diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 3e9a7198a965..0098547862ec 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -4680,6 +4680,16 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde_derive",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "serde_assert"
+version = "0.5.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "eda563240c1288b044209be1f0d38bb4d15044fb3e00dc354fbc922ab4733e80"
+dependencies = [
+ "hashbrown 0.13.2",
+ "serde",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "serde_derive"
 version = "1.0.183"
@@ -5966,6 +5976,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "routerify",
  "sentry",
  "serde",
+ "serde_assert",
  "serde_json",
  "serde_with",
  "signal-hook",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 6f538941f95b..d992db4858d8 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ sentry = { version = "0.31", default-features = false, features = ["backtrace",
 serde = { version = "1.0", features = ["derive"] }
 serde_json = "1"
 serde_with = "2.0"
+serde_assert = "0.5.0"
 sha2 = "0.10.2"
 signal-hook = "0.3"
 smallvec = "1.11"
diff --git a/control_plane/src/attachment_service.rs b/control_plane/src/attachment_service.rs
index ca632c5eb676..fcefe0e43189 100644
--- a/control_plane/src/attachment_service.rs
+++ b/control_plane/src/attachment_service.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ use crate::{background_process, local_env::LocalEnv};
 use anyhow::anyhow;
 use camino::Utf8PathBuf;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use serde_with::{serde_as, DisplayFromStr};
 use std::{path::PathBuf, process::Child};
 use utils::id::{NodeId, TenantId};
 
@@ -14,10 +13,8 @@ pub struct AttachmentService {
 
 const COMMAND: &str = "attachment_service";
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct AttachHookRequest {
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub tenant_id: TenantId,
     pub node_id: Option<NodeId>,
 }
diff --git a/control_plane/src/endpoint.rs b/control_plane/src/endpoint.rs
index cb16f48829dc..4443fd870432 100644
--- a/control_plane/src/endpoint.rs
+++ b/control_plane/src/endpoint.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 
 use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Context, Result};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use serde_with::{serde_as, DisplayFromStr};
 use utils::id::{NodeId, TenantId, TimelineId};
 
 use crate::local_env::LocalEnv;
@@ -57,13 +56,10 @@ use compute_api::responses::{ComputeState, ComputeStatus};
 use compute_api::spec::{Cluster, ComputeMode, ComputeSpec};
 
 // contents of a endpoint.json file
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq, Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct EndpointConf {
     endpoint_id: String,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     tenant_id: TenantId,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     timeline_id: TimelineId,
     mode: ComputeMode,
     pg_port: u16,
diff --git a/control_plane/src/local_env.rs b/control_plane/src/local_env.rs
index 45a7469787e5..b9c8aeddcb80 100644
--- a/control_plane/src/local_env.rs
+++ b/control_plane/src/local_env.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ use anyhow::{bail, ensure, Context};
 use postgres_backend::AuthType;
 use reqwest::Url;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use serde_with::{serde_as, DisplayFromStr};
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::env;
 use std::fs;
@@ -33,7 +32,6 @@ pub const DEFAULT_PG_VERSION: u32 = 15;
 // to 'neon_local init --config=<path>' option. See control_plane/simple.conf for
 // an example.
 //
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq, Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct LocalEnv {
     // Base directory for all the nodes (the pageserver, safekeepers and
@@ -59,7 +57,6 @@ pub struct LocalEnv {
     // Default tenant ID to use with the 'neon_local' command line utility, when
     // --tenant_id is not explicitly specified.
     #[serde(default)]
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<DisplayFromStr>")]
     pub default_tenant_id: Option<TenantId>,
 
     // used to issue tokens during e.g pg start
@@ -84,7 +81,6 @@ pub struct LocalEnv {
     // A `HashMap<String, HashMap<TenantId, TimelineId>>` would be more appropriate here,
     // but deserialization into a generic toml object as `toml::Value::try_from` fails with an error.
     // https://toml.io/en/v1.0.0 does not contain a concept of "a table inside another table".
-    #[serde_as(as = "HashMap<_, Vec<(DisplayFromStr, DisplayFromStr)>>")]
     branch_name_mappings: HashMap<String, Vec<(TenantId, TimelineId)>>,
 }
 
diff --git a/libs/compute_api/src/spec.rs b/libs/compute_api/src/spec.rs
index c16deceebbe4..175b4461ac42 100644
--- a/libs/compute_api/src/spec.rs
+++ b/libs/compute_api/src/spec.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use serde_with::{serde_as, DisplayFromStr};
 use utils::id::{TenantId, TimelineId};
 use utils::lsn::Lsn;
 
@@ -19,7 +18,6 @@ pub type PgIdent = String;
 
 /// Cluster spec or configuration represented as an optional number of
 /// delta operations + final cluster state description.
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, Deserialize, Serialize)]
 pub struct ComputeSpec {
     pub format_version: f32,
@@ -50,12 +48,12 @@ pub struct ComputeSpec {
     // these, and instead set the "neon.tenant_id", "neon.timeline_id",
     // etc. GUCs in cluster.settings. TODO: Once the control plane has been
     // updated to fill these fields, we can make these non optional.
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<DisplayFromStr>")]
     pub tenant_id: Option<TenantId>,
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<DisplayFromStr>")]
+
     pub timeline_id: Option<TimelineId>,
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<DisplayFromStr>")]
+
     pub pageserver_connstring: Option<String>,
+
     #[serde(default)]
     pub safekeeper_connstrings: Vec<String>,
 
@@ -140,14 +138,13 @@ impl RemoteExtSpec {
     }
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, Eq, PartialEq, Deserialize, Serialize)]
 pub enum ComputeMode {
     /// A read-write node
     #[default]
     Primary,
     /// A read-only node, pinned at a particular LSN
-    Static(#[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")] Lsn),
+    Static(Lsn),
     /// A read-only node that follows the tip of the branch in hot standby mode
     ///
     /// Future versions may want to distinguish between replicas with hot standby
diff --git a/libs/pageserver_api/src/control_api.rs b/libs/pageserver_api/src/control_api.rs
index 3819111a5b98..8232e81b9887 100644
--- a/libs/pageserver_api/src/control_api.rs
+++ b/libs/pageserver_api/src/control_api.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 //! See docs/rfcs/025-generation-numbers.md
 
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use serde_with::{serde_as, DisplayFromStr};
 use utils::id::{NodeId, TenantId};
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -12,10 +11,8 @@ pub struct ReAttachRequest {
     pub node_id: NodeId,
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct ReAttachResponseTenant {
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub id: TenantId,
     pub gen: u32,
 }
@@ -25,10 +22,8 @@ pub struct ReAttachResponse {
     pub tenants: Vec<ReAttachResponseTenant>,
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct ValidateRequestTenant {
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub id: TenantId,
     pub gen: u32,
 }
@@ -43,10 +38,8 @@ pub struct ValidateResponse {
     pub tenants: Vec<ValidateResponseTenant>,
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct ValidateResponseTenant {
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub id: TenantId,
     pub valid: bool,
 }
diff --git a/libs/pageserver_api/src/models.rs b/libs/pageserver_api/src/models.rs
index e667645c0a26..cb99dc0a5530 100644
--- a/libs/pageserver_api/src/models.rs
+++ b/libs/pageserver_api/src/models.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use std::{
 
 use byteorder::{BigEndian, ReadBytesExt};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use serde_with::{serde_as, DisplayFromStr};
+use serde_with::serde_as;
 use strum_macros;
 use utils::{
     completion,
@@ -174,25 +174,19 @@ pub enum TimelineState {
     Broken { reason: String, backtrace: String },
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct TimelineCreateRequest {
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub new_timeline_id: TimelineId,
     #[serde(default)]
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<DisplayFromStr>")]
     pub ancestor_timeline_id: Option<TimelineId>,
     #[serde(default)]
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<DisplayFromStr>")]
     pub ancestor_start_lsn: Option<Lsn>,
     pub pg_version: Option<u32>,
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
 #[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
 pub struct TenantCreateRequest {
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub new_tenant_id: TenantId,
     #[serde(default)]
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
@@ -201,7 +195,6 @@ pub struct TenantCreateRequest {
     pub config: TenantConfig, // as we have a flattened field, we should reject all unknown fields in it
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Deserialize, Debug)]
 #[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
 pub struct TenantLoadRequest {
@@ -278,31 +271,26 @@ pub struct LocationConfig {
     pub tenant_conf: TenantConfig,
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(transparent)]
-pub struct TenantCreateResponse(#[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")] pub TenantId);
+pub struct TenantCreateResponse(pub TenantId);
 
 #[derive(Serialize)]
 pub struct StatusResponse {
     pub id: NodeId,
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
 #[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
 pub struct TenantLocationConfigRequest {
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub tenant_id: TenantId,
     #[serde(flatten)]
     pub config: LocationConfig, // as we have a flattened field, we should reject all unknown fields in it
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
 #[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
 pub struct TenantConfigRequest {
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub tenant_id: TenantId,
     #[serde(flatten)]
     pub config: TenantConfig, // as we have a flattened field, we should reject all unknown fields in it
@@ -374,10 +362,8 @@ pub enum TenantAttachmentStatus {
     Failed { reason: String },
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
 pub struct TenantInfo {
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub id: TenantId,
     // NB: intentionally not part of OpenAPI, we don't want to commit to a specific set of TenantState's
     pub state: TenantState,
@@ -388,33 +374,22 @@ pub struct TenantInfo {
 }
 
 /// This represents the output of the "timeline_detail" and "timeline_list" API calls.
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
 pub struct TimelineInfo {
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub tenant_id: TenantId,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub timeline_id: TimelineId,
 
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<DisplayFromStr>")]
     pub ancestor_timeline_id: Option<TimelineId>,
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<DisplayFromStr>")]
     pub ancestor_lsn: Option<Lsn>,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub last_record_lsn: Lsn,
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<DisplayFromStr>")]
     pub prev_record_lsn: Option<Lsn>,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub latest_gc_cutoff_lsn: Lsn,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub disk_consistent_lsn: Lsn,
 
     /// The LSN that we have succesfully uploaded to remote storage
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub remote_consistent_lsn: Lsn,
 
     /// The LSN that we are advertizing to safekeepers
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub remote_consistent_lsn_visible: Lsn,
 
     pub current_logical_size: Option<u64>, // is None when timeline is Unloaded
@@ -426,7 +401,6 @@ pub struct TimelineInfo {
     pub timeline_dir_layer_file_size_sum: Option<u64>,
 
     pub wal_source_connstr: Option<String>,
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<DisplayFromStr>")]
     pub last_received_msg_lsn: Option<Lsn>,
     /// the timestamp (in microseconds) of the last received message
     pub last_received_msg_ts: Option<u128>,
@@ -523,23 +497,13 @@ pub struct LayerAccessStats {
     pub residence_events_history: HistoryBufferWithDropCounter<LayerResidenceEvent, 16>,
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
 #[serde(tag = "kind")]
 pub enum InMemoryLayerInfo {
-    Open {
-        #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
-        lsn_start: Lsn,
-    },
-    Frozen {
-        #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
-        lsn_start: Lsn,
-        #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
-        lsn_end: Lsn,
-    },
+    Open { lsn_start: Lsn },
+    Frozen { lsn_start: Lsn, lsn_end: Lsn },
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
 #[serde(tag = "kind")]
 pub enum HistoricLayerInfo {
@@ -547,9 +511,7 @@ pub enum HistoricLayerInfo {
         layer_file_name: String,
         layer_file_size: u64,
 
-        #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
         lsn_start: Lsn,
-        #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
         lsn_end: Lsn,
         remote: bool,
         access_stats: LayerAccessStats,
@@ -558,7 +520,6 @@ pub enum HistoricLayerInfo {
         layer_file_name: String,
         layer_file_size: u64,
 
-        #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
         lsn_start: Lsn,
         remote: bool,
         access_stats: LayerAccessStats,
diff --git a/libs/safekeeper_api/src/models.rs b/libs/safekeeper_api/src/models.rs
index eaea266f321c..786712deb1c5 100644
--- a/libs/safekeeper_api/src/models.rs
+++ b/libs/safekeeper_api/src/models.rs
@@ -1,23 +1,18 @@
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use serde_with::{serde_as, DisplayFromStr};
 
 use utils::{
     id::{NodeId, TenantId, TimelineId},
     lsn::Lsn,
 };
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct TimelineCreateRequest {
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub tenant_id: TenantId,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub timeline_id: TimelineId,
     pub peer_ids: Option<Vec<NodeId>>,
     pub pg_version: u32,
     pub system_id: Option<u64>,
     pub wal_seg_size: Option<u32>,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub commit_lsn: Lsn,
     // If not passed, it is assigned to the beginning of commit_lsn segment.
     pub local_start_lsn: Option<Lsn>,
@@ -28,7 +23,6 @@ fn lsn_invalid() -> Lsn {
 }
 
 /// Data about safekeeper's timeline, mirrors broker.proto.
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Deserialize, Serialize)]
 pub struct SkTimelineInfo {
     /// Term.
@@ -36,25 +30,19 @@ pub struct SkTimelineInfo {
     /// Term of the last entry.
     pub last_log_term: Option<u64>,
     /// LSN of the last record.
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     #[serde(default = "lsn_invalid")]
     pub flush_lsn: Lsn,
     /// Up to which LSN safekeeper regards its WAL as committed.
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     #[serde(default = "lsn_invalid")]
     pub commit_lsn: Lsn,
     /// LSN up to which safekeeper has backed WAL.
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     #[serde(default = "lsn_invalid")]
     pub backup_lsn: Lsn,
     /// LSN of last checkpoint uploaded by pageserver.
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     #[serde(default = "lsn_invalid")]
     pub remote_consistent_lsn: Lsn,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     #[serde(default = "lsn_invalid")]
     pub peer_horizon_lsn: Lsn,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     #[serde(default = "lsn_invalid")]
     pub local_start_lsn: Lsn,
     /// A connection string to use for WAL receiving.
diff --git a/libs/utils/Cargo.toml b/libs/utils/Cargo.toml
index 27df0265b412..3f4ef2abebad 100644
--- a/libs/utils/Cargo.toml
+++ b/libs/utils/Cargo.toml
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ bytes.workspace = true
 criterion.workspace = true
 hex-literal.workspace = true
 camino-tempfile.workspace = true
+serde_assert.workspace = true
 
 [[bench]]
 name = "benchmarks"
diff --git a/libs/utils/src/auth.rs b/libs/utils/src/auth.rs
index 54b90fa07079..37299e4e7fb9 100644
--- a/libs/utils/src/auth.rs
+++ b/libs/utils/src/auth.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ use jsonwebtoken::{
     decode, encode, Algorithm, DecodingKey, EncodingKey, Header, TokenData, Validation,
 };
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use serde_with::{serde_as, DisplayFromStr};
 
 use crate::id::TenantId;
 
@@ -32,11 +31,9 @@ pub enum Scope {
 }
 
 /// JWT payload. See docs/authentication.md for the format
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, PartialEq)]
 pub struct Claims {
     #[serde(default)]
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<DisplayFromStr>")]
     pub tenant_id: Option<TenantId>,
     pub scope: Scope,
 }
diff --git a/libs/utils/src/hex.rs b/libs/utils/src/hex.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..fc0bb7e4a280
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libs/utils/src/hex.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+/// Useful type for asserting that expected bytes match reporting the bytes more readable
+/// array-syntax compatible hex bytes.
+///
+/// # Usage
+///
+/// ```
+/// use utils::Hex;
+///
+/// let actual = serialize_something();
+/// let expected = [0x68, 0x65, 0x6c, 0x6c, 0x6f, 0x20, 0x77, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x6c, 0x64];
+///
+/// // the type implements PartialEq and on mismatch, both sides are printed in 16 wide multiline
+/// // output suffixed with an array style length for easier comparisons.
+/// assert_eq!(Hex(&actual), Hex(&expected));
+///
+/// // with `let expected = [0x68];` the error would had been:
+/// // assertion `left == right` failed
+/// //  left: [0x68, 0x65, 0x6c, 0x6c, 0x6f, 0x20, 0x77, 0x6f, 0x72, 0x6c, 0x64; 11]
+/// // right: [0x68; 1]
+/// # fn serialize_something() -> Vec<u8> { "hello world".as_bytes().to_vec() }
+/// ```
+#[derive(PartialEq)]
+pub struct Hex<'a>(pub &'a [u8]);
+
+impl std::fmt::Debug for Hex<'_> {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        write!(f, "[")?;
+        for (i, c) in self.0.chunks(16).enumerate() {
+            if i > 0 && !c.is_empty() {
+                writeln!(f, ", ")?;
+            }
+            for (j, b) in c.iter().enumerate() {
+                if j > 0 {
+                    write!(f, ", ")?;
+                }
+                write!(f, "0x{b:02x}")?;
+            }
+        }
+        write!(f, "; {}]", self.0.len())
+    }
+}
diff --git a/libs/utils/src/id.rs b/libs/utils/src/id.rs
index ec13c2f96f3c..eef6a358e64d 100644
--- a/libs/utils/src/id.rs
+++ b/libs/utils/src/id.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use std::{fmt, str::FromStr};
 use anyhow::Context;
 use hex::FromHex;
 use rand::Rng;
+use serde::de::Visitor;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use thiserror::Error;
 
@@ -17,12 +18,74 @@ pub enum IdError {
 ///
 /// NOTE: It (de)serializes as an array of hex bytes, so the string representation would look
 /// like `[173,80,132,115,129,226,72,254,170,201,135,108,199,26,228,24]`.
-///
-/// Use `#[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]` to (de)serialize it as hex string instead: `ad50847381e248feaac9876cc71ae418`.
-/// Check the `serde_with::serde_as` documentation for options for more complex types.
-#[derive(Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Hash, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialOrd, Ord)]
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Hash, PartialOrd, Ord)]
 struct Id([u8; 16]);
 
+impl Serialize for Id {
+    fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
+    where
+        S: serde::Serializer,
+    {
+        if serializer.is_human_readable() {
+            serializer.collect_str(self)
+        } else {
+            self.0.serialize(serializer)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for Id {
+    fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
+    where
+        D: serde::Deserializer<'de>,
+    {
+        struct IdVisitor {
+            is_human_readable_deserializer: bool,
+        }
+
+        impl<'de> Visitor<'de> for IdVisitor {
+            type Value = Id;
+
+            fn expecting(&self, formatter: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
+                if self.is_human_readable_deserializer {
+                    formatter.write_str("value in form of hex string")
+                } else {
+                    formatter.write_str("value in form of integer array([u8; 16])")
+                }
+            }
+
+            fn visit_seq<A>(self, seq: A) -> Result<Self::Value, A::Error>
+            where
+                A: serde::de::SeqAccess<'de>,
+            {
+                let s = serde::de::value::SeqAccessDeserializer::new(seq);
+                let id: [u8; 16] = Deserialize::deserialize(s)?;
+                Ok(Id::from(id))
+            }
+
+            fn visit_str<E>(self, v: &str) -> Result<Self::Value, E>
+            where
+                E: serde::de::Error,
+            {
+                Id::from_str(v).map_err(E::custom)
+            }
+        }
+
+        if deserializer.is_human_readable() {
+            deserializer.deserialize_str(IdVisitor {
+                is_human_readable_deserializer: true,
+            })
+        } else {
+            deserializer.deserialize_tuple(
+                16,
+                IdVisitor {
+                    is_human_readable_deserializer: false,
+                },
+            )
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl Id {
     pub fn get_from_buf(buf: &mut impl bytes::Buf) -> Id {
         let mut arr = [0u8; 16];
@@ -308,3 +371,112 @@ impl fmt::Display for NodeId {
         write!(f, "{}", self.0)
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use serde_assert::{Deserializer, Serializer, Token, Tokens};
+
+    use crate::bin_ser::BeSer;
+
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_id_serde_non_human_readable() {
+        let original_id = Id([
+            173, 80, 132, 115, 129, 226, 72, 254, 170, 201, 135, 108, 199, 26, 228, 24,
+        ]);
+        let expected_tokens = Tokens(vec![
+            Token::Tuple { len: 16 },
+            Token::U8(173),
+            Token::U8(80),
+            Token::U8(132),
+            Token::U8(115),
+            Token::U8(129),
+            Token::U8(226),
+            Token::U8(72),
+            Token::U8(254),
+            Token::U8(170),
+            Token::U8(201),
+            Token::U8(135),
+            Token::U8(108),
+            Token::U8(199),
+            Token::U8(26),
+            Token::U8(228),
+            Token::U8(24),
+            Token::TupleEnd,
+        ]);
+
+        let serializer = Serializer::builder().is_human_readable(false).build();
+        let serialized_tokens = original_id.serialize(&serializer).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(serialized_tokens, expected_tokens);
+
+        let mut deserializer = Deserializer::builder()
+            .is_human_readable(false)
+            .tokens(serialized_tokens)
+            .build();
+        let deserialized_id = Id::deserialize(&mut deserializer).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(deserialized_id, original_id);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_id_serde_human_readable() {
+        let original_id = Id([
+            173, 80, 132, 115, 129, 226, 72, 254, 170, 201, 135, 108, 199, 26, 228, 24,
+        ]);
+        let expected_tokens = Tokens(vec![Token::Str(String::from(
+            "ad50847381e248feaac9876cc71ae418",
+        ))]);
+
+        let serializer = Serializer::builder().is_human_readable(true).build();
+        let serialized_tokens = original_id.serialize(&serializer).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(serialized_tokens, expected_tokens);
+
+        let mut deserializer = Deserializer::builder()
+            .is_human_readable(true)
+            .tokens(Tokens(vec![Token::Str(String::from(
+                "ad50847381e248feaac9876cc71ae418",
+            ))]))
+            .build();
+        assert_eq!(Id::deserialize(&mut deserializer).unwrap(), original_id);
+    }
+
+    macro_rules! roundtrip_type {
+        ($type:ty, $expected_bytes:expr) => {{
+            let expected_bytes: [u8; 16] = $expected_bytes;
+            let original_id = <$type>::from(expected_bytes);
+
+            let ser_bytes = original_id.ser().unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(ser_bytes, expected_bytes);
+
+            let des_id = <$type>::des(&ser_bytes).unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(des_id, original_id);
+        }};
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_id_bincode_serde() {
+        let expected_bytes = [
+            173, 80, 132, 115, 129, 226, 72, 254, 170, 201, 135, 108, 199, 26, 228, 24,
+        ];
+
+        roundtrip_type!(Id, expected_bytes);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_tenant_id_bincode_serde() {
+        let expected_bytes = [
+            173, 80, 132, 115, 129, 226, 72, 254, 170, 201, 135, 108, 199, 26, 228, 24,
+        ];
+
+        roundtrip_type!(TenantId, expected_bytes);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_timeline_id_bincode_serde() {
+        let expected_bytes = [
+            173, 80, 132, 115, 129, 226, 72, 254, 170, 201, 135, 108, 199, 26, 228, 24,
+        ];
+
+        roundtrip_type!(TimelineId, expected_bytes);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/libs/utils/src/lib.rs b/libs/utils/src/lib.rs
index 88cefd516d75..1e3403402318 100644
--- a/libs/utils/src/lib.rs
+++ b/libs/utils/src/lib.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ pub mod auth;
 
 // utility functions and helper traits for unified unique id generation/serialization etc.
 pub mod id;
+
+mod hex;
+pub use hex::Hex;
+
 // http endpoint utils
 pub mod http;
 
diff --git a/libs/utils/src/lsn.rs b/libs/utils/src/lsn.rs
index 7d9baf7d49fd..262dcb8a8a91 100644
--- a/libs/utils/src/lsn.rs
+++ b/libs/utils/src/lsn.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #![warn(missing_docs)]
 
 use camino::Utf8Path;
-use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use serde::{de::Visitor, Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::fmt;
 use std::ops::{Add, AddAssign};
 use std::str::FromStr;
@@ -13,10 +13,114 @@ use crate::seqwait::MonotonicCounter;
 pub const XLOG_BLCKSZ: u32 = 8192;
 
 /// A Postgres LSN (Log Sequence Number), also known as an XLogRecPtr
-#[derive(Clone, Copy, Eq, Ord, PartialEq, PartialOrd, Hash, Serialize, Deserialize)]
-#[serde(transparent)]
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Eq, Ord, PartialEq, PartialOrd, Hash)]
 pub struct Lsn(pub u64);
 
+impl Serialize for Lsn {
+    fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
+    where
+        S: serde::Serializer,
+    {
+        if serializer.is_human_readable() {
+            serializer.collect_str(self)
+        } else {
+            self.0.serialize(serializer)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for Lsn {
+    fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
+    where
+        D: serde::Deserializer<'de>,
+    {
+        struct LsnVisitor {
+            is_human_readable_deserializer: bool,
+        }
+
+        impl<'de> Visitor<'de> for LsnVisitor {
+            type Value = Lsn;
+
+            fn expecting(&self, formatter: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
+                if self.is_human_readable_deserializer {
+                    formatter.write_str(
+                        "value in form of hex string({upper_u32_hex}/{lower_u32_hex}) representing u64 integer",
+                    )
+                } else {
+                    formatter.write_str("value in form of integer(u64)")
+                }
+            }
+
+            fn visit_u64<E>(self, v: u64) -> Result<Self::Value, E>
+            where
+                E: serde::de::Error,
+            {
+                Ok(Lsn(v))
+            }
+
+            fn visit_str<E>(self, v: &str) -> Result<Self::Value, E>
+            where
+                E: serde::de::Error,
+            {
+                Lsn::from_str(v).map_err(|e| E::custom(e))
+            }
+        }
+
+        if deserializer.is_human_readable() {
+            deserializer.deserialize_str(LsnVisitor {
+                is_human_readable_deserializer: true,
+            })
+        } else {
+            deserializer.deserialize_u64(LsnVisitor {
+                is_human_readable_deserializer: false,
+            })
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Allows (de)serialization of an `Lsn` always as `u64`.
+///
+/// ### Example
+///
+/// ```rust
+/// # use serde::{Serialize, Deserialize};
+/// use utils::lsn::Lsn;
+///
+/// #[derive(PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
+/// struct Foo {
+///   #[serde(with = "utils::lsn::serde_as_u64")]
+///   always_u64: Lsn,
+/// }
+///
+/// let orig = Foo { always_u64: Lsn(1234) };
+///
+/// let res = serde_json::to_string(&orig).unwrap();
+/// assert_eq!(res, r#"{"always_u64":1234}"#);
+///
+/// let foo = serde_json::from_str::<Foo>(&res).unwrap();
+/// assert_eq!(foo, orig);
+/// ```
+///
+pub mod serde_as_u64 {
+    use super::Lsn;
+
+    /// Serializes the Lsn as u64 disregarding the human readability of the format.
+    ///
+    /// Meant to be used via `#[serde(with = "...")]` or `#[serde(serialize_with = "...")]`.
+    pub fn serialize<S: serde::Serializer>(lsn: &Lsn, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error> {
+        use serde::Serialize;
+        lsn.0.serialize(serializer)
+    }
+
+    /// Deserializes the Lsn as u64 disregarding the human readability of the format.
+    ///
+    /// Meant to be used via `#[serde(with = "...")]` or `#[serde(deserialize_with = "...")]`.
+    pub fn deserialize<'de, D: serde::Deserializer<'de>>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Lsn, D::Error> {
+        use serde::Deserialize;
+        u64::deserialize(deserializer).map(Lsn)
+    }
+}
+
 /// We tried to parse an LSN from a string, but failed
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq, thiserror::Error)]
 #[error("LsnParseError")]
@@ -264,8 +368,13 @@ impl MonotonicCounter<Lsn> for RecordLsn {
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
+    use crate::bin_ser::BeSer;
+
     use super::*;
 
+    use serde::ser::Serialize;
+    use serde_assert::{Deserializer, Serializer, Token, Tokens};
+
     #[test]
     fn test_lsn_strings() {
         assert_eq!("12345678/AAAA5555".parse(), Ok(Lsn(0x12345678AAAA5555)));
@@ -341,4 +450,95 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(lsn.fetch_max(Lsn(6000)), Lsn(5678));
         assert_eq!(lsn.fetch_max(Lsn(5000)), Lsn(6000));
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_lsn_serde() {
+        let original_lsn = Lsn(0x0123456789abcdef);
+        let expected_readable_tokens = Tokens(vec![Token::U64(0x0123456789abcdef)]);
+        let expected_non_readable_tokens =
+            Tokens(vec![Token::Str(String::from("1234567/89ABCDEF"))]);
+
+        // Testing human_readable ser/de
+        let serializer = Serializer::builder().is_human_readable(false).build();
+        let readable_ser_tokens = original_lsn.serialize(&serializer).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(readable_ser_tokens, expected_readable_tokens);
+
+        let mut deserializer = Deserializer::builder()
+            .is_human_readable(false)
+            .tokens(readable_ser_tokens)
+            .build();
+        let des_lsn = Lsn::deserialize(&mut deserializer).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(des_lsn, original_lsn);
+
+        // Testing NON human_readable ser/de
+        let serializer = Serializer::builder().is_human_readable(true).build();
+        let non_readable_ser_tokens = original_lsn.serialize(&serializer).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(non_readable_ser_tokens, expected_non_readable_tokens);
+
+        let mut deserializer = Deserializer::builder()
+            .is_human_readable(true)
+            .tokens(non_readable_ser_tokens)
+            .build();
+        let des_lsn = Lsn::deserialize(&mut deserializer).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(des_lsn, original_lsn);
+
+        // Testing mismatching ser/de
+        let serializer = Serializer::builder().is_human_readable(false).build();
+        let non_readable_ser_tokens = original_lsn.serialize(&serializer).unwrap();
+
+        let mut deserializer = Deserializer::builder()
+            .is_human_readable(true)
+            .tokens(non_readable_ser_tokens)
+            .build();
+        Lsn::deserialize(&mut deserializer).unwrap_err();
+
+        let serializer = Serializer::builder().is_human_readable(true).build();
+        let readable_ser_tokens = original_lsn.serialize(&serializer).unwrap();
+
+        let mut deserializer = Deserializer::builder()
+            .is_human_readable(false)
+            .tokens(readable_ser_tokens)
+            .build();
+        Lsn::deserialize(&mut deserializer).unwrap_err();
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_lsn_ensure_roundtrip() {
+        let original_lsn = Lsn(0xaaaabbbb);
+
+        let serializer = Serializer::builder().is_human_readable(false).build();
+        let ser_tokens = original_lsn.serialize(&serializer).unwrap();
+
+        let mut deserializer = Deserializer::builder()
+            .is_human_readable(false)
+            .tokens(ser_tokens)
+            .build();
+
+        let des_lsn = Lsn::deserialize(&mut deserializer).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(des_lsn, original_lsn);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_lsn_bincode_serde() {
+        let lsn = Lsn(0x0123456789abcdef);
+        let expected_bytes = [0x01, 0x23, 0x45, 0x67, 0x89, 0xab, 0xcd, 0xef];
+
+        let ser_bytes = lsn.ser().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(ser_bytes, expected_bytes);
+
+        let des_lsn = Lsn::des(&ser_bytes).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(des_lsn, lsn);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_lsn_bincode_ensure_roundtrip() {
+        let original_lsn = Lsn(0x01_02_03_04_05_06_07_08);
+        let expected_bytes = vec![0x01, 0x02, 0x03, 0x04, 0x05, 0x06, 0x07, 0x08];
+
+        let ser_bytes = original_lsn.ser().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(ser_bytes, expected_bytes);
+
+        let des_lsn = Lsn::des(&ser_bytes).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(des_lsn, original_lsn);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/libs/utils/src/pageserver_feedback.rs b/libs/utils/src/pageserver_feedback.rs
index a3b53201d305..c9fbdde92847 100644
--- a/libs/utils/src/pageserver_feedback.rs
+++ b/libs/utils/src/pageserver_feedback.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ use std::time::{Duration, SystemTime};
 use bytes::{Buf, BufMut, Bytes, BytesMut};
 use pq_proto::{read_cstr, PG_EPOCH};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use serde_with::{serde_as, DisplayFromStr};
 use tracing::{trace, warn};
 
 use crate::lsn::Lsn;
@@ -15,21 +14,17 @@ use crate::lsn::Lsn;
 ///
 /// serde Serialize is used only for human readable dump to json (e.g. in
 /// safekeepers debug_dump).
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct PageserverFeedback {
     /// Last known size of the timeline. Used to enforce timeline size limit.
     pub current_timeline_size: u64,
     /// LSN last received and ingested by the pageserver. Controls backpressure.
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub last_received_lsn: Lsn,
     /// LSN up to which data is persisted by the pageserver to its local disc.
     /// Controls backpressure.
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub disk_consistent_lsn: Lsn,
     /// LSN up to which data is persisted by the pageserver on s3; safekeepers
     /// consider WAL before it can be removed.
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub remote_consistent_lsn: Lsn,
     // Serialize with RFC3339 format.
     #[serde(with = "serde_systemtime")]
diff --git a/pageserver/src/consumption_metrics/metrics.rs b/pageserver/src/consumption_metrics/metrics.rs
index 652dd98683d6..c22f218976fe 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/consumption_metrics/metrics.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/consumption_metrics/metrics.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ use anyhow::Context;
 use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
 use consumption_metrics::EventType;
 use futures::stream::StreamExt;
-use serde_with::serde_as;
 use std::{sync::Arc, time::SystemTime};
 use utils::{
     id::{TenantId, TimelineId},
@@ -42,13 +41,10 @@ pub(super) enum Name {
 ///
 /// This is a denormalization done at the MetricsKey const methods; these should not be constructed
 /// elsewhere.
-#[serde_with::serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Hash, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
 pub(crate) struct MetricsKey {
-    #[serde_as(as = "serde_with::DisplayFromStr")]
     pub(super) tenant_id: TenantId,
 
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<serde_with::DisplayFromStr>")]
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     pub(super) timeline_id: Option<TimelineId>,
 
diff --git a/pageserver/src/consumption_metrics/upload.rs b/pageserver/src/consumption_metrics/upload.rs
index d69d43a2a8c8..322ed95cc875 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/consumption_metrics/upload.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/consumption_metrics/upload.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 use consumption_metrics::{Event, EventChunk, IdempotencyKey, CHUNK_SIZE};
-use serde_with::serde_as;
 use tokio_util::sync::CancellationToken;
 use tracing::Instrument;
 
@@ -7,12 +6,9 @@ use super::{metrics::Name, Cache, MetricsKey, RawMetric};
 use utils::id::{TenantId, TimelineId};
 
 /// How the metrics from pageserver are identified.
-#[serde_with::serde_as]
 #[derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize, Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq)]
 struct Ids {
-    #[serde_as(as = "serde_with::DisplayFromStr")]
     pub(super) tenant_id: TenantId,
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<serde_with::DisplayFromStr>")]
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     pub(super) timeline_id: Option<TimelineId>,
 }
diff --git a/pageserver/src/deletion_queue.rs b/pageserver/src/deletion_queue.rs
index 7b2db929fa0d..b6f889c682d4 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/deletion_queue.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/deletion_queue.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ use hex::FromHex;
 use remote_storage::{GenericRemoteStorage, RemotePath};
 use serde::Deserialize;
 use serde::Serialize;
-use serde_with::serde_as;
 use thiserror::Error;
 use tokio;
 use tokio_util::sync::CancellationToken;
@@ -215,7 +214,6 @@ where
 /// during recovery as startup.
 const TEMP_SUFFIX: &str = "tmp";
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 struct DeletionList {
     /// Serialization version, for future use
@@ -244,7 +242,6 @@ struct DeletionList {
     validated: bool,
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 struct DeletionHeader {
     /// Serialization version, for future use
diff --git a/pageserver/src/http/routes.rs b/pageserver/src/http/routes.rs
index 2c46d733d678..a6fb26b298b9 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/http/routes.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/http/routes.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ use pageserver_api::models::{
     TenantLoadRequest, TenantLocationConfigRequest,
 };
 use remote_storage::GenericRemoteStorage;
-use serde_with::{serde_as, DisplayFromStr};
 use tenant_size_model::{SizeResult, StorageModel};
 use tokio_util::sync::CancellationToken;
 use tracing::*;
@@ -499,10 +498,8 @@ async fn get_lsn_by_timestamp_handler(
     let result = timeline.find_lsn_for_timestamp(timestamp_pg, &ctx).await?;
 
     if version.unwrap_or(0) > 1 {
-        #[serde_as]
         #[derive(serde::Serialize)]
         struct Result {
-            #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
             lsn: Lsn,
             kind: &'static str,
         }
@@ -811,10 +808,8 @@ async fn tenant_size_handler(
     }
 
     /// The type resides in the pageserver not to expose `ModelInputs`.
-    #[serde_with::serde_as]
     #[derive(serde::Serialize)]
     struct TenantHistorySize {
-        #[serde_as(as = "serde_with::DisplayFromStr")]
         id: TenantId,
         /// Size is a mixture of WAL and logical size, so the unit is bytes.
         ///
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/metadata.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/metadata.rs
index 75ffe0969614..38fd42674605 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/metadata.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/metadata.rs
@@ -406,4 +406,123 @@ mod tests {
             METADATA_OLD_FORMAT_VERSION, METADATA_FORMAT_VERSION
         );
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_metadata_bincode_serde() {
+        let original_metadata = TimelineMetadata::new(
+            Lsn(0x200),
+            Some(Lsn(0x100)),
+            Some(TIMELINE_ID),
+            Lsn(0),
+            Lsn(0),
+            Lsn(0),
+            // Any version will do here, so use the default
+            crate::DEFAULT_PG_VERSION,
+        );
+        let metadata_bytes = original_metadata
+            .to_bytes()
+            .expect("Cannot create bytes array from metadata");
+
+        let metadata_bincode_be_bytes = original_metadata
+            .ser()
+            .expect("Cannot serialize the metadata");
+
+        // 8 bytes for the length of the vector
+        assert_eq!(metadata_bincode_be_bytes.len(), 8 + metadata_bytes.len());
+
+        let expected_bincode_bytes = {
+            let mut temp = vec![];
+            let len_bytes = metadata_bytes.len().to_be_bytes();
+            temp.extend_from_slice(&len_bytes);
+            temp.extend_from_slice(&metadata_bytes);
+            temp
+        };
+        assert_eq!(metadata_bincode_be_bytes, expected_bincode_bytes);
+
+        let deserialized_metadata = TimelineMetadata::des(&metadata_bincode_be_bytes).unwrap();
+        // Deserialized metadata has the metadata header, which is different from the serialized one.
+        //   Reference: TimelineMetaData::to_bytes()
+        let expected_metadata = {
+            let mut temp_metadata = original_metadata;
+            let body_bytes = temp_metadata
+                .body
+                .ser()
+                .expect("Cannot serialize the metadata body");
+            let metadata_size = METADATA_HDR_SIZE + body_bytes.len();
+            let hdr = TimelineMetadataHeader {
+                size: metadata_size as u16,
+                format_version: METADATA_FORMAT_VERSION,
+                checksum: crc32c::crc32c(&body_bytes),
+            };
+            temp_metadata.hdr = hdr;
+            temp_metadata
+        };
+        assert_eq!(deserialized_metadata, expected_metadata);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_metadata_bincode_serde_ensure_roundtrip() {
+        let original_metadata = TimelineMetadata::new(
+            Lsn(0x200),
+            Some(Lsn(0x100)),
+            Some(TIMELINE_ID),
+            Lsn(0),
+            Lsn(0),
+            Lsn(0),
+            // Any version will do here, so use the default
+            crate::DEFAULT_PG_VERSION,
+        );
+        let expected_bytes = vec![
+            /* bincode length encoding bytes */
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, // 8 bytes for the length of the serialized vector
+            /* TimelineMetadataHeader */
+            4, 37, 101, 34, 0, 70, 0, 4, // checksum, size, format_version (4 + 2 + 2)
+            /* TimelineMetadataBodyV2 */
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, // disk_consistent_lsn (8 bytes)
+            1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, // prev_record_lsn (9 bytes)
+            1, 17, 34, 51, 68, 85, 102, 119, 136, 17, 34, 51, 68, 85, 102, 119,
+            136, // ancestor_timeline (17 bytes)
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, // ancestor_lsn (8 bytes)
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, // latest_gc_cutoff_lsn (8 bytes)
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, // initdb_lsn (8 bytes)
+            0, 0, 0, 15, // pg_version (4 bytes)
+            /* padding bytes */
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+            0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+        ];
+        let metadata_ser_bytes = original_metadata.ser().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(metadata_ser_bytes, expected_bytes);
+
+        let expected_metadata = {
+            let mut temp_metadata = original_metadata;
+            let body_bytes = temp_metadata
+                .body
+                .ser()
+                .expect("Cannot serialize the metadata body");
+            let metadata_size = METADATA_HDR_SIZE + body_bytes.len();
+            let hdr = TimelineMetadataHeader {
+                size: metadata_size as u16,
+                format_version: METADATA_FORMAT_VERSION,
+                checksum: crc32c::crc32c(&body_bytes),
+            };
+            temp_metadata.hdr = hdr;
+            temp_metadata
+        };
+        let des_metadata = TimelineMetadata::des(&metadata_ser_bytes).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(des_metadata, expected_metadata);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/index.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/index.rs
index fdab74a8befb..fa0679c7a2fe 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/index.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/remote_timeline_client/index.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 
 use chrono::NaiveDateTime;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use serde_with::{serde_as, DisplayFromStr};
 use utils::bin_ser::SerializeError;
 
 use crate::tenant::metadata::TimelineMetadata;
@@ -58,7 +57,6 @@ impl LayerFileMetadata {
 ///
 /// This type needs to be backwards and forwards compatible. When changing the fields,
 /// remember to add a test case for the changed version.
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct IndexPart {
     /// Debugging aid describing the version of this type.
@@ -78,7 +76,6 @@ pub struct IndexPart {
     // 'disk_consistent_lsn' is a copy of the 'disk_consistent_lsn' in the metadata.
     // It's duplicated for convenience when reading the serialized structure, but is
     // private because internally we would read from metadata instead.
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     disk_consistent_lsn: Lsn,
 
     #[serde(rename = "metadata_bytes")]
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/size.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/size.rs
index e737d3f59c0b..5e8ee2b99e0c 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/size.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/size.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ use tenant_size_model::{Segment, StorageModel};
 /// needs. We will convert this into a StorageModel when it's time to perform
 /// the calculation.
 ///
-#[serde_with::serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
 pub struct ModelInputs {
     pub segments: Vec<SegmentMeta>,
@@ -37,11 +36,9 @@ pub struct ModelInputs {
 }
 
 /// A [`Segment`], with some extra information for display purposes
-#[serde_with::serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
 pub struct SegmentMeta {
     pub segment: Segment,
-    #[serde_as(as = "serde_with::DisplayFromStr")]
     pub timeline_id: TimelineId,
     pub kind: LsnKind,
 }
@@ -77,32 +74,22 @@ pub enum LsnKind {
 
 /// Collect all relevant LSNs to the inputs. These will only be helpful in the serialized form as
 /// part of [`ModelInputs`] from the HTTP api, explaining the inputs.
-#[serde_with::serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
 pub struct TimelineInputs {
-    #[serde_as(as = "serde_with::DisplayFromStr")]
     pub timeline_id: TimelineId,
 
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<serde_with::DisplayFromStr>")]
     pub ancestor_id: Option<TimelineId>,
 
-    #[serde_as(as = "serde_with::DisplayFromStr")]
     ancestor_lsn: Lsn,
-    #[serde_as(as = "serde_with::DisplayFromStr")]
     last_record: Lsn,
-    #[serde_as(as = "serde_with::DisplayFromStr")]
     latest_gc_cutoff: Lsn,
-    #[serde_as(as = "serde_with::DisplayFromStr")]
     horizon_cutoff: Lsn,
-    #[serde_as(as = "serde_with::DisplayFromStr")]
     pitr_cutoff: Lsn,
 
     /// Cutoff point based on GC settings
-    #[serde_as(as = "serde_with::DisplayFromStr")]
     next_gc_cutoff: Lsn,
 
     /// Cutoff point calculated from the user-supplied 'max_retention_period'
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<serde_with::DisplayFromStr>")]
     retention_param_cutoff: Option<Lsn>,
 }
 
diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline.rs
index 4608683c4a7c..baa97b6cf9cc 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/timeline.rs
@@ -2936,13 +2936,10 @@ struct CompactLevel0Phase1StatsBuilder {
     new_deltas_size: Option<u64>,
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(serde::Serialize)]
 struct CompactLevel0Phase1Stats {
     version: u64,
-    #[serde_as(as = "serde_with::DisplayFromStr")]
     tenant_id: TenantId,
-    #[serde_as(as = "serde_with::DisplayFromStr")]
     timeline_id: TimelineId,
     read_lock_acquisition_micros: RecordedDuration,
     read_lock_held_spawn_blocking_startup_micros: RecordedDuration,
diff --git a/s3_scrubber/src/cloud_admin_api.rs b/s3_scrubber/src/cloud_admin_api.rs
index 1b28dc4dff0b..151421c84f1e 100644
--- a/s3_scrubber/src/cloud_admin_api.rs
+++ b/s3_scrubber/src/cloud_admin_api.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 
 use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
 use hex::FromHex;
+use pageserver::tenant::Tenant;
 use reqwest::{header, Client, StatusCode, Url};
 use serde::Deserialize;
 use tokio::sync::Semaphore;
@@ -118,13 +119,18 @@ fn from_nullable_id<'de, D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<TenantId, D::Error>
 where
     D: serde::de::Deserializer<'de>,
 {
-    let id_str = String::deserialize(deserializer)?;
-    if id_str.is_empty() {
-        // This is a bogus value, but for the purposes of the scrubber all that
-        // matters is that it doesn't collide with any real IDs.
-        Ok(TenantId::from([0u8; 16]))
+    if deserializer.is_human_readable() {
+        let id_str = String::deserialize(deserializer)?;
+        if id_str.is_empty() {
+            // This is a bogus value, but for the purposes of the scrubber all that
+            // matters is that it doesn't collide with any real IDs.
+            Ok(TenantId::from([0u8; 16]))
+        } else {
+            TenantId::from_hex(&id_str).map_err(|e| serde::de::Error::custom(format!("{e}")))
+        }
     } else {
-        TenantId::from_hex(&id_str).map_err(|e| serde::de::Error::custom(format!("{e}")))
+        let id_arr = <[u8; 16]>::deserialize(deserializer)?;
+        Ok(TenantId::from(id_arr))
     }
 }
 
@@ -153,7 +159,6 @@ pub struct ProjectData {
     pub maintenance_set: Option<String>,
 }
 
-#[serde_with::serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, serde::Deserialize)]
 pub struct BranchData {
     pub id: BranchId,
@@ -161,12 +166,10 @@ pub struct BranchData {
     pub updated_at: DateTime<Utc>,
     pub name: String,
     pub project_id: ProjectId,
-    #[serde_as(as = "serde_with::DisplayFromStr")]
     pub timeline_id: TimelineId,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub parent_id: Option<BranchId>,
     #[serde(default)]
-    #[serde_as(as = "Option<serde_with::DisplayFromStr>")]
     pub parent_lsn: Option<Lsn>,
     pub default: bool,
     pub deleted: bool,
diff --git a/safekeeper/src/control_file_upgrade.rs b/safekeeper/src/control_file_upgrade.rs
index a7f17df797f7..a0be2b205468 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/control_file_upgrade.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/control_file_upgrade.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ use utils::{
 };
 
 /// Persistent consensus state of the acceptor.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
 struct AcceptorStateV1 {
     /// acceptor's last term it voted for (advanced in 1 phase)
     term: Term,
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ struct AcceptorStateV1 {
     epoch: Term,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
 struct SafeKeeperStateV1 {
     /// persistent acceptor state
     acceptor_state: AcceptorStateV1,
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ pub struct ServerInfoV2 {
     pub wal_seg_size: u32,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
 pub struct SafeKeeperStateV2 {
     /// persistent acceptor state
     pub acceptor_state: AcceptorState,
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ pub struct ServerInfoV3 {
     pub wal_seg_size: u32,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
 pub struct SafeKeeperStateV3 {
     /// persistent acceptor state
     pub acceptor_state: AcceptorState,
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ pub struct SafeKeeperStateV3 {
     pub wal_start_lsn: Lsn,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
 pub struct SafeKeeperStateV4 {
     #[serde(with = "hex")]
     pub tenant_id: TenantId,
@@ -264,3 +264,245 @@ pub fn upgrade_control_file(buf: &[u8], version: u32) -> Result<SafeKeeperState>
     }
     bail!("unsupported safekeeper control file version {}", version)
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use std::str::FromStr;
+
+    use utils::{id::NodeId, Hex};
+
+    use crate::safekeeper::PersistedPeerInfo;
+
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn roundtrip_v1() {
+        let tenant_id = TenantId::from_str("cf0480929707ee75372337efaa5ecf96").unwrap();
+        let timeline_id = TimelineId::from_str("112ded66422aa5e953e5440fa5427ac4").unwrap();
+        let state = SafeKeeperStateV1 {
+            acceptor_state: AcceptorStateV1 {
+                term: 42,
+                epoch: 43,
+            },
+            server: ServerInfoV2 {
+                pg_version: 14,
+                system_id: 0x1234567887654321,
+                tenant_id,
+                timeline_id,
+                wal_seg_size: 0x12345678,
+            },
+            proposer_uuid: {
+                let mut arr = timeline_id.as_arr();
+                arr.reverse();
+                arr
+            },
+            commit_lsn: Lsn(1234567800),
+            truncate_lsn: Lsn(123456780),
+            wal_start_lsn: Lsn(1234567800 - 8),
+        };
+
+        let ser = state.ser().unwrap();
+        #[rustfmt::skip]
+        let expected = [
+            // term
+            0x2a, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            // epoch
+            0x2b, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            // pg_version
+            0x0e, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            // system_id
+            0x21, 0x43, 0x65, 0x87, 0x78, 0x56, 0x34, 0x12,
+            // tenant_id
+            0xcf, 0x04, 0x80, 0x92, 0x97, 0x07, 0xee, 0x75, 0x37, 0x23, 0x37, 0xef, 0xaa, 0x5e, 0xcf, 0x96,
+            // timeline_id
+            0x11, 0x2d, 0xed, 0x66, 0x42, 0x2a, 0xa5, 0xe9, 0x53, 0xe5, 0x44, 0x0f, 0xa5, 0x42, 0x7a, 0xc4,
+            // wal_seg_size
+            0x78, 0x56, 0x34, 0x12,
+            // proposer_uuid
+            0xc4, 0x7a, 0x42, 0xa5, 0x0f, 0x44, 0xe5, 0x53, 0xe9, 0xa5, 0x2a, 0x42, 0x66, 0xed, 0x2d, 0x11,
+            // commit_lsn
+            0x78, 0x02, 0x96, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            // truncate_lsn
+            0x0c, 0xcd, 0x5b, 0x07, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            // wal_start_lsn
+            0x70, 0x02, 0x96, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+        ];
+
+        assert_eq!(Hex(&ser), Hex(&expected));
+
+        let deser = SafeKeeperStateV1::des(&ser).unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(state, deser);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn roundtrip_v2() {
+        let tenant_id = TenantId::from_str("cf0480929707ee75372337efaa5ecf96").unwrap();
+        let timeline_id = TimelineId::from_str("112ded66422aa5e953e5440fa5427ac4").unwrap();
+        let state = SafeKeeperStateV2 {
+            acceptor_state: AcceptorState {
+                term: 42,
+                term_history: TermHistory(vec![TermLsn {
+                    lsn: Lsn(0x1),
+                    term: 41,
+                }]),
+            },
+            server: ServerInfoV2 {
+                pg_version: 14,
+                system_id: 0x1234567887654321,
+                tenant_id,
+                timeline_id,
+                wal_seg_size: 0x12345678,
+            },
+            proposer_uuid: {
+                let mut arr = timeline_id.as_arr();
+                arr.reverse();
+                arr
+            },
+            commit_lsn: Lsn(1234567800),
+            truncate_lsn: Lsn(123456780),
+            wal_start_lsn: Lsn(1234567800 - 8),
+        };
+
+        let ser = state.ser().unwrap();
+        let expected = [
+            0x2a, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x00, 0x00, 0x29, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0e, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x21, 0x43, 0x65, 0x87, 0x78, 0x56,
+            0x34, 0x12, 0xcf, 0x04, 0x80, 0x92, 0x97, 0x07, 0xee, 0x75, 0x37, 0x23, 0x37, 0xef,
+            0xaa, 0x5e, 0xcf, 0x96, 0x11, 0x2d, 0xed, 0x66, 0x42, 0x2a, 0xa5, 0xe9, 0x53, 0xe5,
+            0x44, 0x0f, 0xa5, 0x42, 0x7a, 0xc4, 0x78, 0x56, 0x34, 0x12, 0xc4, 0x7a, 0x42, 0xa5,
+            0x0f, 0x44, 0xe5, 0x53, 0xe9, 0xa5, 0x2a, 0x42, 0x66, 0xed, 0x2d, 0x11, 0x78, 0x02,
+            0x96, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0c, 0xcd, 0x5b, 0x07, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x70, 0x02, 0x96, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+        ];
+
+        assert_eq!(Hex(&ser), Hex(&expected));
+
+        let deser = SafeKeeperStateV2::des(&ser).unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(state, deser);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn roundtrip_v3() {
+        let tenant_id = TenantId::from_str("cf0480929707ee75372337efaa5ecf96").unwrap();
+        let timeline_id = TimelineId::from_str("112ded66422aa5e953e5440fa5427ac4").unwrap();
+        let state = SafeKeeperStateV3 {
+            acceptor_state: AcceptorState {
+                term: 42,
+                term_history: TermHistory(vec![TermLsn {
+                    lsn: Lsn(0x1),
+                    term: 41,
+                }]),
+            },
+            server: ServerInfoV3 {
+                pg_version: 14,
+                system_id: 0x1234567887654321,
+                tenant_id,
+                timeline_id,
+                wal_seg_size: 0x12345678,
+            },
+            proposer_uuid: {
+                let mut arr = timeline_id.as_arr();
+                arr.reverse();
+                arr
+            },
+            commit_lsn: Lsn(1234567800),
+            truncate_lsn: Lsn(123456780),
+            wal_start_lsn: Lsn(1234567800 - 8),
+        };
+
+        let ser = state.ser().unwrap();
+        let expected = [
+            0x2a, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x00, 0x00, 0x29, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0e, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x21, 0x43, 0x65, 0x87, 0x78, 0x56,
+            0x34, 0x12, 0x20, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x63, 0x66, 0x30, 0x34,
+            0x38, 0x30, 0x39, 0x32, 0x39, 0x37, 0x30, 0x37, 0x65, 0x65, 0x37, 0x35, 0x33, 0x37,
+            0x32, 0x33, 0x33, 0x37, 0x65, 0x66, 0x61, 0x61, 0x35, 0x65, 0x63, 0x66, 0x39, 0x36,
+            0x20, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x31, 0x31, 0x32, 0x64, 0x65, 0x64,
+            0x36, 0x36, 0x34, 0x32, 0x32, 0x61, 0x61, 0x35, 0x65, 0x39, 0x35, 0x33, 0x65, 0x35,
+            0x34, 0x34, 0x30, 0x66, 0x61, 0x35, 0x34, 0x32, 0x37, 0x61, 0x63, 0x34, 0x78, 0x56,
+            0x34, 0x12, 0x20, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x63, 0x34, 0x37, 0x61,
+            0x34, 0x32, 0x61, 0x35, 0x30, 0x66, 0x34, 0x34, 0x65, 0x35, 0x35, 0x33, 0x65, 0x39,
+            0x61, 0x35, 0x32, 0x61, 0x34, 0x32, 0x36, 0x36, 0x65, 0x64, 0x32, 0x64, 0x31, 0x31,
+            0x78, 0x02, 0x96, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0c, 0xcd, 0x5b, 0x07, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x00, 0x00, 0x70, 0x02, 0x96, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+        ];
+
+        assert_eq!(Hex(&ser), Hex(&expected));
+
+        let deser = SafeKeeperStateV3::des(&ser).unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(state, deser);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn roundtrip_v4() {
+        let tenant_id = TenantId::from_str("cf0480929707ee75372337efaa5ecf96").unwrap();
+        let timeline_id = TimelineId::from_str("112ded66422aa5e953e5440fa5427ac4").unwrap();
+        let state = SafeKeeperStateV4 {
+            tenant_id,
+            timeline_id,
+            acceptor_state: AcceptorState {
+                term: 42,
+                term_history: TermHistory(vec![TermLsn {
+                    lsn: Lsn(0x1),
+                    term: 41,
+                }]),
+            },
+            server: ServerInfo {
+                pg_version: 14,
+                system_id: 0x1234567887654321,
+                wal_seg_size: 0x12345678,
+            },
+            proposer_uuid: {
+                let mut arr = timeline_id.as_arr();
+                arr.reverse();
+                arr
+            },
+            peers: PersistedPeers(vec![(
+                NodeId(1),
+                PersistedPeerInfo {
+                    backup_lsn: Lsn(1234567000),
+                    term: 42,
+                    flush_lsn: Lsn(1234567800 - 8),
+                    commit_lsn: Lsn(1234567600),
+                },
+            )]),
+            commit_lsn: Lsn(1234567800),
+            s3_wal_lsn: Lsn(1234567300),
+            peer_horizon_lsn: Lsn(9999999),
+            remote_consistent_lsn: Lsn(1234560000),
+        };
+
+        let ser = state.ser().unwrap();
+        let expected = [
+            0x20, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x63, 0x66, 0x30, 0x34, 0x38, 0x30,
+            0x39, 0x32, 0x39, 0x37, 0x30, 0x37, 0x65, 0x65, 0x37, 0x35, 0x33, 0x37, 0x32, 0x33,
+            0x33, 0x37, 0x65, 0x66, 0x61, 0x61, 0x35, 0x65, 0x63, 0x66, 0x39, 0x36, 0x20, 0x00,
+            0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x31, 0x31, 0x32, 0x64, 0x65, 0x64, 0x36, 0x36,
+            0x34, 0x32, 0x32, 0x61, 0x61, 0x35, 0x65, 0x39, 0x35, 0x33, 0x65, 0x35, 0x34, 0x34,
+            0x30, 0x66, 0x61, 0x35, 0x34, 0x32, 0x37, 0x61, 0x63, 0x34, 0x2a, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x29, 0x00,
+            0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x0e, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x21, 0x43, 0x65, 0x87, 0x78, 0x56, 0x34, 0x12, 0x78, 0x56,
+            0x34, 0x12, 0x20, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x63, 0x34, 0x37, 0x61,
+            0x34, 0x32, 0x61, 0x35, 0x30, 0x66, 0x34, 0x34, 0x65, 0x35, 0x35, 0x33, 0x65, 0x39,
+            0x61, 0x35, 0x32, 0x61, 0x34, 0x32, 0x36, 0x36, 0x65, 0x64, 0x32, 0x64, 0x31, 0x31,
+            0x78, 0x02, 0x96, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x84, 0x00, 0x96, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x00, 0x00, 0x7f, 0x96, 0x98, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0xe4, 0x95, 0x49,
+            0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00,
+            0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x58, 0xff, 0x95, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x2a, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x70, 0x02, 0x96, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x00, 0x00, 0xb0, 0x01, 0x96, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+        ];
+
+        assert_eq!(Hex(&ser), Hex(&expected));
+
+        let deser = SafeKeeperStateV4::des(&ser).unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(state, deser);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/safekeeper/src/debug_dump.rs b/safekeeper/src/debug_dump.rs
index ee9d7118c6aa..26eb54fd1593 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/debug_dump.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/debug_dump.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ use postgres_ffi::XLogSegNo;
 use serde::Deserialize;
 use serde::Serialize;
 
-use serde_with::{serde_as, DisplayFromStr};
 use utils::id::NodeId;
 use utils::id::TenantTimelineId;
 use utils::id::{TenantId, TimelineId};
@@ -74,12 +73,9 @@ pub struct Config {
     pub wal_backup_enabled: bool,
 }
 
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct Timeline {
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub tenant_id: TenantId,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub timeline_id: TimelineId,
     pub control_file: Option<SafeKeeperState>,
     pub memory: Option<Memory>,
diff --git a/safekeeper/src/http/routes.rs b/safekeeper/src/http/routes.rs
index 940ac82df6ad..c5d5839c6f31 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/http/routes.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/http/routes.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
 use postgres_ffi::WAL_SEGMENT_SIZE;
 use safekeeper_api::models::SkTimelineInfo;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use serde_with::{serde_as, DisplayFromStr};
 use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::fmt;
 use std::str::FromStr;
@@ -62,11 +61,9 @@ fn get_conf(request: &Request<Body>) -> &SafeKeeperConf {
 
 /// Same as TermLsn, but serializes LSN using display serializer
 /// in Postgres format, i.e. 0/FFFFFFFF. Used only for the API response.
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct TermSwitchApiEntry {
     pub term: Term,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub lsn: Lsn,
 }
 
@@ -88,28 +85,18 @@ pub struct AcceptorStateStatus {
 }
 
 /// Info about timeline on safekeeper ready for reporting.
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct TimelineStatus {
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub tenant_id: TenantId,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub timeline_id: TimelineId,
     pub acceptor_state: AcceptorStateStatus,
     pub pg_info: ServerInfo,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub flush_lsn: Lsn,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub timeline_start_lsn: Lsn,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub local_start_lsn: Lsn,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub commit_lsn: Lsn,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub backup_lsn: Lsn,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub peer_horizon_lsn: Lsn,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub remote_consistent_lsn: Lsn,
     pub peers: Vec<PeerInfo>,
     pub walsenders: Vec<WalSenderState>,
diff --git a/safekeeper/src/json_ctrl.rs b/safekeeper/src/json_ctrl.rs
index 2ad2ca7706d0..303bdd67fef8 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/json_ctrl.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/json_ctrl.rs
@@ -44,8 +44,11 @@ pub struct AppendLogicalMessage {
 
     // fields from AppendRequestHeader
     pub term: Term,
+    #[serde(with = "utils::lsn::serde_as_u64")]
     pub epoch_start_lsn: Lsn,
+    #[serde(with = "utils::lsn::serde_as_u64")]
     pub begin_lsn: Lsn,
+    #[serde(with = "utils::lsn::serde_as_u64")]
     pub truncate_lsn: Lsn,
     pub pg_version: u32,
 }
diff --git a/safekeeper/src/pull_timeline.rs b/safekeeper/src/pull_timeline.rs
index 1343bba5ccb5..921032bba160 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/pull_timeline.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/pull_timeline.rs
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ use tokio::io::AsyncWriteExt;
 use tracing::info;
 use utils::id::{TenantId, TenantTimelineId, TimelineId};
 
-use serde_with::{serde_as, DisplayFromStr};
-
 use crate::{
     control_file, debug_dump,
     http::routes::TimelineStatus,
@@ -15,12 +13,9 @@ use crate::{
 };
 
 /// Info about timeline on safekeeper ready for reporting.
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct Request {
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub tenant_id: TenantId,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub timeline_id: TimelineId,
     pub http_hosts: Vec<String>,
 }
diff --git a/safekeeper/src/safekeeper.rs b/safekeeper/src/safekeeper.rs
index 1437bdb50ec8..47a624281d43 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/safekeeper.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/safekeeper.rs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ impl From<(Term, Lsn)> for TermLsn {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
 pub struct TermHistory(pub Vec<TermLsn>);
 
 impl TermHistory {
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ impl fmt::Debug for TermHistory {
 pub type PgUuid = [u8; 16];
 
 /// Persistent consensus state of the acceptor.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
 pub struct AcceptorState {
     /// acceptor's last term it voted for (advanced in 1 phase)
     pub term: Term,
@@ -209,16 +209,16 @@ pub struct ServerInfo {
     pub wal_seg_size: u32,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
 pub struct PersistedPeerInfo {
     /// LSN up to which safekeeper offloaded WAL to s3.
-    backup_lsn: Lsn,
+    pub backup_lsn: Lsn,
     /// Term of the last entry.
-    term: Term,
+    pub term: Term,
     /// LSN of the last record.
-    flush_lsn: Lsn,
+    pub flush_lsn: Lsn,
     /// Up to which LSN safekeeper regards its WAL as committed.
-    commit_lsn: Lsn,
+    pub commit_lsn: Lsn,
 }
 
 impl PersistedPeerInfo {
@@ -232,12 +232,12 @@ impl PersistedPeerInfo {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
 pub struct PersistedPeers(pub Vec<(NodeId, PersistedPeerInfo)>);
 
 /// Persistent information stored on safekeeper node
 /// On disk data is prefixed by magic and format version and followed by checksum.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq)]
 pub struct SafeKeeperState {
     #[serde(with = "hex")]
     pub tenant_id: TenantId,
@@ -1096,7 +1096,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     use super::*;
     use crate::wal_storage::Storage;
-    use std::{ops::Deref, time::Instant};
+    use std::{ops::Deref, str::FromStr, time::Instant};
 
     // fake storage for tests
     struct InMemoryState {
@@ -1314,4 +1314,98 @@ mod tests {
             })
         );
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_sk_state_bincode_serde_roundtrip() {
+        use utils::Hex;
+        let tenant_id = TenantId::from_str("cf0480929707ee75372337efaa5ecf96").unwrap();
+        let timeline_id = TimelineId::from_str("112ded66422aa5e953e5440fa5427ac4").unwrap();
+        let state = SafeKeeperState {
+            tenant_id,
+            timeline_id,
+            acceptor_state: AcceptorState {
+                term: 42,
+                term_history: TermHistory(vec![TermLsn {
+                    lsn: Lsn(0x1),
+                    term: 41,
+                }]),
+            },
+            server: ServerInfo {
+                pg_version: 14,
+                system_id: 0x1234567887654321,
+                wal_seg_size: 0x12345678,
+            },
+            proposer_uuid: {
+                let mut arr = timeline_id.as_arr();
+                arr.reverse();
+                arr
+            },
+            timeline_start_lsn: Lsn(0x12345600),
+            local_start_lsn: Lsn(0x12),
+            commit_lsn: Lsn(1234567800),
+            backup_lsn: Lsn(1234567300),
+            peer_horizon_lsn: Lsn(9999999),
+            remote_consistent_lsn: Lsn(1234560000),
+            peers: PersistedPeers(vec![(
+                NodeId(1),
+                PersistedPeerInfo {
+                    backup_lsn: Lsn(1234567000),
+                    term: 42,
+                    flush_lsn: Lsn(1234567800 - 8),
+                    commit_lsn: Lsn(1234567600),
+                },
+            )]),
+        };
+
+        let ser = state.ser().unwrap();
+
+        #[rustfmt::skip]
+        let expected = [
+            // tenant_id as length prefixed hex
+            0x20, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x63, 0x66, 0x30, 0x34, 0x38, 0x30, 0x39, 0x32, 0x39, 0x37, 0x30, 0x37, 0x65, 0x65, 0x37, 0x35, 0x33, 0x37, 0x32, 0x33, 0x33, 0x37, 0x65, 0x66, 0x61, 0x61, 0x35, 0x65, 0x63, 0x66, 0x39, 0x36,
+            // timeline_id as length prefixed hex
+            0x20, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x31, 0x31, 0x32, 0x64, 0x65, 0x64, 0x36, 0x36, 0x34, 0x32, 0x32, 0x61, 0x61, 0x35, 0x65, 0x39, 0x35, 0x33, 0x65, 0x35, 0x34, 0x34, 0x30, 0x66, 0x61, 0x35, 0x34, 0x32, 0x37, 0x61, 0x63, 0x34,
+            // term
+            0x2a, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            // length prefix
+            0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            // unsure why this order is swapped
+            0x29, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            // pg_version
+            0x0e, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            // systemid
+            0x21, 0x43, 0x65, 0x87, 0x78, 0x56, 0x34, 0x12,
+            // wal_seg_size
+            0x78, 0x56, 0x34, 0x12,
+            // pguuid as length prefixed hex
+            0x20, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x63, 0x34, 0x37, 0x61, 0x34, 0x32, 0x61, 0x35, 0x30, 0x66, 0x34, 0x34, 0x65, 0x35, 0x35, 0x33, 0x65, 0x39, 0x61, 0x35, 0x32, 0x61, 0x34, 0x32, 0x36, 0x36, 0x65, 0x64, 0x32, 0x64, 0x31, 0x31,
+
+            // timeline_start_lsn
+            0x00, 0x56, 0x34, 0x12, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x12, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x78, 0x02, 0x96, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x84, 0x00, 0x96, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x7f, 0x96, 0x98, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x00, 0xe4, 0x95, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            // length prefix for persistentpeers
+            0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            // nodeid
+            0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            // backuplsn
+            0x58, 0xff, 0x95, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x2a, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0x70, 0x02, 0x96, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+            0xb0, 0x01, 0x96, 0x49, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+        ];
+
+        assert_eq!(Hex(&ser), Hex(&expected));
+
+        let deser = SafeKeeperState::des(&ser).unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(deser, state);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/safekeeper/src/send_wal.rs b/safekeeper/src/send_wal.rs
index cd765dcbce23..44f14f8c7e84 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/send_wal.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/send_wal.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ use postgres_ffi::get_current_timestamp;
 use postgres_ffi::{TimestampTz, MAX_SEND_SIZE};
 use pq_proto::{BeMessage, WalSndKeepAlive, XLogDataBody};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use serde_with::{serde_as, DisplayFromStr};
 use tokio::io::{AsyncRead, AsyncWrite};
 use utils::id::TenantTimelineId;
 use utils::lsn::AtomicLsn;
@@ -313,10 +312,8 @@ impl WalSendersShared {
 }
 
 // Serialized is used only for pretty printing in json.
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct WalSenderState {
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     ttid: TenantTimelineId,
     addr: SocketAddr,
     conn_id: ConnectionId,
diff --git a/safekeeper/src/timeline.rs b/safekeeper/src/timeline.rs
index 96d844fa7afb..2ba871207ec8 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/timeline.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/timeline.rs
@@ -5,10 +5,8 @@ use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Result};
 use camino::Utf8PathBuf;
 use postgres_ffi::XLogSegNo;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use serde_with::serde_as;
 use tokio::fs;
 
-use serde_with::DisplayFromStr;
 use std::cmp::max;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::Duration;
@@ -42,7 +40,6 @@ use crate::SafeKeeperConf;
 use crate::{debug_dump, wal_storage};
 
 /// Things safekeeper should know about timeline state on peers.
-#[serde_as]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct PeerInfo {
     pub sk_id: NodeId,
@@ -50,13 +47,10 @@ pub struct PeerInfo {
     /// Term of the last entry.
     pub last_log_term: Term,
     /// LSN of the last record.
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub flush_lsn: Lsn,
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub commit_lsn: Lsn,
     /// Since which LSN safekeeper has WAL. TODO: remove this once we fill new
     /// sk since backup_lsn.
-    #[serde_as(as = "DisplayFromStr")]
     pub local_start_lsn: Lsn,
     /// When info was received. Serde annotations are not very useful but make
     /// the code compile -- we don't rely on this field externally.