pageserver: route gRPC requests to child shards

Pass stripe size during shard map updates
otel: Use blocking reqwest in dedicated thread
2026-01-18 02:42:56 +00:00 · 2025-07-23 16:35:19 +02:00 · 2025-07-23 16:35:19 +02:00 · 2025-07-23 14:44:26 +02:00 · 2025-07-23 11:16:35 +02:00 · 2025-07-23 11:37:27 +03:00
67 changed files with 8002 additions and 1115 deletions
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ neon.iml
 /.neon
 /integration_tests/.neon
 compaction-suite-results.*
+pgxn/neon/communicator/communicator_bindings.h
 docker-compose/docker-compose-parallel.yml

 # Coverage
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -259,6 +259,17 @@ version = "1.1.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "a8ab6b55fe97976e46f91ddbed8d147d966475dc29b2032757ba47e02376fbc3"

+[[package]]
+name = "atomic_enum"
+version = "0.3.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "99e1aca718ea7b89985790c94aad72d77533063fe00bc497bb79a7c2dae6a661"
+dependencies = [
+ "proc-macro2",
+ "quote",
+ "syn 2.0.100",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "autocfg"
 version = "1.1.0"
@@ -1294,15 +1305,32 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "communicator"
-version = "0.1.0"
+version = "0.0.0"
 dependencies = [
+ "atomic_enum",
 "axum",
+ "bytes",
 "cbindgen",
+ "clashmap",
 "http 1.3.1",
+ "libc",
 "measured",
+ "metrics",
+ "neon-shmem",
+ "nix 0.30.1",
+ "pageserver_api",
+ "pageserver_client_grpc",
+ "pageserver_page_api",
+ "prometheus",
+ "prost 0.13.5",
+ "strum_macros",
+ "thiserror 1.0.69",
 "tokio",
+ "tokio-pipe",
+ "tonic",
 "tracing",
 "tracing-subscriber",
+ "uring-common",
 "utils",
 "workspace_hack",
 ]
@@ -1642,9 +1670,9 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "crossbeam-utils"
-version = "0.8.19"
+version = "0.8.21"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "248e3bacc7dc6baa3b21e405ee045c3047101a49145e7e9eca583ab4c2ca5345"
+checksum = "d0a5c400df2834b80a4c3327b3aad3a4c4cd4de0629063962b03235697506a28"

 [[package]]
 name = "crossterm"
@@ -2360,6 +2388,12 @@ version = "1.0.7"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "3f9eec918d3f24069decb9af1554cad7c880e2da24a9afd88aca000531ab82c1"

+[[package]]
+name = "foldhash"
+version = "0.1.5"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "d9c4f5dac5e15c24eb999c26181a6ca40b39fe946cbe4c263c7209467bc83af2"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "form_urlencoded"
 version = "1.2.1"
@@ -2727,6 +2761,16 @@ version = "0.15.2"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "bf151400ff0baff5465007dd2f3e717f3fe502074ca563069ce3a6629d07b289"

+[[package]]
+name = "hashbrown"
+version = "0.15.4"
+source = "git+https://github.com/quantumish/hashbrown.git?rev=6610e6d#6610e6d2b1f288ef7b0709a3efefbc846395dc5e"
+dependencies = [
+ "allocator-api2",
+ "equivalent",
+ "foldhash",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "hashlink"
 version = "0.9.1"
@@ -3794,7 +3838,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "prometheus",
 "rand 0.9.1",
 "rand_distr",
- "twox-hash",
+ "twox-hash 1.6.3",
 ]

 [[package]]
@@ -3881,15 +3925,21 @@ checksum = "e5ce46fe64a9d73be07dcbe690a38ce1b293be448fd8ce1e6c1b8062c9f72c6a"
 name = "neon-shmem"
 version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
+ "ahash",
+ "criterion",
+ "hashbrown 0.15.4",
 "libc",
 "lock_api",
 "nix 0.30.1",
 "rand 0.9.1",
 "rand_distr",
 "rustc-hash 2.1.1",
+ "seahash",
 "tempfile",
 "thiserror 1.0.69",
+ "twox-hash 2.1.1",
 "workspace_hack",
+ "xxhash-rust",
 ]

 [[package]]
@@ -4344,13 +4394,16 @@ version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
 "anyhow",
 "async-trait",
+ "axum",
 "bytes",
 "camino",
 "clap",
 "futures",
 "hdrhistogram",
+ "http 1.3.1",
 "humantime",
 "humantime-serde",
+ "metrics",
 "pageserver_api",
 "pageserver_client",
 "pageserver_client_grpc",
@@ -4440,6 +4493,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "pageserver_client",
 "pageserver_compaction",
 "pageserver_page_api",
+ "peekable",
 "pem",
 "pin-project-lite",
 "postgres-protocol",
@@ -4453,6 +4507,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "pprof",
 "pq_proto",
 "procfs",
+ "prost 0.13.5",
 "rand 0.9.1",
 "range-set-blaze",
 "regex",
@@ -4489,7 +4544,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "tower 0.5.2",
 "tracing",
 "tracing-utils",
- "twox-hash",
+ "twox-hash 1.6.3",
 "url",
 "utils",
 "uuid",
@@ -4701,7 +4756,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "paste",
 "seq-macro",
 "thrift",
- "twox-hash",
+ "twox-hash 1.6.3",
 "zstd",
 "zstd-sys",
 ]
@@ -4747,6 +4802,15 @@ dependencies = [
 "sha2",
 ]

+[[package]]
+name = "peekable"
+version = "0.3.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "225f9651e475709164f871dc2f5724956be59cb9edb055372ffeeab01ec2d20b"
+dependencies = [
+ "smallvec",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "pem"
 version = "3.0.3"
@@ -6441,6 +6505,12 @@ version = "0.4.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "621e3680f3e07db4c9c2c3fb07c6223ab2fab2e54bd3c04c3ae037990f428c32"

+[[package]]
+name = "seahash"
+version = "4.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "1c107b6f4780854c8b126e228ea8869f4d7b71260f962fefb57b996b8959ba6b"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "sec1"
 version = "0.3.0"
@@ -7588,6 +7658,16 @@ dependencies = [
 "syn 2.0.100",
 ]

+[[package]]
+name = "tokio-pipe"
+version = "0.2.12"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "f213a84bffbd61b8fa0ba8a044b4bbe35d471d0b518867181e82bd5c15542784"
+dependencies = [
+ "libc",
+ "tokio",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "tokio-postgres"
 version = "0.7.10"
@@ -8124,6 +8204,15 @@ dependencies = [
 "static_assertions",
 ]

+[[package]]
+name = "twox-hash"
+version = "2.1.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "8b907da542cbced5261bd3256de1b3a1bf340a3d37f93425a07362a1d687de56"
+dependencies = [
+ "rand 0.9.1",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "typed-json"
 version = "0.1.1"
@@ -8843,6 +8932,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "clap",
 "clap_builder",
 "const-oid",
+ "criterion",
 "crypto-bigint 0.5.5",
 "der 0.7.8",
 "deranged",
@@ -8885,7 +8975,6 @@ dependencies = [
 "num-iter",
 "num-rational",
 "num-traits",
- "once_cell",
 "p256 0.13.2",
 "parquet",
 "prettyplease",
@@ -8993,6 +9082,12 @@ version = "0.13.5"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "4d25c75bf9ea12c4040a97f829154768bbbce366287e2dc044af160cd79a13fd"

+[[package]]
+name = "xxhash-rust"
+version = "0.8.15"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "fdd20c5420375476fbd4394763288da7eb0cc0b8c11deed431a91562af7335d3"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "yansi"
 version = "1.0.1"
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ clap = { version = "4.0", features = ["derive", "env"] }
 clashmap = { version = "1.0", features = ["raw-api"] }
 comfy-table = "7.1"
 const_format = "0.2"
+crossbeam-utils = "0.8.21"
 crc32c = "0.6"
 diatomic-waker = { version = "0.2.3" }
 either = "1.8"
@@ -145,13 +146,14 @@ num-traits = "0.2.19"
 once_cell = "1.13"
 opentelemetry = "0.30"
 opentelemetry_sdk = "0.30"
-opentelemetry-otlp = { version = "0.30", default-features = false, features = ["http-proto", "trace", "http", "reqwest-client"] }
+opentelemetry-otlp = { version = "0.30", default-features = false, features = ["http-proto", "trace", "http", "reqwest-blocking-client"] }
 opentelemetry-semantic-conventions = "0.30"
 parking_lot = "0.12"
 parquet = { version = "53", default-features = false, features = ["zstd"] }
 parquet_derive = "53"
 pbkdf2 = { version = "0.12.1", features = ["simple", "std"] }
 pem = "3.0.3"
+peekable = "0.3.0"
 pin-project-lite = "0.2"
 pprof = { version = "0.14", features = ["criterion", "flamegraph", "frame-pointer", "prost-codec"] }
 procfs = "0.16"
@@ -190,6 +192,7 @@ smallvec = "1.11"
 smol_str = { version = "0.2.0", features = ["serde"] }
 socket2 = "0.5"
 spki = "0.7.3"
+spin = "0.9.8"
 strum = "0.26"
 strum_macros = "0.26"
 "subtle"  = "2.5.0"
@@ -201,7 +204,6 @@ thiserror = "1.0"
 tikv-jemallocator = { version = "0.6", features = ["profiling", "stats", "unprefixed_malloc_on_supported_platforms"] }
 tikv-jemalloc-ctl = { version = "0.6", features = ["stats"] }
 tokio = { version = "1.43.1", features = ["macros"] }
-tokio-epoll-uring = { git = "https://github.com/neondatabase/tokio-epoll-uring.git" , branch = "main" }
 tokio-io-timeout = "1.2.0"
 tokio-postgres-rustls = "0.12.0"
 tokio-rustls = { version = "0.26.0", default-features = false, features = ["tls12", "ring"]}
@@ -240,6 +242,9 @@ x509-cert = { version = "0.2.5" }
 env_logger = "0.11"
 log = "0.4"

+tokio-epoll-uring = { git = "https://github.com/neondatabase/tokio-epoll-uring.git" , branch = "main" }
+uring-common = { git = "https://github.com/neondatabase/tokio-epoll-uring.git" , branch = "main" }
+
 ## Libraries from neondatabase/ git forks, ideally with changes to be upstreamed
 postgres = { git = "https://github.com/neondatabase/rust-postgres.git", branch = "neon" }
 postgres-protocol = { git = "https://github.com/neondatabase/rust-postgres.git", branch = "neon" }
--- a/compute_tools/src/compute.rs
+++ b/compute_tools/src/compute.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ use compute_api::responses::{
    LfcPrewarmState, PromoteState, TlsConfig,
 };
 use compute_api::spec::{
-    ComputeAudit, ComputeFeature, ComputeMode, ComputeSpec, ExtVersion, PageserverProtocol, PgIdent,
+    ComputeAudit, ComputeFeature, ComputeMode, ComputeSpec, ExtVersion, PageserverConnectionInfo,
+    PageserverProtocol, PageserverShardConnectionInfo, PageserverShardInfo, PgIdent,
 };
 use futures::StreamExt;
 use futures::future::join_all;
@@ -240,7 +241,7 @@ pub struct ParsedSpec {
    pub spec: ComputeSpec,
    pub tenant_id: TenantId,
    pub timeline_id: TimelineId,
-    pub pageserver_connstr: String,
+    pub pageserver_conninfo: PageserverConnectionInfo,
    pub safekeeper_connstrings: Vec<String>,
    pub storage_auth_token: Option<String>,
    /// k8s dns name and port
@@ -287,26 +288,114 @@ impl ParsedSpec {
    }
 }

+/// Extract PageserverConnectionInfo from a comma-separated list of libpq connection strings.
+///
+/// This is used for backwards-compatilibity, to parse the legacye `pageserver_connstr`
+/// field in the compute spec, or the 'neon.pageserver_connstring' GUC. Nowadays, the
+/// 'pageserver_connection_info' field should be used instead.
+fn extract_pageserver_conninfo_from_connstr(
+    connstr: &str,
+    stripe_size: Option<u32>,
+) -> Result<PageserverConnectionInfo, anyhow::Error> {
+    let shard_infos: Vec<_> = connstr
+        .split(',')
+        .map(|connstr| PageserverShardInfo {
+            pageservers: vec![PageserverShardConnectionInfo {
+                id: None,
+                libpq_url: Some(connstr.to_string()),
+                grpc_url: None,
+            }],
+        })
+        .collect();
+
+    match shard_infos.len() {
+        0 => anyhow::bail!("empty connection string"),
+        1 => {
+            // We assume that if there's only connection string, it means "unsharded",
+            // rather than a sharded system with just a single shard. The latter is
+            // possible in principle, but we never do it.
+            let shard_count = ShardCount::unsharded();
+            let only_shard = shard_infos.first().unwrap().clone();
+            let shards = vec![(ShardIndex::unsharded(), only_shard)];
+            Ok(PageserverConnectionInfo {
+                shard_count,
+                stripe_size: None,
+                shards: shards.into_iter().collect(),
+                prefer_protocol: PageserverProtocol::Libpq,
+            })
+        }
+        n => {
+            if stripe_size.is_none() {
+                anyhow::bail!("{n} shards but no stripe_size");
+            }
+            let shard_count = ShardCount(n.try_into()?);
+            let shards = shard_infos
+                .into_iter()
+                .enumerate()
+                .map(|(idx, shard_info)| {
+                    (
+                        ShardIndex {
+                            shard_count,
+                            shard_number: ShardNumber(
+                                idx.try_into().expect("shard number fits in u8"),
+                            ),
+                        },
+                        shard_info,
+                    )
+                })
+                .collect();
+            Ok(PageserverConnectionInfo {
+                shard_count,
+                stripe_size,
+                shards,
+                prefer_protocol: PageserverProtocol::Libpq,
+            })
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl TryFrom<ComputeSpec> for ParsedSpec {
-    type Error = String;
-    fn try_from(spec: ComputeSpec) -> Result<Self, String> {
+    type Error = anyhow::Error;
+    fn try_from(spec: ComputeSpec) -> Result<Self, anyhow::Error> {
        // Extract the options from the spec file that are needed to connect to
        // the storage system.
        //
-        // For backwards-compatibility, the top-level fields in the spec file
-        // may be empty. In that case, we need to dig them from the GUCs in the
-        // cluster.settings field.
-        let pageserver_connstr = spec
-            .pageserver_connstring
-            .clone()
-            .or_else(|| spec.cluster.settings.find("neon.pageserver_connstring"))
-            .ok_or("pageserver connstr should be provided")?;
+        // In compute specs generated by old control plane versions, the spec file might
+        // be missing the `pageserver_connection_info` field. In that case, we need to dig
+        // the pageserver connection info from the `pageserver_connstr` field instead, or
+        // if that's missing too, from the GUC in the cluster.settings field.
+        let mut pageserver_conninfo = spec.pageserver_connection_info.clone();
+        if pageserver_conninfo.is_none() {
+            if let Some(pageserver_connstr_field) = &spec.pageserver_connstring {
+                pageserver_conninfo = Some(extract_pageserver_conninfo_from_connstr(
+                    pageserver_connstr_field,
+                    spec.shard_stripe_size,
+                )?);
+            }
+        }
+        if pageserver_conninfo.is_none() {
+            if let Some(guc) = spec.cluster.settings.find("neon.pageserver_connstring") {
+                let stripe_size = if let Some(guc) = spec.cluster.settings.find("neon.stripe_size")
+                {
+                    Some(u32::from_str(&guc)?)
+                } else {
+                    None
+                };
+                pageserver_conninfo =
+                    Some(extract_pageserver_conninfo_from_connstr(&guc, stripe_size)?);
+            }
+        }
+        let pageserver_conninfo = pageserver_conninfo.ok_or(anyhow::anyhow!(
+            "pageserver connection information should be provided"
+        ))?;
+
+        // Similarly for safekeeper connection strings
        let safekeeper_connstrings = if spec.safekeeper_connstrings.is_empty() {
            if matches!(spec.mode, ComputeMode::Primary) {
                spec.cluster
                    .settings
                    .find("neon.safekeepers")
-                    .ok_or("safekeeper connstrings should be provided")?
+                    .ok_or(anyhow::anyhow!("safekeeper connstrings should be provided"))?
                    .split(',')
                    .map(|str| str.to_string())
                    .collect()
@@ -321,22 +410,22 @@ impl TryFrom<ComputeSpec> for ParsedSpec {
        let tenant_id: TenantId = if let Some(tenant_id) = spec.tenant_id {
            tenant_id
        } else {
-            spec.cluster
+            let guc = spec
+                .cluster
                .settings
                .find("neon.tenant_id")
-                .ok_or("tenant id should be provided")
-                .map(|s| TenantId::from_str(&s))?
-                .or(Err("invalid tenant id"))?
+                .ok_or(anyhow::anyhow!("tenant id should be provided"))?;
+            TenantId::from_str(&guc).context("invalid tenant id")?
        };
        let timeline_id: TimelineId = if let Some(timeline_id) = spec.timeline_id {
            timeline_id
        } else {
-            spec.cluster
+            let guc = spec
+                .cluster
                .settings
                .find("neon.timeline_id")
-                .ok_or("timeline id should be provided")
-                .map(|s| TimelineId::from_str(&s))?
-                .or(Err("invalid timeline id"))?
+                .ok_or(anyhow::anyhow!("timeline id should be provided"))?;
+            TimelineId::from_str(&guc).context(anyhow::anyhow!("invalid timeline id"))?
        };

        let endpoint_storage_addr: Option<String> = spec
@@ -350,7 +439,7 @@ impl TryFrom<ComputeSpec> for ParsedSpec {

        let res = ParsedSpec {
            spec,
-            pageserver_connstr,
+            pageserver_conninfo,
            safekeeper_connstrings,
            storage_auth_token,
            tenant_id,
@@ -360,7 +449,7 @@ impl TryFrom<ComputeSpec> for ParsedSpec {
        };

        // Now check validity of the parsed specification
-        res.validate()?;
+        res.validate().map_err(anyhow::Error::msg)?;
        Ok(res)
    }
 }
@@ -1050,12 +1139,10 @@ impl ComputeNode {
    fn try_get_basebackup(&self, compute_state: &ComputeState, lsn: Lsn) -> Result<()> {
        let spec = compute_state.pspec.as_ref().expect("spec must be set");

-        let shard0_connstr = spec.pageserver_connstr.split(',').next().unwrap();
        let started = Instant::now();
-
-        let (connected, size) = match PageserverProtocol::from_connstring(shard0_connstr)? {
-            PageserverProtocol::Libpq => self.try_get_basebackup_libpq(spec, lsn)?,
+        let (connected, size) = match spec.pageserver_conninfo.prefer_protocol {
            PageserverProtocol::Grpc => self.try_get_basebackup_grpc(spec, lsn)?,
+            PageserverProtocol::Libpq => self.try_get_basebackup_libpq(spec, lsn)?,
        };

        self.fix_zenith_signal_neon_signal()?;
@@ -1093,23 +1180,32 @@ impl ComputeNode {
    /// Fetches a basebackup via gRPC. The connstring must use grpc://. Returns the timestamp when
    /// the connection was established, and the (compressed) size of the basebackup.
    fn try_get_basebackup_grpc(&self, spec: &ParsedSpec, lsn: Lsn) -> Result<(Instant, usize)> {
-        let shard0_connstr = spec
-            .pageserver_connstr
-            .split(',')
-            .next()
-            .unwrap()
-            .to_string();
-        let shard_index = match spec.pageserver_connstr.split(',').count() as u8 {
-            0 | 1 => ShardIndex::unsharded(),
-            count => ShardIndex::new(ShardNumber(0), ShardCount(count)),
+        let shard0_index = ShardIndex {
+            shard_number: ShardNumber(0),
+            shard_count: spec.pageserver_conninfo.shard_count,
        };
+        let shard0 = spec
+            .pageserver_conninfo
+            .shards
+            .get(&shard0_index)
+            .ok_or_else(|| {
+                anyhow::anyhow!("shard connection info missing for shard {}", shard0_index)
+            })?;
+        let pageserver = shard0
+            .pageservers
+            .first()
+            .expect("must have at least one pageserver");
+        let shard0_url = pageserver
+            .grpc_url
+            .clone()
+            .expect("no grpc_url for shard 0");

        let (reader, connected) = tokio::runtime::Handle::current().block_on(async move {
            let mut client = page_api::Client::connect(
-                shard0_connstr,
+                shard0_url,
                spec.tenant_id,
                spec.timeline_id,
-                shard_index,
+                shard0_index,
                spec.storage_auth_token.clone(),
                None, // NB: base backups use payload compression
            )
@@ -1141,8 +1237,26 @@ impl ComputeNode {
    /// Fetches a basebackup via libpq. The connstring must use postgresql://. Returns the timestamp
    /// when the connection was established, and the (compressed) size of the basebackup.
    fn try_get_basebackup_libpq(&self, spec: &ParsedSpec, lsn: Lsn) -> Result<(Instant, usize)> {
-        let shard0_connstr = spec.pageserver_connstr.split(',').next().unwrap();
-        let mut config = postgres::Config::from_str(shard0_connstr)?;
+        let shard0_index = ShardIndex {
+            shard_number: ShardNumber(0),
+            shard_count: spec.pageserver_conninfo.shard_count,
+        };
+        let shard0 = spec
+            .pageserver_conninfo
+            .shards
+            .get(&shard0_index)
+            .ok_or_else(|| {
+                anyhow::anyhow!("shard connection info missing for shard {}", shard0_index)
+            })?;
+        let pageserver = shard0
+            .pageservers
+            .first()
+            .expect("must have at least one pageserver");
+        let shard0_connstr = pageserver
+            .libpq_url
+            .clone()
+            .expect("no libpq_url for shard 0");
+        let mut config = postgres::Config::from_str(&shard0_connstr)?;

        // Use the storage auth token from the config file, if given.
        // Note: this overrides any password set in the connection string.
@@ -1228,10 +1342,7 @@ impl ComputeNode {
                    return result;
                }
                Err(ref e) if attempts < max_attempts => {
-                    warn!(
-                        "Failed to get basebackup: {} (attempt {}/{})",
-                        e, attempts, max_attempts
-                    );
+                    warn!("Failed to get basebackup: {e:?} (attempt {attempts}/{max_attempts})");
                    std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(retry_period_ms as u64));
                    retry_period_ms *= 1.5;
                }
@@ -1439,16 +1550,8 @@ impl ComputeNode {
            }
        };

-        info!(
-            "getting basebackup@{} from pageserver {}",
-            lsn, &pspec.pageserver_connstr
-        );
-        self.get_basebackup(compute_state, lsn).with_context(|| {
-            format!(
-                "failed to get basebackup@{} from pageserver {}",
-                lsn, &pspec.pageserver_connstr
-            )
-        })?;
+        self.get_basebackup(compute_state, lsn)
+            .with_context(|| format!("failed to get basebackup@{lsn}"))?;

        // Update pg_hba.conf received with basebackup.
        update_pg_hba(pgdata_path, None)?;
@@ -2392,22 +2495,22 @@ LIMIT 100",
    /// The operation will time out after a specified duration.
    pub fn wait_timeout_while_pageserver_connstr_unchanged(&self, duration: Duration) {
        let state = self.state.lock().unwrap();
-        let old_pageserver_connstr = state
+        let old_pageserver_conninfo = state
            .pspec
            .as_ref()
            .expect("spec must be set")
-            .pageserver_connstr
+            .pageserver_conninfo
            .clone();
        let mut unchanged = true;
        let _ = self
            .state_changed
            .wait_timeout_while(state, duration, |s| {
-                let pageserver_connstr = &s
+                let pageserver_conninfo = &s
                    .pspec
                    .as_ref()
                    .expect("spec must be set")
-                    .pageserver_connstr;
-                unchanged = pageserver_connstr == &old_pageserver_connstr;
+                    .pageserver_conninfo;
+                unchanged = pageserver_conninfo == &old_pageserver_conninfo;
                unchanged
            })
            .unwrap();
@@ -2637,7 +2740,10 @@ mod tests {

        match ParsedSpec::try_from(spec.clone()) {
            Ok(_p) => panic!("Failed to detect duplicate entry"),
-            Err(e) => assert!(e.starts_with("duplicate entry in safekeeper_connstrings:")),
+            Err(e) => assert!(
+                e.to_string()
+                    .starts_with("duplicate entry in safekeeper_connstrings:")
+            ),
        };
    }
 }
--- a/compute_tools/src/config.rs
+++ b/compute_tools/src/config.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ use crate::pg_helpers::{
 };
 use crate::tls::{self, SERVER_CRT, SERVER_KEY};

+use utils::shard::{ShardIndex, ShardNumber};
+
 /// Check that `line` is inside a text file and put it there if it is not.
 /// Create file if it doesn't exist.
 pub fn line_in_file(path: &Path, line: &str) -> Result<bool> {
@@ -56,15 +58,101 @@ pub fn write_postgres_conf(
        writeln!(file, "{conf}")?;
    }

-    // Stripe size GUC should be defined prior to connection string
-    if let Some(stripe_size) = spec.shard_stripe_size {
-        writeln!(file, "neon.stripe_size={stripe_size}")?;
-    }
    // Add options for connecting to storage
    writeln!(file, "# Neon storage settings")?;
-    if let Some(s) = &spec.pageserver_connstring {
-        writeln!(file, "neon.pageserver_connstring={}", escape_conf_value(s))?;
+    writeln!(file)?;
+    if let Some(conninfo) = &spec.pageserver_connection_info {
+        // Stripe size GUC should be defined prior to connection string
+        if let Some(stripe_size) = conninfo.stripe_size {
+            writeln!(
+                file,
+                "# from compute spec's pageserver_conninfo.stripe_size field"
+            )?;
+            writeln!(file, "neon.stripe_size={stripe_size}")?;
+        }
+
+        let mut libpq_urls: Option<Vec<String>> = Some(Vec::new());
+        let mut grpc_urls: Option<Vec<String>> = Some(Vec::new());
+        let num_shards = if conninfo.shard_count.0 == 0 {
+            1 // unsharded, treat it as a single shard
+        } else {
+            conninfo.shard_count.0
+        };
+
+        for shard_number in 0..num_shards {
+            let shard_index = ShardIndex {
+                shard_number: ShardNumber(shard_number),
+                shard_count: conninfo.shard_count,
+            };
+            let info = conninfo.shards.get(&shard_index).ok_or_else(|| {
+                anyhow::anyhow!(
+                    "shard {shard_index} missing from pageserver_connection_info shard map"
+                )
+            })?;
+
+            let first_pageserver = info
+                .pageservers
+                .first()
+                .expect("must have at least one pageserver");
+
+            // Add the libpq URL to the array, or if the URL is missing, reset the array
+            // forgetting any previous entries. All servers must have a libpq URL, or none
+            // at all.
+            if let Some(url) = &first_pageserver.libpq_url {
+                if let Some(ref mut urls) = libpq_urls {
+                    urls.push(url.clone());
+                }
+            } else {
+                libpq_urls = None
+            }
+            // Similarly for gRPC URLs
+            if let Some(url) = &first_pageserver.grpc_url {
+                if let Some(ref mut urls) = grpc_urls {
+                    urls.push(url.clone());
+                }
+            } else {
+                grpc_urls = None
+            }
+        }
+        if let Some(libpq_urls) = libpq_urls {
+            writeln!(
+                file,
+                "# derived from compute spec's pageserver_conninfo field"
+            )?;
+            writeln!(
+                file,
+                "neon.pageserver_connstring={}",
+                escape_conf_value(&libpq_urls.join(","))
+            )?;
+        } else {
+            writeln!(file, "# no neon.pageserver_connstring")?;
+        }
+        if let Some(grpc_urls) = grpc_urls {
+            writeln!(
+                file,
+                "# derived from compute spec's pageserver_conninfo field"
+            )?;
+            writeln!(
+                file,
+                "neon.pageserver_grpc_urls={}",
+                escape_conf_value(&grpc_urls.join(","))
+            )?;
+        } else {
+            writeln!(file, "# no neon.pageserver_grpc_urls")?;
+        }
+    } else {
+        // Stripe size GUC should be defined prior to connection string
+        if let Some(stripe_size) = spec.shard_stripe_size {
+            writeln!(file, "# from compute spec's shard_stripe_size field")?;
+            writeln!(file, "neon.stripe_size={stripe_size}")?;
+        }
+
+        if let Some(s) = &spec.pageserver_connstring {
+            writeln!(file, "# from compute spec's pageserver_connstring field")?;
+            writeln!(file, "neon.pageserver_connstring={}", escape_conf_value(s))?;
+        }
    }
+
    if !spec.safekeeper_connstrings.is_empty() {
        let mut neon_safekeepers_value = String::new();
        tracing::info!(
--- a/compute_tools/src/lsn_lease.rs
+++ b/compute_tools/src/lsn_lease.rs
@@ -4,14 +4,13 @@ use std::thread;
 use std::time::{Duration, SystemTime};

 use anyhow::{Result, bail};
-use compute_api::spec::{ComputeMode, PageserverProtocol};
-use itertools::Itertools as _;
+use compute_api::spec::{ComputeMode, PageserverConnectionInfo, PageserverProtocol};
 use pageserver_page_api as page_api;
 use postgres::{NoTls, SimpleQueryMessage};
 use tracing::{info, warn};
 use utils::id::{TenantId, TimelineId};
 use utils::lsn::Lsn;
-use utils::shard::{ShardCount, ShardNumber, TenantShardId};
+use utils::shard::TenantShardId;

 use crate::compute::ComputeNode;

@@ -78,17 +77,16 @@ fn acquire_lsn_lease_with_retry(

    loop {
        // Note: List of pageservers is dynamic, need to re-read configs before each attempt.
-        let (connstrings, auth) = {
+        let (conninfo, auth) = {
            let state = compute.state.lock().unwrap();
            let spec = state.pspec.as_ref().expect("spec must be set");
            (
-                spec.pageserver_connstr.clone(),
+                spec.pageserver_conninfo.clone(),
                spec.storage_auth_token.clone(),
            )
        };

-        let result =
-            try_acquire_lsn_lease(&connstrings, auth.as_deref(), tenant_id, timeline_id, lsn);
+        let result = try_acquire_lsn_lease(conninfo, auth.as_deref(), tenant_id, timeline_id, lsn);
        match result {
            Ok(Some(res)) => {
                return Ok(res);
@@ -112,35 +110,44 @@ fn acquire_lsn_lease_with_retry(

 /// Tries to acquire LSN leases on all Pageserver shards.
 fn try_acquire_lsn_lease(
-    connstrings: &str,
+    conninfo: PageserverConnectionInfo,
    auth: Option<&str>,
    tenant_id: TenantId,
    timeline_id: TimelineId,
    lsn: Lsn,
 ) -> Result<Option<SystemTime>> {
-    let connstrings = connstrings.split(',').collect_vec();
-    let shard_count = connstrings.len();
    let mut leases = Vec::new();

-    for (shard_number, &connstring) in connstrings.iter().enumerate() {
-        let tenant_shard_id = match shard_count {
-            0 | 1 => TenantShardId::unsharded(tenant_id),
-            shard_count => TenantShardId {
-                tenant_id,
-                shard_number: ShardNumber(shard_number as u8),
-                shard_count: ShardCount::new(shard_count as u8),
-            },
+    for (shard_index, shard) in conninfo.shards.into_iter() {
+        let tenant_shard_id = TenantShardId {
+            tenant_id,
+            shard_number: shard_index.shard_number,
+            shard_count: shard_index.shard_count,
        };

-        let lease = match PageserverProtocol::from_connstring(connstring)? {
-            PageserverProtocol::Libpq => {
-                acquire_lsn_lease_libpq(connstring, auth, tenant_shard_id, timeline_id, lsn)?
-            }
-            PageserverProtocol::Grpc => {
-                acquire_lsn_lease_grpc(connstring, auth, tenant_shard_id, timeline_id, lsn)?
-            }
-        };
-        leases.push(lease);
+        // XXX: If there are more than pageserver for the one shard, do we need to get a
+        // leas on all of them? Currently, that's what we assume, but this is hypothetical
+        // as of this writing, as we never pass the info for more than one pageserver per
+        // shard.
+        for pageserver in shard.pageservers {
+            let lease = match conninfo.prefer_protocol {
+                PageserverProtocol::Grpc => acquire_lsn_lease_grpc(
+                    &pageserver.grpc_url.unwrap(),
+                    auth,
+                    tenant_shard_id,
+                    timeline_id,
+                    lsn,
+                )?,
+                PageserverProtocol::Libpq => acquire_lsn_lease_libpq(
+                    &pageserver.libpq_url.unwrap(),
+                    auth,
+                    tenant_shard_id,
+                    timeline_id,
+                    lsn,
+                )?,
+            };
+            leases.push(lease);
+        }
    }

    Ok(leases.into_iter().min().flatten())
--- a/control_plane/src/bin/neon_local.rs
+++ b/control_plane/src/bin/neon_local.rs
@@ -16,9 +16,14 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 use anyhow::{Context, Result, anyhow, bail};
 use clap::Parser;
 use compute_api::requests::ComputeClaimsScope;
-use compute_api::spec::{ComputeMode, PageserverProtocol};
+use compute_api::spec::{
+    ComputeMode, PageserverConnectionInfo, PageserverProtocol, PageserverShardInfo,
+};
 use control_plane::broker::StorageBroker;
 use control_plane::endpoint::{ComputeControlPlane, EndpointTerminateMode};
+use control_plane::endpoint::{
+    pageserver_conf_to_shard_conn_info, tenant_locate_response_to_conn_info,
+};
 use control_plane::endpoint_storage::{ENDPOINT_STORAGE_DEFAULT_ADDR, EndpointStorage};
 use control_plane::local_env;
 use control_plane::local_env::{
@@ -44,7 +49,6 @@ use pageserver_api::models::{
 };
 use pageserver_api::shard::{DEFAULT_STRIPE_SIZE, ShardCount, ShardStripeSize, TenantShardId};
 use postgres_backend::AuthType;
-use postgres_connection::parse_host_port;
 use safekeeper_api::membership::{SafekeeperGeneration, SafekeeperId};
 use safekeeper_api::{
    DEFAULT_HTTP_LISTEN_PORT as DEFAULT_SAFEKEEPER_HTTP_PORT,
@@ -52,11 +56,11 @@ use safekeeper_api::{
 };
 use storage_broker::DEFAULT_LISTEN_ADDR as DEFAULT_BROKER_ADDR;
 use tokio::task::JoinSet;
-use url::Host;
 use utils::auth::{Claims, Scope};
 use utils::id::{NodeId, TenantId, TenantTimelineId, TimelineId};
 use utils::lsn::Lsn;
 use utils::project_git_version;
+use utils::shard::ShardIndex;

 // Default id of a safekeeper node, if not specified on the command line.
 const DEFAULT_SAFEKEEPER_ID: NodeId = NodeId(1);
@@ -1527,62 +1531,56 @@ async fn handle_endpoint(subcmd: &EndpointCmd, env: &local_env::LocalEnv) -> Res
                )?;
            }

-            let (pageservers, stripe_size) = if let Some(pageserver_id) = pageserver_id {
-                let conf = env.get_pageserver_conf(pageserver_id).unwrap();
-                // Use gRPC if requested.
-                let pageserver = if endpoint.grpc {
-                    let grpc_addr = conf.listen_grpc_addr.as_ref().expect("bad config");
-                    let (host, port) = parse_host_port(grpc_addr)?;
-                    let port = port.unwrap_or(DEFAULT_PAGESERVER_GRPC_PORT);
-                    (PageserverProtocol::Grpc, host, port)
-                } else {
-                    let (host, port) = parse_host_port(&conf.listen_pg_addr)?;
-                    let port = port.unwrap_or(5432);
-                    (PageserverProtocol::Libpq, host, port)
+            let prefer_protocol = if endpoint.grpc {
+                PageserverProtocol::Grpc
+            } else {
+                PageserverProtocol::Libpq
+            };
+
+            let mut pageserver_conninfo = if let Some(ps_id) = pageserver_id {
+                let conf = env.get_pageserver_conf(ps_id).unwrap();
+                let ps_conninfo = pageserver_conf_to_shard_conn_info(conf)?;
+
+                let shard_info = PageserverShardInfo {
+                    pageservers: vec![ps_conninfo],
                };
                // If caller is telling us what pageserver to use, this is not a tenant which is
                // fully managed by storage controller, therefore not sharded.
-                (vec![pageserver], DEFAULT_STRIPE_SIZE)
+                let shards: HashMap<_, _> = vec![(ShardIndex::unsharded(), shard_info)]
+                    .into_iter()
+                    .collect();
+                PageserverConnectionInfo {
+                    shard_count: ShardCount(0),
+                    stripe_size: None,
+                    shards,
+                    prefer_protocol,
+                }
            } else {
                // Look up the currently attached location of the tenant, and its striping metadata,
                // to pass these on to postgres.
                let storage_controller = StorageController::from_env(env);
                let locate_result = storage_controller.tenant_locate(endpoint.tenant_id).await?;
-                let pageservers = futures::future::try_join_all(
-                    locate_result.shards.into_iter().map(|shard| async move {
-                        if let ComputeMode::Static(lsn) = endpoint.mode {
-                            // Initialize LSN leases for static computes.
+                assert!(!locate_result.shards.is_empty());
+
+                // Initialize LSN leases for static computes.
+                if let ComputeMode::Static(lsn) = endpoint.mode {
+                    futures::future::try_join_all(locate_result.shards.iter().map(
+                        |shard| async move {
                            let conf = env.get_pageserver_conf(shard.node_id).unwrap();
                            let pageserver = PageServerNode::from_env(env, conf);

                            pageserver
                                .http_client
                                .timeline_init_lsn_lease(shard.shard_id, endpoint.timeline_id, lsn)
-                                .await?;
-                        }
+                                .await
+                        },
+                    ))
+                    .await?;
+                }

-                        let pageserver = if endpoint.grpc {
-                            (
-                                PageserverProtocol::Grpc,
-                                Host::parse(&shard.listen_grpc_addr.expect("no gRPC address"))?,
-                                shard.listen_grpc_port.expect("no gRPC port"),
-                            )
-                        } else {
-                            (
-                                PageserverProtocol::Libpq,
-                                Host::parse(&shard.listen_pg_addr)?,
-                                shard.listen_pg_port,
-                            )
-                        };
-                        anyhow::Ok(pageserver)
-                    }),
-                )
-                .await?;
-                let stripe_size = locate_result.shard_params.stripe_size;
-
-                (pageservers, stripe_size)
+                tenant_locate_response_to_conn_info(&locate_result)?
            };
-            assert!(!pageservers.is_empty());
+            pageserver_conninfo.prefer_protocol = prefer_protocol;

            let ps_conf = env.get_pageserver_conf(DEFAULT_PAGESERVER_ID)?;
            let auth_token = if matches!(ps_conf.pg_auth_type, AuthType::NeonJWT) {
@@ -1612,9 +1610,8 @@ async fn handle_endpoint(subcmd: &EndpointCmd, env: &local_env::LocalEnv) -> Res
                endpoint_storage_addr,
                safekeepers_generation,
                safekeepers,
-                pageservers,
+                pageserver_conninfo,
                remote_ext_base_url: remote_ext_base_url.clone(),
-                shard_stripe_size: stripe_size.0 as usize,
                create_test_user: args.create_test_user,
                start_timeout: args.start_timeout,
                autoprewarm: args.autoprewarm,
@@ -1631,51 +1628,45 @@ async fn handle_endpoint(subcmd: &EndpointCmd, env: &local_env::LocalEnv) -> Res
                .endpoints
                .get(endpoint_id.as_str())
                .with_context(|| format!("postgres endpoint {endpoint_id} is not found"))?;
-            let pageservers = if let Some(ps_id) = args.endpoint_pageserver_id {
-                let conf = env.get_pageserver_conf(ps_id)?;
-                // Use gRPC if requested.
-                let pageserver = if endpoint.grpc {
-                    let grpc_addr = conf.listen_grpc_addr.as_ref().expect("bad config");
-                    let (host, port) = parse_host_port(grpc_addr)?;
-                    let port = port.unwrap_or(DEFAULT_PAGESERVER_GRPC_PORT);
-                    (PageserverProtocol::Grpc, host, port)
-                } else {
-                    let (host, port) = parse_host_port(&conf.listen_pg_addr)?;
-                    let port = port.unwrap_or(5432);
-                    (PageserverProtocol::Libpq, host, port)
-                };
-                vec![pageserver]
+
+            let prefer_protocol = if endpoint.grpc {
+                PageserverProtocol::Grpc
            } else {
-                let storage_controller = StorageController::from_env(env);
-                storage_controller
-                    .tenant_locate(endpoint.tenant_id)
-                    .await?
-                    .shards
-                    .into_iter()
-                    .map(|shard| {
-                        // Use gRPC if requested.
-                        if endpoint.grpc {
-                            (
-                                PageserverProtocol::Grpc,
-                                Host::parse(&shard.listen_grpc_addr.expect("no gRPC address"))
-                                    .expect("bad hostname"),
-                                shard.listen_grpc_port.expect("no gRPC port"),
-                            )
-                        } else {
-                            (
-                                PageserverProtocol::Libpq,
-                                Host::parse(&shard.listen_pg_addr).expect("bad hostname"),
-                                shard.listen_pg_port,
-                            )
-                        }
-                    })
-                    .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+                PageserverProtocol::Libpq
            };
+            let mut pageserver_conninfo = if let Some(ps_id) = args.endpoint_pageserver_id {
+                let conf = env.get_pageserver_conf(ps_id)?;
+                let ps_conninfo = pageserver_conf_to_shard_conn_info(conf)?;
+                let shard_info = PageserverShardInfo {
+                    pageservers: vec![ps_conninfo],
+                };
+
+                // If caller is telling us what pageserver to use, this is not a tenant which is
+                // fully managed by storage controller, therefore not sharded.
+                let shards: HashMap<_, _> = vec![(ShardIndex::unsharded(), shard_info)]
+                    .into_iter()
+                    .collect();
+                PageserverConnectionInfo {
+                    shard_count: ShardCount::unsharded(),
+                    stripe_size: None,
+                    shards,
+                    prefer_protocol,
+                }
+            } else {
+                // Look up the currently attached location of the tenant, and its striping metadata,
+                // to pass these on to postgres.
+                let storage_controller = StorageController::from_env(env);
+                let locate_result = storage_controller.tenant_locate(endpoint.tenant_id).await?;
+
+                tenant_locate_response_to_conn_info(&locate_result)?
+            };
+            pageserver_conninfo.prefer_protocol = prefer_protocol;
+
            // If --safekeepers argument is given, use only the listed
            // safekeeper nodes; otherwise all from the env.
            let safekeepers = parse_safekeepers(&args.safekeepers)?;
            endpoint
-                .reconfigure(Some(pageservers), None, safekeepers, None)
+                .reconfigure(Some(&pageserver_conninfo), safekeepers, None)
                .await?;
        }
        EndpointCmd::Stop(args) => {
--- a/control_plane/src/endpoint.rs
+++ b/control_plane/src/endpoint.rs
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
 //!         <other PostgreSQL files>
 //! ```
 //!
-use std::collections::BTreeMap;
+use std::collections::{BTreeMap, HashMap};
 use std::fmt::Display;
 use std::net::{IpAddr, Ipv4Addr, SocketAddr, TcpStream};
 use std::path::PathBuf;
@@ -58,8 +58,12 @@ use compute_api::responses::{
 };
 use compute_api::spec::{
    Cluster, ComputeAudit, ComputeFeature, ComputeMode, ComputeSpec, Database, PageserverProtocol,
-    PgIdent, RemoteExtSpec, Role,
+    PageserverShardInfo, PgIdent, RemoteExtSpec, Role,
 };
+
+// re-export these, because they're used in the reconfigure() function
+pub use compute_api::spec::{PageserverConnectionInfo, PageserverShardConnectionInfo};
+
 use jsonwebtoken::jwk::{
    AlgorithmParameters, CommonParameters, EllipticCurve, Jwk, JwkSet, KeyAlgorithm, KeyOperations,
    OctetKeyPairParameters, OctetKeyPairType, PublicKeyUse,
@@ -74,9 +78,11 @@ use sha2::{Digest, Sha256};
 use spki::der::Decode;
 use spki::{SubjectPublicKeyInfo, SubjectPublicKeyInfoRef};
 use tracing::debug;
-use url::Host;
 use utils::id::{NodeId, TenantId, TimelineId};
-use utils::shard::ShardStripeSize;
+use utils::shard::{ShardIndex, ShardNumber};
+
+use pageserver_api::config::DEFAULT_GRPC_LISTEN_PORT as DEFAULT_PAGESERVER_GRPC_PORT;
+use postgres_connection::parse_host_port;

 use crate::local_env::LocalEnv;
 use crate::postgresql_conf::PostgresConf;
@@ -387,9 +393,8 @@ pub struct EndpointStartArgs {
    pub endpoint_storage_addr: String,
    pub safekeepers_generation: Option<SafekeeperGeneration>,
    pub safekeepers: Vec<NodeId>,
-    pub pageservers: Vec<(PageserverProtocol, Host, u16)>,
+    pub pageserver_conninfo: PageserverConnectionInfo,
    pub remote_ext_base_url: Option<String>,
-    pub shard_stripe_size: usize,
    pub create_test_user: bool,
    pub start_timeout: Duration,
    pub autoprewarm: bool,
@@ -662,14 +667,6 @@ impl Endpoint {
        }
    }

-    fn build_pageserver_connstr(pageservers: &[(PageserverProtocol, Host, u16)]) -> String {
-        pageservers
-            .iter()
-            .map(|(scheme, host, port)| format!("{scheme}://no_user@{host}:{port}"))
-            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
-            .join(",")
-    }
-
    /// Map safekeepers ids to the actual connection strings.
    fn build_safekeepers_connstrs(&self, sk_ids: Vec<NodeId>) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
        let mut safekeeper_connstrings = Vec::new();
@@ -715,9 +712,6 @@ impl Endpoint {
            std::fs::remove_dir_all(self.pgdata())?;
        }

-        let pageserver_connstring = Self::build_pageserver_connstr(&args.pageservers);
-        assert!(!pageserver_connstring.is_empty());
-
        let safekeeper_connstrings = self.build_safekeepers_connstrs(args.safekeepers)?;

        // check for file remote_extensions_spec.json
@@ -732,6 +726,45 @@ impl Endpoint {
            remote_extensions = None;
        };

+        // For the sake of backwards-compatibility, also fill in 'pageserver_connstring'
+        //
+        // Use a closure so that we can conviniently return None in the middle of the
+        // loop.
+        let pageserver_connstring: Option<String> = (|| {
+            let num_shards = if args.pageserver_conninfo.shard_count.is_unsharded() {
+                1
+            } else {
+                args.pageserver_conninfo.shard_count.0
+            };
+            let mut connstrings = Vec::new();
+            for shard_no in 0..num_shards {
+                let shard_index = ShardIndex {
+                    shard_count: args.pageserver_conninfo.shard_count,
+                    shard_number: ShardNumber(shard_no),
+                };
+                let shard = args
+                    .pageserver_conninfo
+                    .shards
+                    .get(&shard_index)
+                    .ok_or_else(|| {
+                        anyhow!(
+                            "shard {} not found in pageserver_connection_info",
+                            shard_index
+                        )
+                    })?;
+                let pageserver = shard
+                    .pageservers
+                    .first()
+                    .ok_or(anyhow!("must have at least one pageserver"))?;
+                if let Some(libpq_url) = &pageserver.libpq_url {
+                    connstrings.push(libpq_url.clone());
+                } else {
+                    return Ok::<_, anyhow::Error>(None);
+                }
+            }
+            Ok(Some(connstrings.join(",")))
+        })()?;
+
        // Create config file
        let config = {
            let mut spec = ComputeSpec {
@@ -776,13 +809,14 @@ impl Endpoint {
                branch_id: None,
                endpoint_id: Some(self.endpoint_id.clone()),
                mode: self.mode,
-                pageserver_connstring: Some(pageserver_connstring),
+                pageserver_connection_info: Some(args.pageserver_conninfo.clone()),
+                pageserver_connstring,
                safekeepers_generation: args.safekeepers_generation.map(|g| g.into_inner()),
                safekeeper_connstrings,
                storage_auth_token: args.auth_token.clone(),
                remote_extensions,
                pgbouncer_settings: None,
-                shard_stripe_size: Some(args.shard_stripe_size),
+                shard_stripe_size: args.pageserver_conninfo.stripe_size, // redundant with pageserver_connection_info.stripe_size
                local_proxy_config: None,
                reconfigure_concurrency: self.reconfigure_concurrency,
                drop_subscriptions_before_start: self.drop_subscriptions_before_start,
@@ -994,8 +1028,7 @@ impl Endpoint {

    pub async fn reconfigure(
        &self,
-        pageservers: Option<Vec<(PageserverProtocol, Host, u16)>>,
-        stripe_size: Option<ShardStripeSize>,
+        pageserver_conninfo: Option<&PageserverConnectionInfo>,
        safekeepers: Option<Vec<NodeId>>,
        safekeeper_generation: Option<SafekeeperGeneration>,
    ) -> Result<()> {
@@ -1010,15 +1043,15 @@ impl Endpoint {
        let postgresql_conf = self.read_postgresql_conf()?;
        spec.cluster.postgresql_conf = Some(postgresql_conf);

-        // If pageservers are not specified, don't change them.
-        if let Some(pageservers) = pageservers {
-            anyhow::ensure!(!pageservers.is_empty(), "no pageservers provided");
-
-            let pageserver_connstr = Self::build_pageserver_connstr(&pageservers);
-            spec.pageserver_connstring = Some(pageserver_connstr);
-            if stripe_size.is_some() {
-                spec.shard_stripe_size = stripe_size.map(|s| s.0 as usize);
-            }
+        if let Some(pageserver_conninfo) = pageserver_conninfo {
+            // If pageservers are provided, we need to ensure that they are not empty.
+            // This is a requirement for the compute_ctl configuration.
+            anyhow::ensure!(
+                !pageserver_conninfo.shards.is_empty(),
+                "no pageservers provided"
+            );
+            spec.pageserver_connection_info = Some(pageserver_conninfo.clone());
+            spec.shard_stripe_size = pageserver_conninfo.stripe_size;
        }

        // If safekeepers are not specified, don't change them.
@@ -1067,11 +1100,9 @@ impl Endpoint {

    pub async fn reconfigure_pageservers(
        &self,
-        pageservers: Vec<(PageserverProtocol, Host, u16)>,
-        stripe_size: Option<ShardStripeSize>,
+        pageservers: &PageserverConnectionInfo,
    ) -> Result<()> {
-        self.reconfigure(Some(pageservers), stripe_size, None, None)
-            .await
+        self.reconfigure(Some(pageservers), None, None).await
    }

    pub async fn reconfigure_safekeepers(
@@ -1079,7 +1110,7 @@ impl Endpoint {
        safekeepers: Vec<NodeId>,
        generation: SafekeeperGeneration,
    ) -> Result<()> {
-        self.reconfigure(None, None, Some(safekeepers), Some(generation))
+        self.reconfigure(None, Some(safekeepers), Some(generation))
            .await
    }

@@ -1135,3 +1166,68 @@ impl Endpoint {
        )
    }
 }
+
+pub fn pageserver_conf_to_shard_conn_info(
+    conf: &crate::local_env::PageServerConf,
+) -> Result<PageserverShardConnectionInfo> {
+    let libpq_url = {
+        let (host, port) = parse_host_port(&conf.listen_pg_addr)?;
+        let port = port.unwrap_or(5432);
+        Some(format!("postgres://no_user@{host}:{port}"))
+    };
+    let grpc_url = if let Some(grpc_addr) = &conf.listen_grpc_addr {
+        let (host, port) = parse_host_port(grpc_addr)?;
+        let port = port.unwrap_or(DEFAULT_PAGESERVER_GRPC_PORT);
+        Some(format!("grpc://no_user@{host}:{port}"))
+    } else {
+        None
+    };
+    Ok(PageserverShardConnectionInfo {
+        id: Some(conf.id.to_string()),
+        libpq_url,
+        grpc_url,
+    })
+}
+
+pub fn tenant_locate_response_to_conn_info(
+    response: &pageserver_api::controller_api::TenantLocateResponse,
+) -> Result<PageserverConnectionInfo> {
+    let mut shards = HashMap::new();
+    for shard in response.shards.iter() {
+        tracing::info!("parsing {}", shard.listen_pg_addr);
+        let libpq_url = {
+            let host = &shard.listen_pg_addr;
+            let port = shard.listen_pg_port;
+            Some(format!("postgres://no_user@{host}:{port}"))
+        };
+        let grpc_url = if let Some(grpc_addr) = &shard.listen_grpc_addr {
+            let host = grpc_addr;
+            let port = shard.listen_grpc_port.expect("no gRPC port");
+            Some(format!("grpc://no_user@{host}:{port}"))
+        } else {
+            None
+        };
+
+        let shard_info = PageserverShardInfo {
+            pageservers: vec![PageserverShardConnectionInfo {
+                id: Some(shard.node_id.to_string()),
+                libpq_url,
+                grpc_url,
+            }],
+        };
+
+        shards.insert(shard.shard_id.to_index(), shard_info);
+    }
+
+    let stripe_size = if response.shard_params.count.is_unsharded() {
+        None
+    } else {
+        Some(response.shard_params.stripe_size.0)
+    };
+    Ok(PageserverConnectionInfo {
+        shard_count: response.shard_params.count,
+        stripe_size,
+        shards,
+        prefer_protocol: PageserverProtocol::default(),
+    })
+}
--- a/libs/compute_api/src/spec.rs
+++ b/libs/compute_api/src/spec.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use url::Url;
 use utils::id::{TenantId, TimelineId};
 use utils::lsn::Lsn;
+use utils::shard::{ShardCount, ShardIndex};

 use crate::responses::TlsConfig;

@@ -105,6 +106,17 @@ pub struct ComputeSpec {
    // updated to fill these fields, we can make these non optional.
    pub tenant_id: Option<TenantId>,
    pub timeline_id: Option<TimelineId>,
+
+    /// Pageserver information can be passed in three different ways:
+    /// 1. Here in `pageserver_connection_info`
+    /// 2. In the `pageserver_connstring` field.
+    /// 3. in `cluster.settings`.
+    ///
+    /// The goal is to use method 1. everywhere. But for backwards-compatibility with old
+    /// versions of the control plane, `compute_ctl` will check 2. and 3. if the
+    /// `pageserver_connection_info` field is missing.
+    pub pageserver_connection_info: Option<PageserverConnectionInfo>,
+
    pub pageserver_connstring: Option<String>,

    // More neon ids that we expose to the compute_ctl
@@ -141,7 +153,7 @@ pub struct ComputeSpec {

    // Stripe size for pageserver sharding, in pages
    #[serde(default)]
-    pub shard_stripe_size: Option<usize>,
+    pub shard_stripe_size: Option<u32>,

    /// Local Proxy configuration used for JWT authentication
    #[serde(default)]
@@ -214,6 +226,32 @@ pub enum ComputeFeature {
    UnknownFeature,
 }

+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub struct PageserverConnectionInfo {
+    /// NB: 0 for unsharded tenants, 1 for sharded tenants with 1 shard, following storage
+    pub shard_count: ShardCount,
+
+    /// INVARIANT: null if shard_count is 0, otherwise non-null and immutable
+    pub stripe_size: Option<u32>,
+
+    pub shards: HashMap<ShardIndex, PageserverShardInfo>,
+
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub prefer_protocol: PageserverProtocol,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub struct PageserverShardInfo {
+    pub pageservers: Vec<PageserverShardConnectionInfo>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub struct PageserverShardConnectionInfo {
+    pub id: Option<String>,
+    pub libpq_url: Option<String>,
+    pub grpc_url: Option<String>,
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, Deserialize, Serialize)]
 pub struct RemoteExtSpec {
    pub public_extensions: Option<Vec<String>>,
@@ -331,6 +369,12 @@ impl ComputeMode {
    }
 }

+impl Display for ComputeMode {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.write_str(self.to_type_str())
+    }
+}
+
 /// Log level for audit logging
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, Eq, PartialEq, Deserialize, Serialize)]
 pub enum ComputeAudit {
@@ -467,13 +511,15 @@ pub struct JwksSettings {
    pub jwt_audience: Option<String>,
 }

-/// Protocol used to connect to a Pageserver. Parsed from the connstring scheme.
-#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq)]
+/// Protocol used to connect to a Pageserver.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, Deserialize, Serialize, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum PageserverProtocol {
    /// The original protocol based on libpq and COPY. Uses postgresql:// or postgres:// scheme.
    #[default]
+    #[serde(rename = "libpq")]
    Libpq,
    /// A newer, gRPC-based protocol. Uses grpc:// scheme.
+    #[serde(rename = "grpc")]
    Grpc,
 }

--- a/libs/neon-shmem/Cargo.toml
+++ b/libs/neon-shmem/Cargo.toml
@@ -6,15 +6,26 @@ license.workspace = true

 [dependencies]
 thiserror.workspace = true
-nix.workspace=true
+nix.workspace = true
 workspace_hack = { version = "0.1", path = "../../workspace_hack" }
 libc.workspace = true
 lock_api.workspace = true
 rustc-hash.workspace = true

+[dev-dependencies]
+criterion = { workspace = true, features = ["html_reports"] }
+rand = "0.9"
+rand_distr = "0.5.1"
+xxhash-rust = { version = "0.8.15", features = ["xxh3"] }
+ahash.workspace = true
+twox-hash = { version = "2.1.1" }
+seahash = "4.1.0"
+hashbrown = { git = "https://github.com/quantumish/hashbrown.git", rev = "6610e6d" }
+
+
 [target.'cfg(target_os = "macos")'.dependencies]
 tempfile = "3.14.0"

-[dev-dependencies]
-rand.workspace = true
-rand_distr = "0.5.1"
+[[bench]]
+name = "hmap_resize"
+harness = false
--- a/libs/neon-shmem/benches/hmap_resize.rs
+++ b/libs/neon-shmem/benches/hmap_resize.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,330 @@
+use criterion::{BatchSize, BenchmarkId, Criterion, criterion_group, criterion_main};
+use neon_shmem::hash::HashMapAccess;
+use neon_shmem::hash::HashMapInit;
+use neon_shmem::hash::entry::Entry;
+use rand::distr::{Distribution, StandardUniform};
+use rand::prelude::*;
+use std::default::Default;
+use std::hash::BuildHasher;
+
+// Taken from bindings to C code
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Hash, Eq, PartialEq)]
+#[repr(C)]
+pub struct FileCacheKey {
+    pub _spc_id: u32,
+    pub _db_id: u32,
+    pub _rel_number: u32,
+    pub _fork_num: u32,
+    pub _block_num: u32,
+}
+
+impl Distribution<FileCacheKey> for StandardUniform {
+    // questionable, but doesn't need to be good randomness
+    fn sample<R: Rng + ?Sized>(&self, rng: &mut R) -> FileCacheKey {
+        FileCacheKey {
+            _spc_id: rng.random(),
+            _db_id: rng.random(),
+            _rel_number: rng.random(),
+            _fork_num: rng.random(),
+            _block_num: rng.random(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+#[repr(C)]
+pub struct FileCacheEntry {
+    pub _offset: u32,
+    pub _access_count: u32,
+    pub _prev: *mut FileCacheEntry,
+    pub _next: *mut FileCacheEntry,
+    pub _state: [u32; 8],
+}
+
+impl FileCacheEntry {
+    fn dummy() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            _offset: 0,
+            _access_count: 0,
+            _prev: std::ptr::null_mut(),
+            _next: std::ptr::null_mut(),
+            _state: [0; 8],
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// Utilities for applying operations.
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+struct TestOp<K, V>(K, Option<V>);
+
+fn apply_op<K: Clone + std::hash::Hash + Eq, V, S: std::hash::BuildHasher>(
+    op: TestOp<K, V>,
+    map: &mut HashMapAccess<K, V, S>,
+) {
+    let entry = map.entry(op.0);
+
+    match op.1 {
+        Some(new) => match entry {
+            Entry::Occupied(mut e) => Some(e.insert(new)),
+            Entry::Vacant(e) => {
+                _ = e.insert(new).unwrap();
+                None
+            }
+        },
+        None => match entry {
+            Entry::Occupied(e) => Some(e.remove()),
+            Entry::Vacant(_) => None,
+        },
+    };
+}
+
+// Hash utilities
+
+struct SeaRandomState {
+    k1: u64,
+    k2: u64,
+    k3: u64,
+    k4: u64,
+}
+
+impl std::hash::BuildHasher for SeaRandomState {
+    type Hasher = seahash::SeaHasher;
+
+    fn build_hasher(&self) -> Self::Hasher {
+        seahash::SeaHasher::with_seeds(self.k1, self.k2, self.k3, self.k4)
+    }
+}
+
+impl SeaRandomState {
+    fn new() -> Self {
+        let mut rng = rand::rng();
+        Self {
+            k1: rng.random(),
+            k2: rng.random(),
+            k3: rng.random(),
+            k4: rng.random(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn small_benchs(c: &mut Criterion) {
+    let mut group = c.benchmark_group("Small maps");
+    group.sample_size(10);
+
+    group.bench_function("small_rehash", |b| {
+        let ideal_filled = 4_000_000;
+        let size = 5_000_000;
+        let mut writer = HashMapInit::new_resizeable(size, size * 2).attach_writer();
+        let mut rng = rand::rng();
+        while writer.get_num_buckets_in_use() < ideal_filled as usize {
+            let key: FileCacheKey = rng.random();
+            let val = FileCacheEntry::dummy();
+            apply_op(TestOp(key, Some(val)), &mut writer);
+        }
+        b.iter(|| writer.shuffle());
+    });
+
+    group.bench_function("small_rehash_xxhash", |b| {
+        let ideal_filled = 4_000_000;
+        let size = 5_000_000;
+        let mut writer = HashMapInit::new_resizeable(size, size * 2)
+            .with_hasher(twox_hash::xxhash64::RandomState::default())
+            .attach_writer();
+        let mut rng = rand::rng();
+        while writer.get_num_buckets_in_use() < ideal_filled as usize {
+            let key: FileCacheKey = rng.random();
+            let val = FileCacheEntry::dummy();
+            apply_op(TestOp(key, Some(val)), &mut writer);
+        }
+        b.iter(|| writer.shuffle());
+    });
+
+    group.bench_function("small_rehash_ahash", |b| {
+        let ideal_filled = 4_000_000;
+        let size = 5_000_000;
+        let mut writer = HashMapInit::new_resizeable(size, size * 2)
+            .with_hasher(ahash::RandomState::default())
+            .attach_writer();
+        let mut rng = rand::rng();
+        while writer.get_num_buckets_in_use() < ideal_filled as usize {
+            let key: FileCacheKey = rng.random();
+            let val = FileCacheEntry::dummy();
+            apply_op(TestOp(key, Some(val)), &mut writer);
+        }
+        b.iter(|| writer.shuffle());
+    });
+
+    group.bench_function("small_rehash_seahash", |b| {
+        let ideal_filled = 4_000_000;
+        let size = 5_000_000;
+        let mut writer = HashMapInit::new_resizeable(size, size * 2)
+            .with_hasher(SeaRandomState::new())
+            .attach_writer();
+        let mut rng = rand::rng();
+        while writer.get_num_buckets_in_use() < ideal_filled as usize {
+            let key: FileCacheKey = rng.random();
+            let val = FileCacheEntry::dummy();
+            apply_op(TestOp(key, Some(val)), &mut writer);
+        }
+        b.iter(|| writer.shuffle());
+    });
+
+    group.finish();
+}
+
+fn real_benchs(c: &mut Criterion) {
+    let mut group = c.benchmark_group("Realistic workloads");
+    group.sample_size(10);
+    group.bench_function("real_bulk_insert", |b| {
+        let size = 125_000_000;
+        let ideal_filled = 100_000_000;
+        let mut rng = rand::rng();
+        b.iter_batched(
+            || HashMapInit::new_resizeable(size, size * 2).attach_writer(),
+            |writer| {
+                for _ in 0..ideal_filled {
+                    let key: FileCacheKey = rng.random();
+                    let val = FileCacheEntry::dummy();
+                    let entry = writer.entry(key);
+                    match entry {
+                        Entry::Occupied(mut e) => {
+                            std::hint::black_box(e.insert(val));
+                        }
+                        Entry::Vacant(e) => {
+                            let _ = std::hint::black_box(e.insert(val).unwrap());
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            },
+            BatchSize::SmallInput,
+        )
+    });
+
+    group.bench_function("real_rehash", |b| {
+        let size = 125_000_000;
+        let ideal_filled = 100_000_000;
+        let mut writer = HashMapInit::new_resizeable(size, size).attach_writer();
+        let mut rng = rand::rng();
+        while writer.get_num_buckets_in_use() < ideal_filled {
+            let key: FileCacheKey = rng.random();
+            let val = FileCacheEntry::dummy();
+            apply_op(TestOp(key, Some(val)), &mut writer);
+        }
+        b.iter(|| writer.shuffle());
+    });
+
+    group.bench_function("real_rehash_hashbrown", |b| {
+        let size = 125_000_000;
+        let ideal_filled = 100_000_000;
+        let mut writer = hashbrown::raw::RawTable::new();
+        let mut rng = rand::rng();
+        let hasher = rustc_hash::FxBuildHasher;
+        unsafe {
+            writer
+                .resize(
+                    size,
+                    |(k, _)| hasher.hash_one(k),
+                    hashbrown::raw::Fallibility::Infallible,
+                )
+                .unwrap();
+        }
+        while writer.len() < ideal_filled as usize {
+            let key: FileCacheKey = rng.random();
+            let val = FileCacheEntry::dummy();
+            writer.insert(hasher.hash_one(&key), (key, val), |(k, _)| {
+                hasher.hash_one(k)
+            });
+        }
+        b.iter(|| unsafe {
+            writer.table.rehash_in_place(
+                &|table, index| {
+                    hasher.hash_one(
+                        &table
+                            .bucket::<(FileCacheKey, FileCacheEntry)>(index)
+                            .as_ref()
+                            .0,
+                    )
+                },
+                std::mem::size_of::<(FileCacheKey, FileCacheEntry)>(),
+                if std::mem::needs_drop::<(FileCacheKey, FileCacheEntry)>() {
+                    Some(|ptr| std::ptr::drop_in_place(ptr as *mut (FileCacheKey, FileCacheEntry)))
+                } else {
+                    None
+                },
+            )
+        });
+    });
+
+    for elems in [2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 96, 112] {
+        group.bench_with_input(
+            BenchmarkId::new("real_rehash_varied", elems),
+            &elems,
+            |b, &size| {
+                let ideal_filled = size * 1_000_000;
+                let size = 125_000_000;
+                let mut writer = HashMapInit::new_resizeable(size, size).attach_writer();
+                let mut rng = rand::rng();
+                while writer.get_num_buckets_in_use() < ideal_filled as usize {
+                    let key: FileCacheKey = rng.random();
+                    let val = FileCacheEntry::dummy();
+                    apply_op(TestOp(key, Some(val)), &mut writer);
+                }
+                b.iter(|| writer.shuffle());
+            },
+        );
+        group.bench_with_input(
+            BenchmarkId::new("real_rehash_varied_hashbrown", elems),
+            &elems,
+            |b, &size| {
+                let ideal_filled = size * 1_000_000;
+                let size = 125_000_000;
+                let mut writer = hashbrown::raw::RawTable::new();
+                let mut rng = rand::rng();
+                let hasher = rustc_hash::FxBuildHasher;
+                unsafe {
+                    writer
+                        .resize(
+                            size,
+                            |(k, _)| hasher.hash_one(k),
+                            hashbrown::raw::Fallibility::Infallible,
+                        )
+                        .unwrap();
+                }
+                while writer.len() < ideal_filled as usize {
+                    let key: FileCacheKey = rng.random();
+                    let val = FileCacheEntry::dummy();
+                    writer.insert(hasher.hash_one(&key), (key, val), |(k, _)| {
+                        hasher.hash_one(k)
+                    });
+                }
+                b.iter(|| unsafe {
+                    writer.table.rehash_in_place(
+                        &|table, index| {
+                            hasher.hash_one(
+                                &table
+                                    .bucket::<(FileCacheKey, FileCacheEntry)>(index)
+                                    .as_ref()
+                                    .0,
+                            )
+                        },
+                        std::mem::size_of::<(FileCacheKey, FileCacheEntry)>(),
+                        if std::mem::needs_drop::<(FileCacheKey, FileCacheEntry)>() {
+                            Some(|ptr| {
+                                std::ptr::drop_in_place(ptr as *mut (FileCacheKey, FileCacheEntry))
+                            })
+                        } else {
+                            None
+                        },
+                    )
+                });
+            },
+        );
+    }
+
+    group.finish();
+}
+
+criterion_group!(benches, small_benchs, real_benchs);
+criterion_main!(benches);
--- a/libs/neon-shmem/src/hash.rs
+++ b/libs/neon-shmem/src/hash.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 //!
 //! Concurrency is managed very simply: the entire map is guarded by one shared-memory RwLock.

+use std::fmt::Debug;
 use std::hash::{BuildHasher, Hash};
 use std::mem::MaybeUninit;

@@ -56,6 +57,22 @@ pub struct HashMapInit<'a, K, V, S = rustc_hash::FxBuildHasher> {
    num_buckets: u32,
 }

+impl<'a, K, V, S> Debug for HashMapInit<'a, K, V, S>
+where
+    K: Debug,
+    V: Debug,
+{
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("HashMapInit")
+            .field("shmem_handle", &self.shmem_handle)
+            .field("shared_ptr", &self.shared_ptr)
+            .field("shared_size", &self.shared_size)
+            // .field("hasher", &self.hasher)
+            .field("num_buckets", &self.num_buckets)
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
 /// This is a per-process handle to a hash table that (possibly) lives in shared memory.
 /// If a child process is launched with fork(), the child process should
 /// get its own HashMapAccess by calling HashMapInit::attach_writer/reader().
@@ -71,6 +88,20 @@ pub struct HashMapAccess<'a, K, V, S = rustc_hash::FxBuildHasher> {
 unsafe impl<K: Sync, V: Sync, S> Sync for HashMapAccess<'_, K, V, S> {}
 unsafe impl<K: Send, V: Send, S> Send for HashMapAccess<'_, K, V, S> {}

+impl<'a, K, V, S> Debug for HashMapAccess<'a, K, V, S>
+where
+    K: Debug,
+    V: Debug,
+{
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("HashMapAccess")
+            .field("shmem_handle", &self.shmem_handle)
+            .field("shared_ptr", &self.shared_ptr)
+            // .field("hasher", &self.hasher)
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
 impl<'a, K: Clone + Hash + Eq, V, S> HashMapInit<'a, K, V, S> {
    /// Change the 'hasher' used by the hash table.
    ///
@@ -298,7 +329,7 @@ where

    /// Get a reference to the entry containing a key.
    ///
-    /// NB: THis takes a write lock as there's no way to distinguish whether the intention
+    /// NB: This takes a write lock as there's no way to distinguish whether the intention
    /// is to use the entry for reading or for writing in advance.
    pub fn entry(&self, key: K) -> Entry<'a, '_, K, V> {
        let hash = self.get_hash_value(&key);
--- a/libs/neon-shmem/src/hash/core.rs
+++ b/libs/neon-shmem/src/hash/core.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 //! Simple hash table with chaining.

+use std::fmt::Debug;
 use std::hash::Hash;
 use std::mem::MaybeUninit;

@@ -17,6 +18,19 @@ pub(crate) struct Bucket<K, V> {
    pub(crate) inner: Option<(K, V)>,
 }

+impl<K, V> Debug for Bucket<K, V>
+where
+    K: Debug,
+    V: Debug,
+{
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("Bucket")
+            .field("next", &self.next)
+            .field("inner", &self.inner)
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
 /// Core hash table implementation.
 pub(crate) struct CoreHashMap<'a, K, V> {
    /// Dictionary used to map hashes to bucket indices.
@@ -31,6 +45,22 @@ pub(crate) struct CoreHashMap<'a, K, V> {
    pub(crate) buckets_in_use: u32,
 }

+impl<'a, K, V> Debug for CoreHashMap<'a, K, V>
+where
+    K: Debug,
+    V: Debug,
+{
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("CoreHashMap")
+            .field("dictionary", &self.dictionary)
+            .field("buckets", &self.buckets)
+            .field("free_head", &self.free_head)
+            .field("alloc_limit", &self.alloc_limit)
+            .field("buckets_in_use", &self.buckets_in_use)
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
 /// Error for when there are no empty buckets left but one is needed.
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub struct FullError;
--- a/libs/neon-shmem/src/hash/entry.rs
+++ b/libs/neon-shmem/src/hash/entry.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@ impl<K, V> OccupiedEntry<'_, '_, K, V> {
    ///
    /// This may result in multiple bucket accesses if the entry was obtained by index as the
    /// previous chain entry needs to be discovered in this case.
+    ///
+    /// # Panics
+    /// Panics if the `prev_pos` field is equal to [`PrevPos::Unknown`]. In practice, this means
+    /// the entry was obtained via calling something like [`super::HashMapAccess::entry_at_bucket`].
    pub fn remove(mut self) -> V {
        // If this bucket was queried by index, go ahead and follow its chain from the start.
        let prev = if let PrevPos::Unknown(hash) = self.prev_pos {
--- a/libs/neon-shmem/src/shmem.rs
+++ b/libs/neon-shmem/src/shmem.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ use nix::unistd::ftruncate as nix_ftruncate;
 /// the underlying file is resized. Do not access the area beyond the current size. Currently, that
 /// will cause the file to be expanded, but we might use `mprotect()` etc. to enforce that in the
 /// future.
+#[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct ShmemHandle {
    /// memfd file descriptor
    fd: OwnedFd,
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ pub struct ShmemHandle {
 }

 /// This is stored at the beginning in the shared memory area.
+#[derive(Debug)]
 struct SharedStruct {
    max_size: usize,

--- a/libs/tracing-utils/Cargo.toml
+++ b/libs/tracing-utils/Cargo.toml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ license.workspace = true
 hyper0.workspace = true
 opentelemetry = { workspace = true, features = ["trace"] }
 opentelemetry_sdk = { workspace = true, features = ["rt-tokio"] }
-opentelemetry-otlp = { workspace = true, default-features = false, features = ["http-proto", "trace", "http", "reqwest-client"] }
+opentelemetry-otlp = { workspace = true, default-features = false, features = ["http-proto", "trace", "http", "reqwest-blocking-client"] }
 opentelemetry-semantic-conventions.workspace = true
 tokio = { workspace = true, features = ["rt", "rt-multi-thread"] }
 tracing.workspace = true
--- a/libs/utils/src/shard.rs
+++ b/libs/utils/src/shard.rs
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ impl ShardCount {
    pub const MAX: Self = Self(u8::MAX);
    pub const MIN: Self = Self(0);

+    pub fn unsharded() -> Self {
+        ShardCount(0)
+    }
+
    /// The internal value of a ShardCount may be zero, which means "1 shard, but use
    /// legacy format for TenantShardId that excludes the shard suffix", also known
    /// as [`TenantShardId::unsharded`].
--- a/pageserver/Cargo.toml
+++ b/pageserver/Cargo.toml
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ pageserver_api.workspace = true
 pageserver_client.workspace = true # for ResponseErrorMessageExt TOOD refactor that
 pageserver_compaction.workspace = true
 pageserver_page_api.workspace = true
+peekable.workspace = true
 pem.workspace = true
 pin-project-lite.workspace = true
 postgres_backend.workspace = true
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ postgres-types.workspace = true
 posthog_client_lite.workspace = true
 pprof.workspace = true
 pq_proto.workspace = true
+prost.workspace = true
 rand.workspace = true
 range-set-blaze = { version = "0.1.16", features = ["alloc"] }
 regex.workspace = true
--- a/pageserver/client_grpc/src/client.rs
+++ b/pageserver/client_grpc/src/client.rs
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ use utils::logging::warn_slow;

 use crate::pool::{ChannelPool, ClientGuard, ClientPool, StreamGuard, StreamPool};
 use crate::retry::Retry;
-use crate::split::GetPageSplitter;
 use compute_api::spec::PageserverProtocol;
 use pageserver_page_api as page_api;
+use pageserver_page_api::GetPageSplitter;
 use utils::id::{TenantId, TimelineId};
 use utils::shard::{ShardCount, ShardIndex, ShardNumber, ShardStripeSize};

--- a/pageserver/client_grpc/src/lib.rs
+++ b/pageserver/client_grpc/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 mod client;
 mod pool;
 mod retry;
-mod split;

 pub use client::{PageserverClient, ShardSpec};
+pub use pageserver_api::shard::ShardStripeSize; // used in ShardSpec
--- a/pageserver/page_api/src/lib.rs
+++ b/pageserver/page_api/src/lib.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ pub mod proto {
 }

 mod client;
-pub use client::Client;
 mod model;
+mod split;

+pub use client::Client;
 pub use model::*;
+pub use split::GetPageSplitter;
--- a/pageserver/page_api/src/model.rs
+++ b/pageserver/page_api/src/model.rs
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ pub enum ProtocolError {
    Invalid(&'static str, String),
    #[error("required field '{0}' is missing")]
    Missing(&'static str),
+    #[error("invalid combination of not_modified_lsn '{0}' and request_lsn '{1}'")]
+    InvalidLsns(Lsn, Lsn),
 }

 impl ProtocolError {
@@ -85,9 +87,9 @@ impl TryFrom<proto::ReadLsn> for ReadLsn {
            return Err(ProtocolError::invalid("request_lsn", pb.request_lsn));
        }
        if pb.not_modified_since_lsn > pb.request_lsn {
-            return Err(ProtocolError::invalid(
-                "not_modified_since_lsn",
-                pb.not_modified_since_lsn,
+            return Err(ProtocolError::InvalidLsns(
+                Lsn(pb.not_modified_since_lsn),
+                Lsn(pb.request_lsn),
            ));
        }
        Ok(Self {
--- a/pageserver/client_grpc/src/split.rs
+++ b/pageserver/client_grpc/src/split.rs
@@ -3,18 +3,18 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 use anyhow::anyhow;
 use bytes::Bytes;

+use crate::model::*;
 use pageserver_api::key::rel_block_to_key;
 use pageserver_api::shard::key_to_shard_number;
-use pageserver_page_api as page_api;
 use utils::shard::{ShardCount, ShardIndex, ShardStripeSize};

 /// Splits GetPageRequests that straddle shard boundaries and assembles the responses.
 /// TODO: add tests for this.
 pub struct GetPageSplitter {
    /// Split requests by shard index.
-    requests: HashMap<ShardIndex, page_api::GetPageRequest>,
+    requests: HashMap<ShardIndex, GetPageRequest>,
    /// The response being assembled. Preallocated with empty pages, to be filled in.
-    response: page_api::GetPageResponse,
+    response: GetPageResponse,
    /// Maps the offset in `request.block_numbers` and `response.pages` to the owning shard. Used
    /// to assemble the response pages in the same order as the original request.
    block_shards: Vec<ShardIndex>,
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ impl GetPageSplitter {
    /// Checks if the given request only touches a single shard, and returns the shard ID. This is
    /// the common case, so we check first in order to avoid unnecessary allocations and overhead.
    pub fn for_single_shard(
-        req: &page_api::GetPageRequest,
+        req: &GetPageRequest,
        count: ShardCount,
        stripe_size: Option<ShardStripeSize>,
    ) -> anyhow::Result<Option<ShardIndex>> {
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ impl GetPageSplitter {

    /// Splits the given request.
    pub fn split(
-        req: page_api::GetPageRequest,
+        req: GetPageRequest,
        count: ShardCount,
        stripe_size: Option<ShardStripeSize>,
    ) -> anyhow::Result<Self> {
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ impl GetPageSplitter {

            requests
                .entry(shard_id)
-                .or_insert_with(|| page_api::GetPageRequest {
+                .or_insert_with(|| GetPageRequest {
                    request_id: req.request_id,
                    request_class: req.request_class,
                    rel: req.rel,
@@ -98,16 +98,16 @@ impl GetPageSplitter {

        // Construct a response to be populated by shard responses. Preallocate empty page slots
        // with the expected block numbers.
-        let response = page_api::GetPageResponse {
+        let response = GetPageResponse {
            request_id: req.request_id,
-            status_code: page_api::GetPageStatusCode::Ok,
+            status_code: GetPageStatusCode::Ok,
            reason: None,
            rel: req.rel,
            pages: req
                .block_numbers
                .into_iter()
                .map(|block_number| {
-                    page_api::Page {
+                    Page {
                        block_number,
                        image: Bytes::new(), // empty page slot to be filled in
                    }
@@ -123,9 +123,7 @@ impl GetPageSplitter {
    }

    /// Drains the per-shard requests, moving them out of the splitter to avoid extra allocations.
-    pub fn drain_requests(
-        &mut self,
-    ) -> impl Iterator<Item = (ShardIndex, page_api::GetPageRequest)> {
+    pub fn drain_requests(&mut self) -> impl Iterator<Item = (ShardIndex, GetPageRequest)> {
        self.requests.drain()
    }

@@ -135,10 +133,10 @@ impl GetPageSplitter {
    pub fn add_response(
        &mut self,
        shard_id: ShardIndex,
-        response: page_api::GetPageResponse,
+        response: GetPageResponse,
    ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
        // The caller should already have converted status codes into tonic::Status.
-        if response.status_code != page_api::GetPageStatusCode::Ok {
+        if response.status_code != GetPageStatusCode::Ok {
            return Err(anyhow!(
                "unexpected non-OK response for shard {shard_id}: {} {}",
                response.status_code,
@@ -209,7 +207,7 @@ impl GetPageSplitter {

    /// Fetches the final, assembled response.
    #[allow(clippy::result_large_err)]
-    pub fn get_response(self) -> anyhow::Result<page_api::GetPageResponse> {
+    pub fn get_response(self) -> anyhow::Result<GetPageResponse> {
        // Check that the response is complete.
        for (i, page) in self.response.pages.iter().enumerate() {
            if page.image.is_empty() {
--- a/pageserver/pagebench/Cargo.toml
+++ b/pageserver/pagebench/Cargo.toml
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ tracing.workspace = true
 tokio.workspace = true
 tokio-stream.workspace = true
 tokio-util.workspace = true
+axum.workspace = true
+http.workspace = true
+metrics.workspace = true
 tonic.workspace = true
 url.workspace = true

--- a/pageserver/pagebench/src/cmd/getpage_latest_lsn.rs
+++ b/pageserver/pagebench/src/cmd/getpage_latest_lsn.rs
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ use crate::util::{request_stats, tokio_thread_local_stats};
 /// GetPage@LatestLSN, uniformly distributed across the compute-accessible keyspace.
 #[derive(clap::Parser)]
 pub(crate) struct Args {
+    #[clap(long, default_value = "false")]
+    grpc: bool,
+    #[clap(long, default_value = "false")]
+    grpc_stream: bool,
    #[clap(long, default_value = "http://localhost:9898")]
    mgmt_api_endpoint: String,
    /// Pageserver connection string. Supports postgresql:// and grpc:// protocols.
@@ -78,6 +82,9 @@ pub(crate) struct Args {
    #[clap(long)]
    set_io_mode: Option<pageserver_api::models::virtual_file::IoMode>,

+    #[clap(long)]
+    only_relnode: Option<u32>,
+
    /// Queue depth generated in each client.
    #[clap(long, default_value = "1")]
    queue_depth: NonZeroUsize,
@@ -92,10 +99,31 @@ pub(crate) struct Args {
    #[clap(long, default_value = "1")]
    batch_size: NonZeroUsize,

-    #[clap(long)]
-    only_relnode: Option<u32>,
-
    targets: Option<Vec<TenantTimelineId>>,
+
+    #[clap(long, default_value = "100")]
+    pool_max_consumers: NonZeroUsize,
+
+    #[clap(long, default_value = "5")]
+    pool_error_threshold: NonZeroUsize,
+
+    #[clap(long, default_value = "5000")]
+    pool_connect_timeout: NonZeroUsize,
+
+    #[clap(long, default_value = "1000")]
+    pool_connect_backoff: NonZeroUsize,
+
+    #[clap(long, default_value = "60000")]
+    pool_max_idle_duration: NonZeroUsize,
+
+    #[clap(long, default_value = "0")]
+    max_delay_ms: usize,
+
+    #[clap(long, default_value = "0")]
+    percent_drops: usize,
+
+    #[clap(long, default_value = "0")]
+    percent_hangs: usize,
 }

 /// State shared by all clients
@@ -152,7 +180,6 @@ pub(crate) fn main(args: Args) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
        main_impl(args, thread_local_stats)
    })
 }
-
 async fn main_impl(
    args: Args,
    all_thread_local_stats: AllThreadLocalStats<request_stats::Stats>,
@@ -317,6 +344,7 @@ async fn main_impl(
    let rps_period = args
        .per_client_rate
        .map(|rps_limit| Duration::from_secs_f64(1.0 / (rps_limit as f64)));
+
    let make_worker: &dyn Fn(WorkerId) -> Pin<Box<dyn Send + Future<Output = ()>>> = &|worker_id| {
        let ss = shared_state.clone();
        let cancel = cancel.clone();
--- a/pageserver/src/page_service.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/page_service.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ use anyhow::{Context as _, bail};
 use bytes::{Buf as _, BufMut as _, BytesMut};
 use chrono::Utc;
 use futures::future::BoxFuture;
-use futures::{FutureExt, Stream};
+use futures::stream::FuturesUnordered;
+use futures::{FutureExt, Stream, StreamExt as _};
 use itertools::Itertools;
 use jsonwebtoken::TokenData;
 use once_cell::sync::OnceCell;
@@ -35,8 +36,8 @@ use pageserver_api::pagestream_api::{
 };
 use pageserver_api::reltag::SlruKind;
 use pageserver_api::shard::TenantShardId;
-use pageserver_page_api as page_api;
 use pageserver_page_api::proto;
+use pageserver_page_api::{self as page_api, GetPageSplitter};
 use postgres_backend::{
    AuthType, PostgresBackend, PostgresBackendReader, QueryError, is_expected_io_error,
 };
@@ -443,6 +444,7 @@ impl TimelineHandles {
            handles: Default::default(),
        }
    }
+
    async fn get(
        &mut self,
        tenant_id: TenantId,
@@ -469,6 +471,13 @@ impl TimelineHandles {
    fn tenant_id(&self) -> Option<TenantId> {
        self.wrapper.tenant_id.get().copied()
    }
+
+    /// Returns whether a child shard exists locally for the given shard.
+    fn has_child_shard(&self, tenant_id: TenantId, shard_index: ShardIndex) -> bool {
+        self.wrapper
+            .tenant_manager
+            .has_child_shard(tenant_id, shard_index)
+    }
 }

 pub(crate) struct TenantManagerWrapper {
@@ -3378,17 +3387,9 @@ impl GrpcPageServiceHandler {
        }
    }

-    /// Acquires a timeline handle for the given request.
+    /// Acquires a timeline handle for the given request. The shard index must match a local shard.
    ///
-    /// TODO: during shard splits, the compute may still be sending requests to the parent shard
-    /// until the entire split is committed and the compute is notified. Consider installing a
-    /// temporary shard router from the parent to the children while the split is in progress.
-    ///
-    /// TODO: consider moving this to a middleware layer; all requests need it. Needs to manage
-    /// the TimelineHandles lifecycle.
-    ///
-    /// TODO: untangle acquisition from TenantManagerWrapper::resolve() and Cache::get(), to avoid
-    /// the unnecessary overhead.
+    /// NB: this will fail during shard splits, see comment on [`Self::maybe_split_get_page`].
    async fn get_request_timeline(
        &self,
        req: &tonic::Request<impl Any>,
@@ -3397,11 +3398,62 @@ impl GrpcPageServiceHandler {
        let shard_index = *extract::<ShardIndex>(req);
        let shard_selector = ShardSelector::Known(shard_index);

+        // TODO: untangle acquisition from TenantManagerWrapper::resolve() and Cache::get(), to
+        // avoid the unnecessary overhead.
        TimelineHandles::new(self.tenant_manager.clone())
            .get(ttid.tenant_id, ttid.timeline_id, shard_selector)
            .await
    }

+    /// Acquires a timeline handle for the given request, which must be for shard zero.
+    ///
+    /// NB: during an ongoing shard split, the compute will keep talking to the parent shard until
+    /// the split is committed, but the parent shard may have been removed in the meanwhile. In that
+    /// case, we reroute the request to the new child shard. See [`Self::maybe_split_get_page`].
+    ///
+    /// TODO: revamp the split protocol to avoid this child routing.
+    async fn get_shard_zero_request_timeline(
+        &self,
+        req: &tonic::Request<impl Any>,
+    ) -> Result<Handle<TenantManagerTypes>, tonic::Status> {
+        let ttid = *extract::<TenantTimelineId>(req);
+        let shard_index = *extract::<ShardIndex>(req);
+
+        if shard_index.shard_number.0 != 0 {
+            return Err(tonic::Status::invalid_argument(format!(
+                "request must use shard zero (requested shard {shard_index})",
+            )));
+        }
+
+        // TODO: untangle acquisition from TenantManagerWrapper::resolve() and Cache::get(), to
+        // avoid the unnecessary overhead.
+        //
+        // TODO: this does internal retries, which will delay requests during shard splits (we won't
+        // look for the child until the parent's retries are exhausted). Don't do that.
+        let mut handles = TimelineHandles::new(self.tenant_manager.clone());
+        match handles
+            .get(
+                ttid.tenant_id,
+                ttid.timeline_id,
+                ShardSelector::Known(shard_index),
+            )
+            .await
+        {
+            Ok(timeline) => Ok(timeline),
+            Err(err) => {
+                // We may be in the middle of a shard split. Try to find a child shard 0.
+                if let Ok(timeline) = handles
+                    .get(ttid.tenant_id, ttid.timeline_id, ShardSelector::Zero)
+                    .await
+                    && timeline.get_shard_index().shard_count > shard_index.shard_count
+                {
+                    return Ok(timeline);
+                }
+                Err(err.into())
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
    /// Starts a SmgrOpTimer at received_at, throttles the request, and records execution start.
    /// Only errors if the timeline is shutting down.
    ///
@@ -3433,28 +3485,22 @@ impl GrpcPageServiceHandler {
    /// TODO: get_vectored() currently enforces a batch limit of 32. Postgres will typically send
    /// batches up to effective_io_concurrency = 100. Either we have to accept large batches, or
    /// split them up in the client or server.
-    #[instrument(skip_all, fields(req_id, rel, blkno, blks, req_lsn, mod_lsn))]
+    #[instrument(skip_all, fields(
+        req_id = %req.request_id,
+        rel = %req.rel,
+        blkno = %req.block_numbers[0],
+        blks = %req.block_numbers.len(),
+        lsn = %req.read_lsn,
+    ))]
    async fn get_page(
        ctx: &RequestContext,
-        timeline: &WeakHandle<TenantManagerTypes>,
-        req: proto::GetPageRequest,
+        timeline: Handle<TenantManagerTypes>,
+        req: page_api::GetPageRequest,
        io_concurrency: IoConcurrency,
-    ) -> Result<proto::GetPageResponse, tonic::Status> {
-        let received_at = Instant::now();
-        let timeline = timeline.upgrade()?;
+        received_at: Instant,
+    ) -> Result<page_api::GetPageResponse, tonic::Status> {
        let ctx = ctx.with_scope_page_service_pagestream(&timeline);

-        // Validate the request, decorate the span, and convert it to a Pagestream request.
-        let req = page_api::GetPageRequest::try_from(req)?;
-
-        span_record!(
-            req_id = %req.request_id,
-            rel = %req.rel,
-            blkno = %req.block_numbers[0],
-            blks = %req.block_numbers.len(),
-            lsn = %req.read_lsn,
-        );
-
        let latest_gc_cutoff_lsn = timeline.get_applied_gc_cutoff_lsn(); // hold guard
        let effective_lsn = PageServerHandler::effective_request_lsn(
            &timeline,
@@ -3529,7 +3575,96 @@ impl GrpcPageServiceHandler {
            };
        }

-        Ok(resp.into())
+        Ok(resp)
+    }
+
+    /// Processes a GetPage request when there is a potential shard split in progress. We have to
+    /// reroute the request any local child shards, and split batch requests that straddle multiple
+    /// child shards.
+    ///
+    /// Parent shards are split and removed incrementally, but the compute is only notified once the
+    /// entire split commits, which can take several minutes. In the meanwhile, the compute will be
+    /// sending requests to the parent shard.
+    ///
+    /// TODO: add test infrastructure to provoke this situation frequently and for long periods of
+    /// time, to properly exercise it.
+    ///
+    /// TODO: revamp the split protocol to avoid this, e.g.:
+    /// * Keep the parent shard until the split commits and the compute is notified.
+    /// * Notify the compute about each subsplit.
+    /// * Return an error that updates the compute's shard map.
+    #[instrument(skip_all)]
+    async fn maybe_split_get_page(
+        ctx: &RequestContext,
+        handles: &mut TimelineHandles,
+        ttid: TenantTimelineId,
+        parent: ShardIndex,
+        req: page_api::GetPageRequest,
+        io_concurrency: IoConcurrency,
+        received_at: Instant,
+    ) -> Result<page_api::GetPageResponse, tonic::Status> {
+        // Check the first page to see if we have any child shards at all. Otherwise, the compute is
+        // just talking to the wrong Pageserver. If the parent has been split, the shard now owning
+        // the page must have a higher shard count.
+        let timeline = handles
+            .get(
+                ttid.tenant_id,
+                ttid.timeline_id,
+                ShardSelector::Page(rel_block_to_key(req.rel, req.block_numbers[0])),
+            )
+            .await?;
+
+        let shard_id = timeline.get_shard_identity();
+        if shard_id.count <= parent.shard_count {
+            return Err(HandleUpgradeError::ShutDown.into()); // emulate original error
+        }
+
+        // Fast path: the request fits in a single shard.
+        if let Some(shard_index) =
+            GetPageSplitter::for_single_shard(&req, shard_id.count, Some(shard_id.stripe_size))
+                .map_err(|err| tonic::Status::internal(err.to_string()))?
+        {
+            // We got the shard ID from the first page, so these must be equal.
+            assert_eq!(shard_index.shard_number, shard_id.number);
+            assert_eq!(shard_index.shard_count, shard_id.count);
+            return Self::get_page(ctx, timeline, req, io_concurrency, received_at).await;
+        }
+
+        // The request spans multiple shards; split it and dispatch parallel requests. All pages
+        // were originally in the parent shard, and during a split all children are local, so we
+        // expect to find local shards for all pages.
+        let mut splitter = GetPageSplitter::split(req, shard_id.count, Some(shard_id.stripe_size))
+            .map_err(|err| tonic::Status::internal(err.to_string()))?;
+
+        let mut shard_requests = FuturesUnordered::new();
+        for (shard_index, shard_req) in splitter.drain_requests() {
+            let timeline = handles
+                .get(
+                    ttid.tenant_id,
+                    ttid.timeline_id,
+                    ShardSelector::Known(shard_index),
+                )
+                .await?;
+            let future = Self::get_page(
+                ctx,
+                timeline,
+                shard_req,
+                io_concurrency.clone(),
+                received_at,
+            )
+            .map(move |result| result.map(|resp| (shard_index, resp)));
+            shard_requests.push(future);
+        }
+
+        while let Some((shard_index, shard_response)) = shard_requests.next().await.transpose()? {
+            splitter
+                .add_response(shard_index, shard_response)
+                .map_err(|err| tonic::Status::internal(err.to_string()))?;
+        }
+
+        splitter
+            .get_response()
+            .map_err(|err| tonic::Status::internal(err.to_string()))
    }
 }

@@ -3558,11 +3693,10 @@ impl proto::PageService for GrpcPageServiceHandler {
        // to be the sweet spot where throughput is saturated.
        const CHUNK_SIZE: usize = 256 * 1024;

-        let timeline = self.get_request_timeline(&req).await?;
+        let timeline = self.get_shard_zero_request_timeline(&req).await?;
        let ctx = self.ctx.with_scope_timeline(&timeline);

        // Validate the request and decorate the span.
-        Self::ensure_shard_zero(&timeline)?;
        if timeline.is_archived() == Some(true) {
            return Err(tonic::Status::failed_precondition("timeline is archived"));
        }
@@ -3678,11 +3812,10 @@ impl proto::PageService for GrpcPageServiceHandler {
        req: tonic::Request<proto::GetDbSizeRequest>,
    ) -> Result<tonic::Response<proto::GetDbSizeResponse>, tonic::Status> {
        let received_at = extract::<ReceivedAt>(&req).0;
-        let timeline = self.get_request_timeline(&req).await?;
+        let timeline = self.get_shard_zero_request_timeline(&req).await?;
        let ctx = self.ctx.with_scope_page_service_pagestream(&timeline);

        // Validate the request, decorate the span, and convert it to a Pagestream request.
-        Self::ensure_shard_zero(&timeline)?;
        let req: page_api::GetDbSizeRequest = req.into_inner().try_into()?;

        span_record!(db_oid=%req.db_oid, lsn=%req.read_lsn);
@@ -3711,14 +3844,33 @@ impl proto::PageService for GrpcPageServiceHandler {
        req: tonic::Request<tonic::Streaming<proto::GetPageRequest>>,
    ) -> Result<tonic::Response<Self::GetPagesStream>, tonic::Status> {
        // Extract the timeline from the request and check that it exists.
+        //
+        // NB: during shard splits, the compute may still send requests to the parent shard. We'll
+        // reroute requests to the child shards below, but we also detect the common cases here
+        // where either the shard exists or no shards exist at all. If we have a child shard, we
+        // can't acquire a weak handle because we don't know which child shard to use yet.
+        //
+        // TODO: TimelineHandles.get() does internal retries, which will delay requests during shard
+        // splits. It shouldn't.
        let ttid = *extract::<TenantTimelineId>(&req);
        let shard_index = *extract::<ShardIndex>(&req);
-        let shard_selector = ShardSelector::Known(shard_index);

        let mut handles = TimelineHandles::new(self.tenant_manager.clone());
-        handles
-            .get(ttid.tenant_id, ttid.timeline_id, shard_selector)
-            .await?;
+        let timeline = match handles
+            .get(
+                ttid.tenant_id,
+                ttid.timeline_id,
+                ShardSelector::Known(shard_index),
+            )
+            .await
+        {
+            // The timeline shard exists. Keep a weak handle to reuse for each request.
+            Ok(timeline) => Some(timeline.downgrade()),
+            // The shard doesn't exist, but a child shard does. We'll reroute requests later.
+            Err(_) if handles.has_child_shard(ttid.tenant_id, shard_index) => None,
+            // Failed to fetch the timeline, and no child shard exists. Error out.
+            Err(err) => return Err(err.into()),
+        };

        // Spawn an IoConcurrency sidecar, if enabled.
        let gate_guard = self
@@ -3735,11 +3887,9 @@ impl proto::PageService for GrpcPageServiceHandler {
        let mut reqs = req.into_inner();

        let resps = async_stream::try_stream! {
-            let timeline = handles
-                .get(ttid.tenant_id, ttid.timeline_id, shard_selector)
-                .await?
-                .downgrade();
            loop {
+                // Wait for the next client request.
+                //
                // NB: Tonic considers the entire stream to be an in-flight request and will wait
                // for it to complete before shutting down. React to cancellation between requests.
                let req = tokio::select! {
@@ -3752,16 +3902,43 @@ impl proto::PageService for GrpcPageServiceHandler {
                        Err(err) => Err(err),
                    },
                }?;
+
+                let received_at = Instant::now();
                let req_id = req.request_id.map(page_api::RequestID::from).unwrap_or_default();
-                let result = Self::get_page(&ctx, &timeline, req, io_concurrency.clone())
+
+                // Process the request, using a closure to capture errors.
+                let process_request = async || {
+                    let req = page_api::GetPageRequest::try_from(req)?;
+
+                    // Fast path: use the pre-acquired timeline handle.
+                    if let Some(Ok(timeline)) = timeline.as_ref().map(|t| t.upgrade()) {
+                        return Self::get_page(&ctx, timeline, req, io_concurrency.clone(), received_at)
+                            .instrument(span.clone()) // propagate request span
+                            .await
+                    }
+
+                    // The timeline handle is stale. During shard splits, the compute may still be
+                    // sending requests to the parent shard. Try to re-route requests to the child
+                    // shards, and split any batch requests that straddle multiple child shards.
+                    Self::maybe_split_get_page(
+                        &ctx,
+                        &mut handles,
+                        ttid,
+                        shard_index,
+                        req,
+                        io_concurrency.clone(),
+                        received_at,
+                    )
                    .instrument(span.clone()) // propagate request span
-                    .await;
-                yield match result {
-                    Ok(resp) => resp,
-                    // Convert per-request errors to GetPageResponses as appropriate, or terminate
-                    // the stream with a tonic::Status. Log the error regardless, since
-                    // ObservabilityLayer can't automatically log stream errors.
+                    .await
+                };
+
+                // Return the response. Convert per-request errors to GetPageResponses if
+                // appropriate, or terminate the stream with a tonic::Status.
+                yield match process_request().await {
+                    Ok(resp) => resp.into(),
                    Err(status) => {
+                        // Log the error, since ObservabilityLayer won't see stream errors.
                        // TODO: it would be nice if we could propagate the get_page() fields here.
                        span.in_scope(|| {
                            warn!("request failed with {:?}: {}", status.code(), status.message());
@@ -3781,11 +3958,10 @@ impl proto::PageService for GrpcPageServiceHandler {
        req: tonic::Request<proto::GetRelSizeRequest>,
    ) -> Result<tonic::Response<proto::GetRelSizeResponse>, tonic::Status> {
        let received_at = extract::<ReceivedAt>(&req).0;
-        let timeline = self.get_request_timeline(&req).await?;
+        let timeline = self.get_shard_zero_request_timeline(&req).await?;
        let ctx = self.ctx.with_scope_page_service_pagestream(&timeline);

        // Validate the request, decorate the span, and convert it to a Pagestream request.
-        Self::ensure_shard_zero(&timeline)?;
        let req: page_api::GetRelSizeRequest = req.into_inner().try_into()?;
        let allow_missing = req.allow_missing;

@@ -3818,7 +3994,7 @@ impl proto::PageService for GrpcPageServiceHandler {
        req: tonic::Request<proto::GetSlruSegmentRequest>,
    ) -> Result<tonic::Response<proto::GetSlruSegmentResponse>, tonic::Status> {
        let received_at = extract::<ReceivedAt>(&req).0;
-        let timeline = self.get_request_timeline(&req).await?;
+        let timeline = self.get_shard_zero_request_timeline(&req).await?;
        let ctx = self.ctx.with_scope_page_service_pagestream(&timeline);

        // Validate the request, decorate the span, and convert it to a Pagestream request.
@@ -3852,6 +4028,10 @@ impl proto::PageService for GrpcPageServiceHandler {
        &self,
        req: tonic::Request<proto::LeaseLsnRequest>,
    ) -> Result<tonic::Response<proto::LeaseLsnResponse>, tonic::Status> {
+        // TODO: this won't work during shard splits, as the request is directed at a specific shard
+        // but the parent shard is removed before the split commits and the compute is notified
+        // (which can take several minutes for large tenants). That's also the case for the libpq
+        // implementation, so we keep the behavior for now.
        let timeline = self.get_request_timeline(&req).await?;
        let ctx = self.ctx.with_scope_timeline(&timeline);

--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/mgr.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/mgr.rs
@@ -826,6 +826,18 @@ impl TenantManager {
        peek_slot.is_some()
    }

+    /// Returns whether a local slot exists for a child shard of the given tenant and shard count.
+    /// Note that this just checks for a shard with a larger shard count, and it may not be a
+    /// direct child of the given shard.
+    pub(crate) fn has_child_shard(&self, tenant_id: TenantId, shard_index: ShardIndex) -> bool {
+        match &*self.tenants.read().unwrap() {
+            TenantsMap::Initializing => false,
+            TenantsMap::Open(slots) | TenantsMap::ShuttingDown(slots) => slots
+                .range(TenantShardId::tenant_range(tenant_id))
+                .any(|(tsid, _)| tsid.shard_count > shard_index.shard_count),
+        }
+    }
+
    #[instrument(skip_all, fields(tenant_id=%tenant_shard_id.tenant_id, shard_id=%tenant_shard_id.shard_slug()))]
    pub(crate) async fn upsert_location(
        &self,
--- a/pgxn/neon/Makefile
+++ b/pgxn/neon/Makefile
@@ -5,10 +5,12 @@ MODULE_big = neon
 OBJS = \
 	$(WIN32RES) \
 	communicator.o \
+	communicator_new.o \
 	communicator_process.o \
 	extension_server.o \
 	file_cache.o \
 	hll.o \
+	lfc_prewarm.o \
 	libpagestore.o \
 	logical_replication_monitor.o \
 	neon.o \
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ WALPROP_OBJS = \

 # libcommunicator.a is built by cargo from the Rust sources under communicator/
 # subdirectory. `cargo build` also generates communicator_bindings.h.
+communicator_new.o: communicator/communicator_bindings.h
 communicator_process.o: communicator/communicator_bindings.h
 file_cache.o: communicator/communicator_bindings.h

--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/Cargo.lock
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/Cargo.lock
@@ -0,0 +1,372 @@
+# This file is automatically @generated by Cargo.
+# It is not intended for manual editing.
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+
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+ "tracing-core",
+]
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+ "windows_aarch64_msvc",
+ "windows_i686_gnu",
+ "windows_i686_gnullvm",
+ "windows_i686_msvc",
+ "windows_x86_64_gnu",
+ "windows_x86_64_gnullvm",
+ "windows_x86_64_msvc",
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+
+[[package]]
+name = "windows_x86_64_msvc"
+version = "0.52.6"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
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--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/Cargo.toml
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,12 +1,8 @@
 [package]
 name = "communicator"
-version = "0.1.0"
 license.workspace = true
 edition.workspace = true

-[lib]
-crate-type = ["staticlib"]
-
 [features]
 # 'testing' feature is currently unused in the communicator, but we accept it for convenience of
 # calling build scripts, so that you can pass the same feature to all packages.
@@ -15,14 +11,36 @@ testing = []
 # calling build scripts, so that you can pass the same feature to all packages.
 rest_broker = []

+[lib]
+crate-type = ["staticlib"]
+
 [dependencies]
 axum.workspace = true
+bytes.workspace = true
+clashmap.workspace = true
 http.workspace = true
+libc.workspace = true
+nix.workspace = true
+atomic_enum = "0.3.0"
+measured.workspace = true
+prometheus.workspace = true
+prost.workspace = true
+strum_macros.workspace = true
+thiserror.workspace = true
+tonic = { workspace = true, default-features = false, features=["codegen", "prost", "transport"] }
 tokio = { workspace = true, features = ["macros", "net", "io-util", "rt", "rt-multi-thread"] }
+tokio-pipe = { version = "0.2.12" }
 tracing.workspace = true
 tracing-subscriber.workspace = true

-measured.workspace = true
+metrics.workspace = true
+uring-common = { workspace = true, features = ["bytes"] }
+
+pageserver_client_grpc.workspace = true
+pageserver_api.workspace = true
+pageserver_page_api.workspace = true
+
+neon-shmem.workspace = true
 utils.workspace = true
 workspace_hack = { version = "0.1", path = "../../../workspace_hack" }

--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/README.md
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/README.md
@@ -3,9 +3,18 @@
 This package provides the so-called "compute-pageserver communicator",
 or just "communicator" in short. The communicator is a separate
 background worker process that runs in the PostgreSQL server. It's
-part of the neon extension. Currently, it only provides an HTTP
-endpoint for metrics, but in the future it will evolve to handle all
-communications with the pageservers.
+part of the neon extension.
+
+The commuicator handles the communication with the pageservers, and
+also provides an HTTP endpoint for metrics over a local Unix Domain
+socket (aka. the "communicator control socket"). On the PostgreSQL
+side, the glue code in pgxn/neon/ uses the communicator to implement
+the PostgreSQL Storage Manager (SMGR) interface.
+
+## Design criteria
+
+- Low latency
+- Saturate a 10 Gbit / s network interface without becoming a bottleneck

 ## Source code view

@@ -14,10 +23,122 @@ pgxn/neon/communicator_process.c
    the glue that interacts with PostgreSQL code and the Rust
    code in the communicator process.

+pgxn/neon/communicator_new.c
+	Contains the backend code that interacts with the communicator
+	process.

-pgxn/neon/communicator/src/worker_process/
-    Worker process main loop and glue code
+pgxn/neon/communicator/src/backend_interface.rs
+	The entry point for calls from each backend.
+
+pgxn/neon/communicator/src/init.rs
+	Initialization at server startup

 At compilation time, pgxn/neon/communicator/ produces a static
 library, libcommunicator.a. It is linked to the neon.so extension
 library.
+
+The real networking code, which is independent of PostgreSQL, is in
+the pageserver/client_grpc crate.
+
+## Process view
+
+The communicator runs in a dedicated background worker process, the
+"communicator process". The communicator uses a multi-threaded Tokio
+runtime to execute the IO requests. So the communicator process has
+multiple threads running. That's unusual for Postgres processes and
+care must be taken to make that work.
+
+### Backend <-> worker communication
+
+Each backend has a number of I/O request slots in shared memory. The
+slots are statically allocated for each backend, and must not be
+accessed by other backends. The worker process reads requests from the
+shared memory slots, and writes responses back to the slots.
+
+Here's an example snapshot of the system, when two requests from two
+different backends are in progress:
+
+```
+Backends           Request slots          Communicator process
+---------          -------------          --------------------
+
+Backend 1          1: Idle
+                   2: Idle
+                   3: Processing          tokio task handling request 3
+
+Backend 2          4: Completed
+                   5: Processing          tokio task handling request 5
+                   6: Idle
+
+...                ...
+```
+
+To submit an IO request, the backend first picks one of its Idle
+slots, writes the IO request in the slot, and updates it to
+'Submitted' state. That transfers the ownership of the slot to the
+worker process, until the worker process marks the request as
+Completed. The worker process spawns a separate Tokio task for each
+request.
+
+To inform the worker process that a request slot has a pending IO
+request, there's a pipe shared by the worker process and all backend
+processes. The backend writes the index of the request slot to the
+pipe after changing the slot's state to Submitted. This wakes up the
+worker process.
+
+(Note that the pipe is just used for wakeups, but the worker process
+is free to pick up Submitted IO requests even without receiving the
+wakeup. As of this writing, it doesn't do that, but it might be useful
+in the future to reduce latency even further, for example.)
+
+When the worker process has completed processing the request, it
+writes the result back in the request slot. A GetPage request can also
+contain a pointer to buffer in the shared buffer cache. In that case,
+the worker process writes the resulting page contents directly to the
+buffer, and just a result code in the request slot. It then updates
+the 'state' field to Completed, which passes the owner ship back to
+the originating backend. Finally, it signals the process Latch of the
+originating backend, waking it up.
+
+### Differences between PostgreSQL v16, v17 and v18
+
+PostgreSQL v18 introduced the new AIO mechanism. The PostgreSQL AIO
+mechanism uses a very similar mechanism as described in the previous
+section, for the communication between AIO worker processes and
+backends. With our communicator, the AIO worker processes are not
+used, but we use the same PgAioHandle request slots as in upstream.
+For Neon-specific IO requests like GetDbSize, a neon request slot is
+used. But for the actual IO requests, the request slot merely contains
+a pointer to the PgAioHandle slot. The worker process updates the
+status of that, calls the IO callbacks upon completionetc, just like
+the upstream AIO worker processes do.
+
+## Sequence diagram
+
+                      neon
+    PostgreSQL     extension       backend_interface.rs  worker_process.rs    processor    tonic
+       |               .                    .                   .                 .
+	   | smgr_read()   .                    .                   .                 .
+	   +-------------> +                    .                   .                 .
+	   .               |                    .                   .                 .
+	   .               |  rcommunicator_    .                   .                 .
+	   .               | get_page_at_lsn    .                   .                 .
+	   .               +------------------> +                   .                 .
+                                            |                   .                 .
+                                            | write request to  .                 .                 .
+                                            | slot              .                 .
+                                            |                   .                 .
+                                            |                   .                 .
+											| submit_request()  .                 .
+											+-----------------> +                 .
+											|                   |                 .
+											|					| db_size_request .               .
+																+---------------->.
+																                  . TODO
+
+
+
+### Compute <-> pageserver protocol
+
+The protocol between Compute and the pageserver is based on gRPC. See `protos/`.
+
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/backend_comms.rs
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/backend_comms.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,224 @@
+//! This module implements a request/response "slot" for submitting
+//! requests from backends to the communicator process.
+//!
+//! NB: The "backend" side of this code runs in Postgres backend processes,
+//! which means that it is not safe to use the 'tracing' crate for logging, nor
+//! to launch threads or use tokio tasks!
+
+use std::cell::UnsafeCell;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicI32, Ordering};
+
+use crate::neon_request::{NeonIORequest, NeonIOResult};
+
+use atomic_enum::atomic_enum;
+
+/// One request/response slot. Each backend has its own set of slots that it
+/// uses.
+///
+/// This is the moral equivalent of PgAioHandle for Postgres AIO requests
+/// Like PgAioHandle, try to keep this small.
+///
+/// There is an array of these in shared memory. Therefore, this must be Sized.
+///
+/// ## Lifecycle of a request
+///
+/// A slot is always owned by either the backend process or the communicator
+/// process, depending on the 'state'. Only the owning process is allowed to
+/// read or modify the slot, except for reading the 'state' itself to check who
+/// owns it.
+///
+/// A slot begins in the Idle state, where it is owned by the backend process.
+/// To submit a request, the backend process fills the slot with the request
+/// data, and changes it to the Submitted state. After changing the state, the
+/// slot is owned by the communicator process, and the backend is not allowed
+/// to access it until the communicator process marks it as Completed.
+///
+/// When the communicator process sees that the slot is in Submitted state, it
+/// starts to process the request. After processing the request, it stores the
+/// result in the slot, and changes the state to Completed. It is now owned by
+/// the backend process again, which may now read the result, and reuse the
+/// slot for a new request.
+///
+/// For correctness of the above protocol, we really only need two states:
+/// "owned by backend" and "owned by communicator process". But to help with
+/// debugging and better assertions, there are a few more states. When the
+/// backend starts to fill in the request details in the slot, it first sets the
+/// state from Idle to Filling, and when it's done with that, from Filling to
+/// Submitted. In the Filling state, the slot is still owned by the
+/// backend. Similarly, when the communicator process starts to process a
+/// request, it sets it to Processing state first, but the slot is still owned
+/// by the communicator process.
+///
+/// This struct doesn't handle waking up the communicator process when a request
+/// has been submitted or when a response is ready. The 'owner_procno' is used
+/// for waking up the backend on completion, but that happens elsewhere.
+pub struct NeonIORequestSlot {
+    /// similar to PgAioHandleState
+    state: AtomicNeonIORequestSlotState,
+
+    /// The owning process's ProcNumber. The worker process uses this to set the
+    /// process's latch on completion.
+    ///
+    /// (This could be calculated from num_neon_request_slots_per_backend and
+    /// the index of this slot in the overall 'neon_requst_slots array'. But we
+    /// prefer the communicator process to not know how the request slots are
+    /// divided between the backends.)
+    owner_procno: AtomicI32,
+
+    /// SAFETY: This is modified by submit_request(), after it has established
+    /// ownership of the slot by setting state from Idle to Filling
+    request: UnsafeCell<NeonIORequest>,
+
+    /// Valid when state is Completed
+    ///
+    /// SAFETY: This is modified by RequestProcessingGuard::complete(). There
+    /// can be only one RequestProcessingGuard outstanding for a slot at a time,
+    /// because it is returned by start_processing_request() which checks the
+    /// state, so RequestProcessingGuard has exclusive access to the slot.
+    result: UnsafeCell<NeonIOResult>,
+}
+
+// The protocol described in the "Lifecycle of a request" section above ensures
+// the safe access to the fields
+unsafe impl Send for NeonIORequestSlot {}
+unsafe impl Sync for NeonIORequestSlot {}
+
+impl Default for NeonIORequestSlot {
+    fn default() -> NeonIORequestSlot {
+        NeonIORequestSlot {
+            owner_procno: AtomicI32::new(-1),
+            request: UnsafeCell::new(NeonIORequest::Empty),
+            result: UnsafeCell::new(NeonIOResult::Empty),
+            state: AtomicNeonIORequestSlotState::new(NeonIORequestSlotState::Idle),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[atomic_enum]
+#[derive(Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub enum NeonIORequestSlotState {
+    Idle,
+
+    /// Backend is filling in the request
+    Filling,
+
+    /// Backend has submitted the request to the communicator, but the
+    /// communicator process has not yet started processing it.
+    Submitted,
+
+    /// Communicator is processing the request
+    Processing,
+
+    /// Communicator has completed the request, and the 'result' field is now
+    /// valid, but the backend has not read the result yet.
+    Completed,
+}
+
+impl NeonIORequestSlot {
+    /// Write a request to the slot, and mark it as Submitted.
+    ///
+    /// Note: This does not wake up the worker process to actually process
+    /// the request. It's the caller's responsibility to do that.
+    pub fn submit_request(&self, request: &NeonIORequest, proc_number: i32) {
+        // Verify that the slot is in Idle state previously, and put it in
+        // Filling state.
+        //
+        // XXX: This step isn't strictly necessary. Assuming the caller didn't
+        // screw up and try to use a slot that's already in use, we could fill
+        // the slot and switch it directly from Idle to Submitted state.
+        if let Err(s) = self.state.compare_exchange(
+            NeonIORequestSlotState::Idle,
+            NeonIORequestSlotState::Filling,
+            Ordering::Relaxed,
+            Ordering::Relaxed,
+        ) {
+            panic!("unexpected state in request slot: {s:?}");
+        }
+
+        // Fill in the request details
+        self.owner_procno.store(proc_number, Ordering::Relaxed);
+        unsafe { *self.request.get() = *request }
+
+        // This synchronizes-with store/swap in [`start_processing_request`].
+        // Note that this ensures that the previous non-atomic writes visible
+        // to other threads too.
+        self.state
+            .store(NeonIORequestSlotState::Submitted, Ordering::Release);
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_state(&self) -> NeonIORequestSlotState {
+        self.state.load(Ordering::Relaxed)
+    }
+
+    pub fn try_get_result(&self) -> Option<NeonIOResult> {
+        // This synchronizes-with the store/swap in [`RequestProcessingGuard::completed`]
+        let state = self.state.load(Ordering::Acquire);
+        if state == NeonIORequestSlotState::Completed {
+            let result = unsafe { *self.result.get() };
+            self.state
+                .store(NeonIORequestSlotState::Idle, Ordering::Relaxed);
+            Some(result)
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Read the IO request from the slot indicated in the wakeup
+    pub fn start_processing_request<'a>(&'a self) -> Option<RequestProcessingGuard<'a>> {
+        // XXX: using atomic load rather than compare_exchange would be
+        // sufficient here, as long as the communicator process has _some_ means
+        // of tracking which requests it's already processing. That could be a
+        // flag somewhere in communicator's private memory, for example.
+        //
+        // This synchronizes-with the store in [`submit_request`].
+        if let Err(s) = self.state.compare_exchange(
+            NeonIORequestSlotState::Submitted,
+            NeonIORequestSlotState::Processing,
+            Ordering::Acquire,
+            Ordering::Relaxed,
+        ) {
+            // FIXME surprising state. This is unexpected at the moment, but if we
+            // started to process requests more aggressively, without waiting for the
+            // read from the pipe, then this could happen
+            panic!("unexpected state in request slot: {s:?}");
+        }
+
+        Some(RequestProcessingGuard(self))
+    }
+}
+
+/// [`NeonIORequestSlot::start_processing_request`] returns this guard object to
+/// indicate that the the caller now "owns" the slot, until it calls
+/// [`RequestProcessingGuard::completed`].
+///
+/// TODO: implement Drop on this, to mark the request as Aborted or Errored
+/// if [`RequestProcessingGuard::completed`] is not called.
+pub struct RequestProcessingGuard<'a>(&'a NeonIORequestSlot);
+
+unsafe impl<'a> Send for RequestProcessingGuard<'a> {}
+unsafe impl<'a> Sync for RequestProcessingGuard<'a> {}
+
+impl<'a> RequestProcessingGuard<'a> {
+    pub fn get_request(&self) -> &NeonIORequest {
+        unsafe { &*self.0.request.get() }
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_owner_procno(&self) -> i32 {
+        self.0.owner_procno.load(Ordering::Relaxed)
+    }
+
+    pub fn completed(self, result: NeonIOResult) {
+        // Store the result to the slot.
+        unsafe {
+            *self.0.result.get() = result;
+        };
+
+        // Mark the request as completed. After that, we no longer have
+        // ownership of the slot, and must not modify it.
+        let old_state = self
+            .0
+            .state
+            .swap(NeonIORequestSlotState::Completed, Ordering::Release);
+        assert!(old_state == NeonIORequestSlotState::Processing);
+    }
+}
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/backend_interface.rs
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/backend_interface.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,283 @@
+//! This code runs in each backend process. That means that launching Rust threads, panicking
+//! etc. is forbidden!
+
+use std::os::fd::OwnedFd;
+
+use crate::backend_comms::NeonIORequestSlot;
+use crate::init::CommunicatorInitStruct;
+use crate::integrated_cache::{BackendCacheReadOp, IntegratedCacheReadAccess};
+use crate::neon_request::{CCachedGetPageVResult, COid};
+use crate::neon_request::{NeonIORequest, NeonIOResult};
+
+pub struct CommunicatorBackendStruct<'t> {
+    my_proc_number: i32,
+
+    neon_request_slots: &'t [NeonIORequestSlot],
+
+    submission_pipe_write_fd: OwnedFd,
+
+    pending_cache_read_op: Option<BackendCacheReadOp<'t>>,
+
+    integrated_cache: &'t IntegratedCacheReadAccess<'t>,
+}
+
+#[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+pub extern "C" fn rcommunicator_backend_init(
+    cis: Box<CommunicatorInitStruct>,
+    my_proc_number: i32,
+) -> &'static mut CommunicatorBackendStruct<'static> {
+    if my_proc_number < 0 {
+        panic!("cannot attach to communicator shared memory with procnumber {my_proc_number}");
+    }
+
+    let integrated_cache = Box::leak(Box::new(cis.integrated_cache_init_struct.backend_init()));
+
+    let bs: &'static mut CommunicatorBackendStruct =
+        Box::leak(Box::new(CommunicatorBackendStruct {
+            my_proc_number,
+            neon_request_slots: cis.neon_request_slots,
+
+            submission_pipe_write_fd: cis.submission_pipe_write_fd,
+            pending_cache_read_op: None,
+
+            integrated_cache,
+        }));
+    bs
+}
+
+/// Start a request. You can poll for its completion and get the result by
+/// calling bcomm_poll_dbsize_request_completion(). The communicator will wake
+/// us up by setting our process latch, so to wait for the completion, wait on
+/// the latch and call bcomm_poll_dbsize_request_completion() every time the
+/// latch is set.
+///
+/// Safety: The C caller must ensure that the references are valid.
+/// The requested slot must be free, or this panics.
+#[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+pub extern "C" fn bcomm_start_io_request(
+    bs: &'_ mut CommunicatorBackendStruct,
+    slot_idx: i32,
+    request: &NeonIORequest,
+    immediate_result_ptr: &mut NeonIOResult,
+) -> i32 {
+    assert!(bs.pending_cache_read_op.is_none());
+
+    // Check if the request can be satisfied from the cache first
+    if let NeonIORequest::RelSize(req) = request {
+        if let Some(nblocks) = bs.integrated_cache.get_rel_size(&req.reltag()) {
+            *immediate_result_ptr = NeonIOResult::RelSize(nblocks);
+            return -1;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Create neon request and submit it
+    bs.start_neon_io_request(slot_idx, request);
+
+    slot_idx
+}
+
+#[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+pub extern "C" fn bcomm_start_get_page_v_request(
+    bs: &mut CommunicatorBackendStruct,
+    slot_idx: i32,
+    request: &NeonIORequest,
+    immediate_result_ptr: &mut CCachedGetPageVResult,
+) -> i32 {
+    let NeonIORequest::GetPageV(get_pagev_request) = request else {
+        panic!("invalid request passed to bcomm_start_get_page_v_request()");
+    };
+    assert!(matches!(request, NeonIORequest::GetPageV(_)));
+    assert!(bs.pending_cache_read_op.is_none());
+
+    // Check if the request can be satisfied from the cache first
+    let mut all_cached = true;
+    let mut read_op = bs.integrated_cache.start_read_op();
+    for i in 0..get_pagev_request.nblocks {
+        if let Some(cache_block) = read_op.get_page(
+            &get_pagev_request.reltag(),
+            get_pagev_request.block_number + i as u32,
+        ) {
+            immediate_result_ptr.cache_block_numbers[i as usize] = cache_block;
+        } else {
+            // not found in cache
+            all_cached = false;
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    if all_cached {
+        bs.pending_cache_read_op = Some(read_op);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    // Create neon request and submit it
+    bs.start_neon_io_request(slot_idx, request);
+
+    slot_idx
+}
+
+/// Check if a request has completed. Returns:
+///
+/// -1 if the request is still being processed
+/// 0 on success
+#[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+pub extern "C" fn bcomm_poll_request_completion(
+    bs: &mut CommunicatorBackendStruct,
+    request_slot_idx: u32,
+    result_p: &mut NeonIOResult,
+) -> i32 {
+    match bs.neon_request_slots[request_slot_idx as usize].try_get_result() {
+        None => -1, // still processing
+        Some(result) => {
+            *result_p = result;
+            0
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Check if a request has completed. Returns:
+///
+/// 'false' if the slot is Idle. The backend process has ownership.
+/// 'true' if the slot is busy, and should be polled for result.
+#[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+pub extern "C" fn bcomm_get_request_slot_status(
+    bs: &mut CommunicatorBackendStruct,
+    request_slot_idx: u32,
+) -> bool {
+    use crate::backend_comms::NeonIORequestSlotState;
+    match bs.neon_request_slots[request_slot_idx as usize].get_state() {
+        NeonIORequestSlotState::Idle => false,
+        NeonIORequestSlotState::Filling => {
+            // 'false' would be the right result here. However, this
+            // is a very transient state. The C code should never
+            // leave a slot in this state, so if it sees that,
+            // something's gone wrong and it's not clear what to do
+            // with it.
+            panic!("unexpected Filling state in request slot {request_slot_idx}");
+        }
+        NeonIORequestSlotState::Submitted => true,
+        NeonIORequestSlotState::Processing => true,
+        NeonIORequestSlotState::Completed => true,
+    }
+}
+
+// LFC functions
+
+/// Finish a local file cache read
+///
+//
+#[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+pub extern "C" fn bcomm_finish_cache_read(bs: &mut CommunicatorBackendStruct) -> bool {
+    if let Some(op) = bs.pending_cache_read_op.take() {
+        op.finish()
+    } else {
+        panic!("bcomm_finish_cache_read() called with no cached read pending");
+    }
+}
+
+/// Check if the local file cache contians the given block
+#[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+pub extern "C" fn bcomm_cache_contains(
+    bs: &mut CommunicatorBackendStruct,
+    spc_oid: COid,
+    db_oid: COid,
+    rel_number: u32,
+    fork_number: u8,
+    block_number: u32,
+) -> bool {
+    bs.integrated_cache.cache_contains_page(
+        &pageserver_page_api::RelTag {
+            spcnode: spc_oid,
+            dbnode: db_oid,
+            relnode: rel_number,
+            forknum: fork_number,
+        },
+        block_number,
+    )
+}
+
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct FileCacheIterator {
+    next_bucket: u64,
+
+    pub spc_oid: COid,
+    pub db_oid: COid,
+    pub rel_number: u32,
+    pub fork_number: u8,
+    pub block_number: u32,
+}
+
+/// Iterate over LFC contents
+#[allow(clippy::missing_safety_doc)]
+#[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn bcomm_cache_iterate_begin(
+    _bs: &mut CommunicatorBackendStruct,
+    iter: *mut FileCacheIterator,
+) {
+    unsafe { (*iter).next_bucket = 0 };
+}
+
+#[allow(clippy::missing_safety_doc)]
+#[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn bcomm_cache_iterate_next(
+    bs: &mut CommunicatorBackendStruct,
+    iter: *mut FileCacheIterator,
+) -> bool {
+    use crate::integrated_cache::GetBucketResult;
+    loop {
+        let next_bucket = unsafe { (*iter).next_bucket } as usize;
+        match bs.integrated_cache.get_bucket(next_bucket) {
+            GetBucketResult::Occupied(rel, blk) => {
+                unsafe {
+                    (*iter).spc_oid = rel.spcnode;
+                    (*iter).db_oid = rel.dbnode;
+                    (*iter).rel_number = rel.relnode;
+                    (*iter).fork_number = rel.forknum;
+                    (*iter).block_number = blk;
+
+                    (*iter).next_bucket += 1;
+                }
+                break true;
+            }
+            GetBucketResult::Vacant => {
+                unsafe {
+                    (*iter).next_bucket += 1;
+                }
+                continue;
+            }
+            GetBucketResult::OutOfBounds => {
+                break false;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'t> CommunicatorBackendStruct<'t> {
+    /// The slot must be free, or this panics.
+    pub(crate) fn start_neon_io_request(&mut self, request_slot_idx: i32, request: &NeonIORequest) {
+        let my_proc_number = self.my_proc_number;
+
+        self.neon_request_slots[request_slot_idx as usize].submit_request(request, my_proc_number);
+
+        // Tell the communicator about it
+        self.notify_about_request(request_slot_idx);
+    }
+
+    /// Send a wakeup to the communicator process
+    fn notify_about_request(self: &CommunicatorBackendStruct<'t>, request_slot_idx: i32) {
+        // wake up communicator by writing the idx to the submission pipe
+        //
+
+        // This can block, if the pipe is full. That should be very rare,
+        // because the communicator tries hard to drain the pipe to prevent
+        // that. Also, there's a natural upper bound on how many wakeups can be
+        // queued up: there is only a limited number of request slots for each
+        // backend.
+        //
+        // If it does block very briefly, that's not too serious.
+        let idxbuf = request_slot_idx.to_ne_bytes();
+
+        let _res = nix::unistd::write(&self.submission_pipe_write_fd, &idxbuf);
+        // FIXME: check result, return any errors
+    }
+}
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/file_cache.rs
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/file_cache.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+//! Implement the "low-level" parts of the file cache.
+//!
+//! This module just deals with reading and writing the file, and keeping track
+//! which blocks in the cache file are in use and which are free. The "high
+//! level" parts of tracking which block in the cache file corresponds to which
+//! relation block is handled in 'integrated_cache' instead.
+//!
+//! This module is only used to access the file from the communicator
+//! process. The backend processes *also* read the file (and sometimes also
+//! write it? ), but the backends use direct C library calls for that.
+use std::fs::File;
+use std::os::unix::fs::FileExt;
+use std::path::Path;
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::sync::Mutex;
+
+use crate::BLCKSZ;
+
+use tokio::task::spawn_blocking;
+
+pub type CacheBlock = u64;
+
+pub const INVALID_CACHE_BLOCK: CacheBlock = u64::MAX;
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct FileCache {
+    file: Arc<File>,
+
+    free_list: Mutex<FreeList>,
+
+    // metrics
+    max_blocks_gauge: metrics::IntGauge,
+    num_free_blocks_gauge: metrics::IntGauge,
+}
+
+// TODO: We keep track of all free blocks in this vec. That doesn't really scale.
+// Idea: when free_blocks fills up with more than 1024 entries, write them all to
+// one block on disk.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct FreeList {
+    next_free_block: CacheBlock,
+    max_blocks: u64,
+
+    free_blocks: Vec<CacheBlock>,
+}
+
+impl FileCache {
+    pub fn new(file_cache_path: &Path, mut initial_size: u64) -> Result<FileCache, std::io::Error> {
+        if initial_size < 100 {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                "min size for file cache is 100 blocks, {} requested",
+                initial_size
+            );
+            initial_size = 100;
+        }
+
+        let file = std::fs::OpenOptions::new()
+            .read(true)
+            .write(true)
+            .truncate(true)
+            .create(true)
+            .open(file_cache_path)?;
+
+        let max_blocks_gauge = metrics::IntGauge::new(
+            "file_cache_max_blocks",
+            "Local File Cache size in 8KiB blocks",
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        let num_free_blocks_gauge = metrics::IntGauge::new(
+            "file_cache_num_free_blocks",
+            "Number of free 8KiB blocks in Local File Cache",
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+
+        tracing::info!("initialized file cache with {} blocks", initial_size);
+
+        Ok(FileCache {
+            file: Arc::new(file),
+            free_list: Mutex::new(FreeList {
+                next_free_block: 0,
+                max_blocks: initial_size,
+                free_blocks: Vec::new(),
+            }),
+            max_blocks_gauge,
+            num_free_blocks_gauge,
+        })
+    }
+
+    // File cache management
+
+    pub async fn read_block(
+        &self,
+        cache_block: CacheBlock,
+        mut dst: impl uring_common::buf::IoBufMut + Send + Sync,
+    ) -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
+        assert!(dst.bytes_total() == BLCKSZ);
+        let file = self.file.clone();
+
+        let dst_ref = unsafe { std::slice::from_raw_parts_mut(dst.stable_mut_ptr(), BLCKSZ) };
+
+        spawn_blocking(move || file.read_exact_at(dst_ref, cache_block * BLCKSZ as u64)).await??;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub async fn write_block(
+        &self,
+        cache_block: CacheBlock,
+        src: impl uring_common::buf::IoBuf + Send + Sync,
+    ) -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
+        assert!(src.bytes_init() == BLCKSZ);
+        let file = self.file.clone();
+
+        let src_ref = unsafe { std::slice::from_raw_parts(src.stable_ptr(), BLCKSZ) };
+
+        spawn_blocking(move || file.write_all_at(src_ref, cache_block * BLCKSZ as u64)).await??;
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub fn alloc_block(&self) -> Option<CacheBlock> {
+        let mut free_list = self.free_list.lock().unwrap();
+        if let Some(x) = free_list.free_blocks.pop() {
+            return Some(x);
+        }
+        if free_list.next_free_block < free_list.max_blocks {
+            let result = free_list.next_free_block;
+            free_list.next_free_block += 1;
+            return Some(result);
+        }
+        None
+    }
+
+    pub fn dealloc_block(&self, cache_block: CacheBlock) {
+        let mut free_list = self.free_list.lock().unwrap();
+        free_list.free_blocks.push(cache_block);
+    }
+}
+
+impl metrics::core::Collector for FileCache {
+    fn desc(&self) -> Vec<&metrics::core::Desc> {
+        let mut descs = Vec::new();
+        descs.append(&mut self.max_blocks_gauge.desc());
+        descs.append(&mut self.num_free_blocks_gauge.desc());
+        descs
+    }
+    fn collect(&self) -> Vec<metrics::proto::MetricFamily> {
+        // Update the gauges with fresh values first
+        {
+            let free_list = self.free_list.lock().unwrap();
+            self.max_blocks_gauge.set(free_list.max_blocks as i64);
+
+            let total_free_blocks: i64 = free_list.free_blocks.len() as i64
+                + (free_list.max_blocks as i64 - free_list.next_free_block as i64);
+            self.num_free_blocks_gauge.set(total_free_blocks);
+        }
+
+        let mut values = Vec::new();
+        values.append(&mut self.max_blocks_gauge.collect());
+        values.append(&mut self.num_free_blocks_gauge.collect());
+        values
+    }
+}
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/global_allocator.rs
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/global_allocator.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+//! Global allocator, for tracking memory usage of the Rust parts
+//!
+//! Postgres is designed to handle allocation failure (ie. malloc() returning NULL) gracefully.  It
+//! rolls backs the transaction and gives the user an "ERROR: out of memory" error. Rust code
+//! however panics if an allocation fails. We don't want that to ever happen, because an unhandled
+//! panic leads to Postgres crash and restart. Our strategy is to pre-allocate a large enough chunk
+//! of memory for use by the Rust code, so that the allocations never fail.
+//!
+//! To pick the size for the pre-allocated chunk, we have a metric to track the high watermark
+//! memory usage of all the Rust allocations in total.
+//!
+//! TODO:
+//!
+//! - Currently we just export the metrics. Actual allocations are still just passed through to
+//!   the system allocator.
+//! - Take padding etc. overhead into account
+
+use std::alloc::{GlobalAlloc, Layout, System};
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicU64, AtomicUsize, Ordering};
+
+use metrics::IntGauge;
+
+struct MyAllocator {
+    allocations: AtomicU64,
+    deallocations: AtomicU64,
+
+    allocated: AtomicUsize,
+    high: AtomicUsize,
+}
+
+unsafe impl GlobalAlloc for MyAllocator {
+    unsafe fn alloc(&self, layout: Layout) -> *mut u8 {
+        self.allocations.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+        let mut allocated = self.allocated.fetch_add(layout.size(), Ordering::Relaxed);
+        allocated += layout.size();
+        self.high.fetch_max(allocated, Ordering::Relaxed);
+        unsafe { System.alloc(layout) }
+    }
+
+    unsafe fn dealloc(&self, ptr: *mut u8, layout: Layout) {
+        self.deallocations.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+        self.allocated.fetch_sub(layout.size(), Ordering::Relaxed);
+        unsafe { System.dealloc(ptr, layout) }
+    }
+}
+
+#[global_allocator]
+static GLOBAL: MyAllocator = MyAllocator {
+    allocations: AtomicU64::new(0),
+    deallocations: AtomicU64::new(0),
+    allocated: AtomicUsize::new(0),
+    high: AtomicUsize::new(0),
+};
+
+pub struct MyAllocatorCollector {
+    allocations: IntGauge,
+    deallocations: IntGauge,
+    allocated: IntGauge,
+    high: IntGauge,
+}
+
+impl MyAllocatorCollector {
+    pub fn new() -> MyAllocatorCollector {
+        MyAllocatorCollector {
+            allocations: IntGauge::new("allocations_total", "Number of allocations in Rust code")
+                .unwrap(),
+            deallocations: IntGauge::new(
+                "deallocations_total",
+                "Number of deallocations in Rust code",
+            )
+            .unwrap(),
+            allocated: IntGauge::new("allocated_total", "Bytes currently allocated").unwrap(),
+            high: IntGauge::new("allocated_high", "High watermark of allocated bytes").unwrap(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl metrics::core::Collector for MyAllocatorCollector {
+    fn desc(&self) -> Vec<&metrics::core::Desc> {
+        let mut descs = Vec::new();
+
+        descs.append(&mut self.allocations.desc());
+        descs.append(&mut self.deallocations.desc());
+        descs.append(&mut self.allocated.desc());
+        descs.append(&mut self.high.desc());
+
+        descs
+    }
+
+    fn collect(&self) -> Vec<metrics::proto::MetricFamily> {
+        let mut values = Vec::new();
+
+        // update the gauges
+        self.allocations
+            .set(GLOBAL.allocations.load(Ordering::Relaxed) as i64);
+        self.deallocations
+            .set(GLOBAL.allocations.load(Ordering::Relaxed) as i64);
+        self.allocated
+            .set(GLOBAL.allocated.load(Ordering::Relaxed) as i64);
+        self.high.set(GLOBAL.high.load(Ordering::Relaxed) as i64);
+
+        values.append(&mut self.allocations.collect());
+        values.append(&mut self.deallocations.collect());
+        values.append(&mut self.allocated.collect());
+        values.append(&mut self.high.collect());
+
+        values
+    }
+}
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/init.rs
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/init.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+//! Initialization functions. These are executed in the postmaster process,
+//! at different stages of server startup.
+//!
+//!
+//! Communicator initialization steps:
+//!
+//! 1. At postmaster startup, before shared memory is allocated,
+//!    rcommunicator_shmem_size() is called to get the amount of
+//!    shared memory that this module needs.
+//!
+//! 2. Later, after the shared memory has been allocated,
+//!    rcommunicator_shmem_init() is called to initialize the shmem
+//!    area.
+//!
+//! Per process initialization:
+//!
+//! When a backend process starts up, it calls rcommunicator_backend_init().
+//! In the communicator worker process, other functions are called, see
+//! `worker_process` module.
+
+use std::ffi::c_int;
+use std::mem;
+use std::mem::MaybeUninit;
+use std::os::fd::OwnedFd;
+
+use crate::backend_comms::NeonIORequestSlot;
+use crate::integrated_cache::IntegratedCacheInitStruct;
+
+/// This struct is created in the postmaster process, and inherited to
+/// the communicator process and all backend processes through fork()
+#[repr(C)]
+pub struct CommunicatorInitStruct {
+    pub submission_pipe_read_fd: OwnedFd,
+    pub submission_pipe_write_fd: OwnedFd,
+
+    // Shared memory data structures
+    pub num_neon_request_slots: u32,
+
+    pub neon_request_slots: &'static [NeonIORequestSlot],
+
+    pub integrated_cache_init_struct: IntegratedCacheInitStruct<'static>,
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Debug for CommunicatorInitStruct {
+    fn fmt(&self, fmt: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> Result<(), std::fmt::Error> {
+        fmt.debug_struct("CommunicatorInitStruct")
+            .field("submission_pipe_read_fd", &self.submission_pipe_read_fd)
+            .field("submission_pipe_write_fd", &self.submission_pipe_write_fd)
+            .field("num_neon_request_slots", &self.num_neon_request_slots)
+            .field("neon_request_slots length", &self.neon_request_slots.len())
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
+#[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+pub extern "C" fn rcommunicator_shmem_size(num_neon_request_slots: u32) -> u64 {
+    let mut size = 0;
+
+    size += mem::size_of::<NeonIORequestSlot>() * num_neon_request_slots as usize;
+
+    // For integrated_cache's Allocator. TODO: make this adjustable
+    size += IntegratedCacheInitStruct::shmem_size();
+
+    size as u64
+}
+
+/// Initialize the shared memory segment. Returns a backend-private
+/// struct, which will be inherited by backend processes through fork
+#[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+pub extern "C" fn rcommunicator_shmem_init(
+    submission_pipe_read_fd: c_int,
+    submission_pipe_write_fd: c_int,
+    num_neon_request_slots: u32,
+    shmem_area_ptr: *mut MaybeUninit<u8>,
+    shmem_area_len: u64,
+    initial_file_cache_size: u64,
+    max_file_cache_size: u64,
+) -> &'static mut CommunicatorInitStruct {
+    let shmem_area: &'static mut [MaybeUninit<u8>] =
+        unsafe { std::slice::from_raw_parts_mut(shmem_area_ptr, shmem_area_len as usize) };
+
+    let (neon_request_slots, remaining_area) =
+        alloc_array_from_slice::<NeonIORequestSlot>(shmem_area, num_neon_request_slots as usize);
+
+    for slot in neon_request_slots.iter_mut() {
+        slot.write(NeonIORequestSlot::default());
+    }
+
+    // 'neon_request_slots' is initialized now. (MaybeUninit::slice_assume_init_mut() is nightly-only
+    // as of this writing.)
+    let neon_request_slots = unsafe {
+        std::mem::transmute::<&mut [MaybeUninit<NeonIORequestSlot>], &mut [NeonIORequestSlot]>(
+            neon_request_slots,
+        )
+    };
+
+    // Give the rest of the area to the integrated cache
+    let integrated_cache_init_struct = IntegratedCacheInitStruct::shmem_init(
+        remaining_area,
+        initial_file_cache_size,
+        max_file_cache_size,
+    );
+
+    let (submission_pipe_read_fd, submission_pipe_write_fd) = unsafe {
+        use std::os::fd::FromRawFd;
+        (
+            OwnedFd::from_raw_fd(submission_pipe_read_fd),
+            OwnedFd::from_raw_fd(submission_pipe_write_fd),
+        )
+    };
+
+    let cis: &'static mut CommunicatorInitStruct = Box::leak(Box::new(CommunicatorInitStruct {
+        submission_pipe_read_fd,
+        submission_pipe_write_fd,
+
+        num_neon_request_slots,
+        neon_request_slots,
+
+        integrated_cache_init_struct,
+    }));
+
+    cis
+}
+
+// fixme: currently unused
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+pub fn alloc_from_slice<T>(
+    area: &mut [MaybeUninit<u8>],
+) -> (&mut MaybeUninit<T>, &mut [MaybeUninit<u8>]) {
+    let layout = std::alloc::Layout::new::<T>();
+
+    let area_start = area.as_mut_ptr();
+
+    // pad to satisfy alignment requirements
+    let padding = area_start.align_offset(layout.align());
+    if padding + layout.size() > area.len() {
+        panic!("out of memory");
+    }
+    let area = &mut area[padding..];
+    let (result_area, remain) = area.split_at_mut(layout.size());
+
+    let result_ptr: *mut MaybeUninit<T> = result_area.as_mut_ptr().cast();
+    let result = unsafe { result_ptr.as_mut().unwrap() };
+
+    (result, remain)
+}
+
+pub fn alloc_array_from_slice<T>(
+    area: &mut [MaybeUninit<u8>],
+    len: usize,
+) -> (&mut [MaybeUninit<T>], &mut [MaybeUninit<u8>]) {
+    let layout = std::alloc::Layout::new::<T>();
+
+    let area_start = area.as_mut_ptr();
+
+    // pad to satisfy alignment requirements
+    let padding = area_start.align_offset(layout.align());
+    if padding + layout.size() * len > area.len() {
+        panic!("out of memory");
+    }
+    let area = &mut area[padding..];
+    let (result_area, remain) = area.split_at_mut(layout.size() * len);
+
+    let result_ptr: *mut MaybeUninit<T> = result_area.as_mut_ptr().cast();
+    let result = unsafe { std::slice::from_raw_parts_mut(result_ptr.as_mut().unwrap(), len) };
+
+    (result, remain)
+}
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/integrated_cache.rs
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/integrated_cache.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,824 @@
+//! Integrated communicator cache
+//!
+//! It tracks:
+//! - Relation sizes and existence
+//! - Last-written LSN
+//! - Block cache (also known as LFC)
+//!
+//! TODO: limit the size
+//! TODO: concurrency
+//!
+//! Note: This deals with "relations" which is really just one "relation fork" in Postgres
+//! terms. RelFileLocator + ForkNumber is the key.
+
+//
+// TODO: Thoughts on eviction:
+//
+// There are two things we need to track, and evict if we run out of space:
+// - blocks in the file cache's file. If the file grows too large, need to evict something.
+//   Also if the cache is resized
+//
+// - entries in the cache map. If we run out of memory in the shmem area, need to evict
+//   something
+//
+
+use std::mem::MaybeUninit;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, AtomicU32, AtomicU64, Ordering};
+
+use utils::lsn::{AtomicLsn, Lsn};
+
+use crate::file_cache::INVALID_CACHE_BLOCK;
+use crate::file_cache::{CacheBlock, FileCache};
+use pageserver_page_api::RelTag;
+
+use metrics::{IntCounter, IntGauge};
+
+use neon_shmem::hash::{HashMapInit, entry::Entry};
+use neon_shmem::shmem::ShmemHandle;
+
+// in # of entries
+const RELSIZE_CACHE_SIZE: u32 = 64 * 1024;
+
+/// This struct is initialized at postmaster startup, and passed to all the processes via fork().
+pub struct IntegratedCacheInitStruct<'t> {
+    relsize_cache_handle: HashMapInit<'t, RelKey, RelEntry>,
+    block_map_handle: HashMapInit<'t, BlockKey, BlockEntry>,
+}
+
+/// Represents write-access to the integrated cache. This is used by the communicator process.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct IntegratedCacheWriteAccess<'t> {
+    relsize_cache: neon_shmem::hash::HashMapAccess<'t, RelKey, RelEntry>,
+    block_map: neon_shmem::hash::HashMapAccess<'t, BlockKey, BlockEntry>,
+
+    global_lw_lsn: AtomicU64,
+
+    pub(crate) file_cache: Option<FileCache>,
+
+    // Fields for eviction
+    clock_hand: std::sync::Mutex<usize>,
+
+    // Metrics
+    page_evictions_counter: IntCounter,
+    clock_iterations_counter: IntCounter,
+
+    // metrics from the hash map
+    block_map_num_buckets: IntGauge,
+    block_map_num_buckets_in_use: IntGauge,
+
+    relsize_cache_num_buckets: IntGauge,
+    relsize_cache_num_buckets_in_use: IntGauge,
+}
+
+/// Represents read-only access to the integrated cache. Backend processes have this.
+pub struct IntegratedCacheReadAccess<'t> {
+    relsize_cache: neon_shmem::hash::HashMapAccess<'t, RelKey, RelEntry>,
+    block_map: neon_shmem::hash::HashMapAccess<'t, BlockKey, BlockEntry>,
+}
+
+impl<'t> IntegratedCacheInitStruct<'t> {
+    /// Return the desired size in bytes of the fixed-size shared memory area to reserve for the
+    /// integrated cache.
+    pub fn shmem_size() -> usize {
+        // The relsize cache is fixed-size. The block map is allocated in a separate resizable
+        // area.
+        HashMapInit::<RelKey, RelEntry>::estimate_size(RELSIZE_CACHE_SIZE)
+    }
+
+    /// Initialize the shared memory segment. This runs once in postmaster. Returns a struct which
+    /// will be inherited by all processes through fork.
+    pub fn shmem_init(
+        shmem_area: &'t mut [MaybeUninit<u8>],
+        initial_file_cache_size: u64,
+        max_file_cache_size: u64,
+    ) -> IntegratedCacheInitStruct<'t> {
+        // Initialize the relsize cache in the fixed-size area
+        let relsize_cache_handle =
+            neon_shmem::hash::HashMapInit::with_fixed(RELSIZE_CACHE_SIZE, shmem_area);
+
+        let max_bytes =
+            HashMapInit::<BlockKey, BlockEntry>::estimate_size(max_file_cache_size as u32);
+
+        // Initialize the block map in a separate resizable shared memory area
+        let shmem_handle = ShmemHandle::new("block mapping", 0, max_bytes).unwrap();
+
+        let block_map_handle =
+            neon_shmem::hash::HashMapInit::with_shmem(initial_file_cache_size as u32, shmem_handle);
+        IntegratedCacheInitStruct {
+            relsize_cache_handle,
+            block_map_handle,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Initialize access to the integrated cache for the communicator worker process
+    pub fn worker_process_init(
+        self,
+        lsn: Lsn,
+        file_cache: Option<FileCache>,
+    ) -> IntegratedCacheWriteAccess<'t> {
+        let IntegratedCacheInitStruct {
+            relsize_cache_handle,
+            block_map_handle,
+        } = self;
+        IntegratedCacheWriteAccess {
+            relsize_cache: relsize_cache_handle.attach_writer(),
+            block_map: block_map_handle.attach_writer(),
+            global_lw_lsn: AtomicU64::new(lsn.0),
+            file_cache,
+            clock_hand: std::sync::Mutex::new(0),
+
+            page_evictions_counter: metrics::IntCounter::new(
+                "integrated_cache_evictions",
+                "Page evictions from the Local File Cache",
+            )
+            .unwrap(),
+
+            clock_iterations_counter: metrics::IntCounter::new(
+                "clock_iterations",
+                "Number of times the clock hand has moved",
+            )
+            .unwrap(),
+
+            block_map_num_buckets: metrics::IntGauge::new(
+                "block_map_num_buckets",
+                "Allocated size of the block cache hash map",
+            )
+            .unwrap(),
+            block_map_num_buckets_in_use: metrics::IntGauge::new(
+                "block_map_num_buckets_in_use",
+                "Number of buckets in use in the block cache hash map",
+            )
+            .unwrap(),
+
+            relsize_cache_num_buckets: metrics::IntGauge::new(
+                "relsize_cache_num_buckets",
+                "Allocated size of the relsize cache hash map",
+            )
+            .unwrap(),
+            relsize_cache_num_buckets_in_use: metrics::IntGauge::new(
+                "relsize_cache_num_buckets_in_use",
+                "Number of buckets in use in the relsize cache hash map",
+            )
+            .unwrap(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Initialize access to the integrated cache for a backend process
+    pub fn backend_init(self) -> IntegratedCacheReadAccess<'t> {
+        let IntegratedCacheInitStruct {
+            relsize_cache_handle,
+            block_map_handle,
+        } = self;
+
+        IntegratedCacheReadAccess {
+            relsize_cache: relsize_cache_handle.attach_reader(),
+            block_map: block_map_handle.attach_reader(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Value stored in the cache mapping hash table.
+struct BlockEntry {
+    lw_lsn: AtomicLsn,
+    cache_block: AtomicU64,
+
+    pinned: AtomicU64,
+
+    // 'referenced' bit for the clock algorithm
+    referenced: AtomicBool,
+}
+
+/// Value stored in the relsize cache hash table.
+struct RelEntry {
+    /// cached size of the relation
+    /// u32::MAX means 'not known' (that's InvalidBlockNumber in Postgres)
+    nblocks: AtomicU32,
+
+    /// This is the last time the "metadata" of this relation changed, not
+    /// the contents of the blocks. That is, the size of the relation.
+    lw_lsn: AtomicLsn,
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Debug for RelEntry {
+    fn fmt(&self, fmt: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> Result<(), std::fmt::Error> {
+        fmt.debug_struct("Rel")
+            .field("nblocks", &self.nblocks.load(Ordering::Relaxed))
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+impl std::fmt::Debug for BlockEntry {
+    fn fmt(&self, fmt: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> Result<(), std::fmt::Error> {
+        fmt.debug_struct("Block")
+            .field("lw_lsn", &self.lw_lsn.load())
+            .field("cache_block", &self.cache_block.load(Ordering::Relaxed))
+            .field("pinned", &self.pinned.load(Ordering::Relaxed))
+            .field("referenced", &self.referenced.load(Ordering::Relaxed))
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, PartialOrd, Eq, Hash, Ord)]
+struct RelKey(RelTag);
+
+impl From<&RelTag> for RelKey {
+    fn from(val: &RelTag) -> RelKey {
+        RelKey(*val)
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, PartialOrd, Eq, Hash, Ord)]
+struct BlockKey {
+    rel: RelTag,
+    block_number: u32,
+}
+
+impl From<(&RelTag, u32)> for BlockKey {
+    fn from(val: (&RelTag, u32)) -> BlockKey {
+        BlockKey {
+            rel: *val.0,
+            block_number: val.1,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Return type used in the cache's get_*() functions. 'Found' means that the page, or other
+/// information that was enqueried, exists in the cache. '
+pub enum CacheResult<V> {
+    /// The enqueried page or other information existed in the cache.
+    Found(V),
+
+    /// The cache doesn't contain the page (or other enqueried information, like relation size). The
+    /// Lsn is the 'not_modified_since' LSN that should be used in the request to the pageserver to
+    /// read the page.
+    NotFound(Lsn),
+}
+
+impl<'t> IntegratedCacheWriteAccess<'t> {
+    pub fn get_rel_size(&'t self, rel: &RelTag) -> CacheResult<u32> {
+        if let Some(nblocks) = get_rel_size(&self.relsize_cache, rel) {
+            CacheResult::Found(nblocks)
+        } else {
+            let lsn = Lsn(self.global_lw_lsn.load(Ordering::Relaxed));
+            CacheResult::NotFound(lsn)
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub async fn get_page(
+        &'t self,
+        rel: &RelTag,
+        block_number: u32,
+        dst: impl uring_common::buf::IoBufMut + Send + Sync,
+    ) -> Result<CacheResult<()>, std::io::Error> {
+        let x = if let Some(block_entry) = self.block_map.get(&BlockKey::from((rel, block_number)))
+        {
+            block_entry.referenced.store(true, Ordering::Relaxed);
+
+            let cache_block = block_entry.cache_block.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
+            if cache_block != INVALID_CACHE_BLOCK {
+                // pin it and release lock
+                block_entry.pinned.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+
+                (cache_block, DeferredUnpin(block_entry.pinned.as_ptr()))
+            } else {
+                return Ok(CacheResult::NotFound(block_entry.lw_lsn.load()));
+            }
+        } else {
+            let lsn = Lsn(self.global_lw_lsn.load(Ordering::Relaxed));
+            return Ok(CacheResult::NotFound(lsn));
+        };
+
+        let (cache_block, _deferred_pin) = x;
+        self.file_cache
+            .as_ref()
+            .unwrap()
+            .read_block(cache_block, dst)
+            .await?;
+
+        // unpin the entry (by implicitly dropping deferred_pin)
+        Ok(CacheResult::Found(()))
+    }
+
+    pub async fn page_is_cached(
+        &'t self,
+        rel: &RelTag,
+        block_number: u32,
+    ) -> Result<CacheResult<()>, std::io::Error> {
+        if let Some(block_entry) = self.block_map.get(&BlockKey::from((rel, block_number))) {
+            // This is used for prefetch requests. Treat the probe as an 'access', to keep it
+            // in cache.
+            block_entry.referenced.store(true, Ordering::Relaxed);
+
+            let cache_block = block_entry.cache_block.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
+
+            if cache_block != INVALID_CACHE_BLOCK {
+                Ok(CacheResult::Found(()))
+            } else {
+                Ok(CacheResult::NotFound(block_entry.lw_lsn.load()))
+            }
+        } else {
+            let lsn = Lsn(self.global_lw_lsn.load(Ordering::Relaxed));
+            Ok(CacheResult::NotFound(lsn))
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Does the relation exists? CacheResult::NotFound means that the cache doesn't contain that
+    /// information, i.e. we don't know if the relation exists or not.
+    pub fn get_rel_exists(&'t self, rel: &RelTag) -> CacheResult<bool> {
+        // we don't currently cache negative entries, so if the relation is in the cache, it exists
+        if let Some(_rel_entry) = self.relsize_cache.get(&RelKey::from(rel)) {
+            CacheResult::Found(true)
+        } else {
+            let lsn = Lsn(self.global_lw_lsn.load(Ordering::Relaxed));
+            CacheResult::NotFound(lsn)
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_db_size(&'t self, _db_oid: u32) -> CacheResult<u64> {
+        // TODO: it would be nice to cache database sizes too. Getting the database size
+        // is not a very common operation, but when you do it, it's often interactive, with
+        // e.g. psql \l+ command, so the user will feel the latency.
+
+        // fixme: is this right lsn?
+        let lsn = Lsn(self.global_lw_lsn.load(Ordering::Relaxed));
+        CacheResult::NotFound(lsn)
+    }
+
+    pub fn remember_rel_size(&'t self, rel: &RelTag, nblocks: u32, lsn: Lsn) {
+        match self.relsize_cache.entry(RelKey::from(rel)) {
+            Entry::Vacant(e) => {
+                tracing::info!("inserting rel entry for {rel:?}, {nblocks} blocks");
+                // FIXME: what to do if we run out of memory? Evict other relation entries?
+                _ = e
+                    .insert(RelEntry {
+                        nblocks: AtomicU32::new(nblocks),
+                        lw_lsn: AtomicLsn::new(lsn.0),
+                    })
+                    .expect("out of memory");
+            }
+            Entry::Occupied(e) => {
+                tracing::info!("updating rel entry for {rel:?}, {nblocks} blocks");
+                e.get().nblocks.store(nblocks, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                e.get().lw_lsn.store(lsn);
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    /// Remember the given page contents in the cache.
+    pub async fn remember_page(
+        &'t self,
+        rel: &RelTag,
+        block_number: u32,
+        src: impl uring_common::buf::IoBuf + Send + Sync,
+        lw_lsn: Lsn,
+        is_write: bool,
+    ) {
+        let key = BlockKey::from((rel, block_number));
+
+        // FIXME: make this work when file cache is disabled. Or make it mandatory
+        let file_cache = self.file_cache.as_ref().unwrap();
+
+        if is_write {
+            // there should be no concurrent IOs. If a backend tries to read the page
+            // at the same time, they may get a torn write. That's the same as with
+            // regular POSIX filesystem read() and write()
+
+            // First check if we have a block in cache already
+            let mut old_cache_block = None;
+            let mut found_existing = false;
+
+            // NOTE(quantumish): honoring original semantics here (used to be update_with_fn)
+            // but I don't see any reason why this has to take a write lock.
+            if let Entry::Occupied(e) = self.block_map.entry(key.clone()) {
+                let block_entry = e.get();
+                found_existing = true;
+
+                // Prevent this entry from being evicted
+                let pin_count = block_entry.pinned.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                if pin_count > 0 {
+                    // this is unexpected, because the caller has obtained the io-in-progress lock,
+                    // so no one else should try to modify the page at the same time.
+                    // XXX: and I think a read should not be happening either, because the postgres
+                    // buffer is held locked. TODO: check these conditions and tidy this up a little. Seems fragile to just panic.
+                    panic!("block entry was unexpectedly pinned");
+                }
+
+                let cache_block = block_entry.cache_block.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
+                old_cache_block = if cache_block != INVALID_CACHE_BLOCK {
+                    Some(cache_block)
+                } else {
+                    None
+                };
+            }
+
+            // Allocate a new block if required
+            let cache_block = old_cache_block.unwrap_or_else(|| {
+                loop {
+                    if let Some(x) = file_cache.alloc_block() {
+                        break x;
+                    }
+                    if let Some(x) = self.try_evict_one_cache_block() {
+                        break x;
+                    }
+                }
+            });
+
+            // Write the page to the cache file
+            file_cache
+                .write_block(cache_block, src)
+                .await
+                .expect("error writing to cache");
+            // FIXME: handle errors gracefully.
+            // FIXME: unpin the block entry on error
+
+            // Update the block entry
+            let entry = self.block_map.entry(key);
+            assert_eq!(found_existing, matches!(entry, Entry::Occupied(_)));
+            match entry {
+                Entry::Occupied(e) => {
+                    let block_entry = e.get();
+                    // Update the cache block
+                    let old_blk = block_entry.cache_block.compare_exchange(
+                        INVALID_CACHE_BLOCK,
+                        cache_block,
+                        Ordering::Relaxed,
+                        Ordering::Relaxed,
+                    );
+                    assert!(old_blk == Ok(INVALID_CACHE_BLOCK) || old_blk == Err(cache_block));
+
+                    block_entry.lw_lsn.store(lw_lsn);
+
+                    block_entry.referenced.store(true, Ordering::Relaxed);
+
+                    let pin_count = block_entry.pinned.fetch_sub(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                    assert!(pin_count > 0);
+                }
+                Entry::Vacant(e) => {
+                    // FIXME: what to do if we run out of memory? Evict other relation entries? Remove
+                    // block entries first?
+                    _ = e
+                        .insert(BlockEntry {
+                            lw_lsn: AtomicLsn::new(lw_lsn.0),
+                            cache_block: AtomicU64::new(cache_block),
+                            pinned: AtomicU64::new(0),
+                            referenced: AtomicBool::new(true),
+                        })
+                        .expect("out of memory");
+                }
+            }
+        } else {
+            // !is_write
+            //
+            // We can assume that it doesn't already exist, because the
+            // caller is assumed to have already checked it, and holds
+            // the io-in-progress lock. (The BlockEntry might exist, but no cache block)
+
+            // Allocate a new block first
+            let cache_block = {
+                loop {
+                    if let Some(x) = file_cache.alloc_block() {
+                        break x;
+                    }
+                    if let Some(x) = self.try_evict_one_cache_block() {
+                        break x;
+                    }
+                }
+            };
+
+            // Write the page to the cache file
+            file_cache
+                .write_block(cache_block, src)
+                .await
+                .expect("error writing to cache");
+            // FIXME: handle errors gracefully.
+
+            match self.block_map.entry(key) {
+                Entry::Occupied(e) => {
+                    let block_entry = e.get();
+                    // FIXME: could there be concurrent readers?
+                    assert!(block_entry.pinned.load(Ordering::Relaxed) == 0);
+
+                    let old_cache_block =
+                        block_entry.cache_block.swap(cache_block, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                    if old_cache_block != INVALID_CACHE_BLOCK {
+                        panic!(
+                            "remember_page called in !is_write mode, but page is already cached at blk {old_cache_block}"
+                        );
+                    }
+                }
+                Entry::Vacant(e) => {
+                    // FIXME: what to do if we run out of memory? Evict other relation entries? Remove
+                    // block entries first?
+                    _ = e
+                        .insert(BlockEntry {
+                            lw_lsn: AtomicLsn::new(lw_lsn.0),
+                            cache_block: AtomicU64::new(cache_block),
+                            pinned: AtomicU64::new(0),
+                            referenced: AtomicBool::new(true),
+                        })
+                        .expect("out of memory");
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Forget information about given relation in the cache. (For DROP TABLE and such)
+    pub fn forget_rel(&'t self, rel: &RelTag, _nblocks: Option<u32>, flush_lsn: Lsn) {
+        tracing::info!("forgetting rel entry for {rel:?}");
+        self.relsize_cache.remove(&RelKey::from(rel));
+
+        // update with flush LSN
+        let _ = self.global_lw_lsn.fetch_max(flush_lsn.0, Ordering::Relaxed);
+
+        // also forget all cached blocks for the relation
+        // FIXME
+        /*
+            let mut iter = MapIterator::new(&key_range_for_rel_blocks(rel));
+            let r = self.cache_tree.start_read();
+            while let Some((k, _v)) = iter.next(&r) {
+                let w = self.cache_tree.start_write();
+
+                let mut evicted_cache_block = None;
+
+                let res = w.update_with_fn(&k, |e| {
+                    if let Some(e) = e {
+                        let block_entry = if let MapEntry::Block(e) = e {
+                            e
+                        } else {
+                            panic!("unexpected map entry type for block key");
+                        };
+                        let cache_block = block_entry
+                            .cache_block
+                            .swap(INVALID_CACHE_BLOCK, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                        if cache_block != INVALID_CACHE_BLOCK {
+                            evicted_cache_block = Some(cache_block);
+                        }
+                        UpdateAction::Remove
+                    } else {
+                        UpdateAction::Nothing
+                    }
+                });
+
+                // FIXME: It's pretty surprising to run out of memory while removing. But
+                // maybe it can happen because of trying to shrink a node?
+                res.expect("out of memory");
+
+                if let Some(evicted_cache_block) = evicted_cache_block {
+                    self.file_cache
+                        .as_ref()
+                        .unwrap()
+                        .dealloc_block(evicted_cache_block);
+                }
+        }
+
+            */
+    }
+
+    // Maintenance routines
+
+    /// Evict one block from the file cache. This is used when the file cache fills up
+    /// Returns the evicted block. It's not put to the free list, so it's available for the
+    /// caller to use immediately.
+    pub fn try_evict_one_cache_block(&self) -> Option<CacheBlock> {
+        let mut clock_hand = self.clock_hand.lock().unwrap();
+        for _ in 0..100 {
+            self.clock_iterations_counter.inc();
+
+            (*clock_hand) += 1;
+
+            let mut evict_this = false;
+            let num_buckets = self.block_map.get_num_buckets();
+            match self
+                .block_map
+                .get_at_bucket((*clock_hand) % num_buckets)
+                .as_deref()
+            {
+                None => {
+                    // This bucket was unused
+                }
+                Some((_, blk_entry)) => {
+                    if !blk_entry.referenced.swap(false, Ordering::Relaxed) {
+                        // Evict this. Maybe.
+                        evict_this = true;
+                    }
+                }
+            };
+
+            if evict_this {
+                // grab the write lock
+                let mut evicted_cache_block = None;
+                if let Some(e) = self.block_map.entry_at_bucket(*clock_hand % num_buckets) {
+                    let old = e.get();
+                    // note: all the accesses to 'pinned' currently happen
+                    // within update_with_fn(), or while holding ValueReadGuard, which protects from concurrent
+                    // updates. Otherwise, another thread could set the 'pinned'
+                    // flag just after we have checked it here.
+                    if old.pinned.load(Ordering::Relaxed) == 0 {
+                        let _ = self
+                            .global_lw_lsn
+                            .fetch_max(old.lw_lsn.load().0, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                        let cache_block =
+                            old.cache_block.swap(INVALID_CACHE_BLOCK, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                        if cache_block != INVALID_CACHE_BLOCK {
+                            evicted_cache_block = Some(cache_block);
+                        }
+                        e.remove();
+                    }
+                }
+
+                if evicted_cache_block.is_some() {
+                    self.page_evictions_counter.inc();
+                    return evicted_cache_block;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        // Give up if we didn't find anything
+        None
+    }
+
+    /// Resize the local file cache.
+    pub fn resize_file_cache(&self, num_blocks: u32) {
+        let old_num_blocks = self.block_map.get_num_buckets() as u32;
+
+        if old_num_blocks < num_blocks {
+            if let Err(err) = self.block_map.grow(num_blocks) {
+                tracing::warn!(
+                    "could not grow file cache to {} blocks (old size {}): {}",
+                    num_blocks,
+                    old_num_blocks,
+                    err
+                );
+            }
+        } else {
+            // TODO: Shrinking not implemented yet
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn dump_map(&self, _dst: &mut dyn std::io::Write) {
+        //FIXME self.cache_map.start_read().dump(dst);
+    }
+}
+
+impl metrics::core::Collector for IntegratedCacheWriteAccess<'_> {
+    fn desc(&self) -> Vec<&metrics::core::Desc> {
+        let mut descs = Vec::new();
+        descs.append(&mut self.page_evictions_counter.desc());
+        descs.append(&mut self.clock_iterations_counter.desc());
+
+        descs.append(&mut self.block_map_num_buckets.desc());
+        descs.append(&mut self.block_map_num_buckets_in_use.desc());
+
+        descs.append(&mut self.relsize_cache_num_buckets.desc());
+        descs.append(&mut self.relsize_cache_num_buckets_in_use.desc());
+
+        descs
+    }
+    fn collect(&self) -> Vec<metrics::proto::MetricFamily> {
+        // Update gauges
+        self.block_map_num_buckets
+            .set(self.block_map.get_num_buckets() as i64);
+        self.block_map_num_buckets_in_use
+            .set(self.block_map.get_num_buckets_in_use() as i64);
+        self.relsize_cache_num_buckets
+            .set(self.relsize_cache.get_num_buckets() as i64);
+        self.relsize_cache_num_buckets_in_use
+            .set(self.relsize_cache.get_num_buckets_in_use() as i64);
+
+        let mut values = Vec::new();
+        values.append(&mut self.page_evictions_counter.collect());
+        values.append(&mut self.clock_iterations_counter.collect());
+
+        values.append(&mut self.block_map_num_buckets.collect());
+        values.append(&mut self.block_map_num_buckets_in_use.collect());
+
+        values.append(&mut self.relsize_cache_num_buckets.collect());
+        values.append(&mut self.relsize_cache_num_buckets_in_use.collect());
+
+        values
+    }
+}
+
+/// Read relation size from the cache.
+///
+/// This is in a separate function so that it can be shared by
+/// IntegratedCacheReadAccess::get_rel_size() and IntegratedCacheWriteAccess::get_rel_size()
+fn get_rel_size(
+    r: &neon_shmem::hash::HashMapAccess<RelKey, RelEntry>,
+    rel: &RelTag,
+) -> Option<u32> {
+    if let Some(rel_entry) = r.get(&RelKey::from(rel)) {
+        let nblocks = rel_entry.nblocks.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
+        if nblocks != u32::MAX {
+            Some(nblocks)
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    } else {
+        None
+    }
+}
+
+pub enum GetBucketResult {
+    Occupied(RelTag, u32),
+    Vacant,
+    OutOfBounds,
+}
+
+/// Accessor for other backends
+///
+/// This allows backends to read pages from the cache directly, on their own, without making a
+/// request to the communicator process.
+impl<'t> IntegratedCacheReadAccess<'t> {
+    pub fn get_rel_size(&'t self, rel: &RelTag) -> Option<u32> {
+        get_rel_size(&self.relsize_cache, rel)
+    }
+
+    pub fn start_read_op(&'t self) -> BackendCacheReadOp<'t> {
+        BackendCacheReadOp {
+            read_guards: Vec::new(),
+            map_access: self,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Check if the given page is present in the cache
+    pub fn cache_contains_page(&'t self, rel: &RelTag, block_number: u32) -> bool {
+        self.block_map
+            .get(&BlockKey::from((rel, block_number)))
+            .is_some()
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_bucket(&self, bucket_no: usize) -> GetBucketResult {
+        match self.block_map.get_at_bucket(bucket_no).as_deref() {
+            None => {
+                // free bucket, or out of bounds
+                if bucket_no >= self.block_map.get_num_buckets() {
+                    GetBucketResult::OutOfBounds
+                } else {
+                    GetBucketResult::Vacant
+                }
+            }
+            Some((key, _)) => GetBucketResult::Occupied(key.rel, key.block_number),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct BackendCacheReadOp<'t> {
+    read_guards: Vec<DeferredUnpin>,
+    map_access: &'t IntegratedCacheReadAccess<'t>,
+}
+
+impl<'e> BackendCacheReadOp<'e> {
+    /// Initiate a read of the page from the cache.
+    ///
+    /// This returns the "cache block number", i.e. the block number within the cache file, where
+    /// the page's contents is stored. To get the page contents, the caller needs to read that block
+    /// from the cache file. This returns a guard object that you must hold while it performs the
+    /// read. It's possible that while you are performing the read, the cache block is invalidated.
+    /// After you have completed the read, call BackendCacheReadResult::finish() to check if the
+    /// read was in fact valid or not. If it was concurrently invalidated, you need to retry.
+    pub fn get_page(&mut self, rel: &RelTag, block_number: u32) -> Option<u64> {
+        if let Some(block_entry) = self
+            .map_access
+            .block_map
+            .get(&BlockKey::from((rel, block_number)))
+        {
+            block_entry.referenced.store(true, Ordering::Relaxed);
+
+            let cache_block = block_entry.cache_block.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
+            if cache_block != INVALID_CACHE_BLOCK {
+                block_entry.pinned.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                self.read_guards
+                    .push(DeferredUnpin(block_entry.pinned.as_ptr()));
+                Some(cache_block)
+            } else {
+                None
+            }
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn finish(self) -> bool {
+        // TODO: currently, we hold a pin on the in-memory map, so concurrent invalidations are not
+        // possible. But if we switch to optimistic locking, this would return 'false' if the
+        // optimistic locking failed and you need to retry.
+        true
+    }
+}
+
+/// A hack to decrement an AtomicU64 on drop. This is used to decrement the pin count
+/// of a BlockEntry. The safety depends on the fact that the BlockEntry is not evicted
+/// or moved while it's pinned.
+struct DeferredUnpin(*mut u64);
+
+unsafe impl Sync for DeferredUnpin {}
+unsafe impl Send for DeferredUnpin {}
+
+impl Drop for DeferredUnpin {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        // unpin it
+        unsafe {
+            let pin_ref = AtomicU64::from_ptr(self.0);
+            pin_ref.fetch_sub(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+        }
+    }
+}
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/lib.rs
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,29 @@
+//! Three main parts:
+//! - async tokio communicator core, which receives requests and processes them.
+//! - Main loop and requests queues, which routes requests from backends to the core
+//! - the per-backend glue code, which submits requests
+
+mod backend_comms;
+
+// mark this 'pub', because these functions are called from C code. Otherwise, the compiler
+// complains about a bunch of structs and enum variants being unused, because it thinkgs
+// the functions that use them are never called. There are some C-callable functions in
+// other modules too, but marking this as pub is currently enough to silence the warnings
+//
+// TODO: perhaps collect *all* the extern "C" functions to one module?
+pub mod backend_interface;
+
+mod file_cache;
+mod init;
+mod integrated_cache;
+mod neon_request;
 mod worker_process;

+mod global_allocator;
+
 /// Name of the Unix Domain Socket that serves the metrics, and other APIs in the
 /// future. This is within the Postgres data directory.
 const NEON_COMMUNICATOR_SOCKET_NAME: &str = "neon-communicator.socket";
+
+// FIXME: get this from postgres headers somehow
+pub const BLCKSZ: usize = 8192;
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/neon_request.rs
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/neon_request.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,432 @@
+// Definitions of some core PostgreSQL datatypes.
+
+/// XLogRecPtr is defined in "access/xlogdefs.h" as:
+///
+/// ```
+/// typedef uint64 XLogRecPtr;
+/// ```
+/// cbindgen:no-export
+pub type XLogRecPtr = u64;
+
+pub type CLsn = XLogRecPtr;
+pub type COid = u32;
+
+// This conveniently matches PG_IOV_MAX
+pub const MAX_GETPAGEV_PAGES: usize = 32;
+
+pub const INVALID_BLOCK_NUMBER: u32 = u32::MAX;
+
+use std::ffi::CStr;
+
+use pageserver_page_api::{self as page_api, SlruKind};
+
+/// Request from a Postgres backend to the communicator process
+#[allow(clippy::large_enum_variant)]
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug, strum_macros::EnumDiscriminants)]
+#[strum_discriminants(derive(measured::FixedCardinalityLabel))]
+pub enum NeonIORequest {
+    Empty,
+
+    // Read requests. These are C-friendly variants of the corresponding structs in
+    // pageserver_page_api.
+    RelSize(CRelSizeRequest),
+    GetPageV(CGetPageVRequest),
+    ReadSlruSegment(CReadSlruSegmentRequest),
+    PrefetchV(CPrefetchVRequest),
+    DbSize(CDbSizeRequest),
+
+    // Write requests. These are needed to keep the relation size cache and LFC up-to-date.
+    // They are not sent to the pageserver.
+    WritePage(CWritePageRequest),
+    RelExtend(CRelExtendRequest),
+    RelZeroExtend(CRelZeroExtendRequest),
+    RelCreate(CRelCreateRequest),
+    RelTruncate(CRelTruncateRequest),
+    RelUnlink(CRelUnlinkRequest),
+
+    // Other requests
+    UpdateCachedRelSize(CUpdateCachedRelSizeRequest),
+}
+
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub enum NeonIOResult {
+    Empty,
+    /// InvalidBlockNumber == 0xffffffff means "rel does not exist"
+    RelSize(u32),
+
+    /// the result pages are written to the shared memory addresses given in the request
+    GetPageV,
+    /// The result is written to the file, path to which is provided
+    /// in the request. The [`u64`] value here is the number of blocks.
+    ReadSlruSegment(u64),
+
+    /// A prefetch request returns as soon as the request has been received by the communicator.
+    /// It is processed in the background.
+    PrefetchVLaunched,
+
+    DbSize(u64),
+
+    // FIXME design compact error codes. Can't easily pass a string or other dynamic data.
+    // currently, this is 'errno'
+    Error(i32),
+
+    Aborted,
+
+    /// used for all write requests
+    WriteOK,
+}
+
+impl NeonIORequest {
+    /// All requests include a unique request ID, which can be used to trace the execution
+    /// of a request all the way to the pageservers. The request ID needs to be unique
+    /// within the lifetime of the Postgres instance (but not across servers or across
+    /// restarts of the same server).
+    pub fn request_id(&self) -> u64 {
+        use NeonIORequest::*;
+        match self {
+            Empty => 0,
+            RelSize(req) => req.request_id,
+            GetPageV(req) => req.request_id,
+            ReadSlruSegment(req) => req.request_id,
+            PrefetchV(req) => req.request_id,
+            DbSize(req) => req.request_id,
+            WritePage(req) => req.request_id,
+            RelExtend(req) => req.request_id,
+            RelZeroExtend(req) => req.request_id,
+            RelCreate(req) => req.request_id,
+            RelTruncate(req) => req.request_id,
+            RelUnlink(req) => req.request_id,
+            UpdateCachedRelSize(req) => req.request_id,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Special quick result to a CGetPageVRequest request, indicating that the
+/// the requested pages are present in the local file cache. The backend can
+/// read the blocks directly from the given LFC blocks.
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct CCachedGetPageVResult {
+    pub cache_block_numbers: [u64; MAX_GETPAGEV_PAGES],
+}
+
+/// ShmemBuf represents a buffer in shared memory.
+///
+/// SAFETY: The pointer must point to an area in shared memory. The functions allow you to liberally
+/// get a mutable pointer to the contents; it is the caller's responsibility to ensure that you
+/// don't access a buffer that's you're not allowed to. Inappropriate access to the buffer doesn't
+/// violate Rust's safety semantics, but it will mess up and crash Postgres.
+///
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct ShmemBuf {
+    // Pointer to where the result is written or where to read from. Must point into a buffer in shared memory!
+    pub ptr: *mut u8,
+}
+
+unsafe impl Send for ShmemBuf {}
+unsafe impl Sync for ShmemBuf {}
+
+unsafe impl uring_common::buf::IoBuf for ShmemBuf {
+    fn stable_ptr(&self) -> *const u8 {
+        self.ptr
+    }
+
+    fn bytes_init(&self) -> usize {
+        crate::BLCKSZ
+    }
+
+    fn bytes_total(&self) -> usize {
+        crate::BLCKSZ
+    }
+}
+
+unsafe impl uring_common::buf::IoBufMut for ShmemBuf {
+    fn stable_mut_ptr(&mut self) -> *mut u8 {
+        self.ptr
+    }
+
+    unsafe fn set_init(&mut self, pos: usize) {
+        if pos > crate::BLCKSZ {
+            panic!(
+                "set_init called past end of buffer, pos {}, buffer size {}",
+                pos,
+                crate::BLCKSZ
+            );
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl ShmemBuf {
+    pub fn as_mut_ptr(&self) -> *mut u8 {
+        self.ptr
+    }
+}
+
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct CRelSizeRequest {
+    pub request_id: u64,
+    pub spc_oid: COid,
+    pub db_oid: COid,
+    pub rel_number: u32,
+    pub fork_number: u8,
+    pub allow_missing: bool,
+}
+
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct CGetPageVRequest {
+    pub request_id: u64,
+    pub spc_oid: COid,
+    pub db_oid: COid,
+    pub rel_number: u32,
+    pub fork_number: u8,
+    pub block_number: u32,
+    pub nblocks: u8,
+
+    // These fields define where the result is written. Must point into a buffer in shared memory!
+    pub dest: [ShmemBuf; MAX_GETPAGEV_PAGES],
+}
+
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct CReadSlruSegmentRequest {
+    pub request_id: u64,
+    pub slru_kind: SlruKind,
+    pub segment_number: u32,
+    pub request_lsn: CLsn,
+    /// Must be a null-terminated C string containing the file path
+    /// where the communicator will write the SLRU segment.
+    pub destination_file_path: ShmemBuf,
+}
+
+impl CReadSlruSegmentRequest {
+    /// Returns the file path where the communicator will write the
+    /// SLRU segment.
+    pub(crate) fn destination_file_path(&self) -> String {
+        unsafe { CStr::from_ptr(self.destination_file_path.as_mut_ptr() as *const _) }
+            .to_string_lossy()
+            .into_owned()
+    }
+}
+
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct CPrefetchVRequest {
+    pub request_id: u64,
+    pub spc_oid: COid,
+    pub db_oid: COid,
+    pub rel_number: u32,
+    pub fork_number: u8,
+    pub block_number: u32,
+    pub nblocks: u8,
+}
+
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct CDbSizeRequest {
+    pub request_id: u64,
+    pub db_oid: COid,
+}
+
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct CWritePageRequest {
+    pub request_id: u64,
+    pub spc_oid: COid,
+    pub db_oid: COid,
+    pub rel_number: u32,
+    pub fork_number: u8,
+    pub block_number: u32,
+    pub lsn: CLsn,
+
+    // `src` defines the new page contents. Must point into a buffer in shared memory!
+    pub src: ShmemBuf,
+}
+
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct CRelExtendRequest {
+    pub request_id: u64,
+    pub spc_oid: COid,
+    pub db_oid: COid,
+    pub rel_number: u32,
+    pub fork_number: u8,
+    pub block_number: u32,
+    pub lsn: CLsn,
+
+    // `src` defines the new page contents. Must point into a buffer in shared memory!
+    pub src: ShmemBuf,
+}
+
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct CRelZeroExtendRequest {
+    pub request_id: u64,
+    pub spc_oid: COid,
+    pub db_oid: COid,
+    pub rel_number: u32,
+    pub fork_number: u8,
+    pub block_number: u32,
+    pub nblocks: u32,
+    pub lsn: CLsn,
+}
+
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct CRelCreateRequest {
+    pub request_id: u64,
+    pub spc_oid: COid,
+    pub db_oid: COid,
+    pub rel_number: u32,
+    pub fork_number: u8,
+    pub lsn: CLsn,
+}
+
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct CRelTruncateRequest {
+    pub request_id: u64,
+    pub spc_oid: COid,
+    pub db_oid: COid,
+    pub rel_number: u32,
+    pub fork_number: u8,
+    pub nblocks: u32,
+    pub lsn: CLsn,
+}
+
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct CRelUnlinkRequest {
+    pub request_id: u64,
+    pub spc_oid: COid,
+    pub db_oid: COid,
+    pub rel_number: u32,
+    pub fork_number: u8,
+    pub lsn: CLsn,
+}
+
+impl CRelSizeRequest {
+    pub fn reltag(&self) -> page_api::RelTag {
+        page_api::RelTag {
+            spcnode: self.spc_oid,
+            dbnode: self.db_oid,
+            relnode: self.rel_number,
+            forknum: self.fork_number,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl CGetPageVRequest {
+    pub fn reltag(&self) -> page_api::RelTag {
+        page_api::RelTag {
+            spcnode: self.spc_oid,
+            dbnode: self.db_oid,
+            relnode: self.rel_number,
+            forknum: self.fork_number,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl CPrefetchVRequest {
+    pub fn reltag(&self) -> page_api::RelTag {
+        page_api::RelTag {
+            spcnode: self.spc_oid,
+            dbnode: self.db_oid,
+            relnode: self.rel_number,
+            forknum: self.fork_number,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl CWritePageRequest {
+    pub fn reltag(&self) -> page_api::RelTag {
+        page_api::RelTag {
+            spcnode: self.spc_oid,
+            dbnode: self.db_oid,
+            relnode: self.rel_number,
+            forknum: self.fork_number,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl CRelExtendRequest {
+    pub fn reltag(&self) -> page_api::RelTag {
+        page_api::RelTag {
+            spcnode: self.spc_oid,
+            dbnode: self.db_oid,
+            relnode: self.rel_number,
+            forknum: self.fork_number,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl CRelZeroExtendRequest {
+    pub fn reltag(&self) -> page_api::RelTag {
+        page_api::RelTag {
+            spcnode: self.spc_oid,
+            dbnode: self.db_oid,
+            relnode: self.rel_number,
+            forknum: self.fork_number,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl CRelCreateRequest {
+    pub fn reltag(&self) -> page_api::RelTag {
+        page_api::RelTag {
+            spcnode: self.spc_oid,
+            dbnode: self.db_oid,
+            relnode: self.rel_number,
+            forknum: self.fork_number,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl CRelTruncateRequest {
+    pub fn reltag(&self) -> page_api::RelTag {
+        page_api::RelTag {
+            spcnode: self.spc_oid,
+            dbnode: self.db_oid,
+            relnode: self.rel_number,
+            forknum: self.fork_number,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl CRelUnlinkRequest {
+    pub fn reltag(&self) -> page_api::RelTag {
+        page_api::RelTag {
+            spcnode: self.spc_oid,
+            dbnode: self.db_oid,
+            relnode: self.rel_number,
+            forknum: self.fork_number,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[repr(C)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct CUpdateCachedRelSizeRequest {
+    pub request_id: u64,
+    pub spc_oid: COid,
+    pub db_oid: COid,
+    pub rel_number: u32,
+    pub fork_number: u8,
+    pub nblocks: u32,
+    pub lsn: CLsn,
+}
+
+impl CUpdateCachedRelSizeRequest {
+    pub fn reltag(&self) -> page_api::RelTag {
+        page_api::RelTag {
+            spcnode: self.spc_oid,
+            dbnode: self.db_oid,
+            relnode: self.rel_number,
+            forknum: self.fork_number,
+        }
+    }
+}
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/worker_process/callbacks.rs
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/worker_process/callbacks.rs
@@ -4,10 +4,13 @@
 //!
 //! These are called from the communicator threads! Careful what you do, most Postgres
 //! functions are not safe to call in that context.
+use utils::lsn::Lsn;

 #[cfg(not(test))]
 unsafe extern "C" {
+    pub fn notify_proc_unsafe(procno: std::ffi::c_int);
    pub fn callback_set_my_latch_unsafe();
+    pub fn callback_get_request_lsn_unsafe() -> crate::neon_request::CLsn;
    pub fn callback_get_lfc_metrics_unsafe() -> LfcMetrics;
 }

@@ -16,20 +19,36 @@ unsafe extern "C" {
 // package, but the code coverage build still builds these and tries to link with the
 // external C code.)
 #[cfg(test)]
+unsafe fn notify_proc_unsafe(_procno: std::ffi::c_int) {
+    panic!("not usable in unit tests");
+}
+#[cfg(test)]
 unsafe fn callback_set_my_latch_unsafe() {
    panic!("not usable in unit tests");
 }
 #[cfg(test)]
+unsafe fn callback_get_request_lsn_unsafe() -> crate::neon_request::CLsn {
+    panic!("not usable in unit tests");
+}
+#[cfg(test)]
 unsafe fn callback_get_lfc_metrics_unsafe() -> LfcMetrics {
    panic!("not usable in unit tests");
 }

 // safe wrappers

+pub(super) fn notify_proc(procno: std::ffi::c_int) {
+    unsafe { notify_proc_unsafe(procno) };
+}
+
 pub(super) fn callback_set_my_latch() {
    unsafe { callback_set_my_latch_unsafe() };
 }

+pub(super) fn get_request_lsn() -> Lsn {
+    Lsn(unsafe { callback_get_request_lsn_unsafe() })
+}
+
 pub(super) fn callback_get_lfc_metrics() -> LfcMetrics {
    unsafe { callback_get_lfc_metrics_unsafe() }
 }
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/worker_process/control_socket.rs
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/worker_process/control_socket.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ use tokio::net::UnixListener;
 use crate::NEON_COMMUNICATOR_SOCKET_NAME;
 use crate::worker_process::main_loop::CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct;

-impl CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct {
+impl<'a> CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct<'a> {
    /// Launch the listener
    pub(crate) async fn launch_control_socket_listener(
        &'static self,
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ impl CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct {
            .route("/metrics", get(get_metrics))
            .route("/autoscaling_metrics", get(get_autoscaling_metrics))
            .route("/debug/panic", get(handle_debug_panic))
+            .route("/debug/dump_cache_map", get(dump_cache_map))
            .with_state(self);

        // If the server is restarted, there might be an old socket still
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ impl CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct {
 }

 /// Expose all Prometheus metrics.
-async fn get_metrics(State(state): State<&CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct>) -> Response {
+async fn get_metrics(State(state): State<&CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct<'_>>) -> Response {
    tracing::trace!("/metrics requested");
    metrics_to_response(&state).await
 }
@@ -77,13 +78,15 @@ async fn get_metrics(State(state): State<&CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct>) -> R
 ///
 /// This is a subset of all the metrics.
 async fn get_autoscaling_metrics(
-    State(state): State<&CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct>,
+    State(state): State<&CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct<'_>>,
 ) -> Response {
    tracing::trace!("/metrics requested");
    metrics_to_response(&state.lfc_metrics).await
 }

-async fn handle_debug_panic(State(_state): State<&CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct>) -> Response {
+async fn handle_debug_panic(
+    State(_state): State<&CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct<'_>>,
+) -> Response {
    panic!("test HTTP handler task panic");
 }

@@ -100,3 +103,16 @@ async fn metrics_to_response(metrics: &(dyn MetricGroup<BufferedTextEncoder> + S
        .body(Body::from(enc.finish()))
        .unwrap()
 }
+
+async fn dump_cache_map(
+    State(state): State<&CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct<'static>>,
+) -> Response {
+    let mut buf: Vec<u8> = Vec::new();
+    state.cache.dump_map(&mut buf);
+
+    Response::builder()
+        .status(StatusCode::OK)
+        .header(CONTENT_TYPE, "application/text")
+        .body(Body::from(buf))
+        .unwrap()
+}
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/worker_process/in_progress_ios.rs
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/worker_process/in_progress_ios.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+//! Lock table to ensure that only one IO request is in flight for a given
+//! block (or relation or database metadata) at a time
+
+use std::cmp::Eq;
+use std::hash::Hash;
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use tokio::sync::{Mutex, OwnedMutexGuard};
+
+use clashmap::ClashMap;
+use clashmap::Entry;
+
+use pageserver_page_api::RelTag;
+
+#[derive(Clone, Eq, Hash, PartialEq)]
+pub enum RequestInProgressKey {
+    Db(u32),
+    Rel(RelTag),
+    Block(RelTag, u32),
+}
+
+type RequestId = u64;
+
+pub type RequestInProgressTable = MutexHashMap<RequestInProgressKey, RequestId>;
+
+// more primitive locking thingie:
+
+pub struct MutexHashMap<K, V>
+where
+    K: Clone + Eq + Hash,
+{
+    lock_table: ClashMap<K, (V, Arc<Mutex<()>>)>,
+}
+
+pub struct MutexHashMapGuard<'a, K, V>
+where
+    K: Clone + Eq + Hash,
+{
+    pub key: K,
+    map: &'a MutexHashMap<K, V>,
+    mutex: Arc<Mutex<()>>,
+    _guard: OwnedMutexGuard<()>,
+}
+
+impl<'a, K, V> Drop for MutexHashMapGuard<'a, K, V>
+where
+    K: Clone + Eq + Hash,
+{
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        let (_old_key, old_val) = self.map.lock_table.remove(&self.key).unwrap();
+        assert!(Arc::ptr_eq(&old_val.1, &self.mutex));
+
+        // the guard will be dropped as we return
+    }
+}
+
+impl<K, V> MutexHashMap<K, V>
+where
+    K: Clone + Eq + Hash,
+    V: std::fmt::Display + Copy,
+{
+    pub fn new() -> MutexHashMap<K, V> {
+        MutexHashMap {
+            lock_table: ClashMap::new(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub async fn lock<'a>(&'a self, key: K, val: V) -> MutexHashMapGuard<'a, K, V> {
+        let my_mutex = Arc::new(Mutex::new(()));
+        let my_guard = Arc::clone(&my_mutex).lock_owned().await;
+
+        loop {
+            let (request_id, lock) = match self.lock_table.entry(key.clone()) {
+                Entry::Occupied(e) => {
+                    let e = e.get();
+                    (e.0, Arc::clone(&e.1))
+                }
+                Entry::Vacant(e) => {
+                    e.insert((val, Arc::clone(&my_mutex)));
+                    break;
+                }
+            };
+            tracing::info!("waiting for conflicting IO {request_id} to complete");
+            let _ = lock.lock().await;
+            tracing::info!("conflicting IO {request_id} completed");
+        }
+
+        MutexHashMapGuard {
+            key,
+            map: self,
+            mutex: my_mutex,
+            _guard: my_guard,
+        }
+    }
+}
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/worker_process/main_loop.rs
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/worker_process/main_loop.rs
@@ -1,34 +1,111 @@
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::os::fd::AsRawFd;
+use std::os::fd::OwnedFd;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::str::FromStr as _;

+use crate::backend_comms::NeonIORequestSlot;
+use crate::file_cache::FileCache;
+use crate::global_allocator::MyAllocatorCollector;
+use crate::init::CommunicatorInitStruct;
+use crate::integrated_cache::{CacheResult, IntegratedCacheWriteAccess};
+use crate::neon_request::{CGetPageVRequest, CPrefetchVRequest};
+use crate::neon_request::{INVALID_BLOCK_NUMBER, NeonIORequest, NeonIOResult};
+use crate::worker_process::in_progress_ios::{RequestInProgressKey, RequestInProgressTable};
 use crate::worker_process::lfc_metrics::LfcMetricsCollector;
+use pageserver_client_grpc::{PageserverClient, ShardSpec, ShardStripeSize};
+use pageserver_page_api as page_api;
+
+use tokio::io::AsyncReadExt;
+use tokio_pipe::PipeRead;
+use uring_common::buf::IoBuf;

 use measured::MetricGroup;
 use measured::metric::MetricEncoding;
 use measured::metric::gauge::GaugeState;
 use measured::metric::group::Encoding;
+use measured::{Gauge, GaugeVec};
 use utils::id::{TenantId, TimelineId};

-pub struct CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct {
+use super::callbacks::{get_request_lsn, notify_proc};
+
+use tracing::{debug, error, info, info_span, trace};
+
+use utils::lsn::Lsn;
+
+pub struct CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct<'a> {
+    /// Tokio runtime that the main loop and any other related tasks runs in.
    runtime: tokio::runtime::Runtime,

+    /// Client to communicate with the pageserver
+    client: Option<PageserverClient>,
+
+    /// Request slots that backends use to send IO requests to the communicator.
+    neon_request_slots: &'a [NeonIORequestSlot],
+
+    /// Notification pipe. Backends use this to notify the communicator that a request is waiting to
+    /// be processed in one of the request slots.
+    submission_pipe_read_fd: OwnedFd,
+
+    /// Locking table for all in-progress IO requests.
+    in_progress_table: RequestInProgressTable,
+
+    /// Local File Cache, relation size tracking, last-written LSN tracking
+    pub(crate) cache: IntegratedCacheWriteAccess<'a>,
+
    /*** Metrics ***/
    pub(crate) lfc_metrics: LfcMetricsCollector,
+
+    request_counters: GaugeVec<RequestTypeLabelGroupSet>,
+
+    getpage_cache_misses_counter: Gauge,
+    getpage_cache_hits_counter: Gauge,
+
+    // For the requests that affect multiple blocks, have separate counters for the # of blocks affected
+    request_nblocks_counters: GaugeVec<RequestTypeLabelGroupSet>,
+
+    #[allow(dead_code)]
+    allocator_metrics: MyAllocatorCollector,
+}
+
+// Define a label group, consisting of 1 or more label values
+#[derive(measured::LabelGroup)]
+#[label(set = RequestTypeLabelGroupSet)]
+struct RequestTypeLabelGroup {
+    request_type: crate::neon_request::NeonIORequestDiscriminants,
+}
+
+impl RequestTypeLabelGroup {
+    fn from_req(req: &NeonIORequest) -> Self {
+        RequestTypeLabelGroup {
+            request_type: req.into(),
+        }
+    }
 }

 /// Launch the communicator process's Rust subsystems
+#[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 pub(super) fn init(
+    cis: CommunicatorInitStruct,
    tenant_id: Option<&str>,
    timeline_id: Option<&str>,
-) -> Result<&'static CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct, String> {
+    auth_token: Option<&str>,
+    shard_map: HashMap<utils::shard::ShardIndex, String>,
+    stripe_size: Option<ShardStripeSize>,
+    initial_file_cache_size: u64,
+    file_cache_path: Option<PathBuf>,
+) -> Result<&'static CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct<'static>, String> {
    // The caller validated these already
-    let _tenant_id = tenant_id
+    let tenant_id = tenant_id
        .map(TenantId::from_str)
        .transpose()
        .map_err(|e| format!("invalid tenant ID: {e}"))?;
-    let _timeline_id = timeline_id
+    let timeline_id = timeline_id
        .map(TimelineId::from_str)
        .transpose()
        .map_err(|e| format!("invalid timeline ID: {e}"))?;
+    let shard_spec =
+        ShardSpec::new(shard_map, stripe_size).map_err(|e| format!("invalid shard spec: {e}:"))?;

    let runtime = tokio::runtime::Builder::new_multi_thread()
        .enable_all()
@@ -36,16 +113,72 @@ pub(super) fn init(
        .build()
        .unwrap();

+    let last_lsn = get_request_lsn();
+
+    let file_cache = if let Some(path) = file_cache_path {
+        Some(FileCache::new(&path, initial_file_cache_size).expect("could not create cache file"))
+    } else {
+        // FIXME: temporarily for testing, use LFC even if disabled
+        Some(
+            FileCache::new(&PathBuf::from("new_filecache"), 1000)
+                .expect("could not create cache file"),
+        )
+    };
+
+    // Initialize subsystems
+    let cache = cis
+        .integrated_cache_init_struct
+        .worker_process_init(last_lsn, file_cache);
+
+    debug!("Initialised integrated cache: {cache:?}");
+
+    let client = if let (Some(tenant_id), Some(timeline_id)) = (tenant_id, timeline_id) {
+        let _guard = runtime.enter();
+        Some(
+            PageserverClient::new(
+                tenant_id,
+                timeline_id,
+                shard_spec,
+                auth_token.map(|s| s.to_string()),
+                None,
+            )
+            .expect("could not create client"),
+        )
+    } else {
+        None
+    };
+
    let worker_struct = CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct {
        // Note: it's important to not drop the runtime, or all the tasks are dropped
        // too. Including it in the returned struct is one way to keep it around.
        runtime,
+        neon_request_slots: cis.neon_request_slots,
+        client,
+        cache,
+        submission_pipe_read_fd: cis.submission_pipe_read_fd,
+        in_progress_table: RequestInProgressTable::new(),

        // metrics
        lfc_metrics: LfcMetricsCollector,
+
+        request_counters: GaugeVec::new(),
+
+        getpage_cache_misses_counter: Gauge::new(),
+        getpage_cache_hits_counter: Gauge::new(),
+
+        request_nblocks_counters: GaugeVec::new(),
+
+        allocator_metrics: MyAllocatorCollector::new(),
    };
+
    let worker_struct = Box::leak(Box::new(worker_struct));

+    let main_loop_handle = worker_struct.runtime.spawn(worker_struct.run());
+    worker_struct.runtime.spawn(async {
+        let err = main_loop_handle.await.unwrap_err();
+        error!("error: {err:?}");
+    });
+
    // Start the listener on the control socket
    worker_struct
        .runtime
@@ -55,12 +188,577 @@ pub(super) fn init(
    Ok(worker_struct)
 }

-impl<T> MetricGroup<T> for CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct
+impl<'t> CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct<'t> {
+    /// Update the configuration
+    pub(super) fn update_shard_map(
+        &self,
+        new_shard_map: HashMap<utils::shard::ShardIndex, String>,
+        stripe_size: Option<ShardStripeSize>,
+    ) {
+        let client = self.client.as_ref().unwrap();
+        let shard_spec = ShardSpec::new(new_shard_map, stripe_size).expect("invalid shard spec");
+
+        {
+            let _in_runtime = self.runtime.enter();
+            if let Err(err) = client.update_shards(shard_spec) {
+                tracing::error!("could not update shard map: {err:?}");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Main loop of the worker process. Receive requests from the backends and process them.
+    pub(super) async fn run(&'static self) {
+        let mut idxbuf: [u8; 4] = [0; 4];
+
+        let mut submission_pipe_read =
+            PipeRead::try_from(self.submission_pipe_read_fd.as_raw_fd()).expect("invalid pipe fd");
+
+        loop {
+            // Wait for a backend to ring the doorbell
+            match submission_pipe_read.read(&mut idxbuf).await {
+                Ok(4) => {}
+                Ok(nbytes) => panic!("short read ({nbytes} bytes) on communicator pipe"),
+                Err(e) => panic!("error reading from communicator pipe: {e}"),
+            }
+            let slot_idx = u32::from_ne_bytes(idxbuf) as usize;
+
+            // Read the IO request from the slot indicated in the wakeup
+            let Some(slot) = self.neon_request_slots[slot_idx].start_processing_request() else {
+                // This currently should not happen. But if we had multiple threads picking up
+                // requests, and without waiting for the notifications, it could.
+                panic!("no request in slot");
+            };
+
+            // Ok, we have ownership of this request now. We must process it now, there's no going
+            // back.
+            //
+            // Spawn a separate task for every request. That's a little excessive for requests that
+            // can be quickly satisfied from the cache, but we expect that to be rare, because the
+            // requesting backend would have already checked the cache.
+            tokio::spawn(async move {
+                use tracing::Instrument;
+
+                let request_id = slot.get_request().request_id();
+                let owner_procno = slot.get_owner_procno();
+
+                let span = info_span!(
+                    "processing",
+                    request_id = request_id,
+                    slot_idx = slot_idx,
+                    procno = owner_procno,
+                );
+                async {
+                    // FIXME: as a temporary hack, abort the request if we don't get a response
+                    // promptly.
+                    //
+                    // Lots of regression tests are getting stuck and failing at the moment,
+                    // this makes them fail a little faster, which it faster to iterate.
+                    // This needs to be removed once more regression tests are passing.
+                    // See also similar hack in the backend code, in wait_request_completion()
+                    let result = tokio::time::timeout(
+                        tokio::time::Duration::from_secs(30),
+                        self.handle_request(slot.get_request()),
+                    )
+                    .await
+                    .unwrap_or_else(|_elapsed| {
+                        info!("request {request_id} timed out");
+                        NeonIOResult::Error(libc::ETIMEDOUT)
+                    });
+                    trace!("request {request_id} at slot {slot_idx} completed");
+
+                    // Ok, we have completed the IO. Mark the request as completed. After that,
+                    // we no longer have ownership of the slot, and must not modify it.
+                    slot.completed(result);
+
+                    // Notify the backend about the completion. (Note that the backend might see
+                    // the completed status even before this; this is just a wakeup)
+                    notify_proc(owner_procno);
+                }
+                .instrument(span)
+                .await
+            });
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Compute the 'request_lsn' to use for a pageserver request
+    fn request_lsns(&self, not_modified_since_lsn: Lsn) -> page_api::ReadLsn {
+        let mut request_lsn = get_request_lsn();
+
+        // Is it possible that the last-written LSN is ahead of last flush LSN? Generally not, we
+        // shouldn't evict a page from the buffer cache before all its modifications have been
+        // safely flushed. That's the "WAL before data" rule. However, there are a few exceptions:
+        //
+        // - when creation an index: _bt_blwritepage logs the full page without flushing WAL before
+        // smgrextend (files are fsynced before build ends).
+        //
+        // XXX: If we make a request LSN greater than the current WAL flush LSN, the pageserver would
+        // block waiting for the WAL arrive, until we flush it and it propagates through the
+        // safekeepers to the pageserver. If there's nothing that forces the WAL to be flushed,
+        // the pageserver would get stuck waiting forever. To avoid that, all the write-
+        // functions in communicator_new.c call XLogSetAsyncXactLSN(). That nudges the WAL writer to
+        // perform the flush relatively soon.
+        //
+        // It would perhaps be nicer to do the WAL flush here, but it's tricky to call back into
+        // Postgres code to do that from here. That's why we rely on communicator_new.c to do the
+        // calls "pre-emptively".
+        //
+        // FIXME: Because of the above, it can still happen that the flush LSN is ahead of
+        // not_modified_since, if the WAL writer hasn't done the flush yet. It would be nice to know
+        // if there are other cases like that that we have mised, but unfortunately we cannot turn
+        // this into an assertion because of that legit case.
+        //
+        // See also the old logic in neon_get_request_lsns() C function
+        if not_modified_since_lsn > request_lsn {
+            tracing::info!(
+                "not_modified_since_lsn {} is ahead of last flushed LSN {}",
+                not_modified_since_lsn,
+                request_lsn
+            );
+            request_lsn = not_modified_since_lsn;
+        }
+
+        page_api::ReadLsn {
+            request_lsn,
+            not_modified_since_lsn: Some(not_modified_since_lsn),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Handle one IO request
+    async fn handle_request(&'static self, request: &'_ NeonIORequest) -> NeonIOResult {
+        let client = self
+            .client
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("cannot handle requests without client");
+
+        self.request_counters
+            .inc(RequestTypeLabelGroup::from_req(request));
+        match request {
+            NeonIORequest::Empty => {
+                error!("unexpected Empty IO request");
+                NeonIOResult::Error(0)
+            }
+            NeonIORequest::RelSize(req) => {
+                let rel = req.reltag();
+
+                let _in_progress_guard = self
+                    .in_progress_table
+                    .lock(RequestInProgressKey::Rel(rel), req.request_id)
+                    .await;
+
+                // Check the cache first
+                let not_modified_since = match self.cache.get_rel_size(&rel) {
+                    CacheResult::Found(nblocks) => {
+                        tracing::trace!("found relsize for {:?} in cache: {}", rel, nblocks);
+                        return NeonIOResult::RelSize(nblocks);
+                    }
+                    // XXX: we don't cache negative entries, so if there's no entry in the cache, it could mean
+                    // that the relation doesn't exist or that we don't have it cached.
+                    CacheResult::NotFound(lsn) => lsn,
+                };
+
+                let read_lsn = self.request_lsns(not_modified_since);
+                match client
+                    .get_rel_size(page_api::GetRelSizeRequest {
+                        read_lsn,
+                        rel,
+                        allow_missing: req.allow_missing,
+                    })
+                    .await
+                {
+                    Ok(Some(nblocks)) => {
+                        // update the cache
+                        tracing::info!(
+                            "updated relsize for {:?} in cache: {}, lsn {}",
+                            rel,
+                            nblocks,
+                            read_lsn
+                        );
+                        self.cache
+                            .remember_rel_size(&rel, nblocks, not_modified_since);
+
+                        NeonIOResult::RelSize(nblocks)
+                    }
+                    Ok(None) => {
+                        // TODO: cache negative entry?
+                        NeonIOResult::RelSize(INVALID_BLOCK_NUMBER)
+                    }
+                    Err(err) => {
+                        info!("tonic error: {err:?}");
+                        NeonIOResult::Error(0)
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            NeonIORequest::GetPageV(req) => match self.handle_get_pagev_request(req).await {
+                Ok(()) => NeonIOResult::GetPageV,
+                Err(errno) => NeonIOResult::Error(errno),
+            },
+            NeonIORequest::ReadSlruSegment(req) => {
+                let lsn = Lsn(req.request_lsn);
+                let file_path = req.destination_file_path();
+
+                match client
+                    .get_slru_segment(page_api::GetSlruSegmentRequest {
+                        read_lsn: self.request_lsns(lsn),
+                        kind: req.slru_kind,
+                        segno: req.segment_number,
+                    })
+                    .await
+                {
+                    Ok(slru_bytes) => {
+                        if let Err(e) = tokio::fs::write(&file_path, &slru_bytes).await {
+                            info!("could not write slru segment to file {file_path}: {e}");
+                            return NeonIOResult::Error(e.raw_os_error().unwrap_or(libc::EIO));
+                        }
+
+                        let blocks_count = slru_bytes.len() / crate::BLCKSZ;
+
+                        NeonIOResult::ReadSlruSegment(blocks_count as _)
+                    }
+                    Err(err) => {
+                        info!("tonic error: {err:?}");
+                        NeonIOResult::Error(0)
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            NeonIORequest::PrefetchV(req) => {
+                self.request_nblocks_counters
+                    .inc_by(RequestTypeLabelGroup::from_req(request), req.nblocks as i64);
+                let req = *req;
+                tokio::spawn(async move { self.handle_prefetchv_request(&req).await });
+                NeonIOResult::PrefetchVLaunched
+            }
+            NeonIORequest::DbSize(req) => {
+                let _in_progress_guard = self
+                    .in_progress_table
+                    .lock(RequestInProgressKey::Db(req.db_oid), req.request_id)
+                    .await;
+
+                // Check the cache first
+                let not_modified_since = match self.cache.get_db_size(req.db_oid) {
+                    CacheResult::Found(db_size) => {
+                        // get_page already copied the block content to the destination
+                        return NeonIOResult::DbSize(db_size);
+                    }
+                    CacheResult::NotFound(lsn) => lsn,
+                };
+
+                match client
+                    .get_db_size(page_api::GetDbSizeRequest {
+                        read_lsn: self.request_lsns(not_modified_since),
+                        db_oid: req.db_oid,
+                    })
+                    .await
+                {
+                    Ok(db_size) => NeonIOResult::DbSize(db_size),
+                    Err(err) => {
+                        info!("tonic error: {err:?}");
+                        NeonIOResult::Error(0)
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            // Write requests
+            NeonIORequest::WritePage(req) => {
+                let rel = req.reltag();
+                let _in_progress_guard = self
+                    .in_progress_table
+                    .lock(
+                        RequestInProgressKey::Block(rel, req.block_number),
+                        req.request_id,
+                    )
+                    .await;
+
+                // We must at least update the last-written LSN on the page, but also store the page
+                // image in the LFC while we still have it
+                self.cache
+                    .remember_page(&rel, req.block_number, req.src, Lsn(req.lsn), true)
+                    .await;
+                NeonIOResult::WriteOK
+            }
+            NeonIORequest::RelExtend(req) => {
+                let rel = req.reltag();
+                let _in_progress_guard = self
+                    .in_progress_table
+                    .lock(
+                        RequestInProgressKey::Block(rel, req.block_number),
+                        req.request_id,
+                    )
+                    .await;
+
+                // We must at least update the last-written LSN on the page and the relation size,
+                // but also store the page image in the LFC while we still have it
+                self.cache
+                    .remember_page(&rel, req.block_number, req.src, Lsn(req.lsn), true)
+                    .await;
+                self.cache
+                    .remember_rel_size(&req.reltag(), req.block_number + 1, Lsn(req.lsn));
+                NeonIOResult::WriteOK
+            }
+            NeonIORequest::RelZeroExtend(req) => {
+                self.request_nblocks_counters
+                    .inc_by(RequestTypeLabelGroup::from_req(request), req.nblocks as i64);
+
+                // TODO: need to grab an io-in-progress lock for this? I guess not
+                // TODO: We could put the empty pages to the cache. Maybe have
+                // a marker on the block entries for all-zero pages, instead of
+                // actually storing the empty pages.
+                self.cache.remember_rel_size(
+                    &req.reltag(),
+                    req.block_number + req.nblocks,
+                    Lsn(req.lsn),
+                );
+                NeonIOResult::WriteOK
+            }
+            NeonIORequest::RelCreate(req) => {
+                // TODO: need to grab an io-in-progress lock for this? I guess not
+                self.cache.remember_rel_size(&req.reltag(), 0, Lsn(req.lsn));
+                NeonIOResult::WriteOK
+            }
+            NeonIORequest::RelTruncate(req) => {
+                // TODO: need to grab an io-in-progress lock for this? I guess not
+                self.cache
+                    .remember_rel_size(&req.reltag(), req.nblocks, Lsn(req.lsn));
+                NeonIOResult::WriteOK
+            }
+            NeonIORequest::RelUnlink(req) => {
+                // TODO: need to grab an io-in-progress lock for this? I guess not
+                self.cache.forget_rel(&req.reltag(), None, Lsn(req.lsn));
+                NeonIOResult::WriteOK
+            }
+            NeonIORequest::UpdateCachedRelSize(req) => {
+                // TODO: need to grab an io-in-progress lock for this? I guess not
+                self.cache
+                    .remember_rel_size(&req.reltag(), req.nblocks, Lsn(req.lsn));
+                NeonIOResult::WriteOK
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Subroutine to handle a GetPageV request, since it's a little more complicated than
+    /// others.
+    async fn handle_get_pagev_request(&'t self, req: &CGetPageVRequest) -> Result<(), i32> {
+        let client = self
+            .client
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("cannot handle requests without client");
+        let rel = req.reltag();
+
+        // Check the cache first
+        //
+        // Note: Because the backends perform a direct lookup in the cache before sending
+        // the request to the communicator process, we expect the pages to almost never
+        // be already in cache. It could happen if:
+        // 1. two backends try to read the same page at the same time, but that should never
+        //    happen because there's higher level locking in the Postgres buffer manager, or
+        // 2. a prefetch request finished at the same time as a backend requested the
+        //    page. That's much more likely.
+        let mut cache_misses = Vec::with_capacity(req.nblocks as usize);
+        for i in 0..req.nblocks {
+            let blkno = req.block_number + i as u32;
+
+            // note: this is deadlock-safe even though we hold multiple locks at the same time,
+            // because they're always acquired in the same order.
+            let in_progress_guard = self
+                .in_progress_table
+                .lock(RequestInProgressKey::Block(rel, blkno), req.request_id)
+                .await;
+
+            let dest = req.dest[i as usize];
+            let not_modified_since = match self.cache.get_page(&rel, blkno, dest).await {
+                Ok(CacheResult::Found(_)) => {
+                    // get_page already copied the block content to the destination
+                    trace!("found blk {} in rel {:?} in LFC", blkno, rel);
+                    continue;
+                }
+                Ok(CacheResult::NotFound(lsn)) => lsn,
+                Err(_io_error) => return Err(-1), // FIXME errno?
+            };
+            cache_misses.push((blkno, not_modified_since, dest, in_progress_guard));
+        }
+        self.getpage_cache_misses_counter
+            .inc_by(cache_misses.len() as i64);
+        self.getpage_cache_hits_counter
+            .inc_by(req.nblocks as i64 - cache_misses.len() as i64);
+
+        if cache_misses.is_empty() {
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+        let not_modified_since = cache_misses
+            .iter()
+            .map(|(_blkno, lsn, _dest, _guard)| *lsn)
+            .max()
+            .unwrap();
+
+        // Construct a pageserver request for the cache misses
+        let block_numbers: Vec<u32> = cache_misses
+            .iter()
+            .map(|(blkno, _lsn, _dest, _guard)| *blkno)
+            .collect();
+        let read_lsn = self.request_lsns(not_modified_since);
+        info!(
+            "sending getpage request for blocks {:?} in rel {:?} lsns {}",
+            block_numbers, rel, read_lsn
+        );
+        match client
+            .get_page(page_api::GetPageRequest {
+                request_id: req.request_id.into(),
+                request_class: page_api::GetPageClass::Normal,
+                read_lsn,
+                rel,
+                block_numbers: block_numbers.clone(),
+            })
+            .await
+        {
+            Ok(resp) => {
+                // Write the received page images directly to the shared memory location
+                // that the backend requested.
+                if resp.pages.len() != block_numbers.len() {
+                    error!(
+                        "received unexpected response with {} page images from pageserver for a request for {} pages",
+                        resp.pages.len(),
+                        block_numbers.len(),
+                    );
+                    return Err(-1);
+                }
+
+                info!(
+                    "received getpage response for blocks {:?} in rel {:?} lsns {}",
+                    block_numbers, rel, read_lsn
+                );
+
+                for (page, (blkno, _lsn, dest, _guard)) in resp.pages.into_iter().zip(cache_misses)
+                {
+                    let src: &[u8] = page.image.as_ref();
+                    let len = std::cmp::min(src.len(), dest.bytes_total());
+                    unsafe {
+                        std::ptr::copy_nonoverlapping(src.as_ptr(), dest.as_mut_ptr(), len);
+                    };
+
+                    // Also store it in the LFC while we have it
+                    self.cache
+                        .remember_page(
+                            &rel,
+                            blkno,
+                            page.image,
+                            read_lsn.not_modified_since_lsn.unwrap(),
+                            false,
+                        )
+                        .await;
+                }
+            }
+            Err(err) => {
+                info!("tonic error: {err:?}");
+                return Err(-1);
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Subroutine to handle a PrefetchV request, since it's a little more complicated than
+    /// others.
+    ///
+    /// This is very similar to a GetPageV request, but the results are only stored in the cache.
+    async fn handle_prefetchv_request(&'static self, req: &CPrefetchVRequest) -> Result<(), i32> {
+        let client = self
+            .client
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("cannot handle requests without client");
+        let rel = req.reltag();
+
+        // Check the cache first
+        let mut cache_misses = Vec::with_capacity(req.nblocks as usize);
+        for i in 0..req.nblocks {
+            let blkno = req.block_number + i as u32;
+
+            // note: this is deadlock-safe even though we hold multiple locks at the same time,
+            // because they're always acquired in the same order.
+            let in_progress_guard = self
+                .in_progress_table
+                .lock(RequestInProgressKey::Block(rel, blkno), req.request_id)
+                .await;
+
+            let not_modified_since = match self.cache.page_is_cached(&rel, blkno).await {
+                Ok(CacheResult::Found(_)) => {
+                    trace!("found blk {} in rel {:?} in LFC", blkno, rel);
+                    continue;
+                }
+                Ok(CacheResult::NotFound(lsn)) => lsn,
+                Err(_io_error) => return Err(-1), // FIXME errno?
+            };
+            cache_misses.push((blkno, not_modified_since, in_progress_guard));
+        }
+        if cache_misses.is_empty() {
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+        let not_modified_since = cache_misses
+            .iter()
+            .map(|(_blkno, lsn, _guard)| *lsn)
+            .max()
+            .unwrap();
+        let block_numbers: Vec<u32> = cache_misses
+            .iter()
+            .map(|(blkno, _lsn, _guard)| *blkno)
+            .collect();
+
+        // TODO: spawn separate tasks for these. Use the integrated cache to keep track of the
+        // in-flight requests
+
+        match client
+            .get_page(page_api::GetPageRequest {
+                request_id: req.request_id.into(),
+                request_class: page_api::GetPageClass::Prefetch,
+                read_lsn: self.request_lsns(not_modified_since),
+                rel,
+                block_numbers: block_numbers.clone(),
+            })
+            .await
+        {
+            Ok(resp) => {
+                trace!(
+                    "prefetch completed, remembering blocks {:?} in rel {:?} in LFC",
+                    block_numbers, rel
+                );
+                if resp.pages.len() != block_numbers.len() {
+                    error!(
+                        "received unexpected response with {} page images from pageserver for a request for {} pages",
+                        resp.pages.len(),
+                        block_numbers.len(),
+                    );
+                    return Err(-1);
+                }
+
+                for (page, (blkno, _lsn, _guard)) in resp.pages.into_iter().zip(cache_misses) {
+                    self.cache
+                        .remember_page(&rel, blkno, page.image, not_modified_since, false)
+                        .await;
+                }
+            }
+            Err(err) => {
+                info!("tonic error: {err:?}");
+                return Err(-1);
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+impl<T> MetricGroup<T> for CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct<'_>
 where
    T: Encoding,
    GaugeState: MetricEncoding<T>,
 {
    fn collect_group_into(&self, enc: &mut T) -> Result<(), T::Err> {
-        self.lfc_metrics.collect_group_into(enc)
+        use measured::metric::MetricFamilyEncoding;
+        use measured::metric::name::MetricName;
+
+        self.lfc_metrics.collect_group_into(enc)?;
+        self.request_counters
+            .collect_family_into(MetricName::from_str("request_counters"), enc)?;
+        self.request_nblocks_counters
+            .collect_family_into(MetricName::from_str("request_nblocks_counters"), enc)?;
+
+        // FIXME: allocator metrics
+
+        Ok(())
    }
 }
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/worker_process/metrics_exporter.rs
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/worker_process/metrics_exporter.rs
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/worker_process/mod.rs
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/worker_process/mod.rs
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
 //! - launch the main loop,
 //! - receive IO requests from backends and process them,
 //! - write results back to backends.
-
 mod callbacks;
 mod control_socket;
+mod in_progress_ios;
 mod lfc_metrics;
 mod logging;
 mod main_loop;
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/worker_process/worker_interface.rs
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/src/worker_process/worker_interface.rs
@@ -1,14 +1,21 @@
 //! Functions called from the C code in the worker process

+use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::ffi::{CStr, CString, c_char};
+use std::path::PathBuf;

+use crate::init::CommunicatorInitStruct;
 use crate::worker_process::main_loop;
 use crate::worker_process::main_loop::CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct;

+use pageserver_client_grpc::ShardStripeSize;
+
 /// Launch the communicator's tokio tasks, which do most of the work.
 ///
 /// The caller has initialized the process as a regular PostgreSQL background worker
-/// process.
+/// process. The shared memory segment used to communicate with the backends has been
+/// allocated and initialized earlier, at postmaster startup, in
+/// rcommunicator_shmem_init().
 ///
 /// Inputs:
 ///   `tenant_id` and `timeline_id` can be NULL, if we're been launched in "non-Neon" mode,
@@ -23,11 +30,19 @@ use crate::worker_process::main_loop::CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct;
 /// This is called only once in the process, so the returned struct, and error message in
 /// case of failure, are simply leaked.
 #[unsafe(no_mangle)]
-pub extern "C" fn communicator_worker_launch(
+pub extern "C" fn communicator_worker_process_launch(
+    cis: Box<CommunicatorInitStruct>,
    tenant_id: *const c_char,
    timeline_id: *const c_char,
+    auth_token: *const c_char,
+    shard_map: *mut *mut c_char,
+    nshards: u32,
+    stripe_size: u32,
+    file_cache_path: *const c_char,
+    initial_file_cache_size: u64,
    error_p: *mut *const c_char,
-) -> Option<&'static CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct> {
+) -> Option<&'static CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct<'static>> {
+    tracing::warn!("starting threads in rust code");
    // Convert the arguments into more convenient Rust types
    let tenant_id = if tenant_id.is_null() {
        None
@@ -41,9 +56,41 @@ pub extern "C" fn communicator_worker_launch(
        let cstr = unsafe { CStr::from_ptr(timeline_id) };
        Some(cstr.to_str().expect("assume UTF-8"))
    };
+    let auth_token = if auth_token.is_null() {
+        None
+    } else {
+        let cstr = unsafe { CStr::from_ptr(auth_token) };
+        Some(cstr.to_str().expect("assume UTF-8"))
+    };
+    let file_cache_path = {
+        if file_cache_path.is_null() {
+            None
+        } else {
+            let c_str = unsafe { CStr::from_ptr(file_cache_path) };
+            Some(PathBuf::from(c_str.to_str().unwrap()))
+        }
+    };
+    let shard_map = shard_map_to_hash(nshards, shard_map);
+    // FIXME: distinguish between unsharded, and sharded with 1 shard
+    // Also, we might go from unsharded to sharded while the system
+    // is running.
+    let stripe_size = if stripe_size > 0 && nshards > 1 {
+        Some(ShardStripeSize(stripe_size))
+    } else {
+        None
+    };

    // The `init` function does all the work.
-    let result = main_loop::init(tenant_id, timeline_id);
+    let result = main_loop::init(
+        *cis,
+        tenant_id,
+        timeline_id,
+        auth_token,
+        shard_map,
+        stripe_size,
+        initial_file_cache_size,
+        file_cache_path,
+    );

    // On failure, return the error message to the C caller in *error_p.
    match result {
@@ -58,3 +105,47 @@ pub extern "C" fn communicator_worker_launch(
        }
    }
 }
+
+/// Convert the "shard map" from an array of C strings, indexed by shard no to a rust HashMap
+fn shard_map_to_hash(
+    nshards: u32,
+    shard_map: *mut *mut c_char,
+) -> HashMap<utils::shard::ShardIndex, String> {
+    use utils::shard::*;
+
+    assert!(nshards <= u8::MAX as u32);
+
+    let mut result: HashMap<ShardIndex, String> = HashMap::new();
+    let mut p = shard_map;
+
+    for i in 0..nshards {
+        let c_str = unsafe { CStr::from_ptr(*p) };
+
+        p = unsafe { p.add(1) };
+
+        let s = c_str.to_str().unwrap();
+        let k = if nshards > 1 {
+            ShardIndex::new(ShardNumber(i as u8), ShardCount(nshards as u8))
+        } else {
+            ShardIndex::unsharded()
+        };
+        result.insert(k, s.into());
+    }
+    result
+}
+
+/// Inform the rust code about a configuration change
+#[unsafe(no_mangle)]
+pub extern "C" fn communicator_worker_config_reload(
+    proc_handle: &'static CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct<'static>,
+    file_cache_size: u64,
+    shard_map: *mut *mut c_char,
+    nshards: u32,
+    stripe_size: u32,
+) {
+    proc_handle.cache.resize_file_cache(file_cache_size as u32);
+
+    let shard_map = shard_map_to_hash(nshards, shard_map);
+    let stripe_size = (nshards > 1).then_some(ShardStripeSize(stripe_size));
+    proc_handle.update_shard_map(shard_map, stripe_size);
+}
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator_new.c
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator_new.c
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator_new.h
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator_new.h
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ *
+ * communicator_new.h
+ *	  new implementation
+ *
+ *
+ * Portions Copyright (c) 1996-2021, PostgreSQL Global Development Group
+ * Portions Copyright (c) 1994, Regents of the University of California
+ *
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+#ifndef COMMUNICATOR_NEW_H
+#define COMMUNICATOR_NEW_H
+
+#include "storage/buf_internals.h"
+
+#include "lfc_prewarm.h"
+#include "neon.h"
+#include "neon_pgversioncompat.h"
+#include "pagestore_client.h"
+
+/* initialization at postmaster startup */
+extern void CommunicatorNewShmemRequest(void);
+extern void CommunicatorNewShmemInit(void);
+
+/* initialization at backend startup */
+extern void communicator_new_init(void);
+
+/* Read requests */
+extern bool communicator_new_rel_exists(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum);
+extern BlockNumber communicator_new_rel_nblocks(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forknum);
+extern int64 communicator_new_dbsize(Oid dbNode);
+extern void communicator_new_read_at_lsnv(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum,
+										  BlockNumber base_blockno,
+										  void **buffers, BlockNumber nblocks);
+extern void communicator_new_prefetch_register_bufferv(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum,
+													   BlockNumber blockno,
+													   BlockNumber nblocks);
+extern bool communicator_new_cache_contains(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum,
+											BlockNumber blockno);
+extern int communicator_new_read_slru_segment(
+	SlruKind kind,
+	uint32_t segno,
+	neon_request_lsns *request_lsns,
+	const char *path
+);
+
+/* Write requests, to keep the caches up-to-date */
+extern void communicator_new_write_page(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blockno,
+										const void *buffer, XLogRecPtr lsn);
+extern void communicator_new_rel_extend(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blockno,
+										const void *buffer, XLogRecPtr lsn);
+extern void communicator_new_rel_zeroextend(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum,
+											BlockNumber blockno, BlockNumber nblocks,
+											XLogRecPtr lsn);
+extern void communicator_new_rel_create(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, XLogRecPtr lsn);
+extern void communicator_new_rel_truncate(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber nblocks, XLogRecPtr lsn);
+extern void communicator_new_rel_unlink(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, XLogRecPtr lsn);
+extern void communicator_new_update_cached_rel_size(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber nblocks, XLogRecPtr lsn);
+
+/* other functions */
+extern int32 communicator_new_approximate_working_set_size_seconds(time_t duration, bool reset);
+extern FileCacheState *communicator_new_get_lfc_state(size_t max_entries);
+extern LfcStatsEntry *communicator_new_get_lfc_stats(void);
+
+#endif							/* COMMUNICATOR_NEW_H */
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator_process.c
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator_process.c
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@
 #include <unistd.h>

 #include "miscadmin.h"
+#if PG_VERSION_NUM >= 150000
+#include "access/xlogrecovery.h"
+#endif
 #include "postmaster/bgworker.h"
 #include "postmaster/interrupt.h"
 #include "postmaster/postmaster.h"
@@ -33,10 +36,13 @@
 #include "file_cache.h"
 #include "neon.h"
 #include "neon_perf_counters.h"
+#include "pagestore_client.h"

 /* the rust bindings, generated by cbindgen */
 #include "communicator/communicator_bindings.h"

+struct CommunicatorInitStruct *cis;
+
 static void pump_logging(struct LoggingReceiver *logging);
 PGDLLEXPORT void communicator_new_bgworker_main(Datum main_arg);

@@ -70,6 +76,9 @@ pg_init_communicator_process(void)
 void
 communicator_new_bgworker_main(Datum main_arg)
 {
+	char	  **connstrings;
+	ShardMap	shard_map;
+	uint64		file_cache_size;
 	struct LoggingReceiver *logging;
 	const char *errmsg = NULL;
 	const struct CommunicatorWorkerProcessStruct *proc_handle;
@@ -94,6 +103,20 @@ communicator_new_bgworker_main(Datum main_arg)

 	BackgroundWorkerUnblockSignals();

+	/* lfc_size_limit is in MBs */
+	file_cache_size = lfc_size_limit * (1024 * 1024 / BLCKSZ);
+	if (file_cache_size < 100)
+		file_cache_size = 100;
+
+	if (!parse_shard_map(pageserver_grpc_urls, &shard_map))
+	{
+		/* shouldn't happen, as the GUC was verified already */
+		elog(FATAL, "could not parse neon.pageserver_grpcs_urls");
+	}
+	connstrings = palloc(shard_map.num_shards * sizeof(char *));
+	for (int i = 0; i < shard_map.num_shards; i++)
+		connstrings[i] = shard_map.connstring[i];
+
 	/*
 	 * By default, INFO messages are not printed to the log. We want
 	 * `tracing::info!` messages emitted from the communicator to be printed,
@@ -108,11 +131,20 @@ communicator_new_bgworker_main(Datum main_arg)

 	logging = communicator_worker_configure_logging();

-	proc_handle = communicator_worker_launch(
-		neon_tenant[0] == '\0' ? NULL : neon_tenant,
-		neon_timeline[0] == '\0' ? NULL : neon_timeline,
-		&errmsg
-		);
+	Assert(cis != NULL);
+	proc_handle = communicator_worker_process_launch(
+									   cis,
+									   neon_tenant[0] == '\0' ? NULL : neon_tenant,
+									   neon_timeline[0] == '\0' ? NULL : neon_timeline,
+									   neon_auth_token,
+									   connstrings,
+									   shard_map.num_shards,
+									   neon_stripe_size,
+									   lfc_path,
+									   file_cache_size,
+									   &errmsg);
+	pfree(connstrings);
+	cis = NULL;
 	if (proc_handle == NULL)
 	{
 		/*
@@ -173,6 +205,28 @@ communicator_new_bgworker_main(Datum main_arg)
 		{
 			ConfigReloadPending = false;
 			ProcessConfigFile(PGC_SIGHUP);
+
+			/* lfc_size_limit is in MBs */
+			file_cache_size = lfc_size_limit * (1024 * 1024 / BLCKSZ);
+			if (file_cache_size < 100)
+				file_cache_size = 100;
+
+			/* Reload pageserver URLs */
+			if (!parse_shard_map(pageserver_grpc_urls, &shard_map))
+			{
+				/* shouldn't happen, as the GUC was verified already */
+				elog(FATAL, "could not parse neon.pageserver_grpcs_urls");
+			}
+			connstrings = palloc(shard_map.num_shards * sizeof(char *));
+			for (int i = 0; i < shard_map.num_shards; i++)
+				connstrings[i] = shard_map.connstring[i];
+
+			communicator_worker_config_reload(proc_handle,
+											  file_cache_size,
+											  connstrings,
+											  shard_map.num_shards,
+											  neon_stripe_size);
+			pfree(connstrings);
 		}

 		duration = TimestampDifferenceMilliseconds(before, GetCurrentTimestamp());
@@ -271,3 +325,36 @@ callback_set_my_latch_unsafe(void)
 {
 	SetLatch(MyLatch);
 }
+
+/*
+ * FIXME: The logic from neon_get_request_lsns() needs to go here, except for
+ * the last-written LSN cache stuff, which is managed by the rust code now.
+ */
+XLogRecPtr
+callback_get_request_lsn_unsafe(void)
+{
+	/*
+	 * NB: be very careful with what you do here! This is called from tokio
+	 * threads, so anything tha tries to take LWLocks is unsafe, for example.
+	 *
+	 * RecoveryInProgress() is OK
+	 */
+	if (RecoveryInProgress())
+	{
+		XLogRecPtr	replay_lsn = GetXLogReplayRecPtr(NULL);
+
+		return replay_lsn;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		XLogRecPtr	flushlsn;
+
+#if PG_VERSION_NUM >= 150000
+		flushlsn = GetFlushRecPtr(NULL);
+#else
+		flushlsn = GetFlushRecPtr();
+#endif
+
+		return flushlsn;
+	}
+}
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator_process.h
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator_process.h
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@
 #ifndef COMMUNICATOR_PROCESS_H
 #define COMMUNICATOR_PROCESS_H

+extern struct CommunicatorInitStruct *cis;
+
+/* initialization early at postmaster startup */
 extern void pg_init_communicator_process(void);

 #endif			/* COMMUNICATOR_PROCESS_H */
--- a/pgxn/neon/file_cache.c
+++ b/pgxn/neon/file_cache.c
@@ -136,15 +136,6 @@ typedef struct FileCacheEntry
 #define N_COND_VARS 	64
 #define CV_WAIT_TIMEOUT	10

-#define MAX_PREWARM_WORKERS 8
-
-typedef struct PrewarmWorkerState
-{
-	uint32		prewarmed_pages;
-	uint32		skipped_pages;
-	TimestampTz completed;
-} PrewarmWorkerState;
-
 typedef struct FileCacheControl
 {
 	uint64		generation;		/* generation is needed to handle correct hash
@@ -190,47 +181,27 @@ typedef struct FileCacheControl
 	 *   again.
 	 */
 	HyperLogLogState wss_estimation;
-
-	/* Prewarmer state */
-	PrewarmWorkerState prewarm_workers[MAX_PREWARM_WORKERS];
-	size_t n_prewarm_workers;
-	size_t n_prewarm_entries;
-	size_t total_prewarm_pages;
-	size_t prewarm_batch;
-	bool   prewarm_active;
-	bool   prewarm_canceled;
-	dsm_handle prewarm_lfc_state_handle;
 } FileCacheControl;

-#define FILE_CACHE_STATE_MAGIC 0xfcfcfcfc
-
-#define FILE_CACHE_STATE_BITMAP(fcs)	((uint8*)&(fcs)->chunks[(fcs)->n_chunks])
-#define FILE_CACHE_STATE_SIZE_FOR_CHUNKS(n_chunks)	(sizeof(FileCacheState) + (n_chunks)*sizeof(BufferTag) + (((n_chunks) * lfc_blocks_per_chunk)+7)/8)
-#define FILE_CACHE_STATE_SIZE(fcs)		(sizeof(FileCacheState) + (fcs->n_chunks)*sizeof(BufferTag) + (((fcs->n_chunks) << fcs->chunk_size_log)+7)/8)
-
 static HTAB *lfc_hash;
 static int	lfc_desc = -1;
 static LWLockId lfc_lock;
-static int	lfc_max_size;
-static int	lfc_size_limit;
-static int	lfc_prewarm_limit;
-static int	lfc_prewarm_batch;
+int	lfc_max_size;
+int	lfc_size_limit;
 static int	lfc_chunk_size_log = MAX_BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK_LOG;
 static int	lfc_blocks_per_chunk = MAX_BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK;
-static char *lfc_path;
+char *lfc_path;
 static uint64 lfc_generation;
 static FileCacheControl *lfc_ctl;
-static bool lfc_do_prewarm;

 bool lfc_store_prefetch_result;
 bool lfc_prewarm_update_ws_estimation;

-bool AmPrewarmWorker;
+bool lfc_do_prewarm;
+bool lfc_prewarm_cancel;

 #define LFC_ENABLED() (lfc_ctl->limit != 0)

-PGDLLEXPORT void lfc_prewarm_main(Datum main_arg);
-
 /*
 * Close LFC file if opened.
 * All backends should close their LFC files once LFC is disabled.
@@ -256,6 +227,8 @@ lfc_switch_off(void)
 {
 	int			fd;

+	Assert(!neon_use_communicator_worker);
+
 	if (LFC_ENABLED())
 	{
 		HASH_SEQ_STATUS status;
@@ -321,6 +294,8 @@ lfc_maybe_disabled(void)
 static bool
 lfc_ensure_opened(void)
 {
+	Assert(!neon_use_communicator_worker);
+
 	if (lfc_generation != lfc_ctl->generation)
 	{
 		lfc_close_file();
@@ -346,6 +321,9 @@ LfcShmemInit(void)
 	bool		found;
 	static HASHCTL info;

+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		return;
+
 	if (lfc_max_size <= 0)
 		return;

@@ -535,7 +513,6 @@ lfc_init(void)
 	if (!process_shared_preload_libraries_in_progress)
 		neon_log(ERROR, "Neon module should be loaded via shared_preload_libraries");

-
 	DefineCustomBoolVariable("neon.store_prefetch_result_in_lfc",
 							"Immediately store received prefetch result in LFC",
 							NULL,
@@ -607,34 +584,13 @@ lfc_init(void)
 							lfc_check_chunk_size,
 							lfc_change_chunk_size,
 							NULL);
-
-	DefineCustomIntVariable("neon.file_cache_prewarm_limit",
-							"Maximal number of prewarmed chunks",
-							NULL,
-							&lfc_prewarm_limit,
-							INT_MAX,	/* no limit by default */
-							0,
-							INT_MAX,
-							PGC_SIGHUP,
-							0,
-							NULL,
-							NULL,
-							NULL);
-
-	DefineCustomIntVariable("neon.file_cache_prewarm_batch",
-							"Number of pages retrivied by prewarm from page server",
-							NULL,
-							&lfc_prewarm_batch,
-							64,
-							1,
-							INT_MAX,
-							PGC_SIGHUP,
-							0,
-							NULL,
-							NULL,
-							NULL);
 }

+/*
+ * Dump a list of pages that are currently in the LFC
+ *
+ * This is used to get a snapshot that can be used to prewarm the LFC later.
+ */
 FileCacheState*
 lfc_get_state(size_t max_entries)
 {
@@ -652,7 +608,7 @@ lfc_get_state(size_t max_entries)
 		uint8* bitmap;
 		size_t n_pages = 0;
 		size_t n_entries = Min(max_entries, lfc_ctl->used - lfc_ctl->pinned);
-		size_t state_size = FILE_CACHE_STATE_SIZE_FOR_CHUNKS(n_entries);
+		size_t state_size = FILE_CACHE_STATE_SIZE_FOR_CHUNKS(n_entries, lfc_blocks_per_chunk);
 		fcs = (FileCacheState*)palloc0(state_size);
 		SET_VARSIZE(fcs, state_size);
 		fcs->magic = FILE_CACHE_STATE_MAGIC;
@@ -686,267 +642,6 @@ lfc_get_state(size_t max_entries)
 	return fcs;
 }

-/*
- * Prewarm LFC cache to the specified state. It uses lfc_prefetch function to load prewarmed page without hoilding shared buffer lock
- * and avoid race conditions with other backends.
- */
-void
-lfc_prewarm(FileCacheState* fcs, uint32 n_workers)
-{
-	size_t fcs_chunk_size_log;
-	size_t n_entries;
-	size_t prewarm_batch = Min(lfc_prewarm_batch, readahead_buffer_size);
-	size_t fcs_size;
-	dsm_segment *seg;
-	BackgroundWorkerHandle* bgw_handle[MAX_PREWARM_WORKERS];
-
-
-	if (!lfc_ensure_opened())
-		return;
-
-	if (prewarm_batch == 0 || lfc_prewarm_limit == 0 || n_workers == 0)
-	{
-		elog(LOG, "LFC: prewarm is disabled");
-		return;
-	}
-
-	if (n_workers > MAX_PREWARM_WORKERS)
-	{
-		elog(ERROR, "LFC: Too much prewarm workers, maximum is %d", MAX_PREWARM_WORKERS);
-	}
-
-	if (fcs == NULL || fcs->n_chunks == 0)
-	{
-		elog(LOG, "LFC: nothing to prewarm");
-		return;
-	}
-
-	if (fcs->magic != FILE_CACHE_STATE_MAGIC)
-	{
-		elog(ERROR, "LFC: Invalid file cache state magic: %X", fcs->magic);
-	}
-
-	fcs_size = VARSIZE(fcs);
-	if (FILE_CACHE_STATE_SIZE(fcs) != fcs_size)
-	{
-		elog(ERROR, "LFC: Invalid file cache state size: %u vs. %u", (unsigned)FILE_CACHE_STATE_SIZE(fcs), VARSIZE(fcs));
-	}
-
-	fcs_chunk_size_log = fcs->chunk_size_log;
-	if (fcs_chunk_size_log > MAX_BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK_LOG)
-	{
-		elog(ERROR, "LFC: Invalid chunk size log: %u", fcs->chunk_size_log);
-	}
-
-	n_entries = Min(fcs->n_chunks, lfc_prewarm_limit);
-	Assert(n_entries != 0);
-
-	LWLockAcquire(lfc_lock, LW_EXCLUSIVE);
-
-	/* Do not prewarm more entries than LFC limit */
-	if (lfc_ctl->limit <= lfc_ctl->size)
-	{
-		elog(LOG, "LFC: skip prewarm because LFC is already filled");
-		LWLockRelease(lfc_lock);
-		return;
-	}
-
-	if (lfc_ctl->prewarm_active)
-	{
-		LWLockRelease(lfc_lock);
-		elog(ERROR, "LFC: skip prewarm because another prewarm is still active");
-	}
-	lfc_ctl->n_prewarm_entries = n_entries;
-	lfc_ctl->n_prewarm_workers = n_workers;
-	lfc_ctl->prewarm_active = true;
-	lfc_ctl->prewarm_canceled = false;
-	lfc_ctl->prewarm_batch = prewarm_batch;
-	memset(lfc_ctl->prewarm_workers, 0, n_workers*sizeof(PrewarmWorkerState));
-
-	LWLockRelease(lfc_lock);
-
-	/* Calculate total number of pages to be prewarmed */
-	lfc_ctl->total_prewarm_pages = fcs->n_pages;
-
-	seg = dsm_create(fcs_size, 0);
-	memcpy(dsm_segment_address(seg), fcs, fcs_size);
-	lfc_ctl->prewarm_lfc_state_handle = dsm_segment_handle(seg);
-
-	/* Spawn background workers */
-	for (uint32 i = 0; i < n_workers; i++)
-	{
-		BackgroundWorker worker = {0};
-
-		worker.bgw_flags = BGWORKER_SHMEM_ACCESS;
-		worker.bgw_start_time = BgWorkerStart_ConsistentState;
-		worker.bgw_restart_time = BGW_NEVER_RESTART;
-		strcpy(worker.bgw_library_name, "neon");
-		strcpy(worker.bgw_function_name, "lfc_prewarm_main");
-		snprintf(worker.bgw_name, BGW_MAXLEN, "LFC prewarm worker %d", i+1);
-		strcpy(worker.bgw_type, "LFC prewarm worker");
-		worker.bgw_main_arg = Int32GetDatum(i);
-		/* must set notify PID to wait for shutdown */
-		worker.bgw_notify_pid = MyProcPid;
-
-		if (!RegisterDynamicBackgroundWorker(&worker, &bgw_handle[i]))
-		{
-			ereport(LOG,
-					(errcode(ERRCODE_INSUFFICIENT_RESOURCES),
-					 errmsg("LFC: registering dynamic bgworker prewarm failed"),
-					 errhint("Consider increasing the configuration parameter \"%s\".", "max_worker_processes")));
-			n_workers = i;
-			lfc_ctl->prewarm_canceled = true;
-			break;
-		}
-	}
-
-	for (uint32 i = 0; i < n_workers; i++)
-	{
-		bool interrupted;
-		do
-		{
-			interrupted = false;
-			PG_TRY();
-			{
-				BgwHandleStatus status = WaitForBackgroundWorkerShutdown(bgw_handle[i]);
-				if (status != BGWH_STOPPED && status != BGWH_POSTMASTER_DIED)
-				{
-					elog(LOG, "LFC: Unexpected status of prewarm worker termination: %d", status);
-				}
-			}
-			PG_CATCH();
-			{
-				elog(LOG, "LFC: cancel prewarm");
-				lfc_ctl->prewarm_canceled = true;
-				interrupted = true;
-			}
-			PG_END_TRY();
-		} while (interrupted);
-
-		if (!lfc_ctl->prewarm_workers[i].completed)
-		{
-			/* Background worker doesn't set completion time: it means that it was abnormally terminated */
-			elog(LOG, "LFC: prewarm worker %d failed", i+1);
-			/* Set completion time to prevent get_prewarm_info from considering this worker as active */
-			lfc_ctl->prewarm_workers[i].completed = GetCurrentTimestamp();
-		}
-	}
-	dsm_detach(seg);
-
-	LWLockAcquire(lfc_lock, LW_EXCLUSIVE);
-	lfc_ctl->prewarm_active = false;
-	LWLockRelease(lfc_lock);
-}
-
-void
-lfc_prewarm_main(Datum main_arg)
-{
-	size_t snd_idx = 0, rcv_idx = 0;
-	size_t n_sent = 0, n_received = 0;
-	size_t fcs_chunk_size_log;
-	size_t max_prefetch_pages;
-	size_t prewarm_batch;
-	size_t n_workers;
-	dsm_segment *seg;
-	FileCacheState* fcs;
-	uint8* bitmap;
-	BufferTag tag;
-	PrewarmWorkerState* ws;
-	uint32 worker_id = DatumGetInt32(main_arg);
-
-	AmPrewarmWorker = true;
-
-	pqsignal(SIGTERM, die);
-	BackgroundWorkerUnblockSignals();
-
-	seg = dsm_attach(lfc_ctl->prewarm_lfc_state_handle);
-	if (seg == NULL)
-		ereport(ERROR,
-				(errcode(ERRCODE_OBJECT_NOT_IN_PREREQUISITE_STATE),
-				 errmsg("could not map dynamic shared memory segment")));
-
-	fcs = (FileCacheState*) dsm_segment_address(seg);
-	prewarm_batch = lfc_ctl->prewarm_batch;
-	fcs_chunk_size_log = fcs->chunk_size_log;
-	n_workers = lfc_ctl->n_prewarm_workers;
-	max_prefetch_pages = lfc_ctl->n_prewarm_entries << fcs_chunk_size_log;
-	ws = &lfc_ctl->prewarm_workers[worker_id];
-	bitmap = FILE_CACHE_STATE_BITMAP(fcs);
-
-	/* enable prefetch in LFC */
-	lfc_store_prefetch_result = true;
-	lfc_do_prewarm = true; /* Flag for lfc_prefetch preventing replacement of existed entries if LFC cache is full */
-
-	elog(LOG, "LFC: worker %d start prewarming", worker_id);
-	while (!lfc_ctl->prewarm_canceled)
-	{
-		if (snd_idx < max_prefetch_pages)
-		{
-			if ((snd_idx >> fcs_chunk_size_log) % n_workers != worker_id)
-			{
-				/* If there are multiple workers, split chunks between them */
-				snd_idx += 1 << fcs_chunk_size_log;
-			}
-			else
-			{
-				if (BITMAP_ISSET(bitmap, snd_idx))
-				{
-					tag = fcs->chunks[snd_idx >> fcs_chunk_size_log];
-					tag.blockNum += snd_idx & ((1 << fcs_chunk_size_log) - 1);
-					if (!lfc_cache_contains(BufTagGetNRelFileInfo(tag), tag.forkNum, tag.blockNum))
-					{
-						(void)communicator_prefetch_register_bufferv(tag, NULL, 1, NULL);
-						n_sent += 1;
-					}
-					else
-					{
-						ws->skipped_pages += 1;
-						BITMAP_CLR(bitmap, snd_idx);
-					}
-				}
-				snd_idx += 1;
-			}
-		}
-		if (n_sent >= n_received + prewarm_batch || snd_idx == max_prefetch_pages)
-		{
-			if (n_received == n_sent && snd_idx == max_prefetch_pages)
-			{
-				break;
-			}
-			if ((rcv_idx >> fcs_chunk_size_log) % n_workers != worker_id)
-			{
-				/* Skip chunks processed by other workers */
-				rcv_idx += 1 << fcs_chunk_size_log;
-				continue;
-			}
-
-			/* Locate next block to prefetch */
-			while (!BITMAP_ISSET(bitmap, rcv_idx))
-			{
-				rcv_idx += 1;
-			}
-			tag = fcs->chunks[rcv_idx >> fcs_chunk_size_log];
-			tag.blockNum += rcv_idx & ((1 << fcs_chunk_size_log) - 1);
-			if (communicator_prefetch_receive(tag))
-			{
-				ws->prewarmed_pages += 1;
-			}
-			else
-			{
-				ws->skipped_pages += 1;
-			}
-			rcv_idx += 1;
-			n_received += 1;
-		}
-	}
-	/* No need to perform prefetch cleanup here because prewarm worker will be terminated and
-	 * connection to PS dropped just after return from this function.
-	 */
-	Assert(n_sent == n_received || lfc_ctl->prewarm_canceled);
-	elog(LOG, "LFC: worker %d complete prewarming: loaded %ld pages", worker_id, (long)n_received);
-	lfc_ctl->prewarm_workers[worker_id].completed = GetCurrentTimestamp();
-}
-
 void
 lfc_invalidate(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber nblocks)
 {
@@ -954,6 +649,8 @@ lfc_invalidate(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber nblocks)
 	FileCacheEntry *entry;
 	uint32		hash;

+	Assert(!neon_use_communicator_worker);
+
 	if (lfc_maybe_disabled())	/* fast exit if file cache is disabled */
 		return;

@@ -999,6 +696,8 @@ lfc_cache_contains(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno)
 	bool		found = false;
 	uint32		hash;

+	Assert(!neon_use_communicator_worker);
+
 	if (lfc_maybe_disabled())	/* fast exit if file cache is disabled */
 		return false;

@@ -1034,6 +733,8 @@ lfc_cache_containsv(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno,
 	uint32		hash;
 	int			i = 0;

+	Assert(!neon_use_communicator_worker);
+
 	if (lfc_maybe_disabled())	/* fast exit if file cache is disabled */
 		return 0;

@@ -1141,6 +842,8 @@ lfc_readv_select(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno,
 	int			blocks_read = 0;
 	int			buf_offset = 0;

+	Assert(!neon_use_communicator_worker);
+
 	if (lfc_maybe_disabled())	/* fast exit if file cache is disabled */
 		return -1;

@@ -1451,7 +1154,7 @@ lfc_init_new_entry(FileCacheEntry* entry, uint32 hash)
 		/* Can't add this chunk - we don't have the space for it */
 		hash_search_with_hash_value(lfc_hash, &entry->key, hash,
 									HASH_REMOVE, NULL);
-		lfc_ctl->prewarm_canceled = true; /* cancel prewarm if LFC limit is reached */
+		lfc_prewarm_cancel = true; /* cancel prewarm if LFC limit is reached */
 		return false;
 	}

@@ -1506,6 +1209,8 @@ lfc_prefetch(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber blkno,

 	int		chunk_offs = BLOCK_TO_CHUNK_OFF(blkno);

+	Assert(!neon_use_communicator_worker);
+
 	if (lfc_maybe_disabled())	/* fast exit if file cache is disabled */
 		return false;

@@ -1651,6 +1356,8 @@ lfc_writev(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno,
 	uint32		entry_offset;
 	int			buf_offset = 0;

+	Assert(!neon_use_communicator_worker);
+
 	if (lfc_maybe_disabled())	/* fast exit if file cache is disabled */
 		return;

@@ -1827,128 +1534,44 @@ lfc_writev(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno,
 	LWLockRelease(lfc_lock);
 }

-typedef struct
+/*
+ * Return an array of LfcStatsEntrys, terminated by an entry with NULL name
+ */
+LfcStatsEntry *
+get_lfc_stats(void)
 {
-	TupleDesc	tupdesc;
-} NeonGetStatsCtx;
+	LfcStatsEntry *entries;
+	int			i = 0;

-#define NUM_NEON_GET_STATS_COLS	2
+#define NUM_ENTRIES 10
+	entries = palloc(sizeof(LfcStatsEntry) * (NUM_ENTRIES + 1));

-PG_FUNCTION_INFO_V1(neon_get_lfc_stats);
-Datum
-neon_get_lfc_stats(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
-{
-	FuncCallContext *funcctx;
-	NeonGetStatsCtx *fctx;
-	MemoryContext oldcontext;
-	TupleDesc	tupledesc;
-	Datum		result;
-	HeapTuple	tuple;
-	char const *key;
-	uint64		value = 0;
-	Datum		values[NUM_NEON_GET_STATS_COLS];
-	bool		nulls[NUM_NEON_GET_STATS_COLS];
+	entries[i++] = (LfcStatsEntry) {"file_cache_chunk_size_pages", lfc_ctl == NULL,
+									lfc_ctl ? lfc_blocks_per_chunk : 0 };
+	entries[i++] = (LfcStatsEntry) {"file_cache_misses", lfc_ctl == NULL,
+									lfc_ctl ? lfc_ctl->misses : 0};
+	entries[i++] = (LfcStatsEntry) {"file_cache_hits", lfc_ctl == NULL,
+									lfc_ctl ? lfc_ctl->hits : 0 };
+	entries[i++] = (LfcStatsEntry) {"file_cache_used", lfc_ctl == NULL,
+									lfc_ctl ? lfc_ctl->used : 0 };
+	entries[i++] = (LfcStatsEntry) {"file_cache_writes", lfc_ctl == NULL,
+									lfc_ctl ? lfc_ctl->writes : 0 };
+	entries[i++] = (LfcStatsEntry) {"file_cache_size", lfc_ctl == NULL,
+									lfc_ctl ? lfc_ctl->size : 0 };
+	entries[i++] = (LfcStatsEntry) {"file_cache_used_pages", lfc_ctl == NULL,
+									lfc_ctl ? lfc_ctl->used_pages : 0 };
+	entries[i++] = (LfcStatsEntry) {"file_cache_evicted_pages", lfc_ctl == NULL,
+									lfc_ctl ? lfc_ctl->evicted_pages : 0 };
+	entries[i++] = (LfcStatsEntry) {"file_cache_limit", lfc_ctl == NULL,
+									lfc_ctl ? lfc_ctl->limit : 0 };
+	entries[i++] = (LfcStatsEntry) {"file_cache_chunks_pinned", lfc_ctl == NULL,
+									lfc_ctl ? lfc_ctl->pinned : 0 };
+	entries[i++] = (LfcStatsEntry) { NULL, false, 0 };
+	Assert(i <= NUM_ENTRIES);

-	if (SRF_IS_FIRSTCALL())
-	{
-		funcctx = SRF_FIRSTCALL_INIT();
-
-		/* Switch context when allocating stuff to be used in later calls */
-		oldcontext = MemoryContextSwitchTo(funcctx->multi_call_memory_ctx);
-
-		/* Create a user function context for cross-call persistence */
-		fctx = (NeonGetStatsCtx *) palloc(sizeof(NeonGetStatsCtx));
-
-		/* Construct a tuple descriptor for the result rows. */
-		tupledesc = CreateTemplateTupleDesc(NUM_NEON_GET_STATS_COLS);
-
-		TupleDescInitEntry(tupledesc, (AttrNumber) 1, "lfc_key",
-						   TEXTOID, -1, 0);
-		TupleDescInitEntry(tupledesc, (AttrNumber) 2, "lfc_value",
-						   INT8OID, -1, 0);
-
-		fctx->tupdesc = BlessTupleDesc(tupledesc);
-		funcctx->user_fctx = fctx;
-
-		/* Return to original context when allocating transient memory */
-		MemoryContextSwitchTo(oldcontext);
-	}
-
-	funcctx = SRF_PERCALL_SETUP();
-
-	/* Get the saved state */
-	fctx = (NeonGetStatsCtx *) funcctx->user_fctx;
-
-	switch (funcctx->call_cntr)
-	{
-		case 0:
-			key = "file_cache_misses";
-			if (lfc_ctl)
-				value = lfc_ctl->misses;
-			break;
-		case 1:
-			key = "file_cache_hits";
-			if (lfc_ctl)
-				value = lfc_ctl->hits;
-			break;
-		case 2:
-			key = "file_cache_used";
-			if (lfc_ctl)
-				value = lfc_ctl->used;
-			break;
-		case 3:
-			key = "file_cache_writes";
-			if (lfc_ctl)
-				value = lfc_ctl->writes;
-			break;
-		case 4:
-			key = "file_cache_size";
-			if (lfc_ctl)
-				value = lfc_ctl->size;
-			break;
-		case 5:
-			key = "file_cache_used_pages";
-			if (lfc_ctl)
-				value = lfc_ctl->used_pages;
-			break;
-		case 6:
-			key = "file_cache_evicted_pages";
-			if (lfc_ctl)
-				value = lfc_ctl->evicted_pages;
-			break;
-		case 7:
-			key = "file_cache_limit";
-			if (lfc_ctl)
-				value = lfc_ctl->limit;
-			break;
-		case 8:
-			key = "file_cache_chunk_size_pages";
-			value = lfc_blocks_per_chunk;
-			break;
-		case 9:
-			key = "file_cache_chunks_pinned";
-			if (lfc_ctl)
-				value = lfc_ctl->pinned;
-			break;
-		default:
-			SRF_RETURN_DONE(funcctx);
-	}
-	values[0] = PointerGetDatum(cstring_to_text(key));
-	nulls[0] = false;
-	if (lfc_ctl)
-	{
-		nulls[1] = false;
-		values[1] = Int64GetDatum(value);
-	}
-	else
-		nulls[1] = true;
-
-	tuple = heap_form_tuple(fctx->tupdesc, values, nulls);
-	result = HeapTupleGetDatum(tuple);
-	SRF_RETURN_NEXT(funcctx, result);
+	return entries;
 }

-
 /*
 * Function returning data from the local file cache
 * relation node/tablespace/database/blocknum and access_counter
@@ -2188,83 +1811,3 @@ callback_get_lfc_metrics_unsafe(void)

 	return result;
 }
-
-
-PG_FUNCTION_INFO_V1(get_local_cache_state);
-
-Datum
-get_local_cache_state(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
-{
-	size_t max_entries = PG_ARGISNULL(0) ? lfc_prewarm_limit : PG_GETARG_INT32(0);
-	FileCacheState* fcs = lfc_get_state(max_entries);
-	if (fcs != NULL)
-		PG_RETURN_BYTEA_P((bytea*)fcs);
-	else
-		PG_RETURN_NULL();
-}
-
-PG_FUNCTION_INFO_V1(prewarm_local_cache);
-
-Datum
-prewarm_local_cache(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
-{
-	bytea* state = PG_GETARG_BYTEA_PP(0);
-	uint32 n_workers =  PG_GETARG_INT32(1);
-	FileCacheState* fcs = (FileCacheState*)state;
-
-	lfc_prewarm(fcs, n_workers);
-
-	PG_RETURN_NULL();
-}
-
-PG_FUNCTION_INFO_V1(get_prewarm_info);
-
-Datum
-get_prewarm_info(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
-{
-	Datum		values[4];
-	bool		nulls[4];
-	TupleDesc	tupdesc;
-	uint32 prewarmed_pages = 0;
-	uint32 skipped_pages = 0;
-	uint32 active_workers = 0;
-	uint32 total_pages;
-	size_t n_workers;
-
-	if (lfc_size_limit == 0)
-		PG_RETURN_NULL();
-
-	LWLockAcquire(lfc_lock, LW_SHARED);
-	if (!lfc_ctl || lfc_ctl->n_prewarm_workers == 0)
-	{
-		LWLockRelease(lfc_lock);
-		PG_RETURN_NULL();
-	}
-	n_workers = lfc_ctl->n_prewarm_workers;
-	total_pages = lfc_ctl->total_prewarm_pages;
-	for (size_t i = 0; i < n_workers; i++)
-	{
-		PrewarmWorkerState* ws = &lfc_ctl->prewarm_workers[i];
-		prewarmed_pages += ws->prewarmed_pages;
-		skipped_pages += ws->skipped_pages;
-		active_workers += ws->completed != 0;
-	}
-	LWLockRelease(lfc_lock);
-
-	tupdesc = CreateTemplateTupleDesc(4);
-	TupleDescInitEntry(tupdesc, (AttrNumber) 1, "total_pages", INT4OID, -1, 0);
-	TupleDescInitEntry(tupdesc, (AttrNumber) 2, "prewarmed_pages", INT4OID, -1, 0);
-	TupleDescInitEntry(tupdesc, (AttrNumber) 3, "skipped_pages", INT4OID, -1, 0);
-	TupleDescInitEntry(tupdesc, (AttrNumber) 4, "active_workers", INT4OID, -1, 0);
-	tupdesc = BlessTupleDesc(tupdesc);
-
-	MemSet(nulls, 0, sizeof(nulls));
-
-	values[0] = Int32GetDatum(total_pages);
-	values[1] = Int32GetDatum(prewarmed_pages);
-	values[2] = Int32GetDatum(skipped_pages);
-	values[3] = Int32GetDatum(active_workers);
-
-	PG_RETURN_DATUM(HeapTupleGetDatum(heap_form_tuple(tupdesc, values, nulls)));
-}
-
--- a/pgxn/neon/file_cache.h
+++ b/pgxn/neon/file_cache.h
@@ -11,21 +11,19 @@
 #ifndef FILE_CACHE_h
 #define FILE_CACHE_h

-#include "neon_pgversioncompat.h"
+#include "lfc_prewarm.h"
+#include "neon.h"

-typedef struct FileCacheState
-{
-	int32		vl_len_;		/* varlena header (do not touch directly!) */
-	uint32		magic;
-	uint32		n_chunks;
-	uint32		n_pages;
-	uint16		chunk_size_log;
-	BufferTag	chunks[FLEXIBLE_ARRAY_MEMBER];
-	/* followed by bitmap */
-} FileCacheState;
+#include "neon_pgversioncompat.h"

 /* GUCs */
 extern bool lfc_store_prefetch_result;
+extern int	lfc_max_size;
+extern int	lfc_size_limit;
+extern char *lfc_path;
+
+extern bool lfc_do_prewarm;
+extern bool lfc_prewarm_cancel;

 /* functions for local file cache */
 extern void lfc_invalidate(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber nblocks);
@@ -44,11 +42,10 @@ extern int lfc_cache_containsv(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum,
 extern void lfc_init(void);
 extern bool lfc_prefetch(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber blkno,
 						 const void* buffer, XLogRecPtr lsn);
+
 extern FileCacheState* lfc_get_state(size_t max_entries);
-extern void lfc_prewarm(FileCacheState* fcs, uint32 n_workers);
-
 extern int32 lfc_approximate_working_set_size_seconds(time_t duration, bool reset);
-
+extern LfcStatsEntry *get_lfc_stats(void);

 static inline bool
 lfc_read(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno,
--- a/pgxn/neon/lfc_prewarm.c
+++ b/pgxn/neon/lfc_prewarm.c
@@ -0,0 +1,653 @@
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ *
+ * lfc_prewarm.c
+ *		Functions related to LFC prewarming
+ *
+ * Portions Copyright (c) 1996-2021, PostgreSQL Global Development Group
+ * Portions Copyright (c) 1994, Regents of the University of California
+ *
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+
+#include "postgres.h"
+
+#include "bitmap.h"
+#include "communicator.h"
+#include "communicator_new.h"
+#include "file_cache.h"
+#include "lfc_prewarm.h"
+#include "neon.h"
+#include "pagestore_client.h"
+
+#include "funcapi.h"
+#include "miscadmin.h"
+#include "postmaster/bgworker.h"
+#include "storage/dsm.h"
+#include "tcop/tcopprot.h"
+#include "utils/timestamp.h"
+
+#define MAX_PREWARM_WORKERS 8
+
+typedef struct PrewarmWorkerState
+{
+	uint32		prewarmed_pages;
+	uint32		skipped_pages;
+	TimestampTz completed;
+} PrewarmWorkerState;
+
+typedef struct PrewarmControl
+{
+	/* -1 when not using workers, 0 when no prewarm has been performed */
+	size_t		n_prewarm_workers;
+	size_t		total_prewarm_pages;
+	bool		prewarm_active;
+	bool		prewarm_canceled;
+
+	/* These are used in the non-worker mode */
+	uint32		prewarmed_pages;
+	uint32		skipped_pages;
+	TimestampTz completed;
+
+	/* These are used with workers */
+	PrewarmWorkerState prewarm_workers[MAX_PREWARM_WORKERS];
+	dsm_handle	prewarm_lfc_state_handle;
+	size_t		prewarm_batch;
+	size_t		n_prewarm_entries;
+} PrewarmControl;
+
+static PrewarmControl *prewarm_ctl;
+
+static int	lfc_prewarm_limit;
+static int	lfc_prewarm_batch;
+
+static LWLockId prewarm_lock;
+
+bool AmPrewarmWorker;
+
+static void lfc_prewarm_with_workers(FileCacheState *fcs, uint32 n_workers);
+static void lfc_prewarm_with_async_requests(FileCacheState *fcs);
+PGDLLEXPORT void lfc_prewarm_main(Datum main_arg);
+
+void
+pg_init_prewarm(void)
+{
+	DefineCustomIntVariable("neon.file_cache_prewarm_limit",
+							"Maximal number of prewarmed chunks",
+							NULL,
+							&lfc_prewarm_limit,
+							INT_MAX,	/* no limit by default */
+							0,
+							INT_MAX,
+							PGC_SIGHUP,
+							0,
+							NULL,
+							NULL,
+							NULL);
+
+	DefineCustomIntVariable("neon.file_cache_prewarm_batch",
+							"Number of pages retrivied by prewarm from page server",
+							NULL,
+							&lfc_prewarm_batch,
+							64,
+							1,
+							INT_MAX,
+							PGC_SIGHUP,
+							0,
+							NULL,
+							NULL,
+							NULL);
+}
+
+static size_t
+PrewarmShmemSize(void)
+{
+	return sizeof(PrewarmControl);
+}
+
+void
+PrewarmShmemRequest(void)
+{
+	RequestAddinShmemSpace(PrewarmShmemSize());
+	RequestNamedLWLockTranche("prewarm_lock", 1);
+}
+
+void
+PrewarmShmemInit(void)
+{
+	bool		found;
+
+	prewarm_ctl = (PrewarmControl *) ShmemInitStruct("Prewarmer shmem state",
+								PrewarmShmemSize(),
+								&found);
+	if (!found)
+	{
+		/* it's zeroed already */
+
+		prewarm_lock = (LWLockId) GetNamedLWLockTranche("prewarm_lock");
+	}
+}
+
+static void
+validate_fcs(FileCacheState *fcs)
+{
+	size_t fcs_size;
+#if 0
+	size_t fcs_chunk_size_log;
+#endif
+
+	if (fcs->magic != FILE_CACHE_STATE_MAGIC)
+	{
+		elog(ERROR, "LFC: Invalid file cache state magic: %X", fcs->magic);
+	}
+
+	fcs_size = VARSIZE(fcs);
+	if (FILE_CACHE_STATE_SIZE(fcs) != fcs_size)
+	{
+		elog(ERROR, "LFC: Invalid file cache state size: %u vs. %u", (unsigned)FILE_CACHE_STATE_SIZE(fcs), VARSIZE(fcs));
+	}
+
+	/* FIXME */
+#if 0
+	fcs_chunk_size_log = fcs->chunk_size_log;
+	if (fcs_chunk_size_log > MAX_BLOCKS_PER_CHUNK_LOG)
+	{
+		elog(ERROR, "LFC: Invalid chunk size log: %u", fcs->chunk_size_log);
+	}
+#endif
+}
+
+/*
+ * Prewarm LFC cache to the specified state. It uses lfc_prefetch function to
+ * load prewarmed page without hoilding shared buffer lock and avoid race
+ * conditions with other backends.
+ */
+void
+lfc_prewarm_with_workers(FileCacheState *fcs, uint32 n_workers)
+{
+	size_t n_entries;
+	size_t prewarm_batch = Min(lfc_prewarm_batch, readahead_buffer_size);
+	size_t fcs_size = VARSIZE(fcs);
+	dsm_segment *seg;
+	BackgroundWorkerHandle* bgw_handle[MAX_PREWARM_WORKERS];
+
+	Assert(!neon_use_communicator_worker);
+
+	if (prewarm_batch == 0 || lfc_prewarm_limit == 0 || n_workers == 0)
+	{
+		elog(LOG, "LFC: prewarm is disabled");
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if (n_workers > MAX_PREWARM_WORKERS)
+	{
+		elog(ERROR, "LFC: too many prewarm workers, maximum is %d", MAX_PREWARM_WORKERS);
+	}
+
+	if (fcs == NULL || fcs->n_chunks == 0)
+	{
+		elog(LOG, "LFC: nothing to prewarm");
+		return;
+	}
+
+	n_entries = Min(fcs->n_chunks, lfc_prewarm_limit);
+	Assert(n_entries != 0);
+
+	LWLockAcquire(prewarm_lock, LW_EXCLUSIVE);
+
+	/* Do not prewarm more entries than LFC limit */
+	/* FIXME */
+#if 0
+	if (prewarm_ctl->limit <= prewarm_ctl->size)
+	{
+		elog(LOG, "LFC: skip prewarm because LFC is already filled");
+		LWLockRelease(prewarm_lock);
+		return;
+	}
+#endif
+	
+	if (prewarm_ctl->prewarm_active)
+	{
+		LWLockRelease(prewarm_lock);
+		elog(ERROR, "LFC: skip prewarm because another prewarm is still active");
+	}
+	prewarm_ctl->n_prewarm_entries = n_entries;
+	prewarm_ctl->n_prewarm_workers = n_workers;
+	prewarm_ctl->prewarm_active = true;
+	prewarm_ctl->prewarm_canceled = false;
+	prewarm_ctl->prewarm_batch = prewarm_batch;
+	memset(prewarm_ctl->prewarm_workers, 0, n_workers*sizeof(PrewarmWorkerState));
+
+	/* Calculate total number of pages to be prewarmed */
+	prewarm_ctl->total_prewarm_pages = fcs->n_pages;
+
+	LWLockRelease(prewarm_lock);
+
+	seg = dsm_create(fcs_size, 0);
+	memcpy(dsm_segment_address(seg), fcs, fcs_size);
+	prewarm_ctl->prewarm_lfc_state_handle = dsm_segment_handle(seg);
+
+	/* Spawn background workers */
+	for (uint32 i = 0; i < n_workers; i++)
+	{
+		BackgroundWorker worker = {0};
+
+		worker.bgw_flags = BGWORKER_SHMEM_ACCESS;
+		worker.bgw_start_time = BgWorkerStart_ConsistentState;
+		worker.bgw_restart_time = BGW_NEVER_RESTART;
+		strcpy(worker.bgw_library_name, "neon");
+		strcpy(worker.bgw_function_name, "lfc_prewarm_main");
+		snprintf(worker.bgw_name, BGW_MAXLEN, "LFC prewarm worker %d", i+1);
+		strcpy(worker.bgw_type, "LFC prewarm worker");
+		worker.bgw_main_arg = Int32GetDatum(i);
+		/* must set notify PID to wait for shutdown */
+		worker.bgw_notify_pid = MyProcPid;
+
+		if (!RegisterDynamicBackgroundWorker(&worker, &bgw_handle[i]))
+		{
+			ereport(LOG,
+					(errcode(ERRCODE_INSUFFICIENT_RESOURCES),
+					 errmsg("LFC: registering dynamic bgworker prewarm failed"),
+					 errhint("Consider increasing the configuration parameter \"%s\".", "max_worker_processes")));
+			n_workers = i;
+			prewarm_ctl->prewarm_canceled = true;
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	for (uint32 i = 0; i < n_workers; i++)
+	{
+		bool interrupted;
+		do
+		{
+			interrupted = false;
+			PG_TRY();
+			{
+				BgwHandleStatus status = WaitForBackgroundWorkerShutdown(bgw_handle[i]);
+				if (status != BGWH_STOPPED && status != BGWH_POSTMASTER_DIED)
+				{
+					elog(LOG, "LFC: Unexpected status of prewarm worker termination: %d", status);
+				}
+			}
+			PG_CATCH();
+			{
+				elog(LOG, "LFC: cancel prewarm");
+				prewarm_ctl->prewarm_canceled = true;
+				interrupted = true;
+			}
+			PG_END_TRY();
+		} while (interrupted);
+
+		if (!prewarm_ctl->prewarm_workers[i].completed)
+		{
+			/* Background worker doesn't set completion time: it means that it was abnormally terminated */
+			elog(LOG, "LFC: prewarm worker %d failed", i+1);
+			/* Set completion time to prevent get_prewarm_info from considering this worker as active */
+			prewarm_ctl->prewarm_workers[i].completed = GetCurrentTimestamp();
+		}
+	}
+	dsm_detach(seg);
+
+	LWLockAcquire(prewarm_lock, LW_EXCLUSIVE);
+	prewarm_ctl->prewarm_active = false;
+	LWLockRelease(prewarm_lock);
+}
+
+
+void
+lfc_prewarm_main(Datum main_arg)
+{
+	size_t snd_idx = 0, rcv_idx = 0;
+	size_t n_sent = 0, n_received = 0;
+	size_t fcs_chunk_size_log;
+	size_t max_prefetch_pages;
+	size_t prewarm_batch;
+	size_t n_workers;
+	dsm_segment *seg;
+	FileCacheState* fcs;
+	uint8* bitmap;
+	BufferTag tag;
+	PrewarmWorkerState* ws;
+	uint32 worker_id = DatumGetInt32(main_arg);
+
+	Assert(!neon_use_communicator_worker);
+
+	AmPrewarmWorker = true;
+
+	pqsignal(SIGTERM, die);
+	BackgroundWorkerUnblockSignals();
+
+	seg = dsm_attach(prewarm_ctl->prewarm_lfc_state_handle);
+	if (seg == NULL)
+		ereport(ERROR,
+				(errcode(ERRCODE_OBJECT_NOT_IN_PREREQUISITE_STATE),
+				 errmsg("could not map dynamic shared memory segment")));
+
+	fcs = (FileCacheState*) dsm_segment_address(seg);
+	prewarm_batch = prewarm_ctl->prewarm_batch;
+	fcs_chunk_size_log = fcs->chunk_size_log;
+	n_workers = prewarm_ctl->n_prewarm_workers;
+	max_prefetch_pages = prewarm_ctl->n_prewarm_entries << fcs_chunk_size_log;
+	ws = &prewarm_ctl->prewarm_workers[worker_id];
+	bitmap = FILE_CACHE_STATE_BITMAP(fcs);
+
+	/* enable prefetch in LFC */
+	lfc_store_prefetch_result = true;
+	lfc_do_prewarm = true; /* Flag for lfc_prefetch preventing replacement of existed entries if LFC cache is full */
+
+	elog(LOG, "LFC: worker %d start prewarming", worker_id);
+	while (!prewarm_ctl->prewarm_canceled)
+	{
+		if (snd_idx < max_prefetch_pages)
+		{
+			if ((snd_idx >> fcs_chunk_size_log) % n_workers != worker_id)
+			{
+				/* If there are multiple workers, split chunks between them */
+				snd_idx += 1 << fcs_chunk_size_log;
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				if (BITMAP_ISSET(bitmap, snd_idx))
+				{
+					tag = fcs->chunks[snd_idx >> fcs_chunk_size_log];
+					tag.blockNum += snd_idx & ((1 << fcs_chunk_size_log) - 1);
+					if (!lfc_cache_contains(BufTagGetNRelFileInfo(tag), tag.forkNum, tag.blockNum))
+					{
+						(void) communicator_prefetch_register_bufferv(tag, NULL, 1, NULL);
+						n_sent += 1;
+					}
+					else
+					{
+						ws->skipped_pages += 1;
+						BITMAP_CLR(bitmap, snd_idx);
+					}
+				}
+				snd_idx += 1;
+			}
+		}
+		if (n_sent >= n_received + prewarm_batch || snd_idx == max_prefetch_pages)
+		{
+			if (n_received == n_sent && snd_idx == max_prefetch_pages)
+			{
+				break;
+			}
+			if ((rcv_idx >> fcs_chunk_size_log) % n_workers != worker_id)
+			{
+				/* Skip chunks processed by other workers */
+				rcv_idx += 1 << fcs_chunk_size_log;
+				continue;
+			}
+
+			/* Locate next block to prefetch */
+			while (!BITMAP_ISSET(bitmap, rcv_idx))
+			{
+				rcv_idx += 1;
+			}
+			tag = fcs->chunks[rcv_idx >> fcs_chunk_size_log];
+			tag.blockNum += rcv_idx & ((1 << fcs_chunk_size_log) - 1);
+			if (communicator_prefetch_receive(tag))
+			{
+				ws->prewarmed_pages += 1;
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				ws->skipped_pages += 1;
+			}
+			rcv_idx += 1;
+			n_received += 1;
+		}
+	}
+	/* No need to perform prefetch cleanup here because prewarm worker will be terminated and
+	 * connection to PS dropped just after return from this function.
+	 */
+	Assert(n_sent == n_received || prewarm_ctl->prewarm_canceled);
+	elog(LOG, "LFC: worker %d complete prewarming: loaded %ld pages", worker_id, (long)n_received);
+	prewarm_ctl->prewarm_workers[worker_id].completed = GetCurrentTimestamp();
+}
+
+/*
+ * Prewarm LFC cache to the specified state. Uses the new communicator
+ *
+ * FIXME: Is there a race condition because we're not holding Postgres
+ * buffer manager locks?
+ */
+static void
+lfc_prewarm_with_async_requests(FileCacheState *fcs)
+{
+	size_t n_entries;
+	uint8	   *bitmap;
+	uint64		bitno;
+	int			blocks_per_chunk;
+
+	Assert(neon_use_communicator_worker);
+
+	if (lfc_prewarm_limit == 0)
+	{
+		elog(LOG, "LFC: prewarm is disabled");
+		return;
+	}
+
+	if (fcs == NULL || fcs->n_chunks == 0)
+	{
+		elog(LOG, "LFC: nothing to prewarm");
+		return;
+	}
+
+	n_entries = Min(fcs->n_chunks, lfc_prewarm_limit);
+	Assert(n_entries != 0);
+
+	LWLockAcquire(prewarm_lock, LW_EXCLUSIVE);
+
+	/* Do not prewarm more entries than LFC limit */
+	/* FIXME */
+#if 0
+	if (prewarm_ctl->limit <= prewarm_ctl->size)
+	{
+		elog(LOG, "LFC: skip prewarm because LFC is already filled");
+		LWLockRelease(prewarm_lock);
+		return;
+	}
+#endif
+
+	if (prewarm_ctl->prewarm_active)
+	{
+		LWLockRelease(prewarm_lock);
+		elog(ERROR, "LFC: skip prewarm because another prewarm is still active");
+	}
+	prewarm_ctl->n_prewarm_entries = n_entries;
+	prewarm_ctl->n_prewarm_workers = -1;
+	prewarm_ctl->prewarm_active = true;
+	prewarm_ctl->prewarm_canceled = false;
+
+	/* Calculate total number of pages to be prewarmed */
+	prewarm_ctl->total_prewarm_pages = fcs->n_pages;
+
+	LWLockRelease(prewarm_lock);
+
+	elog(LOG, "LFC: start prewarming");
+	lfc_do_prewarm = true;
+	lfc_prewarm_cancel = false;
+
+	bitmap = FILE_CACHE_STATE_BITMAP(fcs);
+
+	blocks_per_chunk = 1 << fcs->chunk_size_log;
+
+	bitno = 0;
+	for (uint32 chunkno = 0; chunkno < fcs->n_chunks; chunkno++)
+	{
+		BufferTag *chunk_tag = &fcs->chunks[chunkno];
+		BlockNumber request_startblkno = InvalidBlockNumber;
+		BlockNumber request_endblkno;
+
+		if (lfc_prewarm_cancel)
+		{
+			prewarm_ctl->prewarm_canceled = true;
+			break;
+		}
+
+		/* take next chunk */
+		for (int j = 0; j < blocks_per_chunk; j++)
+		{
+			BlockNumber blkno = chunk_tag->blockNum + j;
+
+			if (BITMAP_ISSET(bitmap, bitno))
+			{
+				if (request_startblkno != InvalidBlockNumber)
+				{
+					if (request_endblkno == blkno)
+					{
+						/* append this block to the request */
+						request_endblkno++;
+					}
+					else
+					{
+						/* flush this request, and start new one */
+						communicator_new_prefetch_register_bufferv(
+							BufTagGetNRelFileInfo(*chunk_tag),
+							chunk_tag->forkNum,
+							request_startblkno,
+							request_endblkno - request_startblkno
+							);
+						request_startblkno = blkno;
+						request_endblkno = blkno + 1;
+					}
+				}
+				else
+				{
+					/* flush this request, if any, and start new one */
+					if (request_startblkno != InvalidBlockNumber)
+					{
+						communicator_new_prefetch_register_bufferv(
+							BufTagGetNRelFileInfo(*chunk_tag),
+							chunk_tag->forkNum,
+							request_startblkno,
+							request_endblkno - request_startblkno
+							);
+					}
+					request_startblkno = blkno;
+					request_endblkno = blkno + 1;
+				}
+				prewarm_ctl->prewarmed_pages += 1;
+			}
+			bitno++;
+		}
+
+		/* flush this request */
+		communicator_new_prefetch_register_bufferv(
+			BufTagGetNRelFileInfo(*chunk_tag),
+			chunk_tag->forkNum,
+			request_startblkno,
+			request_endblkno - request_startblkno
+			);
+		request_startblkno = request_endblkno = InvalidBlockNumber;
+	}
+
+	elog(LOG, "LFC: complete prewarming: loaded %lu pages", (unsigned long) prewarm_ctl->prewarmed_pages);
+	prewarm_ctl->completed = GetCurrentTimestamp();
+
+	LWLockAcquire(prewarm_lock, LW_EXCLUSIVE);
+	prewarm_ctl->prewarm_active = false;
+	LWLockRelease(prewarm_lock);
+}
+
+PG_FUNCTION_INFO_V1(get_local_cache_state);
+
+Datum
+get_local_cache_state(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
+{
+	size_t max_entries = PG_ARGISNULL(0) ? lfc_prewarm_limit : PG_GETARG_INT32(0);
+	FileCacheState* fcs;
+
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		fcs = communicator_new_get_lfc_state(max_entries);
+	else
+		fcs = lfc_get_state(max_entries);
+
+	if (fcs != NULL)
+		PG_RETURN_BYTEA_P((bytea*)fcs);
+	else
+		PG_RETURN_NULL();
+}
+
+PG_FUNCTION_INFO_V1(prewarm_local_cache);
+
+Datum
+prewarm_local_cache(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
+{
+	bytea* state = PG_GETARG_BYTEA_PP(0);
+	uint32 n_workers =  PG_GETARG_INT32(1);
+	FileCacheState* fcs;
+
+	fcs = (FileCacheState *)state;
+	validate_fcs(fcs);
+
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		lfc_prewarm_with_async_requests(fcs);
+	else
+		lfc_prewarm_with_workers(fcs, n_workers);
+
+	PG_RETURN_NULL();
+}
+
+PG_FUNCTION_INFO_V1(get_prewarm_info);
+
+Datum
+get_prewarm_info(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
+{
+	Datum		values[4];
+	bool		nulls[4];
+	TupleDesc	tupdesc;
+	uint32		prewarmed_pages = 0;
+	uint32		skipped_pages = 0;
+	uint32		active_workers = 0;
+	uint32		total_pages;
+
+	if (lfc_size_limit == 0)
+		PG_RETURN_NULL();
+
+	LWLockAcquire(prewarm_lock, LW_SHARED);
+	if (!prewarm_ctl || prewarm_ctl->n_prewarm_workers == 0)
+	{
+		LWLockRelease(prewarm_lock);
+		PG_RETURN_NULL();
+	}
+
+	if (prewarm_ctl->n_prewarm_workers == -1)
+	{
+		total_pages = prewarm_ctl->total_prewarm_pages;
+		prewarmed_pages = prewarm_ctl->prewarmed_pages;
+		skipped_pages = prewarm_ctl->prewarmed_pages;
+		active_workers = 1;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		size_t		n_workers;
+
+		n_workers = prewarm_ctl->n_prewarm_workers;
+		total_pages = prewarm_ctl->total_prewarm_pages;
+		for (size_t i = 0; i < n_workers; i++)
+		{
+			PrewarmWorkerState *ws = &prewarm_ctl->prewarm_workers[i];
+
+			prewarmed_pages += ws->prewarmed_pages;
+			skipped_pages += ws->skipped_pages;
+			active_workers += ws->completed != 0;
+		}
+	}
+	LWLockRelease(prewarm_lock);
+
+	tupdesc = CreateTemplateTupleDesc(4);
+	TupleDescInitEntry(tupdesc, (AttrNumber) 1, "total_pages", INT4OID, -1, 0);
+	TupleDescInitEntry(tupdesc, (AttrNumber) 2, "prewarmed_pages", INT4OID, -1, 0);
+	TupleDescInitEntry(tupdesc, (AttrNumber) 3, "skipped_pages", INT4OID, -1, 0);
+	TupleDescInitEntry(tupdesc, (AttrNumber) 4, "active_workers", INT4OID, -1, 0);
+	tupdesc = BlessTupleDesc(tupdesc);
+
+	MemSet(nulls, 0, sizeof(nulls));
+
+	values[0] = Int32GetDatum(total_pages);
+	values[1] = Int32GetDatum(prewarmed_pages);
+	values[2] = Int32GetDatum(skipped_pages);
+	values[3] = Int32GetDatum(active_workers);
+
+	PG_RETURN_DATUM(HeapTupleGetDatum(heap_form_tuple(tupdesc, values, nulls)));
+}
--- a/pgxn/neon/lfc_prewarm.h
+++ b/pgxn/neon/lfc_prewarm.h
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ *
+ * lfc_prewarm.h
+ *	  Local File Cache prewarmer
+ *
+ * Portions Copyright (c) 1996-2021, PostgreSQL Global Development Group
+ * Portions Copyright (c) 1994, Regents of the University of California
+ *
+ *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ */
+#ifndef LFC_PREWARM_H
+#define LFC_PREWARM_H
+
+#include "storage/buf_internals.h"
+
+typedef struct FileCacheState
+{
+	int32		vl_len_;		/* varlena header (do not touch directly!) */
+	uint32		magic;
+	uint32		n_chunks;
+	uint32		n_pages;
+	uint16		chunk_size_log;
+	BufferTag	chunks[FLEXIBLE_ARRAY_MEMBER];
+	/* followed by bitmap */
+} FileCacheState;
+
+#define FILE_CACHE_STATE_MAGIC 0xfcfcfcfc
+
+#define FILE_CACHE_STATE_BITMAP(fcs)	((uint8*)&(fcs)->chunks[(fcs)->n_chunks])
+#define FILE_CACHE_STATE_SIZE_FOR_CHUNKS(n_chunks, blocks_per_chunk)	(sizeof(FileCacheState) + (n_chunks)*sizeof(BufferTag) + (((n_chunks) * blocks_per_chunk)+7)/8)
+#define FILE_CACHE_STATE_SIZE(fcs)		(sizeof(FileCacheState) + (fcs->n_chunks)*sizeof(BufferTag) + (((fcs->n_chunks) << fcs->chunk_size_log)+7)/8)
+
+extern void pg_init_prewarm(void);
+extern void PrewarmShmemRequest(void);
+extern void PrewarmShmemInit(void);
+
+#endif							/* LFC_PREWARM_H */
+
+
--- a/pgxn/neon/libpagestore.c
+++ b/pgxn/neon/libpagestore.c
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ char	   *neon_project_id;
 char	   *neon_branch_id;
 char	   *neon_endpoint_id;
 int32		max_cluster_size;
-char	   *page_server_connstring;
+char	   *pageserver_connstring;
+char	   *pageserver_grpc_urls;
 char	   *neon_auth_token;

 int			readahead_buffer_size = 128;
@@ -79,20 +80,13 @@ int         neon_protocol_version = 3;

 static int	neon_compute_mode = 0;
 static int	max_reconnect_attempts = 60;
-static int	stripe_size;
+int		neon_stripe_size;
 static int	max_sockets;

 static int pageserver_response_log_timeout = 10000;
 /* 2.5 minutes. A bit higher than highest default TCP retransmission timeout */
 static int pageserver_response_disconnect_timeout = 150000;

-typedef struct
-{
-	char		connstring[MAX_SHARDS][MAX_PAGESERVER_CONNSTRING_SIZE];
-	size_t		num_shards;
-	size_t		stripe_size;
-} ShardMap;
-
 /*
 * PagestoreShmemState is kept in shared memory. It contains the connection
 * strings for each shard.
@@ -130,7 +124,7 @@ static uint64 pagestore_local_counter = 0;
 typedef enum PSConnectionState {
 	PS_Disconnected,			/* no connection yet */
 	PS_Connecting_Startup,		/* connection starting up */
-	PS_Connecting_PageStream,	/* negotiating pagestream */ 
+	PS_Connecting_PageStream,	/* negotiating pagestream */
 	PS_Connected,				/* connected, pagestream established */
 } PSConnectionState;

@@ -179,6 +173,8 @@ static bool pageserver_flush(shardno_t shard_no);
 static void pageserver_disconnect(shardno_t shard_no);
 static void pageserver_disconnect_shard(shardno_t shard_no);

+static void AssignShardMap(const char *newval);
+
 static bool
 PagestoreShmemIsValid(void)
 {
@@ -192,8 +188,8 @@ PagestoreShmemIsValid(void)
 * not valid, returns false. The contents of *result are undefined in
 * that case, and must not be relied on.
 */
-static bool
-ParseShardMap(const char *connstr, ShardMap *result)
+bool
+parse_shard_map(const char *connstr, ShardMap *result)
 {
 	const char *p;
 	int			nshards = 0;
@@ -238,24 +234,31 @@ ParseShardMap(const char *connstr, ShardMap *result)
 	if (result)
 	{
 		result->num_shards = nshards;
-		result->stripe_size = stripe_size;
+		result->stripe_size = neon_stripe_size;
 	}

 	return true;
 }

+/* GUC hooks for neon.pageserver_connstring */
 static bool
 CheckPageserverConnstring(char **newval, void **extra, GucSource source)
 {
 	char	   *p = *newval;

-	return ParseShardMap(p, NULL);
+	return parse_shard_map(p, NULL);
 }

 static void
 AssignPageserverConnstring(const char *newval, void *extra)
 {
-	ShardMap	shard_map;
+	/*
+	 * 'neon.pageserver_connstring' is ignored if the new communicator is used.
+	 * In that case, the shard map is loaded from 'neon.pageserver_grpc_urls'
+	 * instead, and that happens in the communicator process only.
+	 */
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		return;

 	/*
 	 * Only postmaster updates the copy in shared memory.
@@ -263,11 +266,29 @@ AssignPageserverConnstring(const char *newval, void *extra)
 	if (!PagestoreShmemIsValid() || IsUnderPostmaster)
 		return;

-	if (!ParseShardMap(newval, &shard_map))
+	AssignShardMap(newval);
+}
+
+
+/* GUC hooks for neon.pageserver_connstring */
+static bool
+CheckPageserverGrpcUrls(char **newval, void **extra, GucSource source)
+{
+	char	   *p = *newval;
+
+	return parse_shard_map(p, NULL);
+}
+
+static void
+AssignShardMap(const char *newval)
+{
+	ShardMap	shard_map;
+
+	if (!parse_shard_map(newval, &shard_map))
 	{
 		/*
 		 * shouldn't happen, because we already checked the value in
-		 * CheckPageserverConnstring
+		 * CheckPageserverConnstring/CheckPageserverGrpcUrls
 		 */
 		elog(ERROR, "could not parse shard map");
 	}
@@ -373,17 +394,17 @@ get_shard_number(BufferTag *tag)

 #if PG_MAJORVERSION_NUM < 16
 	hash = murmurhash32(tag->rnode.relNode);
-	hash = hash_combine(hash, murmurhash32(tag->blockNum / stripe_size));
+	hash = hash_combine(hash, murmurhash32(tag->blockNum / neon_stripe_size));
 #else
 	hash = murmurhash32(tag->relNumber);
-	hash = hash_combine(hash, murmurhash32(tag->blockNum / stripe_size));
+	hash = hash_combine(hash, murmurhash32(tag->blockNum / neon_stripe_size));
 #endif

 	return hash % n_shards;
 }

 static inline void
-CLEANUP_AND_DISCONNECT(PageServer *shard) 
+CLEANUP_AND_DISCONNECT(PageServer *shard)
 {
 	if (shard->wes_read)
 	{
@@ -405,7 +426,7 @@ CLEANUP_AND_DISCONNECT(PageServer *shard)
 * complete the connection (e.g. due to receiving an earlier cancellation
 * during connection start).
 * Returns true if successfully connected; false if the connection failed.
- * 
+ *
 * Throws errors in unrecoverable situations, or when this backend's query
 * is canceled.
 */
@@ -1308,7 +1329,7 @@ PagestoreShmemInit(void)
 		pg_atomic_init_u64(&pagestore_shared->begin_update_counter, 0);
 		pg_atomic_init_u64(&pagestore_shared->end_update_counter, 0);
 		memset(&pagestore_shared->shard_map, 0, sizeof(ShardMap));
-		AssignPageserverConnstring(page_server_connstring, NULL);
+		AssignPageserverConnstring(pageserver_connstring, NULL);
 	}
 }

@@ -1327,12 +1348,21 @@ pg_init_libpagestore(void)
 	DefineCustomStringVariable("neon.pageserver_connstring",
 							   "connection string to the page server",
 							   NULL,
-							   &page_server_connstring,
+							   &pageserver_connstring,
 							   "",
 							   PGC_SIGHUP,
 							   0,	/* no flags required */
 							   CheckPageserverConnstring, AssignPageserverConnstring, NULL);

+	DefineCustomStringVariable("neon.pageserver_grpc_urls",
+							   "list of gRPC URLs for the page servers",
+							   NULL,
+							   &pageserver_grpc_urls,
+							   "",
+							   PGC_SIGHUP,
+							   0,	/* no flags required */
+							   CheckPageserverGrpcUrls, NULL, NULL);
+
 	DefineCustomStringVariable("neon.timeline_id",
 							   "Neon timeline_id the server is running on",
 							   NULL,
@@ -1379,7 +1409,7 @@ pg_init_libpagestore(void)
 	DefineCustomIntVariable("neon.stripe_size",
 							"sharding stripe size",
 							NULL,
-							&stripe_size,
+							&neon_stripe_size,
 							2048, 1, INT_MAX,
 							PGC_SIGHUP,
 							GUC_UNIT_BLOCKS,
@@ -1488,7 +1518,7 @@ pg_init_libpagestore(void)
 	if (neon_auth_token)
 		neon_log(LOG, "using storage auth token from NEON_AUTH_TOKEN environment variable");

-	if (page_server_connstring && page_server_connstring[0])
+	if (pageserver_connstring[0] || pageserver_grpc_urls[0])
 	{
 		neon_log(PageStoreTrace, "set neon_smgr hook");
 		smgr_hook = smgr_neon;
--- a/pgxn/neon/neon.c
+++ b/pgxn/neon/neon.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "replication/logicallauncher.h"
 #include "replication/slot.h"
 #include "replication/walsender.h"
+#include "storage/ipc.h"
 #include "storage/proc.h"
 #include "storage/ipc.h"
 #include "funcapi.h"
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "utils/guc_tables.h"

 #include "communicator.h"
+#include "communicator_new.h"
 #include "communicator_process.h"
 #include "extension_server.h"
 #include "file_cache.h"
@@ -455,6 +457,16 @@ _PG_init(void)
 	load_file("$libdir/neon_rmgr", false);
 #endif

+	DefineCustomBoolVariable(
+							"neon.use_communicator_worker",
+							"Uses the communicator worker implementation",
+							NULL,
+							&neon_use_communicator_worker,
+							true,
+							PGC_POSTMASTER,
+							0,
+							NULL, NULL, NULL);
+
 	/*
 	 * Initializing a pre-loaded Postgres extension happens in three stages:
 	 *
@@ -489,12 +501,14 @@ _PG_init(void)
 	pg_init_libpagestore();
 	relsize_hash_init();
 	lfc_init();
+	pg_init_prewarm();
 	pg_init_walproposer();
 	init_lwlsncache();

 	pg_init_communicator_process();

 	pg_init_communicator();
+
 	Custom_XLogReaderRoutines = NeonOnDemandXLogReaderRoutines;

 	InitUnstableExtensionsSupport();
@@ -673,7 +687,10 @@ approximate_working_set_size_seconds(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)

 	duration = PG_ARGISNULL(0) ? (time_t) -1 : PG_GETARG_INT32(0);

-	dc = lfc_approximate_working_set_size_seconds(duration, false);
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		dc = communicator_new_approximate_working_set_size_seconds(duration, false);
+	else
+		dc = lfc_approximate_working_set_size_seconds(duration, false);
 	if (dc < 0)
 		PG_RETURN_NULL();
 	else
@@ -686,13 +703,49 @@ approximate_working_set_size(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
 	bool		reset = PG_GETARG_BOOL(0);
 	int32		dc;

-	dc = lfc_approximate_working_set_size_seconds(-1, reset);
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		dc = communicator_new_approximate_working_set_size_seconds(-1, reset);
+	else
+		dc = lfc_approximate_working_set_size_seconds(-1, reset);
 	if (dc < 0)
 		PG_RETURN_NULL();
 	else
 		PG_RETURN_INT32(dc);
 }

+PG_FUNCTION_INFO_V1(neon_get_lfc_stats);
+Datum
+neon_get_lfc_stats(PG_FUNCTION_ARGS)
+{
+#define NUM_NEON_GET_STATS_COLS	2
+	ReturnSetInfo *rsinfo = (ReturnSetInfo *) fcinfo->resultinfo;
+	LfcStatsEntry *entries;
+	LfcStatsEntry *entry;
+
+	InitMaterializedSRF(fcinfo, 0);
+
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		entries = communicator_new_get_lfc_stats();
+	else
+		entries = get_lfc_stats();
+
+	entry = entries;
+	while (entry->metric_name != NULL)
+	{
+		Datum		values[NUM_NEON_GET_STATS_COLS];
+		bool		nulls[NUM_NEON_GET_STATS_COLS];
+
+		values[0] = CStringGetTextDatum(entry->metric_name);
+		nulls[1] = entry->isnull;
+		values[1] = Int64GetDatum(entry->isnull ? 0 : entry->value);
+		tuplestore_putvalues(rsinfo->setResult, rsinfo->setDesc, values, nulls);
+		entry++;
+	}
+
+	PG_RETURN_VOID();
+}
+
+
 /*
 * Initialization stage 2: make requests for the amount of shared memory we
 * will need.
@@ -708,11 +761,13 @@ neon_shmem_request_hook(void)
 #endif

 	LfcShmemRequest();
+	PrewarmShmemRequest();
 	NeonPerfCountersShmemRequest();
 	PagestoreShmemRequest();
 	RelsizeCacheShmemRequest();
 	WalproposerShmemRequest();
 	LwLsnCacheShmemRequest();
+	CommunicatorNewShmemRequest();
 }


@@ -731,11 +786,13 @@ neon_shmem_startup_hook(void)
 	LWLockAcquire(AddinShmemInitLock, LW_EXCLUSIVE);

 	LfcShmemInit();
+	PrewarmShmemInit();
 	NeonPerfCountersShmemInit();
 	PagestoreShmemInit();
 	RelsizeCacheShmemInit();
 	WalproposerShmemInit();
 	LwLsnCacheShmemInit();
+	CommunicatorNewShmemInit();

 #if PG_MAJORVERSION_NUM >= 17
 	WAIT_EVENT_NEON_LFC_MAINTENANCE = WaitEventExtensionNew("Neon/FileCache_Maintenance");
--- a/pgxn/neon/neon.h
+++ b/pgxn/neon/neon.h
@@ -84,5 +84,10 @@ extern void WalproposerShmemInit(void);
 extern void LwLsnCacheShmemInit(void);
 extern void NeonPerfCountersShmemInit(void);

+typedef struct LfcStatsEntry {
+	const char *metric_name;
+	bool		isnull;
+	uint64		value;
+} LfcStatsEntry;

 #endif							/* NEON_H */
--- a/pgxn/neon/neon_pgversioncompat.h
+++ b/pgxn/neon/neon_pgversioncompat.h
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@
 #include "fmgr.h"
 #include "storage/buf_internals.h"

+#if PG_MAJORVERSION_NUM < 16
+typedef PGAlignedBlock PGIOAlignedBlock;
+#endif
+
 #if PG_MAJORVERSION_NUM < 17
 #define NRelFileInfoBackendIsTemp(rinfo) (rinfo.backend != InvalidBackendId)
 #else
@@ -158,6 +162,10 @@ InitBufferTag(BufferTag *tag, const RelFileNode *rnode,
 #define AmAutoVacuumWorkerProcess() (IsAutoVacuumWorkerProcess())
 #endif

+#if PG_MAJORVERSION_NUM < 17
+#define	MyProcNumber (MyProc - &ProcGlobal->allProcs[0])
+#endif
+
 #if PG_MAJORVERSION_NUM < 15
 extern void InitMaterializedSRF(FunctionCallInfo fcinfo, bits32 flags);
 extern TimeLineID GetWALInsertionTimeLine(void);
--- a/pgxn/neon/pagestore_client.h
+++ b/pgxn/neon/pagestore_client.h
@@ -236,14 +236,24 @@ extern void prefetch_on_ps_disconnect(void);

 extern page_server_api *page_server;

-extern char *page_server_connstring;
+extern char *pageserver_connstring;
+extern char *pageserver_grpc_urls;
 extern int	flush_every_n_requests;
 extern int	readahead_buffer_size;
 extern char *neon_timeline;
 extern char *neon_tenant;
 extern int32 max_cluster_size;
 extern int  neon_protocol_version;
+extern int	neon_stripe_size;

+typedef struct
+{
+	char		connstring[MAX_SHARDS][MAX_PAGESERVER_CONNSTRING_SIZE];
+	size_t		num_shards;
+	size_t		stripe_size;
+} ShardMap;
+
+extern bool parse_shard_map(const char *connstr, ShardMap *result);
 extern shardno_t get_shard_number(BufferTag* tag);

 extern const f_smgr *smgr_neon(ProcNumber backend, NRelFileInfo rinfo);
@@ -290,6 +300,7 @@ extern int64 neon_dbsize(Oid dbNode);
 extern void neon_get_request_lsns(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forknum,
 								  BlockNumber blkno, neon_request_lsns *output,
 								  BlockNumber nblocks);
+extern XLogRecPtr neon_get_write_lsn(void);

 /* utils for neon relsize cache */
 extern void relsize_hash_init(void);
--- a/pgxn/neon/pagestore_smgr.c
+++ b/pgxn/neon/pagestore_smgr.c
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@

 #include "bitmap.h"
 #include "communicator.h"
+#include "communicator_new.h"
 #include "file_cache.h"
 #include "neon.h"
 #include "neon_lwlsncache.h"
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ static char *hexdump_page(char *page);
 		NInfoGetRelNumber(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln)) >= FirstNormalObjectId \
 )

-const int	SmgrTrace = DEBUG5;
+const int	SmgrTrace = DEBUG1;

 /* unlogged relation build states */
 typedef enum
@@ -501,6 +502,60 @@ nm_adjust_lsn(XLogRecPtr lsn)
 	return lsn;
 }

+/*
+ * Get a LSN to use to stamp an operation like relation create or truncate.
+ * On operations on individual pages we use the LSN of the page, but when
+ * e.g. smgrcreate() is called, we have to do something else.
+ */
+XLogRecPtr
+neon_get_write_lsn(void)
+{
+	XLogRecPtr	lsn;
+
+	if (RecoveryInProgress())
+	{
+		/*
+		 * FIXME: v14 doesn't have GetCurrentReplayRecPtr(). Options:
+		 * - add it in our fork
+		 * - store a magic value that means that you must use
+		 *   current latest possible LSN at the time that the request
+		 *   on this thing is made again (or some other recent enough
+		 *   lsn).
+		 */
+#if PG_VERSION_NUM >= 150000
+		lsn = GetCurrentReplayRecPtr(NULL);
+#else
+		lsn = GetXLogReplayRecPtr(NULL); /* FIXME: this is wrong, see above */
+#endif
+	}
+	else
+		lsn = GetXLogInsertRecPtr();
+
+	/*
+	 * If the insert LSN points to just after page header, round it down to
+	 * the beginning of the page, because the page header might not have been
+	 * inserted to the WAL yet, and if we tried to flush it, the WAL flushing
+	 * code gets upset.
+	 */
+	{
+		int			segoff;
+
+		segoff = XLogSegmentOffset(lsn, wal_segment_size);
+		if (segoff == SizeOfXLogLongPHD)
+		{
+			lsn = lsn - segoff;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			int			offset = lsn % XLOG_BLCKSZ;
+
+			if (offset == SizeOfXLogShortPHD)
+				lsn = lsn - offset;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return lsn;
+}

 /*
 * Return LSN for requesting pages and number of blocks from page server
@@ -744,11 +799,6 @@ neon_exists(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forkNum)
 			neon_log(ERROR, "unknown relpersistence '%c'", reln->smgr_relpersistence);
 	}

-	if (get_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, &n_blocks))
-	{
-		return true;
-	}
-
 	/*
 	 * \d+ on a view calls smgrexists with 0/0/0 relfilenode. The page server
 	 * will error out if you check that, because the whole dbdir for
@@ -772,10 +822,20 @@ neon_exists(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forkNum)
 		return false;
 	}

-	neon_get_request_lsns(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum,
-						  REL_METADATA_PSEUDO_BLOCKNO, &request_lsns, 1);
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		return communicator_new_rel_exists(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum);
+	else
+	{
+		if (get_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, &n_blocks))
+		{
+			return true;
+		}

-	return communicator_exists(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, &request_lsns);
+		neon_get_request_lsns(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum,
+							  REL_METADATA_PSEUDO_BLOCKNO, &request_lsns, 1);
+
+		return communicator_exists(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, &request_lsns);
+	}
 }

 /*
@@ -833,16 +893,36 @@ neon_create(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forkNum, bool isRedo)
 	 * relation. Currently, we don't call SetLastWrittenLSN() when a new
 	 * relation created, so if we didn't remember the size in the relsize
 	 * cache, we might call smgrnblocks() on the newly-created relation before
-	 * the creation WAL record hass been received by the page server.
+	 * the creation WAL record has been received by the page server.
+	 *
+	 * XXX: with the new communicator, similar considerations apply. However,
+	 * during replay, neon_get_write_lsn() returns the (end-)LSN of the record
+	 * that's being replayed, so we should not have the correctness issue
+	 * mentioned in previous paragraph.
 	 */
-	if (isRedo)
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
 	{
-		update_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, 0);
-		get_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum,
-						   &reln->smgr_cached_nblocks[forkNum]);
+		XLogRecPtr	lsn = neon_get_write_lsn();
+
+		if (isRedo)
+		{
+			if (!communicator_new_rel_exists(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum))
+				communicator_new_rel_create(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, lsn);
+		}
+		else
+			communicator_new_rel_create(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, lsn);
 	}
 	else
-		set_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, 0);
+	{
+		if (isRedo)
+		{
+			update_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, 0);
+			get_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum,
+							   &reln->smgr_cached_nblocks[forkNum]);
+		}
+		else
+			set_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, 0);
+	}

 	if (debug_compare_local)
 	{
@@ -878,9 +958,17 @@ neon_unlink(NRelFileInfoBackend rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, bool isRedo)
 	 * unlink, it won't do any harm if the file doesn't exist.
 	 */
 	mdunlink(rinfo, forkNum, isRedo);
+
 	if (!NRelFileInfoBackendIsTemp(rinfo))
 	{
-		forget_cached_relsize(InfoFromNInfoB(rinfo), forkNum);
+		if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		{
+			XLogRecPtr	lsn = neon_get_write_lsn();
+
+			communicator_new_rel_unlink(InfoFromNInfoB(rinfo), forkNum, lsn);
+		}
+		else
+			forget_cached_relsize(InfoFromNInfoB(rinfo), forkNum);
 	}
 }

@@ -960,7 +1048,6 @@ neon_extend(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno,
 		neon_wallog_page(reln, forkNum, n_blocks++, buffer, true);

 	neon_wallog_page(reln, forkNum, blkno, buffer, false);
-	set_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno + 1);

 	lsn = PageGetLSN((Page) buffer);
 	neon_log(SmgrTrace, "smgrextend called for %u/%u/%u.%u blk %u, page LSN: %X/%08X",
@@ -968,35 +1055,51 @@ neon_extend(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno,
 		 forkNum, blkno,
 		 (uint32) (lsn >> 32), (uint32) lsn);

-	lfc_write(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno, buffer);
-
-	if (debug_compare_local)
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
 	{
-		if (IS_LOCAL_REL(reln))
-			mdextend(reln, forkNum, blkno, buffer, skipFsync);
-	}
+		// FIXME: this can pass lsn == invalid. Is that ok?
+		communicator_new_rel_extend(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno, (const void *) buffer, lsn);

-	/*
-	 * smgr_extend is often called with an all-zeroes page, so
-	 * lsn==InvalidXLogRecPtr. An smgr_write() call will come for the buffer
-	 * later, after it has been initialized with the real page contents, and
-	 * it is eventually evicted from the buffer cache. But we need a valid LSN
-	 * to the relation metadata update now.
-	 */
-	if (lsn == InvalidXLogRecPtr)
-	{
-		lsn = GetXLogInsertRecPtr();
-		neon_set_lwlsn_block(lsn, InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno);
+		if (debug_compare_local)
+		{
+			if (IS_LOCAL_REL(reln))
+				mdextend(reln, forkNum, blkno, buffer, skipFsync);
+		}
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		set_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno + 1);
+		lfc_write(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno, buffer);
+
+		if (debug_compare_local)
+		{
+			if (IS_LOCAL_REL(reln))
+				mdextend(reln, forkNum, blkno, buffer, skipFsync);
+		}
+
+		/*
+		 * smgr_extend is often called with an all-zeroes page, so
+		 * lsn==InvalidXLogRecPtr. An smgr_write() call will come for the buffer
+		 * later, after it has been initialized with the real page contents, and
+		 * it is eventually evicted from the buffer cache. But we need a valid LSN
+		 * to the relation metadata update now.
+		 */
+		if (lsn == InvalidXLogRecPtr)
+		{
+			lsn = GetXLogInsertRecPtr();
+			neon_set_lwlsn_block(lsn, InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno);
+		}
+		neon_set_lwlsn_relation(lsn, InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum);
 	}
-	neon_set_lwlsn_relation(lsn, InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum);
 }

 #if PG_MAJORVERSION_NUM >= 16
 static void
-neon_zeroextend(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blocknum,
+neon_zeroextend(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber start_block,
 				int nblocks, bool skipFsync)
 {
 	const PGIOAlignedBlock buffer = {0};
+	BlockNumber blocknum = start_block;
 	int			remblocks = nblocks;
 	XLogRecPtr	lsn = 0;

@@ -1079,11 +1182,14 @@ neon_zeroextend(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blocknum,

 		lsn = XLogInsert(RM_XLOG_ID, XLOG_FPI);

-		for (int i = 0; i < count; i++)
+		if (!neon_use_communicator_worker)
 		{
-			lfc_write(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blocknum + i, buffer.data);
-			neon_set_lwlsn_block(lsn, InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum,
-									  blocknum + i);
+			for (int i = 0; i < count; i++)
+			{
+				lfc_write(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blocknum + i, buffer.data);
+				neon_set_lwlsn_block(lsn, InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum,
+									 blocknum + i);
+			}
 		}

 		blocknum += count;
@@ -1092,8 +1198,15 @@ neon_zeroextend(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blocknum,

 	Assert(lsn != 0);

-	neon_set_lwlsn_relation(lsn, InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum);
-	set_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blocknum);
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+	{
+		communicator_new_rel_zeroextend(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, start_block, nblocks, lsn);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		neon_set_lwlsn_relation(lsn, InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum);
+		set_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blocknum);
+	}
 }
 #endif

@@ -1153,6 +1266,12 @@ neon_prefetch(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber blocknum,
 			neon_log(ERROR, "unknown relpersistence '%c'", reln->smgr_relpersistence);
 	}

+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+	{
+		communicator_new_prefetch_register_bufferv(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blocknum, nblocks);
+		return false;
+	}
+
 	tag.spcOid = reln->smgr_rlocator.locator.spcOid;
 	tag.dbOid = reln->smgr_rlocator.locator.dbOid;
 	tag.relNumber = reln->smgr_rlocator.locator.relNumber;
@@ -1179,7 +1298,8 @@ neon_prefetch(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber blocknum,
 		blocknum += iterblocks;
 	}

-	communicator_prefetch_pump_state();
+	if (!neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		communicator_prefetch_pump_state();

 	return false;
 }
@@ -1192,8 +1312,6 @@ neon_prefetch(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber blocknum,
 static bool
 neon_prefetch(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber blocknum)
 {
-	BufferTag	tag;
-
 	switch (reln->smgr_relpersistence)
 	{
 		case 0:					/* probably shouldn't happen, but ignore it */
@@ -1208,17 +1326,25 @@ neon_prefetch(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber blocknum)
 			neon_log(ERROR, "unknown relpersistence '%c'", reln->smgr_relpersistence);
 	}

-	if (lfc_cache_contains(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blocknum))
-		return false;
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+	{
+		communicator_new_prefetch_register_bufferv(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blocknum, 1);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		BufferTag	tag;

-	tag.forkNum = forknum;
-	tag.blockNum = blocknum;
+		if (lfc_cache_contains(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blocknum))
+			return false;

-	CopyNRelFileInfoToBufTag(tag, InfoFromSMgrRel(reln));
+		tag.forkNum = forknum;
+		tag.blockNum = blocknum;

-	communicator_prefetch_register_bufferv(tag, NULL, 1, NULL);
+		CopyNRelFileInfoToBufTag(tag, InfoFromSMgrRel(reln));
+		communicator_prefetch_register_bufferv(tag, NULL, 1, NULL);

-	communicator_prefetch_pump_state();
+		communicator_prefetch_pump_state();
+	}

 	return false;
 }
@@ -1262,7 +1388,8 @@ neon_writeback(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forknum,
 	 */
 	neon_log(SmgrTrace, "writeback noop");

-	communicator_prefetch_pump_state();
+	if (!neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		communicator_prefetch_pump_state();

 	if (debug_compare_local)
 	{
@@ -1279,7 +1406,14 @@ void
 neon_read_at_lsn(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno,
 				 neon_request_lsns request_lsns, void *buffer)
 {
-	communicator_read_at_lsnv(rinfo, forkNum, blkno, &request_lsns, &buffer, 1, NULL);
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+	{
+		// FIXME: request_lsns is ignored. That affects the neon_test_utils callers.
+		// Add the capability to specify the LSNs explicitly, for the sake of neon_test_utils ?
+		communicator_new_read_at_lsnv(rinfo, forkNum, blkno, &buffer, 1);
+	}
+	else
+		communicator_read_at_lsnv(rinfo, forkNum, blkno, &request_lsns, &buffer, 1, NULL);
 }

 static void
@@ -1405,47 +1539,55 @@ neon_read(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forkNum, BlockNumber blkno, void *buffer
 			neon_log(ERROR, "unknown relpersistence '%c'", reln->smgr_relpersistence);
 	}

-	/* Try to read PS results if they are available */
-	communicator_prefetch_pump_state();
-
-	neon_get_request_lsns(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno, &request_lsns, 1);
-
-	present = 0;
-	bufferp = buffer;
-	if (communicator_prefetch_lookupv(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno, &request_lsns, 1, &bufferp, &present))
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
 	{
-		/* Prefetch hit */
-		if (debug_compare_local >= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_PREFETCH)
-		{
-			compare_with_local(reln, forkNum, blkno, buffer, request_lsns.request_lsn);
-		}
-		if (debug_compare_local <= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_PREFETCH)
-		{
-			return;
-		}
+		communicator_new_read_at_lsnv(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno,
+									  (void *) &buffer, 1);
 	}
-
-	/* Try to read from local file cache */
-	if (lfc_read(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno, buffer))
+	else
 	{
-		MyNeonCounters->file_cache_hits_total++;
-		if (debug_compare_local >= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_LFC)
+		/* Try to read PS results if they are available */
+		communicator_prefetch_pump_state();
+
+		neon_get_request_lsns(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno, &request_lsns, 1);
+
+		present = 0;
+		bufferp = buffer;
+		if (communicator_prefetch_lookupv(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno, &request_lsns, 1, &bufferp, &present))
 		{
-			compare_with_local(reln, forkNum, blkno, buffer, request_lsns.request_lsn);
+			/* Prefetch hit */
+			if (debug_compare_local >= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_PREFETCH)
+			{
+				compare_with_local(reln, forkNum, blkno, buffer, request_lsns.request_lsn);
+			}
+			if (debug_compare_local <= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_PREFETCH)
+			{
+				return;
+			}
 		}
-		if (debug_compare_local <= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_LFC)
+
+		/* Try to read from local file cache */
+		if (lfc_read(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno, buffer))
 		{
-			return;
+			MyNeonCounters->file_cache_hits_total++;
+			if (debug_compare_local >= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_LFC)
+			{
+				compare_with_local(reln, forkNum, blkno, buffer, request_lsns.request_lsn);
+			}
+			if (debug_compare_local <= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_LFC)
+			{
+				return;
+			}
 		}
+
+		neon_read_at_lsn(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno, request_lsns, buffer);
+
+		/*
+		 * Try to receive prefetch results once again just to make sure we don't leave the smgr code while the OS might still have buffered bytes.
+		 */
+		communicator_prefetch_pump_state();
 	}

-	neon_read_at_lsn(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forkNum, blkno, request_lsns, buffer);
-
-	/*
-	 * Try to receive prefetch results once again just to make sure we don't leave the smgr code while the OS might still have buffered bytes.
-	 */
-	communicator_prefetch_pump_state();
-
 	if (debug_compare_local)
 	{
 		compare_with_local(reln, forkNum, blkno, buffer, request_lsns.request_lsn);
@@ -1508,59 +1650,67 @@ neon_readv(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber blocknum,
 				 nblocks, PG_IOV_MAX);

 	/* Try to read PS results if they are available */
-	communicator_prefetch_pump_state();
-
-	neon_get_request_lsns(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blocknum,
-						  request_lsns, nblocks);
+	if (!neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		communicator_prefetch_pump_state();

 	memset(read_pages, 0, sizeof(read_pages));

-	prefetch_result = communicator_prefetch_lookupv(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum,
-													blocknum, request_lsns, nblocks,
-													buffers, read_pages);
-
-	if (debug_compare_local >= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_PREFETCH)
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
 	{
-		compare_with_localv(reln, forknum, blocknum, buffers, nblocks, request_lsns, read_pages);
+		communicator_new_read_at_lsnv(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blocknum,
+									  buffers, nblocks);
 	}
-	if (debug_compare_local <= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_PREFETCH && prefetch_result == nblocks)
+	else
 	{
-		return;
+		neon_get_request_lsns(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blocknum,
+							  request_lsns, nblocks);
+
+		prefetch_result = communicator_prefetch_lookupv(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum,
+														blocknum, request_lsns, nblocks,
+														buffers, read_pages);
+
+		if (debug_compare_local >= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_PREFETCH)
+		{
+			compare_with_localv(reln, forknum, blocknum, buffers, nblocks, request_lsns, read_pages);
+		}
+		if (debug_compare_local <= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_PREFETCH && prefetch_result == nblocks)
+		{
+			return;
+		}
+		if (debug_compare_local > DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_PREFETCH)
+		{
+			memset(read_pages, 0, sizeof(read_pages));
+		}
+
+		/* Try to read from local file cache */
+		lfc_result = lfc_readv_select(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blocknum, buffers,
+									  nblocks, read_pages);
+
+		if (lfc_result > 0)
+			MyNeonCounters->file_cache_hits_total += lfc_result;
+
+		if (debug_compare_local >= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_LFC)
+		{
+			compare_with_localv(reln, forknum, blocknum, buffers, nblocks, request_lsns, read_pages);
+		}
+		if (debug_compare_local <= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_LFC && prefetch_result + lfc_result == nblocks)
+		{
+			/* Read all blocks from LFC, so we're done */
+			return;
+		}
+		if (debug_compare_local > DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_LFC)
+		{
+			memset(read_pages, 0, sizeof(read_pages));
+		}
+
+		communicator_read_at_lsnv(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blocknum, request_lsns,
+								  buffers, nblocks, read_pages);
+
+		/*
+		 * Try to receive prefetch results once again just to make sure we don't leave the smgr code while the OS might still have buffered bytes.
+		 */
+		communicator_prefetch_pump_state();
 	}
-	if (debug_compare_local > DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_PREFETCH)
-	{
-		memset(read_pages, 0, sizeof(read_pages));
-	}
-
-
-	/* Try to read from local file cache */
-	lfc_result = lfc_readv_select(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blocknum, buffers,
-								  nblocks, read_pages);
-
-	if (lfc_result > 0)
-		MyNeonCounters->file_cache_hits_total += lfc_result;
-
-	if (debug_compare_local >= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_LFC)
-	{
-		compare_with_localv(reln, forknum, blocknum, buffers, nblocks, request_lsns, read_pages);
-	}
-	if (debug_compare_local <= DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_LFC && prefetch_result + lfc_result == nblocks)
-	{
-		/* Read all blocks from LFC, so we're done */
-		return;
-	}
-	if (debug_compare_local > DEBUG_COMPARE_LOCAL_LFC)
-	{
-		memset(read_pages, 0, sizeof(read_pages));
-	}
-
-	communicator_read_at_lsnv(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blocknum, request_lsns,
-							  buffers, nblocks, read_pages);
-
-	/*
-	 * Try to receive prefetch results once again just to make sure we don't leave the smgr code while the OS might still have buffered bytes.
-	 */
-	communicator_prefetch_pump_state();

 	if (debug_compare_local)
 	{
@@ -1661,9 +1811,16 @@ neon_write(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber blocknum, const vo
 		 forknum, blocknum,
 		 (uint32) (lsn >> 32), (uint32) lsn);

-	lfc_write(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blocknum, buffer);
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+	{
+		communicator_new_write_page(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blocknum, buffer, lsn);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		lfc_write(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blocknum, buffer);

-	communicator_prefetch_pump_state();
+		communicator_prefetch_pump_state();
+	}

 	if (debug_compare_local)
 	{
@@ -1724,9 +1881,21 @@ neon_writev(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber blkno,

 	neon_wallog_pagev(reln, forknum, blkno, nblocks, (const char **) buffers, false);

-	lfc_writev(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blkno, buffers, nblocks);
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+	{
+		for (int i = 0; i < nblocks; i++)
+		{
+			XLogRecPtr lsn = PageGetLSN((Page) buffers[i]);

-	communicator_prefetch_pump_state();
+			communicator_new_write_page(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blkno + i, buffers[i], lsn);
+		}
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		lfc_writev(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, blkno, buffers, nblocks);
+
+		communicator_prefetch_pump_state();
+	}

 	if (debug_compare_local)
 	{
@@ -1767,19 +1936,26 @@ neon_nblocks(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forknum)
 			neon_log(ERROR, "unknown relpersistence '%c'", reln->smgr_relpersistence);
 	}

-	if (get_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, &n_blocks))
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
 	{
-		neon_log(SmgrTrace, "cached nblocks for %u/%u/%u.%u: %u blocks",
-			 RelFileInfoFmt(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln)),
-			 forknum, n_blocks);
-		return n_blocks;
+		n_blocks = communicator_new_rel_nblocks(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum);
 	}
+	else
+	{
+		if (get_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, &n_blocks))
+		{
+			neon_log(SmgrTrace, "cached nblocks for %u/%u/%u.%u: %u blocks",
+					 RelFileInfoFmt(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln)),
+					 forknum, n_blocks);
+			return n_blocks;
+		}

-	neon_get_request_lsns(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum,
-						  REL_METADATA_PSEUDO_BLOCKNO, &request_lsns, 1);
+		neon_get_request_lsns(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum,
+							  REL_METADATA_PSEUDO_BLOCKNO, &request_lsns, 1);

-	n_blocks = communicator_nblocks(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, &request_lsns);
-	update_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, n_blocks);
+		n_blocks = communicator_nblocks(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, &request_lsns);
+		update_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, n_blocks);
+	}

 	neon_log(SmgrTrace, "neon_nblocks: rel %u/%u/%u fork %u (request LSN %X/%08X): %u blocks",
 			 RelFileInfoFmt(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln)),
@@ -1800,10 +1976,17 @@ neon_dbsize(Oid dbNode)
 	neon_request_lsns request_lsns;
 	NRelFileInfo dummy_node = {0};

-	neon_get_request_lsns(dummy_node, MAIN_FORKNUM,
-						  REL_METADATA_PSEUDO_BLOCKNO, &request_lsns, 1);
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+	{
+		db_size = communicator_new_dbsize(dbNode);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		neon_get_request_lsns(dummy_node, MAIN_FORKNUM,
+							  REL_METADATA_PSEUDO_BLOCKNO, &request_lsns, 1);

-	db_size = communicator_dbsize(dbNode, &request_lsns);
+		db_size = communicator_dbsize(dbNode, &request_lsns);
+	}

 	neon_log(SmgrTrace, "neon_dbsize: db %u (request LSN %X/%08X): %ld bytes",
 			 dbNode, LSN_FORMAT_ARGS(request_lsns.effective_request_lsn), db_size);
@@ -1817,8 +2000,6 @@ neon_dbsize(Oid dbNode)
 static void
 neon_truncate(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber old_blocks, BlockNumber nblocks)
 {
-	XLogRecPtr	lsn;
-
 	switch (reln->smgr_relpersistence)
 	{
 		case 0:
@@ -1842,34 +2023,45 @@ neon_truncate(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber old_blocks, Blo
 			neon_log(ERROR, "unknown relpersistence '%c'", reln->smgr_relpersistence);
 	}

-	set_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, nblocks);
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+	{
+		XLogRecPtr	lsn = neon_get_write_lsn();

-	/*
-	 * Truncating a relation drops all its buffers from the buffer cache
-	 * without calling smgrwrite() on them. But we must account for that in
-	 * our tracking of last-written-LSN all the same: any future smgrnblocks()
-	 * request must return the new size after the truncation. We don't know
-	 * what the LSN of the truncation record was, so be conservative and use
-	 * the most recently inserted WAL record's LSN.
-	 */
-	lsn = GetXLogInsertRecPtr();
-	lsn = nm_adjust_lsn(lsn);
+		communicator_new_rel_truncate(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, nblocks, lsn);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		XLogRecPtr	lsn;

-	/*
-	 * Flush it, too. We don't actually care about it here, but let's uphold
-	 * the invariant that last-written LSN <= flush LSN.
-	 */
-	XLogFlush(lsn);
+		set_cached_relsize(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, nblocks);

-	/*
-	 * Truncate may affect several chunks of relations. So we should either
-	 * update last written LSN for all of them, or update LSN for "dummy"
-	 * metadata block. Second approach seems more efficient. If the relation
-	 * is extended again later, the extension will update the last-written LSN
-	 * for the extended pages, so there's no harm in leaving behind obsolete
-	 * entries for the truncated chunks.
-	 */
-	neon_set_lwlsn_relation(lsn, InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum);
+		/*
+		 * Truncating a relation drops all its buffers from the buffer cache
+		 * without calling smgrwrite() on them. But we must account for that in
+		 * our tracking of last-written-LSN all the same: any future smgrnblocks()
+		 * request must return the new size after the truncation. We don't know
+		 * what the LSN of the truncation record was, so be conservative and use
+		 * the most recently inserted WAL record's LSN.
+		 */
+		lsn = GetXLogInsertRecPtr();
+		lsn = nm_adjust_lsn(lsn);
+
+		/*
+		 * Flush it, too. We don't actually care about it here, but let's uphold
+		 * the invariant that last-written LSN <= flush LSN.
+		 */
+		XLogFlush(lsn);
+
+		/*
+		 * Truncate may affect several chunks of relations. So we should either
+		 * update last written LSN for all of them, or update LSN for "dummy"
+		 * metadata block. Second approach seems more efficient. If the relation
+		 * is extended again later, the extension will update the last-written LSN
+		 * for the extended pages, so there's no harm in leaving behind obsolete
+		 * entries for the truncated chunks.
+		 */
+		neon_set_lwlsn_relation(lsn, InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum);
+	}

 	if (debug_compare_local)
 	{
@@ -1912,7 +2104,8 @@ neon_immedsync(SMgrRelation reln, ForkNumber forknum)

 	neon_log(SmgrTrace, "[NEON_SMGR] immedsync noop");

-	communicator_prefetch_pump_state();
+	if (!neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		communicator_prefetch_pump_state();

 	if (debug_compare_local)
 	{
@@ -2098,12 +2291,15 @@ neon_end_unlogged_build(SMgrRelation reln)
 		nblocks = mdnblocks(reln, MAIN_FORKNUM);
 		recptr = GetXLogInsertRecPtr();

-		neon_set_lwlsn_block_range(recptr,
-								   InfoFromNInfoB(rinfob),
-								   MAIN_FORKNUM, 0, nblocks);
-		neon_set_lwlsn_relation(recptr,
-								InfoFromNInfoB(rinfob),
-								MAIN_FORKNUM);
+		if (!neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		{
+			neon_set_lwlsn_block_range(recptr,
+									   InfoFromNInfoB(rinfob),
+									   MAIN_FORKNUM, 0, nblocks);
+			neon_set_lwlsn_relation(recptr,
+									InfoFromNInfoB(rinfob),
+									MAIN_FORKNUM);
+		}

 		/* Remove local copy */
 		for (int forknum = 0; forknum <= MAX_FORKNUM; forknum++)
@@ -2112,8 +2308,15 @@ neon_end_unlogged_build(SMgrRelation reln)
 				 RelFileInfoFmt(InfoFromNInfoB(rinfob)),
 				 forknum);

-			forget_cached_relsize(InfoFromNInfoB(rinfob), forknum);
-			lfc_invalidate(InfoFromNInfoB(rinfob), forknum, nblocks);
+			if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+			{
+				communicator_new_update_cached_rel_size(InfoFromSMgrRel(reln), forknum, nblocks, recptr);
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				forget_cached_relsize(InfoFromNInfoB(rinfob), forknum);
+				lfc_invalidate(InfoFromNInfoB(rinfob), forknum, nblocks);
+			}

 			mdclose(reln, forknum);
 			if (!debug_compare_local)
@@ -2181,7 +2384,10 @@ neon_read_slru_segment(SMgrRelation reln, const char* path, int segno, void* buf
 	request_lsns.not_modified_since = not_modified_since;
 	request_lsns.effective_request_lsn = request_lsn;

-	n_blocks = communicator_read_slru_segment(kind, segno, &request_lsns, buffer);
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		n_blocks = communicator_new_read_slru_segment(kind, (uint32_t)segno, &request_lsns, path);
+	else
+		n_blocks = communicator_read_slru_segment(kind, segno, &request_lsns, buffer);

 	return n_blocks;
 }
@@ -2218,7 +2424,8 @@ AtEOXact_neon(XactEvent event, void *arg)
 			}
 			break;
 	}
-	communicator_reconfigure_timeout_if_needed();
+	if (!neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		communicator_reconfigure_timeout_if_needed();
 }

 static const struct f_smgr neon_smgr =
@@ -2276,7 +2483,10 @@ smgr_init_neon(void)

 	smgr_init_standard();
 	neon_init();
-	communicator_init();
+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+		communicator_new_init();
+	else
+		communicator_init();
 }


@@ -2288,6 +2498,20 @@ neon_extend_rel_size(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber blkno,
 	/* This is only used in WAL replay */
 	Assert(RecoveryInProgress());

+	if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+	{
+		relsize = communicator_new_rel_nblocks(rinfo, forknum);
+
+		if (blkno >= relsize)
+			communicator_new_rel_zeroextend(rinfo, forknum, relsize, (blkno - relsize) + 1, end_recptr);
+
+		/*
+		 * FIXME: does this need to update the last-written LSN too, like the
+		 * old implementation?
+		 */
+		return;
+	}
+
 	/* Extend the relation if we know its size */
 	if (get_cached_relsize(rinfo, forknum, &relsize))
 	{
@@ -2453,7 +2677,10 @@ neon_redo_read_buffer_filter(XLogReaderState *record, uint8 block_id)
 		 * We should perform this check after assigning LwLSN to prevent
 		 * prefetching of some older version of the page by some other backend.
 		 */
-		no_redo_needed = !lfc_cache_contains(rinfo, forknum, blkno);
+		if (neon_use_communicator_worker)
+			no_redo_needed = communicator_new_cache_contains(rinfo, forknum, blkno);
+		else
+			no_redo_needed = !lfc_cache_contains(rinfo, forknum, blkno);
 	}

 	LWLockRelease(partitionLock);
--- a/pgxn/neon/relsize_cache.c
+++ b/pgxn/neon/relsize_cache.c
@@ -23,9 +23,7 @@
 #include "utils/dynahash.h"
 #include "utils/guc.h"

-#if PG_VERSION_NUM >= 150000
 #include "miscadmin.h"
-#endif

 typedef struct
 {
@@ -90,6 +88,8 @@ get_cached_relsize(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber *size)
 {
 	bool		found = false;

+	Assert(!neon_use_communicator_worker);
+
 	if (relsize_hash_size > 0)
 	{
 		RelTag		tag;
@@ -121,6 +121,8 @@ get_cached_relsize(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber *size)
 void
 set_cached_relsize(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber size)
 {
+	Assert(!neon_use_communicator_worker);
+
 	if (relsize_hash_size > 0)
 	{
 		RelTag		tag;
@@ -169,6 +171,8 @@ set_cached_relsize(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber size)
 void
 update_cached_relsize(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber size)
 {
+	Assert(!neon_use_communicator_worker);
+
 	if (relsize_hash_size > 0)
 	{
 		RelTag		tag;
@@ -203,6 +207,8 @@ update_cached_relsize(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forknum, BlockNumber size)
 void
 forget_cached_relsize(NRelFileInfo rinfo, ForkNumber forknum)
 {
+	Assert(!neon_use_communicator_worker);
+
 	if (relsize_hash_size > 0)
 	{
 		RelTag		tag;
--- a/storage_controller/src/compute_hook.rs
+++ b/storage_controller/src/compute_hook.rs
@@ -6,13 +6,16 @@ use std::time::Duration;

 use anyhow::Context;
 use compute_api::spec::PageserverProtocol;
-use control_plane::endpoint::{ComputeControlPlane, EndpointStatus};
+use compute_api::spec::PageserverShardInfo;
+use control_plane::endpoint::{
+    ComputeControlPlane, EndpointStatus, PageserverConnectionInfo, PageserverShardConnectionInfo,
+};
 use control_plane::local_env::LocalEnv;
 use futures::StreamExt;
 use hyper::StatusCode;
 use pageserver_api::config::DEFAULT_GRPC_LISTEN_PORT;
 use pageserver_api::controller_api::AvailabilityZone;
-use pageserver_api::shard::{ShardCount, ShardNumber, ShardStripeSize, TenantShardId};
+use pageserver_api::shard::{ShardCount, ShardIndex, ShardNumber, ShardStripeSize, TenantShardId};
 use postgres_connection::parse_host_port;
 use safekeeper_api::membership::SafekeeperGeneration;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
@@ -506,27 +509,65 @@ impl ApiMethod for ComputeHookTenant {
            if endpoint.tenant_id == *tenant_id && endpoint.status() == EndpointStatus::Running {
                tracing::info!("Reconfiguring pageservers for endpoint {endpoint_name}");

-                let pageservers = shards
-                    .iter()
-                    .map(|shard| {
-                        let ps_conf = env
-                            .get_pageserver_conf(shard.node_id)
-                            .expect("Unknown pageserver");
-                        if endpoint.grpc {
-                            let addr = ps_conf.listen_grpc_addr.as_ref().expect("no gRPC address");
-                            let (host, port) = parse_host_port(addr).expect("invalid gRPC address");
-                            let port = port.unwrap_or(DEFAULT_GRPC_LISTEN_PORT);
-                            (PageserverProtocol::Grpc, host, port)
-                        } else {
-                            let (host, port) = parse_host_port(&ps_conf.listen_pg_addr)
-                                .expect("Unable to parse listen_pg_addr");
-                            (PageserverProtocol::Libpq, host, port.unwrap_or(5432))
-                        }
-                    })
-                    .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+                let shard_count = match shards.len() {
+                    0 => panic!("no shards"),
+                    1 => ShardCount::unsharded(),
+                    n => ShardCount(n.try_into().expect("too many shards")),
+                };
+
+                let mut shard_infos: HashMap<ShardIndex, PageserverShardInfo> = HashMap::new();
+
+                let prefer_protocol = if endpoint.grpc {
+                    PageserverProtocol::Grpc
+                } else {
+                    PageserverProtocol::Libpq
+                };
+
+                for shard in shards.iter() {
+                    let ps_conf = env
+                        .get_pageserver_conf(shard.node_id)
+                        .expect("Unknown pageserver");
+
+                    let libpq_url = Some({
+                        let (host, port) = parse_host_port(&ps_conf.listen_pg_addr)
+                            .expect("Unable to parse listen_pg_addr");
+                        let port = port.unwrap_or(5432);
+                        format!("postgres://no_user@{host}:{port}")
+                    });
+                    let grpc_url = if let Some(grpc_addr) = &ps_conf.listen_grpc_addr {
+                        let (host, port) =
+                            parse_host_port(grpc_addr).expect("invalid gRPC address");
+                        let port = port.unwrap_or(DEFAULT_GRPC_LISTEN_PORT);
+                        Some(format!("grpc://no_user@{host}:{port}"))
+                    } else {
+                        None
+                    };
+                    let pageserver = PageserverShardConnectionInfo {
+                        id: Some(shard.node_id.to_string()),
+                        libpq_url,
+                        grpc_url,
+                    };
+                    let shard_info = PageserverShardInfo {
+                        pageservers: vec![pageserver],
+                    };
+                    shard_infos.insert(
+                        ShardIndex {
+                            shard_number: shard.shard_number,
+                            shard_count,
+                        },
+                        shard_info,
+                    );
+                }
+
+                let pageserver_conninfo = PageserverConnectionInfo {
+                    shard_count,
+                    stripe_size: stripe_size.map(|val| val.0),
+                    shards: shard_infos,
+                    prefer_protocol,
+                };

                endpoint
-                    .reconfigure_pageservers(pageservers, *stripe_size)
+                    .reconfigure_pageservers(&pageserver_conninfo)
                    .await
                    .map_err(NotifyError::NeonLocal)?;
            }
--- a/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
+++ b/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
@@ -4732,7 +4732,18 @@ class Endpoint(PgProtocol, LogUtils):

        # set small 'max_replication_write_lag' to enable backpressure
        # and make tests more stable.
-        config_lines = ["max_replication_write_lag=15MB"] + config_lines
+        config_lines += ["max_replication_write_lag=15MB"]
+
+        # If gRPC is enabled, use the new communicator too.
+        #
+        # NB: the communicator is enabled by default, so force it to false otherwise.
+        #
+        # XXX: By checking for None, we enable the new communicator for all tests
+        # by default
+        if grpc or grpc is None:
+            config_lines += ["neon.use_communicator_worker=on"]
+        else:
+            config_lines += ["neon.use_communicator_worker=off"]

        # Delete file cache if it exists (and we're recreating the endpoint)
        if USE_LFC:
--- a/test_runner/fixtures/pageserver/allowed_errors.py
+++ b/test_runner/fixtures/pageserver/allowed_errors.py
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ DEFAULT_PAGESERVER_ALLOWED_ERRORS = (
    # During shutdown, DownloadError::Cancelled may be logged as an error.  Cleaning this
    # up is tracked in https://github.com/neondatabase/neon/issues/6096
    ".*Cancelled, shutting down.*",
+    # gRPC request failures during shutdown.
+    ".*grpc:pageservice.*request failed with Unavailable: timeline is shutting down.*",
    # Open layers are only rolled at Lsn boundaries to avoid name clashses.
    # Hence, we can overshoot the soft limit set by checkpoint distance.
    # This is especially pronounced in tests that set small checkpoint
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_gin_redo.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_gin_redo.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ def test_gin_redo(neon_simple_env: NeonEnv):
    secondary = env.endpoints.new_replica_start(origin=primary, endpoint_id="secondary")
    con = primary.connect()
    cur = con.cursor()
+    cur.execute("select pg_switch_wal()")
    cur.execute("create table gin_test_tbl(id integer, i int4[])")
    cur.execute("create index gin_test_idx on gin_test_tbl using gin (i)")
    cur.execute("insert into gin_test_tbl select g,array[3, 1, g] from generate_series(1, 10000) g")
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_normal_work.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_normal_work.py
@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@ def check_tenant(
    config_lines = [
        f"neon.safekeeper_proto_version = {safekeeper_proto_version}",
    ]
-    endpoint = env.endpoints.create_start("main", tenant_id=tenant_id, config_lines=config_lines)
+    endpoint = env.endpoints.create_start(
+        "main", tenant_id=tenant_id, config_lines=config_lines, grpc=True
+    )
    # we rely upon autocommit after each statement
    res_1 = endpoint.safe_psql_many(
        queries=[
--- a/workspace_hack/Cargo.toml
+++ b/workspace_hack/Cargo.toml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ chrono = { version = "0.4", default-features = false, features = ["clock", "serd
 clap = { version = "4", features = ["derive", "env", "string"] }
 clap_builder = { version = "4", default-features = false, features = ["color", "env", "help", "std", "string", "suggestions", "usage"] }
 const-oid = { version = "0.9", default-features = false, features = ["db", "std"] }
+criterion = { version = "0.5", features = ["html_reports"] }
 crypto-bigint = { version = "0.5", features = ["generic-array", "zeroize"] }
 der = { version = "0.7", default-features = false, features = ["derive", "flagset", "oid", "pem", "std"] }
 deranged = { version = "0.3", default-features = false, features = ["powerfmt", "serde", "std"] }
@@ -70,7 +71,6 @@ num-integer = { version = "0.1", features = ["i128"] }
 num-iter = { version = "0.1", default-features = false, features = ["i128", "std"] }
 num-rational = { version = "0.4", default-features = false, features = ["num-bigint-std", "std"] }
 num-traits = { version = "0.2", features = ["i128", "libm"] }
-once_cell = { version = "1" }
 p256 = { version = "0.13", features = ["jwk"] }
 parquet = { version = "53", default-features = false, features = ["zstd"] }
 prost = { version = "0.13", features = ["no-recursion-limit", "prost-derive"] }
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ tokio-rustls = { version = "0.26", default-features = false, features = ["loggin
 tokio-stream = { version = "0.1", features = ["net", "sync"] }
 tokio-util = { version = "0.7", features = ["codec", "compat", "io-util", "rt"] }
 toml_edit = { version = "0.22", features = ["serde"] }
-tonic = { version = "0.13", default-features = false, features = ["codegen", "gzip", "prost", "router", "server", "tls-native-roots", "tls-ring", "zstd"] }
+tonic = { version = "0.13", default-features = false, features = ["codegen", "gzip", "prost", "router", "tls-native-roots", "tls-ring", "transport", "zstd"] }
 tower = { version = "0.5", default-features = false, features = ["balance", "buffer", "limit", "log"] }
 tracing = { version = "0.1", features = ["log"] }
 tracing-core = { version = "0.1" }
@@ -140,7 +140,6 @@ num-integer = { version = "0.1", features = ["i128"] }
 num-iter = { version = "0.1", default-features = false, features = ["i128", "std"] }
 num-rational = { version = "0.4", default-features = false, features = ["num-bigint-std", "std"] }
 num-traits = { version = "0.2", features = ["i128", "libm"] }
-once_cell = { version = "1" }
 parquet = { version = "53", default-features = false, features = ["zstd"] }
 prettyplease = { version = "0.2", default-features = false, features = ["verbatim"] }
 proc-macro2 = { version = "1" }