feat(worker): route alarm acks through the operator-authenticated AckMsg writer

AlarmCommandHandler -> AlarmDispatcher -> IAlarmAckWriter: the dispatcher resolves the ack item through the consumer and the writer authenticates the operator and writes the comment. The executor builds AlarmAckOperator from operator_user/domain/password, maps AlarmAckOutcome to the reply (Applied/Unconfirmed Ok, AlarmNotFound/NotAckable InvalidRequest, AuthenticationFailed/WriteRejected MxaccessFailure) and reports escaping exceptions by type and HRESULT only, so operator_password cannot leak. Removes the inert managed/WNAL alarm-client ack path.

Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_016J6isfcgqy4SB2RK3ZvFvT

src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/AlarmCommandExecutorTests.cs

@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandExecutorTests
     [Fact]
     public void AcknowledgeAlarm_WithHandler_RoutesNativeStatusIntoHresultAndPayload()
     {
-        FakeAlarmHandler handler = new FakeAlarmHandler { AcknowledgeReturn = 0 };
+        FakeAlarmHandler handler = new FakeAlarmHandler();
         MxAccessCommandExecutor executor = NewExecutor(handler);
         Guid g = Guid.NewGuid();
 
@@ -143,7 +143,10 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandExecutorTests
         Assert.NotNull(reply.AcknowledgeAlarm);
         Assert.Equal(0, reply.AcknowledgeAlarm.NativeStatus);
         Assert.Equal(g, handler.LastAckGuid);
-        Assert.Equal("alice", handler.LastAckOperatorName);
+        Assert.Equal("ack", handler.LastComment);
+        Assert.Equal("alice", handler.LastOperator!.UserName);
+        Assert.Equal("CORP", handler.LastOperator.Domain);
+        Assert.Equal(string.Empty, handler.LastOperator.Password);
     }
 
     /// <summary>Verifies that invalid alarm GUID returns invalid request.</summary>
@@ -168,11 +171,14 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandExecutorTests
         Assert.Equal(ProtocolStatusCode.InvalidRequest, reply.ProtocolStatus.Code);
     }
 
-    /// <summary>Verifies that nonzero native status carries a diagnostic message.</summary>
+    /// <summary>Verifies that a rejected write carries its native status and diagnostic.</summary>
     [Fact]
     public void AcknowledgeAlarm_WithNonzeroNativeStatus_CarriesDiagnostic()
     {
-        FakeAlarmHandler handler = new FakeAlarmHandler { AcknowledgeReturn = -123 };
+        FakeAlarmHandler handler = new FakeAlarmHandler
+        {
+            AckResult = AlarmAckResult.Create(AlarmAckOutcome.WriteRejected, -123, "AckMsg write rejected: detail -123."),
+        };
         MxAccessCommandExecutor executor = NewExecutor(handler);
 
         StaCommand command = new StaCommand(
@@ -188,7 +194,9 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandExecutorTests
 
         MxCommandReply reply = executor.Execute(command);
 
+        Assert.Equal(ProtocolStatusCode.MxaccessFailure, reply.ProtocolStatus.Code);
         Assert.Equal(-123, reply.Hresult);
+        Assert.Equal(-123, reply.AcknowledgeAlarm.NativeStatus);
         Assert.Contains("-123", reply.DiagnosticMessage);
     }
 
@@ -196,7 +204,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandExecutorTests
     [Fact]
     public void AcknowledgeAlarmByName_WithHandler_RoutesTupleToHandler()
     {
-        FakeAlarmHandler handler = new FakeAlarmHandler { AcknowledgeReturn = 0 };
+        FakeAlarmHandler handler = new FakeAlarmHandler();
         MxAccessCommandExecutor executor = NewExecutor(handler);
 
         StaCommand command = new StaCommand(
@@ -223,7 +231,133 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandExecutorTests
         Assert.Equal("TestMachine_001.TestAlarm001", handler.LastAckByNameTuple!.Value.Name);
         Assert.Equal("Galaxy", handler.LastAckByNameTuple!.Value.Provider);
         Assert.Equal("TestArea", handler.LastAckByNameTuple!.Value.Group);
-        Assert.Equal("alice", handler.LastAckOperatorName);
+        Assert.Equal("ack", handler.LastComment);
+        Assert.Equal("alice", handler.LastOperator!.UserName);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     Every ack outcome maps to its protocol status, carries the native
+    ///     status, and never echoes the operator password.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="outcome">The writer outcome.</param>
+    /// <param name="expected">The expected protocol status.</param>
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(AlarmAckOutcome.Applied, ProtocolStatusCode.Ok)]
+    [InlineData(AlarmAckOutcome.Unconfirmed, ProtocolStatusCode.Ok)]
+    [InlineData(AlarmAckOutcome.AlarmNotFound, ProtocolStatusCode.InvalidRequest)]
+    [InlineData(AlarmAckOutcome.NotAckable, ProtocolStatusCode.InvalidRequest)]
+    [InlineData(AlarmAckOutcome.AuthenticationFailed, ProtocolStatusCode.MxaccessFailure)]
+    [InlineData(AlarmAckOutcome.WriteRejected, ProtocolStatusCode.MxaccessFailure)]
+    public void AcknowledgeAlarm_MapsOutcomeWithoutLeakingPassword(AlarmAckOutcome outcome, ProtocolStatusCode expected)
+    {
+        int native = outcome is AlarmAckOutcome.Applied or AlarmAckOutcome.Unconfirmed ? 0 : 1008;
+        FakeAlarmHandler handler = new FakeAlarmHandler
+        {
+            AckResult = AlarmAckResult.Create(outcome, native, "diagnostic for alice"),
+        };
+
+        MxCommandReply reply = Execute(handler, new MxCommand
+        {
+            Kind = MxCommandKind.AcknowledgeAlarm,
+            AcknowledgeAlarmCommand = new AcknowledgeAlarmCommand
+            {
+                AlarmGuid = Guid.NewGuid().ToString(),
+                Comment = "checked",
+                OperatorUser = "alice",
+                OperatorDomain = "CORP",
+                OperatorPassword = "pw-secret",
+            },
+        });
+
+        AssertAckReply(reply, handler, expected, native);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>The by-name ack maps outcomes identically and never echoes the operator password.</summary>
+    /// <param name="outcome">The writer outcome.</param>
+    /// <param name="expected">The expected protocol status.</param>
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(AlarmAckOutcome.Applied, ProtocolStatusCode.Ok)]
+    [InlineData(AlarmAckOutcome.Unconfirmed, ProtocolStatusCode.Ok)]
+    [InlineData(AlarmAckOutcome.AlarmNotFound, ProtocolStatusCode.InvalidRequest)]
+    [InlineData(AlarmAckOutcome.NotAckable, ProtocolStatusCode.InvalidRequest)]
+    [InlineData(AlarmAckOutcome.AuthenticationFailed, ProtocolStatusCode.MxaccessFailure)]
+    [InlineData(AlarmAckOutcome.WriteRejected, ProtocolStatusCode.MxaccessFailure)]
+    public void AcknowledgeAlarmByName_MapsOutcomeWithoutLeakingPassword(AlarmAckOutcome outcome, ProtocolStatusCode expected)
+    {
+        int native = outcome is AlarmAckOutcome.Applied or AlarmAckOutcome.Unconfirmed ? 0 : 1008;
+        FakeAlarmHandler handler = new FakeAlarmHandler
+        {
+            AckResult = AlarmAckResult.Create(outcome, native, "diagnostic for alice"),
+        };
+
+        MxCommandReply reply = Execute(handler, new MxCommand
+        {
+            Kind = MxCommandKind.AcknowledgeAlarmByName,
+            AcknowledgeAlarmByNameCommand = new AcknowledgeAlarmByNameCommand
+            {
+                AlarmName = "TestMachine_001.TestAlarm001",
+                ProviderName = "Galaxy",
+                GroupName = "TestArea",
+                Comment = "checked",
+                OperatorUser = "alice",
+                OperatorDomain = "CORP",
+                OperatorPassword = "pw-secret",
+            },
+        });
+
+        AssertAckReply(reply, handler, expected, native);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>The writer's OnWriteComplete statuses are copied onto the reply.</summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void AcknowledgeAlarm_CopiesWriteStatusesIntoReply()
+    {
+        MxStatusProxy status = new MxStatusProxy { Category = MxStatusCategory.Ok, Success = 1 };
+        FakeAlarmHandler handler = new FakeAlarmHandler
+        {
+            AckResult = AlarmAckResult.Create(AlarmAckOutcome.Applied, 0, string.Empty, new[] { status }),
+        };
+
+        MxCommandReply reply = Execute(handler, new MxCommand
+        {
+            Kind = MxCommandKind.AcknowledgeAlarm,
+            AcknowledgeAlarmCommand = new AcknowledgeAlarmCommand { AlarmGuid = Guid.NewGuid().ToString(), OperatorUser = "alice" },
+        });
+
+        Assert.Equal(status, Assert.Single(reply.Statuses));
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     An exception escaping the ack path (e.g. the writer's MXAccess
+    ///     Register failing) maps to MxaccessFailure with only the exception type
+    ///     and HRESULT — never the exception text, which is not under our control.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void AcknowledgeAlarmByName_WhenHandlerThrows_ReportsTypeAndHresultOnly()
+    {
+        FakeAlarmHandler handler = new FakeAlarmHandler
+        {
+            AcknowledgeException = new System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException("echo pw-secret", unchecked((int)0x80004005)),
+        };
+
+        MxCommandReply reply = Execute(handler, new MxCommand
+        {
+            Kind = MxCommandKind.AcknowledgeAlarmByName,
+            AcknowledgeAlarmByNameCommand = new AcknowledgeAlarmByNameCommand
+            {
+                AlarmName = "TestMachine_001.TestAlarm001",
+                ProviderName = "Galaxy",
+                OperatorUser = "alice",
+                OperatorPassword = "pw-secret",
+            },
+        });
+
+        Assert.Equal(ProtocolStatusCode.MxaccessFailure, reply.ProtocolStatus.Code);
+        Assert.Equal(unchecked((int)0x80004005), reply.Hresult);
+        Assert.Contains("COMException", reply.DiagnosticMessage, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+        Assert.Contains("0x80004005", reply.DiagnosticMessage, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain("pw-secret", reply.DiagnosticMessage, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain("pw-secret", reply.ProtocolStatus.Message, StringComparison.Ordinal);
     }
 
     /// <summary>Verifies that empty alarm name returns invalid request.</summary>
@@ -393,7 +527,10 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandExecutorTests
     [Fact]
     public void AcknowledgeAlarm_WhenHandlerThrows_ReturnsMxaccessFailure()
     {
-        FakeAlarmHandler handler = new FakeAlarmHandler { AcknowledgeThrow = true };
+        FakeAlarmHandler handler = new FakeAlarmHandler
+        {
+            AcknowledgeException = new InvalidOperationException("simulated alarm-handler failure"),
+        };
         MxAccessCommandExecutor executor = NewExecutor(handler);
 
         StaCommand command = new StaCommand(
@@ -410,7 +547,25 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandExecutorTests
         MxCommandReply reply = executor.Execute(command);
 
         Assert.Equal(ProtocolStatusCode.MxaccessFailure, reply.ProtocolStatus.Code);
-        Assert.Contains("simulated", reply.DiagnosticMessage);
+        Assert.Contains("InvalidOperationException", reply.DiagnosticMessage, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain("simulated", reply.DiagnosticMessage, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+    }
+
+    private static MxCommandReply Execute(IAlarmCommandHandler handler, MxCommand command) =>
+        NewExecutor(handler).Execute(new StaCommand(SessionId, CorrelationId, command));
+
+    private static void AssertAckReply(MxCommandReply reply, FakeAlarmHandler handler, ProtocolStatusCode expected, int native)
+    {
+        Assert.Equal(expected, reply.ProtocolStatus.Code);
+        Assert.Equal(native, reply.Hresult);
+        Assert.Equal(native, reply.AcknowledgeAlarm.NativeStatus);
+        Assert.Equal("diagnostic for alice", reply.DiagnosticMessage);
+        Assert.Equal("checked", handler.LastComment);
+        Assert.Equal("alice", handler.LastOperator!.UserName);
+        Assert.Equal("CORP", handler.LastOperator.Domain);
+        Assert.Equal("pw-secret", handler.LastOperator.Password);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain("pw-secret", reply.DiagnosticMessage ?? string.Empty, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain("pw-secret", reply.ProtocolStatus.Message ?? string.Empty, StringComparison.Ordinal);
     }
 
     private static MxAccessCommandExecutor NewExecutor(IAlarmCommandHandler? alarmHandler)
@@ -442,14 +597,17 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandExecutorTests
         /// <summary>Gets the last acknowledge alarm GUID.</summary>
         public Guid LastAckGuid { get; private set; }
 
-        /// <summary>Gets the last acknowledge operator name.</summary>
-        public string? LastAckOperatorName { get; private set; }
+        /// <summary>Gets the last acknowledge comment.</summary>
+        public string? LastComment { get; private set; }
 
-        /// <summary>Gets or sets the value returned by acknowledge.</summary>
-        public int AcknowledgeReturn { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>Gets the last acknowledge operator.</summary>
+        public AlarmAckOperator? LastOperator { get; private set; }
 
-        /// <summary>Gets or sets a value indicating whether acknowledge throws.</summary>
-        public bool AcknowledgeThrow { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>Gets or sets the result returned by both acknowledge methods.</summary>
+        public AlarmAckResult AckResult { get; set; } = AlarmAckResult.Create(AlarmAckOutcome.Applied, 0, string.Empty);
+
+        /// <summary>Gets or sets an exception both acknowledge methods throw.</summary>
+        public Exception? AcknowledgeException { get; set; }
 
         /// <summary>Gets or sets the query result snapshots.</summary>
         public IReadOnlyList<ActiveAlarmSnapshot> QueryResult { get; set; } =
@@ -484,28 +642,32 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandExecutorTests
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
-        public int Acknowledge(
-            Guid alarmGuid, string comment, string operatorUser,
-            string operatorNode, string operatorDomain, string operatorFullName)
+        public AlarmAckResult Acknowledge(Guid alarmGuid, string comment, AlarmAckOperator ackOperator)
         {
             LastAckGuid = alarmGuid;
-            LastAckOperatorName = operatorUser;
-            if (AcknowledgeThrow)
+            LastComment = comment;
+            LastOperator = ackOperator;
+            if (AcknowledgeException is not null)
             {
-                throw new InvalidOperationException("simulated alarm-handler failure");
+                throw AcknowledgeException;
             }
-            return AcknowledgeReturn;
+
+            return AckResult;
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
-        public int AcknowledgeByName(
-            string alarmName, string providerName, string groupName,
-            string comment, string operatorUser, string operatorNode,
-            string operatorDomain, string operatorFullName)
+        public AlarmAckResult AcknowledgeByName(
+            string alarmName, string providerName, string groupName, string comment, AlarmAckOperator ackOperator)
         {
             LastAckByNameTuple = (alarmName, providerName, groupName);
-            LastAckOperatorName = operatorUser;
-            return AcknowledgeReturn;
+            LastComment = comment;
+            LastOperator = ackOperator;
+            if (AcknowledgeException is not null)
+            {
+                throw AcknowledgeException;
+            }
+
+            return AckResult;
         }
 
         /// <summary>Gets the last acknowledge by name tuple.</summary>

src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/AlarmCommandHandlerTests.cs

@@ -96,22 +96,100 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
         Assert.False(handler.IsSubscribed);
     }
 
-    /// <summary>Verifies that acknowledge forwards to consumer with full operator identity when subscribed.</summary>
+    /// <summary>Verifies that acknowledge resolves via the consumer and writes through the injected writer as the operator.</summary>
     [Fact]
-    public void Acknowledge_WhenSubscribed_ForwardsToConsumerWithFullOperatorIdentity()
+    public void Acknowledge_WhenSubscribed_ResolvesTargetAndWritesAsOperator()
     {
-        FakeConsumer consumer = new FakeConsumer { AcknowledgeReturn = 0 };
-        AlarmCommandHandler handler = new AlarmCommandHandler(
-            new MxAccessEventQueue(),
-            () => consumer);
+        FakeConsumer consumer = new FakeConsumer { AckTarget = AlarmAckTarget.For("T.A.AckMsg") };
+        RecordingAckWriter writer = new RecordingAckWriter();
+        AlarmCommandHandler handler = NewHandlerWithWriter(() => consumer, writer);
         handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1");
 
         Guid g = Guid.NewGuid();
-        int rc = handler.Acknowledge(g, "c", "u", "n", "d", "F");
+        AlarmAckOperator op = new AlarmAckOperator { UserName = "u", Domain = "d", Password = "p" };
+        AlarmAckResult result = handler.Acknowledge(g, "c", op);
 
-        Assert.Equal(0, rc);
-        Assert.Equal(g, consumer.LastAckGuid);
-        Assert.Equal("u", consumer.LastAckOperatorName);
+        Assert.Equal(AlarmAckOutcome.Applied, result.Outcome);
+        Assert.Equal(g, consumer.LastResolvedGuid);
+        Assert.Equal("T.A.AckMsg", writer.LastItemAddress);
+        Assert.Equal("c", writer.LastComment);
+        Assert.Same(op, writer.LastOperator);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Verifies acknowledge-by-name forwards the tuple and a null comment becomes empty.</summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void AcknowledgeByName_WhenSubscribed_ForwardsTupleAndNormalizesComment()
+    {
+        FakeConsumer consumer = new FakeConsumer();
+        RecordingAckWriter writer = new RecordingAckWriter();
+        AlarmCommandHandler handler = NewHandlerWithWriter(() => consumer, writer);
+        handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1");
+
+        handler.AcknowledgeByName("Tag1", "Galaxy", "Area", null!, new AlarmAckOperator { UserName = "u" });
+
+        Assert.Equal(("Tag1", "Galaxy", "Area"), consumer.LastResolvedName);
+        Assert.Equal(string.Empty, writer.LastComment);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Verifies a null operator is rejected.</summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void Acknowledge_NullOperator_Throws()
+    {
+        AlarmCommandHandler handler = NewHandlerWithWriter(() => new FakeConsumer(), new RecordingAckWriter());
+        handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1");
+
+        Assert.Throws<ArgumentNullException>(() => handler.Acknowledge(Guid.NewGuid(), "c", null!));
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     The ack writer is created once, on first acknowledgement, survives an
+    ///     unsubscribe/resubscribe cycle, and is disposed with the handler.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void AckWriter_CreatedLazilyOnce_AndDisposedWithHandler()
+    {
+        RecordingAckWriter writer = new RecordingAckWriter();
+        int created = 0;
+        AlarmCommandHandler handler = new AlarmCommandHandler(
+            new MxAccessEventQueue(),
+            () => new FakeConsumer(),
+            threadAffinityCheck: null,
+            comFactory: null,
+            standbyFactory: null,
+            ackWriterFactory: () =>
+            {
+                created++;
+                return writer;
+            });
+
+        handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1");
+        Assert.Equal(0, created);
+
+        handler.Acknowledge(Guid.NewGuid(), "c", new AlarmAckOperator());
+        handler.Unsubscribe();
+        Assert.False(writer.Disposed);
+
+        handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1");
+        handler.AcknowledgeByName("a", "Galaxy", "g", "c", new AlarmAckOperator());
+        Assert.Equal(1, created);
+
+        handler.Dispose();
+        Assert.True(writer.Disposed);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    ///     Without a COM factory or writer factory, subscribing still works and
+    ///     the acknowledgement fails with a diagnosable InvalidOperationException.
+    /// </summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void Acknowledge_WithoutComFactoryOrWriterFactory_ThrowsInvalidOperation()
+    {
+        AlarmCommandHandler handler = new AlarmCommandHandler(new MxAccessEventQueue(), () => new FakeConsumer());
+        handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1");
+
+        InvalidOperationException ex = Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(
+            () => handler.Acknowledge(Guid.NewGuid(), "c", new AlarmAckOperator()));
+        Assert.Contains("IMxAccessComObjectFactory", ex.Message);
     }
 
     /// <summary>Verifies that acknowledge throws invalid operation when called before subscribe.</summary>
@@ -123,7 +201,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
             () => new FakeConsumer());
 
         Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(
-            () => handler.Acknowledge(Guid.Empty, "", "", "", "", ""));
+            () => handler.Acknowledge(Guid.Empty, "", new AlarmAckOperator()));
     }
 
     /// <summary>Verifies that query active returns mapped proto snapshots when consumer has alarms.</summary>
@@ -266,7 +344,10 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
         AlarmCommandHandler handler = new AlarmCommandHandler(
             new MxAccessEventQueue(),
             () => consumer,
-            () => guardInvocations++);
+            () => guardInvocations++,
+            comFactory: null,
+            standbyFactory: null,
+            ackWriterFactory: () => new RecordingAckWriter());
 
         // Subscribe is the first call — guard must run before the consumer
         // factory is invoked. We tally invocation counts after each call so
@@ -275,10 +356,10 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
         handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand { SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!A" }, "s1");
         Assert.Equal(1, guardInvocations);
 
-        handler.Acknowledge(Guid.NewGuid(), "c", "u", "n", "d", "F");
+        handler.Acknowledge(Guid.NewGuid(), "c", new AlarmAckOperator { UserName = "u" });
         Assert.Equal(2, guardInvocations);
 
-        handler.AcknowledgeByName("a", "p", "g", "c", "u", "n", "d", "F");
+        handler.AcknowledgeByName("a", "p", "g", "c", new AlarmAckOperator { UserName = "u" });
         Assert.Equal(3, guardInvocations);
 
         _ = handler.QueryActive(null, out _);
@@ -323,9 +404,9 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
         // assert each independently with a fresh handler. Below we reuse
         // the same throwing handler for the not-subscribed-yet entries:
         Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(
-            () => handler.Acknowledge(Guid.Empty, "", "", "", "", ""));
+            () => handler.Acknowledge(Guid.Empty, "", new AlarmAckOperator()));
         Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(
-            () => handler.AcknowledgeByName("", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""));
+            () => handler.AcknowledgeByName("", "", "", "", new AlarmAckOperator()));
         Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(() => handler.QueryActive(null, out _));
         Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(() => handler.PollOnce());
         Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(
@@ -422,16 +503,17 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
     [Fact]
     public void Subscribe_AutoModeWithEmptyWatchListAndFallbackEnabled_BuildsReplaceableStandby()
     {
-        FakeConsumer primary = new FakeConsumer { AcknowledgeReturn = 11 };
-        FakeConsumer initialStandby = new FakeConsumer { AcknowledgeReturn = 22 };
-        FakeConsumer replacement = new FakeConsumer { AcknowledgeReturn = 33 };
+        FakeConsumer primary = new FakeConsumer { AckTarget = AlarmAckTarget.For("11.AckMsg") };
+        FakeConsumer initialStandby = new FakeConsumer { AckTarget = AlarmAckTarget.For("22.AckMsg") };
+        FakeConsumer replacement = new FakeConsumer { AckTarget = AlarmAckTarget.For("33.AckMsg") };
         int buildCount = 0;
         AlarmCommandHandler handler = new AlarmCommandHandler(
             new MxAccessEventQueue(),
             () => primary,
             threadAffinityCheck: null,
             comFactory: null,
-            standbyFactory: _ => ++buildCount == 1 ? initialStandby : replacement);
+            standbyFactory: _ => ++buildCount == 1 ? initialStandby : replacement,
+            ackWriterFactory: () => new RecordingAckWriter());
 
         handler.Subscribe(new SubscribeAlarmsCommand
         {
@@ -443,7 +525,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
         Assert.Equal(2, buildCount);
         Assert.Equal(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area", replacement.LastSubscription);
         Assert.True(initialStandby.Disposed);
-        Assert.Equal(11, handler.Acknowledge(Guid.Empty, "", "", "", "", ""));
+        Assert.Equal("11.AckMsg", AckItemOf(handler));
     }
 
     /// <summary>A replacement is rejected when no fallback-capable subscription is active.</summary>
@@ -471,16 +553,17 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
     [Fact]
     public void UpdateWatchList_WhenReplacementSubscribeFails_PreservesOldStandbyAndPrimaryMode()
     {
-        FakeConsumer primary = new FakeConsumer { AcknowledgeReturn = 11 };
-        FakeConsumer oldStandby = new FakeConsumer { AcknowledgeReturn = 22 };
-        FakeConsumer failedReplacement = new FakeConsumer { ThrowOnSubscribe = true, AcknowledgeReturn = 33 };
+        FakeConsumer primary = new FakeConsumer { AckTarget = AlarmAckTarget.For("11.AckMsg") };
+        FakeConsumer oldStandby = new FakeConsumer { AckTarget = AlarmAckTarget.For("22.AckMsg") };
+        FakeConsumer failedReplacement = new FakeConsumer { ThrowOnSubscribe = true, AckTarget = AlarmAckTarget.For("33.AckMsg") };
         int buildCount = 0;
         AlarmCommandHandler handler = new AlarmCommandHandler(
             new MxAccessEventQueue(),
             () => primary,
             null,
             null,
-            _ => ++buildCount == 1 ? oldStandby : failedReplacement);
+            _ => ++buildCount == 1 ? oldStandby : failedReplacement,
+            () => new RecordingAckWriter());
         SubscribeAlarmsCommand subscribe = new SubscribeAlarmsCommand
         {
             SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area",
@@ -494,23 +577,24 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
 
         Assert.False(oldStandby.Disposed);
         Assert.True(failedReplacement.Disposed);
-        Assert.Equal(11, handler.Acknowledge(Guid.Empty, "", "", "", "", ""));
+        Assert.Equal("11.AckMsg", AckItemOf(handler));
     }
 
     /// <summary>A successful replacement while failed over keeps subtag mode active and delegates to the new standby.</summary>
     [Fact]
     public void UpdateWatchList_WhileSubtagActive_PreservesModeAndUsesReplacement()
     {
-        FakeConsumer primary = new FakeConsumer { ThrowOnSubscribe = true, AcknowledgeReturn = 11 };
-        FakeConsumer oldStandby = new FakeConsumer { AcknowledgeReturn = 22 };
-        FakeConsumer replacement = new FakeConsumer { AcknowledgeReturn = 33 };
+        FakeConsumer primary = new FakeConsumer { ThrowOnSubscribe = true, AckTarget = AlarmAckTarget.For("11.AckMsg") };
+        FakeConsumer oldStandby = new FakeConsumer { AckTarget = AlarmAckTarget.For("22.AckMsg") };
+        FakeConsumer replacement = new FakeConsumer { AckTarget = AlarmAckTarget.For("33.AckMsg") };
         int buildCount = 0;
         AlarmCommandHandler handler = new AlarmCommandHandler(
             new MxAccessEventQueue(),
             () => primary,
             null,
             null,
-            _ => ++buildCount == 1 ? oldStandby : replacement);
+            _ => ++buildCount == 1 ? oldStandby : replacement,
+            () => new RecordingAckWriter());
         SubscribeAlarmsCommand subscribe = new SubscribeAlarmsCommand
         {
             SubscriptionExpression = @"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area",
@@ -523,7 +607,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
         handler.UpdateWatchList(new[] { NewTarget("Galaxy!Area.Tank02.Alarm") });
 
         Assert.True(oldStandby.Disposed);
-        Assert.Equal(33, handler.Acknowledge(Guid.Empty, "", "", "", "", ""));
+        Assert.Equal("33.AckMsg", AckItemOf(handler));
     }
 
     /// <summary>
@@ -567,6 +651,19 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
         Assert.Equal(at, evt.OnAlarmProviderModeChanged.At.ToDateTime());
     }
 
+    private static AlarmCommandHandler NewHandlerWithWriter(Func<IMxAccessAlarmConsumer> consumerFactory, IAlarmAckWriter writer) =>
+        new AlarmCommandHandler(
+            new MxAccessEventQueue(),
+            consumerFactory,
+            threadAffinityCheck: null,
+            comFactory: null,
+            standbyFactory: null,
+            ackWriterFactory: () => writer);
+
+    /// <summary>Acks through the handler and returns the item the active consumer resolved (the fake writer echoes it as the diagnostic).</summary>
+    private static string AckItemOf(AlarmCommandHandler handler) =>
+        handler.Acknowledge(Guid.Empty, string.Empty, new AlarmAckOperator()).Diagnostic;
+
     private static MxAlarmSnapshotRecord NewRecord(string provider, string group, string tag)
     {
         return new MxAlarmSnapshotRecord
@@ -598,12 +695,12 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
 
         /// <summary>Gets the last subscription request.</summary>
         public string? LastSubscription { get; private set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets the last acknowledged alarm GUID.</summary>
-        public Guid LastAckGuid { get; private set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets the last acknowledged operator name.</summary>
-        public string? LastAckOperatorName { get; private set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets or sets the return value for acknowledge operations.</summary>
-        public int AcknowledgeReturn { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>Gets or sets the ack target both resolve methods return.</summary>
+        public AlarmAckTarget AckTarget { get; set; } = AlarmAckTarget.For("Fake.Alarm.AckMsg");
+        /// <summary>Gets the GUID from the last ResolveAckTarget call.</summary>
+        public Guid LastResolvedGuid { get; private set; }
+        /// <summary>Gets the (name, provider, group) from the last ResolveAckTargetByName call.</summary>
+        public (string Name, string Provider, string Group)? LastResolvedName { get; private set; }
         /// <summary>Gets or sets the snapshot result to return.</summary>
         public IReadOnlyList<MxAlarmSnapshotRecord> SnapshotResult { get; set; } =
             Array.Empty<MxAlarmSnapshotRecord>();
@@ -623,29 +720,19 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
-        public int AcknowledgeByGuid(
-            Guid alarmGuid, string ackComment, string ackOperatorName,
-            string ackOperatorNode, string ackOperatorDomain, string ackOperatorFullName)
+        public AlarmAckTarget ResolveAckTarget(Guid alarmGuid)
         {
-            LastAckGuid = alarmGuid;
-            LastAckOperatorName = ackOperatorName;
-            return AcknowledgeReturn;
+            LastResolvedGuid = alarmGuid;
+            return AckTarget;
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
-        public int AcknowledgeByName(
-            string alarmName, string providerName, string groupName,
-            string ackComment, string ackOperatorName, string ackOperatorNode,
-            string ackOperatorDomain, string ackOperatorFullName)
+        public AlarmAckTarget ResolveAckTargetByName(string alarmName, string providerName, string groupName)
         {
-            LastAckByNameTuple = (alarmName, providerName, groupName);
-            LastAckOperatorName = ackOperatorName;
-            return AcknowledgeReturn;
+            LastResolvedName = (alarmName, providerName, groupName);
+            return AckTarget;
         }
 
-        /// <summary>Gets the last acknowledge-by-name parameters.</summary>
-        public (string Name, string Provider, string Group)? LastAckByNameTuple { get; private set; }
-
         /// <summary>Gets or sets the truncation verdict this consumer reports with its snapshot.</summary>
         public bool SnapshotTruncated { get; set; }
 
@@ -671,4 +758,22 @@ public sealed class AlarmCommandHandlerTests
             Disposed = true;
         }
     }
+
+    private sealed class RecordingAckWriter : IAlarmAckWriter
+    {
+        public string? LastItemAddress { get; private set; }
+        public string? LastComment { get; private set; }
+        public AlarmAckOperator? LastOperator { get; private set; }
+        public bool Disposed { get; private set; }
+
+        public AlarmAckResult Acknowledge(string itemAddress, string comment, AlarmAckOperator ackOperator)
+        {
+            LastItemAddress = itemAddress;
+            LastComment = comment;
+            LastOperator = ackOperator;
+            return AlarmAckResult.Create(AlarmAckOutcome.Applied, 0, itemAddress);
+        }
+
+        public void Dispose() => Disposed = true;
+    }
 }

src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/AlarmDispatcherTests.cs

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmDispatcherTests
         FakeAlarmConsumer consumer = new FakeAlarmConsumer();
         MxAccessEventQueue queue = new MxAccessEventQueue();
         MxAccessAlarmEventSink sink = new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(queue, new MxAccessEventMapper());
-        using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(consumer, sink, SessionId);
+        using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(consumer, sink, SessionId, new FakeAckWriter());
 
         consumer.RaiseTransition(new MxAlarmTransitionEvent
         {
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmDispatcherTests
         FakeAlarmConsumer consumer = new FakeAlarmConsumer();
         MxAccessEventQueue queue = new MxAccessEventQueue();
         MxAccessAlarmEventSink sink = new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(queue, new MxAccessEventMapper());
-        using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(consumer, sink, SessionId);
+        using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(consumer, sink, SessionId, new FakeAckWriter());
 
         DateTime ts = new DateTime(2026, 5, 1, 17, 26, 14, 709, DateTimeKind.Utc);
         consumer.RaiseTransition(new MxAlarmTransitionEvent
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmDispatcherTests
         FakeAlarmConsumer consumer = new FakeAlarmConsumer();
         MxAccessEventQueue queue = new MxAccessEventQueue();
         MxAccessAlarmEventSink sink = new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(queue, new MxAccessEventMapper());
-        using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(consumer, sink, SessionId);
+        using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(consumer, sink, SessionId, new FakeAckWriter());
 
         consumer.RaiseTransition(new MxAlarmTransitionEvent
         {
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmDispatcherTests
         FakeAlarmConsumer consumer = new FakeAlarmConsumer();
         MxAccessEventQueue queue = new MxAccessEventQueue();
         MxAccessAlarmEventSink sink = new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(queue, new MxAccessEventMapper());
-        using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(consumer, sink, SessionId);
+        using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(consumer, sink, SessionId, new FakeAckWriter());
 
         consumer.RaiseTransition(new MxAlarmTransitionEvent
         {
@@ -205,155 +205,140 @@ public sealed class AlarmDispatcherTests
         using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(
             consumer,
             new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(new MxAccessEventQueue(), new MxAccessEventMapper()),
-            SessionId);
+            SessionId,
+            new FakeAckWriter());
 
         dispatcher.Subscribe(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area1");
         Assert.Equal(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area1", consumer.LastSubscription);
     }
 
-    /// <summary>Verifies that acknowledge calls are forwarded to the consumer with operator identity.</summary>
+    /// <summary>Verifies the dispatcher resolves the ack item via the consumer then writes it as the operator.</summary>
     [Fact]
-    public void Acknowledge_WhenInvoked_ForwardsToConsumerWithFullOperatorIdentity()
+    public void Acknowledge_ResolvesTargetThenWritesWithOperator()
     {
-        FakeAlarmConsumer consumer = new FakeAlarmConsumer();
-        consumer.AcknowledgeReturn = 0;
+        FakeAlarmConsumer consumer = new FakeAlarmConsumer { AckTarget = AlarmAckTarget.For("T.A.AckMsg") };
+        FakeAckWriter writer = new FakeAckWriter();
         using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(
-            consumer,
-            new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(new MxAccessEventQueue(), new MxAccessEventMapper()),
-            SessionId);
-
+            consumer, new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(new MxAccessEventQueue(), new MxAccessEventMapper()), SessionId, writer);
         Guid guid = Guid.NewGuid();
-        int rc = dispatcher.Acknowledge(
-            guid, "Acked", "alice", "WS01", "CORP", "Alice Smith");
+        AlarmAckOperator op = new AlarmAckOperator { UserName = "alice", Password = "pw" };
 
-        Assert.Equal(0, rc);
-        Assert.Equal(guid, consumer.LastAckGuid);
-        Assert.Equal("Acked", consumer.LastAckComment);
-        Assert.Equal("alice", consumer.LastAckOperatorName);
-        Assert.Equal("WS01", consumer.LastAckOperatorNode);
-        Assert.Equal("CORP", consumer.LastAckOperatorDomain);
-        Assert.Equal("Alice Smith", consumer.LastAckOperatorFullName);
+        AlarmAckResult result = dispatcher.Acknowledge(guid, "checked", op);
+
+        Assert.Equal(AlarmAckOutcome.Applied, result.Outcome);
+        Assert.Equal(guid, consumer.LastResolvedGuid);
+        Assert.Equal("T.A.AckMsg", writer.LastItemAddress);
+        Assert.Equal("checked", writer.LastComment);
+        Assert.Same(op, writer.LastOperator);
     }
 
-    /// <summary>Verifies that a managed ack client takes GUID acks with full operator identity.</summary>
+    /// <summary>Verifies an unresolved target short-circuits to its failure without calling the writer.</summary>
     [Fact]
-    public void Acknowledge_WithManagedAckClient_RoutesGuidAckToManagedClient()
+    public void Acknowledge_WhenTargetNotFound_DoesNotWrite()
     {
-        FakeAlarmConsumer consumer = new FakeAlarmConsumer { AcknowledgeReturn = -1 };
-        FakeManagedAckClient managed = new FakeManagedAckClient { AcknowledgeReturn = 0 };
+        FakeAlarmConsumer consumer = new FakeAlarmConsumer { AckTarget = AlarmAckTarget.NotFound("gone") };
+        FakeAckWriter writer = new FakeAckWriter();
         using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(
-            consumer,
-            new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(new MxAccessEventQueue(), new MxAccessEventMapper()),
-            SessionId,
-            managed);
-        dispatcher.Subscribe(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area1");
+            consumer, new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(new MxAccessEventQueue(), new MxAccessEventMapper()), SessionId, writer);
 
-        Guid guid = Guid.NewGuid();
-        int rc = dispatcher.Acknowledge(guid, "Acked", "alice", "WS01", "CORP", "Alice Smith");
+        AlarmAckResult result = dispatcher.Acknowledge(Guid.NewGuid(), "c", new AlarmAckOperator { UserName = "alice" });
 
-        Assert.Equal(0, rc);
-        Assert.Equal(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area1", managed.LastSubscription);
-        Assert.Equal(guid, managed.LastAckGuid);
-        Assert.Equal("CORP", managed.LastAckOperatorDomain);
-        Assert.Equal("Alice Smith", managed.LastAckOperatorFullName);
-        Assert.Equal(Guid.Empty, consumer.LastAckGuid);
+        Assert.Equal(AlarmAckOutcome.AlarmNotFound, result.Outcome);
+        Assert.Equal("gone", result.Diagnostic);
+        Assert.Null(writer.LastItemAddress);
     }
 
-    /// <summary>
-    ///     Verifies that a failed managed-client lifecycle neither fails the alarm
-    ///     subscription nor leaves acks routed to the broken client.
-    /// </summary>
+    /// <summary>Verifies acknowledge-by-name resolves with the full tuple and writes the resolved item.</summary>
     [Fact]
-    public void Subscribe_WhenManagedAckClientFails_FallsBackToConsumerAck()
+    public void AcknowledgeByName_ResolvesTupleThenWritesWithOperator()
     {
-        FakeAlarmConsumer consumer = new FakeAlarmConsumer { AcknowledgeReturn = 0 };
-        FakeManagedAckClient managed = new FakeManagedAckClient { ThrowOnSubscribe = true };
+        FakeAlarmConsumer consumer = new FakeAlarmConsumer
+        {
+            AckTarget = AlarmAckTarget.For("TestMachine_001.TestAlarm001.AckMsg"),
+        };
+        FakeAckWriter writer = new FakeAckWriter();
         using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(
-            consumer,
-            new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(new MxAccessEventQueue(), new MxAccessEventMapper()),
-            SessionId,
-            managed);
+            consumer, new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(new MxAccessEventQueue(), new MxAccessEventMapper()), SessionId, writer);
+        AlarmAckOperator op = new AlarmAckOperator { UserName = "alice", Domain = "CORP" };
 
-        dispatcher.Subscribe(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area1");
-        Guid guid = Guid.NewGuid();
-        int rc = dispatcher.Acknowledge(guid, "Acked", "alice", "WS01", "CORP", "Alice Smith");
+        AlarmAckResult result = dispatcher.AcknowledgeByName(
+            "TestMachine_001.TestAlarm001", "Galaxy", "TestArea", "ack", op);
 
-        Assert.Equal(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area1", consumer.LastSubscription);
-        Assert.True(managed.Disposed);
-        Assert.Equal(0, rc);
-        Assert.Equal(guid, consumer.LastAckGuid);
-        Assert.Equal(Guid.Empty, managed.LastAckGuid);
+        Assert.Equal(AlarmAckOutcome.Applied, result.Outcome);
+        Assert.Equal(("TestMachine_001.TestAlarm001", "Galaxy", "TestArea"), consumer.LastResolvedName);
+        Assert.Equal("TestMachine_001.TestAlarm001.AckMsg", writer.LastItemAddress);
+        Assert.Equal("ack", writer.LastComment);
+        Assert.Same(op, writer.LastOperator);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Verifies a NotAckable by-name target short-circuits without calling the writer.</summary>
+    [Fact]
+    public void AcknowledgeByName_WhenNotAckable_DoesNotWrite()
+    {
+        FakeAlarmConsumer consumer = new FakeAlarmConsumer { AckTarget = AlarmAckTarget.NotAckable("intouch") };
+        FakeAckWriter writer = new FakeAckWriter();
+        using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(
+            consumer, new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(new MxAccessEventQueue(), new MxAccessEventMapper()), SessionId, writer);
+
+        AlarmAckResult result = dispatcher.AcknowledgeByName("Tag1", "InTouch", "G", "c", new AlarmAckOperator());
+
+        Assert.Equal(AlarmAckOutcome.NotAckable, result.Outcome);
+        Assert.Null(writer.LastItemAddress);
     }
 
     /// <summary>
     ///     Verifies that while the failover consumer serves the subtag standby,
-    ///     GUID acks (synthetic GUIDs) stay on the consumer, not the managed client.
+    ///     GUID acks resolve through the standby (its synthetic GUIDs).
     /// </summary>
     [Fact]
-    public void Acknowledge_WhenFailoverInSubtagMode_KeepsGuidAckOnConsumer()
+    public void Acknowledge_WhenFailoverInSubtagMode_ResolvesThroughStandby()
     {
         FakeAlarmConsumer primary = new FakeAlarmConsumer { ThrowOnSubscribe = true };
-        FakeAlarmConsumer standby = new FakeAlarmConsumer { AcknowledgeReturn = 0 };
+        FakeAlarmConsumer standby = new FakeAlarmConsumer { AckTarget = AlarmAckTarget.For("Standby.AckMsg") };
         FailoverAlarmConsumer failover = new FailoverAlarmConsumer(
             primary, standby, new FailoverSettings(threshold: 1, probeIntervalSeconds: 0, stableProbes: 3));
-        FakeManagedAckClient managed = new FakeManagedAckClient { AcknowledgeReturn = -1 };
+        FakeAckWriter writer = new FakeAckWriter();
         using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(
             failover,
             new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(new MxAccessEventQueue(), new MxAccessEventMapper()),
             SessionId,
-            managed);
+            writer);
         dispatcher.Subscribe(@"\\HOST\Galaxy!Area1");
         Assert.Equal(AlarmProviderMode.Subtag, failover.Mode);
 
         Guid guid = Guid.NewGuid();
-        int rc = dispatcher.Acknowledge(guid, "Acked", "alice", "WS01", "CORP", "Alice Smith");
+        dispatcher.Acknowledge(guid, "Acked", new AlarmAckOperator { UserName = "alice" });
 
-        Assert.Equal(0, rc);
-        Assert.Equal(guid, standby.LastAckGuid);
-        Assert.Equal(Guid.Empty, managed.LastAckGuid);
+        Assert.Equal(guid, standby.LastResolvedGuid);
+        Assert.Equal(Guid.Empty, primary.LastResolvedGuid);
+        Assert.Equal("Standby.AckMsg", writer.LastItemAddress);
     }
 
-    /// <summary>Verifies that disposing the dispatcher disposes the managed ack client.</summary>
+    /// <summary>Verifies the dispatcher does not dispose the writer: the handler owns it.</summary>
     [Fact]
-    public void Dispose_WithManagedAckClient_DisposesManagedClient()
+    public void Dispose_DoesNotDisposeAckWriter()
     {
-        FakeManagedAckClient managed = new FakeManagedAckClient();
+        FakeAckWriter writer = new FakeAckWriter();
         AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(
             new FakeAlarmConsumer(),
             new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(new MxAccessEventQueue(), new MxAccessEventMapper()),
             SessionId,
-            managed);
+            writer);
 
         dispatcher.Dispose();
 
-        Assert.True(managed.Disposed);
+        Assert.False(writer.Disposed);
     }
 
-    /// <summary>Verifies that acknowledge-by-name calls are forwarded to the consumer.</summary>
+    /// <summary>Verifies the constructor rejects a null ack writer.</summary>
     [Fact]
-    public void AcknowledgeByName_WhenInvoked_ForwardsToConsumerWithFullTuple()
+    public void Constructor_NullAckWriter_Throws()
     {
-        FakeAlarmConsumer consumer = new FakeAlarmConsumer { AcknowledgeReturn = 0 };
-        using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(
-            consumer,
+        Assert.Throws<ArgumentNullException>(() => new AlarmDispatcher(
+            new FakeAlarmConsumer(),
             new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(new MxAccessEventQueue(), new MxAccessEventMapper()),
-            SessionId);
-
-        int rc = dispatcher.AcknowledgeByName(
-            alarmName: "TestMachine_001.TestAlarm001",
-            providerName: "Galaxy",
-            groupName: "TestArea",
-            ackComment: "ack",
-            ackOperatorName: "alice",
-            ackOperatorNode: "WS",
-            ackOperatorDomain: "CORP",
-            ackOperatorFullName: "Alice Smith");
-
-        Assert.Equal(0, rc);
-        Assert.NotNull(consumer.LastAckByNameTuple);
-        Assert.Equal("TestMachine_001.TestAlarm001", consumer.LastAckByNameTuple!.Value.Name);
-        Assert.Equal("Galaxy", consumer.LastAckByNameTuple!.Value.Provider);
-        Assert.Equal("TestArea", consumer.LastAckByNameTuple!.Value.Group);
+            SessionId,
+            null!));
     }
 
     /// <summary>Verifies that consumer alarm records are mapped to proto snapshots.</summary>
@@ -391,7 +376,8 @@ public sealed class AlarmDispatcherTests
         using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(
             consumer,
             new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(new MxAccessEventQueue(), new MxAccessEventMapper()),
-            SessionId);
+            SessionId,
+            new FakeAckWriter());
 
         IReadOnlyList<ActiveAlarmSnapshot> snapshots = dispatcher.SnapshotActiveAlarms(out _);
         Assert.Equal(2, snapshots.Count);
@@ -447,7 +433,8 @@ public sealed class AlarmDispatcherTests
         using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(
             consumer,
             new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(new MxAccessEventQueue(), new MxAccessEventMapper()),
-            SessionId);
+            SessionId,
+            new FakeAckWriter());
 
         IReadOnlyList<ActiveAlarmSnapshot> snapshots = dispatcher.SnapshotActiveAlarms(out _);
         Assert.Equal(2, snapshots.Count);
@@ -482,7 +469,8 @@ public sealed class AlarmDispatcherTests
         using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(
             consumer,
             new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(new MxAccessEventQueue(), new MxAccessEventMapper()),
-            SessionId);
+            SessionId,
+            new FakeAckWriter());
 
         IReadOnlyList<ActiveAlarmSnapshot> snapshots = dispatcher.SnapshotActiveAlarms(out bool truncated);
 
@@ -512,7 +500,8 @@ public sealed class AlarmDispatcherTests
         using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(
             consumer,
             new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(new MxAccessEventQueue(), new MxAccessEventMapper()),
-            SessionId);
+            SessionId,
+            new FakeAckWriter());
 
         IReadOnlyList<ActiveAlarmSnapshot> snapshots = dispatcher.SnapshotActiveAlarms(out bool truncated);
 
@@ -542,7 +531,7 @@ public sealed class AlarmDispatcherTests
         FakeAlarmConsumer consumer = new FakeAlarmConsumer();
         MxAccessEventQueue queue = new MxAccessEventQueue();
         MxAccessAlarmEventSink sink = new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(queue, new MxAccessEventMapper());
-        AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(consumer, sink, SessionId);
+        AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(consumer, sink, SessionId, new FakeAckWriter());
 
         dispatcher.Dispose();
 
@@ -569,20 +558,12 @@ public sealed class AlarmDispatcherTests
 
         /// <summary>Gets the last subscription reference.</summary>
         public string? LastSubscription { get; private set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets the GUID from the last acknowledge call.</summary>
-        public Guid LastAckGuid { get; private set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets the comment from the last acknowledge call.</summary>
-        public string? LastAckComment { get; private set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets the operator name from the last acknowledge call.</summary>
-        public string? LastAckOperatorName { get; private set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets the operator node from the last acknowledge call.</summary>
-        public string? LastAckOperatorNode { get; private set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets the operator domain from the last acknowledge call.</summary>
-        public string? LastAckOperatorDomain { get; private set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets the operator full name from the last acknowledge call.</summary>
-        public string? LastAckOperatorFullName { get; private set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets or sets the return code for acknowledge operations.</summary>
-        public int AcknowledgeReturn { get; set; }
+        /// <summary>Gets or sets the ack target both resolve methods return.</summary>
+        public AlarmAckTarget AckTarget { get; set; } = AlarmAckTarget.For("Fake.Alarm.AckMsg");
+        /// <summary>Gets the GUID from the last ResolveAckTarget call.</summary>
+        public Guid LastResolvedGuid { get; private set; }
+        /// <summary>Gets the (name, provider, group) from the last ResolveAckTargetByName call.</summary>
+        public (string Name, string Provider, string Group)? LastResolvedName { get; private set; }
         /// <summary>Gets or sets the result collection for snapshot operations.</summary>
         public IReadOnlyList<MxAlarmSnapshotRecord> SnapshotResult { get; set; } =
             Array.Empty<MxAlarmSnapshotRecord>();
@@ -607,37 +588,19 @@ public sealed class AlarmDispatcherTests
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
-        public int AcknowledgeByGuid(
-            Guid alarmGuid,
-            string ackComment,
-            string ackOperatorName,
-            string ackOperatorNode,
-            string ackOperatorDomain,
-            string ackOperatorFullName)
+        public AlarmAckTarget ResolveAckTarget(Guid alarmGuid)
         {
-            LastAckGuid = alarmGuid;
-            LastAckComment = ackComment;
-            LastAckOperatorName = ackOperatorName;
-            LastAckOperatorNode = ackOperatorNode;
-            LastAckOperatorDomain = ackOperatorDomain;
-            LastAckOperatorFullName = ackOperatorFullName;
-            return AcknowledgeReturn;
+            LastResolvedGuid = alarmGuid;
+            return AckTarget;
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
-        public int AcknowledgeByName(
-            string alarmName, string providerName, string groupName,
-            string ackComment, string ackOperatorName, string ackOperatorNode,
-            string ackOperatorDomain, string ackOperatorFullName)
+        public AlarmAckTarget ResolveAckTargetByName(string alarmName, string providerName, string groupName)
         {
-            LastAckByNameTuple = (alarmName, providerName, groupName);
-            LastAckOperatorName = ackOperatorName;
-            return AcknowledgeReturn;
+            LastResolvedName = (alarmName, providerName, groupName);
+            return AckTarget;
         }
 
-        /// <summary>Gets the last acknowledge-by-name tuple (alarm name, provider, group).</summary>
-        public (string Name, string Provider, string Group)? LastAckByNameTuple { get; private set; }
-
         /// <summary>Gets or sets the truncation verdict this consumer reports with its snapshot.</summary>
         public bool SnapshotTruncated { get; set; }
 
@@ -664,49 +627,22 @@ public sealed class AlarmDispatcherTests
         }
     }
 
-    private sealed class FakeManagedAckClient : IManagedAlarmAckClient
+    private sealed class FakeAckWriter : IAlarmAckWriter
     {
-        /// <summary>Gets the last subscription expression.</summary>
-        public string? LastSubscription { get; private set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets the GUID from the last acknowledge call.</summary>
-        public Guid LastAckGuid { get; private set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets the operator domain from the last acknowledge call.</summary>
-        public string? LastAckOperatorDomain { get; private set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets the operator full name from the last acknowledge call.</summary>
-        public string? LastAckOperatorFullName { get; private set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets or sets the return code for acknowledge operations.</summary>
-        public int AcknowledgeReturn { get; set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets or sets a value indicating whether <see cref="Subscribe"/> throws.</summary>
-        public bool ThrowOnSubscribe { get; set; }
-        /// <summary>Gets a value indicating whether this instance has been disposed.</summary>
+        public string? LastItemAddress { get; private set; }
+        public string? LastComment { get; private set; }
+        public AlarmAckOperator? LastOperator { get; private set; }
+        public AlarmAckResult Result { get; set; } = AlarmAckResult.Create(AlarmAckOutcome.Applied, 0, string.Empty);
         public bool Disposed { get; private set; }
 
-        /// <inheritdoc />
-        public void Subscribe(string subscription)
+        public AlarmAckResult Acknowledge(string itemAddress, string comment, AlarmAckOperator ackOperator)
         {
-            if (ThrowOnSubscribe) throw new InvalidOperationException("RegisterConsumer returned 5.");
-            LastSubscription = subscription;
+            LastItemAddress = itemAddress;
+            LastComment = comment;
+            LastOperator = ackOperator;
+            return Result;
         }
 
-        /// <inheritdoc />
-        public int AcknowledgeByGuid(
-            Guid alarmGuid,
-            string comment,
-            string operatorName,
-            string operatorNode,
-            string operatorDomain,
-            string operatorFullName)
-        {
-            LastAckGuid = alarmGuid;
-            LastAckOperatorDomain = operatorDomain;
-            LastAckOperatorFullName = operatorFullName;
-            return AcknowledgeReturn;
-        }
-
-        /// <inheritdoc />
-        public void Dispose()
-        {
-            Disposed = true;
-        }
+        public void Dispose() => Disposed = true;
     }
 }

src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/MxAccessStaSessionTests.cs

@@ -663,15 +663,13 @@ public sealed class MxAccessStaSessionTests
         }
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
-        public int Acknowledge(Guid alarmGuid, string comment, string operatorUser,
-            string operatorNode, string operatorDomain, string operatorFullName)
-            => 0;
+        public AlarmAckResult Acknowledge(Guid alarmGuid, string comment, AlarmAckOperator ackOperator)
+            => AlarmAckResult.Create(AlarmAckOutcome.Applied, 0, string.Empty);
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
-        public int AcknowledgeByName(string alarmName, string providerName, string groupName,
-            string comment, string operatorUser, string operatorNode,
-            string operatorDomain, string operatorFullName)
-            => 0;
+        public AlarmAckResult AcknowledgeByName(string alarmName, string providerName, string groupName,
+            string comment, AlarmAckOperator ackOperator)
+            => AlarmAckResult.Create(AlarmAckOutcome.Applied, 0, string.Empty);
 
         /// <inheritdoc />
         public IReadOnlyList<ActiveAlarmSnapshot> QueryActive(

src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Probes/AlarmManagedGuidAckLiveSmokeTests.cs

@@ -1,229 +0,0 @@
-using System;
-using System.Collections.Concurrent;
-using System.Diagnostics;
-using System.Linq;
-using System.Threading;
-using ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
-using ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.MxAccess;
-using Xunit;
-using Xunit.Abstractions;
-
-namespace ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Probes;
-
-/// <summary>
-///     Live dev-rig smoke test for the MANAGED GUID-ack path — the
-///     <see cref="AaManagedAlarmAckConsumer"/> wired into
-///     <see cref="AlarmDispatcher"/>. Where <c>AlarmsLiveSmokeTests</c> acks by
-///     name through the wnwrap COM consumer, this acks by GUID through AVEVA's
-///     modern <c>aaAlarmManagedClient.AlarmClient.AlarmAckByGUID</c> — the path
-///     that carries operator domain + full name and is not <c>E_NOTIMPL</c>.
-///
-///     Flow: subscribe a wnwrap reader + a managed ack client to
-///     <c>\\&lt;machine&gt;\Galaxy!DEV</c>; wait for a Raise; pull a real
-///     (non-degraded) alarm GUID from the reader's snapshot; ack it by GUID via
-///     the dispatcher (which routes to the managed client); then assert the ack
-///     registers as a subsequent <see cref="AlarmTransitionKind.Acknowledge"/>
-///     transition (and that the active snapshot shows the alarm acked).
-///
-///     This is the runtime confirmation the static work could not close: that an
-///     authenticated GUID ack actually flips state. rc=0 alone is "accepted",
-///     not "applied" — the Acknowledge transition is the real assertion. For a
-///     SECURED alarm the ack must run under an operator with Operate permission;
-///     run the dev-rig flip script and, if the test UDA is secured, an
-///     authenticated operator session (see docs/AlarmProbeFindings.md).
-///
-///     Skip-gated; flip <c>Skip=null</c> on the dev rig with AVEVA +
-///     aaAlarmManagedClient.dll present and the flip script running.
-/// </summary>
-public sealed class AlarmManagedGuidAckLiveSmokeTests
-{
-    private static readonly string SubscriptionExpression =
-        $@"\\{Environment.MachineName}\Galaxy!DEV";
-    private static readonly TimeSpan TransitionWaitTimeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(20);
-    private static readonly TimeSpan RaiseWait = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(30);
-    private static readonly TimeSpan AckConfirmWait = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(30);
-
-    private const string SessionId = "alarms-managed-guid-ack-smoke";
-
-    private readonly ITestOutputHelper output;
-    private readonly Stopwatch elapsed = Stopwatch.StartNew();
-    private readonly ConcurrentQueue<string> log = new ConcurrentQueue<string>();
-
-    /// <summary>Initializes a new instance of the AlarmManagedGuidAckLiveSmokeTests class.</summary>
-    /// <param name="output">Test output helper for logging.</param>
-    public AlarmManagedGuidAckLiveSmokeTests(ITestOutputHelper output)
-    {
-        this.output = output;
-    }
-
-    /// <summary>Acks a live alarm by GUID through the managed client and verifies the acked transition.</summary>
-    [Fact(Skip = "Live dev-rig smoke test — flip Skip=null with AVEVA + aaAlarmManagedClient.dll + the alarm flip script, and an operator authorized to ack.")]
-    public void ManagedGuidAck_AcksActiveAlarm_RegistersAcknowledge()
-    {
-        Exception? threadException = null;
-        var done = new ManualResetEventSlim(false);
-        var thread = new Thread(() =>
-        {
-            try { RunSmoke(); }
-            catch (Exception ex) { threadException = ex; }
-            finally { done.Set(); }
-        });
-        thread.IsBackground = false;
-        thread.SetApartmentState(ApartmentState.STA);
-        thread.Start();
-        done.Wait();
-        thread.Join();
-
-        output.WriteLine($"Captured {log.Count} log line(s):");
-        while (log.TryDequeue(out string? line)) output.WriteLine(line);
-
-        if (threadException != null) throw threadException;
-    }
-
-    private void RunSmoke()
-    {
-        Log($"Subscription expression: {SubscriptionExpression}");
-
-        MxAccessEventQueue queue = new MxAccessEventQueue();
-        WnWrapAlarmConsumer consumer = new WnWrapAlarmConsumer(
-            new WNWRAPCONSUMERLib.wwAlarmConsumerClass(),
-            maxAlarmsPerFetch: 1024);
-        MxAccessAlarmEventSink sink = new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(queue, new MxAccessEventMapper());
-
-        // Construct the managed ack client directly (production selects it via
-        // AaManagedAlarmAckConsumer.EnvGatedFactory when MXGATEWAY_USE_MANAGED_ALARM_ACK=1).
-        using IManagedAlarmAckClient managedAck =
-            new AaManagedAlarmAckConsumer(SessionId + ".ack");
-        using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher =
-            new AlarmDispatcher(consumer, sink, SessionId, managedAck);
-
-        Log("Constructed reader + managed ack client + dispatcher.");
-        dispatcher.Subscribe(SubscriptionExpression);
-        Log("Subscribe (reader + managed ack) -> ok. Driving PollOnce from this STA...");
-
-        // 1. Wait for a Raise so there is an active, unacked alarm to ack.
-        OnAlarmTransitionEvent? raiseBody = null;
-        DateTime raiseDeadline = DateTime.UtcNow + RaiseWait;
-        while (DateTime.UtcNow < raiseDeadline && raiseBody is null)
-        {
-            WorkerEvent? evt = WaitForTransition(queue, TransitionWaitTimeout, "raise", consumer);
-            if (evt is null) break;
-            OnAlarmTransitionEvent body = evt.Event.OnAlarmTransition;
-            Log("Transition: " + DescribeTransition(body));
-            Assert.Equal(SessionId, evt.Event.SessionId);
-            if (body.TransitionKind == AlarmTransitionKind.Raise) raiseBody = body;
-        }
-        Assert.NotNull(raiseBody);
-
-        // 2. Pull a REAL alarm GUID from the reader's snapshot (alarmmgr mode).
-        //    Skip degraded/subtag records — their GUID is synthetic and not
-        //    valid for AlarmAckByGUID.
-        var records = consumer.SnapshotActiveAlarms(out _);
-        Log($"Snapshot records: {records.Count}");
-        foreach (var r in records)
-            Log($"  rec guid={r.AlarmGuid} state={r.State} degraded={r.Degraded} ref={r.ProviderName}!{r.Group}.{r.TagName}");
-
-        MxAlarmSnapshotRecord? target = records.FirstOrDefault(r =>
-            !r.Degraded &&
-            r.AlarmGuid != Guid.Empty &&
-            r.State == MxAlarmStateKind.UnackAlm);
-        Assert.NotNull(target);
-        Log($"Ack target GUID={target!.AlarmGuid} ref={target.ProviderName}!{target.Group}.{target.TagName}");
-
-        // 3. Ack by GUID through the dispatcher -> managed AlarmAckByGUID, with
-        //    the current Windows identity (domain + full name are carried
-        //    natively on this path, unlike the wnwrap 6-arg AckByName).
-        string user = Environment.UserName;
-        string node = Environment.MachineName;
-        string domain = Environment.UserDomainName ?? string.Empty;
-        Log($"Ack identity user='{user}' node='{node}' domain='{domain}'");
-
-        int rc = dispatcher.Acknowledge(
-            alarmGuid: target.AlarmGuid,
-            ackComment: "managed-guid-ack smoke",
-            ackOperatorName: user,
-            ackOperatorNode: node,
-            ackOperatorDomain: domain,
-            ackOperatorFullName: user);
-        Log($"dispatcher.Acknowledge(managed GUID) -> rc={rc}");
-        Assert.Equal(0, rc);
-
-        // 4. The ack must APPLY, not merely be accepted: wait for an
-        //    Acknowledge transition on the same alarm, or the snapshot showing
-        //    it acked. rc=0 with neither is the inert-ack failure the probe saw.
-        bool acked = false;
-        DateTime confirmDeadline = DateTime.UtcNow + AckConfirmWait;
-        while (DateTime.UtcNow < confirmDeadline && !acked)
-        {
-            WorkerEvent? evt = WaitForTransition(queue, TransitionWaitTimeout, "post-ack", consumer);
-            if (evt is not null)
-            {
-                OnAlarmTransitionEvent body = evt.Event.OnAlarmTransition;
-                Log("Post-ack transition: " + DescribeTransition(body));
-                if (body.TransitionKind == AlarmTransitionKind.Acknowledge)
-                {
-                    acked = true;
-                    break;
-                }
-            }
-
-            // Also accept the active snapshot flipping to an acked state for the
-            // target GUID, in case the ack delta was folded without a discrete
-            // Acknowledge transition.
-            var now = consumer.SnapshotActiveAlarms(out _);
-            if (now.Any(r => r.AlarmGuid == target.AlarmGuid &&
-                             (r.State == MxAlarmStateKind.AckAlm || !string.IsNullOrEmpty(r.OperatorName))))
-            {
-                Log("Snapshot shows target GUID acked (AckAlm / operator populated).");
-                acked = true;
-            }
-        }
-
-        Assert.True(
-            acked,
-            "Managed GUID ack returned rc=0 but no Acknowledge transition or acked snapshot was observed " +
-            "within the confirm window — the ack was accepted but not applied (see docs/AlarmProbeFindings.md; " +
-            "most likely the alarm's MxSecurityOperate classification requires an authenticated operator).");
-    }
-
-    private WorkerEvent? WaitForTransition(
-        MxAccessEventQueue queue,
-        TimeSpan timeout,
-        string label,
-        WnWrapAlarmConsumer consumer)
-    {
-        DateTime deadline = DateTime.UtcNow + timeout;
-        int pollCount = 0;
-        while (DateTime.UtcNow < deadline)
-        {
-            try
-            {
-                consumer.PollOnce();
-                pollCount++;
-            }
-            catch (Exception ex)
-            {
-                Log($"PollOnce threw on poll #{pollCount + 1}: {ex.GetType().Name}: {ex.Message}");
-                throw;
-            }
-            if (queue.TryDequeue(out WorkerEvent? evt) && evt is not null)
-            {
-                if (evt.Event.Family == MxEventFamily.OnAlarmTransition) return evt;
-                Log($"Skipped non-alarm event (family={evt.Event.Family}) while waiting for {label}.");
-            }
-            Thread.Sleep(500);
-        }
-        Log($"Timed out waiting for {label} transition after {timeout.TotalSeconds:F0}s (polls={pollCount}).");
-        return null;
-    }
-
-    private static string DescribeTransition(OnAlarmTransitionEvent body)
-    {
-        return string.Format(
-            "kind={0} ref='{1}' operator='{2}' comment='{3}' ts={4:o}",
-            body.TransitionKind, body.AlarmFullReference, body.OperatorUser, body.OperatorComment,
-            body.TransitionTimestamp?.ToDateTime() ?? DateTime.MinValue);
-    }
-
-    private void Log(string line) => log.Enqueue($"[t={elapsed.Elapsed.TotalSeconds:F3}s] {line}");
-}

src/ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Probes/AlarmsLiveSmokeTests.cs

@@ -86,7 +86,12 @@ public sealed class AlarmsLiveSmokeTests
             new WNWRAPCONSUMERLib.wwAlarmConsumerClass(),
             maxAlarmsPerFetch: 1024);
         MxAccessAlarmEventSink sink = new MxAccessAlarmEventSink(queue, new MxAccessEventMapper());
-        using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(consumer, sink, SessionId);
+        using AlarmAckWriter ackWriter = new AlarmAckWriter(
+            new MxAccessComObjectFactory(),
+            () => new ZB.MOM.WW.MxGateway.Worker.Sta.StaMessagePump().PumpPendingMessages(),
+            TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5),
+            AlarmAckWriter.DefaultClientName);
+        using AlarmDispatcher dispatcher = new AlarmDispatcher(consumer, sink, SessionId, ackWriter);
 
         Log("Constructed consumer + sink + dispatcher.");
         dispatcher.Subscribe(SubscriptionExpression);
@@ -139,26 +144,23 @@ public sealed class AlarmsLiveSmokeTests
             $"Captured reference '{raiseBody.AlarmFullReference}' did not parse as Provider!Group.Tag.");
         Log($"Ack target: provider='{provider}' group='{group}' name='{alarmName}'");
 
-        // Try the ack with real Windows identity. AVEVA's AlarmAckByName
-        // may reject synthetic operator strings; using the current process
-        // identity gives the alarm-history a recognizable principal.
-        string realUser = Environment.UserName;
-        string realNode = Environment.MachineName;
-        string realDomain = Environment.UserDomainName ?? string.Empty;
-        Log($"Ack identity: user='{realUser}' node='{realNode}' domain='{realDomain}'");
+        // The ack authenticates a Galaxy operator and writes <tag>.AckMsg.
+        // Operator credentials come from the environment (never logged);
+        // the user defaults to the current process identity.
+        AlarmAckOperator ackOperator = new AlarmAckOperator
+        {
+            UserName = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("MXGATEWAY_PROBE_ACK_USER") ?? Environment.UserName,
+            Password = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("MXGATEWAY_PROBE_ACK_PASSWORD") ?? string.Empty,
+        };
+        Log($"Ack identity: {ackOperator}");
 
-        int rc = dispatcher.AcknowledgeByName(
-            alarmName: alarmName,
-            providerName: provider,
-            groupName: group,
-            ackComment: "alarms-live-smoke ack",
-            ackOperatorName: realUser,
-            ackOperatorNode: realNode,
-            ackOperatorDomain: realDomain,
-            ackOperatorFullName: realUser);
-        Log($"AcknowledgeByName(real identity) -> rc={rc}");
+        AlarmAckResult result = dispatcher.AcknowledgeByName(
+            alarmName, provider, group, "alarms-live-smoke ack", ackOperator);
+        Log($"AcknowledgeByName -> outcome={result.Outcome} native={result.NativeStatus} diag='{result.Diagnostic}'");
 
-        Assert.Equal(0, rc);
+        Assert.True(
+            result.Outcome == AlarmAckOutcome.Applied || result.Outcome == AlarmAckOutcome.Unconfirmed,
+            $"Ack outcome {result.Outcome}: {result.Diagnostic}");
 
         // 4. Wait for the post-ack transition. With the alarm flipping every
         //    10s and the consumer polling every 500ms, the next state