diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 173ffb3647..4c5dd1eeb2 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ proto: bootstrap
 	protoc --go_out=. --go_opt=paths=source_relative --go-grpc_out=. --go-grpc_opt=paths=source_relative sdk/database/dbplugin/*.proto
 	protoc --go_out=. --go_opt=paths=source_relative --go-grpc_out=. --go-grpc_opt=paths=source_relative sdk/database/dbplugin/v5/proto/*.proto
 	protoc --go_out=. --go_opt=paths=source_relative --go-grpc_out=. --go-grpc_opt=paths=source_relative sdk/plugin/pb/*.proto
+	protoc --go_out=. --go_opt=paths=source_relative --go-grpc_out=. --go-grpc_opt=paths=source_relative vault/tokens/token.proto
 	protoc --go_out=. --go_opt=paths=source_relative --go-grpc_out=. --go-grpc_opt=paths=source_relative sdk/helper/pluginutil/*.proto
 
 	# No additional sed expressions should be added to this list. Going forward
diff --git a/changelog/14109.txt b/changelog/14109.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f4a3d5039a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/14109.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:feature
+Server Side Consistent Tokens: Service tokens now use SSC token format and token prefixes are updated."
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/command/commands.go b/command/commands.go
index cbf1b22a69..a0d82b6872 100644
--- a/command/commands.go
+++ b/command/commands.go
@@ -81,6 +81,10 @@ const (
 	// path to a license file on disk
 	EnvVaultLicensePath = "VAULT_LICENSE_PATH"
 
+	// DisableSSCTokens is an env var used to disable index bearing
+	// token functionality
+	DisableSSCTokens = "VAULT_DISABLE_SERVER_SIDE_CONSISTENT_TOKENS"
+
 	// flagNameAddress is the flag used in the base command to read in the
 	// address of the Vault server.
 	flagNameAddress = "address"
diff --git a/command/login_test.go b/command/login_test.go
index cf8325dca9..fc3e18dbf7 100644
--- a/command/login_test.go
+++ b/command/login_test.go
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/vault"
 )
 
+// minTokenLengthExternal is the minimum size of SSC
+// tokens we are currently handing out to end users, without any
+// namespace information
+const minTokenLengthExternal = 91
+
 func testLoginCommand(tb testing.TB) (*cli.MockUi, *LoginCommand) {
 	tb.Helper()
 
@@ -82,7 +87,7 @@ func TestLoginCommand_Run(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
-		if l, exp := len(storedToken), vault.TokenLength+2; l != exp {
+		if l, exp := len(storedToken), minTokenLengthExternal+vault.TokenPrefixLength; l != exp {
 			t.Errorf("expected token to be %d characters, was %d: %q", exp, l, storedToken)
 		}
 	})
@@ -209,7 +214,7 @@ func TestLoginCommand_Run(t *testing.T) {
 
 		// Verify only the token was printed
 		token := ui.OutputWriter.String()
-		if l, exp := len(token), vault.TokenLength+2; l != exp {
+		if l, exp := len(token), minTokenLengthExternal+vault.TokenPrefixLength; l != exp {
 			t.Errorf("expected token to be %d characters, was %d: %q", exp, l, token)
 		}
 
diff --git a/command/operator_generate_root_test.go b/command/operator_generate_root_test.go
index f12ed5a4e0..b4489718ef 100644
--- a/command/operator_generate_root_test.go
+++ b/command/operator_generate_root_test.go
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ func TestOperatorGenerateRootCommand_Run(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
-		if l, exp := len(token), vault.TokenLength+2; l != exp {
+		if l, exp := len(token), vault.TokenLength+vault.TokenPrefixLength; l != exp {
 			t.Errorf("expected %d to be %d: %s", l, exp, token)
 		}
 	})
@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@ func TestOperatorGenerateRootCommand_Run(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
-		if l, exp := len(token), vault.TokenLength+2; l != exp {
+		if l, exp := len(token), vault.TokenLength+vault.TokenPrefixLength; l != exp {
 			t.Errorf("expected %d to be %d: %s", l, exp, token)
 		}
 	})
diff --git a/command/operator_init_test.go b/command/operator_init_test.go
index 423edad763..491d623a14 100644
--- a/command/operator_init_test.go
+++ b/command/operator_init_test.go
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ func TestOperatorInitCommand_Run(t *testing.T) {
 		root := match[0][1]
 		decryptedRoot := testPGPDecrypt(t, pgpkeys.TestPrivKey1, root)
 
-		if l, exp := len(decryptedRoot), vault.TokenLength+2; l != exp {
+		if l, exp := len(decryptedRoot), vault.TokenLength+vault.TokenPrefixLength; l != exp {
 			t.Errorf("expected %d to be %d", l, exp)
 		}
 	})
diff --git a/command/server.go b/command/server.go
index 97f7654c10..ed6df3f35f 100644
--- a/command/server.go
+++ b/command/server.go
@@ -1163,6 +1163,15 @@ func (c *ServerCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 	if envLicense := os.Getenv(EnvVaultLicense); envLicense != "" {
 		config.License = envLicense
 	}
+	if disableSSC := os.Getenv(DisableSSCTokens); disableSSC != "" {
+		var err error
+		config.DisableSSCTokens, err = strconv.ParseBool(disableSSC)
+		if err != nil {
+			c.UI.Warn(wrapAtLength("WARNING! failed to parse " +
+				"VAULT_DISABLE_SERVER_SIDE_CONSISTENT_TOKENS env var: " +
+				"setting to default value false"))
+		}
+	}
 
 	// If mlockall(2) isn't supported, show a warning. We disable this in dev
 	// because it is quite scary to see when first using Vault. We also disable
@@ -2502,6 +2511,7 @@ func createCoreConfig(c *ServerCommand, config *server.Config, backend physical.
 		EnableResponseHeaderRaftNodeID: config.EnableResponseHeaderRaftNodeID,
 		License:                        config.License,
 		LicensePath:                    config.LicensePath,
+		DisableSSCTokens:               config.DisableSSCTokens,
 	}
 	if c.flagDev {
 		coreConfig.EnableRaw = true
diff --git a/command/server/config.go b/command/server/config.go
index 15e1446610..45637d2e58 100644
--- a/command/server/config.go
+++ b/command/server/config.go
@@ -83,8 +83,9 @@ type Config struct {
 	EnableResponseHeaderRaftNodeID    bool        `hcl:"-"`
 	EnableResponseHeaderRaftNodeIDRaw interface{} `hcl:"enable_response_header_raft_node_id"`
 
-	License     string `hcl:"-"`
-	LicensePath string `hcl:"license_path"`
+	License          string `hcl:"-"`
+	LicensePath      string `hcl:"license_path"`
+	DisableSSCTokens bool   `hcl:"-"`
 }
 
 const (
diff --git a/helper/namespace/namespace.go b/helper/namespace/namespace.go
index 1b59495cab..b6aba2bc3f 100644
--- a/helper/namespace/namespace.go
+++ b/helper/namespace/namespace.go
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/helper/consts"
 )
 
 type contextValues struct{}
@@ -105,6 +107,12 @@ func SplitIDFromString(input string) (string, string) {
 	case strings.HasPrefix(input, "s."):
 		prefix = "s."
 		input = input[2:]
+	case strings.HasPrefix(input, consts.BatchTokenPrefix):
+		prefix = consts.BatchTokenPrefix
+		input = input[4:]
+	case strings.HasPrefix(input, consts.ServiceTokenPrefix):
+		prefix = consts.ServiceTokenPrefix
+		input = input[4:]
 
 	case slashIdx > 0:
 		// Leases will never have a b./s. to start
diff --git a/http/sys_generate_root.go b/http/sys_generate_root.go
index 4ac3015077..db2da6f7f3 100644
--- a/http/sys_generate_root.go
+++ b/http/sys_generate_root.go
@@ -64,6 +64,12 @@ func handleSysGenerateRootAttemptGet(core *vault.Core, w http.ResponseWriter, r
 		respondError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, err)
 		return
 	}
+	var otpLength int
+	if core.DisableSSCTokens() {
+		otpLength = vault.TokenLength + vault.OldTokenPrefixLength
+	} else {
+		otpLength = vault.TokenLength + vault.TokenPrefixLength
+	}
 
 	// Format the status
 	status := &GenerateRootStatusResponse{
@@ -71,7 +77,7 @@ func handleSysGenerateRootAttemptGet(core *vault.Core, w http.ResponseWriter, r
 		Progress:  progress,
 		Required:  sealConfig.SecretThreshold,
 		Complete:  false,
-		OTPLength: vault.TokenLength + 2,
+		OTPLength: otpLength,
 		OTP:       otp,
 	}
 	if generationConfig != nil {
@@ -98,7 +104,11 @@ func handleSysGenerateRootAttemptPut(core *vault.Core, w http.ResponseWriter, r
 	case len(req.PGPKey) > 0, len(req.OTP) > 0:
 	default:
 		genned = true
-		req.OTP, err = base62.Random(vault.TokenLength + 2)
+		if core.DisableSSCTokens() {
+			req.OTP, err = base62.Random(vault.TokenLength + vault.OldTokenPrefixLength)
+		} else {
+			req.OTP, err = base62.Random(vault.TokenLength + vault.TokenPrefixLength)
+		}
 		if err != nil {
 			respondError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, err)
 			return
diff --git a/http/sys_generate_root_test.go b/http/sys_generate_root_test.go
index 60e951436d..f226d0042b 100644
--- a/http/sys_generate_root_test.go
+++ b/http/sys_generate_root_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/vault"
 )
 
+var tokenLength string = fmt.Sprintf("%d", vault.TokenLength+vault.TokenPrefixLength)
+
 func TestSysGenerateRootAttempt_Status(t *testing.T) {
 	core, _, token := vault.TestCoreUnsealed(t)
 	ln, addr := TestServer(t, core)
@@ -40,7 +42,7 @@ func TestSysGenerateRootAttempt_Status(t *testing.T) {
 		"encoded_root_token": "",
 		"pgp_fingerprint":    "",
 		"nonce":              "",
-		"otp_length":         json.Number("26"),
+		"otp_length":         json.Number(tokenLength),
 	}
 	testResponseStatus(t, resp, 200)
 	testResponseBody(t, resp, &actual)
@@ -68,7 +70,7 @@ func TestSysGenerateRootAttempt_Setup_OTP(t *testing.T) {
 		"encoded_token":      "",
 		"encoded_root_token": "",
 		"pgp_fingerprint":    "",
-		"otp_length":         json.Number("26"),
+		"otp_length":         json.Number(tokenLength),
 	}
 	testResponseStatus(t, resp, 200)
 	testResponseBody(t, resp, &actual)
@@ -93,7 +95,7 @@ func TestSysGenerateRootAttempt_Setup_OTP(t *testing.T) {
 		"encoded_root_token": "",
 		"pgp_fingerprint":    "",
 		"otp":                "",
-		"otp_length":         json.Number("26"),
+		"otp_length":         json.Number(tokenLength),
 	}
 	testResponseStatus(t, resp, 200)
 	testResponseBody(t, resp, &actual)
@@ -129,7 +131,7 @@ func TestSysGenerateRootAttempt_Setup_PGP(t *testing.T) {
 		"encoded_root_token": "",
 		"pgp_fingerprint":    "816938b8a29146fbe245dd29e7cbaf8e011db793",
 		"otp":                "",
-		"otp_length":         json.Number("26"),
+		"otp_length":         json.Number(tokenLength),
 	}
 	testResponseStatus(t, resp, 200)
 	testResponseBody(t, resp, &actual)
@@ -159,7 +161,7 @@ func TestSysGenerateRootAttempt_Cancel(t *testing.T) {
 		"encoded_token":      "",
 		"encoded_root_token": "",
 		"pgp_fingerprint":    "",
-		"otp_length":         json.Number("26"),
+		"otp_length":         json.Number(tokenLength),
 	}
 	testResponseStatus(t, resp, 200)
 	testResponseBody(t, resp, &actual)
@@ -191,7 +193,7 @@ func TestSysGenerateRootAttempt_Cancel(t *testing.T) {
 		"pgp_fingerprint":    "",
 		"nonce":              "",
 		"otp":                "",
-		"otp_length":         json.Number("26"),
+		"otp_length":         json.Number(tokenLength),
 	}
 	testResponseStatus(t, resp, 200)
 	testResponseBody(t, resp, &actual)
diff --git a/sdk/helper/consts/token_consts.go b/sdk/helper/consts/token_consts.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2b4e0278bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sdk/helper/consts/token_consts.go
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+package consts
+
+const (
+	ServiceTokenPrefix        = "hvs."
+	BatchTokenPrefix          = "hvb."
+	RecoveryTokenPrefix       = "hvr."
+	LegacyServiceTokenPrefix  = "s."
+	LegacyBatchTokenPrefix    = "b."
+	LegacyRecoveryTokenPrefix = "r."
+)
diff --git a/sdk/logical/request.go b/sdk/logical/request.go
index f2196aca73..1c400a4cb7 100644
--- a/sdk/logical/request.go
+++ b/sdk/logical/request.go
@@ -220,6 +220,10 @@ type Request struct {
 	// this will be the sha256(sorted policies + namespace) associated with the
 	// client token.
 	ClientID string `json:"client_id" structs:"client_id" mapstructure:"client_id" sentinel:""`
+
+	// InboundSSCToken is the token that arrives on an inbound request, supplied
+	// by the vault user.
+	InboundSSCToken string
 }
 
 // Clone returns a deep copy of the request by using copystructure
diff --git a/sdk/logical/token.go b/sdk/logical/token.go
index b204a4a6c8..ebebd4ad9c 100644
--- a/sdk/logical/token.go
+++ b/sdk/logical/token.go
@@ -93,6 +93,10 @@ type TokenEntry struct {
 	// ID of this entry, generally a random UUID
 	ID string `json:"id" mapstructure:"id" structs:"id" sentinel:""`
 
+	// ExternalID is the ID of a newly created service
+	// token that will be returned to a user
+	ExternalID string `json:"-"`
+
 	// Accessor for this token, a random UUID
 	Accessor string `json:"accessor" mapstructure:"accessor" structs:"accessor" sentinel:""`
 
diff --git a/vault/audit_broker.go b/vault/audit_broker.go
index 9440ec3f61..7389cb5689 100644
--- a/vault/audit_broker.go
+++ b/vault/audit_broker.go
@@ -91,6 +91,15 @@ func (a *AuditBroker) LogRequest(ctx context.Context, in *logical.LogInput, head
 	defer metrics.MeasureSince([]string{"audit", "log_request"}, time.Now())
 	a.RLock()
 	defer a.RUnlock()
+	if in.Request.InboundSSCToken != "" {
+		if in.Auth != nil {
+			reqAuthToken := in.Auth.ClientToken
+			in.Auth.ClientToken = in.Request.InboundSSCToken
+			defer func() {
+				in.Auth.ClientToken = reqAuthToken
+			}()
+		}
+	}
 
 	var retErr *multierror.Error
 
@@ -153,6 +162,15 @@ func (a *AuditBroker) LogResponse(ctx context.Context, in *logical.LogInput, hea
 	defer metrics.MeasureSince([]string{"audit", "log_response"}, time.Now())
 	a.RLock()
 	defer a.RUnlock()
+	if in.Request.InboundSSCToken != "" {
+		if in.Auth != nil {
+			reqAuthToken := in.Auth.ClientToken
+			in.Auth.ClientToken = in.Request.InboundSSCToken
+			defer func() {
+				in.Auth.ClientToken = reqAuthToken
+			}()
+		}
+	}
 
 	var retErr *multierror.Error
 
diff --git a/vault/core.go b/vault/core.go
index c36fc55f13..cc00c901ab 100644
--- a/vault/core.go
+++ b/vault/core.go
@@ -74,6 +74,11 @@ const (
 	coreKeyringCanaryPath = "core/canary-keyring"
 
 	indexHeaderHMACKeyPath = "core/index-header-hmac-key"
+
+	// ForwardSSCTokenToActive is the value that must be set in the
+	// forwardToActive to trigger forwarding if a perf standby encounters
+	// an SSC Token that it does not have the WAL state for.
+	ForwardSSCTokenToActive = "new_token"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -576,6 +581,9 @@ type Core struct {
 	enableResponseHeaderHostname   bool
 	enableResponseHeaderRaftNodeID bool
 
+	// disableSSCTokens is used to disable server side consistent token creation/usage
+	disableSSCTokens bool
+
 	// versionTimestamps is a map of vault versions to timestamps when the version
 	// was first run. Note that because perf standbys should be upgraded first, and
 	// only the active node will actually write the new version timestamp, a perf
@@ -702,6 +710,9 @@ type CoreConfig struct {
 	// Whether to send headers in the HTTP response showing hostname or raft node ID
 	EnableResponseHeaderHostname   bool
 	EnableResponseHeaderRaftNodeID bool
+
+	// DisableSSCTokens is used to disable the use of server side consistent tokens
+	DisableSSCTokens bool
 }
 
 // GetServiceRegistration returns the config's ServiceRegistration, or nil if it does
@@ -844,6 +855,7 @@ func CreateCore(conf *CoreConfig) (*Core, error) {
 		disableAutopilot:               conf.DisableAutopilot,
 		enableResponseHeaderHostname:   conf.EnableResponseHeaderHostname,
 		enableResponseHeaderRaftNodeID: conf.EnableResponseHeaderRaftNodeID,
+		disableSSCTokens:               conf.DisableSSCTokens,
 	}
 	c.standbyStopCh.Store(make(chan struct{}))
 	atomic.StoreUint32(c.sealed, 1)
@@ -1098,6 +1110,11 @@ func (c *Core) RaftNodeIDHeaderEnabled() bool {
 	return c.enableResponseHeaderRaftNodeID
 }
 
+// DisableSSCTokens determines whether to use server side consistent tokens or not.
+func (c *Core) DisableSSCTokens() bool {
+	return c.disableSSCTokens
+}
+
 // Shutdown is invoked when the Vault instance is about to be terminated. It
 // should not be accessible as part of an API call as it will cause an availability
 // problem. It is only used to gracefully quit in the case of HA so that failover
@@ -2064,6 +2081,9 @@ func (s standardUnsealStrategy) unseal(ctx context.Context, logger log.Logger, c
 	if err := c.setupQuotas(ctx, false); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	if err := c.setupHeaderHMACKey(ctx, false); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if !c.IsDRSecondary() {
 		if err := c.startRollback(); err != nil {
 			return err
diff --git a/vault/core_test.go b/vault/core_test.go
index 157d6db1e3..eec131047a 100644
--- a/vault/core_test.go
+++ b/vault/core_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
+	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -148,6 +149,103 @@ func TestCore_Unseal_MultiShare(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestCore_UseSSCTokenToggleOn will check that the root SSC
+// token can be used even when disableSSCTokens is toggled on
+func TestCore_UseSSCTokenToggleOn(t *testing.T) {
+	c, _, root := TestCoreUnsealed(t)
+	c.disableSSCTokens = true
+	req := &logical.Request{
+		Operation: logical.UpdateOperation,
+		Path:      "secret/test",
+		Data: map[string]interface{}{
+			"foo":   "bar",
+			"lease": "1h",
+		},
+		ClientToken: root,
+	}
+	ctx := namespace.RootContext(nil)
+	resp, err := c.HandleRequest(ctx, req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if resp != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", resp)
+	}
+
+	// Read the key
+	req.Operation = logical.ReadOperation
+	req.Data = nil
+	req.SetTokenEntry(&logical.TokenEntry{ID: root, NamespaceID: "root", Policies: []string{"root"}})
+	resp, err = c.HandleRequest(ctx, req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if resp == nil || resp.Secret == nil || resp.Data == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", resp)
+	}
+	if resp.Secret.TTL != time.Hour {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", resp.Secret)
+	}
+	if resp.Secret.LeaseID == "" {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", resp.Secret)
+	}
+	if resp.Data["foo"] != "bar" {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", resp.Data)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCore_UseNonSSCTokenToggleOff will check that the root
+// non-SSC token can be used even when disableSSCTokens is toggled
+// off.
+func TestCore_UseNonSSCTokenToggleOff(t *testing.T) {
+	coreConfig := &CoreConfig{
+		DisableSSCTokens: true,
+	}
+	c, _, root := TestCoreUnsealedWithConfig(t, coreConfig)
+	if len(root) > TokenLength+OldTokenPrefixLength || !strings.HasPrefix(root, "s.") {
+		t.Fatalf("token is not an old token type: %s, %d", root, len(root))
+	}
+	c.disableSSCTokens = false
+	req := &logical.Request{
+		Operation: logical.UpdateOperation,
+		Path:      "secret/test",
+		Data: map[string]interface{}{
+			"foo":   "bar",
+			"lease": "1h",
+		},
+		ClientToken: root,
+	}
+	ctx := namespace.RootContext(nil)
+	resp, err := c.HandleRequest(ctx, req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if resp != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", resp)
+	}
+
+	// Read the key
+	req.Operation = logical.ReadOperation
+	req.Data = nil
+	req.SetTokenEntry(&logical.TokenEntry{ID: root, NamespaceID: "root", Policies: []string{"root"}})
+	resp, err = c.HandleRequest(ctx, req)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	}
+	if resp == nil || resp.Secret == nil || resp.Data == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", resp)
+	}
+	if resp.Secret.TTL != time.Hour {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", resp.Secret)
+	}
+	if resp.Secret.LeaseID == "" {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", resp.Secret)
+	}
+	if resp.Data["foo"] != "bar" {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", resp.Data)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestCore_Unseal_Single(t *testing.T) {
 	c := TestCore(t)
 
@@ -745,12 +843,15 @@ func TestCore_HandleLogin_Token(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Check the policy and metadata
-	te, err := c.tokenStore.Lookup(namespace.RootContext(nil), clientToken)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
+	innerToken, _ := c.DecodeSSCToken(clientToken)
+	te, err := c.tokenStore.Lookup(namespace.RootContext(nil), innerToken)
+	if err != nil || te == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("tok: %s, err: %v", clientToken, err)
 	}
+
+	expectedID, _ := c.DecodeSSCToken(clientToken)
 	expect := &logical.TokenEntry{
-		ID:       clientToken,
+		ID:       expectedID,
 		Accessor: te.Accessor,
 		Parent:   "",
 		Policies: []string{"bar", "default", "foo"},
@@ -830,7 +931,7 @@ func TestCore_HandleRequest_AuditTrail(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", noop)
 	}
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(noop.RespAuth[1], auth) {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", auth)
+		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v, vs %#v", auth, noop.RespAuth)
 	}
 	if len(noop.RespReq) != 2 || !reflect.DeepEqual(noop.RespReq[1], req) {
 		t.Fatalf("Bad: %#v", noop.RespReq[1])
@@ -1056,10 +1157,14 @@ func TestCore_HandleRequest_CreateToken_Lease(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
 	}
+
+	expectedID, _ := c.DecodeSSCToken(clientToken)
+	expectedRootID, _ := c.DecodeSSCToken(root)
+
 	expect := &logical.TokenEntry{
-		ID:           clientToken,
+		ID:           expectedID,
 		Accessor:     te.Accessor,
-		Parent:       root,
+		Parent:       expectedRootID,
 		Policies:     []string{"default", "foo"},
 		Path:         "auth/token/create",
 		DisplayName:  "token",
@@ -1104,10 +1209,14 @@ func TestCore_HandleRequest_CreateToken_NoDefaultPolicy(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
 	}
+
+	expectedID, _ := c.DecodeSSCToken(clientToken)
+	expectedRootID, _ := c.DecodeSSCToken(root)
+
 	expect := &logical.TokenEntry{
-		ID:           clientToken,
+		ID:           expectedID,
 		Accessor:     te.Accessor,
-		Parent:       root,
+		Parent:       expectedRootID,
 		Policies:     []string{"foo"},
 		Path:         "auth/token/create",
 		DisplayName:  "token",
@@ -2061,8 +2170,9 @@ func TestCore_RenewToken_SingleRegister(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Verify the token exists
-	if resp.Data["id"] != newClient {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", resp.Data)
+	if newClient != resp.Data["id"].(string) {
+		t.Fatalf("bad: return IDs: expected %v, got %v",
+			resp.Data["id"], newClient)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/vault/core_util.go b/vault/core_util.go
index e30cf46ba5..99a0f8d987 100644
--- a/vault/core_util.go
+++ b/vault/core_util.go
@@ -127,6 +127,10 @@ func (c *Core) namepaceByPath(string) *namespace.Namespace {
 	return namespace.RootNamespace
 }
 
+func (c *Core) HasWALState(required *logical.WALState, perfStandby bool) bool {
+	return true
+}
+
 func (c *Core) setupReplicatedClusterPrimary(*replication.Cluster) error { return nil }
 
 func (c *Core) perfStandbyCount() int { return 0 }
@@ -177,6 +181,10 @@ func (c *Core) AllowForwardingViaHeader() bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+func (c *Core) ForwardToActive() string {
+	return ""
+}
+
 func (c *Core) MissingRequiredState(raw []string, perfStandby bool) bool {
 	return false
 }
diff --git a/vault/core_util_common.go b/vault/core_util_common.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6e05947740
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vault/core_util_common.go
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+package vault
+
+import (
+	"context"
+
+	uuid "github.com/hashicorp/go-uuid"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/logical"
+)
+
+func (c *Core) loadHeaderHMACKey(ctx context.Context) error {
+	ent, err := c.barrier.Get(ctx, indexHeaderHMACKeyPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if ent != nil {
+		c.IndexHeaderHMACKey.Store(ent.Value)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (c *Core) headerHMACKey() []byte {
+	key := c.IndexHeaderHMACKey.Load()
+	if key == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return key.([]byte)
+}
+
+func (c *Core) setupHeaderHMACKey(ctx context.Context, isPerfStandby bool) error {
+	if c.IsPerfSecondary() || c.IsDRSecondary() || isPerfStandby {
+		return c.loadHeaderHMACKey(ctx)
+	}
+	ent, err := c.barrier.Get(ctx, indexHeaderHMACKeyPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if ent != nil {
+		c.IndexHeaderHMACKey.Store(ent.Value)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	key, err := uuid.GenerateUUID()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	err = c.barrier.Put(ctx, &logical.StorageEntry{
+		Key:   indexHeaderHMACKeyPath,
+		Value: []byte(key),
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	c.IndexHeaderHMACKey.Store([]byte(key))
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/vault/expiration.go b/vault/expiration.go
index d5574a101e..f6ea50fc67 100644
--- a/vault/expiration.go
+++ b/vault/expiration.go
@@ -1581,6 +1581,11 @@ func (m *ExpirationManager) RegisterAuth(ctx context.Context, te *logical.TokenE
 
 	// Setup revocation timer
 	m.updatePending(&le)
+	if strings.HasPrefix(auth.ClientToken, consts.ServiceTokenPrefix) {
+		generatedTokenEntry := logical.TokenEntry{Policies: auth.Policies}
+		tok := m.tokenStore.GenerateSSCTokenID(auth.ClientToken, logical.IndexStateFromContext(ctx), &generatedTokenEntry)
+		te.ExternalID = tok
+	}
 
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/vault/external_tests/token/batch_token_test.go b/vault/external_tests/token/batch_token_test.go
index 5056d16a08..a344b5eed9 100644
--- a/vault/external_tests/token/batch_token_test.go
+++ b/vault/external_tests/token/batch_token_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/api"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/builtin/credential/approle"
 	vaulthttp "github.com/hashicorp/vault/http"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/helper/consts"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/logical"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/vault"
 )
@@ -133,10 +134,10 @@ path "kv/*" {
 		if resp.Auth.ClientToken == "" {
 			t.Fatal("expected a client token")
 		}
-		if batch && !strings.HasPrefix(resp.Auth.ClientToken, "b.") {
+		if batch && !strings.HasPrefix(resp.Auth.ClientToken, consts.BatchTokenPrefix) {
 			t.Fatal("expected a batch token")
 		}
-		if !batch && strings.HasPrefix(resp.Auth.ClientToken, "b.") {
+		if !batch && strings.HasPrefix(resp.Auth.ClientToken, consts.BatchTokenPrefix) {
 			t.Fatal("expected a non-batch token")
 		}
 		return resp.Auth.ClientToken
@@ -268,7 +269,7 @@ path "kv/*" {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:2] != "b." {
+	if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:vault.TokenPrefixLength] != consts.BatchTokenPrefix {
 		t.Fatal(secret.Auth.ClientToken)
 	}
 
@@ -354,7 +355,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_Roles_Batch(t *testing.T) {
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
-		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:2] != "s." {
+		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:vault.TokenPrefixLength] != consts.ServiceTokenPrefix {
 			t.Fatal(secret.Auth.ClientToken)
 		}
 	}
@@ -397,7 +398,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_Roles_Batch(t *testing.T) {
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
-		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:2] != "b." {
+		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:vault.TokenPrefixLength] != consts.BatchTokenPrefix {
 			t.Fatal(secret.Auth.ClientToken)
 		}
 	}
@@ -424,7 +425,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_Roles_Batch(t *testing.T) {
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
-		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:2] != "b." {
+		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:vault.TokenPrefixLength] != consts.BatchTokenPrefix {
 			t.Fatal(secret.Auth.ClientToken)
 		}
 		// Client specifies service
@@ -441,7 +442,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_Roles_Batch(t *testing.T) {
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
-		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:2] != "s." {
+		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:vault.TokenPrefixLength] != consts.ServiceTokenPrefix {
 			t.Fatal(secret.Auth.ClientToken)
 		}
 		// Client doesn't specify
@@ -457,7 +458,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_Roles_Batch(t *testing.T) {
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
-		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:2] != "s." {
+		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:vault.TokenPrefixLength] != consts.ServiceTokenPrefix {
 			t.Fatal(secret.Auth.ClientToken)
 		}
 	}
@@ -484,7 +485,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_Roles_Batch(t *testing.T) {
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
-		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:2] != "b." {
+		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:vault.TokenPrefixLength] != consts.BatchTokenPrefix {
 			t.Fatal(secret.Auth.ClientToken)
 		}
 		// Client specifies service
@@ -501,7 +502,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_Roles_Batch(t *testing.T) {
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
-		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:2] != "s." {
+		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:vault.TokenPrefixLength] != consts.ServiceTokenPrefix {
 			t.Fatal(secret.Auth.ClientToken)
 		}
 		// Client doesn't specify
@@ -517,7 +518,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_Roles_Batch(t *testing.T) {
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
-		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:2] != "b." {
+		if secret.Auth.ClientToken[0:vault.TokenPrefixLength] != consts.BatchTokenPrefix {
 			t.Fatal(secret.Auth.ClientToken)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/vault/generate_root.go b/vault/generate_root.go
index 231b41016d..ec530ff96a 100644
--- a/vault/generate_root.go
+++ b/vault/generate_root.go
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ func (g generateStandardRootToken) generate(ctx context.Context, c *Core) (strin
 		c.tokenStore.revokeOrphan(ctx, te.ID)
 	}
 
-	return te.ID, cleanupFunc, nil
+	return te.ExternalID, cleanupFunc, nil
 }
 
 // GenerateRootConfig holds the configuration for a root generation
@@ -134,7 +134,8 @@ func (c *Core) GenerateRootInit(otp, pgpKey string, strategy GenerateRootStrateg
 	var fingerprint string
 	switch {
 	case len(otp) > 0:
-		if len(otp) != TokenLength+2 {
+		if (len(otp) != TokenLength+TokenPrefixLength && !c.DisableSSCTokens()) ||
+			(len(otp) != TokenLength+OldTokenPrefixLength && c.DisableSSCTokens()) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("OTP string is wrong length")
 		}
 
diff --git a/vault/generate_root_recovery.go b/vault/generate_root_recovery.go
index afafb5c599..9757c42e5f 100644
--- a/vault/generate_root_recovery.go
+++ b/vault/generate_root_recovery.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/hashicorp/go-secure-stdlib/base62"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/helper/consts"
 	"go.uber.org/atomic"
 )
 
@@ -40,11 +41,18 @@ func (g *generateRecoveryToken) authenticate(ctx context.Context, c *Core, combi
 }
 
 func (g *generateRecoveryToken) generate(ctx context.Context, c *Core) (string, func(), error) {
-	id, err := base62.Random(TokenLength)
+	var id string
+	var err error
+	id, err = base62.Random(TokenLength)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", nil, err
 	}
-	token := "r." + id
+	var token string
+	if c.DisableSSCTokens() {
+		token = consts.LegacyRecoveryTokenPrefix + id
+	} else {
+		token = consts.RecoveryTokenPrefix + id
+	}
 	g.token.Store(token)
 
 	return token, func() { g.token.Store("") }, nil
diff --git a/vault/generate_root_test.go b/vault/generate_root_test.go
index 9401be7cb1..7b80d3a447 100644
--- a/vault/generate_root_test.go
+++ b/vault/generate_root_test.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func testCore_GenerateRoot_Lifecycle_Common(t *testing.T, c *Core, keys [][]byte
 		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	otp, err := base62.Random(26)
+	otp, err := base62.Random(TokenPrefixLength + TokenLength)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func TestCore_GenerateRoot_Init(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func testCore_GenerateRoot_Init_Common(t *testing.T, c *Core) {
-	otp, err := base62.Random(26)
+	otp, err := base62.Random(TokenPrefixLength + TokenLength)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ func TestCore_GenerateRoot_InvalidMasterNonce(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func testCore_GenerateRoot_InvalidMasterNonce_Common(t *testing.T, c *Core, keys [][]byte) {
-	otp, err := base62.Random(26)
+	otp, err := base62.Random(TokenPrefixLength + TokenLength)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ func TestCore_GenerateRoot_Update_OTP(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func testCore_GenerateRoot_Update_OTP_Common(t *testing.T, c *Core, keys [][]byte) {
-	otp, err := base62.Random(26)
+	otp, err := base62.Random(TokenPrefixLength + TokenLength)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
diff --git a/vault/ha.go b/vault/ha.go
index 83ca3604f2..12f9d6d745 100644
--- a/vault/ha.go
+++ b/vault/ha.go
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ func (c *Core) Standby() (bool, error) {
 }
 
 // PerfStandby checks if the vault is a performance standby
+// This function cannot be used during request handling
+// because this causes a deadlock with the statelock.
 func (c *Core) PerfStandby() bool {
 	c.stateLock.RLock()
 	perfStandby := c.perfStandby
diff --git a/vault/init.go b/vault/init.go
index 6efbcd8267..f092da2941 100644
--- a/vault/init.go
+++ b/vault/init.go
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ func (c *Core) Initialize(ctx context.Context, initParams *InitParams) (*InitRes
 		c.logger.Error("root token generation failed", "error", err)
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	results.RootToken = rootToken.ID
+	results.RootToken = rootToken.ExternalID
 	c.logger.Info("root token generated")
 
 	if initParams.RootTokenPGPKey != "" {
diff --git a/vault/request_handling.go b/vault/request_handling.go
index e1a4915f1e..61f7a3bf08 100644
--- a/vault/request_handling.go
+++ b/vault/request_handling.go
@@ -2,12 +2,15 @@ package vault
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"crypto/hmac"
+	"encoding/base64"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	metrics "github.com/armon/go-metrics"
+	"github.com/golang/protobuf/proto"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/errwrap"
 	multierror "github.com/hashicorp/go-multierror"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/go-secure-stdlib/strutil"
@@ -24,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/helper/wrapping"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/logical"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/vault/quotas"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/vault/tokens"
 	uberAtomic "go.uber.org/atomic"
 )
 
@@ -449,7 +453,6 @@ func (c *Core) switchedLockHandleRequest(httpCtx context.Context, req *logical.R
 		ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, logical.CtxKeyInFlightRequestID{}, inFlightReqID)
 	}
 	resp, err = c.handleCancelableRequest(ctx, req)
-
 	req.SetTokenEntry(nil)
 	cancel()
 	return resp, err
@@ -498,6 +501,8 @@ func (c *Core) handleCancelableRequest(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("could not parse namespace from http context: %w", err)
 	}
+	var requestBodyToken string
+	var returnRequestAuthToken bool
 
 	// req.Path will be relative by this point. The prefix check is first
 	// to fail faster if we're not in this situation since it's a hot path
@@ -536,6 +541,7 @@ func (c *Core) handleCancelableRequest(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request
 		// requests for these paths always go to the token NS
 		case "auth/token/lookup-self", "auth/token/renew-self", "auth/token/revoke-self":
 			ctx = newCtx
+			returnRequestAuthToken = true
 
 		// For the following operations, we can set the proper namespace context
 		// using the token's embedded nsID if a relative path was provided.
@@ -556,6 +562,16 @@ func (c *Core) handleCancelableRequest(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request
 			if token == nil {
 				return logical.ErrorResponse("invalid token"), logical.ErrPermissionDenied
 			}
+			// We don't care if the token is an server side consistent token or not. Either way, we're going
+			// to be returning it for these paths instead of the short token stored in vault.
+			requestBodyToken = token.(string)
+			if IsSSCToken(token.(string)) {
+				token, err = c.CheckSSCToken(ctx, token.(string), c.isLoginRequest(ctx, req), c.perfStandby)
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, fmt.Errorf("server side consistent token check failed: %w", err)
+				}
+				req.Data["token"] = token
+			}
 			_, nsID := namespace.SplitIDFromString(token.(string))
 			if nsID != "" {
 				ns, err := NamespaceByID(ctx, nsID, c)
@@ -616,12 +632,32 @@ func (c *Core) handleCancelableRequest(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request
 	walState := &logical.WALState{}
 	ctx = logical.IndexStateContext(ctx, walState)
 	var auth *logical.Auth
-	if c.router.LoginPath(ctx, req.Path) {
+	if c.isLoginRequest(ctx, req) {
 		resp, auth, err = c.handleLoginRequest(ctx, req)
 	} else {
 		resp, auth, err = c.handleRequest(ctx, req)
 	}
 
+	// If we saved the token in the request, we should return it in the response
+	// data.
+	if resp != nil && resp.Data != nil {
+		if _, ok := resp.Data["error"]; !ok {
+			if requestBodyToken != "" {
+				resp.Data["id"] = requestBodyToken
+			} else if returnRequestAuthToken && req.InboundSSCToken != "" {
+				resp.Data["id"] = req.InboundSSCToken
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if resp != nil && resp.Auth != nil && requestBodyToken != "" {
+		// if a client token has already been set and the request body token's internal token
+		// is equal to that value, then we can return the original request body token
+		tok, _ := c.DecodeSSCToken(requestBodyToken)
+		if resp.Auth.ClientToken == tok {
+			resp.Auth.ClientToken = requestBodyToken
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Ensure we don't leak internal data
 	if resp != nil {
 		if resp.Secret != nil {
@@ -758,6 +794,10 @@ func (c *Core) doRouting(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request) (*logical.Re
 	return resp, err
 }
 
+func (c *Core) isLoginRequest(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request) bool {
+	return c.router.LoginPath(ctx, req.Path)
+}
+
 func (c *Core) handleRequest(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request) (retResp *logical.Response, retAuth *logical.Auth, retErr error) {
 	defer metrics.MeasureSince([]string{"core", "handle_request"}, time.Now())
 
@@ -1108,6 +1148,10 @@ func (c *Core) handleRequest(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request) (retResp
 			// We build the "policies" list to be returned by starting with
 			// token policies, and add identity policies right after this
 			// conditional
+			tok, _ := c.DecodeSSCToken(req.InboundSSCToken)
+			if resp.Auth.ClientToken == tok {
+				resp.Auth.ClientToken = req.InboundSSCToken
+			}
 			resp.Auth.Policies = policyutil.SanitizePolicies(resp.Auth.TokenPolicies, policyutil.DoNotAddDefaultPolicy)
 		} else {
 			resp.Auth.TokenPolicies = policyutil.SanitizePolicies(resp.Auth.Policies, policyutil.DoNotAddDefaultPolicy)
@@ -1115,12 +1159,13 @@ func (c *Core) handleRequest(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request) (retResp
 			switch resp.Auth.TokenType {
 			case logical.TokenTypeBatch:
 			case logical.TokenTypeService:
-				if err := c.expiration.RegisterAuth(ctx, &logical.TokenEntry{
+				registeredTokenEntry := &logical.TokenEntry{
 					TTL:         auth.TTL,
 					Policies:    auth.TokenPolicies,
 					Path:        resp.Auth.CreationPath,
 					NamespaceID: ns.ID,
-				}, resp.Auth); err != nil {
+				}
+				if err := c.expiration.RegisterAuth(ctx, registeredTokenEntry, resp.Auth); err != nil {
 					// Best-effort clean up on error, so we log the cleanup error as
 					// a warning but still return as internal error.
 					if err := c.tokenStore.revokeOrphan(ctx, resp.Auth.ClientToken); err != nil {
@@ -1130,6 +1175,9 @@ func (c *Core) handleRequest(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request) (retResp
 					retErr = multierror.Append(retErr, ErrInternalError)
 					return nil, auth, retErr
 				}
+				if registeredTokenEntry.ExternalID != "" {
+					resp.Auth.ClientToken = registeredTokenEntry.ExternalID
+				}
 				leaseGenerated = true
 			}
 		}
@@ -1570,6 +1618,9 @@ func (c *Core) RegisterAuth(ctx context.Context, tokenTTL time.Duration, path st
 			c.logger.Error("failed to register token lease during login request", "request_path", path, "error", err)
 			return ErrInternalError
 		}
+		if te.ExternalID != "" {
+			auth.ClientToken = te.ExternalID
+		}
 	}
 
 	return nil
@@ -1590,12 +1641,20 @@ func (c *Core) PopulateTokenEntry(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request) err
 	// a token from a Vault version pre-accessors. We ignore errors for
 	// JWTs.
 	token := req.ClientToken
+	var err error
+	req.InboundSSCToken = token
+	if IsSSCToken(token) {
+		token, err = c.CheckSSCToken(ctx, token, c.isLoginRequest(ctx, req), c.perfStandby)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	req.ClientToken = token
 	te, err := c.LookupToken(ctx, token)
 	if err != nil {
-		dotCount := strings.Count(token, ".")
 		// If we have two dots but the second char is a dot it's a vault
 		// token of the form s.SOMETHING.nsid, not a JWT
-		if dotCount != 2 || (dotCount == 2 && token[1] == '.') {
+		if !IsJWT(token) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error performing token check: %w", err)
 		}
 	}
@@ -1606,3 +1665,129 @@ func (c *Core) PopulateTokenEntry(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request) err
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+func (c *Core) CheckSSCToken(ctx context.Context, token string, unauth bool, isPerfStandby bool) (string, error) {
+	if unauth && token != "" {
+		// This token shouldn't really be here, but alas it was sent along with the request
+		// Since we're already knee deep in the token checking code pre-existing token checking
+		// code, we have to deal with this token whether we like it or not. So, we'll just try
+		// to get the inner token, and if that fails, return the token as-is. We intentionally
+		// will skip any token checks, because this is an unauthenticated paths and the token
+		// is just a nuisance rather than a means of auth.
+
+		// We cannot return whatever we like here, because if we do then CheckToken, which looks up
+		// the corresponding lease, will not find the token entry and lease. There are unauth'ed
+		// endpoints that use the token entry (such as sys/ui/mounts/internal) to do custom token
+		// checks, which would then fail. Therefore, we must try to get whatever thing is tied to
+		// token entries, but we must explicitly not do any SSC Token checks.
+		tok, err := c.DecodeSSCToken(token)
+		if err != nil || tok == "" {
+			return token, nil
+		}
+		return tok, nil
+	}
+	return c.checkSSCTokenInternal(ctx, token, isPerfStandby)
+}
+
+// DecodeSSCToken returns the random part of an SSCToken without
+// performing any signature or WAL checks.
+func (c *Core) DecodeSSCToken(token string) (string, error) {
+	// Skip batch and old style service tokens. These can have the prefix "b.",
+	// "s." (for old tokens) or "hvb."
+	if !IsSSCToken(token) {
+		return token, nil
+	}
+	tok, err := c.DecodeSSCTokenInternal(token)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return tok.Random, nil
+}
+
+// DecodeSSCTokenInternal is a helper used to get the inner part of a SSC token without
+// checking the token signature or the WAL index.
+func (c *Core) DecodeSSCTokenInternal(token string) (*tokens.Token, error) {
+	signedToken := &tokens.SignedToken{}
+
+	// Skip batch and old style service tokens. These can have the prefix "b.",
+	// "s." (for old tokens) or "hvb."
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(token, consts.ServiceTokenPrefix) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("not service token")
+	}
+
+	// Consider the suffix of the token only when unmarshalling
+	suffixToken := token[4:]
+
+	tokenBytes, err := base64.RawURLEncoding.DecodeString(suffixToken)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("can't decode token")
+	}
+
+	err = proto.Unmarshal(tokenBytes, signedToken)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	plainToken := &tokens.Token{}
+	err2 := proto.Unmarshal([]byte(signedToken.Token), plainToken)
+	if err2 != nil {
+		return nil, err2
+	}
+	return plainToken, nil
+}
+
+func (c *Core) checkSSCTokenInternal(ctx context.Context, token string, isPerfStandby bool) (string, error) {
+	signedToken := &tokens.SignedToken{}
+
+	// Skip batch and old style service tokens. These can have the prefix "b.",
+	// "s." (for old tokens) or "hvb."
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(token, consts.ServiceTokenPrefix) {
+		return token, nil
+	}
+
+	// Check token length to guess if this is an server side consistent token or not.
+	// Note that even when the DisableSSCTokens flag is set, index
+	// bearing tokens that have already been given out may still be used.
+	if !IsSSCToken(token) {
+		return token, nil
+	}
+
+	// Consider the suffix of the token only when unmarshalling
+	suffixToken := token[4:]
+
+	tokenBytes, err := base64.RawURLEncoding.DecodeString(suffixToken)
+	if err != nil {
+		c.logger.Warn("cannot decode token", "error", err)
+		return token, nil
+	}
+
+	err = proto.Unmarshal(tokenBytes, signedToken)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("error occurred when unmarshalling ssc token: %w", err)
+	}
+	hm, err := c.tokenStore.CalculateSignedTokenHMAC(signedToken.Token)
+	if !hmac.Equal(hm, signedToken.Hmac) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("token mac for %+v is incorrect: err %w", signedToken, err)
+	}
+	plainToken := &tokens.Token{}
+	err = proto.Unmarshal([]byte(signedToken.Token), plainToken)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	ep := int(plainToken.IndexEpoch)
+	if ep < c.tokenStore.GetSSCTokensGenerationCounter() {
+		return plainToken.Random, nil
+	}
+
+	requiredWalState := &logical.WALState{ClusterID: c.clusterID.Load(), LocalIndex: plainToken.LocalIndex, ReplicatedIndex: 0}
+	if c.HasWALState(requiredWalState, isPerfStandby) {
+		return plainToken.Random, nil
+	}
+	// Make sure to forward the request instead of checking the token if the flag
+	// is set and we're on a perf standby
+	if c.ForwardToActive() == ForwardSSCTokenToActive && isPerfStandby {
+		return "", logical.ErrPerfStandbyPleaseForward
+	}
+	// In this case, the server side consistent token cannot be used on this node. We return the appropriate
+	// status code.
+	return "", logical.ErrMissingRequiredState
+}
diff --git a/vault/router.go b/vault/router.go
index 6426e4eb8f..98c805d680 100644
--- a/vault/router.go
+++ b/vault/router.go
@@ -603,7 +603,8 @@ func (r *Router) routeCommon(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request, existenc
 		}
 
 		switch {
-		case te.NamespaceID == namespace.RootNamespaceID && !strings.HasPrefix(req.ClientToken, "s."):
+		case te.NamespaceID == namespace.RootNamespaceID && !strings.HasPrefix(req.ClientToken, "s.") &&
+			!strings.HasPrefix(req.ClientToken, consts.ServiceTokenPrefix):
 			// In order for the token store to revoke later, we need to have the same
 			// salted ID, so we double-salt what's going to the cubbyhole backend
 			salt, err := r.tokenStoreSaltFunc(ctx)
@@ -643,6 +644,13 @@ func (r *Router) routeCommon(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request, existenc
 	headers := req.Headers
 	req.Headers = nil
 
+	// Cache the saved request SSC token
+	inboundToken := req.InboundSSCToken
+
+	// Ensure that the inbound token we cache in the
+	// request during token creation isn't sent to backends
+	req.InboundSSCToken = ""
+
 	// Filter and add passthrough headers to the backend
 	var passthroughRequestHeaders []string
 	if rawVal, ok := re.mountEntry.synthesizedConfigCache.Load("passthrough_request_headers"); ok {
@@ -696,6 +704,13 @@ func (r *Router) routeCommon(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request, existenc
 
 		req.MFACreds = originalMFACreds
 
+		req.InboundSSCToken = inboundToken
+
+		// Before resetting the tokenEntry, see if an ExternalID was added
+		if req.TokenEntry() != nil && req.TokenEntry().ExternalID != "" {
+			reqTokenEntry.ExternalID = req.TokenEntry().ExternalID
+		}
+
 		req.SetTokenEntry(reqTokenEntry)
 		req.ControlGroup = originalControlGroup
 	}()
diff --git a/vault/testing.go b/vault/testing.go
index 87cc68c76c..4e12363ab4 100644
--- a/vault/testing.go
+++ b/vault/testing.go
@@ -183,6 +183,7 @@ func TestCoreWithSealAndUI(t testing.T, opts *CoreConfig) *Core {
 	conf.NumExpirationWorkers = numExpirationWorkersTest
 	conf.RawConfig = opts.RawConfig
 	conf.EnableResponseHeaderHostname = opts.EnableResponseHeaderHostname
+	conf.DisableSSCTokens = opts.DisableSSCTokens
 
 	if opts.Logger != nil {
 		conf.Logger = opts.Logger
@@ -327,7 +328,11 @@ func TestCoreInitClusterWrapperSetup(t testing.T, core *Core, handler http.Handl
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
 	}
-	return result.SecretShares, result.RecoveryShares, result.RootToken
+	innerToken, err := core.DecodeSSCToken(result.RootToken)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("err: %s", err)
+	}
+	return result.SecretShares, result.RecoveryShares, innerToken
 }
 
 func TestCoreUnseal(core *Core, key []byte) (bool, error) {
diff --git a/vault/token_store.go b/vault/token_store.go
index 346efec3cf..d3924afe38 100644
--- a/vault/token_store.go
+++ b/vault/token_store.go
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package vault
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"crypto/hmac"
+	"crypto/sha256"
 	"encoding/base64"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
@@ -34,6 +36,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/helper/tokenutil"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/logical"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/plugin/pb"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/vault/tokens"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/mapstructure"
 )
 
@@ -62,13 +65,31 @@ const (
 	// that the token is but is currently fulfilling its final use; after this
 	// request it will not be able to be looked up as being valid.
 	tokenRevocationPending = -1
-)
 
-var (
 	// TokenLength is the size of tokens we are currently generating, without
 	// any namespace information
 	TokenLength = 24
 
+	// MaxNsIdLength is the maximum namespace ID length (4 characters prepended by a ".")
+	MaxNsIdLength = 5
+
+	// TokenPrefixLength is the length of the new token prefixes ("hvs.", "hvb.",
+	// and "hvr.")
+	TokenPrefixLength = 4
+
+	// OldTokenPrefixLength is the length of the old token prefixes ("s.", "b.". "r.")
+	OldTokenPrefixLength = 2
+
+	// GenerationCounterBuffer is a buffer for the generation counter estimation in the
+	// case where a counter cannot be retrieved from storage
+	GenerationCounterBuffer = 5
+
+	// MaxRetrySSCTokensGenerationCounter is the maximum number of retries the TokenStore
+	// will make when attempting to get the SSCTokensGenerationCounter
+	MaxRetrySSCTokensGenerationCounter = 3
+)
+
+var (
 	// displayNameSanitize is used to sanitize a display name given to a token.
 	displayNameSanitize = regexp.MustCompile("[^a-zA-Z0-9-]")
 
@@ -92,7 +113,7 @@ var (
 		view := storage.(*BarrierView)
 
 		switch {
-		case te.NamespaceID == namespace.RootNamespaceID && !strings.HasPrefix(te.ID, "s."):
+		case te.NamespaceID == namespace.RootNamespaceID && !IsServiceToken(te.ID):
 			saltedID, err := ts.SaltID(ctx, te.ID)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
@@ -532,6 +553,12 @@ type TokenStore struct {
 	identityPoliciesDeriverFunc func(string) (*identity.Entity, []string, error)
 
 	quitContext context.Context
+
+	// sscTokensGenerationCounter is a per-cluster version that counts how many
+	// "sync points" the cluster has  encountered in its lifecycle. "Sync points" are the
+	// number of times all nodes in the cluster have stepped down. Currently the only sync
+	// point is a DR cluster promoting to the primary.
+	sscTokensGenerationCounter SSCTokenGenerationCounter
 }
 
 // NewTokenStore is used to construct a token store that is
@@ -586,6 +613,10 @@ func NewTokenStore(ctx context.Context, logger log.Logger, core *Core, config *l
 
 	t.Backend.Setup(ctx, config)
 
+	if err := t.loadSSCTokensGenerationCounter(ctx); err != nil {
+		return t, err
+	}
+
 	return t, nil
 }
 
@@ -865,6 +896,8 @@ func (ts *TokenStore) create(ctx context.Context, entry *logical.TokenEntry) err
 
 		if userSelectedID {
 			switch {
+			case strings.HasPrefix(entry.ID, consts.ServiceTokenPrefix):
+				return fmt.Errorf("custom token ID cannot have the 'hvs.' prefix")
 			case strings.HasPrefix(entry.ID, "s."):
 				return fmt.Errorf("custom token ID cannot have the 's.' prefix")
 			case strings.Contains(entry.ID, "."):
@@ -873,7 +906,11 @@ func (ts *TokenStore) create(ctx context.Context, entry *logical.TokenEntry) err
 		}
 
 		if !userSelectedID {
-			entry.ID = fmt.Sprintf("s.%s", entry.ID)
+			if !ts.core.DisableSSCTokens() {
+				entry.ID = fmt.Sprintf("hvs.%s", entry.ID)
+			} else {
+				entry.ID = fmt.Sprintf("s.%s", entry.ID)
+			}
 		}
 
 		// Attach namespace ID for tokens that are not belonging to the root
@@ -882,7 +919,7 @@ func (ts *TokenStore) create(ctx context.Context, entry *logical.TokenEntry) err
 			entry.ID = fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", entry.ID, tokenNS.ID)
 		}
 
-		if tokenNS.ID != namespace.RootNamespaceID || strings.HasPrefix(entry.ID, "s.") {
+		if tokenNS.ID != namespace.RootNamespaceID || strings.HasPrefix(entry.ID, consts.ServiceTokenPrefix) {
 			if entry.CubbyholeID == "" {
 				cubbyholeID, err := base62.Random(TokenLength)
 				if err != nil {
@@ -906,7 +943,15 @@ func (ts *TokenStore) create(ctx context.Context, entry *logical.TokenEntry) err
 			return err
 		}
 
-		return ts.storeCommon(ctx, entry, true)
+		err = ts.storeCommon(ctx, entry, true)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		entry.ExternalID = entry.ID
+		if !userSelectedID && !ts.core.DisableSSCTokens() {
+			entry.ExternalID = ts.GenerateSSCTokenID(entry.ID, logical.IndexStateFromContext(ctx), entry)
+		}
+		return nil
 
 	case logical.TokenTypeBatch:
 		// Ensure fields we don't support/care about are nilled, proto marshal,
@@ -946,7 +991,11 @@ func (ts *TokenStore) create(ctx context.Context, entry *logical.TokenEntry) err
 		}
 
 		bEntry := base64.RawURLEncoding.EncodeToString(eEntry)
-		entry.ID = fmt.Sprintf("b.%s", bEntry)
+		if ts.core.DisableSSCTokens() {
+			entry.ID = fmt.Sprintf("b.%s", bEntry)
+		} else {
+			entry.ID = fmt.Sprintf("hvb.%s", bEntry)
+		}
 
 		if tokenNS.ID != namespace.RootNamespaceID {
 			entry.ID = fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", entry.ID, tokenNS.ID)
@@ -959,6 +1008,84 @@ func (ts *TokenStore) create(ctx context.Context, entry *logical.TokenEntry) err
 	}
 }
 
+// GenerateSSCTokenID generates the ID field of the TokenEntry struct for newly
+// minted service tokens. This function is meant to be robust so as to allow vault
+// to continue operating even in the case where IDs can't be generated. Thus it logs
+// errors as opposed to throwing them.
+func (ts *TokenStore) GenerateSSCTokenID(innerToken string, walState *logical.WALState, te *logical.TokenEntry) string {
+	// Set up the prefix prepending function. This should really only be used in
+	// the token ID generation code itself.
+	prependServicePrefix := func(externalToken string) string {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(externalToken, consts.ServiceTokenPrefix) {
+			// We didn't generate a SSC token and furthermore are attempting
+			// to regenerate a token that already has passed through
+			// GenerateSSCTokenID, as it has a prefix.
+			return externalToken
+		}
+		return consts.ServiceTokenPrefix + externalToken
+	}
+
+	// If we are not using server side consistent tokens, log it and return here
+	if ts.core.DisableSSCTokens() {
+		ts.logger.Trace("server side consistent tokens are disabled")
+		return prependServicePrefix(innerToken)
+	}
+
+	// If there is no WAL state, do not throw an error as it may be a single
+	// node cluster, or an OSS core. Instead, log that this has happened and
+	// create a walState with nil values to signify that these values should
+	// be ignored
+	if walState == nil {
+		ts.logger.Debug("no wal state found when generating token")
+		walState = &logical.WALState{}
+	}
+	if te.IsRoot() {
+		return prependServicePrefix(innerToken)
+	}
+
+	// If the token is a root token, we will always set the index and epoch to 0 so as to ensure
+	// that root tokens are always fixed size. This is required because during root token
+	// generation, the size needs to be known to create the OTP.
+
+	localIndex := walState.LocalIndex
+	tokenGenerationCounter := uint32(ts.GetSSCTokensGenerationCounter())
+
+	t := tokens.Token{Random: innerToken, LocalIndex: localIndex, IndexEpoch: tokenGenerationCounter}
+	marshalledToken, err := proto.Marshal(&t)
+	if err != nil {
+		ts.logger.Error("unable to marshal token", "error", err)
+		return prependServicePrefix(innerToken)
+	}
+
+	hmac, err := ts.CalculateSignedTokenHMAC(marshalledToken)
+	if err != nil {
+		// If we can't calculate the HMAC for any reason, we should log an error
+		// but still allow vault to function, using the old token instead.
+		ts.logger.Error("unable to calculate token signature", "error", err)
+		return prependServicePrefix(innerToken)
+	}
+	st := tokens.SignedToken{TokenVersion: 1, Token: marshalledToken, Hmac: hmac}
+
+	marshalledSignedToken, err := proto.Marshal(&st)
+	if err != nil {
+		ts.logger.Error("unable to marshal signed token", "error", err)
+		return prependServicePrefix(innerToken)
+	}
+	generatedSSCToken := base64.RawURLEncoding.EncodeToString(marshalledSignedToken)
+	return prependServicePrefix(generatedSSCToken)
+}
+
+func (ts *TokenStore) CalculateSignedTokenHMAC(marshalledToken []byte) ([]byte, error) {
+	key := ts.core.headerHMACKey()
+	if key == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("token hmac key has not been initialized or has not been replicated yet to the active node")
+	}
+
+	hm := hmac.New(sha256.New, key)
+	hm.Write([]byte(marshalledToken))
+	return hm.Sum(nil), nil
+}
+
 // Store is used to store an updated token entry without writing the
 // secondary index.
 func (ts *TokenStore) store(ctx context.Context, entry *logical.TokenEntry) error {
@@ -1121,7 +1248,7 @@ func (ts *TokenStore) Lookup(ctx context.Context, id string) (*logical.TokenEntr
 	}
 
 	// If it starts with "b." it's a batch token
-	if len(id) > 2 && strings.HasPrefix(id, "b.") {
+	if IsBatchToken(id) {
 		return ts.lookupBatchToken(ctx, id)
 	}
 
@@ -1132,6 +1259,16 @@ func (ts *TokenStore) Lookup(ctx context.Context, id string) (*logical.TokenEntr
 	return ts.lookupInternal(ctx, id, false, false)
 }
 
+func (ts *TokenStore) stripBatchPrefix(id string) string {
+	if strings.HasPrefix(id, "b.") {
+		return id[2:]
+	}
+	if strings.HasPrefix(id, consts.BatchTokenPrefix) {
+		return id[4:]
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
 // lookupTainted is used to find a token that may or may not be tainted given
 // its ID. It acquires a read lock, then calls lookupInternal.
 func (ts *TokenStore) lookupTainted(ctx context.Context, id string) (*logical.TokenEntry, error) {
@@ -1149,7 +1286,7 @@ func (ts *TokenStore) lookupTainted(ctx context.Context, id string) (*logical.To
 
 func (ts *TokenStore) lookupBatchTokenInternal(ctx context.Context, id string) (*logical.TokenEntry, error) {
 	// Strip the b. from the front and namespace ID from the back
-	bEntry, _ := namespace.SplitIDFromString(id[2:])
+	bEntry, _ := namespace.SplitIDFromString(ts.stripBatchPrefix(id))
 
 	eEntry, err := base64.RawURLEncoding.DecodeString(bEntry)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -1210,11 +1347,25 @@ func (ts *TokenStore) lookupInternal(ctx context.Context, id string, salted, tai
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to find namespace in context: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// If it starts with "b." it's a batch token
-	if len(id) > 2 && strings.HasPrefix(id, "b.") {
+	// If it starts with "b." or consts.BatchTokenPrefix it's a batch token
+	if IsBatchToken(id) {
 		return ts.lookupBatchToken(ctx, id)
 	}
 
+	// lookupInternal is called internally with tokens that oftentimes come from request
+	// parameters that we cannot really guess. Most notably, these calls come from either
+	// validateWrappedToken and/or lookupTokenTainted, used in the wrapping token logic.
+	// We can't really catch all these instances of lookup token, so we have to check the
+	// SSC token in this function itself.
+	if IsSSCToken(id) {
+		internalID, err := ts.core.DecodeSSCToken(id)
+		if err == nil && internalID != "" {
+			// A malformed token was passed in, is our best guess here. Just use id going
+			// forward.
+			id = internalID
+		}
+	}
+
 	var raw *logical.StorageEntry
 	lookupID := id
 
@@ -2033,7 +2184,7 @@ func (ts *TokenStore) handleTidy(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request, data
 				default:
 					// Cache the cubbyhole storage key when the token is valid
 					switch {
-					case te.NamespaceID == namespace.RootNamespaceID && !strings.HasPrefix(te.ID, "s."):
+					case te.NamespaceID == namespace.RootNamespaceID && !IsServiceToken(te.ID):
 						saltedID, err := ts.SaltID(quitCtx, te.ID)
 						if err != nil {
 							tidyErrors = multierror.Append(tidyErrors, fmt.Errorf("failed to create salted token id: %w", err))
diff --git a/vault/token_store_test.go b/vault/token_store_test.go
index 8f0d36a0fd..011ac641b0 100644
--- a/vault/token_store_test.go
+++ b/vault/token_store_test.go
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/go-test/deep"
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
+	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp/cmpopts"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/errwrap"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/go-hclog"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/go-secure-stdlib/parseutil"
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/helper/identity"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/helper/metricsutil"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/helper/namespace"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/helper/consts"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/helper/locksutil"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/helper/tokenutil"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/logical"
@@ -223,7 +226,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_Salting(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected sha1 hash; got sha2-256 hmac")
 	}
 
-	saltedID, err = ts.SaltID(namespace.RootContext(nil), "s.foo")
+	saltedID, err = ts.SaltID(namespace.RootContext(nil), "hvs.foo")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -240,7 +243,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_Salting(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected sha2-256 hmac; got sha1 hash")
 	}
 
-	saltedID, err = ts.SaltID(nsCtx, "s.foo")
+	saltedID, err = ts.SaltID(nsCtx, "hvs.foo")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -753,7 +756,8 @@ func TestTokenStore_HandleRequest_ListAccessors(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Revoke root to make the number of accessors match
-	salted, err := ts.SaltID(namespace.RootContext(nil), root)
+	internalRoot, _ := c.DecodeSSCToken(root)
+	salted, err := ts.SaltID(namespace.RootContext(nil), internalRoot)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -1000,9 +1004,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_RootToken(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
 	}
-	if !reflect.DeepEqual(out, te) {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: expected:%#v\nactual:%#v", te, out)
-	}
+	deepEqualTokenEntries(t, out, te)
 }
 
 func TestTokenStore_NoRootBatch(t *testing.T) {
@@ -1045,9 +1047,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_CreateLookup(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
 	}
-	if !reflect.DeepEqual(out, ent) {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: expected:%#v\nactual:%#v", ent, out)
-	}
+	deepEqualTokenEntries(t, out, ent)
 
 	// New store should share the salt
 	ts2, err := NewTokenStore(namespace.RootContext(nil), hclog.New(&hclog.LoggerOptions{}), c, getBackendConfig(c))
@@ -1061,9 +1061,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_CreateLookup(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
 	}
-	if !reflect.DeepEqual(out, ent) {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: expected:%#v\nactual:%#v", ent, out)
-	}
+	deepEqualTokenEntries(t, out, ent)
 }
 
 func TestTokenStore_CreateLookup_ProvidedID(t *testing.T) {
@@ -1089,9 +1087,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_CreateLookup_ProvidedID(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
 	}
-	if !reflect.DeepEqual(out, ent) {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: expected:%#v\nactual:%#v", ent, out)
-	}
+	deepEqualTokenEntries(t, out, ent)
 
 	// New store should share the salt
 	ts2, err := NewTokenStore(namespace.RootContext(nil), hclog.New(&hclog.LoggerOptions{}), c, getBackendConfig(c))
@@ -1105,9 +1101,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_CreateLookup_ProvidedID(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
 	}
-	if !reflect.DeepEqual(out, ent) {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: expected:%#v\nactual:%#v", ent, out)
-	}
+	deepEqualTokenEntries(t, out, ent)
 }
 
 func TestTokenStore_CreateLookup_ExpirationInRestoreMode(t *testing.T) {
@@ -1150,9 +1144,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_CreateLookup_ExpirationInRestoreMode(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("err: %v", err)
 	}
-	if !reflect.DeepEqual(out, ent) {
-		t.Fatalf("bad: expected:%#v\nactual:%#v", ent, out)
-	}
+	deepEqualTokenEntries(t, out, ent)
 
 	// Set to expired lease time
 	le.ExpireTime = time.Now().Add(-1 * time.Hour)
@@ -1384,9 +1376,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_Revoke_Orphan(t *testing.T) {
 	// Unset the expected token parent's ID
 	ent2.Parent = ""
 
-	if !reflect.DeepEqual(out, ent2) {
-		t.Fatalf("bad:\nexpected:%#v\nactual:%#v", ent2, out)
-	}
+	deepEqualTokenEntries(t, out, ent2)
 }
 
 // This was the original function name, and now it just calls
@@ -1664,6 +1654,12 @@ func TestTokenStore_HandleRequest_CreateToken_DisplayName(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func deepEqualTokenEntries(t *testing.T, a *logical.TokenEntry, b *logical.TokenEntry) {
+	if diff := cmp.Diff(a, b, cmpopts.IgnoreFields(logical.TokenEntry{}, "ExternalID")); diff != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("bad diff in token entries: %s", diff)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestTokenStore_HandleRequest_CreateToken_NumUses(t *testing.T) {
 	c, _, root := TestCoreUnsealed(t)
 	ts := c.tokenStore
@@ -2421,8 +2417,10 @@ func testTokenStoreHandleRequestLookup(t *testing.T, batch, periodic bool) {
 		t.Fatalf("bad: %#v", resp)
 	}
 
+	internalRoot, _ := c.DecodeSSCToken(root)
+
 	exp := map[string]interface{}{
-		"id":               root,
+		"id":               internalRoot,
 		"accessor":         resp.Data["accessor"].(string),
 		"policies":         []string{"root"},
 		"path":             "auth/token/root",
@@ -6000,7 +5998,7 @@ func TestTokenStore_TokenID(t *testing.T) {
 		c, _, initToken := TestCoreUnsealed(t)
 		ts := c.tokenStore
 
-		// Ensure that a regular service token has a "s." prefix
+		// Ensure that a regular service token has a consts.ServiceTokenPrefix prefix
 		resp, err := ts.HandleRequest(namespace.RootContext(nil), &logical.Request{
 			ClientToken: initToken,
 			Path:        "create",
@@ -6009,8 +6007,8 @@ func TestTokenStore_TokenID(t *testing.T) {
 		if err != nil || (resp != nil && resp.IsError()) {
 			t.Fatalf("bad: resp: %#v\nerr: %v", resp, err)
 		}
-		if !strings.HasPrefix(resp.Auth.ClientToken, "s.") {
-			t.Fatalf("token %q does not have a 's.' prefix", resp.Auth.ClientToken)
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(resp.Auth.ClientToken, consts.ServiceTokenPrefix) {
+			t.Fatalf("token %q does not have a 'hvs.' prefix", resp.Auth.ClientToken)
 		}
 	})
 
@@ -6041,19 +6039,19 @@ func TestTokenStore_TokenID(t *testing.T) {
 		c, _, initToken := TestCoreUnsealed(t)
 		ts := c.tokenStore
 
-		// Ensure that custom token ID having a "s." prefix fails
+		// Ensure that custom token ID having a consts.ServiceTokenPrefix prefix fails
 		resp, err := ts.HandleRequest(namespace.RootContext(nil), &logical.Request{
 			ClientToken: initToken,
 			Path:        "create",
 			Operation:   logical.UpdateOperation,
 			Data: map[string]interface{}{
-				"id": "s.foobar",
+				"id": "hvs.foobar",
 			},
 		})
 		if err == nil {
 			t.Fatalf("expected an error")
 		}
-		if resp.Error().Error() != "custom token ID cannot have the 's.' prefix" {
+		if resp.Error().Error() != "custom token ID cannot have the 'hvs.' prefix" {
 			t.Fatalf("expected input error not present in error response")
 		}
 	})
diff --git a/vault/token_store_util_common.go b/vault/token_store_util_common.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..235e2d2167
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vault/token_store_util_common.go
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+package vault
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/logical"
+)
+
+const sscGenCounterPath string = "core/sscGenCounter/"
+
+type SSCTokenGenerationCounter struct {
+	Counter int
+}
+
+func (ts *TokenStore) GetSSCTokensGenerationCounter() int {
+	return ts.sscTokensGenerationCounter.Counter
+}
+
+func (ts *TokenStore) loadSSCTokensGenerationCounter(ctx context.Context) error {
+	sscTokensGenerationCounterStorageVal, err := ts.core.barrier.Get(ctx, sscGenCounterPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to retrieve SSCTokenGenerationCounter from storage: err %w", err)
+	}
+	if sscTokensGenerationCounterStorageVal == nil {
+		ts.logger.Trace("no token generation counter found in storage")
+		ts.sscTokensGenerationCounter = SSCTokenGenerationCounter{Counter: 0}
+		return nil
+	}
+	var sscTokensGenerationCounter SSCTokenGenerationCounter
+	err = json.Unmarshal(sscTokensGenerationCounterStorageVal.Value, &sscTokensGenerationCounter)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("malformed token generation counter found in storage: err %w", err)
+	}
+	ts.sscTokensGenerationCounter = sscTokensGenerationCounter
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (ts *TokenStore) UpdateSSCTokensGenerationCounter(ctx context.Context) error {
+	ts.sscTokensGenerationCounter.Counter += 1
+	if ts.sscTokensGenerationCounter.Counter <= 0 {
+		// Don't store the 0 value
+		ts.logger.Warn("attempt to store non-positive token generation counter was ignored",
+			"sscTokensGenerationCounter", ts.sscTokensGenerationCounter.Counter)
+	}
+	marshalledCtr, err := json.Marshal(ts.sscTokensGenerationCounter)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	err = ts.core.barrier.Put(ctx, &logical.StorageEntry{
+		Key:   sscGenCounterPath,
+		Value: marshalledCtr,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/vault/tokens/token.pb.go b/vault/tokens/token.pb.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4604ab3c59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vault/tokens/token.pb.go
@@ -0,0 +1,247 @@
+// Code generated by protoc-gen-go. DO NOT EDIT.
+// versions:
+// 	protoc-gen-go v1.27.1
+// 	protoc        v3.17.3
+// source: vault/tokens/token.proto
+
+package tokens
+
+import (
+	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
+	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
+	reflect "reflect"
+	sync "sync"
+)
+
+const (
+	// Verify that this generated code is sufficiently up-to-date.
+	_ = protoimpl.EnforceVersion(20 - protoimpl.MinVersion)
+	// Verify that runtime/protoimpl is sufficiently up-to-date.
+	_ = protoimpl.EnforceVersion(protoimpl.MaxVersion - 20)
+)
+
+// SignedToken
+type SignedToken struct {
+	state         protoimpl.MessageState
+	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
+	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
+
+	TokenVersion uint64 `protobuf:"varint,1,opt,name=token_version,json=tokenVersion,proto3" json:"token_version,omitempty"` // always 1 for now
+	Hmac         []byte `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=hmac,proto3" json:"hmac,omitempty"`                                      // HMAC of token
+	Token        []byte `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=token,proto3" json:"token,omitempty"`                                    // protobuf-marshalled Token message
+}
+
+func (x *SignedToken) Reset() {
+	*x = SignedToken{}
+	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled {
+		mi := &file_vault_tokens_token_proto_msgTypes[0]
+		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
+		ms.StoreMessageInfo(mi)
+	}
+}
+
+func (x *SignedToken) String() string {
+	return protoimpl.X.MessageStringOf(x)
+}
+
+func (*SignedToken) ProtoMessage() {}
+
+func (x *SignedToken) ProtoReflect() protoreflect.Message {
+	mi := &file_vault_tokens_token_proto_msgTypes[0]
+	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled && x != nil {
+		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
+		if ms.LoadMessageInfo() == nil {
+			ms.StoreMessageInfo(mi)
+		}
+		return ms
+	}
+	return mi.MessageOf(x)
+}
+
+// Deprecated: Use SignedToken.ProtoReflect.Descriptor instead.
+func (*SignedToken) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) {
+	return file_vault_tokens_token_proto_rawDescGZIP(), []int{0}
+}
+
+func (x *SignedToken) GetTokenVersion() uint64 {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.TokenVersion
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
+func (x *SignedToken) GetHmac() []byte {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Hmac
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (x *SignedToken) GetToken() []byte {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Token
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+type Token struct {
+	state         protoimpl.MessageState
+	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
+	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
+
+	Random     string `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=random,proto3" json:"random,omitempty"`                            // unencoded equiv of former $randbase62
+	LocalIndex uint64 `protobuf:"varint,2,opt,name=local_index,json=localIndex,proto3" json:"local_index,omitempty"` // required storage state to have this token
+	IndexEpoch uint32 `protobuf:"varint,3,opt,name=index_epoch,json=indexEpoch,proto3" json:"index_epoch,omitempty"`
+}
+
+func (x *Token) Reset() {
+	*x = Token{}
+	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled {
+		mi := &file_vault_tokens_token_proto_msgTypes[1]
+		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
+		ms.StoreMessageInfo(mi)
+	}
+}
+
+func (x *Token) String() string {
+	return protoimpl.X.MessageStringOf(x)
+}
+
+func (*Token) ProtoMessage() {}
+
+func (x *Token) ProtoReflect() protoreflect.Message {
+	mi := &file_vault_tokens_token_proto_msgTypes[1]
+	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled && x != nil {
+		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
+		if ms.LoadMessageInfo() == nil {
+			ms.StoreMessageInfo(mi)
+		}
+		return ms
+	}
+	return mi.MessageOf(x)
+}
+
+// Deprecated: Use Token.ProtoReflect.Descriptor instead.
+func (*Token) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) {
+	return file_vault_tokens_token_proto_rawDescGZIP(), []int{1}
+}
+
+func (x *Token) GetRandom() string {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Random
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+func (x *Token) GetLocalIndex() uint64 {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.LocalIndex
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
+func (x *Token) GetIndexEpoch() uint32 {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.IndexEpoch
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
+var File_vault_tokens_token_proto protoreflect.FileDescriptor
+
+var file_vault_tokens_token_proto_rawDesc = []byte{
+	0x0a, 0x18, 0x76, 0x61, 0x75, 0x6c, 0x74, 0x2f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x2f, 0x74,
+	0x6f, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x2e, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x12, 0x06, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x6b, 0x65,
+	0x6e, 0x73, 0x22, 0x5c, 0x0a, 0x0b, 0x53, 0x69, 0x67, 0x6e, 0x65, 0x64, 0x54, 0x6f, 0x6b, 0x65,
+	0x6e, 0x12, 0x23, 0x0a, 0x0d, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x5f, 0x76, 0x65, 0x72, 0x73, 0x69,
+	0x6f, 0x6e, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x04, 0x52, 0x0c, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x56,
+	0x65, 0x72, 0x73, 0x69, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x12, 0x12, 0x0a, 0x04, 0x68, 0x6d, 0x61, 0x63, 0x18, 0x02,
+	0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0c, 0x52, 0x04, 0x68, 0x6d, 0x61, 0x63, 0x12, 0x14, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x74, 0x6f,
+	0x6b, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x18, 0x03, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0c, 0x52, 0x05, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x6e,
+	0x22, 0x61, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x54, 0x6f, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x12, 0x16, 0x0a, 0x06, 0x72, 0x61, 0x6e,
+	0x64, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x06, 0x72, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x64, 0x6f,
+	0x6d, 0x12, 0x1f, 0x0a, 0x0b, 0x6c, 0x6f, 0x63, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x5f, 0x69, 0x6e, 0x64, 0x65, 0x78,
+	0x18, 0x02, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x04, 0x52, 0x0a, 0x6c, 0x6f, 0x63, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x49, 0x6e, 0x64,
+	0x65, 0x78, 0x12, 0x1f, 0x0a, 0x0b, 0x69, 0x6e, 0x64, 0x65, 0x78, 0x5f, 0x65, 0x70, 0x6f, 0x63,
+	0x68, 0x18, 0x03, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0d, 0x52, 0x0a, 0x69, 0x6e, 0x64, 0x65, 0x78, 0x45, 0x70,
+	0x6f, 0x63, 0x68, 0x42, 0x29, 0x5a, 0x27, 0x67, 0x69, 0x74, 0x68, 0x75, 0x62, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x6f,
+	0x6d, 0x2f, 0x68, 0x61, 0x73, 0x68, 0x69, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x70, 0x2f, 0x76, 0x61, 0x75, 0x6c,
+	0x74, 0x2f, 0x76, 0x61, 0x75, 0x6c, 0x74, 0x2f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x73, 0x62, 0x06,
+	0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x33,
+}
+
+var (
+	file_vault_tokens_token_proto_rawDescOnce sync.Once
+	file_vault_tokens_token_proto_rawDescData = file_vault_tokens_token_proto_rawDesc
+)
+
+func file_vault_tokens_token_proto_rawDescGZIP() []byte {
+	file_vault_tokens_token_proto_rawDescOnce.Do(func() {
+		file_vault_tokens_token_proto_rawDescData = protoimpl.X.CompressGZIP(file_vault_tokens_token_proto_rawDescData)
+	})
+	return file_vault_tokens_token_proto_rawDescData
+}
+
+var file_vault_tokens_token_proto_msgTypes = make([]protoimpl.MessageInfo, 2)
+var file_vault_tokens_token_proto_goTypes = []interface{}{
+	(*SignedToken)(nil), // 0: tokens.SignedToken
+	(*Token)(nil),       // 1: tokens.Token
+}
+var file_vault_tokens_token_proto_depIdxs = []int32{
+	0, // [0:0] is the sub-list for method output_type
+	0, // [0:0] is the sub-list for method input_type
+	0, // [0:0] is the sub-list for extension type_name
+	0, // [0:0] is the sub-list for extension extendee
+	0, // [0:0] is the sub-list for field type_name
+}
+
+func init() { file_vault_tokens_token_proto_init() }
+func file_vault_tokens_token_proto_init() {
+	if File_vault_tokens_token_proto != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if !protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled {
+		file_vault_tokens_token_proto_msgTypes[0].Exporter = func(v interface{}, i int) interface{} {
+			switch v := v.(*SignedToken); i {
+			case 0:
+				return &v.state
+			case 1:
+				return &v.sizeCache
+			case 2:
+				return &v.unknownFields
+			default:
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+		file_vault_tokens_token_proto_msgTypes[1].Exporter = func(v interface{}, i int) interface{} {
+			switch v := v.(*Token); i {
+			case 0:
+				return &v.state
+			case 1:
+				return &v.sizeCache
+			case 2:
+				return &v.unknownFields
+			default:
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	type x struct{}
+	out := protoimpl.TypeBuilder{
+		File: protoimpl.DescBuilder{
+			GoPackagePath: reflect.TypeOf(x{}).PkgPath(),
+			RawDescriptor: file_vault_tokens_token_proto_rawDesc,
+			NumEnums:      0,
+			NumMessages:   2,
+			NumExtensions: 0,
+			NumServices:   0,
+		},
+		GoTypes:           file_vault_tokens_token_proto_goTypes,
+		DependencyIndexes: file_vault_tokens_token_proto_depIdxs,
+		MessageInfos:      file_vault_tokens_token_proto_msgTypes,
+	}.Build()
+	File_vault_tokens_token_proto = out.File
+	file_vault_tokens_token_proto_rawDesc = nil
+	file_vault_tokens_token_proto_goTypes = nil
+	file_vault_tokens_token_proto_depIdxs = nil
+}
diff --git a/vault/tokens/token.proto b/vault/tokens/token.proto
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ae4364a3af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vault/tokens/token.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+syntax = "proto3";
+
+option go_package = "github.com/hashicorp/vault/vault/tokens";
+
+package tokens;
+
+// SignedToken 
+message SignedToken {
+    uint64 token_version = 1;  // always 1 for now
+    bytes hmac = 2;        // HMAC of token
+    bytes token = 3;       // protobuf-marshalled Token message
+}
+
+message Token {
+    string random = 1;       // unencoded equiv of former $randbase62
+    uint64 local_index = 2; // required storage state to have this token
+    uint32 index_epoch = 3;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/vault/version_store.go b/vault/version_store.go
index 7e1d446904..6890bcf187 100644
--- a/vault/version_store.go
+++ b/vault/version_store.go
@@ -4,12 +4,16 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/helper/consts"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/vault/sdk/logical"
 )
 
-const vaultVersionPath string = "core/versions/"
+const (
+	vaultVersionPath string = "core/versions/"
+)
 
 // storeVersionTimestamp will store the version and timestamp pair to storage
 // only if no entry for that version already exists in storage. Version
@@ -128,3 +132,23 @@ func (c *Core) loadVersionTimestamps(ctx context.Context) error {
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+func IsJWT(token string) bool {
+	return len(token) > 3 && strings.Count(token, ".") == 2 &&
+		(token[3] != '.' && token[1] != '.')
+}
+
+func IsSSCToken(token string) bool {
+	return len(token) > MaxNsIdLength+TokenLength+TokenPrefixLength &&
+		strings.HasPrefix(token, consts.ServiceTokenPrefix)
+}
+
+func IsServiceToken(token string) bool {
+	return strings.HasPrefix(token, consts.ServiceTokenPrefix) ||
+		strings.HasPrefix(token, consts.LegacyServiceTokenPrefix)
+}
+
+func IsBatchToken(token string) bool {
+	return strings.HasPrefix(token, consts.LegacyBatchTokenPrefix) ||
+		strings.HasPrefix(token, consts.BatchTokenPrefix)
+}
diff --git a/vault/wrapping.go b/vault/wrapping.go
index b56b8aef1a..5b1d320806 100644
--- a/vault/wrapping.go
+++ b/vault/wrapping.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/armon/go-metrics"
@@ -166,7 +165,7 @@ DONELISTHANDLING:
 		},
 	)
 
-	resp.WrapInfo.Token = te.ID
+	resp.WrapInfo.Token = te.ExternalID
 	resp.WrapInfo.Accessor = te.Accessor
 	resp.WrapInfo.CreationTime = creationTime
 	// If this is not a rewrap, store the request path as creation_path
@@ -403,7 +402,7 @@ func (c *Core) validateWrappingToken(ctx context.Context, req *logical.Request)
 	// token to be a JWT -- namespaced tokens have two dots too, but Vault
 	// token types (for now at least) begin with a letter representing a type
 	// and then a dot.
-	if strings.Count(token, ".") == 2 && token[1] != '.' {
+	if IsJWT(token) {
 		// Implement the jose library way
 		parsedJWT, err := squarejwt.ParseSigned(token)
 		if err != nil {