timeline_create(
+        env.pg_version, tenant_id=tenant_id, new_timeline_id=TimelineId.generate()
+    )
+
     # Make sure child shards have some layers.  Do not force upload, because the test helper calls checkpoint, which
     # compacts, and we only want to do tha explicitly later in the test.
     workload.write_rows(100, upload=False)
@@ -305,10 +315,19 @@ def test_scrubber_physical_gc_timeline_deletion(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder
     # Make sure the original shard has some layers
     workload = Workload(env, tenant_id, timeline_id)
     workload.init()
-    workload.write_rows(100)
+    workload.write_rows(100, upload=False)
+    workload.stop()
 
     new_shard_count = 4
     shards = env.storage_controller.tenant_shard_split(tenant_id, shard_count=new_shard_count)
+    for shard in shards:
+        ps = env.get_tenant_pageserver(shard)
+        log.info(f"Waiting for shard {shard} on pageserver {ps.id}")
+        ps.http_client().timeline_checkpoint(
+            shard, timeline_id, compact=False, wait_until_uploaded=True
+        )
+
+        ps.http_client().deletion_queue_flush(execute=True)
 
     # Create a second timeline so that when we delete the first one, child shards still have some content in S3.
     #
@@ -319,15 +338,6 @@ def test_scrubber_physical_gc_timeline_deletion(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder
         PgVersion.NOT_SET, tenant_id, other_timeline_id
     )
 
-    # Write after split so that child shards have some indices in S3
-    workload.write_rows(100, upload=False)
-    for shard in shards:
-        ps = env.get_tenant_pageserver(shard)
-        log.info(f"Waiting for shard {shard} on pageserver {ps.id}")
-        ps.http_client().timeline_checkpoint(
-            shard, timeline_id, compact=False, wait_until_uploaded=True
-        )
-
     # The timeline still exists in child shards and they reference its layers, so scrubbing
     # now shouldn't delete anything.
     gc_summary = env.storage_scrubber.pageserver_physical_gc(min_age_secs=0, mode="full")
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_timeline_detach_ancestor.py b/test_runner/regress/test_timeline_detach_ancestor.py
index b3767a2766..82fc26126d 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_timeline_detach_ancestor.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_timeline_detach_ancestor.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import time
 from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
 from queue import Empty, Queue
 from threading import Barrier
-from typing import List, Tuple
+from typing import List, Set, Tuple
 
 import pytest
 from fixtures.common_types import Lsn, TimelineId
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def test_ancestor_detach_branched_from(
         client.timeline_checkpoint(env.initial_tenant, env.initial_timeline)
 
         ep.safe_psql("INSERT INTO foo SELECT i::bigint FROM generate_series(8192, 16383) g(i);")
-        wait_for_last_flush_lsn(env, ep, env.initial_tenant, env.initial_timeline)
+        flush_ep_to_pageserver(env, ep, env.initial_tenant, env.initial_timeline)
 
     deltas = client.layer_map_info(env.initial_tenant, env.initial_timeline).delta_layers()
     # there is also the in-mem layer, but ignore it for now
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ def test_detached_receives_flushes_while_being_detached(neon_env_builder: NeonEn
 
     assert client.timeline_detail(env.initial_tenant, timeline_id)["ancestor_timeline_id"] is None
 
-    assert ep.safe_psql("SELECT clear_buffer_cache();")
+    ep.clear_shared_buffers()
     assert ep.safe_psql("SELECT count(*) FROM foo;")[0][0] == rows
     assert ep.safe_psql("SELECT SUM(LENGTH(aux)) FROM foo")[0][0] != 0
     ep.stop()
@@ -452,6 +452,9 @@ def test_compaction_induced_by_detaches_in_history(
         }
     )
     env.pageserver.allowed_errors.extend(SHUTDOWN_ALLOWED_ERRORS)
+    env.pageserver.allowed_errors.append(
+        ".*await_initial_logical_size: can't get semaphore cancel token, skipping"
+    )
     client = env.pageserver.http_client()
 
     def delta_layers(timeline_id: TimelineId):
@@ -524,6 +527,7 @@ def test_compaction_induced_by_detaches_in_history(
     assert len([filter(lambda x: x.l0, delta_layers(branch_timeline_id))]) == 1
 
     skip_main = branches[1:]
+
     branch_lsn = client.timeline_detail(env.initial_tenant, branch_timeline_id)["ancestor_lsn"]
 
     # take the fullbackup before and after inheriting the new L0s
@@ -532,6 +536,13 @@ def test_compaction_induced_by_detaches_in_history(
         env.pageserver, env.initial_tenant, branch_timeline_id, branch_lsn, fullbackup_before
     )
 
+    # force initial logical sizes, so we can evict all layers from all
+    # timelines and exercise on-demand download for copy lsn prefix
+    client.timeline_detail(
+        env.initial_tenant, env.initial_timeline, force_await_initial_logical_size=True
+    )
+    client.evict_all_layers(env.initial_tenant, env.initial_timeline)
+
     for _, timeline_id in skip_main:
         reparented = client.detach_ancestor(env.initial_tenant, timeline_id)
         assert reparented == set(), "we have no earlier branches at any level"
@@ -705,7 +716,7 @@ def test_sharded_timeline_detach_ancestor(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
     log.info(f"stuck pageserver is id={stuck.id}")
     stuck_http = stuck.http_client()
     stuck_http.configure_failpoints(
-        ("timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking_pausable", "pause")
+        ("timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking-pausable", "pause")
     )
 
     restarted = pageservers[int(shards[1]["node_id"])]
@@ -716,7 +727,7 @@ def test_sharded_timeline_detach_ancestor(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
     restarted_http = restarted.http_client()
     restarted_http.configure_failpoints(
         [
-            ("timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking_pausable", "pause"),
+            ("timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking-pausable", "pause"),
         ]
     )
 
@@ -734,7 +745,7 @@ def test_sharded_timeline_detach_ancestor(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
         target.detach_ancestor(env.initial_tenant, branch_timeline_id, timeout=1)
 
     stuck_http.configure_failpoints(
-        ("timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking_pausable", "off")
+        ("timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking-pausable", "off")
     )
 
     barrier = threading.Barrier(2)
@@ -753,7 +764,7 @@ def test_sharded_timeline_detach_ancestor(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
         # we have 10s, lets use 1/2 of that to help the shutdown start
         time.sleep(5)
         restarted_http.configure_failpoints(
-            ("timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking_pausable", "off")
+            ("timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking-pausable", "off")
         )
         fut.result()
 
@@ -806,23 +817,25 @@ def test_timeline_detach_ancestor_interrupted_by_deletion(
     after starting the detach.
 
     What remains not tested by this:
-    - shutdown winning over complete
-
-    Shutdown winning over complete needs gc blocking and reparenting any left-overs on retry.
+    - shutdown winning over complete, see test_timeline_is_deleted_before_timeline_detach_ancestor_completes
     """
 
     if sharded and mode == "delete_tenant":
         # the shared/exclusive lock for tenant is blocking this:
         # timeline detach ancestor takes shared, delete tenant takes exclusive
-        pytest.skip(
-            "tenant deletion while timeline ancestor detach is underway is not supported yet"
-        )
+        pytest.skip("tenant deletion while timeline ancestor detach is underway cannot happen")
 
     shard_count = 2 if sharded else 1
 
     neon_env_builder.num_pageservers = shard_count
 
-    env = neon_env_builder.init_start(initial_tenant_shard_count=shard_count if sharded else None)
+    env = neon_env_builder.init_start(
+        initial_tenant_shard_count=shard_count if sharded else None,
+        initial_tenant_conf={
+            "gc_period": "1s",
+            "lsn_lease_length": "0s",
+        },
+    )
 
     for ps in env.pageservers:
         ps.allowed_errors.extend(SHUTDOWN_ALLOWED_ERRORS)
@@ -831,7 +844,7 @@ def test_timeline_detach_ancestor_interrupted_by_deletion(
 
     detached_timeline = env.neon_cli.create_branch("detached soon", "main")
 
-    failpoint = "timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking_pausable"
+    pausepoint = "timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking-pausable"
 
     env.storage_controller.reconcile_until_idle()
     shards = env.storage_controller.locate(env.initial_tenant)
@@ -843,13 +856,20 @@ def test_timeline_detach_ancestor_interrupted_by_deletion(
 
     victim = pageservers[int(shards[-1]["node_id"])]
     victim_http = victim.http_client()
-    victim_http.configure_failpoints((failpoint, "pause"))
+    victim_http.configure_failpoints((pausepoint, "pause"))
 
     def detach_ancestor():
         target.detach_ancestor(env.initial_tenant, detached_timeline)
 
-    def at_failpoint() -> Tuple[str, LogCursor]:
-        return victim.assert_log_contains(f"at failpoint {failpoint}")
+    def at_failpoint() -> LogCursor:
+        msg, offset = victim.assert_log_contains(f"at failpoint {pausepoint}")
+        log.info(f"found {msg}")
+        msg, offset = victim.assert_log_contains(
+            ".* gc_loop.*: Skipping GC: .*",
+            offset,
+        )
+        log.info(f"found {msg}")
+        return offset
 
     def start_delete():
         if mode == "delete_timeline":
@@ -882,26 +902,47 @@ def test_timeline_detach_ancestor_interrupted_by_deletion(
     with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=2) as pool:
         try:
             fut = pool.submit(detach_ancestor)
-            _, offset = wait_until(10, 1.0, at_failpoint)
+            offset = wait_until(10, 1.0, at_failpoint)
 
             delete = pool.submit(start_delete)
 
-            wait_until(10, 1.0, lambda: at_waiting_on_gate_close(offset))
+            offset = wait_until(10, 1.0, lambda: at_waiting_on_gate_close(offset))
 
-            victim_http.configure_failpoints((failpoint, "off"))
+            victim_http.configure_failpoints((pausepoint, "off"))
 
             delete.result()
 
             assert wait_until(10, 1.0, is_deleted), f"unimplemented mode {mode}"
 
+            # TODO: match the error
             with pytest.raises(PageserverApiException) as exc:
                 fut.result()
+            log.info(f"TODO: match this error: {exc.value}")
             assert exc.value.status_code == 503
         finally:
-            victim_http.configure_failpoints((failpoint, "off"))
+            victim_http.configure_failpoints((pausepoint, "off"))
+
+    if mode != "delete_timeline":
+        return
+
+    # make sure the gc is unblocked
+    time.sleep(2)
+    victim.assert_log_contains(".* gc_loop.*: 1 timelines need GC", offset)
+
+    if not sharded:
+        # we have the other node only while sharded
+        return
+
+    other = pageservers[int(shards[0]["node_id"])]
+    log.info(f"other is {other.id}")
+    _, offset = other.assert_log_contains(
+        ".*INFO request\\{method=PUT path=/v1/tenant/\\S+/timeline/\\S+/detach_ancestor .*\\}: Request handled, status: 200 OK",
+    )
+    # this might be a lot earlier than the victims line, but that is okay.
+    _, offset = other.assert_log_contains(".* gc_loop.*: 1 timelines need GC", offset)
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("mode", ["delete_reparentable_timeline"])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("mode", ["delete_reparentable_timeline", "create_reparentable_timeline"])
 def test_sharded_tad_interleaved_after_partial_success(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder, mode: str):
     """
     Technically possible storage controller concurrent interleaving timeline
@@ -913,10 +954,6 @@ def test_sharded_tad_interleaved_after_partial_success(neon_env_builder: NeonEnv
     must be detached.
     """
 
-    assert (
-        mode == "delete_reparentable_timeline"
-    ), "only one now, but we could have the create just as well, need gc blocking"
-
     shard_count = 2
     neon_env_builder.num_pageservers = shard_count
     env = neon_env_builder.init_start(initial_tenant_shard_count=shard_count)
@@ -948,14 +985,21 @@ def test_sharded_tad_interleaved_after_partial_success(neon_env_builder: NeonEnv
     for ps, shard_id in [(pageservers[int(x["node_id"])], x["shard_id"]) for x in shards]:
         ps.http_client().timeline_checkpoint(shard_id, env.initial_timeline)
 
-    first_branch = env.neon_cli.create_branch(
-        "first_branch", ancestor_branch_name="main", ancestor_start_lsn=first_branch_lsn
-    )
+    def create_reparentable_timeline() -> TimelineId:
+        return env.neon_cli.create_branch(
+            "first_branch", ancestor_branch_name="main", ancestor_start_lsn=first_branch_lsn
+        )
+
+    if mode == "delete_reparentable_timeline":
+        first_branch = create_reparentable_timeline()
+    else:
+        first_branch = None
+
     detached_branch = env.neon_cli.create_branch(
         "detached_branch", ancestor_branch_name="main", ancestor_start_lsn=detached_branch_lsn
     )
 
-    pausepoint = "timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking_pausable"
+    pausepoint = "timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking-pausable"
 
     stuck = pageservers[int(shards[0]["node_id"])]
     stuck_http = stuck.http_client().without_status_retrying()
@@ -967,12 +1011,6 @@ def test_sharded_tad_interleaved_after_partial_success(neon_env_builder: NeonEnv
         (pausepoint, "pause"),
     )
 
-    # noticed a surprising 409 if the other one would fail instead
-    # victim_http.configure_failpoints([
-    #     (pausepoint, "pause"),
-    #     ("timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking", "return"),
-    # ])
-
     # interleaving a create_timeline which could be reparented will produce two
     # permanently different reparentings: one node has reparented, other has
     # not
@@ -991,6 +1029,7 @@ def test_sharded_tad_interleaved_after_partial_success(neon_env_builder: NeonEnv
         assert detail.get("ancestor_lsn") is None
 
     def first_branch_gone():
+        assert first_branch is not None
         try:
             env.storage_controller.pageserver_api().timeline_detail(
                 env.initial_tenant, first_branch
@@ -1011,47 +1050,437 @@ def test_sharded_tad_interleaved_after_partial_success(neon_env_builder: NeonEnv
             stuck_http.configure_failpoints((pausepoint, "off"))
             wait_until(10, 1.0, first_completed)
 
-            # if we would let victim fail, for some reason there'd be a 409 response instead of 500
-            # victim_http.configure_failpoints((pausepoint, "off"))
-            # with pytest.raises(PageserverApiException, match=".* 500 Internal Server Error failpoint: timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking") as exc:
-            #     fut.result()
-            # assert exc.value.status_code == 409
-
-            env.storage_controller.pageserver_api().timeline_delete(
-                env.initial_tenant, first_branch
-            )
-            victim_http.configure_failpoints((pausepoint, "off"))
-            wait_until(10, 1.0, first_branch_gone)
+            if mode == "delete_reparentable_timeline":
+                assert first_branch is not None
+                env.storage_controller.pageserver_api().timeline_delete(
+                    env.initial_tenant, first_branch
+                )
+                victim_http.configure_failpoints((pausepoint, "off"))
+                wait_until(10, 1.0, first_branch_gone)
+            elif mode == "create_reparentable_timeline":
+                first_branch = create_reparentable_timeline()
+                victim_http.configure_failpoints((pausepoint, "off"))
+            else:
+                raise RuntimeError("{mode}")
 
             # it now passes, and we should get an error messages about mixed reparenting as the stuck still had something to reparent
-            fut.result()
+            mixed_results = "pageservers returned mixed results for ancestor detach; manual intervention is required."
+            with pytest.raises(PageserverApiException, match=mixed_results):
+                fut.result()
 
             msg, offset = env.storage_controller.assert_log_contains(
                 ".*/timeline/\\S+/detach_ancestor.*: shards returned different results matching=0 .*"
             )
-            log.info(f"expected error message: {msg}")
-            env.storage_controller.allowed_errors.append(
-                ".*: shards returned different results matching=0 .*"
+            log.info(f"expected error message: {msg.rstrip()}")
+            env.storage_controller.allowed_errors.extend(
+                [
+                    ".*: shards returned different results matching=0 .*",
+                    f".*: InternalServerError\\({mixed_results}",
+                ]
             )
 
-            detach_timeline()
+            if mode == "create_reparentable_timeline":
+                with pytest.raises(PageserverApiException, match=mixed_results):
+                    detach_timeline()
+            else:
+                # it is a bit shame to flag it and then it suceeds, but most
+                # likely there would be a retry loop which would take care of
+                # this in cplane
+                detach_timeline()
 
-            # FIXME: perhaps the above should be automatically retried, if we get mixed results?
-            not_found = env.storage_controller.log_contains(
+            retried = env.storage_controller.log_contains(
                 ".*/timeline/\\S+/detach_ancestor.*: shards returned different results matching=0 .*",
-                offset=offset,
+                offset,
             )
-
-            assert not_found is None
+            if mode == "delete_reparentable_timeline":
+                assert (
+                    retried is None
+                ), "detaching should had converged after both nodes saw the deletion"
+            elif mode == "create_reparentable_timeline":
+                assert retried is not None, "detaching should not have converged"
+                _, offset = retried
         finally:
             stuck_http.configure_failpoints((pausepoint, "off"))
             victim_http.configure_failpoints((pausepoint, "off"))
 
+    if mode == "create_reparentable_timeline":
+        assert first_branch is not None
+        # now we have mixed ancestry
+        assert (
+            TimelineId(
+                stuck_http.timeline_detail(shards[0]["shard_id"], first_branch)[
+                    "ancestor_timeline_id"
+                ]
+            )
+            == env.initial_timeline
+        )
+        assert (
+            TimelineId(
+                victim_http.timeline_detail(shards[-1]["shard_id"], first_branch)[
+                    "ancestor_timeline_id"
+                ]
+            )
+            == detached_branch
+        )
+
+        # make sure we are still able to repair this by detaching the ancestor on the storage controller in case it ever happens
+        # if the ancestor would be deleted, we would partially fail, making deletion stuck.
+        env.storage_controller.pageserver_api().detach_ancestor(env.initial_tenant, first_branch)
+
+        # and we should now have good results
+        not_found = env.storage_controller.log_contains(
+            ".*/timeline/\\S+/detach_ancestor.*: shards returned different results matching=0 .*",
+            offset,
+        )
+
+        assert not_found is None
+        assert (
+            stuck_http.timeline_detail(shards[0]["shard_id"], first_branch)["ancestor_timeline_id"]
+            is None
+        )
+        assert (
+            victim_http.timeline_detail(shards[-1]["shard_id"], first_branch)[
+                "ancestor_timeline_id"
+            ]
+            is None
+        )
+
+
+def test_retryable_500_hit_through_storcon_during_timeline_detach_ancestor(
+    neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder,
+):
+    shard_count = 2
+    neon_env_builder.num_pageservers = shard_count
+    env = neon_env_builder.init_start(initial_tenant_shard_count=shard_count)
+
+    for ps in env.pageservers:
+        ps.allowed_errors.extend(SHUTDOWN_ALLOWED_ERRORS)
+
+    pageservers = dict((int(p.id), p) for p in env.pageservers)
+
+    env.storage_controller.reconcile_until_idle()
+    shards = env.storage_controller.locate(env.initial_tenant)
+    assert len(set(x["node_id"] for x in shards)) == shard_count
+
+    detached_branch = env.neon_cli.create_branch("detached_branch", ancestor_branch_name="main")
+
+    pausepoint = "timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking-pausable"
+    failpoint = "timeline-detach-ancestor::before_starting_after_locking"
+
+    stuck = pageservers[int(shards[0]["node_id"])]
+    stuck_http = stuck.http_client().without_status_retrying()
+    stuck_http.configure_failpoints(
+        (pausepoint, "pause"),
+    )
+
+    env.storage_controller.allowed_errors.append(
+        f".*Error processing HTTP request: .* failpoint: {failpoint}"
+    )
+    http = env.storage_controller.pageserver_api()
+
+    victim = pageservers[int(shards[-1]["node_id"])]
+    victim.allowed_errors.append(
+        f".*Error processing HTTP request: InternalServerError\\(failpoint: {failpoint}"
+    )
+    victim_http = victim.http_client().without_status_retrying()
+    victim_http.configure_failpoints([(pausepoint, "pause"), (failpoint, "return")])
+
+    def detach_timeline():
+        http.detach_ancestor(env.initial_tenant, detached_branch)
+
+    def paused_at_failpoint():
+        stuck.assert_log_contains(f"at failpoint {pausepoint}")
+        victim.assert_log_contains(f"at failpoint {pausepoint}")
+
+    def first_completed():
+        detail = stuck_http.timeline_detail(shards[0]["shard_id"], detached_branch)
+        log.info(detail)
+        assert detail.get("ancestor_lsn") is None
+
+    with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=1) as pool:
+        try:
+            fut = pool.submit(detach_timeline)
+            wait_until(10, 1.0, paused_at_failpoint)
+
+            # let stuck complete
+            stuck_http.configure_failpoints((pausepoint, "off"))
+            wait_until(10, 1.0, first_completed)
+
+            victim_http.configure_failpoints((pausepoint, "off"))
+
+            with pytest.raises(
+                PageserverApiException,
+                match=f".*failpoint: {failpoint}",
+            ) as exc:
+                fut.result()
+            assert exc.value.status_code == 500
+
+        finally:
+            stuck_http.configure_failpoints((pausepoint, "off"))
+            victim_http.configure_failpoints((pausepoint, "off"))
+
+    victim_http.configure_failpoints((failpoint, "off"))
+    detach_timeline()
+
+
+def test_retried_detach_ancestor_after_failed_reparenting(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
+    """
+    Using a failpoint, force the completion step of timeline ancestor detach to
+    fail after reparenting a single timeline.
+
+    Retrying should try reparenting until all reparentings are done, all the
+    time blocking gc even across restarts (first round).
+
+    A completion failpoint is used to inhibit completion on second to last
+    round.
+
+    On last round, the completion uses a path where no reparentings can happen
+    because original ancestor is deleted, and there is a completion to unblock
+    gc without restart.
+    """
+
+    # to get the remote storage metrics
+    neon_env_builder.enable_pageserver_remote_storage(RemoteStorageKind.MOCK_S3)
+    env = neon_env_builder.init_start(
+        initial_tenant_conf={
+            "gc_period": "1s",
+            "lsn_lease_length": "0s",
+        }
+    )
+
+    env.pageserver.allowed_errors.extend(SHUTDOWN_ALLOWED_ERRORS)
+
+    env.pageserver.allowed_errors.extend(
+        [
+            ".* reparenting failed: failpoint: timeline-detach-ancestor::allow_one_reparented",
+            ".* Error processing HTTP request: InternalServerError\\(failed to reparent all candidate timelines, please retry",
+            ".* Error processing HTTP request: InternalServerError\\(failpoint: timeline-detach-ancestor::complete_before_uploading",
+        ]
+    )
+
+    http = env.pageserver.http_client()
+
+    def remote_storage_copy_requests():
+        return http.get_metric_value(
+            "remote_storage_s3_request_seconds_count",
+            {"request_type": "copy_object", "result": "ok"},
+        )
+
+    def reparenting_progress(timelines: List[TimelineId]) -> Tuple[int, Set[TimelineId]]:
+        reparented = 0
+        not_reparented = set()
+        for timeline in timelines:
+            detail = http.timeline_detail(env.initial_tenant, timeline)
+            ancestor = TimelineId(detail["ancestor_timeline_id"])
+            if ancestor == detached:
+                reparented += 1
+            else:
+                not_reparented.add(timeline)
+        return (reparented, not_reparented)
+
+    # main ------A-----B-----C-----D-----E> lsn
+    timelines = []
+    with env.endpoints.create_start("main") as ep:
+        for counter in range(5):
+            ep.safe_psql(
+                f"create table foo_{counter} as select i::bigint from generate_series(1, 10000) t(i)"
+            )
+            branch_lsn = wait_for_last_flush_lsn(env, ep, env.initial_tenant, env.initial_timeline)
+            http.timeline_checkpoint(env.initial_tenant, env.initial_timeline)
+            branch = env.neon_cli.create_branch(
+                f"branch_{counter}", "main", ancestor_start_lsn=branch_lsn
+            )
+            timelines.append(branch)
+
+        flush_ep_to_pageserver(env, ep, env.initial_tenant, env.initial_timeline)
+
+    # detach "E" which has most reparentable timelines under it
+    detached = timelines.pop()
+    assert len(timelines) == 4
+
+    http = http.without_status_retrying()
+
+    http.configure_failpoints(("timeline-detach-ancestor::allow_one_reparented", "return"))
+
+    not_reparented: Set[TimelineId] = set()
+    # tracked offset in the pageserver log which is at least at the most recent activation
+    offset = None
+
+    def try_detach():
+        with pytest.raises(
+            PageserverApiException,
+            match=".*failed to reparent all candidate timelines, please retry",
+        ) as exc:
+            http.detach_ancestor(env.initial_tenant, detached)
+        assert exc.value.status_code == 503
+
+    # first round -- do more checking to make sure the gc gets paused
+    try_detach()
+
+    assert (
+        http.timeline_detail(env.initial_tenant, detached)["ancestor_timeline_id"] is None
+    ), "first round should had detached 'detached'"
+
+    reparented, not_reparented = reparenting_progress(timelines)
+    assert reparented == 1
+
+    time.sleep(2)
+    _, offset = env.pageserver.assert_log_contains(
+        ".*INFO request\\{method=PUT path=/v1/tenant/[0-9a-f]{32}/timeline/[0-9a-f]{32}/detach_ancestor .*\\}: Handling request",
+        offset,
+    )
+    _, offset = env.pageserver.assert_log_contains(".*: attach finished, activating", offset)
+    _, offset = env.pageserver.assert_log_contains(
+        ".* gc_loop.*: Skipping GC: .*",
+        offset,
+    )
+    metric = remote_storage_copy_requests()
+    assert metric != 0
+    # make sure the gc blocking is persistent over a restart
+    env.pageserver.restart()
+    env.pageserver.quiesce_tenants()
+    time.sleep(2)
+    _, offset = env.pageserver.assert_log_contains(".*: attach finished, activating", offset)
+    assert env.pageserver.log_contains(".* gc_loop.*: [0-9] timelines need GC", offset) is None
+    _, offset = env.pageserver.assert_log_contains(
+        ".* gc_loop.*: Skipping GC: .*",
+        offset,
+    )
+    # restore failpoint for the next reparented
+    http.configure_failpoints(("timeline-detach-ancestor::allow_one_reparented", "return"))
+
+    reparented_before = reparented
+
+    # do two more rounds
+    for _ in range(2):
+        try_detach()
+
+        assert (
+            http.timeline_detail(env.initial_tenant, detached)["ancestor_timeline_id"] is None
+        ), "first round should had detached 'detached'"
+
+        reparented, not_reparented = reparenting_progress(timelines)
+        assert reparented == reparented_before + 1
+        reparented_before = reparented
+
+        _, offset = env.pageserver.assert_log_contains(".*: attach finished, activating", offset)
+        metric = remote_storage_copy_requests()
+        assert metric == 0, "copies happen in the first round"
+
+    assert offset is not None
+    assert len(not_reparented) == 1
+
+    http.configure_failpoints(("timeline-detach-ancestor::complete_before_uploading", "return"))
+
+    # almost final round, the failpoint is hit no longer as there is only one reparented and one always gets to succeed.
+    # the tenant is restarted once more, but we fail during completing.
+    with pytest.raises(
+        PageserverApiException, match=".* timeline-detach-ancestor::complete_before_uploading"
+    ) as exc:
+        http.detach_ancestor(env.initial_tenant, detached)
+    assert exc.value.status_code == 500
+    _, offset = env.pageserver.assert_log_contains(".*: attach finished, activating", offset)
+
+    # delete the previous ancestor to take a different path to completion. all
+    # other tests take the "detach? reparent complete", but this only hits
+    # "complete".
+    http.timeline_delete(env.initial_tenant, env.initial_timeline)
+    wait_timeline_detail_404(http, env.initial_tenant, env.initial_timeline, 20)
+
+    http.configure_failpoints(("timeline-detach-ancestor::complete_before_uploading", "off"))
+
+    reparented_resp = http.detach_ancestor(env.initial_tenant, detached)
+    assert reparented_resp == set(timelines)
+    # no need to quiesce_tenants anymore, because completion does that
+
+    reparented, not_reparented = reparenting_progress(timelines)
+    assert reparented == len(timelines)
+
+    time.sleep(2)
+    assert (
+        env.pageserver.log_contains(".*: attach finished, activating", offset) is None
+    ), "there should be no restart with the final detach_ancestor as it only completed"
+
+    # gc is unblocked
+    env.pageserver.assert_log_contains(".* gc_loop.*: 5 timelines need GC", offset)
+
+    metric = remote_storage_copy_requests()
+    assert metric == 0
+
+
+def test_timeline_is_deleted_before_timeline_detach_ancestor_completes(
+    neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder,
+):
+    """
+    Make sure that a timeline deleted after restart will unpause gc blocking.
+    """
+    env = neon_env_builder.init_start(
+        initial_tenant_conf={
+            "gc_period": "1s",
+            "lsn_lease_length": "0s",
+        }
+    )
+
+    env.pageserver.allowed_errors.extend(SHUTDOWN_ALLOWED_ERRORS)
+
+    http = env.pageserver.http_client()
+
+    detached = env.neon_cli.create_branch("detached")
+
+    failpoint = "timeline-detach-ancestor::after_activating_before_finding-pausable"
+
+    http.configure_failpoints((failpoint, "pause"))
+
+    def detach_and_get_stuck():
+        return http.detach_ancestor(env.initial_tenant, detached)
+
+    def request_processing_noted_in_log():
+        _, offset = env.pageserver.assert_log_contains(
+            ".*INFO request\\{method=PUT path=/v1/tenant/[0-9a-f]{32}/timeline/[0-9a-f]{32}/detach_ancestor .*\\}: Handling request",
+        )
+        return offset
+
+    def delete_detached():
+        return http.timeline_delete(env.initial_tenant, detached)
+
+    try:
+        with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=1) as pool:
+            detach = pool.submit(detach_and_get_stuck)
+
+            offset = wait_until(10, 1.0, request_processing_noted_in_log)
+
+            # make this named fn tor more clear failure test output logging
+            def pausepoint_hit_with_gc_paused() -> LogCursor:
+                env.pageserver.assert_log_contains(f"at failpoint {failpoint}")
+                _, at = env.pageserver.assert_log_contains(
+                    ".* gc_loop.*: Skipping GC: .*",
+                    offset,
+                )
+                return at
+
+            offset = wait_until(10, 1.0, pausepoint_hit_with_gc_paused)
+
+            delete_detached()
+
+            wait_timeline_detail_404(http, env.initial_tenant, detached, 10, 1.0)
+
+            http.configure_failpoints((failpoint, "off"))
+
+            with pytest.raises(
+                PageserverApiException, match="NotFound: Timeline .* was not found"
+            ) as exc:
+                detach.result()
+            assert exc.value.status_code == 404
+    finally:
+        http.configure_failpoints((failpoint, "off"))
+
+    # make sure gc has been unblocked
+    time.sleep(2)
+
+    env.pageserver.assert_log_contains(".* gc_loop.*: 1 timelines need GC", offset)
+
 
 # TODO:
-# - after starting the operation, pageserver is shutdown, restarted
-# - after starting the operation, bottom-most timeline is deleted, pageserver is restarted, gc is inhibited
-# - deletion of reparented while reparenting should fail once, then succeed (?)
 # - branch near existing L1 boundary, image layers?
 # - investigate: why are layers started at uneven lsn? not just after branching, but in general.
 #
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_timeline_size.py b/test_runner/regress/test_timeline_size.py
index 1f220eec9e..642b9e449b 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_timeline_size.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_timeline_size.py
@@ -1137,3 +1137,10 @@ def test_lazy_attach_activation(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder, activation_met
         delete_lazy_activating(lazy_tenant, env.pageserver, expect_attaching=True)
     else:
         raise RuntimeError(activation_method)
+
+    client.configure_failpoints(
+        [
+            ("timeline-calculate-logical-size-pause", "off"),
+            ("walreceiver-after-ingest", "off"),
+        ]
+    )
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_vm_bits.py b/test_runner/regress/test_vm_bits.py
index 225b952e73..7272979c4a 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_vm_bits.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_vm_bits.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def test_vm_bit_clear(neon_simple_env: NeonEnv):
 
     # Clear the buffer cache, to force the VM page to be re-fetched from
     # the page server
-    cur.execute("SELECT clear_buffer_cache()")
+    endpoint.clear_shared_buffers(cursor=cur)
 
     # Check that an index-only scan doesn't see the deleted row. If the
     # clearing of the VM bit was not replayed correctly, this would incorrectly
diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_wal_acceptor.py b/test_runner/regress/test_wal_acceptor.py
index f02f19c588..5d3b263936 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_wal_acceptor.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_wal_acceptor.py
@@ -49,7 +49,13 @@ from fixtures.remote_storage import (
 )
 from fixtures.safekeeper.http import SafekeeperHttpClient
 from fixtures.safekeeper.utils import are_walreceivers_absent
-from fixtures.utils import PropagatingThread, get_dir_size, query_scalar, start_in_background
+from fixtures.utils import (
+    PropagatingThread,
+    get_dir_size,
+    query_scalar,
+    start_in_background,
+    wait_until,
+)
 
 
 def wait_lsn_force_checkpoint(
@@ -63,6 +69,18 @@ def wait_lsn_force_checkpoint(
     lsn = Lsn(endpoint.safe_psql("SELECT pg_current_wal_flush_lsn()")[0][0])
     log.info(f"pg_current_wal_flush_lsn is {lsn}, waiting for it on pageserver")
 
+    wait_lsn_force_checkpoint_at(lsn, tenant_id, timeline_id, ps, pageserver_conn_options)
+
+
+def wait_lsn_force_checkpoint_at(
+    lsn: Lsn,
+    tenant_id: TenantId,
+    timeline_id: TimelineId,
+    ps: NeonPageserver,
+    pageserver_conn_options=None,
+):
+    pageserver_conn_options = pageserver_conn_options or {}
+
     auth_token = None
     if "password" in pageserver_conn_options:
         auth_token = pageserver_conn_options["password"]
@@ -2159,7 +2177,7 @@ def test_broker_discovery(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
         # generate some data to commit WAL on safekeepers
         endpoint.safe_psql("insert into t select generate_series(1,100), 'action'")
         # clear the buffers
-        endpoint.safe_psql("select clear_buffer_cache()")
+        endpoint.clear_shared_buffers()
         # read data to fetch pages from pageserver
         endpoint.safe_psql("select sum(i) from t")
 
@@ -2304,3 +2322,138 @@ def test_s3_eviction(
     )
 
     assert event_metrics_seen
+
+
+def test_pull_timeline_partial_segment_integrity(neon_env_builder: NeonEnvBuilder):
+    """
+    Verify that pulling timeline from a SK with an uploaded partial segment
+    does not lead to consistency issues:
+    1. Start 3 SKs - only use two
+    2. Ingest a bit of WAL
+    3. Wait for partial to be uploaded
+    4. Pull timeline to the third SK
+    6. Replace source with destination SK and start compute
+    5. Wait for source SK to evict timeline
+    6. Go back to initial compute SK config and validate that
+    source SK can unevict the timeline (S3 state is consistent)
+    """
+    neon_env_builder.auth_enabled = True
+    neon_env_builder.num_safekeepers = 3
+    neon_env_builder.enable_safekeeper_remote_storage(default_remote_storage())
+
+    neon_env_builder.safekeeper_extra_opts = [
+        "--enable-offload",
+        "--delete-offloaded-wal",
+        "--partial-backup-timeout",
+        "500ms",
+        "--control-file-save-interval",
+        "500ms",
+        "--eviction-min-resident=500ms",
+    ]
+
+    env = neon_env_builder.init_start(initial_tenant_conf={"checkpoint_timeout": "100ms"})
+    tenant_id = env.initial_tenant
+    timeline_id = env.initial_timeline
+
+    (src_sk, dst_sk) = (env.safekeepers[0], env.safekeepers[2])
+
+    log.info("use only first 2 safekeepers, 3rd will be seeded")
+    endpoint = env.endpoints.create("main")
+    endpoint.active_safekeepers = [1, 2]
+    endpoint.start()
+    endpoint.safe_psql("create table t(key int, value text)")
+    endpoint.safe_psql("insert into t select generate_series(1, 180000), 'papaya'")
+
+    endpoint.stop()
+
+    def source_partial_segment_uploaded():
+        first_segment_name = "000000010000000000000001"
+        segs = src_sk.list_uploaded_segments(tenant_id, timeline_id)
+
+        candidate_seg = None
+        for seg in segs:
+            if "partial" in seg and "sk1" in seg and not seg.startswith(first_segment_name):
+                candidate_seg = seg
+
+        if candidate_seg is not None:
+            # The term might change, causing the segment to be gc-ed shortly after,
+            # so give it a bit of time to make sure it's stable.
+            time.sleep(2)
+
+            segs = src_sk.list_uploaded_segments(tenant_id, timeline_id)
+            assert candidate_seg in segs
+            return candidate_seg
+
+        raise Exception("Partial segment not uploaded yet")
+
+    source_partial_segment = wait_until(15, 1, source_partial_segment_uploaded)
+    log.info(
+        f"Uploaded segments before pull are {src_sk.list_uploaded_segments(tenant_id, timeline_id)}"
+    )
+    log.info(f"Tracking source partial segment: {source_partial_segment}")
+
+    src_flush_lsn = src_sk.get_flush_lsn(tenant_id, timeline_id)
+    log.info(f"flush_lsn on src before pull_timeline: {src_flush_lsn}")
+
+    pageserver_conn_options = {"password": env.auth_keys.generate_tenant_token(tenant_id)}
+    wait_lsn_force_checkpoint_at(
+        src_flush_lsn, tenant_id, timeline_id, env.pageserver, pageserver_conn_options
+    )
+
+    dst_sk.pull_timeline([src_sk], tenant_id, timeline_id)
+
+    def evicted():
+        evictions = src_sk.http_client().get_metric_value(
+            "safekeeper_eviction_events_completed_total", {"kind": "evict"}
+        )
+
+        if evictions is None or evictions == 0:
+            raise Exception("Eviction did not happen on source safekeeper yet")
+
+    wait_until(30, 1, evicted)
+
+    endpoint.start(safekeepers=[2, 3])
+
+    def new_partial_segment_uploaded():
+        segs = src_sk.list_uploaded_segments(tenant_id, timeline_id)
+        for seg in segs:
+            if "partial" in seg and "sk3" in seg:
+                return seg
+
+        raise Exception("Partial segment not uploaded yet")
+
+    log.info(
+        f"Uploaded segments before post-pull ingest are {src_sk.list_uploaded_segments(tenant_id, timeline_id)}"
+    )
+
+    endpoint.safe_psql("insert into t select generate_series(1, 1000), 'pear'")
+    wait_until(15, 1, new_partial_segment_uploaded)
+
+    log.info(
+        f"Uploaded segments after post-pull ingest are {src_sk.list_uploaded_segments(tenant_id, timeline_id)}"
+    )
+
+    # Allow for some gc iterations to happen and assert that the original
+    # uploaded partial segment remains in place.
+    time.sleep(5)
+    segs = src_sk.list_uploaded_segments(tenant_id, timeline_id)
+    assert source_partial_segment in segs
+
+    log.info(
+        f"Uploaded segments at the end are {src_sk.list_uploaded_segments(tenant_id, timeline_id)}"
+    )
+
+    # Restart the endpoint in order to check that the source safekeeper
+    # can unevict the timeline
+    endpoint.stop()
+    endpoint.start(safekeepers=[1, 2])
+
+    def unevicted():
+        unevictions = src_sk.http_client().get_metric_value(
+            "safekeeper_eviction_events_completed_total", {"kind": "restore"}
+        )
+
+        if unevictions is None or unevictions == 0:
+            raise Exception("Uneviction did not happen on source safekeeper yet")
+
+    wait_until(10, 1, unevicted)
diff --git a/vendor/postgres-v14 b/vendor/postgres-v14
index 7bbe834c8c..3fd7a45f8a 160000
--- a/vendor/postgres-v14
+++ b/vendor/postgres-v14
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 7bbe834c8c2dc37802eca8484311599bc47341f6
+Subproject commit 3fd7a45f8aae85c080df6329e3c85887b7f3a737
diff --git a/vendor/postgres-v15 b/vendor/postgres-v15
index 9eba7dd382..46b4b235f3 160000
--- a/vendor/postgres-v15
+++ b/vendor/postgres-v15
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 9eba7dd382606ffca43aca865f337ec21bcdac73
+Subproject commit 46b4b235f38413ab5974bb22c022f9b829257674
diff --git a/vendor/postgres-v16 b/vendor/postgres-v16
index 5377f5ed72..47a9122a5a 160000
--- a/vendor/postgres-v16
+++ b/vendor/postgres-v16
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 5377f5ed7290af45b7cb6b0d98d43cbf4a4e77f3
+Subproject commit 47a9122a5a150a3217fafd3f3d4fe8e020ea718a
diff --git a/vendor/revisions.json b/vendor/revisions.json
index 570dfc1550..6e3e489b5d 100644
--- a/vendor/revisions.json
+++ b/vendor/revisions.json
@@ -1,5 +1,14 @@
 {
-  "v16": ["16.3", "5377f5ed7290af45b7cb6b0d98d43cbf4a4e77f3"],
-  "v15": ["15.7", "9eba7dd382606ffca43aca865f337ec21bcdac73"],
-  "v14": ["14.12", "7bbe834c8c2dc37802eca8484311599bc47341f6"]
+  "v16": [
+    "16.3",
+    "47a9122a5a150a3217fafd3f3d4fe8e020ea718a"
+  ],
+  "v15": [
+    "15.7",
+    "46b4b235f38413ab5974bb22c022f9b829257674"
+  ],
+  "v14": [
+    "14.12",
+    "3fd7a45f8aae85c080df6329e3c85887b7f3a737"
+  ]
 }
diff --git a/workspace_hack/Cargo.toml b/workspace_hack/Cargo.toml
index 832fe06bf6..2d9b372654 100644
--- a/workspace_hack/Cargo.toml
+++ b/workspace_hack/Cargo.toml
@@ -30,13 +30,17 @@ chrono = { version = "0.4", default-features = false, features = ["clock", "serd
 clap = { version = "4", features = ["derive", "string"] }
 clap_builder = { version = "4", default-features = false, features = ["color", "help", "std", "string", "suggestions", "usage"] }
 crossbeam-utils = { version = "0.8" }
+crypto-bigint = { version = "0.5", features = ["generic-array", "zeroize"] }
+der = { version = "0.7", default-features = false, features = ["oid", "pem", "std"] }
 deranged = { version = "0.3", default-features = false, features = ["powerfmt", "serde", "std"] }
+digest = { version = "0.10", features = ["mac", "oid", "std"] }
 either = { version = "1" }
 fail = { version = "0.5", default-features = false, features = ["failpoints"] }
 futures-channel = { version = "0.3", features = ["sink"] }
 futures-executor = { version = "0.3" }
 futures-io = { version = "0.3" }
 futures-util = { version = "0.3", features = ["channel", "io", "sink"] }
+generic-array = { version = "0.14", default-features = false, features = ["more_lengths", "zeroize"] }
 getrandom = { version = "0.2", default-features = false, features = ["std"] }
 hashbrown = { version = "0.14", features = ["raw"] }
 hex = { version = "0.4", features = ["serde"] }
@@ -44,6 +48,7 @@ hmac = { version = "0.12", default-features = false, features = ["reset"] }
 hyper = { version = "0.14", features = ["full"] }
 indexmap = { version = "1", default-features = false, features = ["std"] }
 itertools = { version = "0.10" }
+lazy_static = { version = "1", default-features = false, features = ["spin_no_std"] }
 libc = { version = "0.2", features = ["extra_traits", "use_std"] }
 log = { version = "0.4", default-features = false, features = ["std"] }
 memchr = { version = "2" }
@@ -64,8 +69,10 @@ rustls = { version = "0.21", features = ["dangerous_configuration"] }
 scopeguard = { version = "1" }
 serde = { version = "1", features = ["alloc", "derive"] }
 serde_json = { version = "1", features = ["raw_value"] }
-sha2 = { version = "0.10", features = ["asm"] }
+sha2 = { version = "0.10", features = ["asm", "oid"] }
+signature = { version = "2", default-features = false, features = ["digest", "rand_core", "std"] }
 smallvec = { version = "1", default-features = false, features = ["const_new", "write"] }
+spki = { version = "0.7", default-features = false, features = ["pem", "std"] }
 subtle = { version = "2" }
 sync_wrapper = { version = "0.1", default-features = false, features = ["futures"] }
 tikv-jemalloc-sys = { version = "0.5" }
@@ -81,7 +88,7 @@ tracing = { version = "0.1", features = ["log"] }
 tracing-core = { version = "0.1" }
 url = { version = "2", features = ["serde"] }
 uuid = { version = "1", features = ["serde", "v4", "v7"] }
-zeroize = { version = "1", features = ["derive"] }
+zeroize = { version = "1", features = ["derive", "serde"] }
 zstd = { version = "0.13" }
 zstd-safe = { version = "7", default-features = false, features = ["arrays", "legacy", "std", "zdict_builder"] }
 zstd-sys = { version = "2", default-features = false, features = ["legacy", "std", "zdict_builder"] }
@@ -97,6 +104,7 @@ getrandom = { version = "0.2", default-features = false, features = ["std"] }
 hashbrown = { version = "0.14", features = ["raw"] }
 indexmap = { version = "1", default-features = false, features = ["std"] }
 itertools = { version = "0.10" }
+lazy_static = { version = "1", default-features = false, features = ["spin_no_std"] }
 libc = { version = "0.2", features = ["extra_traits", "use_std"] }
 log = { version = "0.4", default-features = false, features = ["std"] }
 memchr = { version = "2" }