diff --git a/src/core/server/capabilities/capabilities_service.ts b/src/core/server/capabilities/capabilities_service.ts
index 6088ec29db9985d..f76a7d2738afbe4 100644
--- a/src/core/server/capabilities/capabilities_service.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/capabilities/capabilities_service.ts
@@ -152,7 +152,13 @@ export class CapabilitiesService {
   public setup(setupDeps: SetupDeps): CapabilitiesSetup {
     this.logger.debug('Setting up capabilities service');
 
-    registerRoutes(setupDeps.http, this.resolveCapabilities);
+    registerRoutes(setupDeps.http.createRouter(''), this.resolveCapabilities);
+
+    // The not ready server has no need for real capabilities.
+    // Returning the un-augmented defaults is sufficient.
+    setupDeps.http.notReadyServer?.registerRoutes('', (notReadyRouter) => {
+      registerRoutes(notReadyRouter, async () => defaultCapabilities);
+    });
 
     return {
       registerProvider: (provider: CapabilitiesProvider) => {
diff --git a/src/core/server/capabilities/routes/index.ts b/src/core/server/capabilities/routes/index.ts
index a417dbfeb43a3c9..4140d75d1a1a102 100644
--- a/src/core/server/capabilities/routes/index.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/capabilities/routes/index.ts
@@ -7,10 +7,9 @@
  */
 
 import { CapabilitiesResolver } from '../resolve_capabilities';
-import { InternalHttpServiceSetup } from '../../http';
+import { IRouter } from '../../http';
 import { registerCapabilitiesRoutes } from './resolve_capabilities';
 
-export function registerRoutes(http: InternalHttpServiceSetup, resolver: CapabilitiesResolver) {
-  const router = http.createRouter('');
+export function registerRoutes(router: IRouter, resolver: CapabilitiesResolver) {
   registerCapabilitiesRoutes(router, resolver);
 }
diff --git a/src/core/server/core_app/core_app.ts b/src/core/server/core_app/core_app.ts
index e728cb0b8247579..efdb5ed20959cbb 100644
--- a/src/core/server/core_app/core_app.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/core_app/core_app.ts
@@ -28,13 +28,17 @@ export class CoreApp {
     this.env = core.env;
   }
 
-  setup(coreSetup: InternalCoreSetup, uiPlugins: UiPlugins) {
+  setup(coreSetup: InternalCoreSetup, uiPlugins: UiPlugins, notReadyServerUiPlugins: UiPlugins) {
     this.logger.debug('Setting up core app.');
-    this.registerDefaultRoutes(coreSetup, uiPlugins);
+    this.registerDefaultRoutes(coreSetup, uiPlugins, notReadyServerUiPlugins);
     this.registerStaticDirs(coreSetup);
   }
 
-  private registerDefaultRoutes(coreSetup: InternalCoreSetup, uiPlugins: UiPlugins) {
+  private registerDefaultRoutes(
+    coreSetup: InternalCoreSetup,
+    uiPlugins: UiPlugins,
+    notReadyServerUiPlugins: UiPlugins
+  ) {
     const httpSetup = coreSetup.http;
     const router = httpSetup.createRouter('');
     const resources = coreSetup.httpResources.createRegistrar(router);
@@ -51,6 +55,40 @@ export class CoreApp {
       });
     });
 
+    httpSetup.notReadyServer?.registerRoutes('', (notReadyRouter) => {
+      const notReadyResources = coreSetup.httpResources.createRegistrar(notReadyRouter);
+
+      // TODO: need better mechanism for this, -OR- make setup mode render at the root instead.
+      notReadyRouter.get({ path: '/', validate: false }, async (context, req, res) => {
+        const defaultRoute = '/app/setup';
+        const basePath = httpSetup.basePath.get(req);
+        const url = `${basePath}${defaultRoute}`;
+
+        return res.redirected({
+          headers: {
+            location: url,
+          },
+        });
+      });
+
+      registerBundleRoutes({
+        router: notReadyRouter,
+        uiPlugins: notReadyServerUiPlugins,
+        packageInfo: this.env.packageInfo,
+        serverBasePath: coreSetup.http.basePath.serverBasePath,
+      });
+
+      notReadyResources.register(
+        {
+          path: '/app/{id}/{any*}',
+          validate: false,
+        },
+        async (context, request, response) => {
+          return response.renderAnonymousCoreApp({ renderTarget: 'notReady' });
+        }
+      );
+    });
+
     // remove trailing slash catch-all
     router.get(
       {
@@ -130,8 +168,16 @@ export class CoreApp {
   }
 
   private registerStaticDirs(coreSetup: InternalCoreSetup) {
+    coreSetup.http.notReadyServer?.registerStaticDir(
+      '/ui/{path*}',
+      Path.resolve(__dirname, './assets')
+    );
     coreSetup.http.registerStaticDir('/ui/{path*}', Path.resolve(__dirname, './assets'));
 
+    coreSetup.http.notReadyServer?.registerStaticDir(
+      '/node_modules/@kbn/ui-framework/dist/{path*}',
+      fromRoot('node_modules/@kbn/ui-framework/dist')
+    );
     coreSetup.http.registerStaticDir(
       '/node_modules/@kbn/ui-framework/dist/{path*}',
       fromRoot('node_modules/@kbn/ui-framework/dist')
diff --git a/src/core/server/http/http_service.ts b/src/core/server/http/http_service.ts
index 0d28506607682ea..11dcfb54a8e1fb8 100644
--- a/src/core/server/http/http_service.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/http/http_service.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ export class HttpService
   private readonly env: Env;
   private notReadyServer?: HttpServer;
   private internalSetup?: InternalHttpServiceSetup;
+  private notReadyServerRequestHandlerContext?: RequestHandlerContextContainer;
   private requestHandlerContext?: RequestHandlerContextContainer;
 
   constructor(private readonly coreContext: CoreContext) {
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ export class HttpService
   }
 
   public async setup(deps: SetupDeps) {
+    this.notReadyServerRequestHandlerContext = deps.context.createContextContainer();
     this.requestHandlerContext = deps.context.createContextContainer();
     this.configSubscription = this.config$.subscribe(() => {
       if (this.httpServer.isListening()) {
@@ -191,27 +193,29 @@ export class HttpService
 
     const notReadySetup = await this.runNotReadyServer(config);
 
-    // We cannot use the real context container since the core services may not yet be ready
-    const fakeContext: RequestHandlerContextContainer = new Proxy(
-      context.createContextContainer(),
-      {
-        get: (target, property, receiver) => {
-          if (property === 'createHandler') {
-            return Reflect.get(target, property, receiver);
-          }
-          throw new Error(`Unexpected access from fake context: ${String(property)}`);
-        },
-      }
-    );
-
     return {
+      registerStaticDir: notReadySetup.registerStaticDir.bind(notReadySetup),
+      registerRouteHandlerContext: <
+        Context extends RequestHandlerContext,
+        ContextName extends keyof Context
+      >(
+        pluginOpaqueId: PluginOpaqueId,
+        contextName: ContextName,
+        provider: RequestHandlerContextProvider<Context, ContextName>
+      ) =>
+        this.notReadyServerRequestHandlerContext!.registerContext(
+          pluginOpaqueId,
+          contextName,
+          provider
+        ),
       registerRoutes: (path: string, registerCallback: (router: IRouter) => void) => {
-        const router = new Router(
-          path,
-          this.log,
-          fakeContext.createHandler.bind(null, this.coreContext.coreId)
+        const enhanceHandler = this.notReadyServerRequestHandlerContext!.createHandler.bind(
+          null,
+          this.coreContext.coreId
         );
 
+        const router = new Router(path, this.log, enhanceHandler);
+
         registerCallback(router);
         notReadySetup.registerRouterAfterListening(router);
       },
diff --git a/src/core/server/http/types.ts b/src/core/server/http/types.ts
index bbd296d6b1831a7..db2152493206fdd 100644
--- a/src/core/server/http/types.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/http/types.ts
@@ -275,11 +275,22 @@ export interface HttpServiceSetup {
    * Provides common {@link HttpServerInfo | information} about the running http server.
    */
   getServerInfo: () => HttpServerInfo;
+
+  notReadyServer?: InternalNotReadyHttpServiceSetup;
 }
 
 /** @internal */
 export interface InternalNotReadyHttpServiceSetup {
   registerRoutes(path: string, callback: (router: IRouter) => void): void;
+  registerStaticDir: (path: string, dirPath: string) => void;
+  registerRouteHandlerContext: <
+    Context extends RequestHandlerContext,
+    ContextName extends keyof Context
+  >(
+    pluginOpaqueId: PluginOpaqueId,
+    contextName: ContextName,
+    provider: RequestHandlerContextProvider<Context, ContextName>
+  ) => RequestHandlerContextContainer;
 }
 
 /** @internal */
diff --git a/src/core/server/http_resources/http_resources_service.ts b/src/core/server/http_resources/http_resources_service.ts
index 44caa456e99559e..66466323eb95956 100644
--- a/src/core/server/http_resources/http_resources_service.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/http_resources/http_resources_service.ts
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ export class HttpResourcesService implements CoreService<InternalHttpResourcesSe
           vars: {
             apmConfig,
           },
+          renderTarget: options.renderTarget,
         });
 
         return response.ok({
diff --git a/src/core/server/http_resources/types.ts b/src/core/server/http_resources/types.ts
index 3333574038ec7c9..dd56499c48049af 100644
--- a/src/core/server/http_resources/types.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/http_resources/types.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ export interface HttpResourcesRenderOptions {
    * All HTML pages are already pre-configured with `content-security-policy` header that cannot be overridden.
    * */
   headers?: ResponseHeaders;
+
+  renderTarget?: 'notReady' | 'primary';
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/core/server/i18n/i18n_service.ts b/src/core/server/i18n/i18n_service.ts
index 0dffd8934a8cab4..8e1d99f46a1f8ae 100644
--- a/src/core/server/i18n/i18n_service.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/i18n/i18n_service.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,10 @@ export class I18nService {
     this.log.debug(`Using translation files: [${translationFiles.join(', ')}]`);
     await initTranslations(locale, translationFiles);
 
+    http.notReadyServer?.registerRoutes('', (notReadyRouter) => {
+      registerRoutes({ router: notReadyRouter, locale });
+    });
+
     const router = http.createRouter('');
     registerRoutes({ router, locale });
 
diff --git a/src/core/server/not_ready_core_route_handler_context.ts b/src/core/server/not_ready_core_route_handler_context.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000000..fd72cdfd7dbb631
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/server/not_ready_core_route_handler_context.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+// eslint-disable-next-line max-classes-per-file
+import { InternalCoreSetup } from './internal_types';
+import { InternalUiSettingsServiceSetup, IUiSettingsClient } from './ui_settings';
+
+class NotReadyCoreUiSettingsRouteHandlerContext {
+  #client?: IUiSettingsClient;
+  constructor(private readonly uiSettingsSetup: InternalUiSettingsServiceSetup) {}
+
+  public get client() {
+    if (this.#client == null) {
+      this.#client = this.uiSettingsSetup.defaultsClient();
+    }
+    return this.#client;
+  }
+}
+
+export class NotReadyCoreRouteHandlerContext {
+  readonly uiSettings: NotReadyCoreUiSettingsRouteHandlerContext;
+
+  constructor(private readonly coreSetup: InternalCoreSetup) {
+    this.uiSettings = new NotReadyCoreUiSettingsRouteHandlerContext(this.coreSetup.uiSettings);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/core/server/plugins/discovery/plugin_manifest_parser.ts b/src/core/server/plugins/discovery/plugin_manifest_parser.ts
index b59418a67219e03..7e68962a3e9b215 100644
--- a/src/core/server/plugins/discovery/plugin_manifest_parser.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/plugins/discovery/plugin_manifest_parser.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ const KNOWN_MANIFEST_FIELDS = (() => {
   const manifestFields: { [P in keyof PluginManifest]: boolean } = {
     id: true,
     kibanaVersion: true,
+    type: true,
     version: true,
     configPath: true,
     requiredPlugins: true,
@@ -182,6 +183,7 @@ export async function parseManifest(
     id: manifest.id,
     version: manifest.version,
     kibanaVersion: expectedKibanaVersion,
+    type: manifest.type ?? 'primary',
     configPath: manifest.configPath || snakeCase(manifest.id),
     requiredPlugins: Array.isArray(manifest.requiredPlugins) ? manifest.requiredPlugins : [],
     optionalPlugins: Array.isArray(manifest.optionalPlugins) ? manifest.optionalPlugins : [],
diff --git a/src/core/server/plugins/plugins_service.ts b/src/core/server/plugins/plugins_service.ts
index 99a9aaaddcb0bdf..b2271c0cde4efd1 100644
--- a/src/core/server/plugins/plugins_service.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/plugins/plugins_service.ts
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ export class PluginsService implements CoreService<PluginsServiceSetup, PluginsS
     await this.handleDiscoveryErrors(error$);
     await this.handleDiscoveredPlugins(plugin$);
 
+    const notReadyServerUiPlugins = this.pluginsSystem.notReadyServerUiPlugins();
     const uiPlugins = this.pluginsSystem.uiPlugins();
 
     return {
@@ -107,6 +108,11 @@ export class PluginsService implements CoreService<PluginsServiceSetup, PluginsS
         public: uiPlugins,
         browserConfigs: this.generateUiPluginsConfigs(uiPlugins),
       },
+      notReadyServerUiPlugins: {
+        internal: this.uiPluginInternalInfo,
+        public: notReadyServerUiPlugins,
+        browserConfigs: this.generateUiPluginsConfigs(notReadyServerUiPlugins),
+      },
     };
   }
 
diff --git a/src/core/server/plugins/plugins_system.ts b/src/core/server/plugins/plugins_system.ts
index f6327d4eabf43cc..f7a71aa8057c7eb 100644
--- a/src/core/server/plugins/plugins_system.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/plugins/plugins_system.ts
@@ -212,30 +212,32 @@ export class PluginsSystem {
    * Get a Map of all discovered UI plugins in topological order.
    */
   public uiPlugins() {
+    return new Map(this.allUiPlugins().filter(([, { type }]) => type === 'primary'));
+  }
+
+  public notReadyServerUiPlugins() {
+    return new Map(this.allUiPlugins().filter(([, { type }]) => type === 'notReady'));
+  }
+
+  private allUiPlugins(): Array<[string, DiscoveredPlugin]> {
     const uiPluginNames = [...this.getTopologicallySortedPluginNames().keys()].filter(
       (pluginName) => this.plugins.get(pluginName)!.includesUiPlugin
     );
-    const publicPlugins = new Map<PluginName, DiscoveredPlugin>(
-      uiPluginNames.map((pluginName) => {
-        const plugin = this.plugins.get(pluginName)!;
-        return [
-          pluginName,
-          {
-            id: pluginName,
-            configPath: plugin.manifest.configPath,
-            requiredPlugins: plugin.manifest.requiredPlugins.filter((p) =>
-              uiPluginNames.includes(p)
-            ),
-            optionalPlugins: plugin.manifest.optionalPlugins.filter((p) =>
-              uiPluginNames.includes(p)
-            ),
-            requiredBundles: plugin.manifest.requiredBundles,
-          },
-        ];
-      })
-    );
 
-    return publicPlugins;
+    return uiPluginNames.map((pluginName) => {
+      const plugin = this.plugins.get(pluginName)!;
+      return [
+        pluginName,
+        {
+          id: pluginName,
+          type: plugin.manifest.type,
+          configPath: plugin.manifest.configPath,
+          requiredPlugins: plugin.manifest.requiredPlugins.filter((p) => uiPluginNames.includes(p)),
+          optionalPlugins: plugin.manifest.optionalPlugins.filter((p) => uiPluginNames.includes(p)),
+          requiredBundles: plugin.manifest.requiredBundles,
+        },
+      ];
+    });
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/src/core/server/plugins/types.ts b/src/core/server/plugins/types.ts
index 0cdc806e997ef75..d6601ddfe8e3d17 100644
--- a/src/core/server/plugins/types.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/plugins/types.ts
@@ -149,6 +149,8 @@ export interface PluginManifest {
    */
   readonly kibanaVersion: string;
 
+  readonly type: 'notReady' | 'primary';
+
   /**
    * Root {@link ConfigPath | configuration path} used by the plugin, defaults
    * to "id" in snake_case format.
@@ -271,6 +273,8 @@ export interface DiscoveredPlugin {
    * duplicated here.
    */
   readonly requiredBundles: readonly PluginName[];
+
+  readonly type: 'notReady' | 'primary';
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/core/server/rendering/rendering_service.tsx b/src/core/server/rendering/rendering_service.tsx
index fd4e1140d68b49c..c2b6a50763ec0ab 100644
--- a/src/core/server/rendering/rendering_service.tsx
+++ b/src/core/server/rendering/rendering_service.tsx
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ export class RenderingService {
     http,
     status,
     uiPlugins,
+    notReadyServerUiPlugins,
   }: RenderingSetupDeps): Promise<InternalRenderingServiceSetup> {
     const router = http.createRouter('');
 
@@ -42,11 +43,23 @@ export class RenderingService {
     });
     registerBootstrapRoute({ router, renderer: bootstrapRenderer });
 
+    if (http.notReadyServer) {
+      const notReadyBootstrapRenderer = bootstrapRendererFactory({
+        uiPlugins: notReadyServerUiPlugins,
+        serverBasePath: http.basePath.serverBasePath,
+        packageInfo: this.coreContext.env.packageInfo,
+        auth: http.auth,
+      });
+      http.notReadyServer.registerRoutes('', (notReadyRouter) => {
+        registerBootstrapRoute({ router: notReadyRouter, renderer: notReadyBootstrapRenderer });
+      });
+    }
+
     return {
       render: async (
         request,
         uiSettings,
-        { includeUserSettings = true, vars }: IRenderOptions = {}
+        { includeUserSettings = true, vars, renderTarget }: IRenderOptions = {}
       ) => {
         const env = {
           mode: this.coreContext.env.mode,
@@ -56,8 +69,8 @@ export class RenderingService {
         const basePath = http.basePath.get(request);
         const { serverBasePath, publicBaseUrl } = http.basePath;
         const settings = {
-          defaults: uiSettings.getRegistered(),
-          user: includeUserSettings ? await uiSettings.getUserProvided() : {},
+          defaults: uiSettings?.getRegistered() ?? {},
+          user: includeUserSettings && uiSettings ? await uiSettings?.getUserProvided() : {},
         };
 
         const darkMode = getSettingValue('theme:darkMode', settings, Boolean);
@@ -70,6 +83,9 @@ export class RenderingService {
           buildNum,
         });
 
+        const plugins =
+          renderTarget === 'notReady' ? notReadyServerUiPlugins.public : uiPlugins.public;
+
         const metadata: RenderingMetadata = {
           strictCsp: http.csp.strict,
           uiPublicUrl: `${basePath}/ui`,
@@ -95,7 +111,7 @@ export class RenderingService {
             externalUrl: http.externalUrl,
             vars: vars ?? {},
             uiPlugins: await Promise.all(
-              [...uiPlugins.public].map(async ([id, plugin]) => ({
+              [...plugins].map(async ([id, plugin]) => ({
                 id,
                 plugin,
                 config: await getUiConfig(uiPlugins, id),
diff --git a/src/core/server/rendering/types.ts b/src/core/server/rendering/types.ts
index 1fa67c6b63d3e8b..699bc3e7beeb79d 100644
--- a/src/core/server/rendering/types.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/rendering/types.ts
@@ -63,10 +63,13 @@ export interface RenderingSetupDeps {
   http: InternalHttpServiceSetup;
   status: InternalStatusServiceSetup;
   uiPlugins: UiPlugins;
+  notReadyServerUiPlugins: UiPlugins;
 }
 
 /** @public */
 export interface IRenderOptions {
+  renderTarget?: 'notReady' | 'primary';
+
   /**
    * Set whether to output user settings in the page metadata.
    * `true` by default.
diff --git a/src/core/server/server.ts b/src/core/server/server.ts
index 3f553dd90678ed7..2f759304307abbc 100644
--- a/src/core/server/server.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/server.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ import { CoreUsageDataService } from './core_usage_data';
 import { DeprecationsService } from './deprecations';
 import { CoreRouteHandlerContext } from './core_route_handler_context';
 import { config as externalUrlConfig } from './external_url';
+import { NotReadyCoreRouteHandlerContext } from './not_ready_core_route_handler_context';
 
 const coreId = Symbol('core');
 const rootConfigPath = '';
@@ -122,7 +123,12 @@ export class Server {
     const environmentSetup = await this.environment.setup();
 
     // Discover any plugins before continuing. This allows other systems to utilize the plugin dependency graph.
-    const { pluginTree, pluginPaths, uiPlugins } = await this.plugins.discover({
+    const {
+      pluginTree,
+      pluginPaths,
+      uiPlugins,
+      notReadyServerUiPlugins,
+    } = await this.plugins.discover({
       environment: environmentSetup,
     });
 
@@ -180,6 +186,7 @@ export class Server {
       http: httpSetup,
       status: statusSetup,
       uiPlugins,
+      notReadyServerUiPlugins,
     });
 
     const httpResourcesSetup = this.httpResources.setup({
@@ -220,7 +227,7 @@ export class Server {
     });
 
     this.registerCoreContext(coreSetup);
-    this.coreApp.setup(coreSetup, uiPlugins);
+    this.coreApp.setup(coreSetup, uiPlugins, notReadyServerUiPlugins);
 
     setupTransaction?.end();
     return coreSetup;
@@ -286,6 +293,14 @@ export class Server {
   }
 
   private registerCoreContext(coreSetup: InternalCoreSetup) {
+    coreSetup.http.notReadyServer?.registerRouteHandlerContext(
+      coreId,
+      'core',
+      (context, req, res): any => {
+        // need better types
+        return new NotReadyCoreRouteHandlerContext(coreSetup);
+      }
+    );
     coreSetup.http.registerRouteHandlerContext(
       coreId,
       'core',
diff --git a/src/core/server/ui_settings/types.ts b/src/core/server/ui_settings/types.ts
index 395c95d998de308..09b307e105b877a 100644
--- a/src/core/server/ui_settings/types.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/ui_settings/types.ts
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ export interface InternalUiSettingsServiceSetup {
    * @param settings
    */
   register(settings: Record<string, UiSettingsParams>): void;
+
+  defaultsClient(): IUiSettingsClient;
 }
 
 /** @public */
@@ -96,6 +98,8 @@ export interface UiSettingsServiceSetup {
    * ```
    */
   register(settings: Record<string, UiSettingsParams>): void;
+
+  defaultsClient(): IUiSettingsClient;
 }
 
 /** @public */
diff --git a/src/core/server/ui_settings/ui_settings_client.ts b/src/core/server/ui_settings/ui_settings_client.ts
index ee0dcbea2a9aa54..9aa75e686439e3e 100644
--- a/src/core/server/ui_settings/ui_settings_client.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/ui_settings/ui_settings_client.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ export interface UiSettingsServiceOptions {
   type: string;
   id: string;
   buildNum: number;
-  savedObjectsClient: SavedObjectsClientContract;
+  savedObjectsClient?: SavedObjectsClientContract;
   overrides?: Record<string, any>;
   defaults?: Record<string, UiSettingsParams>;
   log: Logger;
@@ -193,15 +193,16 @@ export class UiSettingsClient implements IUiSettingsClient {
     changes: Record<string, any>;
     autoCreateOrUpgradeIfMissing?: boolean;
   }) {
+    const client = this.getSavedObjectsClient();
     try {
-      await this.savedObjectsClient.update(this.type, this.id, changes);
+      await client.update(this.type, this.id, changes);
     } catch (error) {
       if (!SavedObjectsErrorHelpers.isNotFoundError(error) || !autoCreateOrUpgradeIfMissing) {
         throw error;
       }
 
       await createOrUpgradeSavedConfig({
-        savedObjectsClient: this.savedObjectsClient,
+        savedObjectsClient: client,
         version: this.id,
         buildNum: this.buildNum,
         log: this.log,
@@ -218,13 +219,15 @@ export class UiSettingsClient implements IUiSettingsClient {
   private async read({ autoCreateOrUpgradeIfMissing = true }: ReadOptions = {}): Promise<
     Record<string, any>
   > {
+    const client = this.getSavedObjectsClient();
+
     try {
-      const resp = await this.savedObjectsClient.get<Record<string, any>>(this.type, this.id);
+      const resp = await client.get<Record<string, any>>(this.type, this.id);
       return resp.attributes;
     } catch (error) {
       if (SavedObjectsErrorHelpers.isNotFoundError(error) && autoCreateOrUpgradeIfMissing) {
         const failedUpgradeAttributes = await createOrUpgradeSavedConfig({
-          savedObjectsClient: this.savedObjectsClient,
+          savedObjectsClient: client,
           version: this.id,
           buildNum: this.buildNum,
           log: this.log,
@@ -247,8 +250,18 @@ export class UiSettingsClient implements IUiSettingsClient {
   }
 
   private isIgnorableError(error: Error) {
-    const { isForbiddenError, isEsUnavailableError } = this.savedObjectsClient.errors;
+    const client = this.getSavedObjectsClient();
+    const { isForbiddenError, isEsUnavailableError } = client.errors;
 
     return isForbiddenError(error) || isEsUnavailableError(error);
   }
+
+  private getSavedObjectsClient() {
+    if (!this.savedObjectsClient) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `Attempted to use UI Settings Client without an instantiated Saved Objects Client.`
+      );
+    }
+    return this.savedObjectsClient;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/core/server/ui_settings/ui_settings_service.ts b/src/core/server/ui_settings/ui_settings_service.ts
index 93878d264541cdd..9731417c215a3e9 100644
--- a/src/core/server/ui_settings/ui_settings_service.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/ui_settings/ui_settings_service.ts
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ export class UiSettingsService
 
     return {
       register: this.register.bind(this),
+      defaultsClient: this.getDefaultsClientFactory(),
     };
   }
 
@@ -93,6 +94,19 @@ export class UiSettingsService
       });
   }
 
+  private getDefaultsClientFactory() {
+    const { version, buildNum } = this.coreContext.env.packageInfo;
+    return () =>
+      new UiSettingsClient({
+        type: 'config',
+        id: version,
+        buildNum,
+        defaults: mapToObject(this.uiSettingsDefaults),
+        overrides: this.overrides,
+        log: this.log,
+      });
+  }
+
   private register(settings: Record<string, UiSettingsParams> = {}) {
     Object.entries(settings).forEach(([key, value]) => {
       if (this.uiSettingsDefaults.has(key)) {
diff --git a/src/plugins/setup/README.md b/src/plugins/setup/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000000..8f3c3d3897a7188
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/setup/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# `setup` plugin
+
+`setup` is responsible for setting up your Kibana instance.
diff --git a/src/plugins/setup/jest.config.js b/src/plugins/setup/jest.config.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000000..f86284b42e2cad3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/setup/jest.config.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+module.exports = {
+  preset: '@kbn/test',
+  rootDir: '../../..',
+  roots: ['<rootDir>/src/plugins/setup'],
+};
diff --git a/src/plugins/setup/kibana.json b/src/plugins/setup/kibana.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000000..9b4fd5deba9f0fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/setup/kibana.json
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{
+  "id": "setup",
+  "version": "8.0.0",
+  "kibanaVersion": "kibana",
+  "type": "notReady",
+  "configPath": ["setup"],
+  "ui": true,
+  "server": true,
+  "requiredPlugins": [],
+  "requiredBundles": []
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/setup/public/app.tsx b/src/plugins/setup/public/app.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000000..d1f88670de7d67d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/setup/public/app.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import {
+  EuiPageTemplate,
+  EuiFlexGrid,
+  EuiButton,
+  EuiFlexItem,
+  EuiPanel,
+  EuiText,
+} from '@elastic/eui';
+import React from 'react';
+
+export const App = () => {
+  return (
+    <EuiPageTemplate
+      restrictWidth={false}
+      template="empty"
+      pageHeader={{
+        iconType: 'logoElastic',
+        pageTitle: 'Welcome to Elastic',
+        rightSideItems: [<EuiButton>Do something</EuiButton>],
+      }}
+    >
+      <EuiFlexGrid columns={2}>
+        <EuiFlexItem>
+          <EuiPanel style={{ height: 200 }}>
+            <EuiButton size="m">Click me</EuiButton>
+          </EuiPanel>
+        </EuiFlexItem>
+        <EuiFlexItem>
+          <EuiPanel style={{ height: 200 }}>
+            <EuiText>
+              Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas eu tellus vitae
+              velit mollis fermentum quis sit amet libero. Nullam ultrices sapien quis ornare
+              laoreet. Maecenas pharetra elementum ultrices. Vestibulum ut augue a velit congue
+              posuere commodo eu nisi. Nulla facilisi. Vestibulum iaculis tempor dignissim. Fusce
+              turpis risus, venenatis sed ornare venenatis, facilisis id arcu.
+            </EuiText>
+          </EuiPanel>
+        </EuiFlexItem>
+        <EuiFlexItem>
+          <EuiPanel style={{ height: 200 }}>
+            <EuiText>
+              Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Maecenas eu tellus vitae
+              velit mollis fermentum quis sit amet libero. Nullam ultrices sapien quis ornare
+              laoreet. Maecenas pharetra elementum ultrices. Vestibulum ut augue a velit congue
+              posuere commodo eu nisi. Nulla facilisi. Vestibulum iaculis tempor dignissim. Fusce
+              turpis risus, venenatis sed ornare venenatis, facilisis id arcu.
+            </EuiText>
+          </EuiPanel>
+        </EuiFlexItem>
+        <EuiFlexItem>
+          <EuiPanel style={{ height: 200 }}>
+            <EuiButton size="m" color={'danger'}>
+              DANGER Button
+            </EuiButton>
+          </EuiPanel>
+        </EuiFlexItem>
+      </EuiFlexGrid>
+    </EuiPageTemplate>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/src/plugins/setup/public/index.ts b/src/plugins/setup/public/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000000..1719f4e186d24f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/setup/public/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import { PluginInitializerContext } from 'kibana/public';
+import { SetupPlugin } from './plugin';
+
+export const plugin = (initializerContext: PluginInitializerContext) => new SetupPlugin();
diff --git a/src/plugins/setup/public/plugin.tsx b/src/plugins/setup/public/plugin.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000000..09b2f447ab018d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/setup/public/plugin.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import type { CoreSetup, CoreStart, Plugin } from 'src/core/public';
+import React from 'react';
+import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
+import { App } from './app';
+
+export class SetupPlugin implements Plugin<void, void, {}, {}> {
+  constructor() {}
+
+  public setup(core: CoreSetup) {
+    core.application.register({
+      id: 'setup',
+      title: 'Setup',
+      chromeless: true,
+      mount: (params) => {
+        ReactDOM.render(<App />, params.element);
+        return () => ReactDOM.unmountComponentAtNode(params.element);
+      },
+    });
+  }
+
+  public start(core: CoreStart) {}
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/setup/server/config.ts b/src/plugins/setup/server/config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000000..4967c3ffcb54450
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/setup/server/config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import type { TypeOf } from '@kbn/config-schema';
+import { schema } from '@kbn/config-schema';
+
+export type ConfigType = TypeOf<typeof ConfigSchema>;
+
+export const ConfigSchema = schema.object({
+  enabled: schema.boolean({ defaultValue: true }),
+});
diff --git a/src/plugins/setup/server/index.ts b/src/plugins/setup/server/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000000..27afc6bd8c75c16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/setup/server/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import type { TypeOf } from '@kbn/config-schema';
+import type { PluginConfigDescriptor, PluginInitializerContext } from 'src/core/server';
+
+import { ConfigSchema } from './config';
+import { SetupPlugin } from './plugin';
+
+export const config: PluginConfigDescriptor<TypeOf<typeof ConfigSchema>> = {
+  schema: ConfigSchema,
+};
+
+export const plugin = (context: PluginInitializerContext) => new SetupPlugin(context);
diff --git a/src/plugins/setup/server/plugin.ts b/src/plugins/setup/server/plugin.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000000..e158eac5122a26f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/setup/server/plugin.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License
+ * 2.0 and the Server Side Public License, v 1; you may not use this file except
+ * in compliance with, at your election, the Elastic License 2.0 or the Server
+ * Side Public License, v 1.
+ */
+
+import type { Plugin, PluginInitializerContext } from 'src/core/server';
+
+import type { ConfigType } from './config';
+
+export class SetupPlugin implements Plugin<void, void, {}, {}> {
+  constructor(initializerContext: PluginInitializerContext<ConfigType>) {}
+
+  public setup() {}
+
+  public start() {}
+
+  public stop() {}
+}
diff --git a/src/plugins/setup/tsconfig.json b/src/plugins/setup/tsconfig.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000000..d211a70f12df338
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/plugins/setup/tsconfig.json
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{
+  "extends": "../../../tsconfig.base.json",
+  "compilerOptions": {
+    "composite": true,
+    "outDir": "./target/types",
+    "emitDeclarationOnly": true,
+    "declaration": true,
+    "declarationMap": true
+  },
+  "include": ["public/**/*", "server/**/*"],
+  "references": [{ "path": "../../core/tsconfig.json" }]
+}