diff --git a/cmd/tsp/tsp.go b/cmd/tsp/tsp.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a59b352d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/tsp/tsp.go
@@ -0,0 +1,513 @@
+// Copyright (c) Tailscale Inc & contributors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+
+// Program tsp is a low-level Tailscale protocol tool for performing
+// composable building block operations like generating keys and
+// registering nodes.
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"cmp"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"os"
+	"reflect"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/peterbourgon/ff/v3/ffcli"
+	"tailscale.com/control/tsp"
+	"tailscale.com/hostinfo"
+	"tailscale.com/tailcfg"
+	"tailscale.com/types/key"
+)
+
+var globalArgs struct {
+	// serverURL is the base URL of the coordination server (-s flag).
+	// If empty, tsp.DefaultServerURL is used.
+	serverURL string
+
+	// controlKeyFile is a path to a file containing the server's
+	// MachinePublic key in MarshalText form (--control-key flag).
+	// When set, server key discovery is skipped.
+	controlKeyFile string
+}
+
+func main() {
+	args := os.Args[1:]
+	if err := rootCmd.Parse(args); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err.Error())
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+	err := rootCmd.Run(context.Background())
+	if errors.Is(err, flag.ErrHelp) {
+		os.Exit(0)
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err.Error())
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+}
+
+var rootCmd = &ffcli.Command{
+	Name:       "tsp",
+	ShortUsage: "tsp [-s url] <subcommand> [flags]",
+	ShortHelp:  "Low-level Tailscale protocol tool.",
+	FlagSet: (func() *flag.FlagSet {
+		fs := flag.NewFlagSet("tsp", flag.ExitOnError)
+		fs.StringVar(&globalArgs.serverURL, "s", "", "base URL of coordination server (default: "+tsp.DefaultServerURL+")")
+		fs.StringVar(&globalArgs.controlKeyFile, "control-key", "", "file containing the server's public key (skips discovery)")
+		return fs
+	})(),
+	Subcommands: []*ffcli.Command{
+		newMachineKeyCmd,
+		newNodeKeyCmd,
+		newNodeCmd,
+		registerCmd,
+		mapCmd,
+		discoverServerKeyCmd,
+	},
+	Exec: func(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
+		return flag.ErrHelp
+	},
+}
+
+var newMachineKeyArgs struct {
+	output string
+}
+
+var newMachineKeyCmd = &ffcli.Command{
+	Name:       "new-machine-key",
+	ShortUsage: "tsp new-machine-key [-o file]",
+	ShortHelp:  "Generate a new machine key.",
+	FlagSet: (func() *flag.FlagSet {
+		fs := flag.NewFlagSet("new-machine-key", flag.ExitOnError)
+		fs.StringVar(&newMachineKeyArgs.output, "o", "", "output file (default: stdout)")
+		return fs
+	})(),
+	Exec: runNewMachineKey,
+}
+
+func runNewMachineKey(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
+	k := key.NewMachine()
+	text, err := k.MarshalText()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	text = append(text, '\n')
+	return writeOutput(newMachineKeyArgs.output, text)
+}
+
+var newNodeKeyArgs struct {
+	output string
+}
+
+var newNodeKeyCmd = &ffcli.Command{
+	Name:       "new-node-key",
+	ShortUsage: "tsp new-node-key [-o file]",
+	ShortHelp:  "Generate a new node key.",
+	FlagSet: (func() *flag.FlagSet {
+		fs := flag.NewFlagSet("new-node-key", flag.ExitOnError)
+		fs.StringVar(&newNodeKeyArgs.output, "o", "", "output file (default: stdout)")
+		return fs
+	})(),
+	Exec: runNewNodeKey,
+}
+
+func runNewNodeKey(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
+	k := key.NewNode()
+	text, err := k.MarshalText()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	text = append(text, '\n')
+	return writeOutput(newNodeKeyArgs.output, text)
+}
+
+var discoverServerKeyArgs struct {
+	output string
+}
+
+var discoverServerKeyCmd = &ffcli.Command{
+	Name:       "discover-server-key",
+	ShortUsage: "tsp [-s url] discover-server-key [-o file]",
+	ShortHelp:  "Discover and print the coordination server's public key.",
+	FlagSet: (func() *flag.FlagSet {
+		fs := flag.NewFlagSet("discover-server-key", flag.ExitOnError)
+		fs.StringVar(&discoverServerKeyArgs.output, "o", "", "output file (default: stdout)")
+		return fs
+	})(),
+	Exec: runDiscoverServerKey,
+}
+
+func runDiscoverServerKey(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
+	k, err := tsp.DiscoverServerKey(ctx, globalArgs.serverURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	text, err := k.MarshalText()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("marshaling server key: %w", err)
+	}
+	text = append(text, '\n')
+	return writeOutput(discoverServerKeyArgs.output, text)
+}
+
+var newNodeArgs struct {
+	nodeKeyFile    string
+	machineKeyFile string
+	output         string
+}
+
+var newNodeCmd = &ffcli.Command{
+	Name:       "new-node",
+	ShortUsage: "tsp [-s url] [--control-key file] new-node [-n node-key-file] [-m machine-key-file] [-o output]",
+	ShortHelp:  "Generate a new node JSON file with keys and server info.",
+	FlagSet: (func() *flag.FlagSet {
+		fs := flag.NewFlagSet("new-node", flag.ExitOnError)
+		fs.StringVar(&newNodeArgs.nodeKeyFile, "n", "", "existing node key file (default: generate new)")
+		fs.StringVar(&newNodeArgs.machineKeyFile, "m", "", "existing machine key file (default: generate new)")
+		fs.StringVar(&newNodeArgs.output, "o", "", "output file (default: stdout)")
+		return fs
+	})(),
+	Exec: runNewNode,
+}
+
+func runNewNode(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
+	var nodeKey key.NodePrivate
+	if newNodeArgs.nodeKeyFile != "" {
+		var err error
+		nodeKey, err = readNodeKeyFile(newNodeArgs.nodeKeyFile)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("reading node key: %w", err)
+		}
+	} else {
+		nodeKey = key.NewNode()
+	}
+
+	var machineKey key.MachinePrivate
+	if newNodeArgs.machineKeyFile != "" {
+		var err error
+		machineKey, err = readMachineKeyFile(newNodeArgs.machineKeyFile)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("reading machine key: %w", err)
+		}
+	} else {
+		machineKey = key.NewMachine()
+	}
+
+	serverURL := cmp.Or(globalArgs.serverURL, tsp.DefaultServerURL)
+
+	var serverKey key.MachinePublic
+	if globalArgs.controlKeyFile != "" {
+		var err error
+		serverKey, err = readControlKeyFile(globalArgs.controlKeyFile)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("reading control key: %w", err)
+		}
+	} else {
+		var err error
+		serverKey, err = tsp.DiscoverServerKey(ctx, serverURL)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("discovering server key: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	nf := tsp.NodeFile{
+		NodeKey:    nodeKey,
+		MachineKey: machineKey,
+		ServerInfo: tsp.ServerInfo{URL: serverURL, Key: serverKey},
+	}
+
+	out, err := json.MarshalIndent(nf, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("encoding node file: %w", err)
+	}
+	out = append(out, '\n')
+	return writeOutput(newNodeArgs.output, out)
+}
+
+var registerArgs struct {
+	nodeFile  string
+	output    string
+	hostname  string
+	ephemeral bool
+	authKey   string
+	tags      string
+}
+
+var registerCmd = &ffcli.Command{
+	Name:       "register",
+	ShortUsage: "tsp [-s url] register -n <node-file> [flags]",
+	ShortHelp:  "Register a node key with a coordination server.",
+	FlagSet: (func() *flag.FlagSet {
+		fs := flag.NewFlagSet("register", flag.ExitOnError)
+		fs.StringVar(&registerArgs.nodeFile, "n", "", "node JSON file (required)")
+		fs.StringVar(&registerArgs.output, "o", "", "output file (default: stdout)")
+		fs.StringVar(&registerArgs.hostname, "hostname", "", "hostname to register")
+		fs.BoolVar(&registerArgs.ephemeral, "ephemeral", false, "register as ephemeral node")
+		fs.StringVar(&registerArgs.authKey, "auth-key", "", "pre-authorized auth key or file containing one")
+		fs.StringVar(&registerArgs.tags, "tags", "", "comma-separated ACL tags")
+		return fs
+	})(),
+	Exec: runRegister,
+}
+
+func runRegister(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
+	if registerArgs.nodeFile == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("flag -n (node file) is required")
+	}
+
+	nf, err := tsp.ReadNodeFile(registerArgs.nodeFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("reading node file: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	hi := hostinfo.New()
+	if registerArgs.hostname != "" {
+		hi.Hostname = registerArgs.hostname
+	}
+
+	var tags []string
+	if registerArgs.tags != "" {
+		tags = strings.Split(registerArgs.tags, ",")
+	}
+
+	authKey, err := resolveAuthKey(registerArgs.authKey)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	client, err := tsp.NewClient(tsp.ClientOpts{
+		ServerURL:  cmp.Or(globalArgs.serverURL, nf.URL),
+		MachineKey: nf.MachineKey,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("creating client: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer client.Close()
+
+	if globalArgs.controlKeyFile != "" {
+		controlKey, err := readControlKeyFile(globalArgs.controlKeyFile)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("reading control key: %w", err)
+		}
+		client.SetControlPublicKey(controlKey)
+	} else {
+		client.SetControlPublicKey(nf.ServerInfo.Key)
+	}
+
+	resp, err := client.Register(ctx, tsp.RegisterOpts{
+		NodeKey:   nf.NodeKey,
+		Hostinfo:  hi,
+		Ephemeral: registerArgs.ephemeral,
+		AuthKey:   authKey,
+		Tags:      tags,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	out, err := json.MarshalIndent(resp, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("encoding response: %w", err)
+	}
+	out = append(out, '\n')
+
+	if err := writeOutput(registerArgs.output, out); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if resp.AuthURL != "" {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "AuthURL: %s\n", resp.AuthURL)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+var mapArgs struct {
+	nodeFile string
+	stream   bool
+	peers    bool
+	quiet    bool
+	output   string
+}
+
+var mapCmd = &ffcli.Command{
+	Name:       "map",
+	ShortUsage: "tsp [-s url] map -n <node-file> [-stream]",
+	ShortHelp:  "Send a map request to the coordination server.",
+	FlagSet: (func() *flag.FlagSet {
+		fs := flag.NewFlagSet("map", flag.ExitOnError)
+		fs.StringVar(&mapArgs.nodeFile, "n", "", "node JSON file (required)")
+		fs.BoolVar(&mapArgs.stream, "stream", false, "stream map responses")
+		fs.BoolVar(&mapArgs.peers, "peers", true, "include peers in map response")
+		fs.BoolVar(&mapArgs.quiet, "quiet", true, "suppress keepalives and handled c2n ping requests from output")
+		fs.StringVar(&mapArgs.output, "o", "", "output file (default: stdout)")
+		return fs
+	})(),
+	Exec: runMap,
+}
+
+func runMap(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
+	if mapArgs.nodeFile == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("flag -n (node file) is required")
+	}
+
+	nf, err := tsp.ReadNodeFile(mapArgs.nodeFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("reading node file: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if globalArgs.serverURL != "" && globalArgs.serverURL != nf.URL {
+		return fmt.Errorf("server URL mismatch: -s flag is %q but node file is for %q", globalArgs.serverURL, nf.URL)
+	}
+
+	hi := hostinfo.New()
+
+	client, err := tsp.NewClient(tsp.ClientOpts{
+		ServerURL:  cmp.Or(globalArgs.serverURL, nf.URL),
+		MachineKey: nf.MachineKey,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("creating client: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer client.Close()
+
+	if globalArgs.controlKeyFile != "" {
+		controlKey, err := readControlKeyFile(globalArgs.controlKeyFile)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("reading control key: %w", err)
+		}
+		client.SetControlPublicKey(controlKey)
+	} else {
+		client.SetControlPublicKey(nf.ServerInfo.Key)
+	}
+
+	session, err := client.Map(ctx, tsp.MapOpts{
+		NodeKey:   nf.NodeKey,
+		Hostinfo:  hi,
+		Stream:    mapArgs.stream,
+		OmitPeers: !mapArgs.peers,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer session.Close()
+
+	gotResponse := false
+	for {
+		resp, err := session.Next()
+		if err == io.EOF {
+			if !gotResponse {
+				return fmt.Errorf("server returned no map response")
+			}
+			return nil
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("reading map response: %w", err)
+		}
+		gotResponse = true
+
+		if pr := resp.PingRequest; pr != nil && pr.Types == "c2n" {
+			if client.AnswerC2NPing(ctx, pr, session.NoiseRoundTrip) && mapArgs.quiet {
+				resp.PingRequest = nil
+			}
+		}
+		if mapArgs.quiet {
+			resp.KeepAlive = false
+		}
+
+		if isZeroMapResponse(resp) {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		out, err := json.MarshalIndent(resp, "", "  ")
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("encoding response: %w", err)
+		}
+		out = append(out, '\n')
+		if err := writeOutput(mapArgs.output, out); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// readMachineKeyFile reads a machine private key from a file.
+func readMachineKeyFile(path string) (key.MachinePrivate, error) {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return key.MachinePrivate{}, err
+	}
+	var k key.MachinePrivate
+	if err := k.UnmarshalText(bytes.TrimSpace(data)); err != nil {
+		return key.MachinePrivate{}, fmt.Errorf("parsing machine key from %q: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return k, nil
+}
+
+// readNodeKeyFile reads a node private key from a file.
+func readNodeKeyFile(path string) (key.NodePrivate, error) {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return key.NodePrivate{}, err
+	}
+	var k key.NodePrivate
+	if err := k.UnmarshalText(bytes.TrimSpace(data)); err != nil {
+		return key.NodePrivate{}, fmt.Errorf("parsing node key from %q: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return k, nil
+}
+
+// readControlKeyFile reads a file containing a server's MachinePublic key
+// in its MarshalText form (e.g. "mkey:...").
+func readControlKeyFile(path string) (key.MachinePublic, error) {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return key.MachinePublic{}, err
+	}
+	var k key.MachinePublic
+	if err := k.UnmarshalText(bytes.TrimSpace(data)); err != nil {
+		return key.MachinePublic{}, fmt.Errorf("parsing control key from %q: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return k, nil
+}
+
+// resolveAuthKey returns the auth key from v. If v is empty, it returns "".
+// If v starts with "tskey-", it's used directly. Otherwise v is treated as a
+// filename and its contents are read and trimmed.
+func resolveAuthKey(v string) (string, error) {
+	if v == "" {
+		return "", nil
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(strings.TrimSpace(v), "tskey-") {
+		return strings.TrimSpace(v), nil
+	}
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(v)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("reading auth key file: %w", err)
+	}
+	return strings.TrimSpace(string(data)), nil
+}
+
+func writeOutput(path string, data []byte) error {
+	if path == "" {
+		_, err := os.Stdout.Write(data)
+		return err
+	}
+	return os.WriteFile(path, data, 0600)
+}
+
+// isZeroMapResponse reports whether all fields of resp are zero values.
+func isZeroMapResponse(resp *tailcfg.MapResponse) bool {
+	v := reflect.ValueOf(*resp)
+	for i := range v.NumField() {
+		if !v.Field(i).IsZero() {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
diff --git a/control/tsp/map.go b/control/tsp/map.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..96531255b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/control/tsp/map.go
@@ -0,0 +1,339 @@
+// Copyright (c) Tailscale Inc & contributors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+
+package tsp
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"cmp"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
+
+	"github.com/klauspost/compress/zstd"
+	"tailscale.com/control/ts2021"
+	"tailscale.com/tailcfg"
+	"tailscale.com/types/key"
+)
+
+// errSessionClosed is returned by [MapSession.Next] and
+// [MapSession.NextInto] when called after [MapSession.Close].
+var errSessionClosed = errors.New("tsp: map session closed")
+
+// DefaultMaxMessageSize is the default cap, in bytes, on the size of a
+// single compressed map response frame. See [MapOpts.MaxMessageSize].
+const DefaultMaxMessageSize = 4 << 20
+
+// zstdDecoderPool is a pool of *zstd.Decoder reused across MapSessions to
+// amortize the cost of setting up zstd state. Decoders are returned via
+// [MapSession.Close]; entries are reclaimed by the runtime under memory
+// pressure via sync.Pool semantics.
+var zstdDecoderPool sync.Pool // of *zstd.Decoder
+
+// MapOpts contains options for sending a map request.
+type MapOpts struct {
+	// NodeKey is the node's private key. Required.
+	NodeKey key.NodePrivate
+
+	// Hostinfo is the host information to send. Optional;
+	// if nil, a minimal default is used.
+	Hostinfo *tailcfg.Hostinfo
+
+	// Stream is whether to receive multiple MapResponses over
+	// the same HTTP connection.
+	Stream bool
+
+	// OmitPeers is whether the client is okay with the Peers list
+	// being omitted in the response.
+	OmitPeers bool
+
+	// MaxMessageSize is the maximum size in bytes of any single
+	// compressed map response frame on the wire. If zero,
+	// [DefaultMaxMessageSize] is used.
+	MaxMessageSize int64
+}
+
+// framedReader is an io.Reader that consumes a stream of length-prefixed
+// frames (each a little-endian uint32 length followed by that many bytes)
+// from r and yields only the frame payloads back-to-back.
+//
+// This lets us feed the concatenated zstd frames from our wire protocol
+// into a single streaming zstd decoder. Zstd's file format permits
+// concatenation (RFC 8478 §2), and klauspost's decoder handles it
+// transparently.
+//
+// If onNewFrame is non-nil, it is called after each new 4-byte length
+// header is successfully read. Used to reset the per-message decoded-size
+// budget downstream.
+type framedReader struct {
+	r          io.Reader
+	maxSize    int64 // per-frame compressed-size cap
+	remain     int   // bytes remaining in the current frame
+	onNewFrame func()
+}
+
+func (f *framedReader) Read(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	if f.remain == 0 {
+		var hdr [4]byte
+		if _, err := io.ReadFull(f.r, hdr[:]); err != nil {
+			return 0, err
+		}
+		sz := int64(binary.LittleEndian.Uint32(hdr[:]))
+		if sz == 0 {
+			return 0, fmt.Errorf("map response: zero-length frame")
+		}
+		if sz > f.maxSize {
+			return 0, fmt.Errorf("map response frame size %d exceeds max %d", sz, f.maxSize)
+		}
+		f.remain = int(sz)
+		if f.onNewFrame != nil {
+			f.onNewFrame()
+		}
+	}
+	if len(p) > f.remain {
+		p = p[:f.remain]
+	}
+	n, err := f.r.Read(p)
+	f.remain -= n
+	return n, err
+}
+
+// boundedReader is an io.Reader that yields at most remain bytes from r
+// before returning an error. Call reset to raise the budget back to max,
+// typically at a new message boundary.
+//
+// Used to cap the decoded size of a single map response so a malicious
+// server can't send a small zstd frame that explodes into gigabytes of
+// junk for the json.Decoder to consume.
+type boundedReader struct {
+	r      io.Reader
+	max    int64
+	remain int64
+}
+
+func (b *boundedReader) Read(p []byte) (int, error) {
+	if b.remain <= 0 {
+		return 0, fmt.Errorf("map response decoded size exceeds max %d", b.max)
+	}
+	if int64(len(p)) > b.remain {
+		p = p[:b.remain]
+	}
+	n, err := b.r.Read(p)
+	b.remain -= int64(n)
+	return n, err
+}
+
+func (b *boundedReader) reset() { b.remain = b.max }
+
+// MapSession wraps an in-progress map response stream. Call Next to read
+// each MapResponse. Call Close when done.
+type MapSession struct {
+	res       *http.Response
+	stream    bool
+	noiseDoer func(*http.Request) (*http.Response, error)
+
+	// inNext detects concurrent NextInto callers. It CAS-flips
+	// false→true on entry and back to false on exit; a failed CAS
+	// panics, akin to how the Go runtime detects concurrent map
+	// access. It does not serialize Close vs. NextInto; that's
+	// nextMu's job.
+	inNext atomic.Bool
+
+	// nextMu is held while [MapSession.NextInto] is running jdec.Decode,
+	// so that Close can wait for an in-flight Decode to unwind before it
+	// touches zdec (Reset, pool-Put) and avoids racing with the running
+	// Read chain that Decode drives.
+	nextMu sync.Mutex
+	read   int           // guarded by nextMu
+	closed bool          // guarded by nextMu
+	zdec   *zstd.Decoder // reads from a framedReader wrapping res.Body
+	jdec   *json.Decoder // reads decompressed JSON from zdec
+
+	closeOnce sync.Once
+	closeErr  error
+}
+
+// NoiseRoundTrip sends an HTTP request over the Noise channel used by this map session.
+func (s *MapSession) NoiseRoundTrip(req *http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
+	return s.noiseDoer(req)
+}
+
+// Next reads and returns the next MapResponse from the stream.
+// For non-streaming sessions, the first call returns the single response
+// and subsequent calls return io.EOF.
+// For streaming sessions, Next blocks until the next response arrives
+// or the server closes the connection.
+//
+// Each call allocates a fresh MapResponse. Callers that want to amortize
+// the allocation across calls can use [MapSession.NextInto].
+//
+// Next and NextInto are not safe to call concurrently from multiple
+// goroutines on the same [MapSession]; a concurrent call panics, akin
+// to the Go runtime's concurrent map access detection. [MapSession.Close]
+// may be called concurrently to abort an in-flight Next.
+func (s *MapSession) Next() (*tailcfg.MapResponse, error) {
+	var resp tailcfg.MapResponse
+	if err := s.NextInto(&resp); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return &resp, nil
+}
+
+// NextInto is like [MapSession.Next] but decodes the next MapResponse into
+// the caller-supplied *resp rather than allocating a new one. The pointer's
+// pointee is zeroed before decoding so fields from a prior response do not
+// persist.
+//
+// For non-streaming sessions, the first call decodes the single response
+// and subsequent calls return io.EOF.
+// For streaming sessions, NextInto blocks until the next response arrives
+// or the server closes the connection.
+//
+// See [MapSession.Next] for concurrency rules; those apply to NextInto too.
+func (s *MapSession) NextInto(resp *tailcfg.MapResponse) error {
+	if !s.inNext.CompareAndSwap(false, true) {
+		panic("tsp: invalid concurrent call to MapSession.Next/NextInto")
+	}
+	defer s.inNext.Store(false)
+
+	s.nextMu.Lock()
+	defer s.nextMu.Unlock()
+	if s.closed {
+		return errSessionClosed
+	}
+	if !s.stream && s.read > 0 {
+		return io.EOF
+	}
+	*resp = tailcfg.MapResponse{}
+	if err := s.jdec.Decode(resp); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	s.read++
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Close returns the session's zstd decoder to the pool and closes the
+// underlying HTTP response body. It is safe to call Close multiple times
+// and from multiple goroutines, including while a [MapSession.Next] or
+// [MapSession.NextInto] call is in flight on another goroutine (which
+// will return an error once the body close propagates).
+func (s *MapSession) Close() error {
+	// Callers are likely to race a deferred Close with a time.AfterFunc
+	// timeout (or similar) Close that aborts a hung Next. Without the
+	// Once, both Closes would Put the same *zstd.Decoder into the pool,
+	// corrupting it, and the Reset/Put in one would race with the
+	// zdec.Read that the hung Next is driving.
+	//
+	// Ordering inside the Once: close the body first to unblock any
+	// in-flight NextInto (its Read chain ends at res.Body and will
+	// return an error once it's closed). That lets NextInto unwind and
+	// release nextMu. Only then do we take nextMu ourselves and touch
+	// zdec, which is safe because no goroutine is still reading from
+	// it. Acquiring nextMu before closing the body would deadlock
+	// against a hung NextInto.
+	s.closeOnce.Do(func() {
+		s.closeErr = s.res.Body.Close()
+		s.nextMu.Lock()
+		defer s.nextMu.Unlock()
+		s.closed = true
+		s.zdec.Reset(nil)
+		zstdDecoderPool.Put(s.zdec)
+	})
+	return s.closeErr
+}
+
+// Map sends a map request to the coordination server and returns a MapSession
+// for reading the framed, zstd-compressed response(s).
+func (c *Client) Map(ctx context.Context, opts MapOpts) (*MapSession, error) {
+	if opts.NodeKey.IsZero() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("NodeKey is required")
+	}
+
+	hi := opts.Hostinfo
+	if hi == nil {
+		hi = defaultHostinfo()
+	}
+
+	mapReq := tailcfg.MapRequest{
+		Version:   tailcfg.CurrentCapabilityVersion,
+		NodeKey:   opts.NodeKey.Public(),
+		Hostinfo:  hi,
+		Stream:    opts.Stream,
+		Compress:  "zstd",
+		OmitPeers: opts.OmitPeers,
+		// Streaming requires the server to track us as "connected",
+		// which in turn requires ReadOnly=false. Non-streaming polls
+		// stay ReadOnly to minimize side effects.
+		ReadOnly: !opts.Stream,
+	}
+
+	body, err := json.Marshal(mapReq)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("encoding map request: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	nc, err := c.noiseClient(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("establishing noise connection: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	url := c.serverURL + "/machine/map"
+	url = strings.Replace(url, "http:", "https:", 1)
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, "POST", url, bytes.NewReader(body))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("creating map request: %w", err)
+	}
+	ts2021.AddLBHeader(req, opts.NodeKey.Public())
+
+	res, err := nc.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("map request: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	if res.StatusCode != 200 {
+		msg, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)
+		res.Body.Close()
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("map request: http %d: %.200s",
+			res.StatusCode, strings.TrimSpace(string(msg)))
+	}
+
+	maxMessageSize := cmp.Or(opts.MaxMessageSize, DefaultMaxMessageSize)
+	bounded := &boundedReader{max: maxMessageSize, remain: maxMessageSize}
+	fr := &framedReader{
+		r:          res.Body,
+		maxSize:    maxMessageSize,
+		onNewFrame: bounded.reset,
+	}
+
+	zdec, _ := zstdDecoderPool.Get().(*zstd.Decoder)
+	if zdec != nil {
+		if err := zdec.Reset(fr); err != nil {
+			// Reset can fail if the previous stream is in a bad state; drop
+			// the decoder and create a fresh one.
+			zdec = nil
+		}
+	}
+	if zdec == nil {
+		zdec, err = zstd.NewReader(fr, zstd.WithDecoderConcurrency(1))
+		if err != nil {
+			res.Body.Close()
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("creating zstd decoder: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+	bounded.r = zdec
+
+	return &MapSession{
+		res:       res,
+		stream:    opts.Stream,
+		noiseDoer: nc.Do,
+		zdec:      zdec,
+		jdec:      json.NewDecoder(bounded),
+	}, nil
+}
diff --git a/control/tsp/map_test.go b/control/tsp/map_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..15b32dd36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/control/tsp/map_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,270 @@
+// Copyright (c) Tailscale Inc & contributors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+
+package tsp
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/klauspost/compress/zstd"
+	"tailscale.com/tailcfg"
+	"tailscale.com/tstest/integration/testcontrol"
+	"tailscale.com/types/key"
+)
+
+func TestMapAgainstTestControl(t *testing.T) {
+	ctrl := &testcontrol.Server{}
+	ctrl.HTTPTestServer = httptest.NewUnstartedServer(ctrl)
+	ctrl.HTTPTestServer.Start()
+	t.Cleanup(ctrl.HTTPTestServer.Close)
+	baseURL := ctrl.HTTPTestServer.URL
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	serverKey, err := DiscoverServerKey(ctx, baseURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("DiscoverServerKey: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	register := func(hostname string) (nodeKey key.NodePrivate, machineKey key.MachinePrivate) {
+		t.Helper()
+		nodeKey = key.NewNode()
+		machineKey = key.NewMachine()
+		c, err := NewClient(ClientOpts{
+			ServerURL:  baseURL,
+			MachineKey: machineKey,
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("NewClient %s: %v", hostname, err)
+		}
+		defer c.Close()
+		c.SetControlPublicKey(serverKey)
+		if _, err := c.Register(ctx, RegisterOpts{
+			NodeKey:  nodeKey,
+			Hostinfo: &tailcfg.Hostinfo{Hostname: hostname},
+		}); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Register %s: %v", hostname, err)
+		}
+		return nodeKey, machineKey
+	}
+
+	nodeKeyA, machineKeyA := register("a")
+	nodeKeyB, _ := register("b")
+
+	clientA, err := NewClient(ClientOpts{
+		ServerURL:  baseURL,
+		MachineKey: machineKeyA,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("NewClient A: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer clientA.Close()
+	clientA.SetControlPublicKey(serverKey)
+
+	session, err := clientA.Map(ctx, MapOpts{
+		NodeKey:  nodeKeyA,
+		Hostinfo: &tailcfg.Hostinfo{Hostname: "a"},
+		Stream:   true,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Map: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer session.Close()
+
+	// nextNonKeepalive returns the next non-keepalive MapResponse, to keep
+	// the test robust if a server-side keepalive arrives mid-test.
+	nextNonKeepalive := func() *tailcfg.MapResponse {
+		t.Helper()
+		for {
+			resp, err := session.Next()
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("session.Next: %v", err)
+			}
+			if resp.KeepAlive {
+				continue
+			}
+			return resp
+		}
+	}
+
+	// First MapResponse: expect node A as self and node B in Peers.
+	first := nextNonKeepalive()
+	if first.Node == nil {
+		t.Fatal("first response has nil Node")
+	}
+	if got, want := first.Node.Key, nodeKeyA.Public(); got != want {
+		t.Errorf("first Node.Key = %v, want %v", got, want)
+	}
+	var foundB bool
+	for _, p := range first.Peers {
+		if p.Key == nodeKeyB.Public() {
+			foundB = true
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if !foundB {
+		t.Errorf("peer B (%v) not in first response's Peers (%d peers)", nodeKeyB.Public(), len(first.Peers))
+	}
+
+	// Inject raw MapResponses and verify they come out the reader, in order.
+	// msgToSend is single-slot, so we must consume each before injecting the next.
+	for i := range 3 {
+		want := fmt.Sprintf("injected-%d.example.com", i)
+		inject := &tailcfg.MapResponse{Domain: want}
+		if !ctrl.AddRawMapResponse(nodeKeyA.Public(), inject) {
+			t.Fatalf("AddRawMapResponse %d: node not connected", i)
+		}
+		got := nextNonKeepalive()
+		if got.Domain != want {
+			t.Errorf("injected %d: got Domain=%q, want %q", i, got.Domain, want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// newTestPipeline builds the same framedReader → zstd → boundedReader →
+// json.Decoder pipeline that [Client.Map] builds for a live session, but
+// feeds it from a raw byte slice. Returned jdec can be used with Decode to
+// pull out MapResponses.
+func newTestPipeline(t testing.TB, wire []byte, maxMessageSize int64) *json.Decoder {
+	t.Helper()
+	bounded := &boundedReader{max: maxMessageSize, remain: maxMessageSize}
+	fr := &framedReader{
+		r:          bytes.NewReader(wire),
+		maxSize:    maxMessageSize,
+		onNewFrame: bounded.reset,
+	}
+	zdec, err := zstd.NewReader(fr, zstd.WithDecoderConcurrency(1))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("zstd.NewReader: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(zdec.Close)
+	bounded.r = zdec
+	return json.NewDecoder(bounded)
+}
+
+// zstdFrame returns a zstd-compressed frame of b.
+func zstdFrame(t testing.TB, b []byte) []byte {
+	t.Helper()
+	enc, err := zstd.NewWriter(io.Discard, zstd.WithEncoderConcurrency(1))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("zstd.NewWriter: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer enc.Close()
+	return enc.EncodeAll(b, nil)
+}
+
+// wireFrame writes a 4-byte little-endian length prefix plus payload to buf.
+func wireFrame(buf *bytes.Buffer, payload []byte) {
+	var hdr [4]byte
+	binary.LittleEndian.PutUint32(hdr[:], uint32(len(payload)))
+	buf.Write(hdr[:])
+	buf.Write(payload)
+}
+
+// TestMapFrameSizeTooLarge verifies that a 4-byte length prefix claiming
+// a frame larger than the configured cap is rejected before any payload
+// bytes are read from the stream.
+func TestMapFrameSizeTooLarge(t *testing.T) {
+	const max = 4 << 20
+	var wire bytes.Buffer
+	var hdr [4]byte
+	binary.LittleEndian.PutUint32(hdr[:], (max + 1))
+	wire.Write(hdr[:])
+
+	jdec := newTestPipeline(t, wire.Bytes(), max)
+	var resp tailcfg.MapResponse
+	err := jdec.Decode(&resp)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Decode: got nil error, want frame-too-large")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "exceeds max") {
+		t.Errorf("Decode error = %q, want one containing %q", err, "exceeds max")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestMapDecodedSizeTooLarge verifies that a small on-wire frame (well
+// under the cap) which decompresses into a huge JSON payload is rejected.
+// This is the "zstd bomb" case: a tiny compressed frame that would
+// explode into a huge decoded payload for json.Decoder to consume.
+func TestMapDecodedSizeTooLarge(t *testing.T) {
+	const max = 4 << 20
+	big := strings.Repeat("a", 5<<20) // 5 MiB of 'a'
+	raw, err := json.Marshal(&tailcfg.MapResponse{Domain: big})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if int64(len(raw)) <= max {
+		t.Fatalf("raw JSON unexpectedly small: %d", len(raw))
+	}
+	compressed := zstdFrame(t, raw)
+	if int64(len(compressed)) >= max {
+		t.Fatalf("compressed too large (%d); test needs a more compressible payload", len(compressed))
+	}
+
+	var wire bytes.Buffer
+	wireFrame(&wire, compressed)
+
+	jdec := newTestPipeline(t, wire.Bytes(), max)
+	var resp tailcfg.MapResponse
+	err = jdec.Decode(&resp)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("Decode: got nil error, want decoded-size-exceeded")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "exceeds max") {
+		t.Errorf("Decode error = %q, want one containing %q", err, "exceeds max")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestMapBudgetResetsBetweenFrames verifies that the per-message decoded
+// budget is reset at each new frame boundary. Two consecutive 3-MiB frames
+// should both decode successfully under a 4-MiB per-frame cap. Without the
+// reset, the second frame would fail (remaining budget after frame 1 =
+// 4MiB - 3MiB = 1MiB, and we'd try to read 3MiB more).
+func TestMapBudgetResetsBetweenFrames(t *testing.T) {
+	const max = 4 << 20
+	payload := strings.Repeat("a", 3<<20)
+	r1 := &tailcfg.MapResponse{Domain: payload + "-one"}
+	r2 := &tailcfg.MapResponse{Domain: payload + "-two"}
+
+	var wire bytes.Buffer
+	for _, r := range []*tailcfg.MapResponse{r1, r2} {
+		raw, err := json.Marshal(r)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if int64(len(raw)) >= max {
+			t.Fatalf("raw JSON size %d >= max %d; would fail budget check by itself", len(raw), max)
+		}
+		compressed := zstdFrame(t, raw)
+		if int64(len(compressed)) >= max {
+			t.Fatalf("compressed size %d >= max %d", len(compressed), max)
+		}
+		wireFrame(&wire, compressed)
+	}
+
+	jdec := newTestPipeline(t, wire.Bytes(), max)
+
+	var got1, got2 tailcfg.MapResponse
+	if err := jdec.Decode(&got1); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("first Decode: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got1.Domain != r1.Domain {
+		t.Errorf("first Domain mismatch (len %d vs %d)", len(got1.Domain), len(r1.Domain))
+	}
+	if err := jdec.Decode(&got2); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("second Decode: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got2.Domain != r2.Domain {
+		t.Errorf("second Domain mismatch (len %d vs %d)", len(got2.Domain), len(r2.Domain))
+	}
+}
diff --git a/control/tsp/nodefile.go b/control/tsp/nodefile.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8cae11ba9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/control/tsp/nodefile.go
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+// Copyright (c) Tailscale Inc & contributors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+
+package tsp
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
+	"tailscale.com/types/key"
+)
+
+// ServerInfo identifies a coordination server by its URL and Noise public key.
+type ServerInfo struct {
+	// URL is the base URL of the coordination server, without any path
+	// (e.g. "https://controlplane.tailscale.com").
+	//
+	// There is no default value; a URL must always be supplied.
+	URL string `json:"server_url"`
+
+	// Key is the server's Noise public key, used to establish an encrypted
+	// channel between the client and the coordination server.
+	Key key.MachinePublic `json:"server_key"`
+}
+
+// NodeFile is the JSON structure for a node credentials file. It contains
+// the private keys that authenticate a node to a coordination server.
+//
+// Example:
+//
+//	{
+//	  "node_key": "privkey:...",
+//	  "machine_key": "privkey:...",
+//	  "server_url": "https://controlplane.tailscale.com",
+//	  "server_key": "mkey:..."
+//	}
+//
+// Note that node and machine private keys share the same "privkey:"
+// textual form; they are disambiguated by the surrounding JSON field
+// names rather than by any prefix in the key itself.
+type NodeFile struct {
+	// NodeKey is the node's WireGuard private key. The corresponding
+	// public key identifies this node to other peers.
+	NodeKey key.NodePrivate `json:"node_key"`
+
+	// MachineKey is the machine's private key. It authenticates this
+	// machine to the coordination server over Noise.
+	MachineKey key.MachinePrivate `json:"machine_key"`
+
+	ServerInfo // server_url and server_key
+}
+
+// ReadNodeFile reads and parses a node JSON file.
+func ReadNodeFile(path string) (NodeFile, error) {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return NodeFile{}, err
+	}
+	var nf NodeFile
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &nf); err != nil {
+		return NodeFile{}, fmt.Errorf("parsing node file %q: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return nf, nil
+}
+
+// WriteNodeFile writes a node JSON file. The file is created with mode 0600.
+func WriteNodeFile(path string, nf NodeFile) error {
+	if err := nf.Check(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid NodeFile: %w", err)
+	}
+	return os.WriteFile(path, nf.AsJSON(), 0600)
+}
+
+// AsJSON returns nf as a pretty-printed JSON object, terminated by a newline.
+//
+// It always succeeds and always returns a valid JSON object. It does not
+// validate that the fields of nf are non-zero; it is the caller's
+// responsibility to call [NodeFile.Check] first if they want to reject
+// incomplete NodeFiles.
+func (nf NodeFile) AsJSON() []byte {
+	out, err := json.MarshalIndent(nf, "", "  ")
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("NodeFile.AsJSON: %v", err)) // unreachable: all fields marshal successfully
+	}
+	return append(out, '\n')
+}
+
+// Check reports whether nf has all required fields set.
+// It returns an error describing the first zero-valued field, if any.
+func (nf NodeFile) Check() error {
+	if nf.NodeKey.IsZero() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("node_key is missing")
+	}
+	if nf.MachineKey.IsZero() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("machine_key is missing")
+	}
+	if nf.URL == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("server_url is missing")
+	}
+	if nf.ServerInfo.Key.IsZero() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("server_key is missing")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/control/tsp/nodefile_test.go b/control/tsp/nodefile_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4a019f25f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/control/tsp/nodefile_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+// Copyright (c) Tailscale Inc & contributors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+
+package tsp
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"tailscale.com/types/key"
+)
+
+func TestNodeFileRoundTrip(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "node.json")
+
+	nf := NodeFile{
+		NodeKey:    key.NewNode(),
+		MachineKey: key.NewMachine(),
+		ServerInfo: ServerInfo{
+			URL: "https://controlplane.tailscale.com",
+			Key: key.NewMachine().Public(),
+		},
+	}
+
+	if err := WriteNodeFile(path, nf); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteNodeFile: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	got, err := ReadNodeFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ReadNodeFile: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !got.NodeKey.Equal(nf.NodeKey) {
+		t.Errorf("node key mismatch")
+	}
+	if !got.MachineKey.Equal(nf.MachineKey) {
+		t.Errorf("machine key mismatch")
+	}
+	if got.URL != nf.URL {
+		t.Errorf("server URL = %q, want %q", got.URL, nf.URL)
+	}
+	if got.ServerInfo.Key != nf.ServerInfo.Key {
+		t.Errorf("server key mismatch")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNodeFileFormat verifies that ReadNodeFile can parse a fixed JSON literal,
+// ensuring we don't accidentally change the on-disk format.
+func TestNodeFileFormat(t *testing.T) {
+	const fileContents = `{
+  "node_key": "privkey:0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef",
+  "machine_key": "privkey:fedcba9876543210fedcba9876543210fedcba9876543210fedcba9876543210",
+  "server_url": "https://controlplane.tailscale.com",
+  "server_key": "mkey:1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111"
+}`
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "node.json")
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(fileContents), 0600); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	nf, err := ReadNodeFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("ReadNodeFile: %v", err)
+	}
+	if nf.NodeKey.IsZero() {
+		t.Error("node key is zero")
+	}
+	if nf.MachineKey.IsZero() {
+		t.Error("machine key is zero")
+	}
+	if nf.URL != "https://controlplane.tailscale.com" {
+		t.Errorf("server URL = %q", nf.URL)
+	}
+	if nf.ServerInfo.Key.IsZero() {
+		t.Error("server key is zero")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestNodeFileWriteFormat verifies that WriteNodeFile produces the expected
+// JSON field names.
+func TestNodeFileWriteFormat(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "node.json")
+
+	nf := NodeFile{
+		NodeKey:    key.NewNode(),
+		MachineKey: key.NewMachine(),
+		ServerInfo: ServerInfo{
+			URL: "https://example.com",
+			Key: key.NewMachine().Public(),
+		},
+	}
+
+	if err := WriteNodeFile(path, nf); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteNodeFile: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	var raw map[string]json.RawMessage
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &raw); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("parsing written JSON: %v", err)
+	}
+	for _, field := range []string{"node_key", "machine_key", "server_url", "server_key"} {
+		if _, ok := raw[field]; !ok {
+			t.Errorf("missing JSON field %q in written file", field)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/control/tsp/register.go b/control/tsp/register.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0d2baf75f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/control/tsp/register.go
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+// Copyright (c) Tailscale Inc & contributors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+
+package tsp
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"cmp"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"strings"
+
+	"tailscale.com/control/ts2021"
+	"tailscale.com/tailcfg"
+	"tailscale.com/types/key"
+)
+
+// RegisterOpts contains options for registering a node.
+type RegisterOpts struct {
+	// NodeKey is the node's private key. Required.
+	NodeKey key.NodePrivate
+
+	// Hostinfo is the host information to send. Optional;
+	// if nil, a minimal default is used.
+	Hostinfo *tailcfg.Hostinfo
+
+	// Ephemeral marks the node as ephemeral.
+	Ephemeral bool
+
+	// AuthKey is a pre-authorized auth key.
+	AuthKey string
+
+	// Tags is a list of ACL tags to request.
+	Tags []string
+
+	// MaxResponseSize is the maximum size in bytes of the register
+	// response body. If zero, [DefaultMaxMessageSize] is used.
+	MaxResponseSize int64
+}
+
+// Register sends a registration request to the coordination server
+// and returns the response.
+func (c *Client) Register(ctx context.Context, opts RegisterOpts) (*tailcfg.RegisterResponse, error) {
+	hi := opts.Hostinfo
+	if hi == nil {
+		hi = defaultHostinfo()
+	}
+	if len(opts.Tags) > 0 {
+		hi.RequestTags = opts.Tags
+	}
+
+	regReq := tailcfg.RegisterRequest{
+		Version:   tailcfg.CurrentCapabilityVersion,
+		NodeKey:   opts.NodeKey.Public(),
+		Hostinfo:  hi,
+		Ephemeral: opts.Ephemeral,
+	}
+	if opts.AuthKey != "" {
+		regReq.Auth = &tailcfg.RegisterResponseAuth{
+			AuthKey: opts.AuthKey,
+		}
+	}
+
+	body, err := json.Marshal(regReq)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("encoding register request: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	nc, err := c.noiseClient(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("establishing noise connection: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	url := c.serverURL + "/machine/register"
+	url = strings.Replace(url, "http:", "https:", 1)
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, "POST", url, bytes.NewReader(body))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("creating register request: %w", err)
+	}
+	ts2021.AddLBHeader(req, opts.NodeKey.Public())
+
+	res, err := nc.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("register request: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer res.Body.Close()
+
+	maxResponseSize := cmp.Or(opts.MaxResponseSize, DefaultMaxMessageSize)
+
+	if res.StatusCode != 200 {
+		msg, _ := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(res.Body, maxResponseSize))
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("register request: http %d: %.200s",
+			res.StatusCode, strings.TrimSpace(string(msg)))
+	}
+
+	// Read up to maxResponseSize+1 so we can distinguish "exactly at cap" from
+	// "over the cap" rather than relying on a truncated json parse error.
+	data, err := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(res.Body, maxResponseSize+1))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("reading register response: %w", err)
+	}
+	if int64(len(data)) > maxResponseSize {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("register response exceeds max %d", maxResponseSize)
+	}
+	var resp tailcfg.RegisterResponse
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &resp); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("decoding register response: %w", err)
+	}
+	if resp.Error != "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("register: %s", resp.Error)
+	}
+	return &resp, nil
+}
diff --git a/control/tsp/tsp.go b/control/tsp/tsp.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a75cc7d0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/control/tsp/tsp.go
@@ -0,0 +1,251 @@
+// Copyright (c) Tailscale Inc & contributors
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+
+// Package tsp provides a client for speaking the Tailscale protocol
+// to a coordination server over Noise.
+package tsp
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"bytes"
+	"cmp"
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"net"
+	"net/http"
+	"strconv"
+	"sync"
+
+	"tailscale.com/control/ts2021"
+	"tailscale.com/ipn"
+	"tailscale.com/net/tsdial"
+	"tailscale.com/tailcfg"
+	"tailscale.com/types/key"
+	"tailscale.com/types/logger"
+	"tailscale.com/version"
+)
+
+// DefaultServerURL is the default coordination server base URL,
+// used when ClientOpts.ServerURL is empty.
+const DefaultServerURL = ipn.DefaultControlURL
+
+// ClientOpts contains options for creating a new Client.
+type ClientOpts struct {
+	// ServerURL is the base URL of the coordination server
+	// (e.g. "https://controlplane.tailscale.com").
+	// If empty, DefaultServerURL is used.
+	ServerURL string
+
+	// MachineKey is this node's machine private key. Required.
+	MachineKey key.MachinePrivate
+
+	// Logf is the log function. If nil, logger.Discard is used.
+	Logf logger.Logf
+}
+
+// Client is a Tailscale protocol client that speaks to a coordination
+// server over Noise.
+type Client struct {
+	opts      ClientOpts
+	serverURL string
+	logf      logger.Logf
+
+	mu        sync.Mutex
+	nc        *ts2021.Client    // nil until noiseClient called
+	serverPub key.MachinePublic // zero until set or discovered
+}
+
+// NewClient creates a new Client configured to talk to the coordination server
+// specified in opts. It performs no I/O; the server's public key is discovered
+// lazily on first use or can be set explicitly via SetControlPublicKey.
+func NewClient(opts ClientOpts) (*Client, error) {
+	if opts.MachineKey.IsZero() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("MachineKey is required")
+	}
+	logf := opts.Logf
+	if logf == nil {
+		logf = logger.Discard
+	}
+	return &Client{
+		opts:      opts,
+		serverURL: cmp.Or(opts.ServerURL, DefaultServerURL),
+		logf:      logf,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// SetControlPublicKey sets the server's public key, bypassing lazy discovery.
+// Any existing noise client is invalidated and will be re-created on next use.
+func (c *Client) SetControlPublicKey(k key.MachinePublic) {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+	c.serverPub = k
+	c.nc = nil
+}
+
+// DiscoverServerKey fetches the server's public key from the coordination
+// server and stores it for subsequent use. Any existing noise client is
+// invalidated.
+func (c *Client) DiscoverServerKey(ctx context.Context) (key.MachinePublic, error) {
+	k, err := DiscoverServerKey(ctx, c.serverURL)
+	if err != nil {
+		return key.MachinePublic{}, err
+	}
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+	c.serverPub = k
+	c.nc = nil
+	return k, nil
+}
+
+// DiscoverServerKey fetches the coordination server's public key from the
+// given server URL. It is a standalone function that requires no client state.
+func DiscoverServerKey(ctx context.Context, serverURL string) (key.MachinePublic, error) {
+	serverURL = cmp.Or(serverURL, DefaultServerURL)
+	keysURL := serverURL + "/key?v=" + strconv.Itoa(int(tailcfg.CurrentCapabilityVersion))
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, "GET", keysURL, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return key.MachinePublic{}, fmt.Errorf("creating key request: %w", err)
+	}
+	res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return key.MachinePublic{}, fmt.Errorf("fetching server key: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer res.Body.Close()
+	if res.StatusCode != 200 {
+		return key.MachinePublic{}, fmt.Errorf("fetching server key: %s", res.Status)
+	}
+	var keys struct {
+		PublicKey key.MachinePublic
+	}
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(res.Body).Decode(&keys); err != nil {
+		return key.MachinePublic{}, fmt.Errorf("decoding server key: %w", err)
+	}
+	return keys.PublicKey, nil
+}
+
+// noiseClient returns the ts2021 noise client, creating it lazily if needed.
+// If the server's public key is not yet known, it is discovered via HTTP.
+func (c *Client) noiseClient(ctx context.Context) (*ts2021.Client, error) {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if c.nc != nil {
+		return c.nc, nil
+	}
+
+	if c.serverPub.IsZero() {
+		// Discover server key without holding the lock, to avoid blocking
+		// other callers during the HTTP request.
+		c.mu.Unlock()
+		k, err := DiscoverServerKey(ctx, c.serverURL)
+		c.mu.Lock()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		// Re-check: another goroutine may have set it while we were unlocked.
+		if c.serverPub.IsZero() {
+			c.serverPub = k
+		}
+		// If nc was created by another goroutine while unlocked, use it.
+		if c.nc != nil {
+			return c.nc, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	nc, err := ts2021.NewClient(ts2021.ClientOpts{
+		ServerURL:    c.serverURL,
+		PrivKey:      c.opts.MachineKey,
+		ServerPubKey: c.serverPub,
+		Dialer:       tsdial.NewFromFuncForDebug(c.logf, (&net.Dialer{}).DialContext),
+		Logf:         c.logf,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("creating noise client: %w", err)
+	}
+	c.nc = nc
+	return nc, nil
+}
+
+// AnswerC2NPing handles a c2n PingRequest from the control plane by parsing the
+// embedded HTTP request in the payload, routing it locally, and POSTing the HTTP
+// response back to pr.URL using doNoiseRequest. The POST is done in a new
+// goroutine so this method does not block.
+//
+// It reports whether the ping was handled. Unhandled pings (nil pr, non-c2n
+// types, or unrecognized c2n paths) return false.
+func (c *Client) AnswerC2NPing(ctx context.Context, pr *tailcfg.PingRequest, doNoiseRequest func(*http.Request) (*http.Response, error)) (handled bool) {
+	if pr == nil || pr.Types != "c2n" {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// Parse the HTTP request from the payload.
+	httpReq, err := http.ReadRequest(bufio.NewReader(bytes.NewReader(pr.Payload)))
+	if err != nil {
+		c.logf("parsing c2n ping payload: %v", err)
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// Route the request locally.
+	var httpResp *http.Response
+	switch httpReq.URL.Path {
+	case "/echo":
+		body, _ := io.ReadAll(httpReq.Body)
+		httpResp = &http.Response{
+			StatusCode:    200,
+			Status:        "200 OK",
+			Proto:         "HTTP/1.1",
+			ProtoMajor:    1,
+			ProtoMinor:    1,
+			Header:        http.Header{},
+			Body:          io.NopCloser(bytes.NewReader(body)),
+			ContentLength: int64(len(body)),
+		}
+	default:
+		c.logf("ignoring c2n ping request for unhandled path %q", httpReq.URL.Path)
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// Serialize the HTTP response.
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	if err := httpResp.Write(&buf); err != nil {
+		c.logf("serializing c2n ping response: %v", err)
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// Send the response back to the control plane over the Noise channel.
+	go func() {
+		req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, "POST", pr.URL, &buf)
+		if err != nil {
+			c.logf("creating c2n ping reply request: %v", err)
+			return
+		}
+		resp, err := doNoiseRequest(req)
+		if err != nil {
+			c.logf("sending c2n ping reply: %v", err)
+			return
+		}
+		resp.Body.Close()
+	}()
+	return true
+}
+
+// Close closes the client and releases resources.
+func (c *Client) Close() error {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	nc := c.nc
+	c.nc = nil
+	c.mu.Unlock()
+	if nc != nil {
+		nc.Close()
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func defaultHostinfo() *tailcfg.Hostinfo {
+	return &tailcfg.Hostinfo{
+		OS:         version.OS(),
+		IPNVersion: version.Long(),
+	}
+}