Issue #24: create mxaccess com object on sta

Verified with dotnet build src\\MxGateway.sln and dotnet test src\\MxGateway.sln.

docs/gateway-process-design.md

@@ -330,6 +330,20 @@ The worker remains authoritative for MXAccess handles. The gateway may keep a
 shadow state for diagnostics, but it must not invent, rewrite, or recycle
 MXAccess handles.
 
+`SessionManager` owns the current in-memory session registry. It allocates a
+session id, creates the worker pipe name and nonce, registers the session before
+worker startup, and removes the session if startup fails. A successful
+`OpenSession` attaches the ready `IWorkerClient` and transitions the session to
+`Ready`.
+
+Only `Ready` sessions accept command and event operations. `CloseSession` is
+idempotent for sessions still known to the registry: the first close shuts down
+the worker, and later closes return the final `Closed` state. Lease handling is
+exposed as a session hook so a monitor can close expired sessions without
+embedding lease policy in the worker client. Gateway shutdown walks the
+registry, closes each known session, and kills a worker if graceful shutdown
+fails.
+
 ## Worker Launch
 
 The gateway should launch the worker using explicit configuration:
@@ -411,7 +425,7 @@ session ids as protocol faults and close the session.
 
 `WorkerClient` is the gateway-side object that owns one worker connection.
 
-Suggested public shape:
+Current public shape:
 
 ```csharp
 public interface IWorkerClient : IAsyncDisposable
@@ -419,6 +433,7 @@ public interface IWorkerClient : IAsyncDisposable
     string SessionId { get; }
     int? ProcessId { get; }
     WorkerClientState State { get; }
+    DateTimeOffset LastHeartbeatAt { get; }
 
     Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken);
     Task<WorkerCommandReply> InvokeAsync(
@@ -438,12 +453,17 @@ Internally it owns:
 - pipe stream,
 - read loop,
 - write loop,
-- bounded outbound command/control channel,
+- outbound command/control channel serialized by the write loop,
 - bounded inbound event channel,
 - pending command dictionary keyed by correlation id,
 - heartbeat monitor,
 - terminal fault source.
 
+`StartAsync` sends `GatewayHello`, verifies the `WorkerHello` protocol version
+and nonce, waits for `WorkerReady`, and only then exposes `Ready` state. The
+read loop starts after readiness so the handshake has a single owner for its
+ordered frames.
+
 ### Read Loop
 
 The read loop:
@@ -612,6 +632,15 @@ hashes the presented secret, and compares the stored and presented hashes with
 results distinguish malformed credentials, missing keys, revoked keys, missing
 pepper configuration, and hash mismatch for internal authorization handling.
 
+`GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptor` enforces this authentication model for
+public gRPC calls. Missing, malformed, revoked, unknown, or mismatched keys fail
+with `Unauthenticated`. Authenticated calls missing the scope required by the
+RPC fail with `PermissionDenied`. The interceptor applies to unary calls and
+server-streaming calls and stores the authenticated `ApiKeyIdentity` in
+`IGatewayRequestIdentityAccessor` for the duration of the request handler.
+`Authentication:Mode` set to `Disabled` bypasses API-key verification for local
+development only.
+
 Recommended scopes:
 
 - `session:open`
@@ -631,6 +660,23 @@ gRPC admin API. It should initialize the auth database, create keys, list keys
 without secrets, revoke keys, rotate keys, and print raw secrets only once at
 creation.
 
+`MxGateway.Server` exposes local API-key administration as an `apikey`
+subcommand before the web host starts:
+
+```bash
+MxGateway.Server apikey init-db --sqlite-path C:\ProgramData\MxGateway\gateway-auth.db
+MxGateway.Server apikey create-key --key-id operator01 --display-name Operator --scopes session:open,events:read
+MxGateway.Server apikey list-keys --json
+MxGateway.Server apikey revoke-key --key-id operator01
+MxGateway.Server apikey rotate-key --key-id operator01 --json
+```
+
+The subcommands accept `--sqlite-path`, `--pepper`, and `--json`. `--pepper`
+sets the local `MxGateway:ApiKeyPepper` configuration value for the command
+process; deployments should normally provide the pepper through the configured
+secret source. `create-key` and `rotate-key` print the full raw API key exactly
+once. `list-keys` never prints raw secrets or `secret_hash` values.
+
 SQLite auth storage should use startup migrations with a `schema_version` table.
 Migrations should run inside transactions and fail startup if the database
 schema is newer than the running binary understands.
@@ -660,6 +706,20 @@ Commands requiring authorization:
 - worker shutdown diagnostics,
 - metadata queries if they expose sensitive plant structure.
 
+Current gRPC scope mapping:
+
+- `OpenSession` requires `session:open`.
+- `CloseSession` requires `session:close`.
+- `StreamEvents` and `DrainEvents` require `events:read`.
+- read-style MXAccess commands such as `Register`, `AddItem`, `Advise`, and
+  `Ping` require `invoke:read`.
+- `Write` and `Write2` require `invoke:write`.
+- `WriteSecured`, `WriteSecured2`, and `AuthenticateUser` require
+  `invoke:secure`.
+- metadata commands such as `ArchestrAUserToId`, `GetSessionState`, and
+  `GetWorkerInfo` require `metadata:read`.
+- `ShutdownWorker` requires `admin`.
+
 ### Worker IPC
 
 Named pipes should be local only. Pipe ACLs should restrict access to:
@@ -802,6 +862,9 @@ workers and fake transports.
 Focused tests:
 
 - session state transitions,
+- gRPC API-key authentication for unary and streaming calls,
+- gRPC scope mapping for sessions, invokes, events, metadata, and admin
+  commands,
 - worker startup failures,
 - protocol version mismatch,
 - malformed frame handling,

docs/mxaccess-worker-instance-design.md

@@ -114,6 +114,21 @@ Startup sequence:
 If validation fails before MXAccess creation, exit quickly with a non-zero exit
 code. If MXAccess creation fails, send `WorkerFault` when possible and exit.
 
+The bootstrap layer returns structured exit codes before it creates pipes,
+starts the STA, or touches MXAccess:
+
+| Exit code | Name | Meaning |
+|-----------|------|---------|
+| `0` | `Success` | Required bootstrap options are valid. |
+| `1` | `UnexpectedFailure` | A non-bootstrap exception reaches the process boundary. |
+| `2` | `InvalidArguments` | Required arguments are missing or unknown arguments are present. |
+| `3` | `InvalidProtocolVersion` | `--protocol-version` is not numeric or does not match the supported worker protocol. |
+| `4` | `MissingNonce` | `MXGATEWAY_WORKER_NONCE` is absent or empty. |
+
+Bootstrap logs use `WorkerConsoleLogger` key/value output. `WorkerLogRedactor`
+redacts fields whose names indicate nonce, secret, password, token,
+credential, or API key values before the message is written.
+
 ## Internal Components
 
 ```text
@@ -235,6 +250,17 @@ The loop should update a heartbeat timestamp after:
 - finishing a command,
 - processing an MXAccess event.
 
+`StaRuntime` implements this runtime boundary in the worker. It starts one
+background thread named `MxGateway.Worker.STA`, sets it to `ApartmentState.STA`,
+initializes COM through `StaComApartmentInitializer`, and runs
+`StaMessagePump`. Commands are scheduled through `InvokeAsync`; the command
+queue signals an `AutoResetEvent` so `MsgWaitForMultipleObjectsEx` can wake the
+STA without busy-waiting. `LastActivityUtc` records pump, command, startup, and
+shutdown activity so the future heartbeat/watchdog can report whether the STA
+is still responsive. Shutdown marks the runtime as closing, wakes the pump,
+rejects new commands, cancels queued work, uninitializes COM on the STA, and
+waits for the thread to exit.
+
 ## COM Creation
 
 The MXAccess analysis source at `C:\Users\dohertj2\Desktop\mxaccess` identifies
@@ -263,6 +289,13 @@ The worker should reference the interop assembly and instantiate
 `LMXProxyServerClass` on the dedicated STA thread. Keep the ProgID and assembly
 path configurable for diagnostics, but this COM class is the v1 default.
 
+`MxAccessStaSession` owns the initial COM creation path. It starts `StaRuntime`,
+creates `LMXProxyServerClass` through `MxAccessComObjectFactory` on the STA,
+attaches `MxAccessBaseEventSink`, and returns `WorkerReady` only after those
+steps succeed. `MxAccessSession` keeps the raw COM object private, records the
+STA managed thread id that created it, detaches the base event sink during
+disposal, and releases the COM reference on the STA.
+
 Creation rules:
 
 - Create COM object only on the STA.
@@ -280,6 +313,11 @@ If COM creation fails, the worker should send a structured fault with:
 - worker process id,
 - session id.
 
+`WorkerPipeSession` maps startup exceptions from this path to
+`WorkerFaultCategory.MxaccessCreationFailed`, includes the captured HRESULT
+when the exception exposes one, and does not send `WorkerReady` after a failed
+COM creation attempt.
+
 ## Event Sink
 
 The worker must subscribe to every public MXAccess event family:

gateway.md

@@ -566,9 +566,13 @@ Because each client owns one worker, a crash or leak affects only that session.
 External gateway:
 
 - use TLS for remote gRPC if crossing machine boundaries,
-- authenticate clients with Windows auth, mTLS, or a deployment-specific token,
-- authorize access to commands that can write, authenticate users, or alter
-  runtime state.
+- authenticate v1 gRPC clients with `authorization: Bearer
+  mxgw_<key-id>_<secret>` API-key metadata,
+- reject missing or invalid API keys with gRPC `Unauthenticated`,
+- reject valid keys that lack the required session, invoke, event, metadata, or
+  admin scope with gRPC `PermissionDenied`,
+- authorize access to commands that can write, authenticate users, expose
+  metadata, stream events, or alter runtime state.
 
 Internal worker IPC:
 
@@ -795,6 +799,12 @@ Core operations:
 - track worker state,
 - close or kill worker.
 
+The gateway implementation keeps sessions in an in-memory `SessionRegistry`
+keyed by session id. `SessionManager` owns the state machine, creates
+per-session pipe names and nonces, starts the worker through the worker-client
+factory, gates commands to `Ready` sessions, exposes lease-close hooks, and
+cleans up workers during gateway shutdown.
+
 State machine:
 
 ```text

src/MxGateway.Server/GatewayApplication.cs

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ using MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
 using MxGateway.Server.Diagnostics;
 using MxGateway.Server.Metrics;
 using MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+using MxGateway.Server.Security.Authorization;
+using MxGateway.Server.Sessions;
 using MxGateway.Server.Workers;
 
 namespace MxGateway.Server;
@@ -26,9 +28,11 @@ public static class GatewayApplication
 
         builder.Services.AddGatewayConfiguration();
         builder.Services.AddSqliteAuthStore();
+        builder.Services.AddGatewayGrpcAuthorization();
         builder.Services.AddHealthChecks();
         builder.Services.AddSingleton<GatewayMetrics>();
         builder.Services.AddWorkerProcessLauncher();
+        builder.Services.AddGatewaySessions();
 
         return builder;
     }

src/MxGateway.Server/MxGateway.Server.csproj

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Grpc.AspNetCore" Version="2.76.0" />
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Data.Sqlite" Version="10.0.7" />
   </ItemGroup>
 

src/MxGateway.Server/Program.cs

@@ -1,7 +1,43 @@
 using MxGateway.Server;
+using MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
+using MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
 
-var app = GatewayApplication.Build(args);
+ApiKeyAdminParseResult apiKeyAdminCommand = ApiKeyAdminCommandLineParser.Parse(args);
+if (apiKeyAdminCommand.IsApiKeyCommand)
+{
+    if (apiKeyAdminCommand.Command is null)
+    {
+        await Console.Error.WriteLineAsync(apiKeyAdminCommand.Error);
+        return 2;
+    }
+
+    WebApplicationBuilder builder = GatewayApplication.CreateBuilder([]);
+    ApplyApiKeyAdminOverrides(builder.Configuration, apiKeyAdminCommand.Command);
+    await using WebApplication cliApp = builder.Build();
+    await using AsyncServiceScope scope = cliApp.Services.CreateAsyncScope();
+
+    ApiKeyAdminCliRunner runner = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<ApiKeyAdminCliRunner>();
+
+    return await runner.RunAsync(apiKeyAdminCommand.Command, Console.Out, CancellationToken.None);
+}
+
+WebApplication app = GatewayApplication.Build(args);
 
 app.Run();
 
+return 0;
+
+static void ApplyApiKeyAdminOverrides(IConfiguration configuration, ApiKeyAdminCommand command)
+{
+    if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(command.SqlitePath))
+    {
+        configuration[$"{GatewayOptions.SectionName}:Authentication:SqlitePath"] = command.SqlitePath;
+    }
+
+    if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(command.Pepper))
+    {
+        configuration["MxGateway:ApiKeyPepper"] = command.Pepper;
+    }
+}
+
 public partial class Program;

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authentication/ApiKeyAdminCliRunner.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+using System.Text.Json;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+public sealed class ApiKeyAdminCliRunner(
+    IAuthStoreMigrator migrator,
+    IApiKeyAdminStore adminStore,
+    IApiKeyAuditStore auditStore,
+    IApiKeySecretHasher hasher)
+{
+    private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions JsonOptions = new()
+    {
+        WriteIndented = true
+    };
+
+    public async Task<int> RunAsync(
+        ApiKeyAdminCommand command,
+        TextWriter output,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        ApiKeyAdminOutput result = command.Kind switch
+        {
+            ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.InitDb => await InitDbAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false),
+            ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.CreateKey => await CreateKeyAsync(command, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false),
+            ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.ListKeys => await ListKeysAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false),
+            ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.RevokeKey => await RevokeKeyAsync(command, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false),
+            ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.RotateKey => await RotateKeyAsync(command, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false),
+            _ => throw new InvalidOperationException($"Unsupported API key command '{command.Kind}'.")
+        };
+
+        await WriteOutputAsync(command, result, output).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    private async Task<ApiKeyAdminOutput> InitDbAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        await migrator.MigrateAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        await AppendAuditAsync(null, "init-db", null, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        return new ApiKeyAdminOutput("init-db", "initialized", null, []);
+    }
+
+    private async Task<ApiKeyAdminOutput> CreateKeyAsync(
+        ApiKeyAdminCommand command,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        await migrator.MigrateAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        string keyId = Required(command.KeyId);
+        string secret = ApiKeySecretGenerator.Generate();
+        string apiKey = FormatApiKey(keyId, secret);
+
+        await adminStore.CreateAsync(
+                new ApiKeyCreateRequest(
+                    KeyId: keyId,
+                    KeyPrefix: $"mxgw_{keyId}",
+                    SecretHash: hasher.HashSecret(secret),
+                    DisplayName: Required(command.DisplayName),
+                    Scopes: command.Scopes,
+                    CreatedUtc: DateTimeOffset.UtcNow),
+                cancellationToken)
+            .ConfigureAwait(false);
+        await AppendAuditAsync(keyId, "create-key", null, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        return new ApiKeyAdminOutput("create-key", "created", apiKey, []);
+    }
+
+    private async Task<ApiKeyAdminOutput> ListKeysAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        await migrator.MigrateAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        IReadOnlyList<ApiKeyRecord> keys = await adminStore.ListAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        await AppendAuditAsync(null, "list-keys", null, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        return new ApiKeyAdminOutput(
+            "list-keys",
+            "ok",
+            null,
+            keys.Select(ToListedKey).ToArray());
+    }
+
+    private async Task<ApiKeyAdminOutput> RevokeKeyAsync(
+        ApiKeyAdminCommand command,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        await migrator.MigrateAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        string keyId = Required(command.KeyId);
+        bool revoked = await adminStore.RevokeAsync(keyId, DateTimeOffset.UtcNow, cancellationToken)
+            .ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        await AppendAuditAsync(keyId, "revoke-key", revoked ? "revoked" : "not-found-or-already-revoked", cancellationToken)
+            .ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        return new ApiKeyAdminOutput("revoke-key", revoked ? "revoked" : "not-found-or-already-revoked", null, []);
+    }
+
+    private async Task<ApiKeyAdminOutput> RotateKeyAsync(
+        ApiKeyAdminCommand command,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        await migrator.MigrateAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        string keyId = Required(command.KeyId);
+        string secret = ApiKeySecretGenerator.Generate();
+        string apiKey = FormatApiKey(keyId, secret);
+
+        bool rotated = await adminStore.RotateAsync(keyId, hasher.HashSecret(secret), DateTimeOffset.UtcNow, cancellationToken)
+            .ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        await AppendAuditAsync(keyId, "rotate-key", rotated ? "rotated" : "not-found", cancellationToken)
+            .ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        return new ApiKeyAdminOutput("rotate-key", rotated ? "rotated" : "not-found", rotated ? apiKey : null, []);
+    }
+
+    private static async Task WriteOutputAsync(
+        ApiKeyAdminCommand command,
+        ApiKeyAdminOutput result,
+        TextWriter output)
+    {
+        if (command.Json)
+        {
+            await output.WriteLineAsync(JsonSerializer.Serialize(result, JsonOptions)).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        await output.WriteLineAsync($"{result.Command}: {result.Status}").ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        if (result.ApiKey is not null)
+        {
+            await output.WriteLineAsync($"API key: {result.ApiKey}").ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+
+        foreach (ApiKeyAdminListedKey key in result.Keys)
+        {
+            string revoked = key.RevokedUtc is null ? "active" : "revoked";
+            await output.WriteLineAsync($"{key.KeyId}\t{key.DisplayName}\t{revoked}\t{string.Join(',', key.Scopes)}")
+                .ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task AppendAuditAsync(
+        string? keyId,
+        string eventType,
+        string? details,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        await auditStore.AppendAsync(
+                new ApiKeyAuditEntry(
+                    KeyId: keyId,
+                    EventType: eventType,
+                    RemoteAddress: null,
+                    Details: details),
+                cancellationToken)
+            .ConfigureAwait(false);
+    }
+
+    private static ApiKeyAdminListedKey ToListedKey(ApiKeyRecord key)
+    {
+        return new ApiKeyAdminListedKey(
+            KeyId: key.KeyId,
+            KeyPrefix: key.KeyPrefix,
+            DisplayName: key.DisplayName,
+            Scopes: key.Scopes,
+            CreatedUtc: key.CreatedUtc,
+            LastUsedUtc: key.LastUsedUtc,
+            RevokedUtc: key.RevokedUtc);
+    }
+
+    private static string FormatApiKey(string keyId, string secret)
+    {
+        return $"mxgw_{keyId}_{secret}";
+    }
+
+    private static string Required(string? value)
+    {
+        return value ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("Required command value was not provided.");
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authentication/ApiKeyAdminCommand.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+public sealed record ApiKeyAdminCommand(
+    ApiKeyAdminCommandKind Kind,
+    bool Json,
+    string? SqlitePath,
+    string? Pepper,
+    string? KeyId,
+    string? DisplayName,
+    IReadOnlySet<string> Scopes);

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authentication/ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+public enum ApiKeyAdminCommandKind
+{
+    InitDb,
+    CreateKey,
+    ListKeys,
+    RevokeKey,
+    RotateKey
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authentication/ApiKeyAdminCommandLineParser.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+public static class ApiKeyAdminCommandLineParser
+{
+    public static ApiKeyAdminParseResult Parse(IReadOnlyList<string> args)
+    {
+        if (args.Count == 0 || !string.Equals(args[0], "apikey", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+        {
+            return ApiKeyAdminParseResult.NotApiKeyCommand();
+        }
+
+        if (args.Count < 2)
+        {
+            return ApiKeyAdminParseResult.Fail("Missing apikey subcommand.");
+        }
+
+        if (!TryParseKind(args[1], out ApiKeyAdminCommandKind kind))
+        {
+            return ApiKeyAdminParseResult.Fail($"Unknown apikey subcommand '{args[1]}'.");
+        }
+
+        Dictionary<string, string?> options = new(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        bool json = false;
+
+        for (int index = 2; index < args.Count; index++)
+        {
+            string arg = args[index];
+            if (string.Equals(arg, "--json", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            {
+                json = true;
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            if (!arg.StartsWith("--", StringComparison.Ordinal))
+            {
+                return ApiKeyAdminParseResult.Fail($"Unexpected argument '{arg}'.");
+            }
+
+            string name = arg[2..];
+            string? value;
+
+            int equalsIndex = name.IndexOf('=', StringComparison.Ordinal);
+            if (equalsIndex >= 0)
+            {
+                value = name[(equalsIndex + 1)..];
+                name = name[..equalsIndex];
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                if (index + 1 >= args.Count || args[index + 1].StartsWith("--", StringComparison.Ordinal))
+                {
+                    return ApiKeyAdminParseResult.Fail($"Option '--{name}' requires a value.");
+                }
+
+                value = args[++index];
+            }
+
+            options[name] = value;
+        }
+
+        string? keyId = GetOption(options, "key-id");
+        string? displayName = GetOption(options, "display-name");
+        IReadOnlySet<string> scopes = ParseScopes(GetOption(options, "scopes"));
+
+        string? validationError = Validate(kind, keyId, displayName);
+        if (validationError is not null)
+        {
+            return ApiKeyAdminParseResult.Fail(validationError);
+        }
+
+        return ApiKeyAdminParseResult.Success(new ApiKeyAdminCommand(
+            Kind: kind,
+            Json: json,
+            SqlitePath: GetOption(options, "sqlite-path"),
+            Pepper: GetOption(options, "pepper"),
+            KeyId: keyId,
+            DisplayName: displayName,
+            Scopes: scopes));
+    }
+
+    private static bool TryParseKind(string value, out ApiKeyAdminCommandKind kind)
+    {
+        switch (value.ToLowerInvariant())
+        {
+            case "init-db":
+                kind = ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.InitDb;
+                return true;
+            case "create-key":
+                kind = ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.CreateKey;
+                return true;
+            case "list-keys":
+                kind = ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.ListKeys;
+                return true;
+            case "revoke-key":
+                kind = ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.RevokeKey;
+                return true;
+            case "rotate-key":
+                kind = ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.RotateKey;
+                return true;
+            default:
+                kind = default;
+                return false;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static string? Validate(ApiKeyAdminCommandKind kind, string? keyId, string? displayName)
+    {
+        if (kind is ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.CreateKey or ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.RevokeKey or ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.RotateKey
+            && string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(keyId))
+        {
+            return $"Subcommand '{KindName(kind)}' requires --key-id.";
+        }
+
+        if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(keyId) && !IsValidKeyId(keyId))
+        {
+            return "API key id may contain only letters, numbers, periods, and hyphens.";
+        }
+
+        if (kind == ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.CreateKey && string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(displayName))
+        {
+            return "Subcommand 'create-key' requires --display-name.";
+        }
+
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    private static string KindName(ApiKeyAdminCommandKind kind)
+    {
+        return kind switch
+        {
+            ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.InitDb => "init-db",
+            ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.CreateKey => "create-key",
+            ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.ListKeys => "list-keys",
+            ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.RevokeKey => "revoke-key",
+            ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.RotateKey => "rotate-key",
+            _ => kind.ToString()
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static bool IsValidKeyId(string keyId)
+    {
+        return keyId.All(character =>
+            char.IsAsciiLetterOrDigit(character)
+            || character is '.' or '-');
+    }
+
+    private static string? GetOption(Dictionary<string, string?> options, string name)
+    {
+        return options.TryGetValue(name, out string? value) ? value : null;
+    }
+
+    private static IReadOnlySet<string> ParseScopes(string? scopes)
+    {
+        return new HashSet<string>(
+            (scopes ?? string.Empty)
+                .Split(',', StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries | StringSplitOptions.TrimEntries),
+            StringComparer.Ordinal);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authentication/ApiKeyAdminListedKey.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+public sealed record ApiKeyAdminListedKey(
+    string KeyId,
+    string KeyPrefix,
+    string DisplayName,
+    IReadOnlySet<string> Scopes,
+    DateTimeOffset CreatedUtc,
+    DateTimeOffset? LastUsedUtc,
+    DateTimeOffset? RevokedUtc);

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authentication/ApiKeyAdminOutput.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+public sealed record ApiKeyAdminOutput(
+    string Command,
+    string Status,
+    string? ApiKey,
+    IReadOnlyList<ApiKeyAdminListedKey> Keys);

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authentication/ApiKeyAdminParseResult.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+public sealed record ApiKeyAdminParseResult(
+    bool IsApiKeyCommand,
+    ApiKeyAdminCommand? Command,
+    string? Error)
+{
+    public static ApiKeyAdminParseResult NotApiKeyCommand()
+    {
+        return new ApiKeyAdminParseResult(false, null, null);
+    }
+
+    public static ApiKeyAdminParseResult Success(ApiKeyAdminCommand command)
+    {
+        return new ApiKeyAdminParseResult(true, command, null);
+    }
+
+    public static ApiKeyAdminParseResult Fail(string error)
+    {
+        return new ApiKeyAdminParseResult(true, null, error);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authentication/ApiKeyCreateRequest.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+public sealed record ApiKeyCreateRequest(
+    string KeyId,
+    string KeyPrefix,
+    byte[] SecretHash,
+    string DisplayName,
+    IReadOnlySet<string> Scopes,
+    DateTimeOffset CreatedUtc);

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authentication/ApiKeyRecordReader.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+using Microsoft.Data.Sqlite;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+public static class ApiKeyRecordReader
+{
+    public static ApiKeyRecord Read(SqliteDataReader reader)
+    {
+        return new ApiKeyRecord(
+            KeyId: reader.GetString(0),
+            KeyPrefix: reader.GetString(1),
+            SecretHash: (byte[])reader["secret_hash"],
+            DisplayName: reader.GetString(3),
+            Scopes: ApiKeyScopeSerializer.Deserialize(reader.GetString(4)),
+            CreatedUtc: DateTimeOffset.Parse(reader.GetString(5), System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture),
+            LastUsedUtc: ReadNullableDateTimeOffset(reader, 6),
+            RevokedUtc: ReadNullableDateTimeOffset(reader, 7));
+    }
+
+    private static DateTimeOffset? ReadNullableDateTimeOffset(SqliteDataReader reader, int ordinal)
+    {
+        return reader.IsDBNull(ordinal)
+            ? null
+            : DateTimeOffset.Parse(reader.GetString(ordinal), System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authentication/ApiKeySecretGenerator.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+using System.Security.Cryptography;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+public static class ApiKeySecretGenerator
+{
+    public static string Generate()
+    {
+        Span<byte> bytes = stackalloc byte[32];
+        RandomNumberGenerator.Fill(bytes);
+
+        return Convert.ToBase64String(bytes)
+            .TrimEnd('=')
+            .Replace('+', '-')
+            .Replace('/', '_');
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authentication/AuthStoreServiceCollectionExtensions.cs

@@ -7,9 +7,11 @@ public static class AuthStoreServiceCollectionExtensions
         services.AddSingleton<IApiKeyParser, ApiKeyParser>();
         services.AddSingleton<IApiKeySecretHasher, ApiKeySecretHasher>();
         services.AddSingleton<IApiKeyVerifier, ApiKeyVerifier>();
+        services.AddSingleton<ApiKeyAdminCliRunner>();
         services.AddSingleton<AuthSqliteConnectionFactory>();
         services.AddSingleton<IAuthStoreMigrator, SqliteAuthStoreMigrator>();
         services.AddSingleton<IApiKeyStore, SqliteApiKeyStore>();
+        services.AddSingleton<IApiKeyAdminStore, SqliteApiKeyAdminStore>();
         services.AddSingleton<IApiKeyAuditStore, SqliteApiKeyAuditStore>();
         services.AddHostedService<AuthStoreMigrationHostedService>();
 

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authentication/IApiKeyAdminStore.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+public interface IApiKeyAdminStore
+{
+    Task CreateAsync(ApiKeyCreateRequest request, CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    Task<IReadOnlyList<ApiKeyRecord>> ListAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    Task<bool> RevokeAsync(string keyId, DateTimeOffset revokedUtc, CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    Task<bool> RotateAsync(
+        string keyId,
+        byte[] secretHash,
+        DateTimeOffset rotatedUtc,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authentication/SqliteApiKeyAdminStore.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+using Microsoft.Data.Sqlite;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+public sealed class SqliteApiKeyAdminStore(AuthSqliteConnectionFactory connectionFactory) : IApiKeyAdminStore
+{
+    public async Task CreateAsync(ApiKeyCreateRequest request, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        await using SqliteConnection connection = connectionFactory.CreateConnection();
+        await connection.OpenAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        await using SqliteCommand command = connection.CreateCommand();
+        command.CommandText = """
+            INSERT INTO api_keys (
+                key_id,
+                key_prefix,
+                secret_hash,
+                display_name,
+                scopes,
+                created_utc,
+                last_used_utc,
+                revoked_utc)
+            VALUES (
+                $key_id,
+                $key_prefix,
+                $secret_hash,
+                $display_name,
+                $scopes,
+                $created_utc,
+                NULL,
+                NULL);
+            """;
+        AddCreateParameters(command, request);
+
+        await command.ExecuteNonQueryAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+    }
+
+    public async Task<IReadOnlyList<ApiKeyRecord>> ListAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        await using SqliteConnection connection = connectionFactory.CreateConnection();
+        await connection.OpenAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        await using SqliteCommand command = connection.CreateCommand();
+        command.CommandText = """
+            SELECT key_id, key_prefix, secret_hash, display_name, scopes, created_utc, last_used_utc, revoked_utc
+            FROM api_keys
+            ORDER BY key_id;
+            """;
+
+        List<ApiKeyRecord> records = [];
+
+        await using SqliteDataReader reader = await command.ExecuteReaderAsync(cancellationToken)
+            .ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        while (await reader.ReadAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false))
+        {
+            records.Add(ApiKeyRecordReader.Read(reader));
+        }
+
+        return records;
+    }
+
+    public async Task<bool> RevokeAsync(string keyId, DateTimeOffset revokedUtc, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        await using SqliteConnection connection = connectionFactory.CreateConnection();
+        await connection.OpenAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        await using SqliteCommand command = connection.CreateCommand();
+        command.CommandText = """
+            UPDATE api_keys
+            SET revoked_utc = $revoked_utc
+            WHERE key_id = $key_id AND revoked_utc IS NULL;
+            """;
+        command.Parameters.AddWithValue("$key_id", keyId);
+        command.Parameters.AddWithValue("$revoked_utc", revokedUtc.ToString("O"));
+
+        int rows = await command.ExecuteNonQueryAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        return rows > 0;
+    }
+
+    public async Task<bool> RotateAsync(
+        string keyId,
+        byte[] secretHash,
+        DateTimeOffset rotatedUtc,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        await using SqliteConnection connection = connectionFactory.CreateConnection();
+        await connection.OpenAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        await using SqliteCommand command = connection.CreateCommand();
+        command.CommandText = """
+            UPDATE api_keys
+            SET secret_hash = $secret_hash,
+                last_used_utc = NULL,
+                revoked_utc = NULL
+            WHERE key_id = $key_id;
+            """;
+        command.Parameters.AddWithValue("$key_id", keyId);
+        command.Parameters.Add("$secret_hash", SqliteType.Blob).Value = secretHash;
+
+        int rows = await command.ExecuteNonQueryAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        return rows > 0;
+    }
+
+    private static void AddCreateParameters(SqliteCommand command, ApiKeyCreateRequest request)
+    {
+        command.Parameters.AddWithValue("$key_id", request.KeyId);
+        command.Parameters.AddWithValue("$key_prefix", request.KeyPrefix);
+        command.Parameters.Add("$secret_hash", SqliteType.Blob).Value = request.SecretHash;
+        command.Parameters.AddWithValue("$display_name", request.DisplayName);
+        command.Parameters.AddWithValue("$scopes", ApiKeyScopeSerializer.Serialize(request.Scopes));
+        command.Parameters.AddWithValue("$created_utc", request.CreatedUtc.ToString("O"));
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authentication/SqliteApiKeyStore.cs

@@ -61,26 +61,6 @@ public sealed class SqliteApiKeyStore(AuthSqliteConnectionFactory connectionFact
             return null;
         }
 
-        return ReadApiKeyRecord(reader);
-    }
-
-    private static ApiKeyRecord ReadApiKeyRecord(SqliteDataReader reader)
-    {
-        return new ApiKeyRecord(
-            KeyId: reader.GetString(0),
-            KeyPrefix: reader.GetString(1),
-            SecretHash: (byte[])reader["secret_hash"],
-            DisplayName: reader.GetString(3),
-            Scopes: ApiKeyScopeSerializer.Deserialize(reader.GetString(4)),
-            CreatedUtc: DateTimeOffset.Parse(reader.GetString(5), System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture),
-            LastUsedUtc: ReadNullableDateTimeOffset(reader, 6),
-            RevokedUtc: ReadNullableDateTimeOffset(reader, 7));
-    }
-
-    private static DateTimeOffset? ReadNullableDateTimeOffset(SqliteDataReader reader, int ordinal)
-    {
-        return reader.IsDBNull(ordinal)
-            ? null
-            : DateTimeOffset.Parse(reader.GetString(ordinal), System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
+        return ApiKeyRecordReader.Read(reader);
     }
 }

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authorization/GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptor.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+using Grpc.Core;
+using Grpc.Core.Interceptors;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
+using MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
+using MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authorization;
+
+public sealed class GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptor(
+    IApiKeyVerifier apiKeyVerifier,
+    GatewayGrpcScopeResolver scopeResolver,
+    IGatewayRequestIdentityAccessor identityAccessor,
+    IOptions<GatewayOptions> options) : Interceptor
+{
+    public override async Task<TResponse> UnaryServerHandler<TRequest, TResponse>(
+        TRequest request,
+        ServerCallContext context,
+        UnaryServerMethod<TRequest, TResponse> continuation)
+    {
+        ApiKeyIdentity? identity = await AuthenticateAndAuthorizeAsync(request, context).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        IDisposable? identityScope = identity is null ? null : identityAccessor.Push(identity);
+        using (identityScope)
+        {
+            return await continuation(request, context).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public override async Task ServerStreamingServerHandler<TRequest, TResponse>(
+        TRequest request,
+        IServerStreamWriter<TResponse> responseStream,
+        ServerCallContext context,
+        ServerStreamingServerMethod<TRequest, TResponse> continuation)
+    {
+        ApiKeyIdentity? identity = await AuthenticateAndAuthorizeAsync(request, context).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        IDisposable? identityScope = identity is null ? null : identityAccessor.Push(identity);
+        using (identityScope)
+        {
+            await continuation(request, responseStream, context).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task<ApiKeyIdentity?> AuthenticateAndAuthorizeAsync<TRequest>(
+        TRequest request,
+        ServerCallContext context)
+        where TRequest : class
+    {
+        if (options.Value.Authentication.Mode == AuthenticationMode.Disabled)
+        {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        string? authorizationHeader = context.RequestHeaders.GetValue("authorization");
+        ApiKeyVerificationResult verificationResult = await apiKeyVerifier
+            .VerifyAsync(authorizationHeader, context.CancellationToken)
+            .ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        if (!verificationResult.Succeeded || verificationResult.Identity is null)
+        {
+            throw new RpcException(new Status(
+                StatusCode.Unauthenticated,
+                "Missing or invalid API key."));
+        }
+
+        string requiredScope = scopeResolver.ResolveRequiredScope(request);
+        if (!verificationResult.Identity.Scopes.Contains(requiredScope))
+        {
+            throw new RpcException(new Status(
+                StatusCode.PermissionDenied,
+                $"API key is missing required scope '{requiredScope}'."));
+        }
+
+        return verificationResult.Identity;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authorization/GatewayGrpcScopeResolver.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authorization;
+
+public sealed class GatewayGrpcScopeResolver
+{
+    public string ResolveRequiredScope(object request)
+    {
+        return request switch
+        {
+            OpenSessionRequest => GatewayScopes.SessionOpen,
+            CloseSessionRequest => GatewayScopes.SessionClose,
+            StreamEventsRequest => GatewayScopes.EventsRead,
+            MxCommandRequest commandRequest => ResolveCommandScope(commandRequest.Command?.Kind ?? MxCommandKind.Unspecified),
+            _ => GatewayScopes.Admin
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static string ResolveCommandScope(MxCommandKind kind)
+    {
+        return kind switch
+        {
+            MxCommandKind.Write or
+            MxCommandKind.Write2 => GatewayScopes.InvokeWrite,
+
+            MxCommandKind.WriteSecured or
+            MxCommandKind.WriteSecured2 or
+            MxCommandKind.AuthenticateUser => GatewayScopes.InvokeSecure,
+
+            MxCommandKind.ArchestraUserToId or
+            MxCommandKind.GetSessionState or
+            MxCommandKind.GetWorkerInfo => GatewayScopes.MetadataRead,
+
+            MxCommandKind.DrainEvents => GatewayScopes.EventsRead,
+            MxCommandKind.ShutdownWorker => GatewayScopes.Admin,
+
+            _ => GatewayScopes.InvokeRead
+        };
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authorization/GatewayRequestIdentityAccessor.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+using MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authorization;
+
+public sealed class GatewayRequestIdentityAccessor : IGatewayRequestIdentityAccessor
+{
+    private readonly AsyncLocal<ApiKeyIdentity?> currentIdentity = new();
+
+    public ApiKeyIdentity? Current => currentIdentity.Value;
+
+    public IDisposable Push(ApiKeyIdentity identity)
+    {
+        ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(identity);
+
+        ApiKeyIdentity? previousIdentity = currentIdentity.Value;
+        currentIdentity.Value = identity;
+
+        return new IdentityScope(this, previousIdentity);
+    }
+
+    private sealed class IdentityScope(
+        GatewayRequestIdentityAccessor accessor,
+        ApiKeyIdentity? previousIdentity) : IDisposable
+    {
+        private bool disposed;
+
+        public void Dispose()
+        {
+            if (disposed)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            accessor.currentIdentity.Value = previousIdentity;
+            disposed = true;
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authorization/GatewayScopes.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authorization;
+
+public static class GatewayScopes
+{
+    public const string SessionOpen = "session:open";
+    public const string SessionClose = "session:close";
+    public const string InvokeRead = "invoke:read";
+    public const string InvokeWrite = "invoke:write";
+    public const string InvokeSecure = "invoke:secure";
+    public const string EventsRead = "events:read";
+    public const string MetadataRead = "metadata:read";
+    public const string Admin = "admin";
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authorization/GrpcAuthorizationServiceCollectionExtensions.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+using Grpc.Core.Interceptors;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authorization;
+
+public static class GrpcAuthorizationServiceCollectionExtensions
+{
+    public static IServiceCollection AddGatewayGrpcAuthorization(this IServiceCollection services)
+    {
+        services.AddSingleton<GatewayGrpcScopeResolver>();
+        services.AddSingleton<IGatewayRequestIdentityAccessor, GatewayRequestIdentityAccessor>();
+        services.AddSingleton<GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptor>();
+        services.AddGrpc(options => options.Interceptors.Add<GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptor>());
+
+        return services;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Security/Authorization/IGatewayRequestIdentityAccessor.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+using MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Security.Authorization;
+
+public interface IGatewayRequestIdentityAccessor
+{
+    ApiKeyIdentity? Current { get; }
+
+    IDisposable Push(ApiKeyIdentity identity);
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Sessions/GatewaySession.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,290 @@
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Sessions;
+
+public sealed class GatewaySession
+{
+    private readonly object _syncRoot = new();
+    private readonly SemaphoreSlim _closeLock = new(1, 1);
+    private IWorkerClient? _workerClient;
+    private SessionState _state = SessionState.Creating;
+    private string? _finalFault;
+    private DateTimeOffset _lastClientActivityAt;
+    private DateTimeOffset? _leaseExpiresAt;
+    private bool _closeStarted;
+
+    public GatewaySession(
+        string sessionId,
+        string backendName,
+        string pipeName,
+        string nonce,
+        string? clientIdentity,
+        string? clientSessionName,
+        string? clientCorrelationId,
+        TimeSpan commandTimeout,
+        TimeSpan startupTimeout,
+        TimeSpan shutdownTimeout,
+        DateTimeOffset openedAt)
+    {
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(sessionId))
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentException("Session id is required.", nameof(sessionId));
+        }
+
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(backendName))
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentException("Backend name is required.", nameof(backendName));
+        }
+
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(pipeName))
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentException("Pipe name is required.", nameof(pipeName));
+        }
+
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(nonce))
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentException("Nonce is required.", nameof(nonce));
+        }
+
+        SessionId = sessionId;
+        BackendName = backendName;
+        PipeName = pipeName;
+        Nonce = nonce;
+        ClientIdentity = clientIdentity;
+        ClientSessionName = clientSessionName;
+        ClientCorrelationId = clientCorrelationId;
+        CommandTimeout = commandTimeout;
+        StartupTimeout = startupTimeout;
+        ShutdownTimeout = shutdownTimeout;
+        OpenedAt = openedAt;
+        _lastClientActivityAt = openedAt;
+    }
+
+    public string SessionId { get; }
+
+    public string BackendName { get; }
+
+    public string PipeName { get; }
+
+    public string Nonce { get; }
+
+    public string? ClientIdentity { get; }
+
+    public string? ClientSessionName { get; }
+
+    public string? ClientCorrelationId { get; }
+
+    public TimeSpan CommandTimeout { get; }
+
+    public TimeSpan StartupTimeout { get; }
+
+    public TimeSpan ShutdownTimeout { get; }
+
+    public DateTimeOffset OpenedAt { get; }
+
+    public int? WorkerProcessId => _workerClient?.ProcessId;
+
+    public IWorkerClient? WorkerClient => _workerClient;
+
+    public SessionState State
+    {
+        get
+        {
+            lock (_syncRoot)
+            {
+                return _state;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public DateTimeOffset LastClientActivityAt
+    {
+        get
+        {
+            lock (_syncRoot)
+            {
+                return _lastClientActivityAt;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public DateTimeOffset? LeaseExpiresAt
+    {
+        get
+        {
+            lock (_syncRoot)
+            {
+                return _leaseExpiresAt;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public string? FinalFault
+    {
+        get
+        {
+            lock (_syncRoot)
+            {
+                return _finalFault;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void AttachWorkerClient(IWorkerClient workerClient)
+    {
+        ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(workerClient);
+
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            _workerClient = workerClient;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void TransitionTo(SessionState nextState)
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            if (_state is SessionState.Closed)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            if (_state is SessionState.Faulted && nextState is not SessionState.Closed)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            _state = nextState;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void MarkReady()
+    {
+        TransitionTo(SessionState.Ready);
+    }
+
+    public void MarkFaulted(string reason)
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            if (_state is SessionState.Closed)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            _finalFault = reason;
+            _state = SessionState.Faulted;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void TouchClientActivity(DateTimeOffset activityAt)
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            _lastClientActivityAt = activityAt;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void ExtendLease(DateTimeOffset leaseExpiresAt)
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            _leaseExpiresAt = leaseExpiresAt;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public bool IsLeaseExpired(DateTimeOffset now)
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            return _leaseExpiresAt is not null && _leaseExpiresAt <= now;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public async Task<WorkerCommandReply> InvokeAsync(
+        WorkerCommand command,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        IWorkerClient workerClient = GetReadyWorkerClient();
+        TouchClientActivity(DateTimeOffset.UtcNow);
+
+        return await workerClient.InvokeAsync(command, CommandTimeout, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+    }
+
+    public IAsyncEnumerable<WorkerEvent> ReadEventsAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        IWorkerClient workerClient = GetReadyWorkerClient();
+        TouchClientActivity(DateTimeOffset.UtcNow);
+
+        return workerClient.ReadEventsAsync(cancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    public async Task<SessionCloseResult> CloseAsync(
+        string reason,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        await _closeLock.WaitAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        try
+        {
+            if (_state is SessionState.Closed)
+            {
+                return new SessionCloseResult(SessionId, SessionState.Closed, AlreadyClosed: true);
+            }
+
+            bool alreadyClosing = _closeStarted;
+            _closeStarted = true;
+            _state = SessionState.Closing;
+
+            if (_workerClient is not null)
+            {
+                try
+                {
+                    await _workerClient.ShutdownAsync(ShutdownTimeout, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+                }
+                catch
+                {
+                    _workerClient.Kill(reason);
+                    throw;
+                }
+            }
+
+            _state = SessionState.Closed;
+            return new SessionCloseResult(SessionId, SessionState.Closed, alreadyClosing);
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            _closeLock.Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void KillWorker(string reason)
+    {
+        _workerClient?.Kill(reason);
+        TransitionTo(SessionState.Closed);
+    }
+
+    public async ValueTask DisposeAsync()
+    {
+        _closeLock.Dispose();
+        if (_workerClient is not null)
+        {
+            await _workerClient.DisposeAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private IWorkerClient GetReadyWorkerClient()
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            if (_state != SessionState.Ready || _workerClient?.State != WorkerClientState.Ready)
+            {
+                throw new SessionManagerException(
+                    SessionManagerErrorCode.SessionNotReady,
+                    $"Session {SessionId} is not ready. Current state is {_state}.");
+            }
+
+            return _workerClient;
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Sessions/ISessionManager.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Sessions;
+
+public interface ISessionManager
+{
+    Task<GatewaySession> OpenSessionAsync(
+        SessionOpenRequest request,
+        string? clientIdentity,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    bool TryGetSession(
+        string sessionId,
+        out GatewaySession session);
+
+    Task<WorkerCommandReply> InvokeAsync(
+        string sessionId,
+        WorkerCommand command,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    IAsyncEnumerable<WorkerEvent> ReadEventsAsync(
+        string sessionId,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    Task<SessionCloseResult> CloseSessionAsync(
+        string sessionId,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    Task<int> CloseExpiredLeasesAsync(
+        DateTimeOffset now,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    Task ShutdownAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Sessions/ISessionRegistry.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Sessions;
+
+public interface ISessionRegistry
+{
+    int Count { get; }
+
+    int ActiveCount { get; }
+
+    bool TryAdd(GatewaySession session);
+
+    bool TryGet(string sessionId, out GatewaySession session);
+
+    bool TryRemove(string sessionId, out GatewaySession session);
+
+    IReadOnlyCollection<GatewaySession> Snapshot();
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Sessions/ISessionWorkerClientFactory.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Sessions;
+
+public interface ISessionWorkerClientFactory
+{
+    Task<MxGateway.Server.Workers.IWorkerClient> CreateAsync(
+        GatewaySession session,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Sessions/SessionCloseResult.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Sessions;
+
+public sealed record SessionCloseResult(
+    string SessionId,
+    SessionState FinalState,
+    bool AlreadyClosed);

src/MxGateway.Server/Sessions/SessionManager.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,287 @@
+using System.Security.Cryptography;
+using Google.Protobuf.WellKnownTypes;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
+using MxGateway.Server.Metrics;
+using MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Sessions;
+
+public sealed class SessionManager : ISessionManager
+{
+    public const string DefaultCloseReason = "client-close";
+    public const string GatewayShutdownReason = "gateway-shutdown";
+    public const string LeaseExpiredReason = "lease-expired";
+
+    private readonly ISessionRegistry _registry;
+    private readonly ISessionWorkerClientFactory _workerClientFactory;
+    private readonly GatewayMetrics _metrics;
+    private readonly TimeProvider _timeProvider;
+    private readonly ILogger<SessionManager> _logger;
+    private readonly GatewayOptions _options;
+
+    public SessionManager(
+        ISessionRegistry registry,
+        ISessionWorkerClientFactory workerClientFactory,
+        IOptions<GatewayOptions> options,
+        GatewayMetrics metrics,
+        TimeProvider? timeProvider = null,
+        ILogger<SessionManager>? logger = null)
+    {
+        _registry = registry ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(registry));
+        _workerClientFactory = workerClientFactory ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(workerClientFactory));
+        ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(options);
+        _metrics = metrics ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(metrics));
+        _timeProvider = timeProvider ?? TimeProvider.System;
+        _logger = logger ?? NullLogger<SessionManager>.Instance;
+        _options = options.Value;
+    }
+
+    public async Task<GatewaySession> OpenSessionAsync(
+        SessionOpenRequest request,
+        string? clientIdentity,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(request);
+        EnsureSessionCapacity();
+
+        GatewaySession session = CreateSession(request, clientIdentity);
+        if (!_registry.TryAdd(session))
+        {
+            throw new SessionManagerException(
+                SessionManagerErrorCode.OpenFailed,
+                $"Session id collision while opening session {session.SessionId}.");
+        }
+
+        try
+        {
+            session.TransitionTo(SessionState.StartingWorker);
+            IWorkerClient workerClient = await _workerClientFactory
+                .CreateAsync(session, cancellationToken)
+                .ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+            session.AttachWorkerClient(workerClient);
+            session.MarkReady();
+            _metrics.SessionOpened();
+
+            return session;
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception)
+        {
+            session.MarkFaulted(exception.Message);
+            _registry.TryRemove(session.SessionId, out _);
+            await session.DisposeAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
+            _metrics.Fault(SessionManagerErrorCode.OpenFailed.ToString());
+            _logger.LogWarning(
+                exception,
+                "Failed to open gateway session {SessionId}.",
+                session.SessionId);
+
+            throw new SessionManagerException(
+                SessionManagerErrorCode.OpenFailed,
+                $"Failed to open session {session.SessionId}.",
+                exception);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public bool TryGetSession(
+        string sessionId,
+        out GatewaySession session)
+    {
+        return _registry.TryGet(sessionId, out session);
+    }
+
+    public async Task<WorkerCommandReply> InvokeAsync(
+        string sessionId,
+        WorkerCommand command,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        GatewaySession session = GetRequiredSession(sessionId);
+
+        try
+        {
+            return await session.InvokeAsync(command, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+        catch (SessionManagerException)
+        {
+            throw;
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception)
+        {
+            if (session.WorkerClient?.State == WorkerClientState.Faulted)
+            {
+                session.MarkFaulted(exception.Message);
+            }
+
+            throw;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public IAsyncEnumerable<WorkerEvent> ReadEventsAsync(
+        string sessionId,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        GatewaySession session = GetRequiredSession(sessionId);
+
+        return session.ReadEventsAsync(cancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    public async Task<SessionCloseResult> CloseSessionAsync(
+        string sessionId,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        GatewaySession session = GetRequiredSession(sessionId);
+        SessionCloseResult result = await CloseSessionCoreAsync(
+            session,
+            DefaultCloseReason,
+            cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    public async Task<int> CloseExpiredLeasesAsync(
+        DateTimeOffset now,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        int closedCount = 0;
+        foreach (GatewaySession session in _registry.Snapshot())
+        {
+            if (!session.IsLeaseExpired(now))
+            {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            await CloseSessionCoreAsync(session, LeaseExpiredReason, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            closedCount++;
+        }
+
+        return closedCount;
+    }
+
+    public async Task ShutdownAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        foreach (GatewaySession session in _registry.Snapshot())
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                await CloseSessionCoreAsync(session, GatewayShutdownReason, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            }
+            catch (Exception exception)
+            {
+                _logger.LogWarning(
+                    exception,
+                    "Graceful shutdown failed for session {SessionId}; killing worker.",
+                    session.SessionId);
+                session.KillWorker(GatewayShutdownReason);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task<SessionCloseResult> CloseSessionCoreAsync(
+        GatewaySession session,
+        string reason,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        bool wasClosed = session.State == SessionState.Closed;
+        try
+        {
+            SessionCloseResult result = await session.CloseAsync(reason, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            if (!wasClosed && !result.AlreadyClosed)
+            {
+                _metrics.SessionClosed();
+            }
+
+            return result;
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception)
+        {
+            session.MarkFaulted(exception.Message);
+            _metrics.Fault(SessionManagerErrorCode.CloseFailed.ToString());
+            throw new SessionManagerException(
+                SessionManagerErrorCode.CloseFailed,
+                $"Failed to close session {session.SessionId}.",
+                exception);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private GatewaySession GetRequiredSession(string sessionId)
+    {
+        if (!_registry.TryGet(sessionId, out GatewaySession session))
+        {
+            throw new SessionManagerException(
+                SessionManagerErrorCode.SessionNotFound,
+                $"Session {sessionId} was not found.");
+        }
+
+        return session;
+    }
+
+    private void EnsureSessionCapacity()
+    {
+        if (_registry.ActiveCount >= _options.Sessions.MaxSessions)
+        {
+            throw new SessionManagerException(
+                SessionManagerErrorCode.SessionLimitExceeded,
+                $"Gateway session limit {_options.Sessions.MaxSessions} has been reached.");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private GatewaySession CreateSession(
+        SessionOpenRequest request,
+        string? clientIdentity)
+    {
+        string sessionId = CreateSessionId();
+        string backendName = string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(request.RequestedBackend)
+            ? GatewayContractInfo.DefaultBackendName
+            : request.RequestedBackend!;
+        TimeSpan commandTimeout = ResolveCommandTimeout(request.CommandTimeout);
+        TimeSpan startupTimeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(_options.Worker.StartupTimeoutSeconds);
+        TimeSpan shutdownTimeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(_options.Worker.ShutdownTimeoutSeconds);
+        string pipeName = $"mxaccess-gateway-{Environment.ProcessId}-{sessionId}";
+        string nonce = CreateNonce();
+        DateTimeOffset openedAt = _timeProvider.GetUtcNow();
+
+        return new GatewaySession(
+            sessionId,
+            backendName,
+            pipeName,
+            nonce,
+            clientIdentity,
+            request.ClientSessionName,
+            request.ClientCorrelationId,
+            commandTimeout,
+            startupTimeout,
+            shutdownTimeout,
+            openedAt);
+    }
+
+    private TimeSpan ResolveCommandTimeout(Duration? requestedTimeout)
+    {
+        if (requestedTimeout is null)
+        {
+            return TimeSpan.FromSeconds(_options.Sessions.DefaultCommandTimeoutSeconds);
+        }
+
+        TimeSpan timeout = requestedTimeout.ToTimeSpan();
+        return timeout <= TimeSpan.Zero
+            ? TimeSpan.FromSeconds(_options.Sessions.DefaultCommandTimeoutSeconds)
+            : timeout;
+    }
+
+    private static string CreateSessionId()
+    {
+        return $"session-{Guid.NewGuid():N}";
+    }
+
+    private static string CreateNonce()
+    {
+        Span<byte> bytes = stackalloc byte[32];
+        RandomNumberGenerator.Fill(bytes);
+
+        return Convert.ToBase64String(bytes);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Sessions/SessionManagerErrorCode.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Sessions;
+
+public enum SessionManagerErrorCode
+{
+    SessionNotFound,
+    SessionNotReady,
+    SessionLimitExceeded,
+    OpenFailed,
+    CloseFailed,
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Sessions/SessionManagerException.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Sessions;
+
+public sealed class SessionManagerException : Exception
+{
+    public SessionManagerException(
+        SessionManagerErrorCode errorCode,
+        string message)
+        : base(message)
+    {
+        ErrorCode = errorCode;
+    }
+
+    public SessionManagerException(
+        SessionManagerErrorCode errorCode,
+        string message,
+        Exception innerException)
+        : base(message, innerException)
+    {
+        ErrorCode = errorCode;
+    }
+
+    public SessionManagerErrorCode ErrorCode { get; }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Sessions/SessionOpenRequest.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+using Google.Protobuf.WellKnownTypes;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Sessions;
+
+public sealed record SessionOpenRequest(
+    string? RequestedBackend,
+    string? ClientSessionName,
+    string? ClientCorrelationId,
+    Duration? CommandTimeout)
+{
+    public static SessionOpenRequest FromContract(OpenSessionRequest request)
+    {
+        ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(request);
+
+        return new SessionOpenRequest(
+            request.RequestedBackend,
+            request.ClientSessionName,
+            request.ClientCorrelationId,
+            request.CommandTimeout);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Sessions/SessionRegistry.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+using System.Collections.Concurrent;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Sessions;
+
+public sealed class SessionRegistry : ISessionRegistry
+{
+    private readonly ConcurrentDictionary<string, GatewaySession> _sessions = new(StringComparer.Ordinal);
+
+    public int Count => _sessions.Count;
+
+    public int ActiveCount => _sessions.Values.Count(session => session.State is not SessionState.Closed);
+
+    public bool TryAdd(GatewaySession session)
+    {
+        ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(session);
+
+        return _sessions.TryAdd(session.SessionId, session);
+    }
+
+    public bool TryGet(
+        string sessionId,
+        out GatewaySession session)
+    {
+        return _sessions.TryGetValue(sessionId, out session!);
+    }
+
+    public bool TryRemove(
+        string sessionId,
+        out GatewaySession session)
+    {
+        return _sessions.TryRemove(sessionId, out session!);
+    }
+
+    public IReadOnlyCollection<GatewaySession> Snapshot()
+    {
+        return _sessions.Values.ToArray();
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Sessions/SessionServiceCollectionExtensions.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Sessions;
+
+public static class SessionServiceCollectionExtensions
+{
+    public static IServiceCollection AddGatewaySessions(this IServiceCollection services)
+    {
+        services.AddSingleton<ISessionRegistry, SessionRegistry>();
+        services.AddSingleton<ISessionWorkerClientFactory, SessionWorkerClientFactory>();
+        services.AddSingleton<ISessionManager, SessionManager>();
+
+        return services;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Sessions/SessionWorkerClientFactory.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+using System.IO.Pipes;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
+using MxGateway.Server.Metrics;
+using MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Sessions;
+
+public sealed class SessionWorkerClientFactory : ISessionWorkerClientFactory
+{
+    private readonly IWorkerProcessLauncher _workerProcessLauncher;
+    private readonly GatewayMetrics _metrics;
+    private readonly TimeProvider _timeProvider;
+    private readonly ILoggerFactory _loggerFactory;
+    private readonly GatewayOptions _options;
+
+    public SessionWorkerClientFactory(
+        IWorkerProcessLauncher workerProcessLauncher,
+        IOptions<GatewayOptions> options,
+        GatewayMetrics metrics,
+        ILoggerFactory loggerFactory,
+        TimeProvider? timeProvider = null)
+    {
+        _workerProcessLauncher = workerProcessLauncher ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(workerProcessLauncher));
+        ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(options);
+        _metrics = metrics ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(metrics));
+        _loggerFactory = loggerFactory ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(loggerFactory));
+        _timeProvider = timeProvider ?? TimeProvider.System;
+        _options = options.Value;
+    }
+
+    public async Task<IWorkerClient> CreateAsync(
+        GatewaySession session,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(session);
+
+        NamedPipeServerStream? pipe = CreatePipe(session.PipeName);
+        WorkerProcessHandle? processHandle = null;
+        IWorkerClient? workerClient = null;
+        try
+        {
+            session.TransitionTo(SessionState.StartingWorker);
+            processHandle = await _workerProcessLauncher
+                .LaunchAsync(
+                    new WorkerProcessLaunchRequest(
+                        session.SessionId,
+                        session.PipeName,
+                        GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+                        session.Nonce,
+                        pipe),
+                    cancellationToken)
+                .ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+            session.TransitionTo(SessionState.WaitingForPipe);
+            await WaitForPipeConnectionAsync(pipe, session.StartupTimeout, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+            session.TransitionTo(SessionState.Handshaking);
+            WorkerFrameProtocolOptions frameOptions = new(
+                session.SessionId,
+                GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+                _options.Worker.MaxMessageBytes);
+            WorkerClientConnection connection = new(
+                session.SessionId,
+                session.Nonce,
+                pipe,
+                frameOptions,
+                processHandle);
+            WorkerClientOptions clientOptions = new()
+            {
+                HeartbeatGrace = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(_options.Worker.HeartbeatGraceSeconds),
+                HeartbeatCheckInterval = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(_options.Worker.HeartbeatIntervalSeconds),
+                EventChannelCapacity = _options.Events.QueueCapacity,
+            };
+
+            workerClient = new WorkerClient(
+                connection,
+                clientOptions,
+                _metrics,
+                _timeProvider,
+                _loggerFactory.CreateLogger<WorkerClient>());
+
+            pipe = null;
+            processHandle = null;
+
+            session.TransitionTo(SessionState.InitializingWorker);
+            await workerClient.StartAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+            return workerClient;
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            if (workerClient is not null)
+            {
+                await workerClient.DisposeAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                if (processHandle is not null)
+                {
+                    try
+                    {
+                        if (!processHandle.Process.HasExited)
+                        {
+                            processHandle.Process.Kill(entireProcessTree: true);
+                            _metrics.WorkerKilled("OpenSessionFailed");
+                        }
+                    }
+                    finally
+                    {
+                        processHandle.Dispose();
+                    }
+                }
+
+                pipe?.Dispose();
+            }
+
+            throw;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static NamedPipeServerStream CreatePipe(string pipeName)
+    {
+        return new NamedPipeServerStream(
+            pipeName,
+            PipeDirection.InOut,
+            maxNumberOfServerInstances: 1,
+            PipeTransmissionMode.Byte,
+            PipeOptions.Asynchronous);
+    }
+
+    private static async Task WaitForPipeConnectionAsync(
+        NamedPipeServerStream pipe,
+        TimeSpan startupTimeout,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        using CancellationTokenSource timeout = CancellationTokenSource.CreateLinkedTokenSource(cancellationToken);
+        timeout.CancelAfter(startupTimeout);
+        await pipe.WaitForConnectionAsync(timeout.Token).ConfigureAwait(false);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/IWorkerClient.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public interface IWorkerClient : IAsyncDisposable
+{
+    string SessionId { get; }
+
+    int? ProcessId { get; }
+
+    WorkerClientState State { get; }
+
+    DateTimeOffset LastHeartbeatAt { get; }
+
+    Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    Task<WorkerCommandReply> InvokeAsync(
+        WorkerCommand command,
+        TimeSpan timeout,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    IAsyncEnumerable<WorkerEvent> ReadEventsAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    Task ShutdownAsync(TimeSpan timeout, CancellationToken cancellationToken);
+
+    void Kill(string reason);
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerClient.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,755 @@
+using System.Collections.Concurrent;
+using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
+using System.Threading.Channels;
+using Google.Protobuf.WellKnownTypes;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Server.Metrics;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public sealed class WorkerClient : IWorkerClient
+{
+    private const string GatewayVersionFallback = "unknown";
+    private readonly object _syncRoot = new();
+    private readonly WorkerClientConnection _connection;
+    private readonly WorkerClientOptions _options;
+    private readonly GatewayMetrics? _metrics;
+    private readonly TimeProvider _timeProvider;
+    private readonly ILogger<WorkerClient> _logger;
+    private readonly WorkerFrameReader _reader;
+    private readonly WorkerFrameWriter _writer;
+    private readonly Channel<WorkerEnvelope> _outboundEnvelopes;
+    private readonly Channel<WorkerEvent> _events;
+    private readonly ConcurrentDictionary<string, PendingCommand> _pendingCommands = new(StringComparer.Ordinal);
+    private readonly CancellationTokenSource _stopCts = new();
+    private long _nextSequence;
+    private WorkerClientState _state;
+    private DateTimeOffset _lastHeartbeatAt;
+    private int? _processId;
+    private Task? _readLoopTask;
+    private Task? _writeLoopTask;
+    private Task? _heartbeatLoopTask;
+    private bool _disposed;
+
+    public WorkerClient(
+        WorkerClientConnection connection,
+        WorkerClientOptions? options = null,
+        GatewayMetrics? metrics = null,
+        TimeProvider? timeProvider = null,
+        ILogger<WorkerClient>? logger = null)
+    {
+        _connection = connection ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(connection));
+        _options = options ?? new WorkerClientOptions();
+        _metrics = metrics;
+        _timeProvider = timeProvider ?? TimeProvider.System;
+        _logger = logger ?? NullLogger<WorkerClient>.Instance;
+        _reader = new WorkerFrameReader(connection.Stream, connection.FrameOptions);
+        _writer = new WorkerFrameWriter(connection.Stream, connection.FrameOptions);
+        _outboundEnvelopes = Channel.CreateUnbounded<WorkerEnvelope>(
+            new UnboundedChannelOptions
+            {
+                SingleReader = true,
+                SingleWriter = false,
+                AllowSynchronousContinuations = false,
+            });
+        _events = Channel.CreateBounded<WorkerEvent>(
+            new BoundedChannelOptions(_options.EventChannelCapacity)
+            {
+                SingleReader = false,
+                SingleWriter = true,
+                FullMode = BoundedChannelFullMode.Wait,
+                AllowSynchronousContinuations = false,
+            });
+        _lastHeartbeatAt = _timeProvider.GetUtcNow();
+    }
+
+    public string SessionId => _connection.SessionId;
+
+    public int? ProcessId
+    {
+        get
+        {
+            lock (_syncRoot)
+            {
+                return _processId;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public WorkerClientState State
+    {
+        get
+        {
+            lock (_syncRoot)
+            {
+                return _state;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public DateTimeOffset LastHeartbeatAt
+    {
+        get
+        {
+            lock (_syncRoot)
+            {
+                return _lastHeartbeatAt;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    public async Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        ThrowIfDisposed();
+        TransitionFromCreatedToHandshaking();
+
+        _writeLoopTask = Task.Run(WriteLoopAsync);
+        await EnqueueAsync(CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(), cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        WorkerEnvelope helloEnvelope = await ReadHandshakeEnvelopeAsync(
+            WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerHello,
+            cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        ValidateWorkerHello(helloEnvelope.WorkerHello);
+
+        WorkerEnvelope readyEnvelope = await ReadHandshakeEnvelopeAsync(
+            WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerReady,
+            cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        MarkReady(readyEnvelope.WorkerReady);
+
+        _readLoopTask = Task.Run(ReadLoopAsync);
+        _heartbeatLoopTask = Task.Run(HeartbeatLoopAsync);
+    }
+
+    public async Task<WorkerCommandReply> InvokeAsync(
+        WorkerCommand command,
+        TimeSpan timeout,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(command);
+        ThrowIfDisposed();
+        EnsureReady();
+
+        if (timeout <= TimeSpan.Zero)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(timeout), timeout, "Command timeout must be greater than zero.");
+        }
+
+        string correlationId = Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N");
+        string method = GetCommandMethod(command);
+        PendingCommand pendingCommand = new(
+            correlationId,
+            method,
+            _timeProvider.GetTimestamp());
+
+        if (!_pendingCommands.TryAdd(correlationId, pendingCommand))
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException("Generated a duplicate command correlation id.");
+        }
+
+        _metrics?.CommandStarted(method);
+
+        try
+        {
+            await EnqueueAsync(CreateCommandEnvelope(correlationId, command), cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            using CancellationTokenSource timeoutCts = CancellationTokenSource.CreateLinkedTokenSource(cancellationToken);
+            Task timeoutTask = Task.Delay(timeout, timeoutCts.Token);
+            Task<WorkerCommandReply> replyTask = pendingCommand.Task;
+            Task completedTask = await Task.WhenAny(replyTask, timeoutTask).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+            if (completedTask == replyTask)
+            {
+                await timeoutCts.CancelAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
+                return await replyTask.ConfigureAwait(false);
+            }
+
+            if (cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+            {
+                RemovePendingCommandAsFailed(
+                    correlationId,
+                    pendingCommand,
+                    WorkerClientErrorCode.GatewayShutdown,
+                    "Command wait was canceled.");
+                cancellationToken.ThrowIfCancellationRequested();
+            }
+
+            RemovePendingCommandAsFailed(
+                correlationId,
+                pendingCommand,
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.CommandTimeout,
+                $"Worker command {method} timed out after {timeout}.");
+
+            throw new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.CommandTimeout,
+                $"Worker command {method} timed out after {timeout}.");
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            _pendingCommands.TryRemove(correlationId, out _);
+            throw;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public async IAsyncEnumerable<WorkerEvent> ReadEventsAsync(
+        [EnumeratorCancellation] CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        await foreach (WorkerEvent workerEvent in _events.Reader.ReadAllAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false))
+        {
+            yield return workerEvent;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public async Task ShutdownAsync(TimeSpan timeout, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        ThrowIfDisposed();
+        if (timeout <= TimeSpan.Zero)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(timeout), timeout, "Shutdown timeout must be greater than zero.");
+        }
+
+        WorkerClientState state = State;
+        if (state is WorkerClientState.Closed or WorkerClientState.Faulted)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        MarkClosing();
+        await EnqueueAsync(CreateShutdownEnvelope(timeout, "gateway-shutdown"), cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        _outboundEnvelopes.Writer.TryComplete();
+
+        using CancellationTokenSource timeoutCts = CancellationTokenSource.CreateLinkedTokenSource(cancellationToken);
+        timeoutCts.CancelAfter(timeout);
+        try
+        {
+            await WaitForBackgroundTasksAsync(timeoutCts.Token).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            MarkClosed("shutdown");
+        }
+        catch (OperationCanceledException) when (!cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+        {
+            SetFaulted(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.ShutdownTimeout,
+                "Worker shutdown timed out.",
+                null);
+            throw new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.ShutdownTimeout,
+                $"Worker shutdown timed out after {timeout}.");
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void Kill(string reason)
+    {
+        ThrowIfDisposed();
+        _connection.ProcessHandle?.Process.Kill(entireProcessTree: true);
+        _metrics?.WorkerKilled(reason);
+        SetFaulted(
+            WorkerClientErrorCode.WorkerFaulted,
+            $"Worker was killed by the gateway: {reason}.",
+            null);
+    }
+
+    public async ValueTask DisposeAsync()
+    {
+        if (_disposed)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        _disposed = true;
+        _stopCts.Cancel();
+        _outboundEnvelopes.Writer.TryComplete();
+        _events.Writer.TryComplete();
+        CompletePendingCommands(
+            new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.GatewayShutdown,
+                "Worker client was disposed."));
+
+        await WaitForBackgroundTasksAsync(CancellationToken.None).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        await _connection.Stream.DisposeAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);
+        _connection.ProcessHandle?.Dispose();
+        _stopCts.Dispose();
+    }
+
+    private async Task WriteLoopAsync()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            await foreach (WorkerEnvelope envelope in _outboundEnvelopes.Reader.ReadAllAsync(_stopCts.Token).ConfigureAwait(false))
+            {
+                await _writer.WriteAsync(envelope, _stopCts.Token).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            }
+        }
+        catch (OperationCanceledException) when (_stopCts.IsCancellationRequested || IsTerminalState())
+        {
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception)
+        {
+            SetFaulted(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.WriteFailed,
+                "Worker pipe write failed.",
+                exception);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task ReadLoopAsync()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            while (!_stopCts.IsCancellationRequested)
+            {
+                WorkerEnvelope envelope = await _reader.ReadAsync(_stopCts.Token).ConfigureAwait(false);
+                await DispatchEnvelopeAsync(envelope, _stopCts.Token).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            }
+        }
+        catch (OperationCanceledException) when (_stopCts.IsCancellationRequested || IsTerminalState())
+        {
+        }
+        catch (WorkerFrameProtocolException exception) when (exception.ErrorCode == WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.EndOfStream)
+        {
+            SetFaulted(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.PipeDisconnected,
+                "Worker pipe disconnected.",
+                exception);
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception)
+        {
+            SetFaulted(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                "Worker read loop failed.",
+                exception);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task HeartbeatLoopAsync()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            while (!_stopCts.IsCancellationRequested)
+            {
+                await Task.Delay(_options.HeartbeatCheckInterval, _stopCts.Token).ConfigureAwait(false);
+                if (State != WorkerClientState.Ready)
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                DateTimeOffset lastHeartbeatAt = LastHeartbeatAt;
+                DateTimeOffset now = _timeProvider.GetUtcNow();
+                if (now - lastHeartbeatAt <= _options.HeartbeatGrace)
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                _metrics?.HeartbeatFailed(SessionId);
+                SetFaulted(
+                    WorkerClientErrorCode.HeartbeatExpired,
+                    $"Worker heartbeat expired. Last heartbeat was at {lastHeartbeatAt:O}.",
+                    null);
+            }
+        }
+        catch (OperationCanceledException) when (_stopCts.IsCancellationRequested || IsTerminalState())
+        {
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task DispatchEnvelopeAsync(
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        switch (envelope.BodyCase)
+        {
+            case WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerCommandReply:
+                CompleteCommand(envelope);
+                break;
+            case WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerEvent:
+                await EnqueueWorkerEventAsync(envelope.WorkerEvent, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+                break;
+            case WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerHeartbeat:
+                MarkHeartbeat(envelope.WorkerHeartbeat);
+                break;
+            case WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerFault:
+                SetFaulted(
+                    WorkerClientErrorCode.WorkerFaulted,
+                    CreateWorkerFaultMessage(envelope.WorkerFault),
+                    null);
+                break;
+            case WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerShutdownAck:
+                MarkClosed("worker-shutdown-ack");
+                break;
+            default:
+                SetFaulted(
+                    WorkerClientErrorCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                    $"Worker sent unexpected envelope body {envelope.BodyCase}.",
+                    null);
+                break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task EnqueueWorkerEventAsync(
+        WorkerEvent workerEvent,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        if (workerEvent.Event is not null)
+        {
+            _metrics?.EventReceived(SessionId, workerEvent.Event.Family.ToString());
+        }
+
+        if (!await _events.Writer.WaitToWriteAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false))
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (!_events.Writer.TryWrite(workerEvent))
+        {
+            _metrics?.QueueOverflow("worker-events");
+            SetFaulted(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                "Worker event channel rejected an event.",
+                null);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void CompleteCommand(WorkerEnvelope envelope)
+    {
+        string correlationId = envelope.CorrelationId;
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(correlationId))
+        {
+            correlationId = envelope.WorkerCommandReply.Reply?.CorrelationId ?? string.Empty;
+        }
+
+        if (!_pendingCommands.TryRemove(correlationId, out PendingCommand? pendingCommand))
+        {
+            _logger.LogDebug(
+                "Ignoring late or unknown worker command reply for session {SessionId} and correlation {CorrelationId}.",
+                SessionId,
+                correlationId);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        TimeSpan duration = _timeProvider.GetElapsedTime(pendingCommand.StartTimestamp);
+        _metrics?.CommandSucceeded(pendingCommand.Method, duration);
+        pendingCommand.SetResult(envelope.WorkerCommandReply);
+    }
+
+    private void RemovePendingCommandAsFailed(
+        string correlationId,
+        PendingCommand pendingCommand,
+        WorkerClientErrorCode errorCode,
+        string message)
+    {
+        if (!_pendingCommands.TryRemove(correlationId, out _))
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        TimeSpan duration = _timeProvider.GetElapsedTime(pendingCommand.StartTimestamp);
+        _metrics?.CommandFailed(pendingCommand.Method, errorCode.ToString(), duration);
+        pendingCommand.SetException(new WorkerClientException(errorCode, message));
+    }
+
+    private async Task<WorkerEnvelope> ReadHandshakeEnvelopeAsync(
+        WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase expectedBody,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = await _reader.ReadAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        if (envelope.BodyCase != expectedBody)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                $"Worker handshake expected {expectedBody} but received {envelope.BodyCase}.");
+        }
+
+        return envelope;
+    }
+
+    private void ValidateWorkerHello(WorkerHello workerHello)
+    {
+        if (workerHello.ProtocolVersion != _connection.FrameOptions.ProtocolVersion)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                "Worker hello protocol version does not match the gateway protocol version.");
+        }
+
+        if (!string.Equals(workerHello.Nonce, _connection.Nonce, StringComparison.Ordinal))
+        {
+            throw new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                "Worker hello nonce does not match the gateway nonce.");
+        }
+
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            _processId = workerHello.WorkerProcessId == 0
+                ? _connection.ProcessHandle?.ProcessId
+                : workerHello.WorkerProcessId;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void MarkReady(WorkerReady ready)
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            _processId = ready.WorkerProcessId == 0
+                ? _processId ?? _connection.ProcessHandle?.ProcessId
+                : ready.WorkerProcessId;
+            _lastHeartbeatAt = _timeProvider.GetUtcNow();
+            _state = WorkerClientState.Ready;
+        }
+
+        DateTimeOffset readyAt = _timeProvider.GetUtcNow();
+        DateTimeOffset launchedAt = _connection.ProcessHandle?.LaunchedAt ?? readyAt;
+        _metrics?.WorkerStarted(readyAt - launchedAt);
+    }
+
+    private void MarkHeartbeat(WorkerHeartbeat heartbeat)
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            _lastHeartbeatAt = _timeProvider.GetUtcNow();
+            if (heartbeat.WorkerProcessId != 0)
+            {
+                _processId = heartbeat.WorkerProcessId;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void MarkClosing()
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            if (_state is WorkerClientState.Closed or WorkerClientState.Faulted)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            _state = WorkerClientState.Closing;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void MarkClosed(string reason)
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            if (_state == WorkerClientState.Closed)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            _state = WorkerClientState.Closed;
+        }
+
+        _stopCts.Cancel();
+        _outboundEnvelopes.Writer.TryComplete();
+        _events.Writer.TryComplete();
+        CompletePendingCommands(
+            new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.GatewayShutdown,
+                $"Worker client closed because {reason}."));
+        _metrics?.WorkerStopped(reason);
+    }
+
+    private void SetFaulted(
+        WorkerClientErrorCode errorCode,
+        string message,
+        Exception? exception)
+    {
+        WorkerClientException fault = exception is null
+            ? new WorkerClientException(errorCode, message)
+            : new WorkerClientException(errorCode, message, exception);
+
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            if (_state is WorkerClientState.Faulted or WorkerClientState.Closed)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            _state = WorkerClientState.Faulted;
+        }
+
+        _stopCts.Cancel();
+        _outboundEnvelopes.Writer.TryComplete(fault);
+        _events.Writer.TryComplete(fault);
+        CompletePendingCommands(fault);
+        _metrics?.Fault(errorCode.ToString());
+        _logger.LogWarning(exception, "Worker client faulted for session {SessionId}: {Message}", SessionId, message);
+    }
+
+    private void CompletePendingCommands(Exception exception)
+    {
+        foreach (KeyValuePair<string, PendingCommand> item in _pendingCommands.ToArray())
+        {
+            if (_pendingCommands.TryRemove(item.Key, out PendingCommand? pendingCommand))
+            {
+                TimeSpan duration = _timeProvider.GetElapsedTime(pendingCommand.StartTimestamp);
+                _metrics?.CommandFailed(pendingCommand.Method, exception.GetType().Name, duration);
+                pendingCommand.SetException(exception);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void TransitionFromCreatedToHandshaking()
+    {
+        lock (_syncRoot)
+        {
+            if (_state != WorkerClientState.Created)
+            {
+                throw new WorkerClientException(
+                    WorkerClientErrorCode.InvalidState,
+                    $"Worker client cannot start from state {_state}.");
+            }
+
+            _state = WorkerClientState.Handshaking;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void EnsureReady()
+    {
+        WorkerClientState state = State;
+        if (state != WorkerClientState.Ready)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.InvalidState,
+                $"Worker client is not ready. Current state is {state}.");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private bool IsTerminalState()
+    {
+        WorkerClientState state = State;
+        return state is WorkerClientState.Closing or WorkerClientState.Closed or WorkerClientState.Faulted;
+    }
+
+    private async Task EnqueueAsync(
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            await _outboundEnvelopes.Writer.WriteAsync(envelope, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+        catch (ChannelClosedException exception)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerClientException(
+                WorkerClientErrorCode.WriteFailed,
+                "Worker outbound channel is closed.",
+                exception);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope()
+    {
+        return CreateEnvelope(
+            correlationId: string.Empty,
+            envelope => envelope.GatewayHello = new GatewayHello
+            {
+                SupportedProtocolVersion = _connection.FrameOptions.ProtocolVersion,
+                Nonce = _connection.Nonce,
+                GatewayVersion = typeof(GatewayContractInfo).Assembly.GetName().Version?.ToString() ?? GatewayVersionFallback,
+            });
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateCommandEnvelope(
+        string correlationId,
+        WorkerCommand command)
+    {
+        return CreateEnvelope(
+            correlationId,
+            envelope => envelope.WorkerCommand = command.Clone());
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateShutdownEnvelope(
+        TimeSpan timeout,
+        string reason)
+    {
+        return CreateEnvelope(
+            correlationId: string.Empty,
+            envelope => envelope.WorkerShutdown = new WorkerShutdown
+            {
+                GracePeriod = Duration.FromTimeSpan(timeout),
+                Reason = reason,
+            });
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateEnvelope(
+        string correlationId,
+        Action<WorkerEnvelope> setBody)
+    {
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = new()
+        {
+            ProtocolVersion = _connection.FrameOptions.ProtocolVersion,
+            SessionId = SessionId,
+            Sequence = (ulong)Interlocked.Increment(ref _nextSequence),
+            CorrelationId = correlationId,
+        };
+        setBody(envelope);
+
+        return envelope;
+    }
+
+    private static string GetCommandMethod(WorkerCommand command)
+    {
+        return command.Command?.Kind.ToString() ?? MxCommandKind.Unspecified.ToString();
+    }
+
+    private static string CreateWorkerFaultMessage(WorkerFault fault)
+    {
+        return string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(fault.DiagnosticMessage)
+            ? $"Worker faulted with category {fault.Category}."
+            : $"Worker faulted with category {fault.Category}: {fault.DiagnosticMessage}";
+    }
+
+    private async Task WaitForBackgroundTasksAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        Task[] tasks = new[] { _readLoopTask, _writeLoopTask, _heartbeatLoopTask }
+            .Where(task => task is not null)
+            .Cast<Task>()
+            .ToArray();
+
+        if (tasks.Length == 0)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        await Task.WhenAll(tasks).WaitAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+    }
+
+    private void ThrowIfDisposed()
+    {
+        ObjectDisposedException.ThrowIf(_disposed, this);
+    }
+
+    private sealed class PendingCommand
+    {
+        private readonly TaskCompletionSource<WorkerCommandReply> _completion = new(TaskCreationOptions.RunContinuationsAsynchronously);
+
+        public PendingCommand(
+            string correlationId,
+            string method,
+            long startTimestamp)
+        {
+            CorrelationId = correlationId;
+            Method = method;
+            StartTimestamp = startTimestamp;
+        }
+
+        public string CorrelationId { get; }
+
+        public string Method { get; }
+
+        public long StartTimestamp { get; }
+
+        public Task<WorkerCommandReply> Task => _completion.Task;
+
+        public void SetResult(WorkerCommandReply reply)
+        {
+            _completion.TrySetResult(reply);
+        }
+
+        public void SetException(Exception exception)
+        {
+            _completion.TrySetException(exception);
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerClientConnection.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public sealed class WorkerClientConnection
+{
+    public WorkerClientConnection(
+        string sessionId,
+        string nonce,
+        Stream stream,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions frameOptions,
+        WorkerProcessHandle? processHandle = null)
+    {
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(sessionId))
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentException("Session id is required.", nameof(sessionId));
+        }
+
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(nonce))
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentException("Worker nonce is required.", nameof(nonce));
+        }
+
+        SessionId = sessionId;
+        Nonce = nonce;
+        Stream = stream ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(stream));
+        FrameOptions = frameOptions ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(frameOptions));
+        ProcessHandle = processHandle;
+    }
+
+    public string SessionId { get; }
+
+    public string Nonce { get; }
+
+    public Stream Stream { get; }
+
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolOptions FrameOptions { get; }
+
+    public WorkerProcessHandle? ProcessHandle { get; }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerClientErrorCode.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public enum WorkerClientErrorCode
+{
+    InvalidState,
+    ProtocolViolation,
+    PipeDisconnected,
+    CommandTimeout,
+    WorkerFaulted,
+    HeartbeatExpired,
+    ShutdownTimeout,
+    GatewayShutdown,
+    WriteFailed,
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerClientException.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public sealed class WorkerClientException : Exception
+{
+    public WorkerClientException(
+        WorkerClientErrorCode errorCode,
+        string message)
+        : base(message)
+    {
+        ErrorCode = errorCode;
+    }
+
+    public WorkerClientException(
+        WorkerClientErrorCode errorCode,
+        string message,
+        Exception innerException)
+        : base(message, innerException)
+    {
+        ErrorCode = errorCode;
+    }
+
+    public WorkerClientErrorCode ErrorCode { get; }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerClientOptions.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public sealed class WorkerClientOptions
+{
+    public static readonly TimeSpan DefaultHeartbeatGrace = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(15);
+    public static readonly TimeSpan DefaultHeartbeatCheckInterval = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1);
+    public static readonly TimeSpan DefaultEventChannelFullModeTimeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5);
+
+    public WorkerClientOptions()
+    {
+        HeartbeatGrace = DefaultHeartbeatGrace;
+        HeartbeatCheckInterval = DefaultHeartbeatCheckInterval;
+        EventChannelCapacity = 1_024;
+        EventChannelFullModeTimeout = DefaultEventChannelFullModeTimeout;
+    }
+
+    public TimeSpan HeartbeatGrace { get; init; }
+
+    public TimeSpan HeartbeatCheckInterval { get; init; }
+
+    public int EventChannelCapacity { get; init; }
+
+    public TimeSpan EventChannelFullModeTimeout { get; init; }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerClientState.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public enum WorkerClientState
+{
+    Created,
+    Handshaking,
+    Ready,
+    Closing,
+    Closed,
+    Faulted,
+}

src/MxGateway.Tests/Gateway/Sessions/SessionManagerTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,320 @@
+using Google.Protobuf.WellKnownTypes;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
+using MxGateway.Server.Metrics;
+using MxGateway.Server.Sessions;
+using MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Tests.Gateway.Sessions;
+
+public sealed class SessionManagerTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task OpenSessionAsync_WithWorkerReady_RegistersReadySession()
+    {
+        FakeWorkerClient workerClient = new();
+        FakeSessionWorkerClientFactory factory = new(workerClient)
+        {
+            ApplyLifecycleTransitions = true,
+        };
+        using GatewayMetrics metrics = new();
+        SessionManager manager = CreateManager(factory, metrics: metrics);
+
+        GatewaySession session = await manager.OpenSessionAsync(CreateOpenRequest(), "client-1", CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.True(manager.TryGetSession(session.SessionId, out GatewaySession registered));
+        Assert.Same(session, registered);
+        Assert.Equal(SessionState.Ready, session.State);
+        Assert.Equal("client-1", session.ClientIdentity);
+        Assert.Equal(["StartingWorker", "WaitingForPipe", "Handshaking", "InitializingWorker"], factory.ObservedStates);
+        Assert.Equal(1, metrics.GetSnapshot().OpenSessions);
+        Assert.Equal(1, metrics.GetSnapshot().SessionsOpened);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task InvokeAsync_WhenSessionReady_ForwardsCommandToWorker()
+    {
+        FakeWorkerClient workerClient = new();
+        SessionManager manager = CreateManager(new FakeSessionWorkerClientFactory(workerClient));
+        GatewaySession session = await manager.OpenSessionAsync(CreateOpenRequest(), "client-1", CancellationToken.None);
+
+        WorkerCommandReply reply = await manager.InvokeAsync(
+            session.SessionId,
+            CreateCommand(MxCommandKind.Ping),
+            CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.Equal(1, workerClient.InvokeCount);
+        Assert.Equal(MxCommandKind.Ping, reply.Reply.Kind);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task InvokeAsync_WhenSessionFaulted_RejectsCommand()
+    {
+        FakeWorkerClient workerClient = new();
+        SessionManager manager = CreateManager(new FakeSessionWorkerClientFactory(workerClient));
+        GatewaySession session = await manager.OpenSessionAsync(CreateOpenRequest(), "client-1", CancellationToken.None);
+        session.MarkFaulted("test fault");
+
+        SessionManagerException exception = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<SessionManagerException>(
+            async () => await manager.InvokeAsync(
+                session.SessionId,
+                CreateCommand(MxCommandKind.Ping),
+                CancellationToken.None));
+
+        Assert.Equal(SessionManagerErrorCode.SessionNotReady, exception.ErrorCode);
+        Assert.Equal(0, workerClient.InvokeCount);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task CloseSessionAsync_WhenCalledTwice_IsIdempotent()
+    {
+        FakeWorkerClient workerClient = new();
+        using GatewayMetrics metrics = new();
+        SessionManager manager = CreateManager(new FakeSessionWorkerClientFactory(workerClient), metrics: metrics);
+        GatewaySession session = await manager.OpenSessionAsync(CreateOpenRequest(), "client-1", CancellationToken.None);
+
+        SessionCloseResult firstClose = await manager.CloseSessionAsync(session.SessionId, CancellationToken.None);
+        SessionCloseResult secondClose = await manager.CloseSessionAsync(session.SessionId, CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.False(firstClose.AlreadyClosed);
+        Assert.True(secondClose.AlreadyClosed);
+        Assert.Equal(SessionState.Closed, firstClose.FinalState);
+        Assert.Equal(SessionState.Closed, secondClose.FinalState);
+        Assert.Equal(1, workerClient.ShutdownCount);
+        Assert.Equal(1, metrics.GetSnapshot().SessionsClosed);
+        Assert.Equal(0, metrics.GetSnapshot().OpenSessions);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task OpenSessionAsync_WhenWorkerCreationFails_RemovesSessionFromRegistry()
+    {
+        SessionRegistry registry = new();
+        using GatewayMetrics metrics = new();
+        SessionManager manager = CreateManager(
+            new FailingSessionWorkerClientFactory(),
+            registry,
+            metrics);
+
+        SessionManagerException exception = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<SessionManagerException>(
+            async () => await manager.OpenSessionAsync(CreateOpenRequest(), "client-1", CancellationToken.None));
+
+        Assert.Equal(SessionManagerErrorCode.OpenFailed, exception.ErrorCode);
+        Assert.Equal(0, registry.Count);
+        Assert.Equal(0, metrics.GetSnapshot().SessionsOpened);
+        Assert.Equal(1, metrics.GetSnapshot().Faults);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task CloseExpiredLeasesAsync_ClosesExpiredSessionsOnly()
+    {
+        FakeWorkerClient expiredClient = new();
+        FakeWorkerClient activeClient = new();
+        QueueingSessionWorkerClientFactory factory = new(expiredClient, activeClient);
+        SessionManager manager = CreateManager(factory);
+        GatewaySession expiredSession = await manager.OpenSessionAsync(CreateOpenRequest(), "client-1", CancellationToken.None);
+        GatewaySession activeSession = await manager.OpenSessionAsync(CreateOpenRequest(), "client-2", CancellationToken.None);
+        DateTimeOffset now = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow;
+        expiredSession.ExtendLease(now.AddSeconds(-1));
+        activeSession.ExtendLease(now.AddMinutes(5));
+
+        int closedCount = await manager.CloseExpiredLeasesAsync(now, CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.Equal(1, closedCount);
+        Assert.Equal(SessionState.Closed, expiredSession.State);
+        Assert.Equal(SessionState.Ready, activeSession.State);
+        Assert.Equal(1, expiredClient.ShutdownCount);
+        Assert.Equal(0, activeClient.ShutdownCount);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ShutdownAsync_ClosesAllRegisteredSessions()
+    {
+        FakeWorkerClient firstClient = new();
+        FakeWorkerClient secondClient = new();
+        QueueingSessionWorkerClientFactory factory = new(firstClient, secondClient);
+        using GatewayMetrics metrics = new();
+        SessionManager manager = CreateManager(factory, metrics: metrics);
+        GatewaySession firstSession = await manager.OpenSessionAsync(CreateOpenRequest(), "client-1", CancellationToken.None);
+        GatewaySession secondSession = await manager.OpenSessionAsync(CreateOpenRequest(), "client-2", CancellationToken.None);
+
+        await manager.ShutdownAsync(CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.Equal(SessionState.Closed, firstSession.State);
+        Assert.Equal(SessionState.Closed, secondSession.State);
+        Assert.Equal(1, firstClient.ShutdownCount);
+        Assert.Equal(1, secondClient.ShutdownCount);
+        Assert.Equal(2, metrics.GetSnapshot().SessionsClosed);
+        Assert.Equal(0, metrics.GetSnapshot().OpenSessions);
+    }
+
+    private static SessionManager CreateManager(
+        ISessionWorkerClientFactory factory,
+        ISessionRegistry? registry = null,
+        GatewayMetrics? metrics = null,
+        GatewayOptions? options = null)
+    {
+        return new SessionManager(
+            registry ?? new SessionRegistry(),
+            factory,
+            Options.Create(options ?? CreateOptions()),
+            metrics ?? new GatewayMetrics());
+    }
+
+    private static GatewayOptions CreateOptions()
+    {
+        return new GatewayOptions
+        {
+            Sessions = new SessionOptions
+            {
+                DefaultCommandTimeoutSeconds = 30,
+                MaxSessions = 64,
+            },
+            Worker = new WorkerOptions
+            {
+                StartupTimeoutSeconds = 30,
+                ShutdownTimeoutSeconds = 10,
+            },
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static SessionOpenRequest CreateOpenRequest()
+    {
+        return new SessionOpenRequest(
+            RequestedBackend: null,
+            ClientSessionName: "test-session",
+            ClientCorrelationId: "client-correlation-1",
+            CommandTimeout: Duration.FromTimeSpan(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5)));
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerCommand CreateCommand(MxCommandKind kind)
+    {
+        return new WorkerCommand
+        {
+            Command = new MxCommand
+            {
+                Kind = kind,
+            },
+        };
+    }
+
+    private sealed class FakeSessionWorkerClientFactory(IWorkerClient workerClient) : ISessionWorkerClientFactory
+    {
+        public List<string> ObservedStates { get; } = [];
+
+        public bool ApplyLifecycleTransitions { get; init; }
+
+        public Task<IWorkerClient> CreateAsync(
+            GatewaySession session,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            ObservedStates.Add(session.State.ToString());
+            if (ApplyLifecycleTransitions)
+            {
+                session.TransitionTo(SessionState.WaitingForPipe);
+                ObservedStates.Add(session.State.ToString());
+                session.TransitionTo(SessionState.Handshaking);
+                ObservedStates.Add(session.State.ToString());
+                session.TransitionTo(SessionState.InitializingWorker);
+                ObservedStates.Add(session.State.ToString());
+            }
+
+            return Task.FromResult(workerClient);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private sealed class QueueingSessionWorkerClientFactory : ISessionWorkerClientFactory
+    {
+        private readonly Queue<IWorkerClient> _workerClients;
+
+        public QueueingSessionWorkerClientFactory(params IWorkerClient[] workerClients)
+        {
+            _workerClients = new Queue<IWorkerClient>(workerClients);
+        }
+
+        public Task<IWorkerClient> CreateAsync(
+            GatewaySession session,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            return Task.FromResult(_workerClients.Dequeue());
+        }
+    }
+
+    private sealed class FailingSessionWorkerClientFactory : ISessionWorkerClientFactory
+    {
+        public Task<IWorkerClient> CreateAsync(
+            GatewaySession session,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException("worker startup failed");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private sealed class FakeWorkerClient : IWorkerClient
+    {
+        public string SessionId { get; init; } = "session-1";
+
+        public int? ProcessId { get; init; } = 1234;
+
+        public WorkerClientState State { get; set; } = WorkerClientState.Ready;
+
+        public DateTimeOffset LastHeartbeatAt { get; init; } = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow;
+
+        public int InvokeCount { get; private set; }
+
+        public int ShutdownCount { get; private set; }
+
+        public int KillCount { get; private set; }
+
+        public Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            return Task.CompletedTask;
+        }
+
+        public Task<WorkerCommandReply> InvokeAsync(
+            WorkerCommand command,
+            TimeSpan timeout,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            InvokeCount++;
+            MxCommandKind kind = command.Command?.Kind ?? MxCommandKind.Unspecified;
+
+            return Task.FromResult(new WorkerCommandReply
+            {
+                Reply = new MxCommandReply
+                {
+                    SessionId = SessionId,
+                    CorrelationId = "correlation-1",
+                    Kind = kind,
+                },
+            });
+        }
+
+        public async IAsyncEnumerable<WorkerEvent> ReadEventsAsync(
+            [System.Runtime.CompilerServices.EnumeratorCancellation] CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            await Task.CompletedTask;
+            yield break;
+        }
+
+        public Task ShutdownAsync(
+            TimeSpan timeout,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            ShutdownCount++;
+            State = WorkerClientState.Closed;
+            return Task.CompletedTask;
+        }
+
+        public void Kill(string reason)
+        {
+            KillCount++;
+            State = WorkerClientState.Faulted;
+        }
+
+        public ValueTask DisposeAsync()
+        {
+            return ValueTask.CompletedTask;
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Tests/Gateway/Workers/WorkerClientTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,341 @@
+using System.IO.Pipes;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Tests.Gateway.Workers;
+
+public sealed class WorkerClientTests
+{
+    private const string SessionId = "session-worker-client";
+    private const string Nonce = "nonce-worker-client";
+    private const int WorkerProcessId = 4321;
+    private static readonly TimeSpan TestTimeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5);
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task StartAsync_WithWorkerHelloAndReady_EntersReadyState()
+    {
+        await using PipePair pipePair = await PipePair.CreateAsync();
+        await using WorkerClient client = CreateClient(pipePair);
+
+        await CompleteHandshakeAsync(client, pipePair);
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerClientState.Ready, client.State);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerProcessId, client.ProcessId);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task InvokeAsync_WithMatchingReply_CompletesPendingCommand()
+    {
+        await using PipePair pipePair = await PipePair.CreateAsync();
+        await using WorkerClient client = CreateClient(pipePair);
+        await CompleteHandshakeAsync(client, pipePair);
+
+        Task<WorkerCommandReply> invokeTask = client.InvokeAsync(
+            CreateCommand(MxCommandKind.Ping),
+            TestTimeout,
+            CancellationToken.None);
+
+        WorkerEnvelope commandEnvelope = await pipePair.WorkerReader.ReadAsync().AsTask().WaitAsync(TestTimeout);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerCommand, commandEnvelope.BodyCase);
+        Assert.False(string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(commandEnvelope.CorrelationId));
+
+        await pipePair.WorkerWriter.WriteAsync(
+            CreateCommandReplyEnvelope(commandEnvelope.CorrelationId, MxCommandKind.Ping));
+
+        WorkerCommandReply reply = await invokeTask.WaitAsync(TestTimeout);
+
+        Assert.Equal(commandEnvelope.CorrelationId, reply.Reply.CorrelationId);
+        Assert.Equal(MxCommandKind.Ping, reply.Reply.Kind);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task InvokeAsync_WithLateReply_IgnoresLateReplyAndKeepsClientReady()
+    {
+        await using PipePair pipePair = await PipePair.CreateAsync();
+        await using WorkerClient client = CreateClient(pipePair);
+        await CompleteHandshakeAsync(client, pipePair);
+
+        Task<WorkerCommandReply> timedOutInvokeTask = client.InvokeAsync(
+            CreateCommand(MxCommandKind.Ping),
+            TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(50),
+            CancellationToken.None);
+        WorkerEnvelope timedOutCommand = await pipePair.WorkerReader.ReadAsync().AsTask().WaitAsync(TestTimeout);
+
+        WorkerClientException exception = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerClientException>(
+            async () => await timedOutInvokeTask);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerClientErrorCode.CommandTimeout, exception.ErrorCode);
+
+        await pipePair.WorkerWriter.WriteAsync(
+            CreateCommandReplyEnvelope(timedOutCommand.CorrelationId, MxCommandKind.Ping));
+        await Task.Delay(TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(50));
+
+        Task<WorkerCommandReply> secondInvokeTask = client.InvokeAsync(
+            CreateCommand(MxCommandKind.GetWorkerInfo),
+            TestTimeout,
+            CancellationToken.None);
+        WorkerEnvelope secondCommand = await pipePair.WorkerReader.ReadAsync().AsTask().WaitAsync(TestTimeout);
+        await pipePair.WorkerWriter.WriteAsync(
+            CreateCommandReplyEnvelope(secondCommand.CorrelationId, MxCommandKind.GetWorkerInfo));
+
+        WorkerCommandReply reply = await secondInvokeTask.WaitAsync(TestTimeout);
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerClientState.Ready, client.State);
+        Assert.Equal(MxCommandKind.GetWorkerInfo, reply.Reply.Kind);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ReadEventsAsync_WithWorkerEvents_YieldsEventsInPipeOrder()
+    {
+        await using PipePair pipePair = await PipePair.CreateAsync();
+        await using WorkerClient client = CreateClient(pipePair);
+        await CompleteHandshakeAsync(client, pipePair);
+        using CancellationTokenSource cancellationTokenSource = new(TestTimeout);
+
+        await using IAsyncEnumerator<WorkerEvent> events =
+            client.ReadEventsAsync(cancellationTokenSource.Token).GetAsyncEnumerator(cancellationTokenSource.Token);
+
+        await pipePair.WorkerWriter.WriteAsync(
+            CreateEventEnvelope(sequence: 11, MxEventFamily.OnDataChange));
+        await pipePair.WorkerWriter.WriteAsync(
+            CreateEventEnvelope(sequence: 12, MxEventFamily.OperationComplete));
+
+        Assert.True(await events.MoveNextAsync());
+        Assert.Equal((ulong)11, events.Current.Event.WorkerSequence);
+        Assert.Equal(MxEventFamily.OnDataChange, events.Current.Event.Family);
+
+        Assert.True(await events.MoveNextAsync());
+        Assert.Equal((ulong)12, events.Current.Event.WorkerSequence);
+        Assert.Equal(MxEventFamily.OperationComplete, events.Current.Event.Family);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ReadLoop_WhenPipeDisconnects_FaultsClient()
+    {
+        await using PipePair pipePair = await PipePair.CreateAsync();
+        await using WorkerClient client = CreateClient(pipePair);
+        await CompleteHandshakeAsync(client, pipePair);
+
+        await pipePair.DisposeWorkerSideAsync();
+
+        await WaitUntilAsync(
+            () => client.State == WorkerClientState.Faulted,
+            TestTimeout);
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerClientState.Faulted, client.State);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task HeartbeatMonitor_WhenHeartbeatExpires_FaultsClient()
+    {
+        await using PipePair pipePair = await PipePair.CreateAsync();
+        await using WorkerClient client = CreateClient(
+            pipePair,
+            new WorkerClientOptions
+            {
+                HeartbeatGrace = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(80),
+                HeartbeatCheckInterval = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(20),
+                EventChannelCapacity = 8,
+            });
+        await CompleteHandshakeAsync(client, pipePair);
+
+        await WaitUntilAsync(
+            () => client.State == WorkerClientState.Faulted,
+            TestTimeout);
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerClientState.Faulted, client.State);
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerClient CreateClient(
+        PipePair pipePair,
+        WorkerClientOptions? options = null)
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions frameOptions = new(SessionId);
+        WorkerClientConnection connection = new(
+            SessionId,
+            Nonce,
+            pipePair.GatewayStream,
+            frameOptions);
+
+        return new WorkerClient(connection, options);
+    }
+
+    private static async Task CompleteHandshakeAsync(
+        WorkerClient client,
+        PipePair pipePair)
+    {
+        Task startTask = client.StartAsync(CancellationToken.None);
+
+        WorkerEnvelope gatewayHello = await pipePair.WorkerReader.ReadAsync().AsTask().WaitAsync(TestTimeout);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.GatewayHello, gatewayHello.BodyCase);
+        Assert.Equal(Nonce, gatewayHello.GatewayHello.Nonce);
+        Assert.Equal(GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion, gatewayHello.GatewayHello.SupportedProtocolVersion);
+
+        await pipePair.WorkerWriter.WriteAsync(CreateWorkerHelloEnvelope());
+        await pipePair.WorkerWriter.WriteAsync(CreateWorkerReadyEnvelope());
+        await startTask.WaitAsync(TestTimeout);
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerCommand CreateCommand(MxCommandKind kind)
+    {
+        return new WorkerCommand
+        {
+            Command = new MxCommand
+            {
+                Kind = kind,
+            },
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope CreateWorkerHelloEnvelope()
+    {
+        return CreateWorkerEnvelope(
+            correlationId: string.Empty,
+            sequence: 1,
+            envelope => envelope.WorkerHello = new WorkerHello
+            {
+                ProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+                Nonce = Nonce,
+                WorkerProcessId = WorkerProcessId,
+                WorkerVersion = "fake-worker",
+            });
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope CreateWorkerReadyEnvelope()
+    {
+        return CreateWorkerEnvelope(
+            correlationId: string.Empty,
+            sequence: 2,
+            envelope => envelope.WorkerReady = new WorkerReady
+            {
+                WorkerProcessId = WorkerProcessId,
+                MxaccessProgid = "LMXProxy.LMXProxyServer.1",
+                MxaccessClsid = "{C30B52F5-2CB5-4760-AF0A-3A344A7EB5DC}",
+            });
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope CreateCommandReplyEnvelope(
+        string correlationId,
+        MxCommandKind kind)
+    {
+        return CreateWorkerEnvelope(
+            correlationId,
+            sequence: 10,
+            envelope => envelope.WorkerCommandReply = new WorkerCommandReply
+            {
+                Reply = new MxCommandReply
+                {
+                    SessionId = SessionId,
+                    CorrelationId = correlationId,
+                    Kind = kind,
+                },
+            });
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope CreateEventEnvelope(
+        ulong sequence,
+        MxEventFamily family)
+    {
+        return CreateWorkerEnvelope(
+            correlationId: string.Empty,
+            sequence,
+            envelope => envelope.WorkerEvent = new WorkerEvent
+            {
+                Event = new MxEvent
+                {
+                    SessionId = SessionId,
+                    Family = family,
+                    WorkerSequence = sequence,
+                },
+            });
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope CreateWorkerEnvelope(
+        string correlationId,
+        ulong sequence,
+        Action<WorkerEnvelope> setBody)
+    {
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = new()
+        {
+            ProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            SessionId = SessionId,
+            Sequence = sequence,
+            CorrelationId = correlationId,
+        };
+        setBody(envelope);
+
+        return envelope;
+    }
+
+    private static async Task WaitUntilAsync(
+        Func<bool> predicate,
+        TimeSpan timeout)
+    {
+        using CancellationTokenSource cancellationTokenSource = new(timeout);
+        while (!predicate())
+        {
+            await Task.Delay(TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(10), cancellationTokenSource.Token);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private sealed class PipePair : IAsyncDisposable
+    {
+        private readonly NamedPipeClientStream _workerStream;
+        private bool _workerSideDisposed;
+
+        private PipePair(
+            NamedPipeServerStream gatewayStream,
+            NamedPipeClientStream workerStream)
+        {
+            GatewayStream = gatewayStream;
+            _workerStream = workerStream;
+            WorkerReader = new WorkerFrameReader(_workerStream, new WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(SessionId));
+            WorkerWriter = new WorkerFrameWriter(_workerStream, new WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(SessionId));
+        }
+
+        public NamedPipeServerStream GatewayStream { get; }
+
+        public WorkerFrameReader WorkerReader { get; }
+
+        public WorkerFrameWriter WorkerWriter { get; }
+
+        public static async Task<PipePair> CreateAsync()
+        {
+            string pipeName = $"mxaccessgw-workerclient-tests-{Guid.NewGuid():N}";
+            NamedPipeServerStream gatewayStream = new(
+                pipeName,
+                PipeDirection.InOut,
+                maxNumberOfServerInstances: 1,
+                PipeTransmissionMode.Byte,
+                PipeOptions.Asynchronous);
+            NamedPipeClientStream workerStream = new(
+                ".",
+                pipeName,
+                PipeDirection.InOut,
+                PipeOptions.Asynchronous);
+
+            Task waitForConnectionTask = gatewayStream.WaitForConnectionAsync();
+            await workerStream.ConnectAsync();
+            await waitForConnectionTask;
+
+            return new PipePair(gatewayStream, workerStream);
+        }
+
+        public async ValueTask DisposeWorkerSideAsync()
+        {
+            if (_workerSideDisposed)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            await _workerStream.DisposeAsync();
+            _workerSideDisposed = true;
+        }
+
+        public async ValueTask DisposeAsync()
+        {
+            await DisposeWorkerSideAsync();
+            await GatewayStream.DisposeAsync();
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Tests/Security/Authentication/ApiKeyAdminCliRunnerTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,242 @@
+using System.Text.Json;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
+using MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
+using MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Tests.Security.Authentication;
+
+public sealed class ApiKeyAdminCliRunnerTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task CreateKeyAsync_CreatesAuthenticatingKeyAndAudits()
+    {
+        await using ServiceProvider services = BuildServices(CreateTempDatabasePath());
+        ApiKeyAdminCliRunner runner = services.GetRequiredService<ApiKeyAdminCliRunner>();
+        StringWriter output = new();
+
+        await runner.RunAsync(
+            new ApiKeyAdminCommand(
+                Kind: ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.CreateKey,
+                Json: true,
+                SqlitePath: null,
+                Pepper: null,
+                KeyId: "operator01",
+                DisplayName: "Operator",
+                Scopes: new HashSet<string>(StringComparer.Ordinal) { "session:open", "events:read" }),
+            output,
+            CancellationToken.None);
+
+        string apiKey = ReadApiKey(output.ToString());
+
+        IApiKeyVerifier verifier = services.GetRequiredService<IApiKeyVerifier>();
+        ApiKeyVerificationResult verification = await verifier.VerifyAsync($"Bearer {apiKey}", CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.True(verification.Succeeded);
+        Assert.NotNull(verification.Identity);
+        Assert.Equal("operator01", verification.Identity.KeyId);
+        Assert.Contains("session:open", verification.Identity.Scopes);
+
+        IReadOnlyList<ApiKeyAuditRecord> auditRecords = await services
+            .GetRequiredService<IApiKeyAuditStore>()
+            .ListRecentAsync(10, CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.Contains(auditRecords, record => record.EventType == "create-key" && record.KeyId == "operator01");
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ListKeysAsync_DoesNotPrintRawSecret()
+    {
+        await using ServiceProvider services = BuildServices(CreateTempDatabasePath());
+        ApiKeyAdminCliRunner runner = services.GetRequiredService<ApiKeyAdminCliRunner>();
+        string apiKey = await CreateKeyAsync(runner, "operator01");
+        StringWriter listOutput = new();
+
+        await runner.RunAsync(
+            new ApiKeyAdminCommand(
+                Kind: ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.ListKeys,
+                Json: true,
+                SqlitePath: null,
+                Pepper: null,
+                KeyId: null,
+                DisplayName: null,
+                Scopes: new HashSet<string>(StringComparer.Ordinal)),
+            listOutput,
+            CancellationToken.None);
+
+        string listJson = listOutput.ToString();
+
+        Assert.Contains("operator01", listJson, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain(apiKey, listJson, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain(ApiKeySecret(apiKey), listJson, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain("secret_hash", listJson, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task RevokeKeyAsync_RevokedKeyFailsVerificationAndAudits()
+    {
+        await using ServiceProvider services = BuildServices(CreateTempDatabasePath());
+        ApiKeyAdminCliRunner runner = services.GetRequiredService<ApiKeyAdminCliRunner>();
+        string apiKey = await CreateKeyAsync(runner, "operator01");
+
+        await runner.RunAsync(
+            new ApiKeyAdminCommand(
+                Kind: ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.RevokeKey,
+                Json: true,
+                SqlitePath: null,
+                Pepper: null,
+                KeyId: "operator01",
+                DisplayName: null,
+                Scopes: new HashSet<string>(StringComparer.Ordinal)),
+            TextWriter.Null,
+            CancellationToken.None);
+
+        ApiKeyVerificationResult verification = await services
+            .GetRequiredService<IApiKeyVerifier>()
+            .VerifyAsync($"Bearer {apiKey}", CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.False(verification.Succeeded);
+        Assert.Equal(ApiKeyVerificationFailure.KeyRevoked, verification.Failure);
+
+        IReadOnlyList<ApiKeyAuditRecord> auditRecords = await services
+            .GetRequiredService<IApiKeyAuditStore>()
+            .ListRecentAsync(10, CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.Contains(auditRecords, record => record.EventType == "revoke-key" && record.KeyId == "operator01");
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task RotateKeyAsync_PrintsNewSecretOnceAndInvalidatesOldSecret()
+    {
+        await using ServiceProvider services = BuildServices(CreateTempDatabasePath());
+        ApiKeyAdminCliRunner runner = services.GetRequiredService<ApiKeyAdminCliRunner>();
+        string oldApiKey = await CreateKeyAsync(runner, "operator01");
+        StringWriter rotateOutput = new();
+
+        await runner.RunAsync(
+            new ApiKeyAdminCommand(
+                Kind: ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.RotateKey,
+                Json: true,
+                SqlitePath: null,
+                Pepper: null,
+                KeyId: "operator01",
+                DisplayName: null,
+                Scopes: new HashSet<string>(StringComparer.Ordinal)),
+            rotateOutput,
+            CancellationToken.None);
+
+        string rotateJson = rotateOutput.ToString();
+        string newApiKey = ReadApiKey(rotateJson);
+
+        Assert.NotEqual(oldApiKey, newApiKey);
+        Assert.Equal(1, CountOccurrences(rotateJson, newApiKey));
+
+        IApiKeyVerifier verifier = services.GetRequiredService<IApiKeyVerifier>();
+        ApiKeyVerificationResult oldVerification = await verifier.VerifyAsync($"Bearer {oldApiKey}", CancellationToken.None);
+        ApiKeyVerificationResult newVerification = await verifier.VerifyAsync($"Bearer {newApiKey}", CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.False(oldVerification.Succeeded);
+        Assert.Equal(ApiKeyVerificationFailure.SecretMismatch, oldVerification.Failure);
+        Assert.True(newVerification.Succeeded);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task CreateKeyAsync_PrintsRawSecretExactlyOnce()
+    {
+        await using ServiceProvider services = BuildServices(CreateTempDatabasePath());
+        ApiKeyAdminCliRunner runner = services.GetRequiredService<ApiKeyAdminCliRunner>();
+        StringWriter output = new();
+
+        await runner.RunAsync(
+            new ApiKeyAdminCommand(
+                Kind: ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.CreateKey,
+                Json: true,
+                SqlitePath: null,
+                Pepper: null,
+                KeyId: "operator01",
+                DisplayName: "Operator",
+                Scopes: new HashSet<string>(StringComparer.Ordinal)),
+            output,
+            CancellationToken.None);
+
+        string json = output.ToString();
+        string apiKey = ReadApiKey(json);
+
+        Assert.Equal(1, CountOccurrences(json, apiKey));
+        Assert.Equal(1, CountOccurrences(json, ApiKeySecret(apiKey)));
+    }
+
+    private static async Task<string> CreateKeyAsync(ApiKeyAdminCliRunner runner, string keyId)
+    {
+        StringWriter output = new();
+        await runner.RunAsync(
+            new ApiKeyAdminCommand(
+                Kind: ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.CreateKey,
+                Json: true,
+                SqlitePath: null,
+                Pepper: null,
+                KeyId: keyId,
+                DisplayName: "Operator",
+                Scopes: new HashSet<string>(StringComparer.Ordinal) { "session:open" }),
+            output,
+            CancellationToken.None);
+
+        return ReadApiKey(output.ToString());
+    }
+
+    private static ServiceProvider BuildServices(string databasePath)
+    {
+        IConfigurationRoot configuration = new ConfigurationBuilder()
+            .AddInMemoryCollection(
+                new Dictionary<string, string?>
+                {
+                    ["MxGateway:Authentication:SqlitePath"] = databasePath,
+                    ["MxGateway:ApiKeyPepper"] = "test-pepper"
+                })
+            .Build();
+
+        ServiceCollection services = new();
+        services.AddSingleton<IConfiguration>(configuration);
+        services.AddGatewayConfiguration();
+        services.AddSqliteAuthStore();
+
+        return services.BuildServiceProvider(validateScopes: true);
+    }
+
+    private static string CreateTempDatabasePath()
+    {
+        string directory = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), "mxgateway-auth-cli-tests", Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N"));
+        Directory.CreateDirectory(directory);
+
+        return Path.Combine(directory, "gateway-auth.db");
+    }
+
+    private static string ReadApiKey(string json)
+    {
+        using JsonDocument document = JsonDocument.Parse(json);
+
+        return document.RootElement.GetProperty("ApiKey").GetString()
+            ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("API key was not present in command output.");
+    }
+
+    private static string ApiKeySecret(string apiKey)
+    {
+        string[] parts = apiKey.Split('_', 3);
+
+        return parts[2];
+    }
+
+    private static int CountOccurrences(string value, string pattern)
+    {
+        int count = 0;
+        int index = 0;
+
+        while ((index = value.IndexOf(pattern, index, StringComparison.Ordinal)) >= 0)
+        {
+            count++;
+            index += pattern.Length;
+        }
+
+        return count;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Tests/Security/Authentication/ApiKeyAdminCommandLineParserTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+using MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Tests.Security.Authentication;
+
+public sealed class ApiKeyAdminCommandLineParserTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public void Parse_NonApiKeyCommand_ReturnsNotApiKeyCommand()
+    {
+        ApiKeyAdminParseResult result = ApiKeyAdminCommandLineParser.Parse(["--urls=http://localhost:5000"]);
+
+        Assert.False(result.IsApiKeyCommand);
+        Assert.Null(result.Command);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Parse_CreateKeyCommand_ReturnsOptions()
+    {
+        ApiKeyAdminParseResult result = ApiKeyAdminCommandLineParser.Parse(
+            [
+                "apikey",
+                "create-key",
+                "--key-id",
+                "operator01",
+                "--display-name",
+                "Operator",
+                "--scopes",
+                "session:open,events:read",
+                "--sqlite-path",
+                "auth.db",
+                "--pepper",
+                "pepper",
+                "--json"
+            ]);
+
+        Assert.True(result.IsApiKeyCommand);
+        Assert.Null(result.Error);
+        Assert.NotNull(result.Command);
+        Assert.Equal(ApiKeyAdminCommandKind.CreateKey, result.Command.Kind);
+        Assert.True(result.Command.Json);
+        Assert.Equal("operator01", result.Command.KeyId);
+        Assert.Equal("Operator", result.Command.DisplayName);
+        Assert.Equal("auth.db", result.Command.SqlitePath);
+        Assert.Equal("pepper", result.Command.Pepper);
+        Assert.Contains("session:open", result.Command.Scopes);
+        Assert.Contains("events:read", result.Command.Scopes);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Parse_CreateKeyWithoutDisplayName_ReturnsError()
+    {
+        ApiKeyAdminParseResult result = ApiKeyAdminCommandLineParser.Parse(
+            ["apikey", "create-key", "--key-id", "operator01"]);
+
+        Assert.True(result.IsApiKeyCommand);
+        Assert.Null(result.Command);
+        Assert.Contains("--display-name", result.Error, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Parse_KeyIdWithUnderscore_ReturnsError()
+    {
+        ApiKeyAdminParseResult result = ApiKeyAdminCommandLineParser.Parse(
+            ["apikey", "revoke-key", "--key-id", "operator_01"]);
+
+        Assert.True(result.IsApiKeyCommand);
+        Assert.Null(result.Command);
+        Assert.Contains("letters, numbers, periods, and hyphens", result.Error, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Tests/Security/Authorization/GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptorTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,267 @@
+using Grpc.Core;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
+using MxGateway.Server.Security.Authentication;
+using MxGateway.Server.Security.Authorization;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Tests.Security.Authorization;
+
+public sealed class GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptorTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task UnaryServerHandler_MissingApiKey_ReturnsUnauthenticated()
+    {
+        GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptor interceptor = CreateInterceptor(
+            new FakeApiKeyVerifier(ApiKeyVerificationResult.Fail(
+                ApiKeyVerificationFailure.MissingOrMalformedCredentials)),
+            new GatewayRequestIdentityAccessor());
+
+        RpcException exception = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<RpcException>(
+            () => interceptor.UnaryServerHandler(
+                new OpenSessionRequest(),
+                new TestServerCallContext([]),
+                (_, _) => Task.FromResult(new OpenSessionReply())));
+
+        Assert.Equal(StatusCode.Unauthenticated, exception.StatusCode);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain("secret", exception.Status.Detail, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task UnaryServerHandler_InvalidApiKey_DoesNotExposeRawCredentialInStatus()
+    {
+        GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptor interceptor = CreateInterceptor(
+            new FakeApiKeyVerifier(ApiKeyVerificationResult.Fail(ApiKeyVerificationFailure.SecretMismatch)),
+            new GatewayRequestIdentityAccessor());
+
+        RpcException exception = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<RpcException>(
+            () => interceptor.UnaryServerHandler(
+                new OpenSessionRequest(),
+                ContextWithAuthorization("Bearer mxgw_operator01_super-secret"),
+                (_, _) => Task.FromResult(new OpenSessionReply())));
+
+        Assert.Equal(StatusCode.Unauthenticated, exception.StatusCode);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain("super-secret", exception.Status.Detail, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task UnaryServerHandler_ValidApiKeyMissingScope_ReturnsPermissionDenied()
+    {
+        GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptor interceptor = CreateInterceptor(
+            new FakeApiKeyVerifier(SuccessWithScopes(GatewayScopes.EventsRead)),
+            new GatewayRequestIdentityAccessor());
+
+        RpcException exception = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<RpcException>(
+            () => interceptor.UnaryServerHandler(
+                new OpenSessionRequest(),
+                ContextWithAuthorization("Bearer mxgw_operator01_secret"),
+                (_, _) => Task.FromResult(new OpenSessionReply())));
+
+        Assert.Equal(StatusCode.PermissionDenied, exception.StatusCode);
+        Assert.Contains(GatewayScopes.SessionOpen, exception.Status.Detail, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task UnaryServerHandler_ValidApiKeyWithScope_SetsRequestIdentity()
+    {
+        GatewayRequestIdentityAccessor identityAccessor = new();
+        ApiKeyIdentity? identitySeenByHandler = null;
+        GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptor interceptor = CreateInterceptor(
+            new FakeApiKeyVerifier(SuccessWithScopes(GatewayScopes.SessionOpen)),
+            identityAccessor);
+
+        OpenSessionReply reply = await interceptor.UnaryServerHandler(
+            new OpenSessionRequest(),
+            ContextWithAuthorization("Bearer mxgw_operator01_secret"),
+            (_, _) =>
+            {
+                identitySeenByHandler = identityAccessor.Current;
+
+                return Task.FromResult(new OpenSessionReply { SessionId = "session-1" });
+            });
+
+        Assert.Equal("session-1", reply.SessionId);
+        Assert.NotNull(identitySeenByHandler);
+        Assert.Equal("operator01", identitySeenByHandler.KeyId);
+        Assert.Null(identityAccessor.Current);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ServerStreamingServerHandler_ValidApiKeyMissingScope_ReturnsPermissionDenied()
+    {
+        GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptor interceptor = CreateInterceptor(
+            new FakeApiKeyVerifier(SuccessWithScopes(GatewayScopes.SessionOpen)),
+            new GatewayRequestIdentityAccessor());
+
+        RpcException exception = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<RpcException>(
+            () => interceptor.ServerStreamingServerHandler(
+                new StreamEventsRequest(),
+                new TestServerStreamWriter<MxEvent>(),
+                ContextWithAuthorization("Bearer mxgw_operator01_secret"),
+                (_, _, _) => Task.CompletedTask));
+
+        Assert.Equal(StatusCode.PermissionDenied, exception.StatusCode);
+        Assert.Contains(GatewayScopes.EventsRead, exception.Status.Detail, StringComparison.Ordinal);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ServerStreamingServerHandler_ValidApiKeyWithScope_AllowsStream()
+    {
+        GatewayRequestIdentityAccessor identityAccessor = new();
+        GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptor interceptor = CreateInterceptor(
+            new FakeApiKeyVerifier(SuccessWithScopes(GatewayScopes.EventsRead)),
+            identityAccessor);
+        TestServerStreamWriter<MxEvent> streamWriter = new();
+
+        await interceptor.ServerStreamingServerHandler(
+            new StreamEventsRequest(),
+            streamWriter,
+            ContextWithAuthorization("Bearer mxgw_operator01_secret"),
+            async (_, writer, _) =>
+            {
+                Assert.Equal("operator01", identityAccessor.Current?.KeyId);
+                await writer.WriteAsync(new MxEvent { SessionId = "session-1" });
+            });
+
+        MxEvent eventMessage = Assert.Single(streamWriter.Messages);
+        Assert.Equal("session-1", eventMessage.SessionId);
+        Assert.Null(identityAccessor.Current);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task UnaryServerHandler_AuthenticationDisabled_SkipsApiKeyVerification()
+    {
+        GatewayRequestIdentityAccessor identityAccessor = new();
+        FakeApiKeyVerifier verifier = new(ApiKeyVerificationResult.Fail(
+            ApiKeyVerificationFailure.MissingOrMalformedCredentials));
+        GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptor interceptor = CreateInterceptor(
+            verifier,
+            identityAccessor,
+            AuthenticationMode.Disabled);
+
+        OpenSessionReply reply = await interceptor.UnaryServerHandler(
+            new OpenSessionRequest(),
+            new TestServerCallContext([]),
+            (_, _) => Task.FromResult(new OpenSessionReply { SessionId = "session-1" }));
+
+        Assert.Equal("session-1", reply.SessionId);
+        Assert.False(verifier.WasCalled);
+        Assert.Null(identityAccessor.Current);
+    }
+
+    private static GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptor CreateInterceptor(
+        IApiKeyVerifier apiKeyVerifier,
+        IGatewayRequestIdentityAccessor identityAccessor,
+        AuthenticationMode authenticationMode = AuthenticationMode.ApiKey)
+    {
+        return new GatewayGrpcAuthorizationInterceptor(
+            apiKeyVerifier,
+            new GatewayGrpcScopeResolver(),
+            identityAccessor,
+            Options.Create(new GatewayOptions
+            {
+                Authentication = new AuthenticationOptions
+                {
+                    Mode = authenticationMode
+                }
+            }));
+    }
+
+    private static ApiKeyVerificationResult SuccessWithScopes(params string[] scopes)
+    {
+        return ApiKeyVerificationResult.Success(new ApiKeyIdentity(
+            KeyId: "operator01",
+            KeyPrefix: "mxgw_operator01",
+            DisplayName: "Operator Key",
+            Scopes: new HashSet<string>(scopes, StringComparer.Ordinal)));
+    }
+
+    private static TestServerCallContext ContextWithAuthorization(string authorizationHeader)
+    {
+        return new TestServerCallContext([new Metadata.Entry("authorization", authorizationHeader)]);
+    }
+
+    private sealed class FakeApiKeyVerifier(ApiKeyVerificationResult result) : IApiKeyVerifier
+    {
+        public bool WasCalled { get; private set; }
+
+        public string? LastAuthorizationHeader { get; private set; }
+
+        public Task<ApiKeyVerificationResult> VerifyAsync(
+            string? authorizationHeader,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            WasCalled = true;
+            LastAuthorizationHeader = authorizationHeader;
+
+            return Task.FromResult(result);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private sealed class TestServerStreamWriter<T> : IServerStreamWriter<T>
+    {
+        public List<T> Messages { get; } = [];
+
+        public WriteOptions? WriteOptions { get; set; }
+
+        public Task WriteAsync(T message)
+        {
+            Messages.Add(message);
+
+            return Task.CompletedTask;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private sealed class TestServerCallContext(
+        Metadata requestHeaders,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default) : ServerCallContext
+    {
+        private readonly Metadata responseTrailers = [];
+        private readonly Dictionary<object, object> userState = [];
+        private Status status;
+        private WriteOptions? writeOptions;
+
+        protected override string MethodCore => "/mxaccess_gateway.v1.MxAccessGateway/Test";
+
+        protected override string HostCore => "localhost";
+
+        protected override string PeerCore => "ipv4:127.0.0.1:5000";
+
+        protected override DateTime DeadlineCore => DateTime.UtcNow.AddMinutes(1);
+
+        protected override Metadata RequestHeadersCore => requestHeaders;
+
+        protected override CancellationToken CancellationTokenCore => cancellationToken;
+
+        protected override Metadata ResponseTrailersCore => responseTrailers;
+
+        protected override Status StatusCore
+        {
+            get => status;
+            set => status = value;
+        }
+
+        protected override WriteOptions? WriteOptionsCore
+        {
+            get => writeOptions;
+            set => writeOptions = value;
+        }
+
+        protected override AuthContext AuthContextCore { get; } = new(
+            string.Empty,
+            new Dictionary<string, List<AuthProperty>>(StringComparer.Ordinal));
+
+        protected override IDictionary<object, object> UserStateCore => userState;
+
+        protected override Task WriteResponseHeadersAsyncCore(Metadata responseHeaders)
+        {
+            return Task.CompletedTask;
+        }
+
+        protected override ContextPropagationToken CreatePropagationTokenCore(
+            ContextPropagationOptions? options)
+        {
+            throw new NotSupportedException();
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Tests/Security/Authorization/GatewayGrpcScopeResolverTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Server.Security.Authorization;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Tests.Security.Authorization;
+
+public sealed class GatewayGrpcScopeResolverTests
+{
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(typeof(OpenSessionRequest), GatewayScopes.SessionOpen)]
+    [InlineData(typeof(CloseSessionRequest), GatewayScopes.SessionClose)]
+    [InlineData(typeof(StreamEventsRequest), GatewayScopes.EventsRead)]
+    public void ResolveRequiredScope_KnownRpcRequest_ReturnsExpectedScope(
+        Type requestType,
+        string expectedScope)
+    {
+        GatewayGrpcScopeResolver resolver = new();
+        object request = Activator.CreateInstance(requestType)!;
+
+        string scope = resolver.ResolveRequiredScope(request);
+
+        Assert.Equal(expectedScope, scope);
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(MxCommandKind.Register, GatewayScopes.InvokeRead)]
+    [InlineData(MxCommandKind.AddItem, GatewayScopes.InvokeRead)]
+    [InlineData(MxCommandKind.Advise, GatewayScopes.InvokeRead)]
+    [InlineData(MxCommandKind.Write, GatewayScopes.InvokeWrite)]
+    [InlineData(MxCommandKind.Write2, GatewayScopes.InvokeWrite)]
+    [InlineData(MxCommandKind.WriteSecured, GatewayScopes.InvokeSecure)]
+    [InlineData(MxCommandKind.WriteSecured2, GatewayScopes.InvokeSecure)]
+    [InlineData(MxCommandKind.AuthenticateUser, GatewayScopes.InvokeSecure)]
+    [InlineData(MxCommandKind.ArchestraUserToId, GatewayScopes.MetadataRead)]
+    [InlineData(MxCommandKind.GetSessionState, GatewayScopes.MetadataRead)]
+    [InlineData(MxCommandKind.GetWorkerInfo, GatewayScopes.MetadataRead)]
+    [InlineData(MxCommandKind.DrainEvents, GatewayScopes.EventsRead)]
+    [InlineData(MxCommandKind.ShutdownWorker, GatewayScopes.Admin)]
+    public void ResolveRequiredScope_InvokeCommand_ReturnsExpectedScope(
+        MxCommandKind commandKind,
+        string expectedScope)
+    {
+        GatewayGrpcScopeResolver resolver = new();
+
+        string scope = resolver.ResolveRequiredScope(new MxCommandRequest
+        {
+            Command = new MxCommand
+            {
+                Kind = commandKind
+            }
+        });
+
+        Assert.Equal(expectedScope, scope);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Bootstrap/MemoryWorkerEnvironment.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Bootstrap;
+
+internal sealed class MemoryWorkerEnvironment : IWorkerEnvironment
+{
+    private readonly Dictionary<string, string> _values = new();
+    private readonly Exception? _exception;
+
+    public MemoryWorkerEnvironment()
+    {
+    }
+
+    public MemoryWorkerEnvironment(Exception exception)
+    {
+        _exception = exception;
+    }
+
+    public void Set(string name, string value)
+    {
+        _values[name] = value;
+    }
+
+    public string? GetEnvironmentVariable(string name)
+    {
+        if (_exception is not null)
+        {
+            throw _exception;
+        }
+
+        return _values.TryGetValue(name, out string value)
+            ? value
+            : null;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Bootstrap/MemoryWorkerLogEntry.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Bootstrap;
+
+internal sealed class MemoryWorkerLogEntry
+{
+    public MemoryWorkerLogEntry(
+        string level,
+        string eventName,
+        IReadOnlyDictionary<string, object?> fields)
+    {
+        Level = level;
+        EventName = eventName;
+        Fields = fields;
+    }
+
+    public string Level { get; }
+
+    public string EventName { get; }
+
+    public IReadOnlyDictionary<string, object?> Fields { get; }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Bootstrap/MemoryWorkerLogger.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Bootstrap;
+
+internal sealed class MemoryWorkerLogger : IWorkerLogger
+{
+    public List<MemoryWorkerLogEntry> Entries { get; } = new();
+
+    public void Information(string eventName, IReadOnlyDictionary<string, object?> fields)
+    {
+        Entries.Add(new MemoryWorkerLogEntry("Information", eventName, WorkerLogRedactor.RedactFields(fields)));
+    }
+
+    public void Error(string eventName, IReadOnlyDictionary<string, object?> fields)
+    {
+        Entries.Add(new MemoryWorkerLogEntry("Error", eventName, WorkerLogRedactor.RedactFields(fields)));
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Bootstrap/WorkerApplicationTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+using System;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Bootstrap;
+
+public sealed class WorkerApplicationTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public void Run_WithValidBootstrapArguments_ReturnsSuccessAndLogsRedactedNonce()
+    {
+        MemoryWorkerEnvironment environment = CreateEnvironment("nonce-secret");
+        MemoryWorkerLogger logger = new();
+
+        int exitCode = MxGateway.Worker.WorkerApplication.Run(
+            ValidArgs(),
+            environment,
+            logger,
+            new SucceedingPipeClient());
+
+        Assert.Equal((int)WorkerExitCode.Success, exitCode);
+        Assert.Equal(2, logger.Entries.Count);
+        MemoryWorkerLogEntry entry = logger.Entries[0];
+        Assert.Equal("Information", entry.Level);
+        Assert.Equal("WorkerBootstrapSucceeded", entry.EventName);
+        Assert.Equal("session-1", entry.Fields["session_id"]);
+        Assert.Equal("mxaccess-gateway-123-session-1", entry.Fields["pipe_name"]);
+        Assert.Equal(GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion, entry.Fields["protocol_version"]);
+        Assert.Equal("[redacted]", entry.Fields["nonce"]);
+        Assert.Equal("WorkerPipeHandshakeSucceeded", logger.Entries[1].EventName);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Run_WithMissingRequiredArguments_ReturnsInvalidArguments()
+    {
+        MemoryWorkerEnvironment environment = CreateEnvironment("nonce-secret");
+        MemoryWorkerLogger logger = new();
+
+        int exitCode = MxGateway.Worker.WorkerApplication.Run(
+            [],
+            environment,
+            logger);
+
+        Assert.Equal((int)WorkerExitCode.InvalidArguments, exitCode);
+        MemoryWorkerLogEntry entry = Assert.Single(logger.Entries);
+        Assert.Equal("Error", entry.Level);
+        Assert.Equal("WorkerBootstrapFailed", entry.EventName);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerExitCode.InvalidArguments, entry.Fields["exit_code"]);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Run_WithInvalidProtocolVersion_ReturnsInvalidProtocolVersion()
+    {
+        MemoryWorkerEnvironment environment = CreateEnvironment("nonce-secret");
+        MemoryWorkerLogger logger = new();
+
+        int exitCode = MxGateway.Worker.WorkerApplication.Run(
+            ValidArgs(protocolVersion: "999"),
+            environment,
+            logger);
+
+        Assert.Equal((int)WorkerExitCode.InvalidProtocolVersion, exitCode);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Run_WithMissingNonce_ReturnsMissingNonce()
+    {
+        MemoryWorkerEnvironment environment = new();
+        MemoryWorkerLogger logger = new();
+
+        int exitCode = MxGateway.Worker.WorkerApplication.Run(
+            ValidArgs(),
+            environment,
+            logger);
+
+        Assert.Equal((int)WorkerExitCode.MissingNonce, exitCode);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Run_WithPipeProtocolFailure_ReturnsProtocolViolation()
+    {
+        MemoryWorkerEnvironment environment = CreateEnvironment("nonce-secret");
+        MemoryWorkerLogger logger = new();
+
+        int exitCode = MxGateway.Worker.WorkerApplication.Run(
+            ValidArgs(),
+            environment,
+            logger,
+            new ThrowingPipeClient(new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.NonceMismatch,
+                "Bad nonce.")));
+
+        Assert.Equal((int)WorkerExitCode.ProtocolViolation, exitCode);
+        Assert.Equal("WorkerPipeProtocolFailure", logger.Entries[1].EventName);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Run_WithUnexpectedBootstrapFailure_ReturnsUnexpectedFailure()
+    {
+        MemoryWorkerEnvironment environment = new(new InvalidOperationException("environment failed"));
+        MemoryWorkerLogger logger = new();
+
+        int exitCode = MxGateway.Worker.WorkerApplication.Run(
+            ValidArgs(),
+            environment,
+            logger);
+
+        Assert.Equal((int)WorkerExitCode.UnexpectedFailure, exitCode);
+        MemoryWorkerLogEntry entry = Assert.Single(logger.Entries);
+        Assert.Equal("WorkerBootstrapUnexpectedFailure", entry.EventName);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerExitCode.UnexpectedFailure, entry.Fields["exit_code"]);
+        Assert.Equal(typeof(InvalidOperationException).FullName, entry.Fields["exception_type"]);
+    }
+
+    private static string[] ValidArgs(string? protocolVersion = null)
+    {
+        return
+        [
+            "--session-id",
+            "session-1",
+            "--pipe-name",
+            "mxaccess-gateway-123-session-1",
+            "--protocol-version",
+            protocolVersion ?? GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion.ToString(),
+        ];
+    }
+
+    private static MemoryWorkerEnvironment CreateEnvironment(string nonce)
+    {
+        MemoryWorkerEnvironment environment = new();
+        environment.Set(WorkerOptions.NonceEnvironmentVariableName, nonce);
+        return environment;
+    }
+
+    private sealed class SucceedingPipeClient : IWorkerPipeClient
+    {
+        public Task RunAsync(
+            WorkerOptions options,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+        {
+            return Task.CompletedTask;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private sealed class ThrowingPipeClient : IWorkerPipeClient
+    {
+        private readonly Exception _exception;
+
+        public ThrowingPipeClient(Exception exception)
+        {
+            _exception = exception;
+        }
+
+        public Task RunAsync(
+            WorkerOptions options,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+        {
+            throw _exception;
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Bootstrap/WorkerConsoleLoggerTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Bootstrap;
+
+public sealed class WorkerConsoleLoggerTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public void Information_RedactsNonceInStructuredOutput()
+    {
+        StringWriter writer = new();
+        WorkerConsoleLogger logger = new(writer);
+
+        logger.Information("WorkerBootstrapSucceeded", new Dictionary<string, object?>
+        {
+            ["session_id"] = "session-1",
+            ["nonce"] = "nonce-secret",
+        });
+
+        string output = writer.ToString();
+
+        Assert.Contains("event=WorkerBootstrapSucceeded", output);
+        Assert.Contains("session_id=session-1", output);
+        Assert.Contains("nonce=[redacted]", output);
+        Assert.DoesNotContain("nonce-secret", output);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Bootstrap/WorkerLogRedactorTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Bootstrap;
+
+public sealed class WorkerLogRedactorTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public void RedactFields_RedactsNonceSecretPasswordTokenCredentialAndApiKeyFields()
+    {
+        Dictionary<string, object?> fields = new()
+        {
+            ["nonce"] = "nonce-secret",
+            ["client_secret"] = "secret",
+            ["password"] = "password",
+            ["auth_token"] = "token",
+            ["credential_value"] = "credential",
+            ["api_key"] = "key",
+            ["session_id"] = "session-1",
+        };
+
+        Dictionary<string, object?> redacted = WorkerLogRedactor.RedactFields(fields);
+
+        Assert.Equal("[redacted]", redacted["nonce"]);
+        Assert.Equal("[redacted]", redacted["client_secret"]);
+        Assert.Equal("[redacted]", redacted["password"]);
+        Assert.Equal("[redacted]", redacted["auth_token"]);
+        Assert.Equal("[redacted]", redacted["credential_value"]);
+        Assert.Equal("[redacted]", redacted["api_key"]);
+        Assert.Equal("session-1", redacted["session_id"]);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Bootstrap/WorkerOptionsParserTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Bootstrap;
+
+public sealed class WorkerOptionsParserTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public void Parse_WithAllRequiredInputs_ReturnsWorkerOptions()
+    {
+        WorkerOptionsParser parser = new(CreateEnvironment("nonce-secret"));
+
+        WorkerBootstrapResult result = parser.Parse(ValidArgs());
+
+        Assert.True(result.Succeeded);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerExitCode.Success, result.ExitCode);
+        Assert.NotNull(result.Options);
+        Assert.Equal("session-1", result.Options.SessionId);
+        Assert.Equal("mxaccess-gateway-123-session-1", result.Options.PipeName);
+        Assert.Equal(GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion, result.Options.ProtocolVersion);
+        Assert.Equal("nonce-secret", result.Options.Nonce);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Parse_WithMissingSessionId_ReturnsInvalidArguments()
+    {
+        WorkerOptionsParser parser = new(CreateEnvironment("nonce-secret"));
+
+        WorkerBootstrapResult result = parser.Parse(
+        [
+            "--pipe-name",
+            "mxaccess-gateway-123-session-1",
+            "--protocol-version",
+            GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion.ToString(),
+        ]);
+
+        Assert.False(result.Succeeded);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerExitCode.InvalidArguments, result.ExitCode);
+        Assert.Contains(result.Errors, error => error.Contains("--session-id"));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Parse_WithUnknownOption_ReturnsInvalidArguments()
+    {
+        WorkerOptionsParser parser = new(CreateEnvironment("nonce-secret"));
+
+        WorkerBootstrapResult result = parser.Parse(
+        [
+            "--session-id",
+            "session-1",
+            "--pipe-name",
+            "mxaccess-gateway-123-session-1",
+            "--protocol-version",
+            GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion.ToString(),
+            "--unexpected",
+            "value",
+        ]);
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerExitCode.InvalidArguments, result.ExitCode);
+        Assert.Contains(result.Errors, error => error.Contains("Unknown option"));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Parse_WithNonNumericProtocolVersion_ReturnsInvalidProtocolVersion()
+    {
+        WorkerOptionsParser parser = new(CreateEnvironment("nonce-secret"));
+
+        WorkerBootstrapResult result = parser.Parse(ValidArgs(protocolVersion: "abc"));
+
+        Assert.False(result.Succeeded);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerExitCode.InvalidProtocolVersion, result.ExitCode);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Parse_WithUnsupportedProtocolVersion_ReturnsInvalidProtocolVersion()
+    {
+        WorkerOptionsParser parser = new(CreateEnvironment("nonce-secret"));
+
+        WorkerBootstrapResult result = parser.Parse(ValidArgs(protocolVersion: "999"));
+
+        Assert.False(result.Succeeded);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerExitCode.InvalidProtocolVersion, result.ExitCode);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Parse_WithMissingNonce_ReturnsMissingNonce()
+    {
+        WorkerOptionsParser parser = new(new MemoryWorkerEnvironment());
+
+        WorkerBootstrapResult result = parser.Parse(ValidArgs());
+
+        Assert.False(result.Succeeded);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerExitCode.MissingNonce, result.ExitCode);
+    }
+
+    private static string[] ValidArgs(string? protocolVersion = null)
+    {
+        return
+        [
+            "--session-id",
+            "session-1",
+            "--pipe-name",
+            "mxaccess-gateway-123-session-1",
+            "--protocol-version",
+            protocolVersion ?? GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion.ToString(),
+        ];
+    }
+
+    private static MemoryWorkerEnvironment CreateEnvironment(string nonce)
+    {
+        MemoryWorkerEnvironment environment = new();
+        environment.Set(WorkerOptions.NonceEnvironmentVariableName, nonce);
+        return environment;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Conversion/VariantConverterTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+using System;
+using Google.Protobuf;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Conversion;
+using ProtobufTimestamp = Google.Protobuf.WellKnownTypes.Timestamp;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Conversion;
+
+public sealed class VariantConverterTests
+{
+    private readonly VariantConverter _converter = new();
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(true, MxDataType.Boolean, MxValue.KindOneofCase.BoolValue)]
+    [InlineData(42, MxDataType.Integer, MxValue.KindOneofCase.Int32Value)]
+    [InlineData(42L, MxDataType.Integer, MxValue.KindOneofCase.Int64Value)]
+    [InlineData(1.25f, MxDataType.Float, MxValue.KindOneofCase.FloatValue)]
+    [InlineData(2.5d, MxDataType.Double, MxValue.KindOneofCase.DoubleValue)]
+    [InlineData("value", MxDataType.String, MxValue.KindOneofCase.StringValue)]
+    public void Convert_WithSupportedScalar_ProjectsTypedValue(
+        object value,
+        MxDataType expectedDataType,
+        MxValue.KindOneofCase expectedKind)
+    {
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(value);
+
+        Assert.Equal(expectedDataType, converted.DataType);
+        Assert.Equal(expectedKind, converted.KindCase);
+        Assert.False(string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(converted.VariantType));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Convert_WithDateTime_ProjectsTimestamp()
+    {
+        DateTime dateTime = new(2026, 4, 26, 17, 45, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc);
+
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(dateTime);
+
+        Assert.Equal(MxDataType.Time, converted.DataType);
+        Assert.Equal(ProtobufTimestamp.FromDateTime(dateTime), converted.TimestampValue);
+        Assert.Equal("VT_DATE", converted.VariantType);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Convert_WithFileTimeAndExpectedTime_ProjectsTimestamp()
+    {
+        DateTime dateTime = new(2026, 4, 26, 17, 45, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc);
+
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(dateTime.ToFileTimeUtc(), MxDataType.Time);
+
+        Assert.Equal(MxDataType.Time, converted.DataType);
+        Assert.Equal(ProtobufTimestamp.FromDateTime(dateTime), converted.TimestampValue);
+        Assert.Equal("VT_I8", converted.VariantType);
+    }
+
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(null, "VT_EMPTY")]
+    [InlineData(typeof(DBNull), "VT_NULL")]
+    public void Convert_WithNullLikeValue_PreservesNull(
+        object? value,
+        string expectedVariantType)
+    {
+        object? actualValue = value is System.Type ? DBNull.Value : value;
+
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(actualValue);
+
+        Assert.True(converted.IsNull);
+        Assert.Equal(MxDataType.NoData, converted.DataType);
+        Assert.Equal(expectedVariantType, converted.VariantType);
+        Assert.Equal(MxValue.KindOneofCase.None, converted.KindCase);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ConvertArray_WithSupportedArrays_ProjectsTypedValuesAndDimensions()
+    {
+        MxValue bools = _converter.Convert(new[] { true, false });
+        MxValue ints = _converter.Convert(new[] { 1, 2, 3 });
+        MxValue floats = _converter.Convert(new[] { 1.25f, 2.5f });
+        MxValue doubles = _converter.Convert(new[] { 1.25d, 2.5d });
+        MxValue strings = _converter.Convert(new[] { "one", "two" });
+        MxValue times = _converter.Convert(new[]
+        {
+            new DateTime(2026, 4, 26, 17, 45, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc),
+            new DateTime(2026, 4, 26, 17, 46, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc),
+        });
+
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { true, false }, bools.ArrayValue.BoolValues.Values);
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { 1, 2, 3 }, ints.ArrayValue.Int32Values.Values);
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { 1.25f, 2.5f }, floats.ArrayValue.FloatValues.Values);
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { 1.25d, 2.5d }, doubles.ArrayValue.DoubleValues.Values);
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { "one", "two" }, strings.ArrayValue.StringValues.Values);
+        Assert.Equal(2, times.ArrayValue.TimestampValues.Values.Count);
+        Assert.Equal(new uint[] { 2 }, bools.ArrayValue.Dimensions);
+        Assert.Equal(MxDataType.Boolean, bools.ArrayValue.ElementDataType);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ConvertArray_WithMultidimensionalArray_PreservesRankAndDimensions()
+    {
+        int[,] values =
+        {
+            { 1, 2, 3 },
+            { 4, 5, 6 },
+        };
+
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(values);
+
+        Assert.Equal(new uint[] { 2, 3 }, converted.ArrayValue.Dimensions);
+        Assert.Equal(new[] { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 }, converted.ArrayValue.Int32Values.Values);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ConvertArray_WithExpectedTimeAndFileTimeValues_ProjectsTimestampArray()
+    {
+        DateTime first = new(2026, 4, 26, 17, 45, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc);
+        DateTime second = new(2026, 4, 26, 17, 46, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc);
+
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(
+            new[] { first.ToFileTimeUtc(), second.ToFileTimeUtc() },
+            MxDataType.Time);
+
+        Assert.Equal(MxDataType.Time, converted.ArrayValue.ElementDataType);
+        Assert.Equal(
+            new[] { ProtobufTimestamp.FromDateTime(first), ProtobufTimestamp.FromDateTime(second) },
+            converted.ArrayValue.TimestampValues.Values);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Convert_WithUnknownScalar_PreservesRawMetadata()
+    {
+        UnsupportedVariant value = new("opaque");
+
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(value);
+
+        Assert.Equal(MxDataType.Unknown, converted.DataType);
+        Assert.Equal(MxValue.KindOneofCase.RawValue, converted.KindCase);
+        Assert.Contains(typeof(UnsupportedVariant).FullName!, converted.VariantType);
+        Assert.Contains(typeof(UnsupportedVariant).FullName!, converted.RawDiagnostic);
+        Assert.Equal(ByteString.CopyFromUtf8("opaque"), converted.RawValue);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ConvertArray_WithUnknownArray_PreservesRawMetadata()
+    {
+        UnsupportedVariant[] values =
+        [
+            new("first"),
+            new("second"),
+        ];
+
+        MxValue converted = _converter.Convert(values);
+
+        Assert.Equal(MxDataType.Unknown, converted.ArrayValue.ElementDataType);
+        Assert.Equal(MxArray.ValuesOneofCase.RawValues, converted.ArrayValue.ValuesCase);
+        Assert.Equal(new uint[] { 2 }, converted.ArrayValue.Dimensions);
+        Assert.Equal("first", converted.ArrayValue.RawValues.Values[0].ToStringUtf8());
+        Assert.Contains(typeof(UnsupportedVariant).FullName!, converted.ArrayValue.RawDiagnostic);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Redactor_WithCredentialBearingValueFields_RedactsBeforeLogging()
+    {
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerLogRedactor.RedactedValue, WorkerLogRedactor.RedactValue("credential_value", "secret"));
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerLogRedactor.RedactedValue, WorkerLogRedactor.RedactValue("password_value", "secret"));
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerLogRedactor.RedactedValue, WorkerLogRedactor.RedactValue("secured_write_token", "secret"));
+    }
+
+    private sealed class UnsupportedVariant
+    {
+        private readonly string _value;
+
+        public UnsupportedVariant(string value)
+        {
+            _value = value;
+        }
+
+        public override string ToString()
+        {
+            return _value;
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Ipc/WorkerFrameProtocolTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using Google.Protobuf;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerFrameProtocolTests
+{
+    private const string SessionId = "session-1";
+    private const string Nonce = "nonce-secret";
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task WriteAndReadAsync_WithValidEnvelope_RoundTripsFrame()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream stream = new();
+        WorkerEnvelope original = CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope();
+
+        WorkerFrameWriter writer = new(stream, options);
+        await writer.WriteAsync(original);
+        stream.Position = 0;
+
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+        WorkerEnvelope parsed = await reader.ReadAsync();
+
+        Assert.Equal(original, parsed);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ReadAsync_WithWrongProtocolVersion_ThrowsProtocolVersionMismatch()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope();
+        envelope.ProtocolVersion++;
+        MemoryStream stream = new(CreateFrame(envelope));
+
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await reader.ReadAsync());
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.ProtocolVersionMismatch, exception.ErrorCode);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ReadAsync_WithWrongSessionId_ThrowsSessionMismatch()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope();
+        envelope.SessionId = "different-session";
+        MemoryStream stream = new(CreateFrame(envelope));
+
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await reader.ReadAsync());
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.SessionMismatch, exception.ErrorCode);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ReadAsync_WithMalformedLength_ThrowsMalformedLength()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream stream = new(new byte[sizeof(uint)]);
+
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await reader.ReadAsync());
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.MalformedLength, exception.ErrorCode);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ReadAsync_WithMalformedPayload_ThrowsInvalidEnvelope()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream stream = new(CreateFrame(new byte[] { 0x80 }));
+
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await reader.ReadAsync());
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidEnvelope, exception.ErrorCode);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task WriteAsync_WithConcurrentCalls_SerializesCompleteFrames()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream stream = new();
+        WorkerFrameWriter writer = new(stream, options);
+
+        await Task.WhenAll(
+            writer.WriteAsync(CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(sequence: 1)),
+            writer.WriteAsync(CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(sequence: 2)),
+            writer.WriteAsync(CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(sequence: 3)));
+
+        stream.Position = 0;
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+
+        WorkerEnvelope first = await reader.ReadAsync();
+        WorkerEnvelope second = await reader.ReadAsync();
+        WorkerEnvelope third = await reader.ReadAsync();
+
+        Assert.Equal(new ulong[] { 1, 2, 3 }, new[] { first.Sequence, second.Sequence, third.Sequence }.OrderBy(sequence => sequence));
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerFrameProtocolOptions CreateOptions()
+    {
+        return new WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(
+            SessionId,
+            GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            Nonce);
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(ulong sequence = 1)
+    {
+        return new WorkerEnvelope
+        {
+            ProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            SessionId = SessionId,
+            Sequence = sequence,
+            GatewayHello = new GatewayHello
+            {
+                SupportedProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+                Nonce = Nonce,
+                GatewayVersion = "test-gateway",
+            },
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static byte[] CreateFrame(IMessage message)
+    {
+        return CreateFrame(message.ToByteArray());
+    }
+
+    private static byte[] CreateFrame(byte[] payload)
+    {
+        byte[] frame = new byte[sizeof(uint) + payload.Length];
+        WriteUInt32LittleEndian(frame, (uint)payload.Length);
+        payload.CopyTo(frame, sizeof(uint));
+
+        return frame;
+    }
+
+    private static void WriteUInt32LittleEndian(
+        byte[] buffer,
+        uint value)
+    {
+        buffer[0] = (byte)value;
+        buffer[1] = (byte)(value >> 8);
+        buffer[2] = (byte)(value >> 16);
+        buffer[3] = (byte)(value >> 24);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Ipc/WorkerPipeClientTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+using System;
+using System.IO.Pipes;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerPipeClientTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task RunAsync_ConnectsToPipeAndCompletesHandshake()
+    {
+        string pipeName = $"mxaccess-gateway-test-{Guid.NewGuid():N}";
+        WorkerOptions workerOptions = new(
+            "session-1",
+            pipeName,
+            GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            "nonce-secret");
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions frameOptions = new(workerOptions);
+
+        using NamedPipeServerStream server = new(
+            pipeName,
+            PipeDirection.InOut,
+            1,
+            PipeTransmissionMode.Byte,
+            PipeOptions.Asynchronous);
+
+        WorkerPipeClient client = new(connectTimeoutMilliseconds: 5000);
+        Task clientTask = client.RunAsync(workerOptions);
+
+        await Task.Factory.FromAsync(server.BeginWaitForConnection, server.EndWaitForConnection, null);
+
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(server, frameOptions);
+        WorkerFrameWriter writer = new(server, frameOptions);
+
+        await writer.WriteAsync(new WorkerEnvelope
+        {
+            ProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            SessionId = "session-1",
+            Sequence = 1,
+            GatewayHello = new GatewayHello
+            {
+                SupportedProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+                Nonce = "nonce-secret",
+                GatewayVersion = "test-gateway",
+            },
+        });
+
+        WorkerEnvelope hello = await reader.ReadAsync();
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerHello, hello.BodyCase);
+        Assert.Equal("nonce-secret", hello.WorkerHello.Nonce);
+
+        WorkerEnvelope ready = await reader.ReadAsync();
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerReady, ready.BodyCase);
+
+        await clientTask;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Ipc/WorkerPipeSessionTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerPipeSessionTests
+{
+    private const string SessionId = "session-1";
+    private const string Nonce = "nonce-secret";
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync_WithValidGatewayHello_SendsHelloThenReady()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream inbound = new();
+        await new WorkerFrameWriter(inbound, options).WriteAsync(CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope());
+        inbound.Position = 0;
+        MemoryStream outbound = new();
+        WorkerPipeSession session = CreateSession(inbound, outbound, options);
+        bool initialized = false;
+
+        await session.CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(
+            _ =>
+            {
+                initialized = true;
+                return Task.CompletedTask;
+            });
+
+        Assert.True(initialized);
+        WorkerEnvelope[] written = ReadWrittenFrames(outbound, options);
+        Assert.Equal(2, written.Length);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerHello, written[0].BodyCase);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerReady, written[1].BodyCase);
+        Assert.Equal(Nonce, written[0].WorkerHello.Nonce);
+        Assert.Equal(1234, written[1].WorkerReady.WorkerProcessId);
+        Assert.Equal(MxGateway.Worker.MxAccess.MxAccessInteropInfo.ProgId, written[1].WorkerReady.MxaccessProgid);
+        Assert.Equal(MxGateway.Worker.MxAccess.MxAccessInteropInfo.Clsid, written[1].WorkerReady.MxaccessClsid);
+        Assert.NotNull(written[1].WorkerReady.ReadyTimestamp);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync_WithWrongNonce_FaultsBeforeInitialization()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream inbound = new();
+        await new WorkerFrameWriter(inbound, options).WriteAsync(CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(nonce: "wrong"));
+        inbound.Position = 0;
+        MemoryStream outbound = new();
+        WorkerPipeSession session = CreateSession(inbound, outbound, options);
+        bool initialized = false;
+
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await session.CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(
+                    _ =>
+                    {
+                        initialized = true;
+                        return Task.CompletedTask;
+                    }));
+
+        Assert.False(initialized);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.NonceMismatch, exception.ErrorCode);
+        WorkerEnvelope fault = Assert.Single(ReadWrittenFrames(outbound, options));
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerFault, fault.BodyCase);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFaultCategory.ProtocolViolation, fault.WorkerFault.Category);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync_WithWrongProtocol_FaultsBeforeInitialization()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream inbound = new();
+        await new WorkerFrameWriter(inbound, options).WriteAsync(CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(supportedProtocolVersion: 999));
+        inbound.Position = 0;
+        MemoryStream outbound = new();
+        WorkerPipeSession session = CreateSession(inbound, outbound, options);
+        bool initialized = false;
+
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await session.CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(
+                    _ =>
+                    {
+                        initialized = true;
+                        return Task.CompletedTask;
+                    }));
+
+        Assert.False(initialized);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.ProtocolVersionMismatch, exception.ErrorCode);
+        WorkerEnvelope fault = Assert.Single(ReadWrittenFrames(outbound, options));
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFaultCategory.ProtocolMismatch, fault.WorkerFault.Category);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync_WithMalformedFrame_WritesWorkerFault()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream inbound = new(CreateFrame(new byte[] { 0x80 }));
+        MemoryStream outbound = new();
+        WorkerPipeSession session = CreateSession(inbound, outbound, options);
+        bool initialized = false;
+
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await session.CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(
+                    _ =>
+                    {
+                        initialized = true;
+                        return Task.CompletedTask;
+                    }));
+
+        Assert.False(initialized);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidEnvelope, exception.ErrorCode);
+        WorkerEnvelope fault = Assert.Single(ReadWrittenFrames(outbound, options));
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerFault, fault.BodyCase);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFaultCategory.ProtocolViolation, fault.WorkerFault.Category);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync_WhenMxAccessCreationFails_WritesFaultInsteadOfReady()
+    {
+        const int hresult = unchecked((int)0x80040154);
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = CreateOptions();
+        MemoryStream inbound = new();
+        await new WorkerFrameWriter(inbound, options).WriteAsync(CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope());
+        inbound.Position = 0;
+        MemoryStream outbound = new();
+        WorkerPipeSession session = CreateSession(inbound, outbound, options);
+
+        await Assert.ThrowsAsync<COMException>(
+            async () => await session.CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(
+                _ => Task.FromException<WorkerReady>(new COMException("Class not registered.", hresult))));
+
+        WorkerEnvelope[] written = ReadWrittenFrames(outbound, options);
+        Assert.Equal(2, written.Length);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerHello, written[0].BodyCase);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.WorkerFault, written[1].BodyCase);
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFaultCategory.MxaccessCreationFailed, written[1].WorkerFault.Category);
+        Assert.Equal(hresult, written[1].WorkerFault.Hresult);
+        Assert.Equal(typeof(COMException).FullName, written[1].WorkerFault.ExceptionType);
+        Assert.Equal(ProtocolStatusCode.WorkerUnavailable, written[1].WorkerFault.ProtocolStatus.Code);
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerPipeSession CreateSession(
+        Stream inbound,
+        Stream outbound,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options)
+    {
+        return new WorkerPipeSession(
+            new WorkerFrameReader(inbound, options),
+            new WorkerFrameWriter(outbound, options),
+            options,
+            () => 1234);
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerFrameProtocolOptions CreateOptions()
+    {
+        return new WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(
+            SessionId,
+            GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            Nonce);
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope CreateGatewayHelloEnvelope(
+        string nonce = Nonce,
+        uint supportedProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion)
+    {
+        return new WorkerEnvelope
+        {
+            ProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            SessionId = SessionId,
+            Sequence = 1,
+            GatewayHello = new GatewayHello
+            {
+                SupportedProtocolVersion = supportedProtocolVersion,
+                Nonce = nonce,
+                GatewayVersion = "test-gateway",
+            },
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope[] ReadWrittenFrames(
+        MemoryStream stream,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options)
+    {
+        stream.Position = 0;
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+        List<WorkerEnvelope> envelopes = new();
+
+        while (stream.Position < stream.Length)
+        {
+            envelopes.Add(reader.ReadAsync(CancellationToken.None).GetAwaiter().GetResult());
+        }
+
+        return envelopes.ToArray();
+    }
+
+    private static byte[] CreateFrame(byte[] payload)
+    {
+        byte[] frame = new byte[sizeof(uint) + payload.Length];
+        WriteUInt32LittleEndian(frame, (uint)payload.Length);
+        payload.CopyTo(frame, sizeof(uint));
+
+        return frame;
+    }
+
+    private static void WriteUInt32LittleEndian(
+        byte[] buffer,
+        uint value)
+    {
+        buffer[0] = (byte)value;
+        buffer[1] = (byte)(value >> 8);
+        buffer[2] = (byte)(value >> 16);
+        buffer[3] = (byte)(value >> 24);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/MxAccessLiveComCreationTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+using System;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MxGateway.Worker.MxAccess;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.MxAccess;
+
+public sealed class MxAccessLiveComCreationTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task StartAsync_WhenOptedIn_CreatesInstalledMxAccessComObjectOnSta()
+    {
+        if (!string.Equals(
+                Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("MXGATEWAY_RUN_LIVE_MXACCESS_TESTS"),
+                "1",
+                StringComparison.Ordinal))
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        using MxAccessStaSession session = new();
+
+        await session.StartAsync(workerProcessId: 1234);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/MxAccess/MxAccessStaSessionTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+using System;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Worker.MxAccess;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.MxAccess;
+
+public sealed class MxAccessStaSessionTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task StartAsync_CreatesComObjectAndAttachesEventSinkOnStaThread()
+    {
+        FakeMxAccessComObjectFactory factory = new();
+        FakeMxAccessEventSink eventSink = new();
+        using StaRuntime runtime = CreateRuntime();
+        using MxAccessStaSession session = new(runtime, factory, eventSink);
+
+        WorkerReady ready = await session.StartAsync(workerProcessId: 1234);
+
+        Assert.Equal(1234, ready.WorkerProcessId);
+        Assert.Equal(MxAccessInteropInfo.ProgId, ready.MxaccessProgid);
+        Assert.Equal(MxAccessInteropInfo.Clsid, ready.MxaccessClsid);
+        Assert.NotNull(ready.ReadyTimestamp);
+        Assert.Equal(runtime.StaThreadId, factory.CreateThreadId);
+        Assert.Equal(runtime.StaThreadId, eventSink.AttachThreadId);
+        Assert.Equal(ApartmentState.STA, factory.CreateApartmentState);
+        Assert.Same(factory.CreatedObject, eventSink.AttachedObject);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task StartAsync_WhenFactoryFails_MapsCreationExceptionWithHResult()
+    {
+        const int hresult = unchecked((int)0x80040154);
+        FakeMxAccessComObjectFactory factory = new(new COMException("Class not registered.", hresult));
+        FakeMxAccessEventSink eventSink = new();
+        using StaRuntime runtime = CreateRuntime();
+        using MxAccessStaSession session = new(runtime, factory, eventSink);
+
+        MxAccessCreationException exception = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<MxAccessCreationException>(
+            () => session.StartAsync(workerProcessId: 1234));
+
+        Assert.Equal(hresult, exception.CapturedHResult);
+        Assert.Equal(MxAccessInteropInfo.ProgId, exception.AttemptedProgId);
+        Assert.Equal(MxAccessInteropInfo.Clsid, exception.AttemptedClsid);
+        Assert.Null(eventSink.AttachedObject);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Dispose_DetachesEventSinkOnStaThread()
+    {
+        FakeMxAccessComObjectFactory factory = new();
+        FakeMxAccessEventSink eventSink = new();
+        using StaRuntime runtime = CreateRuntime();
+        MxAccessStaSession session = new(runtime, factory, eventSink);
+        await session.StartAsync(workerProcessId: 1234);
+
+        session.Dispose();
+
+        Assert.Equal(runtime.StaThreadId, eventSink.DetachThreadId);
+    }
+
+    private static StaRuntime CreateRuntime()
+    {
+        return new StaRuntime(
+            new NoopComApartmentInitializer(),
+            new StaMessagePump(),
+            TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(25));
+    }
+
+    private sealed class FakeMxAccessComObjectFactory : IMxAccessComObjectFactory
+    {
+        private readonly Exception? exception;
+
+        public FakeMxAccessComObjectFactory(Exception? exception = null)
+        {
+            this.exception = exception;
+        }
+
+        public object CreatedObject { get; } = new();
+
+        public int? CreateThreadId { get; private set; }
+
+        public ApartmentState? CreateApartmentState { get; private set; }
+
+        public object Create()
+        {
+            CreateThreadId = Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId;
+            CreateApartmentState = Thread.CurrentThread.GetApartmentState();
+
+            if (exception is not null)
+            {
+                throw exception;
+            }
+
+            return CreatedObject;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private sealed class FakeMxAccessEventSink : IMxAccessEventSink
+    {
+        public object? AttachedObject { get; private set; }
+
+        public int? AttachThreadId { get; private set; }
+
+        public int? DetachThreadId { get; private set; }
+
+        public void Attach(object mxAccessComObject)
+        {
+            AttachedObject = mxAccessComObject;
+            AttachThreadId = Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId;
+        }
+
+        public void Detach()
+        {
+            DetachThreadId = Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId;
+            AttachedObject = null;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private sealed class NoopComApartmentInitializer : IStaComApartmentInitializer
+    {
+        public void Initialize()
+        {
+        }
+
+        public void Uninitialize()
+        {
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker.Tests/Sta/StaRuntimeTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+using System;
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Tests.Sta;
+
+public sealed class StaRuntimeTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task InvokeAsync_ExecutesCommandOnStaThread()
+    {
+        RecordingComApartmentInitializer initializer = new();
+        using StaRuntime runtime = CreateRuntime(initializer);
+
+        runtime.Start();
+
+        StaCommandObservation observation = await runtime.InvokeAsync(
+            () => new StaCommandObservation(
+                Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId,
+                Thread.CurrentThread.GetApartmentState()));
+
+        Assert.Equal(runtime.StaThreadId, observation.ThreadId);
+        Assert.Equal(initializer.InitializeThreadId, observation.ThreadId);
+        Assert.Equal(ApartmentState.STA, observation.ApartmentState);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task InvokeAsync_WakesIdlePumpForQueuedCommand()
+    {
+        RecordingComApartmentInitializer initializer = new();
+        using StaRuntime runtime = new(
+            initializer,
+            new StaMessagePump(),
+            TimeSpan.FromSeconds(30));
+        runtime.Start();
+        Stopwatch stopwatch = Stopwatch.StartNew();
+
+        int threadId = await runtime.InvokeAsync(() => Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId);
+
+        stopwatch.Stop();
+        Assert.Equal(runtime.StaThreadId, threadId);
+        Assert.True(
+            stopwatch.Elapsed < TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2),
+            $"Command took {stopwatch.Elapsed} to execute, so the command wake event did not wake the STA promptly.");
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Shutdown_StopsThreadAndUninitializesComApartment()
+    {
+        RecordingComApartmentInitializer initializer = new();
+        using StaRuntime runtime = CreateRuntime(initializer);
+        runtime.Start();
+
+        bool stopped = runtime.Shutdown(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2));
+
+        Assert.True(stopped);
+        Assert.False(runtime.IsRunning);
+        Assert.Equal(1, initializer.InitializeCount);
+        Assert.Equal(1, initializer.UninitializeCount);
+        Assert.Equal(initializer.InitializeThreadId, initializer.UninitializeThreadId);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void LastActivityUtc_UpdatesWhilePumpIsIdle()
+    {
+        RecordingComApartmentInitializer initializer = new();
+        using StaRuntime runtime = CreateRuntime(initializer);
+        runtime.Start();
+        DateTimeOffset firstActivity = runtime.LastActivityUtc;
+
+        bool updated = SpinWait.SpinUntil(
+            () => runtime.LastActivityUtc > firstActivity,
+            TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2));
+
+        Assert.True(updated);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task InvokeAsync_CommandException_FaultsReturnedTaskWithoutStoppingRuntime()
+    {
+        RecordingComApartmentInitializer initializer = new();
+        using StaRuntime runtime = CreateRuntime(initializer);
+        runtime.Start();
+
+        InvalidOperationException exception = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<InvalidOperationException>(
+            () => runtime.InvokeAsync<int>(() => throw new InvalidOperationException("command failed")));
+
+        int threadId = await runtime.InvokeAsync(() => Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId);
+        Assert.Equal("command failed", exception.Message);
+        Assert.Equal(runtime.StaThreadId, threadId);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task InvokeAsync_AfterShutdown_ReturnsFaultedTask()
+    {
+        RecordingComApartmentInitializer initializer = new();
+        using StaRuntime runtime = CreateRuntime(initializer);
+        runtime.Start();
+        runtime.Shutdown(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2));
+
+        InvalidOperationException exception = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<InvalidOperationException>(
+            () => runtime.InvokeAsync(() => Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId));
+
+        Assert.Contains("shutting down", exception.Message);
+    }
+
+    private static StaRuntime CreateRuntime(RecordingComApartmentInitializer initializer)
+    {
+        return new StaRuntime(
+            initializer,
+            new StaMessagePump(),
+            TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(25));
+    }
+
+    private sealed class StaCommandObservation
+    {
+        public StaCommandObservation(int threadId, ApartmentState apartmentState)
+        {
+            ThreadId = threadId;
+            ApartmentState = apartmentState;
+        }
+
+        public int ThreadId { get; }
+
+        public ApartmentState ApartmentState { get; }
+    }
+
+    private sealed class RecordingComApartmentInitializer : IStaComApartmentInitializer
+    {
+        public int InitializeCount { get; private set; }
+
+        public int UninitializeCount { get; private set; }
+
+        public int? InitializeThreadId { get; private set; }
+
+        public int? UninitializeThreadId { get; private set; }
+
+        public void Initialize()
+        {
+            InitializeCount++;
+            InitializeThreadId = Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId;
+        }
+
+        public void Uninitialize()
+        {
+            UninitializeCount++;
+            UninitializeThreadId = Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId;
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Bootstrap/.gitkeep

@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-

src/MxGateway.Worker/Bootstrap/EnvironmentVariableWorkerEnvironment.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+using System;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+public sealed class EnvironmentVariableWorkerEnvironment : IWorkerEnvironment
+{
+    public string? GetEnvironmentVariable(string name)
+    {
+        return Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(name);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Bootstrap/IWorkerEnvironment.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+public interface IWorkerEnvironment
+{
+    string? GetEnvironmentVariable(string name);
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Bootstrap/IWorkerLogger.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+public interface IWorkerLogger
+{
+    void Information(string eventName, IReadOnlyDictionary<string, object?> fields);
+
+    void Error(string eventName, IReadOnlyDictionary<string, object?> fields);
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Bootstrap/WorkerBootstrapResult.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+public sealed class WorkerBootstrapResult
+{
+    private WorkerBootstrapResult(
+        WorkerExitCode exitCode,
+        WorkerOptions? options,
+        IReadOnlyList<string> errors)
+    {
+        ExitCode = exitCode;
+        Options = options;
+        Errors = errors;
+    }
+
+    public WorkerExitCode ExitCode { get; }
+
+    public WorkerOptions? Options { get; }
+
+    public IReadOnlyList<string> Errors { get; }
+
+    public bool Succeeded => ExitCode == WorkerExitCode.Success;
+
+    public static WorkerBootstrapResult Success(WorkerOptions options)
+    {
+        return new WorkerBootstrapResult(WorkerExitCode.Success, options, []);
+    }
+
+    public static WorkerBootstrapResult Failure(WorkerExitCode exitCode, IEnumerable<string> errors)
+    {
+        return new WorkerBootstrapResult(exitCode, null, errors.ToArray());
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Bootstrap/WorkerConsoleLogger.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+public sealed class WorkerConsoleLogger : IWorkerLogger
+{
+    private readonly TextWriter _writer;
+
+    public WorkerConsoleLogger(TextWriter writer)
+    {
+        _writer = writer ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(writer));
+    }
+
+    public void Information(string eventName, IReadOnlyDictionary<string, object?> fields)
+    {
+        Write("Information", eventName, fields);
+    }
+
+    public void Error(string eventName, IReadOnlyDictionary<string, object?> fields)
+    {
+        Write("Error", eventName, fields);
+    }
+
+    private void Write(
+        string level,
+        string eventName,
+        IReadOnlyDictionary<string, object?> fields)
+    {
+        Dictionary<string, object?> redactedFields = WorkerLogRedactor.RedactFields(fields);
+        string fieldText = string.Join(
+            " ",
+            redactedFields.Select(field => $"{field.Key}={FormatValue(field.Value)}"));
+
+        _writer.WriteLine($"level={level} event={eventName} {fieldText}".TrimEnd());
+    }
+
+    private static string FormatValue(object? value)
+    {
+        return value?.ToString() ?? string.Empty;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Bootstrap/WorkerExitCode.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+public enum WorkerExitCode
+{
+    Success = 0,
+    UnexpectedFailure = 1,
+    InvalidArguments = 2,
+    InvalidProtocolVersion = 3,
+    MissingNonce = 4,
+    PipeConnectionFailed = 5,
+    ProtocolViolation = 6,
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Bootstrap/WorkerLogRedactor.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+public static class WorkerLogRedactor
+{
+    public const string RedactedValue = "[redacted]";
+
+    private static readonly string[] SensitiveFieldNameParts =
+    [
+        "nonce",
+        "secret",
+        "password",
+        "token",
+        "credential",
+        "apikey",
+        "api_key",
+    ];
+
+    public static Dictionary<string, object?> RedactFields(IReadOnlyDictionary<string, object?> fields)
+    {
+        Dictionary<string, object?> redactedFields = [];
+
+        foreach (KeyValuePair<string, object?> field in fields)
+        {
+            redactedFields[field.Key] = RedactValue(field.Key, field.Value);
+        }
+
+        return redactedFields;
+    }
+
+    public static object? RedactValue(string fieldName, object? value)
+    {
+        if (value is null)
+        {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        foreach (string sensitiveFieldNamePart in SensitiveFieldNameParts)
+        {
+            if (fieldName.IndexOf(sensitiveFieldNamePart, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) >= 0)
+            {
+                return RedactedValue;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return value;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Bootstrap/WorkerOptions.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+public sealed class WorkerOptions
+{
+    public const string NonceEnvironmentVariableName = "MXGATEWAY_WORKER_NONCE";
+
+    public WorkerOptions(
+        string sessionId,
+        string pipeName,
+        uint protocolVersion,
+        string nonce)
+    {
+        SessionId = sessionId;
+        PipeName = pipeName;
+        ProtocolVersion = protocolVersion;
+        Nonce = nonce;
+    }
+
+    public string SessionId { get; }
+
+    public string PipeName { get; }
+
+    public uint ProtocolVersion { get; }
+
+    public string Nonce { get; }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Bootstrap/WorkerOptionsParser.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+public sealed class WorkerOptionsParser
+{
+    private const string SessionIdOptionName = "--session-id";
+    private const string PipeNameOptionName = "--pipe-name";
+    private const string ProtocolVersionOptionName = "--protocol-version";
+
+    private readonly IWorkerEnvironment _environment;
+
+    public WorkerOptionsParser(IWorkerEnvironment environment)
+    {
+        _environment = environment ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(environment));
+    }
+
+    public WorkerBootstrapResult Parse(string[] args)
+    {
+        if (args is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(args));
+        }
+
+        Dictionary<string, string> values = new(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        List<string> errors = [];
+
+        for (int index = 0; index < args.Length; index++)
+        {
+            string arg = args[index];
+            if (!IsKnownOption(arg))
+            {
+                errors.Add($"Unknown option '{arg}'.");
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            if (index + 1 >= args.Length || args[index + 1].StartsWith("--", StringComparison.Ordinal))
+            {
+                errors.Add($"Option '{arg}' requires a value.");
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            values[arg] = args[index + 1];
+            index++;
+        }
+
+        string? sessionId = ReadRequired(values, SessionIdOptionName, errors);
+        string? pipeName = ReadRequired(values, PipeNameOptionName, errors);
+        string? protocolVersionText = ReadRequired(values, ProtocolVersionOptionName, errors);
+
+        if (errors.Count > 0)
+        {
+            return WorkerBootstrapResult.Failure(WorkerExitCode.InvalidArguments, errors);
+        }
+
+        if (!uint.TryParse(protocolVersionText, out uint protocolVersion)
+            || protocolVersion != GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion)
+        {
+            return WorkerBootstrapResult.Failure(
+                WorkerExitCode.InvalidProtocolVersion,
+                [$"Unsupported protocol version '{protocolVersionText}'."]);
+        }
+
+        string? nonce = _environment.GetEnvironmentVariable(WorkerOptions.NonceEnvironmentVariableName);
+
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(nonce))
+        {
+            return WorkerBootstrapResult.Failure(
+                WorkerExitCode.MissingNonce,
+                ["Required worker nonce environment variable is missing."]);
+        }
+
+        return WorkerBootstrapResult.Success(new WorkerOptions(
+            sessionId!,
+            pipeName!,
+            protocolVersion,
+            nonce!));
+    }
+
+    private static string? ReadRequired(
+        IReadOnlyDictionary<string, string> values,
+        string optionName,
+        List<string> errors)
+    {
+        if (!values.TryGetValue(optionName, out string value)
+            || string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(value))
+        {
+            errors.Add($"Required option '{optionName}' is missing.");
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        return value;
+    }
+
+    private static bool IsKnownOption(string optionName)
+    {
+        return optionName is SessionIdOptionName or PipeNameOptionName or ProtocolVersionOptionName;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Conversion/VariantConverter.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,522 @@
+using System;
+using System.Globalization;
+using Google.Protobuf;
+using Google.Protobuf.WellKnownTypes;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Conversion;
+
+public sealed class VariantConverter
+{
+    public MxValue Convert(object? value)
+    {
+        return Convert(value, MxDataType.Unspecified);
+    }
+
+    public MxValue Convert(
+        object? value,
+        MxDataType expectedDataType)
+    {
+        if (value is null || value is DBNull)
+        {
+            return CreateNullValue(value, expectedDataType);
+        }
+
+        if (value is Array array)
+        {
+            return new MxValue
+            {
+                DataType = MxDataType.Unspecified,
+                VariantType = CreateArrayVariantType(array),
+                ArrayValue = ConvertArray(array, expectedDataType),
+            };
+        }
+
+        return ConvertScalar(value, expectedDataType);
+    }
+
+    public MxArray ConvertArray(
+        Array array,
+        MxDataType expectedElementDataType = MxDataType.Unspecified)
+    {
+        if (array is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(array));
+        }
+
+        MxArray mxArray = new()
+        {
+            VariantType = CreateArrayVariantType(array),
+        };
+
+        for (int dimension = 0; dimension < array.Rank; dimension++)
+        {
+            mxArray.Dimensions.Add((uint)array.GetLength(dimension));
+        }
+
+        System.Type? elementType = array.GetType().GetElementType();
+        MxDataType elementDataType = ResolveArrayElementDataType(elementType, expectedElementDataType);
+        mxArray.ElementDataType = elementDataType;
+
+        switch (elementDataType)
+        {
+            case MxDataType.Boolean:
+                mxArray.BoolValues = ConvertBoolArray(array);
+                return mxArray;
+
+            case MxDataType.Integer:
+                if (elementType == typeof(long) || elementType == typeof(ulong))
+                {
+                    mxArray.Int64Values = ConvertInt64Array(array);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    mxArray.Int32Values = ConvertInt32Array(array);
+                }
+
+                return mxArray;
+
+            case MxDataType.Float:
+                mxArray.FloatValues = ConvertFloatArray(array);
+                return mxArray;
+
+            case MxDataType.Double:
+                mxArray.DoubleValues = ConvertDoubleArray(array);
+                return mxArray;
+
+            case MxDataType.String:
+                mxArray.StringValues = ConvertStringArray(array);
+                return mxArray;
+
+            case MxDataType.Time:
+                mxArray.TimestampValues = ConvertTimestampArray(array);
+                return mxArray;
+
+            default:
+                mxArray.ElementDataType = MxDataType.Unknown;
+                mxArray.RawElementDataType = (int)expectedElementDataType;
+                mxArray.RawDiagnostic = CreateRawDiagnostic(array);
+                mxArray.RawValues = ConvertRawArray(array);
+                return mxArray;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static MxValue ConvertScalar(
+        object value,
+        MxDataType expectedDataType)
+    {
+        System.Type valueType = value.GetType();
+        string variantType = GetVariantTypeName(valueType);
+
+        switch (System.Type.GetTypeCode(valueType))
+        {
+            case TypeCode.Boolean:
+                return new MxValue
+                {
+                    DataType = MxDataType.Boolean,
+                    VariantType = variantType,
+                    BoolValue = (bool)value,
+                };
+
+            case TypeCode.Byte:
+            case TypeCode.SByte:
+            case TypeCode.Int16:
+            case TypeCode.UInt16:
+            case TypeCode.Int32:
+                return new MxValue
+                {
+                    DataType = MxDataType.Integer,
+                    VariantType = variantType,
+                    Int32Value = System.Convert.ToInt32(value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture),
+                };
+
+            case TypeCode.UInt32:
+            case TypeCode.Int64:
+                return ConvertInt64Scalar(value, variantType, expectedDataType);
+
+            case TypeCode.UInt64:
+                return ConvertUInt64Scalar((ulong)value, variantType, expectedDataType);
+
+            case TypeCode.Single:
+                return new MxValue
+                {
+                    DataType = MxDataType.Float,
+                    VariantType = variantType,
+                    FloatValue = (float)value,
+                };
+
+            case TypeCode.Double:
+                return new MxValue
+                {
+                    DataType = MxDataType.Double,
+                    VariantType = variantType,
+                    DoubleValue = (double)value,
+                };
+
+            case TypeCode.Decimal:
+                return new MxValue
+                {
+                    DataType = MxDataType.Double,
+                    VariantType = variantType,
+                    DoubleValue = System.Convert.ToDouble(value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture),
+                    RawDiagnostic = "Decimal value projected to double.",
+                };
+
+            case TypeCode.String:
+            case TypeCode.Char:
+                return new MxValue
+                {
+                    DataType = MxDataType.String,
+                    VariantType = variantType,
+                    StringValue = System.Convert.ToString(value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) ?? string.Empty,
+                };
+
+            case TypeCode.DateTime:
+                return new MxValue
+                {
+                    DataType = MxDataType.Time,
+                    VariantType = variantType,
+                    TimestampValue = ToTimestamp((DateTime)value),
+                };
+
+            default:
+                return CreateRawValue(value, expectedDataType);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static MxValue ConvertInt64Scalar(
+        object value,
+        string variantType,
+        MxDataType expectedDataType)
+    {
+        long longValue = System.Convert.ToInt64(value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
+        if (expectedDataType == MxDataType.Time)
+        {
+            return new MxValue
+            {
+                DataType = MxDataType.Time,
+                VariantType = variantType,
+                TimestampValue = Timestamp.FromDateTime(DateTime.FromFileTimeUtc(longValue)),
+            };
+        }
+
+        return new MxValue
+        {
+            DataType = MxDataType.Integer,
+            VariantType = variantType,
+            Int64Value = longValue,
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static MxValue ConvertUInt64Scalar(
+        ulong value,
+        string variantType,
+        MxDataType expectedDataType)
+    {
+        if (expectedDataType == MxDataType.Time && value <= long.MaxValue)
+        {
+            return new MxValue
+            {
+                DataType = MxDataType.Time,
+                VariantType = variantType,
+                TimestampValue = Timestamp.FromDateTime(DateTime.FromFileTimeUtc((long)value)),
+            };
+        }
+
+        if (value <= long.MaxValue)
+        {
+            return new MxValue
+            {
+                DataType = MxDataType.Integer,
+                VariantType = variantType,
+                Int64Value = (long)value,
+            };
+        }
+
+        return CreateRawValue(value, expectedDataType, "UInt64 value exceeds Int64 range.");
+    }
+
+    private static MxValue CreateNullValue(
+        object? value,
+        MxDataType expectedDataType)
+    {
+        return new MxValue
+        {
+            DataType = expectedDataType == MxDataType.Unspecified ? MxDataType.NoData : expectedDataType,
+            VariantType = value is DBNull ? "VT_NULL" : "VT_EMPTY",
+            IsNull = true,
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static MxValue CreateRawValue(
+        object value,
+        MxDataType expectedDataType,
+        string? diagnosticPrefix = null)
+    {
+        string diagnostic = CreateRawDiagnostic(value);
+        if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(diagnosticPrefix))
+        {
+            diagnostic = $"{diagnosticPrefix} {diagnostic}";
+        }
+
+        return new MxValue
+        {
+            DataType = MxDataType.Unknown,
+            VariantType = GetVariantTypeName(value.GetType()),
+            RawDataType = (int)expectedDataType,
+            RawDiagnostic = diagnostic,
+            RawValue = ByteString.CopyFromUtf8(System.Convert.ToString(value, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) ?? string.Empty),
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static BoolArray ConvertBoolArray(Array array)
+    {
+        BoolArray values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            values.Values.Add(item is not null && System.Convert.ToBoolean(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static Int32Array ConvertInt32Array(Array array)
+    {
+        Int32Array values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            values.Values.Add(item is null ? 0 : System.Convert.ToInt32(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static Int64Array ConvertInt64Array(Array array)
+    {
+        Int64Array values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            values.Values.Add(item is null ? 0 : System.Convert.ToInt64(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static FloatArray ConvertFloatArray(Array array)
+    {
+        FloatArray values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            values.Values.Add(item is null ? 0 : System.Convert.ToSingle(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static DoubleArray ConvertDoubleArray(Array array)
+    {
+        DoubleArray values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            values.Values.Add(item is null ? 0 : System.Convert.ToDouble(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static StringArray ConvertStringArray(Array array)
+    {
+        StringArray values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            values.Values.Add(item is null ? string.Empty : System.Convert.ToString(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) ?? string.Empty);
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static TimestampArray ConvertTimestampArray(Array array)
+    {
+        TimestampArray values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            if (item is null)
+            {
+                values.Values.Add(Timestamp.FromDateTime(new DateTime(1970, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc)));
+            }
+            else if (item is DateTime dateTime)
+            {
+                values.Values.Add(ToTimestamp(dateTime));
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                long fileTime = System.Convert.ToInt64(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
+                values.Values.Add(Timestamp.FromDateTime(DateTime.FromFileTimeUtc(fileTime)));
+            }
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static RawArray ConvertRawArray(Array array)
+    {
+        RawArray values = new();
+        foreach (object? item in array)
+        {
+            string rawValue = item is null
+                ? string.Empty
+                : System.Convert.ToString(item, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) ?? string.Empty;
+            values.Values.Add(ByteString.CopyFromUtf8(rawValue));
+        }
+
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    private static MxDataType ResolveArrayElementDataType(
+        System.Type? elementType,
+        MxDataType expectedElementDataType)
+    {
+        if (expectedElementDataType != MxDataType.Unspecified)
+        {
+            return expectedElementDataType;
+        }
+
+        if (elementType == typeof(bool))
+        {
+            return MxDataType.Boolean;
+        }
+
+        if (elementType == typeof(byte)
+            || elementType == typeof(sbyte)
+            || elementType == typeof(short)
+            || elementType == typeof(ushort)
+            || elementType == typeof(int)
+            || elementType == typeof(uint)
+            || elementType == typeof(long)
+            || elementType == typeof(ulong))
+        {
+            return MxDataType.Integer;
+        }
+
+        if (elementType == typeof(float))
+        {
+            return MxDataType.Float;
+        }
+
+        if (elementType == typeof(double) || elementType == typeof(decimal))
+        {
+            return MxDataType.Double;
+        }
+
+        if (elementType == typeof(string) || elementType == typeof(char))
+        {
+            return MxDataType.String;
+        }
+
+        if (elementType == typeof(DateTime))
+        {
+            return MxDataType.Time;
+        }
+
+        return MxDataType.Unknown;
+    }
+
+    private static Timestamp ToTimestamp(DateTime dateTime)
+    {
+        DateTime utcDateTime = dateTime.Kind switch
+        {
+            DateTimeKind.Utc => dateTime,
+            DateTimeKind.Local => dateTime.ToUniversalTime(),
+            _ => DateTime.SpecifyKind(dateTime, DateTimeKind.Utc),
+        };
+
+        return Timestamp.FromDateTime(utcDateTime);
+    }
+
+    private static string CreateArrayVariantType(Array array)
+    {
+        System.Type? elementType = array.GetType().GetElementType();
+        return $"SAFEARRAY({GetVariantTypeName(elementType)})";
+    }
+
+    private static string GetVariantTypeName(System.Type? type)
+    {
+        if (type is null)
+        {
+            return "VT_EMPTY";
+        }
+
+        System.Type nonNullableType = Nullable.GetUnderlyingType(type) ?? type;
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(bool))
+        {
+            return "VT_BOOL";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(byte))
+        {
+            return "VT_UI1";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(sbyte))
+        {
+            return "VT_I1";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(short))
+        {
+            return "VT_I2";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(ushort))
+        {
+            return "VT_UI2";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(int))
+        {
+            return "VT_I4";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(uint))
+        {
+            return "VT_UI4";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(long))
+        {
+            return "VT_I8";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(ulong))
+        {
+            return "VT_UI8";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(float))
+        {
+            return "VT_R4";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(double) || nonNullableType == typeof(decimal))
+        {
+            return "VT_R8";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(string) || nonNullableType == typeof(char))
+        {
+            return "VT_BSTR";
+        }
+
+        if (nonNullableType == typeof(DateTime))
+        {
+            return "VT_DATE";
+        }
+
+        return $"CLR:{nonNullableType.FullName}";
+    }
+
+    private static string CreateRawDiagnostic(object value)
+    {
+        return $"Unsupported variant projection for CLR type '{value.GetType().FullName}'.";
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/IWorkerPipeClient.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public interface IWorkerPipeClient
+{
+    Task RunAsync(
+        WorkerOptions options,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default);
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerEnvelopeValidator.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+using System;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+internal static class WorkerEnvelopeValidator
+{
+    public static void Validate(
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options)
+    {
+        if (envelope.ProtocolVersion != options.ProtocolVersion)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.ProtocolVersionMismatch,
+                $"Worker envelope protocol version {envelope.ProtocolVersion} does not match expected version {options.ProtocolVersion}.");
+        }
+
+        if (!string.Equals(envelope.SessionId, options.SessionId, StringComparison.Ordinal))
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.SessionMismatch,
+                "Worker envelope session id does not match the owning worker session.");
+        }
+
+        if (envelope.BodyCase == WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.None)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidEnvelope,
+                "Worker envelope must include a typed body.");
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public enum WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode
+{
+    Unknown = 0,
+    InvalidConfiguration = 1,
+    EndOfStream = 2,
+    MalformedLength = 3,
+    MessageTooLarge = 4,
+    InvalidEnvelope = 5,
+    ProtocolVersionMismatch = 6,
+    SessionMismatch = 7,
+    NonceMismatch = 8,
+    UnexpectedEnvelopeBody = 9,
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerFrameProtocolException.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+using System;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerFrameProtocolException : Exception
+{
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+        WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode errorCode,
+        string message)
+        : base(message)
+    {
+        ErrorCode = errorCode;
+    }
+
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+        WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode errorCode,
+        string message,
+        Exception innerException)
+        : base(message, innerException)
+    {
+        ErrorCode = errorCode;
+    }
+
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode ErrorCode { get; }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerFrameProtocolOptions.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+using System;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerFrameProtocolOptions
+{
+    public const int DefaultMaxMessageBytes = 16 * 1024 * 1024;
+
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(WorkerOptions options)
+        : this(
+            options?.SessionId ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(options)),
+            options.ProtocolVersion,
+            options.Nonce,
+            DefaultMaxMessageBytes)
+    {
+    }
+
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(
+        string sessionId,
+        uint protocolVersion,
+        string nonce)
+        : this(
+            sessionId,
+            protocolVersion,
+            nonce,
+            DefaultMaxMessageBytes)
+    {
+    }
+
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(
+        string sessionId,
+        uint protocolVersion,
+        string nonce,
+        int maxMessageBytes)
+    {
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(sessionId))
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidConfiguration,
+                "Worker frame protocol requires a session id.");
+        }
+
+        if (protocolVersion == 0)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidConfiguration,
+                "Worker frame protocol requires a non-zero protocol version.");
+        }
+
+        if (protocolVersion != GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.ProtocolVersionMismatch,
+                $"Worker frame protocol version {protocolVersion} is not supported.");
+        }
+
+        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(nonce))
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidConfiguration,
+                "Worker frame protocol requires a nonce.");
+        }
+
+        if (maxMessageBytes <= 0)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidConfiguration,
+                "Worker frame protocol max message size must be greater than zero.");
+        }
+
+        SessionId = sessionId;
+        ProtocolVersion = protocolVersion;
+        Nonce = nonce;
+        MaxMessageBytes = maxMessageBytes;
+    }
+
+    public string SessionId { get; }
+
+    public uint ProtocolVersion { get; }
+
+    public string Nonce { get; }
+
+    public int MaxMessageBytes { get; }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerFrameReader.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using Google.Protobuf;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerFrameReader
+{
+    private readonly WorkerFrameProtocolOptions _options;
+    private readonly Stream _stream;
+
+    public WorkerFrameReader(
+        Stream stream,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options)
+    {
+        _stream = stream ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(stream));
+        _options = options ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(options));
+    }
+
+    public async Task<WorkerEnvelope> ReadAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        byte[] lengthPrefix = new byte[sizeof(uint)];
+        await ReadExactlyOrThrowAsync(lengthPrefix, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        uint payloadLength = ReadUInt32LittleEndian(lengthPrefix);
+        if (payloadLength == 0)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.MalformedLength,
+                "Worker frame payload length must be greater than zero.");
+        }
+
+        if (payloadLength > _options.MaxMessageBytes)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.MessageTooLarge,
+                $"Worker frame payload length {payloadLength} exceeds the configured maximum of {_options.MaxMessageBytes} bytes.");
+        }
+
+        byte[] payload = new byte[payloadLength];
+        await ReadExactlyOrThrowAsync(payload, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope;
+        try
+        {
+            envelope = WorkerEnvelope.Parser.ParseFrom(payload);
+        }
+        catch (InvalidProtocolBufferException exception)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidEnvelope,
+                "Worker frame payload is not a valid WorkerEnvelope protobuf message.",
+                exception);
+        }
+
+        WorkerEnvelopeValidator.Validate(envelope, _options);
+
+        return envelope;
+    }
+
+    private static uint ReadUInt32LittleEndian(byte[] buffer)
+    {
+        return (uint)buffer[0]
+            | ((uint)buffer[1] << 8)
+            | ((uint)buffer[2] << 16)
+            | ((uint)buffer[3] << 24);
+    }
+
+    private async Task ReadExactlyOrThrowAsync(
+        byte[] buffer,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        int offset = 0;
+        while (offset < buffer.Length)
+        {
+            int bytesRead = await _stream
+                .ReadAsync(buffer, offset, buffer.Length - offset, cancellationToken)
+                .ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+            if (bytesRead == 0)
+            {
+                throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                    WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.EndOfStream,
+                    "Worker frame ended before the expected number of bytes were read.");
+            }
+
+            offset += bytesRead;
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerFrameWriter.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using Google.Protobuf;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerFrameWriter
+{
+    private readonly WorkerFrameProtocolOptions _options;
+    private readonly SemaphoreSlim _writeLock = new(1, 1);
+    private readonly Stream _stream;
+
+    public WorkerFrameWriter(
+        Stream stream,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options)
+    {
+        _stream = stream ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(stream));
+        _options = options ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(options));
+    }
+
+    public async Task WriteAsync(
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        if (envelope is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(envelope));
+        }
+
+        WorkerEnvelopeValidator.Validate(envelope, _options);
+
+        int payloadLength = envelope.CalculateSize();
+        if (payloadLength == 0)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidEnvelope,
+                "Worker envelope cannot serialize to an empty payload.");
+        }
+
+        if (payloadLength > _options.MaxMessageBytes)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.MessageTooLarge,
+                $"Worker envelope payload length {payloadLength} exceeds the configured maximum of {_options.MaxMessageBytes} bytes.");
+        }
+
+        byte[] payload = envelope.ToByteArray();
+        byte[] lengthPrefix = new byte[sizeof(uint)];
+        WriteUInt32LittleEndian(lengthPrefix, (uint)payloadLength);
+
+        await _writeLock.WaitAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        try
+        {
+            await _stream.WriteAsync(lengthPrefix, 0, lengthPrefix.Length, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            await _stream.WriteAsync(payload, 0, payload.Length, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            await _stream.FlushAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            _writeLock.Release();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static void WriteUInt32LittleEndian(
+        byte[] buffer,
+        uint value)
+    {
+        buffer[0] = (byte)value;
+        buffer[1] = (byte)(value >> 8);
+        buffer[2] = (byte)(value >> 16);
+        buffer[3] = (byte)(value >> 24);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerPipeClient.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+using System;
+using System.IO.Pipes;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerPipeClient : IWorkerPipeClient
+{
+    public const int DefaultConnectTimeoutMilliseconds = 30000;
+
+    private readonly int _connectTimeoutMilliseconds;
+
+    public WorkerPipeClient()
+        : this(DefaultConnectTimeoutMilliseconds)
+    {
+    }
+
+    public WorkerPipeClient(int connectTimeoutMilliseconds)
+    {
+        if (connectTimeoutMilliseconds <= 0)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(
+                nameof(connectTimeoutMilliseconds),
+                "Worker pipe connect timeout must be greater than zero.");
+        }
+
+        _connectTimeoutMilliseconds = connectTimeoutMilliseconds;
+    }
+
+    public async Task RunAsync(
+        WorkerOptions options,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        if (options is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(options));
+        }
+
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions frameOptions = new(options);
+
+        using NamedPipeClientStream pipe = new(
+            ".",
+            options.PipeName,
+            PipeDirection.InOut,
+            PipeOptions.Asynchronous);
+
+        await ConnectAsync(pipe, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        WorkerPipeSession session = new(pipe, frameOptions);
+        await session.CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+    }
+
+    private Task ConnectAsync(
+        NamedPipeClientStream pipe,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        return Task.Run(
+            () =>
+            {
+                cancellationToken.ThrowIfCancellationRequested();
+                pipe.Connect(_connectTimeoutMilliseconds);
+            },
+            cancellationToken);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Ipc/WorkerPipeSession.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,307 @@
+using System;
+using System.Diagnostics;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using Google.Protobuf.WellKnownTypes;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Worker.MxAccess;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
+
+public sealed class WorkerPipeSession
+{
+    private readonly WorkerFrameProtocolOptions _options;
+    private readonly Func<int> _processIdProvider;
+    private readonly WorkerFrameReader _reader;
+    private readonly WorkerFrameWriter _writer;
+    private MxAccessStaSession? _mxAccessStaSession;
+    private long _nextSequence;
+
+    public WorkerPipeSession(
+        Stream stream,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options)
+        : this(
+            new WorkerFrameReader(stream, options),
+            new WorkerFrameWriter(stream, options),
+            options,
+            () => Process.GetCurrentProcess().Id)
+    {
+    }
+
+    public WorkerPipeSession(
+        WorkerFrameReader reader,
+        WorkerFrameWriter writer,
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options,
+        Func<int> processIdProvider)
+    {
+        _reader = reader ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(reader));
+        _writer = writer ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(writer));
+        _options = options ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(options));
+        _processIdProvider = processIdProvider ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(processIdProvider));
+    }
+
+    public Task CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        return CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(InitializeMxAccessAsync, cancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    public async Task CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(
+        Func<CancellationToken, Task> initializeMxAccessAsync,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        if (initializeMxAccessAsync is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(initializeMxAccessAsync));
+        }
+
+        await CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(
+            async innerCancellationToken =>
+            {
+                await initializeMxAccessAsync(innerCancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+                return CreateWorkerReady();
+            },
+            cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+    }
+
+    public async Task CompleteStartupHandshakeAsync(
+        Func<CancellationToken, Task<WorkerReady>> initializeMxAccessAsync,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        if (initializeMxAccessAsync is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(initializeMxAccessAsync));
+        }
+
+        try
+        {
+            WorkerEnvelope envelope = await _reader.ReadAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            ValidateGatewayHello(envelope);
+
+            await WriteWorkerHelloAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            WorkerReady ready = await initializeMxAccessAsync(cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            await WriteWorkerReadyAsync(ready, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+        catch (WorkerFrameProtocolException exception)
+        {
+            await TryWriteFaultAsync(exception, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+            throw;
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception) when (exception is not OperationCanceledException)
+        {
+            await TryWriteFaultAsync(MxAccessCreationException.From(exception), cancellationToken)
+                .ConfigureAwait(false);
+            throw;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void ValidateGatewayHello(WorkerEnvelope envelope)
+    {
+        if (envelope.BodyCase != WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.GatewayHello)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.UnexpectedEnvelopeBody,
+                "Worker expected GatewayHello during startup handshake.");
+        }
+
+        GatewayHello gatewayHello = envelope.GatewayHello;
+        if (gatewayHello.SupportedProtocolVersion != _options.ProtocolVersion)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.ProtocolVersionMismatch,
+                $"GatewayHello supported protocol version {gatewayHello.SupportedProtocolVersion} does not match expected version {_options.ProtocolVersion}.");
+        }
+
+        if (!string.Equals(gatewayHello.Nonce, _options.Nonce, StringComparison.Ordinal))
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.NonceMismatch,
+                "GatewayHello nonce does not match the worker launch nonce.");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private Task WriteWorkerHelloAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        return _writer.WriteAsync(
+            CreateEnvelope(new WorkerHello
+            {
+                ProtocolVersion = _options.ProtocolVersion,
+                Nonce = _options.Nonce,
+                WorkerProcessId = _processIdProvider(),
+                WorkerVersion = typeof(WorkerPipeSession).Assembly.GetName().Version?.ToString() ?? string.Empty,
+            }),
+            cancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    private Task WriteWorkerReadyAsync(
+        WorkerReady ready,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        return _writer.WriteAsync(CreateEnvelope(ready), cancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    private async Task TryWriteFaultAsync(
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            await _writer
+                .WriteAsync(CreateEnvelope(CreateFault(exception)), cancellationToken)
+                .ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+        catch (Exception faultWriteException) when (
+            faultWriteException is IOException
+            || faultWriteException is ObjectDisposedException
+            || faultWriteException is WorkerFrameProtocolException)
+        {
+            // The original protocol failure is the actionable error.
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task TryWriteFaultAsync(
+        MxAccessCreationException exception,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            await _writer
+                .WriteAsync(CreateEnvelope(CreateFault(exception)), cancellationToken)
+                .ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+        catch (Exception faultWriteException) when (
+            faultWriteException is IOException
+            || faultWriteException is ObjectDisposedException
+            || faultWriteException is WorkerFrameProtocolException)
+        {
+            // The MXAccess creation failure is the actionable error.
+        }
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateEnvelope(WorkerHello hello)
+    {
+        return CreateBaseEnvelope(hello);
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateEnvelope(WorkerReady ready)
+    {
+        return CreateBaseEnvelope(ready);
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateEnvelope(WorkerFault fault)
+    {
+        return CreateBaseEnvelope(fault);
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateBaseEnvelope(WorkerHello body)
+    {
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = CreateBaseEnvelope();
+        envelope.WorkerHello = body;
+        return envelope;
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateBaseEnvelope(WorkerReady body)
+    {
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = CreateBaseEnvelope();
+        envelope.WorkerReady = body;
+        return envelope;
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateBaseEnvelope(WorkerFault body)
+    {
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = CreateBaseEnvelope();
+        envelope.WorkerFault = body;
+        return envelope;
+    }
+
+    private WorkerEnvelope CreateBaseEnvelope()
+    {
+        return new WorkerEnvelope
+        {
+            ProtocolVersion = _options.ProtocolVersion,
+            SessionId = _options.SessionId,
+            Sequence = NextSequence(),
+        };
+    }
+
+    private ulong NextSequence()
+    {
+        return unchecked((ulong)Interlocked.Increment(ref _nextSequence));
+    }
+
+    private async Task<WorkerReady> InitializeMxAccessAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        _mxAccessStaSession = new MxAccessStaSession();
+        try
+        {
+            return await _mxAccessStaSession
+                .StartAsync(_processIdProvider(), cancellationToken)
+                .ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            _mxAccessStaSession.Dispose();
+            _mxAccessStaSession = null;
+            throw;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private WorkerReady CreateWorkerReady()
+    {
+        return new WorkerReady
+        {
+            WorkerProcessId = _processIdProvider(),
+            MxaccessProgid = MxAccessInteropInfo.ProgId,
+            MxaccessClsid = MxAccessInteropInfo.Clsid,
+            ReadyTimestamp = Timestamp.FromDateTime(DateTime.UtcNow),
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerFault CreateFault(WorkerFrameProtocolException exception)
+    {
+        return new WorkerFault
+        {
+            Category = MapFaultCategory(exception.ErrorCode),
+            ExceptionType = exception.GetType().FullName ?? string.Empty,
+            DiagnosticMessage = exception.Message,
+            ProtocolStatus = new ProtocolStatus
+            {
+                Code = ProtocolStatusCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                Message = exception.Message,
+            },
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerFault CreateFault(MxAccessCreationException exception)
+    {
+        WorkerFault fault = new()
+        {
+            Category = WorkerFaultCategory.MxaccessCreationFailed,
+            ExceptionType = exception.InnerException?.GetType().FullName ?? exception.GetType().FullName ?? string.Empty,
+            DiagnosticMessage = exception.Message,
+            ProtocolStatus = new ProtocolStatus
+            {
+                Code = ProtocolStatusCode.WorkerUnavailable,
+                Message = exception.Message,
+            },
+        };
+
+        int? hresult = MxAccessCreationException.ExtractHResult(exception);
+        if (hresult.HasValue)
+        {
+            fault.Hresult = hresult.Value;
+        }
+
+        return fault;
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerFaultCategory MapFaultCategory(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode errorCode)
+    {
+        return errorCode switch
+        {
+            WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.ProtocolVersionMismatch => WorkerFaultCategory.ProtocolMismatch,
+            WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.EndOfStream => WorkerFaultCategory.PipeDisconnected,
+            _ => WorkerFaultCategory.ProtocolViolation,
+        };
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/IMxAccessComObjectFactory.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.MxAccess;
+
+public interface IMxAccessComObjectFactory
+{
+    object Create();
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/IMxAccessEventSink.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.MxAccess;
+
+public interface IMxAccessEventSink
+{
+    void Attach(object mxAccessComObject);
+
+    void Detach();
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessBaseEventSink.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+using ArchestrA.MxAccess;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.MxAccess;
+
+public sealed class MxAccessBaseEventSink : IMxAccessEventSink
+{
+    private LMXProxyServerClass? server;
+
+    public void Attach(object mxAccessComObject)
+    {
+        server = (LMXProxyServerClass)mxAccessComObject;
+        server.OnDataChange += OnDataChange;
+        server.OnWriteComplete += OnWriteComplete;
+        server.OperationComplete += OperationComplete;
+        server.OnBufferedDataChange += OnBufferedDataChange;
+    }
+
+    public void Detach()
+    {
+        if (server is null)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        server.OnDataChange -= OnDataChange;
+        server.OnWriteComplete -= OnWriteComplete;
+        server.OperationComplete -= OperationComplete;
+        server.OnBufferedDataChange -= OnBufferedDataChange;
+        server = null;
+    }
+
+    private static void OnDataChange(
+        int hLMXServerHandle,
+        int phItemHandle,
+        object pvItemValue,
+        int pwItemQuality,
+        object pftItemTimeStamp,
+        ref MXSTATUS_PROXY[] pVars)
+    {
+    }
+
+    private static void OnWriteComplete(
+        int hLMXServerHandle,
+        int phItemHandle,
+        ref MXSTATUS_PROXY[] pVars)
+    {
+    }
+
+    private static void OperationComplete(
+        int hLMXServerHandle,
+        int phItemHandle,
+        ref MXSTATUS_PROXY[] pVars)
+    {
+    }
+
+    private static void OnBufferedDataChange(
+        int hLMXServerHandle,
+        int phItemHandle,
+        MxDataType dtDataType,
+        object pvItemValue,
+        object pwItemQuality,
+        object pftItemTimeStamp,
+        ref MXSTATUS_PROXY[] pVars)
+    {
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessComObjectFactory.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+using ArchestrA.MxAccess;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.MxAccess;
+
+public sealed class MxAccessComObjectFactory : IMxAccessComObjectFactory
+{
+    public object Create()
+    {
+        return new LMXProxyServerClass();
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessCreationException.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+using System;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.MxAccess;
+
+public sealed class MxAccessCreationException : Exception
+{
+    public MxAccessCreationException(Exception innerException)
+        : base(
+            $"Failed to create MXAccess COM object {MxAccessInteropInfo.ComClassName} ({MxAccessInteropInfo.ProgId}).",
+            innerException)
+    {
+        AttemptedProgId = MxAccessInteropInfo.ProgId;
+        AttemptedClsid = MxAccessInteropInfo.Clsid;
+        AttemptedComClassName = MxAccessInteropInfo.ComClassName;
+        HResult = innerException.HResult;
+    }
+
+    public string AttemptedProgId { get; }
+
+    public string AttemptedClsid { get; }
+
+    public string AttemptedComClassName { get; }
+
+    public int? CapturedHResult => HResult == 0 ? null : HResult;
+
+    public static MxAccessCreationException From(Exception exception)
+    {
+        return exception is MxAccessCreationException creationException
+            ? creationException
+            : new MxAccessCreationException(exception);
+    }
+
+    public static int? ExtractHResult(Exception exception)
+    {
+        if (exception is MxAccessCreationException creationException)
+        {
+            return creationException.CapturedHResult;
+        }
+
+        if (exception is COMException comException)
+        {
+            return comException.HResult;
+        }
+
+        return exception.HResult == 0 ? null : exception.HResult;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessSession.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+using System;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using Google.Protobuf.WellKnownTypes;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.MxAccess;
+
+public sealed class MxAccessSession : IDisposable
+{
+    private readonly object mxAccessComObject;
+    private readonly IMxAccessEventSink eventSink;
+    private bool disposed;
+
+    private MxAccessSession(
+        object mxAccessComObject,
+        IMxAccessEventSink eventSink,
+        int creationThreadId)
+    {
+        this.mxAccessComObject = mxAccessComObject ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(mxAccessComObject));
+        this.eventSink = eventSink ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(eventSink));
+        CreationThreadId = creationThreadId;
+    }
+
+    public int CreationThreadId { get; }
+
+    public WorkerReady CreateWorkerReady(int workerProcessId)
+    {
+        return new WorkerReady
+        {
+            WorkerProcessId = workerProcessId,
+            MxaccessProgid = MxAccessInteropInfo.ProgId,
+            MxaccessClsid = MxAccessInteropInfo.Clsid,
+            ReadyTimestamp = Timestamp.FromDateTime(DateTime.UtcNow),
+        };
+    }
+
+    public static MxAccessSession Create(
+        IMxAccessComObjectFactory factory,
+        IMxAccessEventSink eventSink)
+    {
+        if (factory is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(factory));
+        }
+
+        if (eventSink is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(eventSink));
+        }
+
+        object? mxAccessComObject = null;
+
+        try
+        {
+            mxAccessComObject = factory.Create();
+            if (mxAccessComObject is null)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("MXAccess COM factory returned null.");
+            }
+
+            eventSink.Attach(mxAccessComObject);
+
+            return new MxAccessSession(
+                mxAccessComObject,
+                eventSink,
+                Environment.CurrentManagedThreadId);
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception)
+        {
+            eventSink.Detach();
+
+            if (mxAccessComObject is not null && Marshal.IsComObject(mxAccessComObject))
+            {
+                Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(mxAccessComObject);
+            }
+
+            throw MxAccessCreationException.From(exception);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void Dispose()
+    {
+        if (disposed)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        eventSink.Detach();
+
+        if (Marshal.IsComObject(mxAccessComObject))
+        {
+            Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(mxAccessComObject);
+        }
+
+        disposed = true;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/MxAccess/MxAccessStaSession.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+using System;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.MxAccess;
+
+public sealed class MxAccessStaSession : IDisposable
+{
+    private readonly IMxAccessComObjectFactory factory;
+    private readonly IMxAccessEventSink eventSink;
+    private readonly StaRuntime staRuntime;
+    private MxAccessSession? session;
+    private bool disposed;
+
+    public MxAccessStaSession()
+        : this(
+            new StaRuntime(),
+            new MxAccessComObjectFactory(),
+            new MxAccessBaseEventSink())
+    {
+    }
+
+    public MxAccessStaSession(
+        StaRuntime staRuntime,
+        IMxAccessComObjectFactory factory,
+        IMxAccessEventSink eventSink)
+    {
+        this.staRuntime = staRuntime ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(staRuntime));
+        this.factory = factory ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(factory));
+        this.eventSink = eventSink ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(eventSink));
+    }
+
+    public Task<WorkerReady> StartAsync(
+        int workerProcessId,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        staRuntime.Start();
+
+        return staRuntime.InvokeAsync(
+            () =>
+            {
+                if (session is not null)
+                {
+                    throw new InvalidOperationException("MXAccess COM session has already been created.");
+                }
+
+                session = MxAccessSession.Create(factory, eventSink);
+                return session.CreateWorkerReady(workerProcessId);
+            },
+            cancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    public void Dispose()
+    {
+        if (disposed)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (session is not null)
+        {
+            staRuntime.InvokeAsync(() => session.Dispose()).GetAwaiter().GetResult();
+        }
+
+        staRuntime.Dispose();
+        disposed = true;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Sta/IStaComApartmentInitializer.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+public interface IStaComApartmentInitializer
+{
+    void Initialize();
+
+    void Uninitialize();
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Sta/IStaWorkItem.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+internal interface IStaWorkItem
+{
+    void CancelBeforeExecution();
+
+    void Execute();
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Sta/StaComApartmentInitializer.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+using System;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+public sealed class StaComApartmentInitializer : IStaComApartmentInitializer
+{
+    private const uint CoInitializeApartmentThreaded = 0x2;
+    private const int SOk = 0;
+    private const int SFalse = 1;
+
+    public void Initialize()
+    {
+        int hresult = CoInitializeEx(IntPtr.Zero, CoInitializeApartmentThreaded);
+        if (hresult != SOk && hresult != SFalse)
+        {
+            throw new COMException("Failed to initialize the worker STA COM apartment.", hresult);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void Uninitialize()
+    {
+        CoUninitialize();
+    }
+
+    [DllImport("ole32.dll")]
+    private static extern int CoInitializeEx(IntPtr reserved, uint coInit);
+
+    [DllImport("ole32.dll")]
+    private static extern void CoUninitialize();
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Sta/StaMessagePump.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+using System;
+using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
+using System.Threading;
+using Microsoft.Win32.SafeHandles;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+public sealed class StaMessagePump
+{
+    private const uint Infinite = 0xFFFFFFFF;
+    private const uint MsgWaitFailed = 0xFFFFFFFF;
+    private const uint MwmoInputAvailable = 0x0004;
+    private const uint PmRemove = 0x0001;
+    private const uint QsAllInput = 0x04FF;
+
+    public void WaitForWorkOrMessages(WaitHandle commandWakeEvent, TimeSpan timeout)
+    {
+        if (commandWakeEvent is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(commandWakeEvent));
+        }
+
+        uint timeoutMilliseconds = ToTimeoutMilliseconds(timeout);
+
+        SafeWaitHandle safeHandle = commandWakeEvent.SafeWaitHandle;
+        IntPtr[] handles = [safeHandle.DangerousGetHandle()];
+        uint result = MsgWaitForMultipleObjectsEx(
+            (uint)handles.Length,
+            handles,
+            timeoutMilliseconds,
+            QsAllInput,
+            MwmoInputAvailable);
+
+        if (result == MsgWaitFailed)
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                "The worker STA message pump failed while waiting for command work or Windows messages.");
+        }
+    }
+
+    public int PumpPendingMessages()
+    {
+        int pumpedMessages = 0;
+
+        while (PeekMessage(out NativeMessage message, IntPtr.Zero, 0, 0, PmRemove))
+        {
+            TranslateMessage(ref message);
+            DispatchMessage(ref message);
+            pumpedMessages++;
+        }
+
+        return pumpedMessages;
+    }
+
+    private static uint ToTimeoutMilliseconds(TimeSpan timeout)
+    {
+        if (timeout == Timeout.InfiniteTimeSpan)
+        {
+            return Infinite;
+        }
+
+        if (timeout <= TimeSpan.Zero)
+        {
+            return 0;
+        }
+
+        return timeout.TotalMilliseconds >= uint.MaxValue
+            ? uint.MaxValue - 1
+            : (uint)Math.Ceiling(timeout.TotalMilliseconds);
+    }
+
+    [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
+    private static extern uint MsgWaitForMultipleObjectsEx(
+        uint count,
+        IntPtr[] handles,
+        uint milliseconds,
+        uint wakeMask,
+        uint flags);
+
+    [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
+    private static extern bool PeekMessage(
+        out NativeMessage message,
+        IntPtr windowHandle,
+        uint messageFilterMin,
+        uint messageFilterMax,
+        uint removeMessage);
+
+    [DllImport("user32.dll")]
+    private static extern bool TranslateMessage(ref NativeMessage message);
+
+    [DllImport("user32.dll")]
+    private static extern IntPtr DispatchMessage(ref NativeMessage message);
+
+    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
+    private struct NativeMessage
+    {
+        public IntPtr WindowHandle;
+        public uint Message;
+        public UIntPtr WParam;
+        public IntPtr LParam;
+        public uint Time;
+        public NativePoint Point;
+    }
+
+    [StructLayout(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
+    private struct NativePoint
+    {
+        public int X;
+        public int Y;
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Sta/StaRuntime.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,267 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Concurrent;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+public sealed class StaRuntime : IDisposable
+{
+    private readonly IStaComApartmentInitializer comApartmentInitializer;
+    private readonly StaMessagePump messagePump;
+    private readonly ConcurrentQueue<IStaWorkItem> commandQueue = new();
+    private readonly AutoResetEvent commandWakeEvent = new(false);
+    private readonly ManualResetEventSlim startedEvent = new(false);
+    private readonly ManualResetEventSlim stoppedEvent = new(false);
+    private readonly object gate = new();
+    private readonly Thread staThread;
+    private readonly TimeSpan idlePumpInterval;
+    private bool disposed;
+    private bool startRequested;
+    private bool shutdownRequested;
+    private Exception? startupException;
+    private long lastActivityUtcTicks;
+    private bool comInitialized;
+
+    public StaRuntime()
+        : this(new StaComApartmentInitializer(), new StaMessagePump(), TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(50))
+    {
+    }
+
+    public StaRuntime(
+        IStaComApartmentInitializer comApartmentInitializer,
+        StaMessagePump messagePump,
+        TimeSpan idlePumpInterval)
+    {
+        this.comApartmentInitializer = comApartmentInitializer
+            ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(comApartmentInitializer));
+        this.messagePump = messagePump ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(messagePump));
+
+        if (idlePumpInterval <= TimeSpan.Zero)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(
+                nameof(idlePumpInterval),
+                "The idle pump interval must be greater than zero.");
+        }
+
+        this.idlePumpInterval = idlePumpInterval;
+        lastActivityUtcTicks = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow.UtcTicks;
+        staThread = new Thread(ThreadMain)
+        {
+            IsBackground = true,
+            Name = "MxGateway.Worker.STA"
+        };
+        staThread.SetApartmentState(ApartmentState.STA);
+    }
+
+    public int? StaThreadId { get; private set; }
+
+    public DateTimeOffset LastActivityUtc =>
+        new(new DateTime(Volatile.Read(ref lastActivityUtcTicks), DateTimeKind.Utc));
+
+    public bool IsRunning => startedEvent.IsSet && !stoppedEvent.IsSet;
+
+    public void Start()
+    {
+        ThrowIfDisposed();
+
+        lock (gate)
+        {
+            if (shutdownRequested)
+            {
+                throw new InvalidOperationException("The worker STA runtime is shutting down.");
+            }
+
+            if (!startRequested)
+            {
+                startRequested = true;
+                staThread.Start();
+            }
+        }
+
+        startedEvent.Wait();
+        if (startupException is not null)
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                "The worker STA runtime failed to initialize.",
+                startupException);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public Task InvokeAsync(Action command, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        if (command is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(command));
+        }
+
+        return InvokeAsync(
+            () =>
+            {
+                command();
+                return true;
+            },
+            cancellationToken);
+    }
+
+    public Task<T> InvokeAsync<T>(Func<T> command, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        if (command is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(command));
+        }
+
+        ThrowIfDisposed();
+
+        if (cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+        {
+            return Task.FromCanceled<T>(cancellationToken);
+        }
+
+        StaWorkItem<T> workItem = new(command, cancellationToken);
+
+        lock (gate)
+        {
+            if (shutdownRequested)
+            {
+                return Task.FromException<T>(
+                    new InvalidOperationException("The worker STA runtime is shutting down."));
+            }
+
+            commandQueue.Enqueue(workItem);
+        }
+
+        commandWakeEvent.Set();
+        return workItem.Task;
+    }
+
+    public bool Shutdown(TimeSpan timeout)
+    {
+        if (timeout < TimeSpan.Zero && timeout != Timeout.InfiniteTimeSpan)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(timeout));
+        }
+
+        lock (gate)
+        {
+            shutdownRequested = true;
+        }
+
+        commandWakeEvent.Set();
+
+        if (!startedEvent.IsSet && !staThread.IsAlive)
+        {
+            CancelQueuedCommands();
+            stoppedEvent.Set();
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        bool stopped = stoppedEvent.Wait(timeout);
+        if (stopped)
+        {
+            CancelQueuedCommands();
+        }
+
+        return stopped;
+    }
+
+    public void Dispose()
+    {
+        if (disposed)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        bool stopped = Shutdown(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5));
+        if (stopped)
+        {
+            commandWakeEvent.Dispose();
+            startedEvent.Dispose();
+            stoppedEvent.Dispose();
+        }
+
+        disposed = true;
+    }
+
+    private void ThreadMain()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            StaThreadId = Thread.CurrentThread.ManagedThreadId;
+            comApartmentInitializer.Initialize();
+            comInitialized = true;
+            MarkActivity();
+            startedEvent.Set();
+
+            while (!IsShutdownRequested())
+            {
+                ProcessQueuedCommands();
+                messagePump.WaitForWorkOrMessages(commandWakeEvent, idlePumpInterval);
+                messagePump.PumpPendingMessages();
+                MarkActivity();
+            }
+
+            ProcessQueuedCommands();
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception)
+        {
+            startupException = exception;
+            startedEvent.Set();
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            CancelQueuedCommands();
+            try
+            {
+                if (comInitialized)
+                {
+                    comApartmentInitializer.Uninitialize();
+                }
+            }
+            finally
+            {
+                MarkActivity();
+                stoppedEvent.Set();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void ProcessQueuedCommands()
+    {
+        while (commandQueue.TryDequeue(out IStaWorkItem? workItem))
+        {
+            MarkActivity();
+            workItem.Execute();
+            MarkActivity();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void CancelQueuedCommands()
+    {
+        while (commandQueue.TryDequeue(out IStaWorkItem? workItem))
+        {
+            workItem.CancelBeforeExecution();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private bool IsShutdownRequested()
+    {
+        lock (gate)
+        {
+            return shutdownRequested;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void MarkActivity()
+    {
+        Volatile.Write(ref lastActivityUtcTicks, DateTimeOffset.UtcNow.UtcTicks);
+    }
+
+    private void ThrowIfDisposed()
+    {
+        if (disposed)
+        {
+            throw new ObjectDisposedException(nameof(StaRuntime));
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/Sta/StaWorkItem.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+using System;
+using System.Threading;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Worker.Sta;
+
+internal sealed class StaWorkItem<T> : IStaWorkItem
+{
+    private readonly Func<T> command;
+    private readonly CancellationToken cancellationToken;
+    private readonly CancellationTokenRegistration cancellationRegistration;
+    private int started;
+
+    public StaWorkItem(Func<T> command, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        this.command = command ?? throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(command));
+        this.cancellationToken = cancellationToken;
+        Completion = new TaskCompletionSource<T>(TaskCreationOptions.RunContinuationsAsynchronously);
+
+        if (cancellationToken.CanBeCanceled)
+        {
+            cancellationRegistration = cancellationToken.Register(
+                () =>
+                {
+                    if (Interlocked.CompareExchange(ref started, 1, 0) == 0)
+                    {
+                        Completion.TrySetCanceled(cancellationToken);
+                    }
+                });
+        }
+    }
+
+    public Task<T> Task => Completion.Task;
+
+    private TaskCompletionSource<T> Completion { get; }
+
+    public void CancelBeforeExecution()
+    {
+        if (Interlocked.CompareExchange(ref started, 1, 0) == 0)
+        {
+            Completion.TrySetCanceled(cancellationToken);
+            cancellationRegistration.Dispose();
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void Execute()
+    {
+        if (Interlocked.CompareExchange(ref started, 1, 0) != 0)
+        {
+            cancellationRegistration.Dispose();
+            return;
+        }
+
+        cancellationRegistration.Dispose();
+
+        if (cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
+        {
+            Completion.TrySetCanceled(cancellationToken);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        try
+        {
+            Completion.TrySetResult(command());
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception)
+        {
+            Completion.TrySetException(exception);
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Worker/WorkerApplication.cs

@@ -1,16 +1,128 @@
 using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Bootstrap;
+using MxGateway.Worker.Ipc;
 
 namespace MxGateway.Worker;
 
 public static class WorkerApplication
 {
     public static int Run(string[] args)
+    {
+        return Run(
+            args,
+            new EnvironmentVariableWorkerEnvironment(),
+            new WorkerConsoleLogger(Console.Error),
+            new WorkerPipeClient());
+    }
+
+    public static int Run(
+        string[] args,
+        IWorkerEnvironment environment,
+        IWorkerLogger logger)
+    {
+        return Run(
+            args,
+            environment,
+            logger,
+            new WorkerPipeClient());
+    }
+
+    public static int Run(
+        string[] args,
+        IWorkerEnvironment environment,
+        IWorkerLogger logger,
+        IWorkerPipeClient pipeClient)
     {
         if (args is null)
         {
             throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(args));
         }
 
-        return 0;
+        if (environment is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(environment));
+        }
+
+        if (logger is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(logger));
+        }
+
+        if (pipeClient is null)
+        {
+            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(pipeClient));
+        }
+
+        try
+        {
+            WorkerOptionsParser parser = new(environment);
+            WorkerBootstrapResult result = parser.Parse(args);
+
+            if (!result.Succeeded)
+            {
+                logger.Error("WorkerBootstrapFailed", new Dictionary<string, object?>
+                {
+                    ["exit_code"] = result.ExitCode,
+                    ["errors"] = string.Join(";", result.Errors),
+                });
+
+                return (int)result.ExitCode;
+            }
+
+            WorkerOptions options = result.Options
+                ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("Successful bootstrap result did not include worker options.");
+
+            logger.Information("WorkerBootstrapSucceeded", new Dictionary<string, object?>
+            {
+                ["session_id"] = options.SessionId,
+                ["pipe_name"] = options.PipeName,
+                ["protocol_version"] = options.ProtocolVersion,
+                ["nonce"] = options.Nonce,
+            });
+
+            pipeClient.RunAsync(options).GetAwaiter().GetResult();
+
+            logger.Information("WorkerPipeHandshakeSucceeded", new Dictionary<string, object?>
+            {
+                ["session_id"] = options.SessionId,
+                ["pipe_name"] = options.PipeName,
+                ["protocol_version"] = options.ProtocolVersion,
+            });
+
+            return (int)WorkerExitCode.Success;
+        }
+        catch (WorkerFrameProtocolException exception)
+        {
+            logger.Error("WorkerPipeProtocolFailure", new Dictionary<string, object?>
+            {
+                ["exit_code"] = WorkerExitCode.ProtocolViolation,
+                ["error_code"] = exception.ErrorCode,
+                ["exception_type"] = exception.GetType().FullName,
+            });
+
+            return (int)WorkerExitCode.ProtocolViolation;
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception) when (exception is IOException or TimeoutException)
+        {
+            logger.Error("WorkerPipeConnectionFailed", new Dictionary<string, object?>
+            {
+                ["exit_code"] = WorkerExitCode.PipeConnectionFailed,
+                ["exception_type"] = exception.GetType().FullName,
+            });
+
+            return (int)WorkerExitCode.PipeConnectionFailed;
+        }
+        catch (Exception exception)
+        {
+            logger.Error("WorkerBootstrapUnexpectedFailure", new Dictionary<string, object?>
+            {
+                ["exit_code"] = WorkerExitCode.UnexpectedFailure,
+                ["exception_type"] = exception.GetType().FullName,
+            });
+
+            return (int)WorkerExitCode.UnexpectedFailure;
+        }
     }
 }