diff --git a/build/verify-archive.sh b/build/verify-archive.sh
index 8cdc02e4335e..a79608e0003d 100755
--- a/build/verify-archive.sh
+++ b/build/verify-archive.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ workdir=$(mktemp -d)
 tar xzf cockroach.src.tgz -C "$workdir"
 (cd "$workdir"/cockroach-* && make clean && make install)
 
-cockroach start --insecure --store type=mem,size=1GiB --background
+cockroach start-single-node --insecure --store type=mem,size=1GiB --background
 cockroach sql --insecure <<EOF
   CREATE DATABASE bank;
   CREATE TABLE bank.accounts (id INT PRIMARY KEY, balance DECIMAL);
diff --git a/pkg/ccl/cliccl/start.go b/pkg/ccl/cliccl/start.go
index c23525e5f662..38305335b340 100644
--- a/pkg/ccl/cliccl/start.go
+++ b/pkg/ccl/cliccl/start.go
@@ -21,12 +21,14 @@ import (
 var storeEncryptionSpecs baseccl.StoreEncryptionSpecList
 
 func init() {
-	cli.VarFlag(cli.StartCmd.Flags(), &storeEncryptionSpecs, cliflagsccl.EnterpriseEncryption)
+	for _, cmd := range cli.StartCmds {
+		cli.VarFlag(cmd.Flags(), &storeEncryptionSpecs, cliflagsccl.EnterpriseEncryption)
 
-	// Add a new pre-run command to match encryption specs to store specs.
-	cli.AddPersistentPreRunE(cli.StartCmd, func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
-		return populateStoreSpecsEncryption()
-	})
+		// Add a new pre-run command to match encryption specs to store specs.
+		cli.AddPersistentPreRunE(cmd, func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
+			return populateStoreSpecsEncryption()
+		})
+	}
 }
 
 // populateStoreSpecsEncryption is a PreRun hook that matches store encryption specs with the
diff --git a/pkg/cli/cli.go b/pkg/cli/cli.go
index bd6835eff3ea..d062426737b9 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/cli.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/cli.go
@@ -185,7 +185,8 @@ func init() {
 	})
 
 	cockroachCmd.AddCommand(
-		StartCmd,
+		startCmd,
+		startSingleNodeCmd,
 		initCmd,
 		certCmd,
 		quitCmd,
diff --git a/pkg/cli/cli_test.go b/pkg/cli/cli_test.go
index ef1b4cf378b7..3f54e49cebbe 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/cli_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/cli_test.go
@@ -1518,24 +1518,25 @@ func TestFlagUsage(t *testing.T) {
   cockroach [command]
 
 Available Commands:
-  start       start a node
-  init        initialize a cluster
-  cert        create ca, node, and client certs
-  quit        drain and shutdown node
-
-  sql         open a sql shell
-  user        get, set, list and remove users
-  node        list, inspect or remove nodes
-  dump        dump sql tables
-
-  demo        open a demo sql shell
-  gen         generate auxiliary files
-  version     output version information
-  debug       debugging commands
-  sqlfmt      format SQL statements
-  workload    [experimental] generators for data and query loads
-  systembench Run systembench
-  help        Help about any command
+  start             start a node in a multi-node cluster
+  start-single-node start a single-node cluster
+  init              initialize a cluster
+  cert              create ca, node, and client certs
+  quit              drain and shutdown node
+
+  sql               open a sql shell
+  user              get, set, list and remove users
+  node              list, inspect or remove nodes
+  dump              dump sql tables
+
+  demo              open a demo sql shell
+  gen               generate auxiliary files
+  version           output version information
+  debug             debugging commands
+  sqlfmt            format SQL statements
+  workload          [experimental] generators for data and query loads
+  systembench       Run systembench
+  help              Help about any command
 
 Flags:
   -h, --help                             help for cockroach
diff --git a/pkg/cli/context.go b/pkg/cli/context.go
index cc2cb0bb6d7b..7fbbcfae81d5 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/context.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/context.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/base"
+	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/server"
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/settings"
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/settings/cluster"
@@ -107,6 +108,8 @@ func initCLIDefaults() {
 	serverCfg.DelayedBootstrapFn = nil
 	serverCfg.SocketFile = ""
 	serverCfg.JoinList = nil
+	serverCfg.DefaultZoneConfig = config.DefaultZoneConfig()
+	serverCfg.DefaultSystemZoneConfig = config.DefaultSystemZoneConfig()
 
 	startCtx.serverInsecure = baseCfg.Insecure
 	startCtx.serverSSLCertsDir = base.DefaultCertsDirectory
@@ -286,8 +289,7 @@ var startCtx struct {
 	pidFile string
 
 	// logging settings specific to file logging.
-	logDir     log.DirName
-	logDirFlag *pflag.Flag
+	logDir log.DirName
 }
 
 // quitCtx captures the command-line parameters of the `quit` command.
diff --git a/pkg/cli/demo.go b/pkg/cli/demo.go
index e3bd9738b37f..5a141d163a8b 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/demo.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/demo.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"net/url"
 
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/base"
+	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/cli/cliflags"
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/security"
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/server"
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ func setupTransientServers(
 
 	// Set up logging. For demo/transient server we use non-standard
 	// behavior where we avoid file creation if possible.
-	df := startCtx.logDirFlag
+	df := cmd.Flags().Lookup(cliflags.LogDir.Name)
 	sf := cmd.Flags().Lookup(logflags.LogToStderrName)
 	if !df.Changed && !sf.Changed {
 		// User did not request logging flags; shut down logging under
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ func setupTransientServers(
 		_ = sf.Value.Set(log.Severity_ERROR.String())
 		sf.Changed = true
 	}
-	stopper, err := setupAndInitializeLoggingAndProfiling(ctx)
+	stopper, err := setupAndInitializeLoggingAndProfiling(ctx, cmd)
 	if err != nil {
 		return connURL, adminURL, cleanup, err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/cli/flags.go b/pkg/cli/flags.go
index 2cbeb8e5a648..52115da65762 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/flags.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/flags.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/util/log"
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/util/log/logflags"
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/cockroach/pkg/util/netutil"
+	"github.com/gogo/protobuf/proto"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
 )
@@ -187,15 +188,25 @@ func init() {
 	initCLIDefaults()
 
 	// Every command but start will inherit the following setting.
-	cockroachCmd.PersistentPreRunE = func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
+	AddPersistentPreRunE(cockroachCmd, func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
 		extraClientFlagInit()
 		return setDefaultStderrVerbosity(cmd, log.Severity_WARNING)
+	})
+
+	// Add a pre-run command for `start` and `start-single-node`.
+	for _, cmd := range StartCmds {
+		AddPersistentPreRunE(cmd, func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
+			// Finalize the configuration of network and logging settings.
+			extraServerFlagInit()
+			return setDefaultStderrVerbosity(cmd, log.Severity_INFO)
+		})
 	}
 
-	// Add a pre-run command for `start`.
-	AddPersistentPreRunE(StartCmd, func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
-		extraServerFlagInit()
-		return setDefaultStderrVerbosity(cmd, log.Severity_INFO)
+	// start-single-node starts with default replication of 1.
+	AddPersistentPreRunE(startSingleNodeCmd, func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
+		serverCfg.DefaultSystemZoneConfig.NumReplicas = proto.Int32(1)
+		serverCfg.DefaultZoneConfig.NumReplicas = proto.Int32(1)
+		return nil
 	})
 
 	// Map any flags registered in the standard "flag" package into the
@@ -253,8 +264,8 @@ func init() {
 	// avoid printing some messages to standard output in that case.
 	_, startCtx.inBackground = envutil.EnvString(backgroundEnvVar, 1)
 
-	{
-		f := StartCmd.Flags()
+	for _, cmd := range StartCmds {
+		f := cmd.Flags()
 
 		// Server flags.
 		VarFlag(f, addrSetter{&startCtx.serverListenAddr, &serverListenPort}, cliflags.ListenAddr)
@@ -312,8 +323,15 @@ func init() {
 		// variables, but share the same default.
 		StringFlag(f, &startCtx.serverSSLCertsDir, cliflags.ServerCertsDir, startCtx.serverSSLCertsDir)
 
-		// Cluster joining flags.
+		// Cluster joining flags. We need to enable this both for 'start'
+		// and 'start-single-node' although the latter does not support
+		// --join, because it delegates its logic to that of 'start', and
+		// 'start' will check that the flag is properly defined.
 		VarFlag(f, &serverCfg.JoinList, cliflags.Join)
+		// We also hide it from help for 'start-single-node'.
+		if cmd == startSingleNodeCmd {
+			_ = f.MarkHidden(cliflags.Join.Name)
+		}
 
 		// Engine flags.
 		VarFlag(f, cacheSizeValue, cliflags.Cache)
@@ -329,10 +347,11 @@ func init() {
 	}
 
 	// Log flags.
-	for _, cmd := range []*cobra.Command{demoCmd, StartCmd} {
+	logCmds := append(StartCmds, demoCmd)
+	logCmds = append(logCmds, demoCmd.Commands()...)
+	for _, cmd := range logCmds {
 		f := cmd.Flags()
 		VarFlag(f, &startCtx.logDir, cliflags.LogDir)
-		startCtx.logDirFlag = f.Lookup(cliflags.LogDir.Name)
 		VarFlag(f,
 			pflag.PFlagFromGoFlag(flag.Lookup(logflags.LogFilesCombinedMaxSizeName)).Value,
 			cliflags.LogDirMaxSize)
@@ -383,7 +402,7 @@ func init() {
 		genHAProxyCmd,
 		quitCmd,
 		sqlShellCmd,
-		/* StartCmd is covered above */
+		/* StartCmds are covered above */
 	}
 	clientCmds = append(clientCmds, userCmds...)
 	clientCmds = append(clientCmds, zoneCmds...)
@@ -475,6 +494,7 @@ func init() {
 	sqlCmds := []*cobra.Command{sqlShellCmd, dumpCmd, demoCmd}
 	sqlCmds = append(sqlCmds, zoneCmds...)
 	sqlCmds = append(sqlCmds, userCmds...)
+	sqlCmds = append(sqlCmds, demoCmd.Commands()...)
 	for _, cmd := range sqlCmds {
 		f := cmd.Flags()
 		BoolFlag(f, &sqlCtx.echo, cliflags.EchoSQL, sqlCtx.echo)
@@ -500,7 +520,8 @@ func init() {
 	}
 
 	// Commands that print tables.
-	tableOutputCommands := append([]*cobra.Command{sqlShellCmd, genSettingsListCmd, demoCmd},
+	tableOutputCommands := append(
+		[]*cobra.Command{sqlShellCmd, genSettingsListCmd, demoCmd},
 		demoCmd.Commands()...)
 	tableOutputCommands = append(tableOutputCommands, userCmds...)
 	tableOutputCommands = append(tableOutputCommands, nodeCmds...)
diff --git a/pkg/cli/flags_test.go b/pkg/cli/flags_test.go
index 42e799931f38..6c0e2ec4e647 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/flags_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/flags_test.go
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ func TestCacheFlagValue(t *testing.T) {
 	// Avoid leaking configuration changes after the test ends.
 	defer initCLIDefaults()
 
-	f := StartCmd.Flags()
+	f := startCmd.Flags()
 	args := []string{"--cache", "100MB"}
 	if err := f.Parse(args); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func TestSQLMemoryPoolFlagValue(t *testing.T) {
 	// Avoid leaking configuration changes after the test ends.
 	defer initCLIDefaults()
 
-	f := StartCmd.Flags()
+	f := startCmd.Flags()
 
 	// Check absolute values.
 	testCases := []struct {
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ func TestClockOffsetFlagValue(t *testing.T) {
 	// Avoid leaking configuration changes after the tests end.
 	defer initCLIDefaults()
 
-	f := StartCmd.Flags()
+	f := startCmd.Flags()
 	testData := []struct {
 		args     []string
 		expected time.Duration
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ func TestServerConnSettings(t *testing.T) {
 	// Avoid leaking configuration changes after the tests end.
 	defer initCLIDefaults()
 
-	f := StartCmd.Flags()
+	f := startCmd.Flags()
 	testData := []struct {
 		args                     []string
 		expectedAddr             string
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ func TestServerJoinSettings(t *testing.T) {
 	// Avoid leaking configuration changes after the tests end.
 	defer initCLIDefaults()
 
-	f := StartCmd.Flags()
+	f := startCmd.Flags()
 	testData := []struct {
 		args         []string
 		expectedJoin []string
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ func TestHttpHostFlagValue(t *testing.T) {
 	// Avoid leaking configuration changes after the tests end.
 	defer initCLIDefaults()
 
-	f := StartCmd.Flags()
+	f := startCmd.Flags()
 	testData := []struct {
 		args     []string
 		expected string
diff --git a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/common.tcl b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/common.tcl
index f2619ade885c..85f824ce7111 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/common.tcl
+++ b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/common.tcl
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ proc send_eof {} {
 proc start_server {argv} {
     report "BEGIN START SERVER"
     system "mkfifo url_fifo || true;
-            $argv start --insecure --pid-file=server_pid --listening-url-file=url_fifo --background -s=path=logs/db >>logs/expect-cmd.log 2>&1 &
+            $argv start-single-node --insecure --pid-file=server_pid --listening-url-file=url_fifo --background -s=path=logs/db >>logs/expect-cmd.log 2>&1 &
             cat url_fifo > server_url"
     report "START SERVER DONE"
 }
diff --git a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_audit_log.tcl b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_audit_log.tcl
index fdede45e3c09..bc38aa016274 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_audit_log.tcl
+++ b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_audit_log.tcl
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ stop_server $argv
 
 start_test "Check that audit logging works even with a custom directory"
 # Start a server with a custom log
-system "$argv start --insecure --pid-file=server_pid --listening-url-file=url_fifo --background -s=path=logs/db --sql-audit-dir=logs/db/audit-new >>logs/expect-cmd.log 2>&1 & cat url_fifo > server_url"
+system "$argv start-single-node --insecure --pid-file=server_pid --listening-url-file=url_fifo --background -s=path=logs/db --sql-audit-dir=logs/db/audit-new >>logs/expect-cmd.log 2>&1 & cat url_fifo > server_url"
 
 set logfile logs/db/audit-new/cockroach-sql-audit.log
 
diff --git a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_cert_advisory_validation.tcl b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_cert_advisory_validation.tcl
index 56a698afe5f2..e88d4fb8b896 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_cert_advisory_validation.tcl
+++ b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_cert_advisory_validation.tcl
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ send "$argv cert create-node localhost --certs-dir=$certs_dir --ca-key=$certs_di
 eexpect $prompt
 
 start_test "Check that the server reports a warning if attempting to advertise an IP address not in cert."
-send "$argv start --certs-dir=$certs_dir --advertise-addr=127.0.0.1\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --certs-dir=$certs_dir --advertise-addr=127.0.0.1\r"
 eexpect "advertise address"
 eexpect "127.0.0.1"
 eexpect "not in node certificate"
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ eexpect $prompt
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check that the server reports no warning if the avertise addr is in th cert."
-send "$argv start --certs-dir=$certs_dir --advertise-addr=localhost\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --certs-dir=$certs_dir --advertise-addr=localhost\r"
 expect {
   "not in node certificate" {
      report "unexpected warning"
diff --git a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_encryption.tcl b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_encryption.tcl
index 121f580ff04d..39692c12c1e1 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_encryption.tcl
+++ b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_encryption.tcl
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ file_has_size "$keydir/aes-256.key" "64"
 end_test
 
 start_test "Start normal node."
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
 eexpect "shutdown completed"
@@ -44,47 +44,47 @@ eexpect ""
 end_test
 
 start_test "Restart with plaintext."
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir --enterprise-encryption=path=$storedir,key=plain,old-key=plain\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir --enterprise-encryption=path=$storedir,key=plain,old-key=plain\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
 eexpect "shutdown completed"
 send "$argv debug encryption-status $storedir --enterprise-encryption=path=$storedir,key=plain,old-key=plain\r"
 eexpect "    \"Active\": true,\r\n    \"Type\": \"Plaintext\","
 # Try starting without the encryption flag.
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
 eexpect "encryption was used on this store before, but no encryption flags specified."
 end_test
 
 start_test "Restart with AES-128."
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir --enterprise-encryption=path=$storedir,key=$keydir/aes-128.key,old-key=plain\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir --enterprise-encryption=path=$storedir,key=$keydir/aes-128.key,old-key=plain\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
 eexpect "shutdown completed"
 send "$argv debug encryption-status $storedir --enterprise-encryption=path=$storedir,key=$keydir/aes-128.key,old-key=plain\r"
 eexpect "    \"Active\": true,\r\n    \"Type\": \"AES128_CTR\","
 # Try starting without the encryption flag.
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
 eexpect "encryption was used on this store before, but no encryption flags specified."
 # Try with the wrong key.
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir --enterprise-encryption=path=$storedir,key=$keydir/aes-192.key,old-key=plain\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir --enterprise-encryption=path=$storedir,key=$keydir/aes-192.key,old-key=plain\r"
 eexpect "key_manager does not have a key with ID"
 end_test
 
 start_test "Restart with AES-256."
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir --enterprise-encryption=path=$storedir,key=$keydir/aes-256.key,old-key=$keydir/aes-128.key\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir --enterprise-encryption=path=$storedir,key=$keydir/aes-256.key,old-key=$keydir/aes-128.key\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
 eexpect "shutdown completed"
 send "$argv debug encryption-status $storedir --enterprise-encryption=path=$storedir,key=$keydir/aes-256.key,old-key=plain\r"
 eexpect "    \"Active\": true,\r\n    \"Type\": \"AES256_CTR\","
 # Startup again, but don't specify the old key, it's no longer in use.
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir --enterprise-encryption=path=$storedir,key=$keydir/aes-256.key,old-key=plain\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir --enterprise-encryption=path=$storedir,key=$keydir/aes-256.key,old-key=plain\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
 # Try starting without the encryption flag.
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
 eexpect "encryption was used on this store before, but no encryption flags specified."
 # Try with the wrong key.
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir --enterprise-encryption=path=$storedir,key=$keydir/aes-192.key,old-key=plain\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir --enterprise-encryption=path=$storedir,key=$keydir/aes-192.key,old-key=plain\r"
 eexpect "key_manager does not have a key with ID"
 end_test
diff --git a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_error_hints.tcl b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_error_hints.tcl
index 0bc8e7dab30c..fbb9e72a3f18 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_error_hints.tcl
+++ b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_error_hints.tcl
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ end_test
 # Check what happens when attempting to connect securely to an
 # insecure server.
 
-send "$argv start --insecure\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure\r"
 eexpect "initialized new cluster"
 
 spawn /bin/bash
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ interrupt
 interrupt
 eexpect ":/# "
 
-send "$argv start --certs-dir=$certs_dir\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --listen-addr=localhost --certs-dir=$certs_dir\r"
 eexpect "restarted pre-existing node"
 
 set spawn_id $client_spawn_id
diff --git a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_extern_dir.tcl b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_extern_dir.tcl
index ebc130f8a188..1f99d4c87f19 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_extern_dir.tcl
+++ b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_extern_dir.tcl
@@ -11,14 +11,14 @@ eexpect ":/# "
 
 start_test "Check that non-absolute external-io-dir rejected"
 
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir --external-io-dir=blah\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir --external-io-dir=blah\r"
 eexpect "external-io-dir path must be absolute"
 
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check disabling external IO explicitly"
 
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir --external-io-dir=disabled\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir --external-io-dir=disabled\r"
 eexpect "external I/O path:   <disabled>"
 interrupt
 eexpect "shutdown completed"
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ end_test
 
 start_test "Check setting external IO explicitly"
 
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir --external-io-dir=$externdir\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir --external-io-dir=$externdir\r"
 eexpect "external I/O path:   $externdir"
 interrupt
 eexpect "shutdown completed"
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ end_test
 
 start_test "Check implicit external I/O dir under store dir"
 
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
 eexpect "external I/O path:   $env(HOME)/$storedir/extern"
 interrupt
 eexpect "shutdown completed"
diff --git a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_flags.tcl b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_flags.tcl
index 61e109720e6b..6b5b2ea04bc1 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_flags.tcl
+++ b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_flags.tcl
@@ -7,28 +7,28 @@ send "PS1=':''/# '\r"
 eexpect ":/# "
 
 start_test "Check that --max-disk-temp-storage works."
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=path=mystore --max-disk-temp-storage=10GiB\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=path=mystore --max-disk-temp-storage=10GiB\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
 eexpect ":/# "
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check that --max-disk-temp-storage can be expressed as a percentage."
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=path=mystore --max-disk-temp-storage=10%\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=path=mystore --max-disk-temp-storage=10%\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
 eexpect ":/# "
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check that --max-disk-temp-storage percentage works when the store is in-memory."
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=type=mem,size=1GB --max-disk-temp-storage=10%\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=type=mem,size=1GB --max-disk-temp-storage=10%\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
 eexpect ":/# "
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check that memory max flags do not exceed available RAM."
-send "$argv start --insecure --cache=.40 --max-sql-memory=.40\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --cache=.40 --max-sql-memory=.40\r"
 eexpect "WARNING: the sum of --max-sql-memory"
 eexpect "is larger than"
 eexpect "of total RAM"
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ eexpect ":/# "
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check that not using --host nor --advertise causes a user warning."
-send "$argv start --insecure\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure\r"
 eexpect "WARNING: neither --listen-addr nor --advertise-addr was specified"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ eexpect ":/# "
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check that --listening-url-file gets created with the right data"
-send "$argv start --insecure --listening-url-file=foourl\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --listening-url-file=foourl\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 system "grep -q 'postgresql://.*@.*:\[0-9\]\[0-9\]*' foourl"
 interrupt
@@ -57,16 +57,36 @@ end_test
 start_test {Check that the "failed running SUBCOMMAND" message does not consider a flag the subcommand}
 send "$argv --vmodule=*=2 start --garbage\r"
 eexpect {Failed running "start"}
+eexpect ":/# "
 end_test
 
 start_test {Check that the "failed running SUBCOMMAND" message handles nested subcommands}
 send "$argv --vmodule=*=2 debug zip --garbage\r"
 eexpect {Failed running "debug zip"}
+eexpect ":/# "
 end_test
 
 start_test {Check that the "failed running SUBCOMMAND" message handles missing subcommands}
 send "$argv --vmodule=*=2 --garbage\r"
 eexpect {Failed running "cockroach"}
+eexpect ":/# "
+end_test
+
+start_test "Check that start without --join reports a deprecation warning"
+send "$argv start --insecure\r"
+eexpect "running 'cockroach start' without --join is deprecated."
+eexpect "node starting"
+interrupt
+eexpect ":/# "
+end_test
+
+start_test "Check that start-single-node disables replication properly"
+system "rm -rf logs/db"
+start_server $argv
+send "$argv sql -e 'show zone configuration for range default'\r"
+eexpect "num_replicas = 1"
+eexpect ":/# "
+stop_server $argv
 end_test
 
 send "exit 0\r"
diff --git a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_high_verbosity.tcl b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_high_verbosity.tcl
index 5bc73a45b99b..fafc692f7122 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_high_verbosity.tcl
+++ b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_high_verbosity.tcl
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 source [file join [file dirname $argv0] common.tcl]
 
-system "mkfifo url_fifo || true; $argv start --insecure --vmodule=*=3 --pid-file=server_pid --listening-url-file=url_fifo -s=path=logs/db & cat url_fifo > server_url"
+system "mkfifo url_fifo || true; $argv start-single-node --insecure --vmodule=*=3 --pid-file=server_pid --listening-url-file=url_fifo -s=path=logs/db & cat url_fifo > server_url"
 
 spawn /bin/bash
 send "PS1=':''/# '\r"
diff --git a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_log_config_msg.tcl b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_log_config_msg.tcl
index f88f933c9b9b..d45173bb2982 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_log_config_msg.tcl
+++ b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_log_config_msg.tcl
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ end_test
 
 
 # Make a server with a tiny log buffer so as to force frequent log rotation.
-system "mkfifo url_fifo || true; $argv start --insecure --pid-file=server_pid --listening-url-file=url_fifo --background -s=path=logs/db --log-file-max-size=2k >>logs/expect-cmd.log 2>&1 & cat url_fifo > server_url"
+system "mkfifo url_fifo || true; $argv start-single-node --insecure --pid-file=server_pid --listening-url-file=url_fifo --background -s=path=logs/db --log-file-max-size=2k >>logs/expect-cmd.log 2>&1 & cat url_fifo > server_url"
 stop_server $argv
 
 start_test "Check that the cluster ID is reported at the start of new log files."
diff --git a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_log_flags.tcl b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_log_flags.tcl
index f47a653b8fda..5a50655643c9 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_log_flags.tcl
+++ b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_log_flags.tcl
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ eexpect ":/# "
 # to exit entirely (it has errorHandling set to ExitOnError).
 
 start_test "Check that log files are created by default in the store directory."
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=path=logs/mystore\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=path=logs/mystore\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
 eexpect ":/# "
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ eexpect ":/# "
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check that an empty -log-dir disables file logging."
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=path=logs/mystore2 --log-dir=\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=path=logs/mystore2 --log-dir=\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
 eexpect ":/# "
@@ -33,32 +33,32 @@ eexpect ":/# "
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check that leading tildes are properly rejected."
-send "$argv start --insecure -s=path=logs/db --log-dir=\~/blah\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure -s=path=logs/db --log-dir=\~/blah\r"
 eexpect "log directory cannot start with '~'"
 eexpect ":/# "
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check that the user can override."
-send "$argv start --insecure -s=path=logs/db --log-dir=logs/blah/\~/blah\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure -s=path=logs/db --log-dir=logs/blah/\~/blah\r"
 eexpect "logs: *blah/~/blah"
 interrupt
 eexpect ":/# "
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check that TRUE and FALSE are valid values for the severity flags."
-send "$argv start --insecure -s=path=logs/db --logtostderr=false\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure -s=path=logs/db --logtostderr=false\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
 eexpect ":/# "
-send "$argv start --insecure -s=path=logs/db --logtostderr=true\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure -s=path=logs/db --logtostderr=true\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
 eexpect ":/# "
-send "$argv start --insecure -s=path=logs/db --logtostderr=2\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure -s=path=logs/db --logtostderr=2\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
 eexpect ":/# "
-send "$argv start --insecure -s=path=logs/db --logtostderr=cantparse\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure -s=path=logs/db --logtostderr=cantparse\r"
 eexpect "parsing \"cantparse\": invalid syntax"
 eexpect ":/# "
 end_test
diff --git a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_missing_log_output.tcl b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_missing_log_output.tcl
index c6fdc31dd686..4e6b28c6f1c8 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_missing_log_output.tcl
+++ b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_missing_log_output.tcl
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ send "PS1=':''/# '\r"
 eexpect ":/# "
 
 start_test "Check that a server encountering a fatal error when not logging to stderr shows the fatal error."
-send "$argv start -s=path=logs/db --insecure\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node -s=path=logs/db --insecure\r"
 eexpect "CockroachDB node starting"
 system "$argv sql --insecure -e \"select crdb_internal.force_log_fatal('helloworld')\" || true"
 eexpect "\r\nF"
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ eexpect ":/# "
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check that a broken stderr prints a message to the log files."
-send "$argv start -s=path=logs/db --insecure --logtostderr --vmodule=*=1 2>&1 | cat\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node -s=path=logs/db --insecure --logtostderr --vmodule=*=1 2>&1 | cat\r"
 eexpect "CockroachDB node starting"
 system "killall cat"
 eexpect ":/# "
@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@ start_test "Check that a broken log file prints a message to stderr."
 # The path that we pass to the --log-dir will already exist as a file.
 system "mkdir -p logs"
 system "touch logs/broken"
-send "$argv start -s=path=logs/db --log-dir=logs/broken --insecure --logtostderr\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node -s=path=logs/db --log-dir=logs/broken --insecure --logtostderr\r"
 eexpect "unable to create log directory"
 eexpect ":/# "
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check that a server started with only in-memory stores and no --log-dir automatically logs to stderr."
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=type=mem,size=1GiB\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=type=mem,size=1GiB\r"
 eexpect "CockroachDB node starting"
 end_test
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ eexpect ":/# "
 stop_server $argv
 
 start_test "Check that a server started with --logtostderr logs even info messages to stderr."
-send "$argv start -s=path=logs/db --insecure --logtostderr\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node -s=path=logs/db --insecure --logtostderr\r"
 eexpect "CockroachDB node starting"
 end_test
 
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ interrupt
 eexpect ":/# "
 
 start_test "Check that --logtostderr can override the threshold but no error is printed on startup"
-send "echo marker; $argv start -s=path=logs/db --insecure --logtostderr=ERROR 2>&1 | grep -v '^\\*'\r"
+send "echo marker; $argv start-single-node -s=path=logs/db --insecure --logtostderr=ERROR 2>&1 | grep -v '^\\*'\r"
 eexpect "marker\r\nCockroachDB node starting"
 end_test
 
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ interrupt
 eexpect ":/# "
 
 start_test "Check that panic reports are printed to the log even when --logtostderr is specified"
-send "$argv start -s=path=logs/db --insecure --logtostderr\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node -s=path=logs/db --insecure --logtostderr\r"
 eexpect "CockroachDB node starting"
 
 system "$argv sql --insecure -e \"select crdb_internal.force_panic('helloworld')\" || true"
diff --git a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_secure.tcl b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_secure.tcl
index 0f3ad6ebf376..5eb2c0f1200a 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_secure.tcl
+++ b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_secure.tcl
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ source [file join [file dirname $argv0] common.tcl]
 
 set certs_dir "/certs"
 set ::env(COCKROACH_INSECURE) "false"
+set ::env(COCKROACH_HOST) "localhost"
 
 spawn /bin/bash
 send "PS1=':''/# '\r"
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@ set prompt ":/# "
 eexpect $prompt
 
 start_test "Check that --insecure reports that the server is really insecure"
-send "$argv start --insecure\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure\r"
 eexpect "WARNING: RUNNING IN INSECURE MODE"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ end_test
 
 proc start_secure_server {argv certs_dir} {
     report "BEGIN START SECURE SERVER"
-    system "mkfifo url_fifo || true; $argv start --certs-dir=$certs_dir --pid-file=server_pid --listening-url-file=url_fifo -s=path=logs/db >>expect-cmd.log 2>&1 & cat url_fifo > server_url"
+    system "mkfifo url_fifo || true; $argv start-single-node --certs-dir=$certs_dir --pid-file=server_pid --listening-url-file=url_fifo -s=path=logs/db >>expect-cmd.log 2>&1 & cat url_fifo > server_url"
     report "END START SECURE SERVER"
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_server_sig.tcl b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_server_sig.tcl
index 375bbbe22b5f..b94521049362 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_server_sig.tcl
+++ b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_server_sig.tcl
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ send "PS1='\\h:''/# '\r"
 eexpect ":/# "
 
 start_test "Check that the server shuts down upon receiving SIGTERM"
-send "$argv start --insecure --pid-file=server_pid --log-dir=logs \r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --pid-file=server_pid --log-dir=logs \r"
 eexpect "initialized"
 
 system "kill `cat server_pid`"
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ eexpect ":/# "
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check that the server shuts down upon receiving Ctrl+C."
-send "$argv start --insecure --pid-file=server_pid --log-dir=logs \r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --pid-file=server_pid --log-dir=logs \r"
 eexpect "restarted"
 
 interrupt
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ end_test
 start_test "Check that the server shuts down fast upon receiving Ctrl+C twice."
 
 # Start a server via the shell
-send "$argv start --insecure --pid-file=server_pid --log-dir=logs \r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --pid-file=server_pid --log-dir=logs \r"
 eexpect "restarted"
 
 # Make a client open a connection and keep using it with an open txn.
diff --git a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_sql_mem_monitor.tcl b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_sql_mem_monitor.tcl
index 12bf6f6f4e8b..5351ece492f4 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_sql_mem_monitor.tcl
+++ b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_sql_mem_monitor.tcl
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ send "ulimit -v [ expr {3*$vmem/2} ]\r"
 eexpect ":/# "
 
 # Start a server with this limit set. The server will now run in the foreground.
-send "$argv start --insecure --max-sql-memory=25% --no-redirect-stderr -s=path=logs/db \r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --max-sql-memory=25% --no-redirect-stderr -s=path=logs/db \r"
 eexpect "restarted pre-existing node"
 sleep 1
 
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ end_test
 start_test "Ensure that memory monitoring prevents crashes"
 # Re-launch a server with relatively lower limit for SQL memory
 set spawn_id $shell_spawn_id
-send "$argv start --insecure --max-sql-memory=1000K --no-redirect-stderr -s=path=logs/db \r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --max-sql-memory=1000K --no-redirect-stderr -s=path=logs/db \r"
 eexpect "restarted pre-existing node"
 sleep 2
 
diff --git a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_temp_dir.tcl b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_temp_dir.tcl
index 4eb00b5191cf..7b10364f2877 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_temp_dir.tcl
+++ b/pkg/cli/interactive_tests/test_temp_dir.tcl
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ eexpect ":/# "
 
 start_test "Check that on node startup a temporary subdirectory is created under --temp-dir and recorded to a record file, and on node shutdown the directory is removed."
 send "mkdir -p $tempdir\r"
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir --temp-dir=$tempdir\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir --temp-dir=$tempdir\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 eexpect "temp dir:*$tempdir/$tempprefix"
 # Verify the temp directory under first store is created.
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ end_test
 
 start_test "Check that on node startup a temporary subdirectory is created under --temp-dir even if store is in-memory and removed on shutdown."
 send "mkdir -p $tempdir\r"
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=type=mem,size=1GB --temp-dir=$tempdir\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=type=mem,size=1GB --temp-dir=$tempdir\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 eexpect "temp dir:*$tempdir/$tempprefix"
 # Verify the temp directory under first store is created.
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ send "mkdir -p $tempdir $storedir/temp1 $storedir/temp2\r"
 send "echo foobartext >  $storedir/temp1/foo.txt\r"
 # We add the temp directories to the record file.
 send "cat > $storedir/$recordfile <<EOF\r$cwd/$storedir/temp1\r$cwd/$storedir/temp2\rEOF\r"
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir --temp-dir=$tempdir\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir --temp-dir=$tempdir\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 eexpect "temp dir:*$cwd/$tempdir/$tempprefix"
 # Verify temp1 and temp2 are removed shortly after startup.
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ file_exists $storedir
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check that if --temp-dir is unspecified, a temporary directory is created under --store"
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 eexpect "temp dir:*$cwd/$storedir/$tempprefix"
 # Verify the temp directory under first store is created.
@@ -120,16 +120,16 @@ file_exists $storedir
 end_test
 
 start_test "Check that temp directory does not get wiped upon subsequent failed cockroach start attempt and that a cockroach instance can be subsequently started up after a shutdown"
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir --background\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir --background\r"
 eexpect ":/# "
 # Try to start up a second cockroach instance with the same store path.
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
 eexpect "ERROR: could not cleanup temporary directories from record file: could not lock temporary directory $cwd/$storedir/$tempprefix*"
 # Verify the temp directory still exists.
 glob_exists "$storedir/$tempprefix*"
 send "pkill -9 cockroach\r"
 # We should be able to start the cockroach instance again.
-send "$argv start --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
+send "$argv start-single-node --insecure --store=$storedir\r"
 eexpect "node starting"
 interrupt
 eexpect "shutdown completed"
diff --git a/pkg/cli/start.go b/pkg/cli/start.go
index 70a67054348a..c14e19a3ee18 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/start.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/start.go
@@ -61,25 +61,48 @@ import (
 // The function takes a filename to write the profile to.
 var jemallocHeapDump func(string) error
 
-// StartCmd starts a node by initializing the stores and joining
+// startCmd starts a node by initializing the stores and joining
 // the cluster.
-var StartCmd = &cobra.Command{
+var startCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "start",
-	Short: "start a node",
+	Short: "start a node in a multi-node cluster",
 	Long: `
 Start a CockroachDB node, which will export data from one or more
 storage devices, specified via --store flags.
 
-If no cluster exists yet and this is the first node, no additional
-flags are required. If the cluster already exists, and this node is
-uninitialized, specify the --join flag to point to any healthy node
-(or list of nodes) already part of the cluster.
+Specify the --join flag to point to another node or nodes that are
+part of the same cluster. The other nodes do not need to be started
+yet, and if the address of the other nodes to be added are not yet
+known it is legal for the first node to join itself.
+
+If --join is not specified, the cluster will also be initialized.
+THIS BEHAVIOR IS DEPRECATED; consider using 'cockroach init' or
+'cockroach start-single-node' instead.
+`,
+	Example: `  cockroach start --insecure --store=attrs=ssd,path=/mnt/ssd1 --join=host:port,[host:port]`,
+	Args:    cobra.NoArgs,
+	RunE:    maybeShoutError(MaybeDecorateGRPCError(runStartJoin)),
+}
+
+// startSingleNodeCmd starts a node by initializing the stores.
+var startSingleNodeCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "start-single-node",
+	Short: "start a single-node cluster",
+	Long: `
+Start a CockroachDB node, which will export data from one or more
+storage devices, specified via --store flags.
+The cluster will also be automatically initialized with
+replication disabled (replication factor = 1).
 `,
-	Example: `  cockroach start --insecure --store=attrs=ssd,path=/mnt/ssd1 [--join=host:port,[host:port]]`,
+	Example: `  cockroach start-single-node --insecure --store=attrs=ssd,path=/mnt/ssd1`,
 	Args:    cobra.NoArgs,
-	RunE:    maybeShoutError(MaybeDecorateGRPCError(runStart)),
+	RunE:    maybeShoutError(MaybeDecorateGRPCError(runStartSingleNode)),
 }
 
+// StartCmds exports startCmd and startSingleNodeCmds so that other
+// packages can add flags to them.
+var StartCmds = []*cobra.Command{startCmd, startSingleNodeCmd}
+
 // maxSizePerProfile is the maximum total size in bytes for profiles per
 // profile type.
 var maxSizePerProfile = envutil.EnvOrDefaultInt64(
@@ -383,6 +406,23 @@ func initTempStorageConfig(
 	return tempStorageConfig, nil
 }
 
+var errCannotUseJoin = errors.New("cannot use --join with 'cockroach start-single-node' -- use 'cockrach start' instead")
+
+func runStartSingleNode(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	joinFlag := cmd.Flags().Lookup(cliflags.Join.Name)
+	if joinFlag.Changed {
+		return errCannotUseJoin
+	}
+	// Now actually set the flag as changed so that the start code
+	// doesn't warn that it was not set.
+	joinFlag.Changed = true
+	return runStart(cmd, args)
+}
+
+func runStartJoin(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	return runStart(cmd, args)
+}
+
 // runStart starts the cockroach node using --store as the list of
 // storage devices ("stores") on this machine and --join as the list
 // of other active nodes used to join this node to the cockroach
@@ -438,7 +478,7 @@ func runStart(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	// additional server configuration tweaks for the startup process
 	// must be necessarily non-logging-related, as logging parameters
 	// cannot be picked up beyond this point.
-	stopper, err := setupAndInitializeLoggingAndProfiling(ctx)
+	stopper, err := setupAndInitializeLoggingAndProfiling(ctx, cmd)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -451,6 +491,14 @@ func runStart(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	// but when actually starting a server, we enable them.
 	grpcutil.SetSeverity(log.Severity_WARNING)
 
+	// Check the --join flag.
+	pf := cmd.Flags()
+	if !pf.Lookup(cliflags.Join.Name).Changed {
+		log.Shout(ctx, log.Severity_WARNING,
+			"running 'cockroach start' without --join is deprecated.\n"+
+				"Consider using 'cockroach start-single-node' or 'cockroach init' instead.")
+	}
+
 	// Now perform additional configuration tweaks specific to the start
 	// command.
 	//
@@ -637,12 +685,14 @@ If problems persist, please see ` + base.DocsURL("cluster-setup-troubleshooting.
 				s.PeriodicallyCheckForUpdates(ctx)
 			}
 
-			// Now inform the user that the server is running and tell the
-			// user about its run-time derived parameters.
+			// Compute the client connection URL.
 			pgURL, err := serverCfg.PGURL(url.User(security.RootUser))
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
+
+			// Now inform the user that the server is running and tell the
+			// user about its run-time derived parameters.
 			var buf bytes.Buffer
 			info := build.GetInfo()
 			tw := tabwriter.NewWriter(&buf, 2, 1, 2, ' ', 0)
@@ -989,12 +1039,15 @@ func logOutputDirectory() string {
 // logging output directory and the verbosity level of stderr logging.
 // We only do this for the "start" command which is why this work
 // occurs here and not in an OnInitialize function.
-func setupAndInitializeLoggingAndProfiling(ctx context.Context) (*stop.Stopper, error) {
+func setupAndInitializeLoggingAndProfiling(
+	ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command,
+) (*stop.Stopper, error) {
 	// Default the log directory to the "logs" subdirectory of the first
 	// non-memory store. If more than one non-memory stores is detected,
 	// print a warning.
 	ambiguousLogDirs := false
-	if !startCtx.logDir.IsSet() && !startCtx.logDirFlag.Changed {
+	lf := cmd.Flags().Lookup(logflags.LogDirName)
+	if !startCtx.logDir.IsSet() && !lf.Changed {
 		// We only override the log directory if the user has not explicitly
 		// disabled file logging using --log-dir="".
 		newDir := ""
diff --git a/pkg/cli/start_test.go b/pkg/cli/start_test.go
index 86ea5624c1e4..c6e56a4c02b9 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/start_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/start_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func TestInitInsecure(t *testing.T) {
 	// Avoid leaking configuration changes after the tests end.
 	defer initCLIDefaults()
 
-	f := StartCmd.Flags()
+	f := startCmd.Flags()
 
 	testCases := []struct {
 		args     []string
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func TestStartArgChecking(t *testing.T) {
 	defer func(save server.Config) { serverCfg = save }(serverCfg)
 	defer initCLIDefaults()
 
-	f := StartCmd.Flags()
+	f := startCmd.Flags()
 
 	testCases := []struct {
 		args     []string
diff --git a/pkg/cli/start_unix.go b/pkg/cli/start_unix.go
index 3bc15de5655a..b3e50afb4e9f 100644
--- a/pkg/cli/start_unix.go
+++ b/pkg/cli/start_unix.go
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ func handleSignalDuringShutdown(sig os.Signal) {
 var startBackground bool
 
 func init() {
-	BoolFlag(StartCmd.Flags(), &startBackground, cliflags.Background, false)
+	for _, cmd := range StartCmds {
+		BoolFlag(cmd.Flags(), &startBackground, cliflags.Background, false)
+	}
 }
 
 func maybeRerunBackground() (bool, error) {