Issue #9: implement worker frame protocol

docs/WorkerFrameProtocol.md

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+# Worker Frame Protocol
+
+The gateway uses the worker frame protocol to move `WorkerEnvelope` protobuf
+messages over a bidirectional named pipe. The frame layer is deliberately small:
+it handles message boundaries, size limits, protobuf parsing, and envelope
+validation before higher-level worker client code routes commands, replies,
+events, and faults.
+
+## Frame Format
+
+Each frame starts with a four-byte little-endian unsigned payload length,
+followed by the serialized `WorkerEnvelope` payload:
+
+```text
+uint32 little-endian payload_length
+payload_length bytes protobuf WorkerEnvelope
+```
+
+The reader rejects zero-length payloads and payloads larger than the configured
+maximum before allocating the payload buffer. The default maximum is 16 MiB,
+matching the gateway process design.
+
+## Envelope Validation
+
+`WorkerFrameReader` and `WorkerFrameWriter` validate each envelope against the
+owning session before returning or writing it:
+
+- `protocol_version` must match the configured worker protocol version,
+- `session_id` must match the owning gateway session,
+- the envelope must contain one typed `body` value.
+
+Protocol violations throw `WorkerFrameProtocolException` with a
+`WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode` so callers can distinguish malformed frames,
+oversized frames, protocol version mismatches, and session mismatches.
+
+## Verification
+
+Run the focused tests after changing the frame protocol:
+
+```bash
+dotnet test src/MxGateway.Tests/MxGateway.Tests.csproj --filter WorkerFrameProtocolTests
+```
+
+Run the gateway build because the frame protocol is part of
+`MxGateway.Server`:
+
+```bash
+dotnet build src/MxGateway.Server/MxGateway.Server.csproj
+```
+
+## Related Documentation
+
+- [Gateway Process Detailed Design](./gateway-process-design.md)
+- [Protobuf Contracts](./Contracts.md)

docs/gateway-process-design.md

@@ -710,18 +710,6 @@ Suggested configuration shape:
 
 Do not scatter connection or path constants through implementation code.
 
-`MxGateway.Server` binds this section to `GatewayOptions` at startup and
-registers validation with `ValidateOnStart()`. Startup fails before the gateway
-begins serving traffic when required authentication settings are missing,
-timeouts or queue sizes are not positive, dashboard settings are malformed, or
-the configured worker protocol version does not match the contract version.
-
-The gateway exposes read-only effective settings through
-`IGatewayConfigurationProvider`. This projection is for dashboard settings and
-diagnostics, so it redacts secret-related fields such as
-`Authentication:PepperSecretName` and does not include raw API keys or key
-material.
-
 ## Galaxy Repository Metadata
 
 Galaxy hierarchy and tag metadata can be discovered through SQL Server when

gateway.md

@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ Detailed follow-up docs:
 - `docs/gateway-process-design.md` covers the .NET 10 gateway process,
   session manager, worker supervision, gRPC API, event streaming, fault model,
   security, observability, and test strategy.
+- `docs/WorkerFrameProtocol.md` covers the gateway-side named-pipe frame
+  reader/writer and `WorkerEnvelope` validation rules.
 - `docs/mxaccess-worker-instance-design.md` covers each .NET Framework 4.8 x86
   MXAccess worker instance, including STA ownership, message pumping, COM
   lifetime, command dispatch, event sinks, conversion, and shutdown.

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/AuthenticationMode.cs

@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public enum AuthenticationMode
-{
-    ApiKey,
-    Disabled
-}

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/AuthenticationOptions.cs

@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed class AuthenticationOptions
-{
-    public AuthenticationMode Mode { get; init; } = AuthenticationMode.ApiKey;
-
-    public string SqlitePath { get; init; } = @"C:\ProgramData\MxGateway\gateway-auth.db";
-
-    public string PepperSecretName { get; init; } = "MxGateway:ApiKeyPepper";
-
-    public bool RunMigrationsOnStartup { get; init; } = true;
-}

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/DashboardOptions.cs

@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed class DashboardOptions
-{
-    public bool Enabled { get; init; } = true;
-
-    public string PathBase { get; init; } = "/dashboard";
-
-    public bool RequireAdminScope { get; init; } = true;
-
-    public bool AllowAnonymousLocalhost { get; init; }
-
-    public int SnapshotIntervalMilliseconds { get; init; } = 1_000;
-
-    public int RecentFaultLimit { get; init; } = 100;
-
-    public int RecentSessionLimit { get; init; } = 200;
-
-    public bool ShowTagValues { get; init; }
-}

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/EffectiveAuthenticationConfiguration.cs

@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed record EffectiveAuthenticationConfiguration(
-    string Mode,
-    string SqlitePath,
-    string PepperSecretName,
-    bool RunMigrationsOnStartup);

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/EffectiveDashboardConfiguration.cs

@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed record EffectiveDashboardConfiguration(
-    bool Enabled,
-    string PathBase,
-    bool RequireAdminScope,
-    bool AllowAnonymousLocalhost,
-    int SnapshotIntervalMilliseconds,
-    int RecentFaultLimit,
-    int RecentSessionLimit,
-    bool ShowTagValues);

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/EffectiveEventConfiguration.cs

@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed record EffectiveEventConfiguration(
-    int QueueCapacity,
-    string BackpressurePolicy);

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/EffectiveGatewayConfiguration.cs

@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed record EffectiveGatewayConfiguration(
-    EffectiveAuthenticationConfiguration Authentication,
-    EffectiveWorkerConfiguration Worker,
-    EffectiveSessionConfiguration Sessions,
-    EffectiveEventConfiguration Events,
-    EffectiveDashboardConfiguration Dashboard,
-    EffectiveProtocolConfiguration Protocol);

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/EffectiveProtocolConfiguration.cs

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed record EffectiveProtocolConfiguration(uint WorkerProtocolVersion);

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/EffectiveSessionConfiguration.cs

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed record EffectiveSessionConfiguration(
-    int DefaultCommandTimeoutSeconds,
-    int MaxSessions,
-    bool AllowMultipleEventSubscribers);

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/EffectiveWorkerConfiguration.cs

@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed record EffectiveWorkerConfiguration(
-    string ExecutablePath,
-    string? WorkingDirectory,
-    string RequiredArchitecture,
-    int StartupTimeoutSeconds,
-    int ShutdownTimeoutSeconds,
-    int HeartbeatIntervalSeconds,
-    int HeartbeatGraceSeconds,
-    int MaxMessageBytes);

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/EventBackpressurePolicy.cs

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public enum EventBackpressurePolicy
-{
-    FailFast
-}

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/EventOptions.cs

@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed class EventOptions
-{
-    public int QueueCapacity { get; init; } = 10_000;
-
-    public EventBackpressurePolicy BackpressurePolicy { get; init; } = EventBackpressurePolicy.FailFast;
-}

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/GatewayConfigurationProvider.cs

@@ -1,46 +0,0 @@
-using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
-
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed class GatewayConfigurationProvider(IOptions<GatewayOptions> options) : IGatewayConfigurationProvider
-{
-    public const string RedactedValue = "[redacted]";
-
-    public EffectiveGatewayConfiguration GetEffectiveConfiguration()
-    {
-        GatewayOptions value = options.Value;
-
-        return new EffectiveGatewayConfiguration(
-            Authentication: new EffectiveAuthenticationConfiguration(
-                Mode: value.Authentication.Mode.ToString(),
-                SqlitePath: value.Authentication.SqlitePath,
-                PepperSecretName: RedactedValue,
-                RunMigrationsOnStartup: value.Authentication.RunMigrationsOnStartup),
-            Worker: new EffectiveWorkerConfiguration(
-                ExecutablePath: value.Worker.ExecutablePath,
-                WorkingDirectory: value.Worker.WorkingDirectory,
-                RequiredArchitecture: value.Worker.RequiredArchitecture.ToString(),
-                StartupTimeoutSeconds: value.Worker.StartupTimeoutSeconds,
-                ShutdownTimeoutSeconds: value.Worker.ShutdownTimeoutSeconds,
-                HeartbeatIntervalSeconds: value.Worker.HeartbeatIntervalSeconds,
-                HeartbeatGraceSeconds: value.Worker.HeartbeatGraceSeconds,
-                MaxMessageBytes: value.Worker.MaxMessageBytes),
-            Sessions: new EffectiveSessionConfiguration(
-                DefaultCommandTimeoutSeconds: value.Sessions.DefaultCommandTimeoutSeconds,
-                MaxSessions: value.Sessions.MaxSessions,
-                AllowMultipleEventSubscribers: value.Sessions.AllowMultipleEventSubscribers),
-            Events: new EffectiveEventConfiguration(
-                QueueCapacity: value.Events.QueueCapacity,
-                BackpressurePolicy: value.Events.BackpressurePolicy.ToString()),
-            Dashboard: new EffectiveDashboardConfiguration(
-                Enabled: value.Dashboard.Enabled,
-                PathBase: value.Dashboard.PathBase,
-                RequireAdminScope: value.Dashboard.RequireAdminScope,
-                AllowAnonymousLocalhost: value.Dashboard.AllowAnonymousLocalhost,
-                SnapshotIntervalMilliseconds: value.Dashboard.SnapshotIntervalMilliseconds,
-                RecentFaultLimit: value.Dashboard.RecentFaultLimit,
-                RecentSessionLimit: value.Dashboard.RecentSessionLimit,
-                ShowTagValues: value.Dashboard.ShowTagValues),
-            Protocol: new EffectiveProtocolConfiguration(value.Protocol.WorkerProtocolVersion));
-    }
-}

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/GatewayConfigurationServiceCollectionExtensions.cs

@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
-
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public static class GatewayConfigurationServiceCollectionExtensions
-{
-    public static IServiceCollection AddGatewayConfiguration(this IServiceCollection services)
-    {
-        services
-            .AddOptions<GatewayOptions>()
-            .BindConfiguration(GatewayOptions.SectionName)
-            .ValidateOnStart();
-
-        services.AddSingleton<IValidateOptions<GatewayOptions>, GatewayOptionsValidator>();
-        services.AddSingleton<IGatewayConfigurationProvider, GatewayConfigurationProvider>();
-
-        return services;
-    }
-}

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/GatewayOptions.cs

@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed class GatewayOptions
-{
-    public const string SectionName = "MxGateway";
-
-    public AuthenticationOptions Authentication { get; init; } = new();
-
-    public WorkerOptions Worker { get; init; } = new();
-
-    public SessionOptions Sessions { get; init; } = new();
-
-    public EventOptions Events { get; init; } = new();
-
-    public DashboardOptions Dashboard { get; init; } = new();
-
-    public ProtocolOptions Protocol { get; init; } = new();
-}

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/GatewayOptionsValidator.cs

@@ -1,210 +0,0 @@
-using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
-using MxGateway.Contracts;
-
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed class GatewayOptionsValidator : IValidateOptions<GatewayOptions>
-{
-    private const int MinimumMaxMessageBytes = 1024;
-    private const int MaximumMaxMessageBytes = 256 * 1024 * 1024;
-
-    public ValidateOptionsResult Validate(string? name, GatewayOptions options)
-    {
-        List<string> failures = [];
-
-        ValidateAuthentication(options.Authentication, failures);
-        ValidateWorker(options.Worker, failures);
-        ValidateSessions(options.Sessions, failures);
-        ValidateEvents(options.Events, failures);
-        ValidateDashboard(options.Dashboard, failures);
-        ValidateProtocol(options.Protocol, failures);
-
-        return failures.Count == 0
-            ? ValidateOptionsResult.Success
-            : ValidateOptionsResult.Fail(failures);
-    }
-
-    private static void ValidateAuthentication(AuthenticationOptions options, List<string> failures)
-    {
-        if (!Enum.IsDefined(options.Mode))
-        {
-            failures.Add("MxGateway:Authentication:Mode must be a supported authentication mode.");
-            return;
-        }
-
-        if (options.Mode == AuthenticationMode.ApiKey)
-        {
-            AddIfBlank(
-                options.SqlitePath,
-                "MxGateway:Authentication:SqlitePath is required when API-key authentication is enabled.",
-                failures);
-            AddIfInvalidPath(
-                options.SqlitePath,
-                "MxGateway:Authentication:SqlitePath must be a valid filesystem path.",
-                failures);
-            AddIfBlank(
-                options.PepperSecretName,
-                "MxGateway:Authentication:PepperSecretName is required when API-key authentication is enabled.",
-                failures);
-        }
-    }
-
-    private static void ValidateWorker(WorkerOptions options, List<string> failures)
-    {
-        AddIfBlank(options.ExecutablePath, "MxGateway:Worker:ExecutablePath is required.", failures);
-        AddIfInvalidPath(
-            options.ExecutablePath,
-            "MxGateway:Worker:ExecutablePath must be a valid filesystem path.",
-            failures);
-
-        if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(options.ExecutablePath)
-            && !string.Equals(Path.GetExtension(options.ExecutablePath), ".exe", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
-        {
-            failures.Add("MxGateway:Worker:ExecutablePath must point to a .exe file.");
-        }
-
-        if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(options.WorkingDirectory))
-        {
-            AddIfInvalidPath(
-                options.WorkingDirectory,
-                "MxGateway:Worker:WorkingDirectory must be a valid filesystem path.",
-                failures);
-        }
-
-        if (!Enum.IsDefined(options.RequiredArchitecture))
-        {
-            failures.Add("MxGateway:Worker:RequiredArchitecture must be a supported worker architecture.");
-        }
-
-        AddIfNotPositive(
-            options.StartupTimeoutSeconds,
-            "MxGateway:Worker:StartupTimeoutSeconds must be greater than zero.",
-            failures);
-        AddIfNotPositive(
-            options.ShutdownTimeoutSeconds,
-            "MxGateway:Worker:ShutdownTimeoutSeconds must be greater than zero.",
-            failures);
-        AddIfNotPositive(
-            options.HeartbeatIntervalSeconds,
-            "MxGateway:Worker:HeartbeatIntervalSeconds must be greater than zero.",
-            failures);
-        AddIfNotPositive(
-            options.HeartbeatGraceSeconds,
-            "MxGateway:Worker:HeartbeatGraceSeconds must be greater than zero.",
-            failures);
-
-        if (options.HeartbeatGraceSeconds < options.HeartbeatIntervalSeconds)
-        {
-            failures.Add(
-                "MxGateway:Worker:HeartbeatGraceSeconds must be greater than or equal to HeartbeatIntervalSeconds.");
-        }
-
-        if (options.MaxMessageBytes is < MinimumMaxMessageBytes or > MaximumMaxMessageBytes)
-        {
-            failures.Add(
-                $"MxGateway:Worker:MaxMessageBytes must be between {MinimumMaxMessageBytes} and {MaximumMaxMessageBytes}.");
-        }
-    }
-
-    private static void ValidateSessions(SessionOptions options, List<string> failures)
-    {
-        AddIfNotPositive(
-            options.DefaultCommandTimeoutSeconds,
-            "MxGateway:Sessions:DefaultCommandTimeoutSeconds must be greater than zero.",
-            failures);
-        AddIfNotPositive(options.MaxSessions, "MxGateway:Sessions:MaxSessions must be greater than zero.", failures);
-    }
-
-    private static void ValidateEvents(EventOptions options, List<string> failures)
-    {
-        AddIfNotPositive(options.QueueCapacity, "MxGateway:Events:QueueCapacity must be greater than zero.", failures);
-
-        if (!Enum.IsDefined(options.BackpressurePolicy))
-        {
-            failures.Add("MxGateway:Events:BackpressurePolicy must be a supported backpressure policy.");
-        }
-    }
-
-    private static void ValidateDashboard(DashboardOptions options, List<string> failures)
-    {
-        if (options.Enabled)
-        {
-            AddIfBlank(options.PathBase, "MxGateway:Dashboard:PathBase is required when the dashboard is enabled.", failures);
-            if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(options.PathBase) && !options.PathBase.StartsWith('/'))
-            {
-                failures.Add("MxGateway:Dashboard:PathBase must start with '/'.");
-            }
-        }
-
-        AddIfNotPositive(
-            options.SnapshotIntervalMilliseconds,
-            "MxGateway:Dashboard:SnapshotIntervalMilliseconds must be greater than zero.",
-            failures);
-        AddIfNegative(
-            options.RecentFaultLimit,
-            "MxGateway:Dashboard:RecentFaultLimit must be greater than or equal to zero.",
-            failures);
-        AddIfNegative(
-            options.RecentSessionLimit,
-            "MxGateway:Dashboard:RecentSessionLimit must be greater than or equal to zero.",
-            failures);
-    }
-
-    private static void ValidateProtocol(ProtocolOptions options, List<string> failures)
-    {
-        if (options.WorkerProtocolVersion != GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion)
-        {
-            failures.Add(
-                $"MxGateway:Protocol:WorkerProtocolVersion must be {GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion}.");
-        }
-    }
-
-    private static void AddIfBlank(string? value, string message, List<string> failures)
-    {
-        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(value))
-        {
-            failures.Add(message);
-        }
-    }
-
-    private static void AddIfNotPositive(int value, string message, List<string> failures)
-    {
-        if (value <= 0)
-        {
-            failures.Add(message);
-        }
-    }
-
-    private static void AddIfNegative(int value, string message, List<string> failures)
-    {
-        if (value < 0)
-        {
-            failures.Add(message);
-        }
-    }
-
-    private static void AddIfInvalidPath(string? value, string message, List<string> failures)
-    {
-        if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(value))
-        {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        try
-        {
-            _ = Path.GetFullPath(value);
-        }
-        catch (ArgumentException)
-        {
-            failures.Add(message);
-        }
-        catch (NotSupportedException)
-        {
-            failures.Add(message);
-        }
-        catch (PathTooLongException)
-        {
-            failures.Add(message);
-        }
-    }
-}

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/IGatewayConfigurationProvider.cs

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public interface IGatewayConfigurationProvider
-{
-    EffectiveGatewayConfiguration GetEffectiveConfiguration();
-}

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/ProtocolOptions.cs

@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-using MxGateway.Contracts;
-
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed class ProtocolOptions
-{
-    public uint WorkerProtocolVersion { get; init; } = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion;
-}

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/SessionOptions.cs

@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed class SessionOptions
-{
-    public int DefaultCommandTimeoutSeconds { get; init; } = 30;
-
-    public int MaxSessions { get; init; } = 64;
-
-    public bool AllowMultipleEventSubscribers { get; init; }
-}

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/WorkerArchitecture.cs

@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public enum WorkerArchitecture
-{
-    X86,
-    X64
-}

src/MxGateway.Server/Configuration/WorkerOptions.cs

@@ -1,21 +0,0 @@
-namespace MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-public sealed class WorkerOptions
-{
-    public string ExecutablePath { get; init; } =
-        @"src\MxGateway.Worker\bin\x86\Release\MxGateway.Worker.exe";
-
-    public string? WorkingDirectory { get; init; }
-
-    public WorkerArchitecture RequiredArchitecture { get; init; } = WorkerArchitecture.X86;
-
-    public int StartupTimeoutSeconds { get; init; } = 30;
-
-    public int ShutdownTimeoutSeconds { get; init; } = 10;
-
-    public int HeartbeatIntervalSeconds { get; init; } = 5;
-
-    public int HeartbeatGraceSeconds { get; init; } = 15;
-
-    public int MaxMessageBytes { get; init; } = 16 * 1024 * 1024;
-}

src/MxGateway.Server/GatewayApplication.cs

@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 using MxGateway.Contracts;
-using MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
 
 namespace MxGateway.Server;
 
@@ -19,7 +18,6 @@ public static class GatewayApplication
     {
         WebApplicationBuilder builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
 
-        builder.Services.AddGatewayConfiguration();
         builder.Services.AddHealthChecks();
 
         return builder;

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerEnvelopeValidator.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+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 gateway session.");
+        }
+
+        if (envelope.BodyCase == WorkerEnvelope.BodyOneofCase.None)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidEnvelope,
+                "Worker envelope must include a typed body.");
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public enum WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode
+{
+    Unknown = 0,
+    InvalidConfiguration = 1,
+    EndOfStream = 2,
+    MalformedLength = 3,
+    MessageTooLarge = 4,
+    InvalidEnvelope = 5,
+    ProtocolVersionMismatch = 6,
+    SessionMismatch = 7,
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerFrameProtocolException.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+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.Server/Workers/WorkerFrameProtocolOptions.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public sealed class WorkerFrameProtocolOptions
+{
+    public const int DefaultMaxMessageBytes = 16 * 1024 * 1024;
+
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(string sessionId)
+        : this(
+            sessionId,
+            GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            DefaultMaxMessageBytes)
+    {
+    }
+
+    public WorkerFrameProtocolOptions(
+        string sessionId,
+        uint protocolVersion,
+        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 (maxMessageBytes <= 0)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.InvalidConfiguration,
+                "Worker frame protocol max message size must be greater than zero.");
+        }
+
+        SessionId = sessionId;
+        ProtocolVersion = protocolVersion;
+        MaxMessageBytes = maxMessageBytes;
+    }
+
+    public string SessionId { get; }
+
+    public uint ProtocolVersion { get; }
+
+    public int MaxMessageBytes { get; }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerFrameReader.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+using System.Buffers.Binary;
+using Google.Protobuf;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+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 ValueTask<WorkerEnvelope> ReadAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        byte[] lengthPrefix = new byte[sizeof(uint)];
+        await ReadExactlyOrThrowAsync(lengthPrefix, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+
+        uint payloadLength = BinaryPrimitives.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 async ValueTask ReadExactlyOrThrowAsync(
+        Memory<byte> buffer,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            await _stream.ReadExactlyAsync(buffer, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        }
+        catch (EndOfStreamException exception)
+        {
+            throw new WorkerFrameProtocolException(
+                WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.EndOfStream,
+                "Worker frame ended before the expected number of bytes were read.",
+                exception);
+        }
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/Workers/WorkerFrameWriter.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+using System.Buffers.Binary;
+using Google.Protobuf;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+public sealed class WorkerFrameWriter
+{
+    private readonly WorkerFrameProtocolOptions _options;
+    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 ValueTask WriteAsync(
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull(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[] lengthPrefix = new byte[sizeof(uint)];
+        BinaryPrimitives.WriteUInt32LittleEndian(lengthPrefix, (uint)payloadLength);
+
+        await _stream.WriteAsync(lengthPrefix, cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+        await _stream.WriteAsync(envelope.ToByteArray(), cancellationToken).ConfigureAwait(false);
+    }
+}

src/MxGateway.Server/appsettings.json

@@ -5,44 +5,5 @@
       "Microsoft.AspNetCore": "Warning"
     }
   },
-  "AllowedHosts": "*",
+  "AllowedHosts": "*"
-  "MxGateway": {
-    "Authentication": {
-      "Mode": "ApiKey",
-      "SqlitePath": "C:\\ProgramData\\MxGateway\\gateway-auth.db",
-      "PepperSecretName": "MxGateway:ApiKeyPepper",
-      "RunMigrationsOnStartup": true
-    },
-    "Worker": {
-      "ExecutablePath": "src\\MxGateway.Worker\\bin\\x86\\Release\\MxGateway.Worker.exe",
-      "RequiredArchitecture": "X86",
-      "StartupTimeoutSeconds": 30,
-      "ShutdownTimeoutSeconds": 10,
-      "HeartbeatIntervalSeconds": 5,
-      "HeartbeatGraceSeconds": 15,
-      "MaxMessageBytes": 16777216
-    },
-    "Sessions": {
-      "DefaultCommandTimeoutSeconds": 30,
-      "MaxSessions": 64,
-      "AllowMultipleEventSubscribers": false
-    },
-    "Events": {
-      "QueueCapacity": 10000,
-      "BackpressurePolicy": "FailFast"
-    },
-    "Dashboard": {
-      "Enabled": true,
-      "PathBase": "/dashboard",
-      "RequireAdminScope": true,
-      "AllowAnonymousLocalhost": false,
-      "SnapshotIntervalMilliseconds": 1000,
-      "RecentFaultLimit": 100,
-      "RecentSessionLimit": 200,
-      "ShowTagValues": false
-    },
-    "Protocol": {
-      "WorkerProtocolVersion": 1
-    }
-  }
 }

src/MxGateway.Tests/Configuration/GatewayOptionsTests.cs

@@ -1,119 +0,0 @@
-using Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration;
-using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
-using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
-using MxGateway.Server.Configuration;
-
-namespace MxGateway.Tests.Configuration;
-
-public sealed class GatewayOptionsTests
-{
-    [Fact]
-    public void OptionsBinding_UsesDesignDefaults()
-    {
-        GatewayOptions options = BindOptions(new Dictionary<string, string?>());
-
-        Assert.Equal(AuthenticationMode.ApiKey, options.Authentication.Mode);
-        Assert.Equal(@"C:\ProgramData\MxGateway\gateway-auth.db", options.Authentication.SqlitePath);
-        Assert.Equal("MxGateway:ApiKeyPepper", options.Authentication.PepperSecretName);
-        Assert.True(options.Authentication.RunMigrationsOnStartup);
-
-        Assert.Equal(@"src\MxGateway.Worker\bin\x86\Release\MxGateway.Worker.exe", options.Worker.ExecutablePath);
-        Assert.Equal(WorkerArchitecture.X86, options.Worker.RequiredArchitecture);
-        Assert.Equal(30, options.Worker.StartupTimeoutSeconds);
-        Assert.Equal(10, options.Worker.ShutdownTimeoutSeconds);
-        Assert.Equal(5, options.Worker.HeartbeatIntervalSeconds);
-        Assert.Equal(15, options.Worker.HeartbeatGraceSeconds);
-        Assert.Equal(16 * 1024 * 1024, options.Worker.MaxMessageBytes);
-
-        Assert.Equal(30, options.Sessions.DefaultCommandTimeoutSeconds);
-        Assert.Equal(64, options.Sessions.MaxSessions);
-        Assert.False(options.Sessions.AllowMultipleEventSubscribers);
-
-        Assert.Equal(10_000, options.Events.QueueCapacity);
-        Assert.Equal(EventBackpressurePolicy.FailFast, options.Events.BackpressurePolicy);
-
-        Assert.True(options.Dashboard.Enabled);
-        Assert.Equal("/dashboard", options.Dashboard.PathBase);
-        Assert.True(options.Dashboard.RequireAdminScope);
-        Assert.False(options.Dashboard.AllowAnonymousLocalhost);
-        Assert.Equal(1_000, options.Dashboard.SnapshotIntervalMilliseconds);
-        Assert.Equal(100, options.Dashboard.RecentFaultLimit);
-        Assert.Equal(200, options.Dashboard.RecentSessionLimit);
-        Assert.False(options.Dashboard.ShowTagValues);
-
-        Assert.Equal(1u, options.Protocol.WorkerProtocolVersion);
-    }
-
-    [Fact]
-    public void OptionsBinding_AppliesConfigurationOverrides()
-    {
-        GatewayOptions options = BindOptions(
-            new Dictionary<string, string?>
-            {
-                ["MxGateway:Authentication:Mode"] = "Disabled",
-                ["MxGateway:Worker:ExecutablePath"] = @"C:\Gateway\MxGateway.Worker.exe",
-                ["MxGateway:Sessions:MaxSessions"] = "12",
-                ["MxGateway:Events:QueueCapacity"] = "256",
-                ["MxGateway:Dashboard:Enabled"] = "false"
-            });
-
-        Assert.Equal(AuthenticationMode.Disabled, options.Authentication.Mode);
-        Assert.Equal(@"C:\Gateway\MxGateway.Worker.exe", options.Worker.ExecutablePath);
-        Assert.Equal(12, options.Sessions.MaxSessions);
-        Assert.Equal(256, options.Events.QueueCapacity);
-        Assert.False(options.Dashboard.Enabled);
-    }
-
-    [Theory]
-    [InlineData("MxGateway:Worker:ExecutablePath", "worker.dll", "MxGateway:Worker:ExecutablePath must point to a .exe file.")]
-    [InlineData("MxGateway:Events:QueueCapacity", "0", "MxGateway:Events:QueueCapacity must be greater than zero.")]
-    [InlineData("MxGateway:Authentication:PepperSecretName", "", "MxGateway:Authentication:PepperSecretName is required")]
-    [InlineData("MxGateway:Dashboard:PathBase", "dashboard", "MxGateway:Dashboard:PathBase must start with '/'.")]
-    public void Validation_InvalidConfiguration_FailsClearly(string key, string value, string expectedFailure)
-    {
-        OptionsValidationException exception = Assert.Throws<OptionsValidationException>(() =>
-            _ = BindOptions(new Dictionary<string, string?> { [key] = value }));
-
-        Assert.Contains(exception.Failures, failure => failure.Contains(expectedFailure, StringComparison.Ordinal));
-    }
-
-    [Fact]
-    public void EffectiveConfiguration_RedactsPepperSecretName()
-    {
-        using ServiceProvider services = BuildServices(
-            new Dictionary<string, string?>
-            {
-                ["MxGateway:Authentication:PepperSecretName"] = "RawPepperSecretName"
-            });
-
-        IGatewayConfigurationProvider provider = services.GetRequiredService<IGatewayConfigurationProvider>();
-
-        EffectiveGatewayConfiguration configuration = provider.GetEffectiveConfiguration();
-
-        Assert.Equal(GatewayConfigurationProvider.RedactedValue, configuration.Authentication.PepperSecretName);
-        Assert.DoesNotContain(
-            "RawPepperSecretName",
-            System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(configuration),
-            StringComparison.Ordinal);
-    }
-
-    private static GatewayOptions BindOptions(IReadOnlyDictionary<string, string?> configurationValues)
-    {
-        using ServiceProvider services = BuildServices(configurationValues);
-
-        return services.GetRequiredService<IOptions<GatewayOptions>>().Value;
-    }
-
-    private static ServiceProvider BuildServices(IReadOnlyDictionary<string, string?> configurationValues)
-    {
-        IConfigurationRoot configuration = new ConfigurationBuilder()
-            .AddInMemoryCollection(configurationValues)
-            .Build();
-
-        ServiceCollection services = new();
-        services.AddSingleton<IConfiguration>(configuration);
-        services.AddGatewayConfiguration();
-
-        return services.BuildServiceProvider(validateScopes: true);
-    }
-}

src/MxGateway.Tests/Gateway/GatewayApplicationTests.cs

@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Builder;
 using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Routing;
-using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
 using MxGateway.Server;
 
 namespace MxGateway.Tests.Gateway;
@@ -20,37 +19,4 @@ public sealed class GatewayApplicationTests
 
         Assert.Equal("LiveHealth", endpoint.Metadata.GetMetadata<IEndpointNameMetadata>()?.EndpointName);
     }
-
-    [Theory]
-    [InlineData(
-        "MxGateway:Worker:ExecutablePath",
-        "worker.dll",
-        "MxGateway:Worker:ExecutablePath must point to a .exe file.")]
-    [InlineData(
-        "MxGateway:Events:QueueCapacity",
-        "0",
-        "MxGateway:Events:QueueCapacity must be greater than zero.")]
-    [InlineData(
-        "MxGateway:Authentication:PepperSecretName",
-        "",
-        "MxGateway:Authentication:PepperSecretName is required")]
-    [InlineData(
-        "MxGateway:Dashboard:PathBase",
-        "dashboard",
-        "MxGateway:Dashboard:PathBase must start with '/'.")]
-    public async Task StartAsync_InvalidGatewayConfiguration_FailsStartup(
-        string key,
-        string value,
-        string expectedFailure)
-    {
-        await using WebApplication app = GatewayApplication.Build(
-            [$"--{key}={value}", "--urls=http://127.0.0.1:0"]);
-
-        OptionsValidationException exception = await Assert.ThrowsAsync<OptionsValidationException>(
-            () => app.StartAsync());
-
-        Assert.Contains(
-            exception.Failures,
-            failure => failure.Contains(expectedFailure, StringComparison.Ordinal));
-    }
 }

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

@@ -0,0 +1,209 @@
+using System.Buffers.Binary;
+using Google.Protobuf;
+using MxGateway.Contracts;
+using MxGateway.Contracts.Proto;
+using MxGateway.Server.Workers;
+
+namespace MxGateway.Tests.Gateway.Workers;
+
+public sealed class WorkerFrameProtocolTests
+{
+    private const string SessionId = "session-1";
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task WriteAndReadAsync_WithValidEnvelope_RoundTripsFrame()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = new(SessionId);
+        await using MemoryStream stream = new();
+        WorkerEnvelope original = CreateEnvelope();
+
+        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_WithPartialReads_ReassemblesFrame()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = new(SessionId);
+        WorkerEnvelope original = CreateEnvelope();
+        byte[] frame = CreateFrame(original);
+        await using ChunkedReadStream stream = new(frame, chunkSize: 2);
+
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+        WorkerEnvelope parsed = await reader.ReadAsync();
+
+        Assert.Equal(original, parsed);
+        Assert.True(stream.ReadCallCount > 2);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ReadAsync_WithZeroLengthFrame_ThrowsMalformedLength()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = new(SessionId);
+        await using 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_WithOversizedLength_ThrowsBeforePayloadAllocation()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = new(SessionId, GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion, maxMessageBytes: 16);
+        byte[] lengthPrefix = new byte[sizeof(uint)];
+        BinaryPrimitives.WriteUInt32LittleEndian(lengthPrefix, 17);
+        await using MemoryStream stream = new(lengthPrefix);
+
+        WorkerFrameReader reader = new(stream, options);
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await reader.ReadAsync());
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.MessageTooLarge, exception.ErrorCode);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ReadAsync_WithWrongProtocolVersion_ThrowsProtocolVersionMismatch()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = new(SessionId);
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = CreateEnvelope();
+        envelope.ProtocolVersion++;
+        await using 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 = new(SessionId);
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = CreateEnvelope();
+        envelope.SessionId = "different-session";
+        await using 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_WithMalformedPayload_ThrowsInvalidEnvelope()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = new(SessionId);
+        byte[] frame = CreateFrame([0x80]);
+        await using MemoryStream stream = new(frame);
+
+        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 ReadAsync_WithMissingEnvelopeBody_ThrowsInvalidEnvelope()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = new(SessionId);
+        WorkerEnvelope envelope = CreateEnvelope();
+        envelope.ClearBody();
+        await using MemoryStream stream = new(CreateFrame(envelope));
+
+        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_WithOversizedEnvelope_ThrowsMessageTooLarge()
+    {
+        WorkerFrameProtocolOptions options = new(SessionId, GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion, maxMessageBytes: 8);
+        await using MemoryStream stream = new();
+
+        WorkerFrameWriter writer = new(stream, options);
+        WorkerFrameProtocolException exception =
+            await Assert.ThrowsAsync<WorkerFrameProtocolException>(
+                async () => await writer.WriteAsync(CreateEnvelope()));
+
+        Assert.Equal(WorkerFrameProtocolErrorCode.MessageTooLarge, exception.ErrorCode);
+        Assert.Equal(0, stream.Length);
+    }
+
+    private static WorkerEnvelope CreateEnvelope()
+    {
+        return new WorkerEnvelope
+        {
+            ProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+            SessionId = SessionId,
+            Sequence = 1,
+            CorrelationId = "correlation-1",
+            WorkerHello = new WorkerHello
+            {
+                ProtocolVersion = GatewayContractInfo.WorkerProtocolVersion,
+                Nonce = "nonce",
+                WorkerProcessId = 1234,
+                WorkerVersion = "test-worker",
+            },
+        };
+    }
+
+    private static byte[] CreateFrame(IMessage message)
+    {
+        return CreateFrame(message.ToByteArray());
+    }
+
+    private static byte[] CreateFrame(byte[] payload)
+    {
+        byte[] frame = new byte[sizeof(uint) + payload.Length];
+        BinaryPrimitives.WriteUInt32LittleEndian(frame.AsSpan(0, sizeof(uint)), (uint)payload.Length);
+        payload.CopyTo(frame.AsSpan(sizeof(uint)));
+
+        return frame;
+    }
+
+    private sealed class ChunkedReadStream : MemoryStream
+    {
+        private readonly int _chunkSize;
+
+        public ChunkedReadStream(
+            byte[] buffer,
+            int chunkSize)
+            : base(buffer)
+        {
+            _chunkSize = chunkSize;
+        }
+
+        public int ReadCallCount { get; private set; }
+
+        public override ValueTask<int> ReadAsync(
+            Memory<byte> buffer,
+            CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+        {
+            ReadCallCount++;
+            int requestedCount = Math.Min(buffer.Length, _chunkSize);
+
+            return base.ReadAsync(buffer[..requestedCount], cancellationToken);
+        }
+    }
+}