diff --git a/MobileGL/ConfigLoader.cpp b/MobileGL/ConfigLoader.cpp
index 9af9c376..93fc8aac 100644
--- a/MobileGL/ConfigLoader.cpp
+++ b/MobileGL/ConfigLoader.cpp
@@ -465,10 +465,10 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_ConfigLoader {
         String lowered = value;
         std::transform(lowered.begin(), lowered.end(), lowered.begin(),
                        [](unsigned char c) { return static_cast<char>(std::tolower(c)); });
-        // P13 W4: the backends switch one at a time. Espryt's record arm runs in monolith from W4a;
-        // Magma's verb entry points pick one arm for every family at once, so it joins at its
-        // single flip, after Espryt's last family.
-        const Bool backendReady = MG_Config::ActiveBackendType == BackendType::DirectGLES;
+        // P13 W4: both backends' monolith runs the record arm - Espryt's from W4a, family by family;
+        // Magma's at its single flip (its verb entry points pick one arm for every family at once).
+        const Bool backendReady = MG_Config::ActiveBackendType == BackendType::DirectGLES ||
+                                  MG_Config::ActiveBackendType == BackendType::DirectVulkan;
         MG_Config::MonolithTakesRecordArm = backendReady;
         if (lowered.empty() || lowered == "record") return;
         if (lowered == "frontend") {
diff --git a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/DirectVulkan.cpp b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/DirectVulkan.cpp
index 11775400..443a96c4 100644
--- a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/DirectVulkan.cpp
+++ b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/DirectVulkan.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
     namespace {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
         void RejectWireLegacyBuffer() {
-            if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+            if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
                 MGLOG_F("MGPipe: Fatal{RoleViolation, \"buffer-legacy-arm\"} (Magma P7 buffer consumer)");
                 std::abort();
             }
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
 
     void MultiDrawElementsIndirect(GLenum mode, GLenum type, const void* indirect, GLsizei drawcount, GLsizei stride) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             DrawWireIndirect(mode, type, indirect, drawcount, stride, true);
             return;
         }
@@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
     }
     void MultiDrawArraysIndirect(GLenum mode, const void* indirect, GLsizei drawcount, GLsizei stride) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             DrawWireIndirect(mode, 0, indirect, drawcount, stride, false);
             return;
         }
@@ -715,7 +715,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
     void MultiDrawElementsIndirectCount(GLenum mode, GLenum type, const void* indirect, GLintptr drawcount,
                                         GLsizei maxdrawcount, GLsizei stride) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             DrawWireIndirect(mode, type, indirect, maxdrawcount, stride, true, true, drawcount);
             return;
         }
@@ -727,7 +727,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
     void MultiDrawArraysIndirectCount(GLenum mode, const void* indirect, GLintptr drawcount,
                                       GLsizei maxdrawcount, GLsizei stride) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             DrawWireIndirect(mode, 0, indirect, maxdrawcount, stride, false, true, drawcount);
             return;
         }
@@ -805,7 +805,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
     }
     void DrawElementsIndirect(GLenum mode, GLenum type, const void* indirect) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             DrawWireIndirect(mode, type, indirect, 1, 0, true);
             return;
         }
@@ -870,7 +870,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
     }
     void DrawArraysIndirect(GLenum mode, const void* indirect) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             DrawWireIndirect(mode, 0, indirect, 1, 0, false);
             return;
         }
@@ -948,7 +948,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
         // DispatchComputeIndirect takes its transport branch into DispatchWireComputeIndirect
         // (WireDraw.inc), which issues vkCmdDispatchIndirect from the verb's store. The CPU read
         // that was here (ReadWireBuffer, a whole-GPU wait once a shader had written the store) is gone.
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             pVulkanRenderer->DispatchComputeIndirect(indirect);
             return;
         }
@@ -1015,7 +1015,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
 
     void ShaderStorageBlockBinding(GLuint program, const GLchar* storageBlockName, GLuint storageBlockBinding) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             auto& state = MG_Pipe::MGPipeApplier();
             const auto handle = state.VerbStorageBlockProgram;
             if (handle.Slot >= state.ShaderCsos.size() || !state.ShaderCsos[handle.Slot].Live ||
@@ -1141,7 +1141,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
     static Bool BuildClosedLineLoopIndices(GLsizei count, GLenum type, const void* indices,
                                            Vector<Uint32>& outIndices) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             const SizeT width = MG_Util::GetGLTypeSize(type);
             if ((width != 1 && width != 2 && width != 4) || count < 2) return false;
             const auto& bound = MG_Pipe::MGPipeApplier().IndexBuffer;
@@ -1249,7 +1249,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
         // batch that command buffer belongs to - the handle SetupDraw is holding goes stale, and
         // the next vkCmd* records into a command buffer that is no longer the frame's. Reconciling
         // HERE, before SetupDraw starts recording, keeps the wait out of the recording.
-        if (MG_Config::Transport == MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (!MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             const auto& currentVAO = MG_Pipe::gPipeInputs.GetBoundVertexArray();
             Bool clientArray = false;
             if (currentVAO) {
@@ -1319,7 +1319,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
         // offset is a hardcoded 0, so UploadAndBindIndexBuffer saw a null client pointer,
         // declined the whole batch and painted nothing.)
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        const Bool noIndexBuffer = MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith
+        const Bool noIndexBuffer = MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()
             ? MG_Pipe::MGPipeHandleIsNull(MG_Pipe::MGPipeApplier().IndexBuffer.Res)
             : MG_Pipe::gPipeInputs.GetBoundVertexArray()->GetIndexBufferBindingSlot().GetBoundObject() == nullptr;
         if (noIndexBuffer) {
@@ -1451,6 +1451,8 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
             // old renderer's GPU work is long complete, and the index must
             // not be compared against the new renderer's restarted counter.
             Uint64 rendererGeneration = 0;
+            // P13 W4: status polls answered "not yet" while the batch was still unsubmitted.
+            mutable Uint32 unsubmittedPolls = 0;
         };
     } // namespace
 
@@ -1509,7 +1511,23 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
             return true;
         }
         // Pure status read (glGetSynciv must not flush).
-        return pVulkanRenderer->IsSubmitIndexComplete(sync->submitIndex);
+        if (pVulkanRenderer->IsSubmitIndexComplete(sync->submitIndex)) return true;
+#if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
+        // P13 W4: A STATUS POLL THAT CAN NEVER BE ANSWERED. On the record arm a frame's draws stay
+        // in one command buffer (and one render pass) until something submits it, so a client that
+        // only polls - glGetSynciv in a loop, no flush bit, no swap - waits for work nothing will
+        // ever hand the GPU. Under split the apply thread submits when it goes idle (the server's
+        // fence report, one ClientWaitSync(FLUSH, 0)); monolith has no idle moment, so a poller that
+        // keeps asking the same unsubmitted fence is that moment. The threshold keeps an ordinary
+        // once-a-frame status read from splitting the frame it is polled in.
+        constexpr Uint32 kPollsBeforeIdleFlush = 64;
+        if (MG_Config::RecordArmAliasesFrontend() && ++sync->unsubmittedPolls >= kPollsBeforeIdleFlush) {
+            sync->unsubmittedPolls = 0;
+            pVulkanRenderer->FlushForSyncPoint(sync->submitIndex);
+            return pVulkanRenderer->IsSubmitIndexComplete(sync->submitIndex);
+        }
+#endif
+        return false;
     }
 
     namespace {
diff --git a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/BufferArena.cpp b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/BufferArena.cpp
index b7f9eede..e353cf90 100644
--- a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/BufferArena.cpp
+++ b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/BufferArena.cpp
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
         // Split staging may also be the destination of a GPU UBO range copy.
         // Persistent host writes must be coherent: Upload deliberately writes
         // the mapped pointer without a per-range VMA flush.
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith && m_desc.persistentlyMapped) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord() && m_desc.persistentlyMapped) {
             bufferDesc.requiredFlags = VK_MEMORY_PROPERTY_HOST_VISIBLE_BIT | VK_MEMORY_PROPERTY_HOST_COHERENT_BIT;
         }
 #endif
diff --git a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/FrameContext.cpp b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/FrameContext.cpp
index b225af0a..f9143ec9 100644
--- a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/FrameContext.cpp
+++ b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/FrameContext.cpp
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
         // A layout transition writes the image too. Order it after the wire
         // render pass's storeOp, clears and copies instead of relying on the old
         // per-draw queue-idle path. This applies even when contents are discarded.
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith)
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord())
             presentBarrier.srcAccessMask = VK_ACCESS_MEMORY_WRITE_BIT;
 #endif
         presentBarrier.dstAccessMask = 0;
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
         presentBarrier.subresourceRange.layerCount = 1;
         vkCmdPipelineBarrier(commandBuffer,
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-                             MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith
+                             MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()
                                  ? VK_PIPELINE_STAGE_ALL_COMMANDS_BIT : VK_PIPELINE_STAGE_TOP_OF_PIPE_BIT,
 #else
                              VK_PIPELINE_STAGE_TOP_OF_PIPE_BIT,
diff --git a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/UniformManager.cpp b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/UniformManager.cpp
index 2222bf94..00af613f 100644
--- a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/UniformManager.cpp
+++ b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/UniformManager.cpp
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
         m_programFactory = programFactory;
         m_minDynamicOffsetAlignment = std::max<VkDeviceSize>(1, minUniformBufferOffsetAlignment);
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             VkPhysicalDeviceProperties properties{};
             vkGetPhysicalDeviceProperties(m_physicalDevice, &properties);
             m_wireStorageOffsetAlignment = std::max<VkDeviceSize>(1, properties.limits.minStorageBufferOffsetAlignment);
diff --git a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VertexInputStateFactory.cpp b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VertexInputStateFactory.cpp
index 472a4ebd..e46a37f8 100644
--- a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VertexInputStateFactory.cpp
+++ b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VertexInputStateFactory.cpp
@@ -802,7 +802,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
             return false;
         }
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             const auto found = m_wireVertexFormatSupport.find(format);
             if (found != m_wireVertexFormatSupport.end()) return found->second;
             VkFormatProperties properties{};
diff --git a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VkBufferManager.cpp b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VkBufferManager.cpp
index 40d89fa1..a9550aea 100644
--- a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VkBufferManager.cpp
+++ b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VkBufferManager.cpp
@@ -216,8 +216,14 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
             },
             .Destroy = [](auto res) { if (auto* m = WireManager("destroy")) m->DestroyWireBuffer(res); },
             // Split mapping remains T2: the client owns its map and pushes exact
-            // modified ranges. A server pointer is never donated across the wire.
-            .MapPersistent = [](MG_Pipe::MGPipeHandle, Uint64, const void*) -> void* { return nullptr; },
+            // modified ranges. A server pointer is never donated across the wire. Monolith's record
+            // arm (P13 W4) is one process: there the store IS handed over, as the legacy arm's
+            // AcquirePersistentMap always did.
+            .MapPersistent = [](MG_Pipe::MGPipeHandle res, Uint64 size, const void* seed) -> void* {
+                if (!MG_Config::RecordArmAliasesFrontend()) return nullptr;
+                auto* m = WireManager("map_persistent");
+                return m != nullptr ? m->DonateWireBuffer(res, size, seed) : nullptr;
+            },
             .UnmapPersistent = [](MG_Pipe::MGPipeHandle) {},
 #if defined(__ANDROID__)
             // P11 B2 (T0): the one door a server pointer is still never donated through stays shut;
@@ -236,7 +242,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
 
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
     void VkBufferManager::RegisterWireResourceOps() {
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             MG_Pipe::MGPipeSetResourceOps(&g_vulkanWireResourceOps);
         }
     }
@@ -771,6 +777,29 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
     } // namespace
 #endif
 
+    // P13 W4: THE IN-PROCESS DONATION. Every wire store is already host-visible, coherent and
+    // persistently mapped (RespecifyWireBuffer), so in one process the client can write straight
+    // into it, exactly as the legacy arm's persistent maps did. The store is then the client's
+    // pages - T0's shape without an AHardwareBuffer - so it takes T0's flag: a readback is "done, no
+    // bytes" (the client reads its own pointer once this side's GPU is through with it) and a
+    // respecify retires the store behind the serial. It is seeded from the client's shadow, after
+    // any GPU use of the store has drained, because the shadow is what the application sees.
+    void* VkBufferManager::DonateWireBuffer(MG_Pipe::MGPipeHandle res, Uint64 size, const void* seedBytes) {
+        auto* resource = FindWireBuffer(res);
+        if (resource == nullptr || size == 0 || size != resource->size) return nullptr;
+        void* mapped = resource->buffer.GetMappedData();
+        if (mapped == nullptr) return nullptr;
+        if (resource->imported) return mapped; // already donated: the same pointer
+        if (!WaitForWireBufferHostAccess(*resource)) return nullptr;
+        if (seedBytes != nullptr) std::memcpy(mapped, seedBytes, static_cast<SizeT>(size));
+        resource->imported = true;
+        resource->gpuWritesPending = false;
+        resource->stagedCoverage.clear();
+        MG_Remote::Server::StagedShadowStore::CoverageAdd(resource->stagedCoverage, 0, static_cast<SizeT>(size));
+        ++m_sliceEpochCounter;
+        return mapped;
+    }
+
     Bool VkBufferManager::ImportWireBuffer(MG_Pipe::MGPipeHandle res, void* ahb, Uint64 size) {
 #if defined(__ANDROID__)
         auto* resource = FindWireBuffer(res);
@@ -1371,7 +1400,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
             .usage = VK_BUFFER_USAGE_VERTEX_BUFFER_BIT | VK_BUFFER_USAGE_INDEX_BUFFER_BIT |
                      VK_BUFFER_USAGE_UNIFORM_BUFFER_BIT | VK_BUFFER_USAGE_INDIRECT_BUFFER_BIT |
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-                     (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith ? VkBufferUsageFlags{VK_BUFFER_USAGE_TRANSFER_DST_BIT} : 0u) |
+                     (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord() ? VkBufferUsageFlags{VK_BUFFER_USAGE_TRANSFER_DST_BIT} : 0u) |
 #endif
                      VK_BUFFER_USAGE_TRANSFER_SRC_BIT,
             .memoryUsage = m_initInfo.transientMemoryUsage,
diff --git a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VkBufferManager.h b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VkBufferManager.h
index eb0cc02a..5a027919 100644
--- a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VkBufferManager.h
+++ b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VkBufferManager.h
@@ -153,6 +153,9 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
         // applies unchanged. The T2 store it replaces goes through DeferWireRelease. False = not
         // imported (the T2 store is untouched and the client is DECLINED).
         Bool ImportWireBuffer(MG_Pipe::MGPipeHandle res, void* ahb, Uint64 size);
+        // P13 W4: monolith's record arm donates the wire store itself as the client's persistent
+        // map (see the definition). Null when the store cannot be handed over.
+        void* DonateWireBuffer(MG_Pipe::MGPipeHandle res, Uint64 size, const void* seedBytes);
         // The POST self-test of the sustained-lock pattern on this device (see the definition).
         static Bool SelfTestWireImport(char* why, Uint64 whyBytes);
 #endif
diff --git a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VkTextureManager.cpp b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VkTextureManager.cpp
index b611c3a0..ecbcab44 100644
--- a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VkTextureManager.cpp
+++ b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VkTextureManager.cpp
@@ -2487,9 +2487,10 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Backend::DirectVulkan {
             return true;
         }
         auto& store = MG_Remote::Server::ServerStagedTexture();
-        // This arm is only ever entered under an active transport, where the store copies.
-        MOBILEGL_ASSERT(store.CopiesIntoServerStorage(),
-                        "UploadPendingWireLevels under a non-copying staged store: the wire arm is transport-only");
+        // This arm runs under a transport (the store copies) or on monolith's record arm (it
+        // aliases the frontend's level shadows); a store that holds neither has nothing to upload.
+        MOBILEGL_ASSERT(store.Holds(),
+                        "UploadPendingWireLevels under a staged store that holds no levels: the wire arm needs one");
         const Uint64 key = MG_Remote::Server::StagedTextureStore::KeyForHandle(handle);
         const TextureInternalFormat internalFormat = static_cast<TextureInternalFormat>(record.Desc.InternalFormat);
         const TextureFormatInfo formatInfo = ResolveTextureFormatInfo(internalFormat);
diff --git a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VulkanRenderer.cpp b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VulkanRenderer.cpp
index f8ca412c..736cd462 100644
--- a/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VulkanRenderer.cpp
+++ b/MobileGL/MG_Backend/DirectVulkan/Renderer/VulkanRenderer.cpp
@@ -3220,7 +3220,7 @@ void main() {
     inline ProgramFactory::CompileOptionFlags GetShaderTransformFlags(VkSurfaceTransformFlagBitsKHR preTransform) {
         ProgramFactory::CompileOptionFlags flags = ProgramFactory::CompileOptionBit::PositionZRemap;
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        const Bool wire = MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith;
+        const Bool wire = MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord();
         const auto* wireFbo = wire ? MG_Pipe::MGPipeApplier().DrawFramebuffer() : nullptr;
         const auto currentDrawFBO = wire ? SharedPtr<MG_State::GLState::FramebufferObject>{} :
             MG_Pipe::gPipeInputs.GetFramebufferBindingSlot(FramebufferTarget::Draw).GetBoundObject();
@@ -5632,7 +5632,7 @@ void main() {
         // image is a packed depth-stencil texture attached through only one half.
         {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-            if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+            if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
                 const auto* fbo = MG_Pipe::MGPipeApplier().DrawFramebuffer();
                 if (fbo && !fbo->IsDefault) {
                     if (fbo->Depth.Kind == MG_Pipe::kMGPipeSurfaceKindNone) depthTestEnabled = false;
@@ -5866,7 +5866,7 @@ void main() {
                         "GetOrCreatePipeline: colorAttachmentCount=%u exceeds payload capacity",
                         payload.colorAttachmentCount);
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        const auto* wireFbo = MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith ?
+        const auto* wireFbo = MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord() ?
             MG_Pipe::MGPipeApplier().DrawFramebuffer() : nullptr;
         const auto drawFboBinding = wireFbo ? SharedPtr<MG_State::GLState::FramebufferObject>{} :
             MG_Pipe::gPipeInputs.GetFramebufferBindingSlot(FramebufferTarget::Draw).GetBoundObject();
@@ -6551,7 +6551,7 @@ void main() {
         MOBILEGL_ASSERT(
             [&] {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-                if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+                if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
                     const auto* fbo = MG_Pipe::MGPipeApplier().DrawFramebuffer();
                     return isDefaultFbo == (fbo != nullptr && fbo->IsDefault);
                 }
@@ -6984,7 +6984,7 @@ void main() {
         // the same loading frame grows it the same way there.
         SplitOversizedRecording();
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             if (!RewindWireDescriptorSetsIfDue()) return false;
             // The wire route returns before the monolith branch's draw-gated
             // sweep. Dead wire texture/renderbuffer records otherwise live
@@ -7619,7 +7619,7 @@ void main() {
         // Before the wire branch, for SetupDraw's reason.
         SplitOversizedRecording();
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             if (!RewindWireDescriptorSetsIfDue()) return;
             m_textureManager->CollectGarbage();
             DispatchWireCompute(numGroupsX, numGroupsY, numGroupsZ);
@@ -7685,7 +7685,7 @@ void main() {
         SplitOversizedRecording();
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
         // P8-SV: the wire arm's own indirect dispatch, DispatchCompute's shape one call over.
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             if (!RewindWireDescriptorSetsIfDue()) return;
             m_textureManager->CollectGarbage();
             DispatchWireComputeIndirect(indirect);
@@ -7797,7 +7797,7 @@ void main() {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
                              // ALL_COMMANDS does not include HOST. The barrier's
                              // HOST_WRITE access must have a matching source stage.
-                             MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith
+                             MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()
                                  ? VK_PIPELINE_STAGE_ALL_COMMANDS_BIT | VK_PIPELINE_STAGE_HOST_BIT
                                  : VK_PIPELINE_STAGE_ALL_COMMANDS_BIT,
 #else
@@ -7963,7 +7963,7 @@ void main() {
 
     void VulkanRenderer::Clear(GLbitfield mask) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             const auto* fbo = MG_Pipe::MGPipeApplier().DrawFramebuffer();
             if (!fbo) MagmaWireFatal("clear-framebuffer-record");
             ClearAttachmentPayload payload{};
@@ -8367,7 +8367,7 @@ void main() {
     void VulkanRenderer::QueueClearBufferPayload(GLenum buffer, GLint drawbuffer,
                                                  const ClearAttachmentPayload& clearPayload) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             const auto* fbo = MG_Pipe::MGPipeApplier().DrawFramebuffer();
             if (!fbo) MagmaWireFatal("clear-buffer-framebuffer-record");
             ClearWireFramebuffer(*fbo,clearPayload,buffer == GL_COLOR ? drawbuffer : -1);
@@ -9506,7 +9506,7 @@ void main() {
                                          GLint dstX0, GLint dstY0, GLint dstX1, GLint dstY1,
                                          GLbitfield mask, GLenum filter) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             BlitWireFramebuffers(srcX0,srcY0,srcX1,srcY1,dstX0,dstY0,dstX1,dstY1,mask,filter);
             return;
         }
@@ -10148,7 +10148,7 @@ void main() {
     void VulkanRenderer::CopyTexSubImage2D(GLenum target, GLint level, GLint xoffset, GLint yoffset,
                                            GLint x, GLint y, GLsizei width, GLsizei height) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             CopyWireFramebufferToTexture(target,level,xoffset,yoffset,x,y,width,height);
             return;
         }
@@ -10467,7 +10467,7 @@ void main() {
 
         Uint CopyImageEndpointName(const CopyImageEndpoint& endpoint) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-            if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith)
+            if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord())
                 return endpoint.IsRenderbuffer() ? endpoint.RenderbufferHandle.Slot : endpoint.TextureHandle.Slot;
 #endif
             if (endpoint.IsRenderbuffer()) return endpoint.Renderbuffer->GetExternalIndex();
@@ -10481,7 +10481,7 @@ void main() {
                                           GLenum dstTarget, GLint dstLevel, GLint dstX, GLint dstY, GLint dstZ,
                                           GLsizei srcWidth, GLsizei srcHeight, GLsizei srcDepth) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        const Bool wire = MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith;
+        const Bool wire = MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord();
         MG_Pipe::MGPipeHandle dstStorageHandle = dstEndpoint.TextureHandle;
         if (wire && HasPendingRecordedWork() && !FlushPendingCommands()) {
             if (LatchWireDeviceLoss("copy-image-flush")) return;
@@ -10529,7 +10529,7 @@ void main() {
         // render-pass manager, which is where a renderbuffer's VkImage lives.
         const auto resolveImage = [this](const CopyImageEndpoint& endpoint, CopyImageVkImage& out) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-            if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+            if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
                 const Bool renderbuffer = endpoint.IsRenderbuffer();
                 // The same handle-keyed allocation used by wire FBO clear/draw/read.
                 // The legacy render-pass manager owns a different, frontend-keyed map.
@@ -10787,7 +10787,7 @@ void main() {
 
         const auto materializeClear = [this, &frame](const CopyImageEndpoint& endpoint) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-            if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) return true;
+            if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) return true;
 #endif
             if (endpoint.IsRenderbuffer()) {
                 return MaterializePendingClearForRenderbuffer(frame.commandBuffer, endpoint.Renderbuffer);
@@ -11067,7 +11067,7 @@ void main() {
     void VulkanRenderer::ReadPixels(GLint x, GLint y, GLsizei width, GLsizei height, GLenum format, GLenum type,
                                     void* pixels) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             ReadWirePixels(x,y,width,height,format,type,pixels);
             return;
         }
@@ -11769,7 +11769,7 @@ void main() {
 #endif
         const auto& pixelPackBufferObject =
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-            MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith ? wireReplyHasNoPackBuffer :
+            MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord() ? wireReplyHasNoPackBuffer :
 #endif
             MG_Pipe::gPipeInputs.GetBufferBindingSlot(BufferTarget::PixelPack).GetBoundObject();
         const auto packParams = MG_Pipe::gPipeInputs.GetPixelStoreParameters(false);
@@ -12047,7 +12047,7 @@ void main() {
 
     void VulkanRenderer::GenerateMipmap(GLenum target) {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             GenerateWireMipmap();
             return;
         }
@@ -12156,7 +12156,7 @@ void main() {
         // server's staged shadow (keyed by the synced TextureResource above) and the client's
         // level storage is never written; in monolith the client-object path runs unchanged.
         const Bool allocatedMipmapStorage =
-            MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith
+            MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()
                 ? EnsureGenerateMipmapShadowAllocated(*resource, baseMipLevel, uploadTargets)
                 : EnsureGenerateMipmapStorageAllocated(*mipmapTexture, baseMipLevel, endMipLevel);
 #else
@@ -12452,7 +12452,7 @@ void main() {
             return false;
         }
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith)
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord())
             return BeginWireXfbCaptureForDraw(frame);
 #endif
         const auto& program = MG_Pipe::gPipeInputs.GetTransformFeedbackProgram();
@@ -13474,7 +13474,7 @@ void main() {
         vertexRange.instanceCount = 1;
         // MONOLITH ONLY: with a transport the frontend VAO is not this side's to read at all
         // (the client owns those bytes and stages them itself), and this runs on the apply thread.
-        if (MG_Config::Transport == MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (!MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             const auto& currentVAO = MG_Pipe::gPipeInputs.GetBoundVertexArray();
             Bool clientArray = false;
             if (currentVAO) {
@@ -13865,7 +13865,7 @@ void main() {
         }
 
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             // Texture uploads submit on this queue with their own fences. The
             // renderer watermark alone cannot prove images/views are idle.
             if (m_textureManager && !m_textureManager->WireUploadsAreIdle()) return false;
@@ -15344,7 +15344,7 @@ void main() {
             // CreateInstance requests Vulkan 1.1 on these platforms. A 1.2+ GPU
             // does not promote descriptor indexing into that application's core
             // API; the wire path must enable VK_EXT_descriptor_indexing instead.
-            (MG_Config::Transport == MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) &&
+            (!MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) &&
 #endif
             m_physicalDevice.properties.apiVersion >= VK_API_VERSION_1_2;
         const Bool descriptorIndexingExtension =
@@ -15367,7 +15367,7 @@ void main() {
             m_physicalDevice.properties.apiVersion >= VK_API_VERSION_1_1 &&
             IsExtensionSupported(availableExtensions, VK_KHR_CREATE_RENDERPASS_2_EXTENSION_NAME) &&
             IsExtensionSupported(availableExtensions, VK_KHR_DEPTH_STENCIL_RESOLVE_EXTENSION_NAME);
-        const Bool wireDepthResolveEnabled = MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith &&
+        const Bool wireDepthResolveEnabled = MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord() &&
             getPhysicalDeviceProperties2 && (wireDepthResolveCore || wireDepthResolveExtensions);
         m_wireCreateRenderPass2 = nullptr;
         m_wireDepthResolveModes = m_wireStencilResolveModes = 0;
@@ -15391,7 +15391,7 @@ void main() {
         // write the stencil aspect without it. Enabled on the same terms as the resolve
         // extensions above - wire arms only - and the arm declines stencil where it is absent
         // rather than producing an undefined aspect.
-        m_wireShaderStencilExport = MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith &&
+        m_wireShaderStencilExport = MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord() &&
             IsExtensionSupported(availableExtensions, VK_EXT_SHADER_STENCIL_EXPORT_EXTENSION_NAME);
         if (m_wireShaderStencilExport)
             EnableOptionalDeviceExtension(availableExtensions, enabledDeviceExtensions,
@@ -15408,7 +15408,7 @@ void main() {
         m_wireGetAhbProperties = nullptr;
         m_sharedImageSyncFd = false;
 #if defined(__ANDROID__)
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith &&
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord() &&
             m_physicalDevice.properties.apiVersion >= VK_API_VERSION_1_1 &&
             IsExtensionSupported(availableExtensions, VK_ANDROID_EXTERNAL_MEMORY_ANDROID_HARDWARE_BUFFER_EXTENSION_NAME) &&
             IsExtensionSupported(availableExtensions, VK_EXT_QUEUE_FAMILY_FOREIGN_EXTENSION_NAME)) {
@@ -15963,7 +15963,7 @@ void main() {
             IsExtensionSupported(availableExtensions, VK_EXT_ROBUSTNESS_2_EXTENSION_NAME) ? VK_EXT_ROBUSTNESS_2_EXTENSION_NAME
             : IsExtensionSupported(availableExtensions, VK_KHR_ROBUSTNESS_2_EXTENSION_NAME) ? VK_KHR_ROBUSTNESS_2_EXTENSION_NAME
                                                                                             : nullptr;
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith && robustness2Name != nullptr &&
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord() && robustness2Name != nullptr &&
             getPhysicalDeviceFeatures2 != nullptr) {
             VkPhysicalDeviceFeatures2 featureQuery{VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_PHYSICAL_DEVICE_FEATURES_2};
             featureQuery.pNext = &robustness2Features;
@@ -15977,7 +15977,7 @@ void main() {
                 m_wireNullDescriptor = true;
             }
         }
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) {
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) {
             MGLOG_I("Magma wire: robustness2 nullDescriptor %s (%s)", m_wireNullDescriptor ? "enabled" : "unavailable",
                     robustness2Name != nullptr ? robustness2Name : "no robustness2 extension");
         }
@@ -16216,7 +16216,7 @@ void main() {
     // red when the real recording, readback or tally stops detecting it too.
     void VulkanRenderer::ArmWireDepthResolveOrder() {
         m_wirePreferShaderDepthResolve = false;
-        if (MG_Config::Transport == MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) return;
+        if (!MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) return;
         // ResolveWireDepthStencil's own test for the render-pass arm, less its per-format half
         // (the probe asks that per format): without it the shader pass is the only arm.
         const Bool renderPassArmAvailable = !MagmaWireForcedShaderDepthResolve() && m_wireCreateRenderPass2 &&
diff --git a/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/CMakeLists.txt b/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/CMakeLists.txt
index 2c1c854c..41baa023 100644
--- a/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1251,8 +1251,12 @@ mgl_itest_join_environment(MGL_ITEST_VULKAN_HANDLE_HANDLES_ENVIRONMENT
     "MOBILEGL_TRANSPORT=monolith"
     "MOBILEGL_BACKEND_TYPE=DirectVulkan" "MGITEST_HANDLE_ARM=handles" ${MGL_ITEST_HANDLES_ARM_KNOBS}
     ${MGL_ITEST_CAPABILITY_ENV} ${MGL_ITEST_VULKAN_ENV})
+# P13 W4: THE ABA CONTROL'S SUBJECT IS THE FRONTEND ARM. The knob defeats the identity half of
+# Magma's frontend-arm keys (MagmaPipeIdentityTables); monolith's record arm keys every object on
+# the applier's {slot, gen}, which the knob does not - and must not - reach. So the lane pins the
+# frontend arm (MOBILEGL_PIPE_DATA_ARM, a W4-W6 knob) and goes with that arm in W6.
 mgl_itest_join_environment(MGL_ITEST_VULKAN_HANDLE_ABA_HANDLES_ENVIRONMENT
-    "MOBILEGL_TRANSPORT=monolith"
+    "MOBILEGL_TRANSPORT=monolith" "MOBILEGL_PIPE_DATA_ARM=frontend"
     "MOBILEGL_BACKEND_TYPE=DirectVulkan" "MGITEST_HANDLE_ARM=aba"
     ${MGL_ITEST_HANDLES_ARM_KNOBS} ${MGL_ITEST_ABA_ARM_KNOBS}
     ${MGL_ITEST_CAPABILITY_ENV} ${MGL_ITEST_VULKAN_ENV})
diff --git a/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/Scenarios/DescriptorPoolGrowthScenario.cpp b/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/Scenarios/DescriptorPoolGrowthScenario.cpp
index 7ba1b5bc..3dddbe5a 100644
--- a/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/Scenarios/DescriptorPoolGrowthScenario.cpp
+++ b/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/Scenarios/DescriptorPoolGrowthScenario.cpp
@@ -109,7 +109,8 @@ void main() { o_color = texture(uTex, vec2(0.5)); }
         constexpr std::uint64_t kWireDescriptorSetBudget = 2048;
         std::uint64_t BurstSetsHeldAtOnce() {
             const std::uint64_t draws = static_cast<std::uint64_t>(kDraws);
-            return PeekSplitRuntime().transportResolved ? std::min(draws, kWireDescriptorSetBudget) : draws;
+            // The wire budget binds the RECORD arm, which monolith takes too from P13 W4.
+            return PeekSplitRuntime().dataArmIsRecord ? std::min(draws, kWireDescriptorSetBudget) : draws;
         }
 
         // Pools a geometric policy adds for n sets from an empty flavour: 64, 128, ... up to the cap,
diff --git a/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/Scenarios/WireIndirectDispatchScenario.cpp b/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/Scenarios/WireIndirectDispatchScenario.cpp
index c5c2f656..03ecfff0 100644
--- a/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/Scenarios/WireIndirectDispatchScenario.cpp
+++ b/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/Scenarios/WireIndirectDispatchScenario.cpp
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ void main() { words[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x] = source[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x];
                 if (!Ready()) return;
                 m_magma = Gl().BackendName() == "DirectVulkan";
                 m_transport = PeekSplitRuntime().transportName;
+                m_recordArm = PeekSplitRuntime().dataArmIsRecord;
                 m_mark = CompileCompute(kMarkSource);
                 ASSERT_NE(m_mark, 0u);
                 m_copy = CompileCompute(kCopySource);
@@ -192,7 +193,10 @@ void main() { words[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x] = source[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x];
 
             // Magma's server in THIS process: the inproc arm. Spawn and tcp servers are other
             // processes, and the monolith arm never takes the wire path at all.
-            bool CountersReadable() const { return m_magma && m_transport == "inproc"; }
+            // The counters are this process's: inproc, and (P13 W4) monolith on the record arm.
+            bool CountersReadable() const {
+                return m_magma && (m_transport == "inproc" || (m_transport == "monolith" && m_recordArm));
+            }
 
             WireIndirectCounters Delta() const {
                 WireIndirectCounters now{};
@@ -209,6 +213,7 @@ void main() { words[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x] = source[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x];
 
             bool m_magma = false;
             std::string m_transport;
+            bool m_recordArm = false;
             WireIndirectCounters m_before{};
             GLuint m_mark = 0, m_copy = 0, m_groupCounts = 0, m_source = 0;
             std::vector<GLuint> m_marks;
@@ -266,7 +271,7 @@ void main() { words[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x] = source[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x];
         // dependency here (P8-D recorded that half for dev), and Espryt's is its driver's.
         TEST_F(WireIndirectDispatchScenario, ShaderWrittenGroupCountsWithoutAnApplicationBarrierAreOrdered) {
             if (!Ready() || IsSkipped()) return;
-            if (!m_magma || m_transport == "monolith") {
+            if (!m_magma || !m_recordArm) {
                 GTEST_SKIP() << "the implicit INDIRECT_COMMAND_READ barrier is the Magma wire arm's (P8-D, P8-SV)";
             }
             Parameters({1, 1, 1});
diff --git a/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/Scenarios/WireIndirectDrawScenario.cpp b/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/Scenarios/WireIndirectDrawScenario.cpp
index 26f0e0cf..d5b725ba 100644
--- a/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/Scenarios/WireIndirectDrawScenario.cpp
+++ b/MobileGL/MG_IntegrationTest/Scenarios/WireIndirectDrawScenario.cpp
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ void main() { words[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x] = source[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x];
                 if (!Ready()) return;
                 m_magma = Gl().BackendName() == "DirectVulkan";
                 m_transport = PeekSplitRuntime().transportName;
+                m_recordArm = PeekSplitRuntime().dataArmIsRecord;
                 std::string error;
                 m_program = CompileProgram(kVertexSource, kFragmentSource, &error);
                 ASSERT_NE(m_program, 0u) << error;
@@ -203,7 +204,10 @@ void main() { words[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x] = source[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x];
 
             // Magma's server in THIS process: the inproc arm. Spawn and tcp servers are other
             // processes, and the monolith arm never takes the wire path at all.
-            bool CountersReadable() const { return m_magma && m_transport == "inproc"; }
+            // The counters are this process's: inproc, and (P13 W4) monolith on the record arm.
+            bool CountersReadable() const {
+                return m_magma && (m_transport == "inproc" || (m_transport == "monolith" && m_recordArm));
+            }
 
             WireIndirectCounters Delta() const {
                 WireIndirectCounters now{};
@@ -215,6 +219,7 @@ void main() { words[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x] = source[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x];
 
             bool m_magma = false;
             std::string m_transport;
+            bool m_recordArm = false;
             WireIndirectCounters m_before{};
             GLuint m_program = 0, m_copy = 0, m_vao = 0, m_vbo = 0, m_ebo = 0;
             GLuint m_indirect = 0, m_parameter = 0, m_source = 0;
@@ -304,7 +309,7 @@ void main() { words[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x] = source[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x];
         // monolith defects), left to P13 (ID-P8-13).
         TEST_F(WireIndirectDrawScenario, ComputeWrittenCountWordIsTheOneTheGpuReads) {
             if (!Ready() || IsSkipped()) return;
-            if (!m_magma && m_transport == "monolith" && !PeekSplitRuntime().dataArmIsRecord) {
+            if (!m_magma && !m_recordArm) {
                 GTEST_SKIP() << "Espryt's monolith arm reads the count word from the frontend shadow without "
                                 "a sync (OQ15; recorded for P13, ID-P8-13)";
             }
@@ -316,7 +321,7 @@ void main() { words[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x] = source[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x];
                 glMultiDrawElementsIndirectCount(GL_TRIANGLES, GL_UNSIGNED_INT, nullptr, 0, 3, 0);
             });
             ExpectStrips(image, {true, false, false, false}, "glMultiDrawElementsIndirectCount, shader-written count 1");
-            if (m_transport == "monolith") {
+            if (!m_recordArm) {
                 // DirectVulkan.cpp's monolith MultiDrawArraysIndirectCount reads this word from the
                 // frontend shadow without SyncGpuWrites: recorded for dev (ID-P8-3), not this lane's.
                 return;
@@ -344,7 +349,7 @@ void main() { words[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x] = source[gl_GlobalInvocationID.x];
         // arm records no dependency here (recorded for dev), and Espryt's is its driver's.
         TEST_F(WireIndirectDrawScenario, ShaderWrittenCommandsWithoutAnApplicationBarrierAreOrdered) {
             if (!Ready() || IsSkipped()) return;
-            if (!m_magma || m_transport == "monolith") {
+            if (!m_magma || !m_recordArm) {
                 GTEST_SKIP() << "the implicit INDIRECT_COMMAND_READ barrier is the Magma wire arm's (P8-D)";
             }
             Fill(m_indirect, GL_DRAW_INDIRECT_BUFFER, std::vector<ArraysCommand>{Arrays(3), Arrays(2)});
diff --git a/MobileGL/MG_Pipe/PipeApply.cpp b/MobileGL/MG_Pipe/PipeApply.cpp
index 71fbf0fa..a200bd03 100644
--- a/MobileGL/MG_Pipe/PipeApply.cpp
+++ b/MobileGL/MG_Pipe/PipeApply.cpp
@@ -1435,7 +1435,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Pipe {
         // existing backend hooks authoritative when present, and use this fallback otherwise.
         void AdoptTextureWithoutBackendHook(const MGPipeResourceRecord& stored, const MGPSubData& upload,
                                            const void* bytes, const MGPSubRegion* regions) {
-            if (MG_Config::Transport == MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith || !bytes || upload.Blob.Size == 0) return;
+            if (!MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord() || !bytes || upload.Blob.Size == 0) return;
             auto& store = MG_Remote::Server::ServerStagedTexture();
             const auto& desc = stored.Desc;
             const Uint64 key = MG_Remote::Server::StagedTextureStore::KeyForHandle(upload.Res);
@@ -1445,18 +1445,20 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Pipe {
             // is adopted with the spelling that replaces the level; every other record names a RUN
             // of the level by its own box (fix A2: a level too large to stage whole crosses as
             // slabs, one record each, and the first of them is at the level's first byte).
+            // A client record's run: on monolith's record arm it is the frontend level shadow, which
+            // an aliasing store keeps by address (P13 W4).
             if (upload.RegionCount == 0) {
                 store.Adopt(key, target, upload.Level, extent, bytes,
-                            static_cast<SizeT>(upload.Blob.Size));
+                            static_cast<SizeT>(upload.Blob.Size), /*frontendShadow=*/true);
                 return;
             }
             store.AdoptRun(key, target, upload.Level, extent,
                            MG_Remote::Server::StagedTextureRunImageOffset(upload, regions), bytes,
-                           static_cast<SizeT>(upload.Blob.Size));
+                           static_cast<SizeT>(upload.Blob.Size), /*frontendShadow=*/true);
         }
 
         void DefineTextureWithoutBackendHook(const MGPResourceDesc& desc, const MGPRespecifiedLevel* level) {
-            if (MG_Config::Transport == MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith) return;
+            if (!MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord()) return;
             auto& store = MG_Remote::Server::ServerStagedTexture();
             const Uint64 key = MG_Remote::Server::StagedTextureStore::KeyForHandle(desc.Resource);
             const auto define = [&](Uint16 target, Uint16 mip, const IntVec3& extent) {
@@ -1910,7 +1912,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Pipe {
 
     void MGPipeApplierReleaseObjectRecords() {
 #if MOBILEGL_BUILD_DISAGGREGATED
-        if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith &&
+        if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord() &&
             (g_resourceOps == nullptr || g_resourceOps->TextureDestroy == nullptr)) {
             MG_Remote::Server::ServerStagedTexture().DropAll();
         }
@@ -2686,7 +2688,7 @@ namespace MobileGL::MG_Pipe {
         if (static_cast<MGPipeKind>(handle.Kind) == MGPipeKind::Texture) {
             if (g_resourceOps != nullptr && g_resourceOps->TextureDestroy != nullptr)
                 g_resourceOps->TextureDestroy(handle.Handle);
-            else if (MG_Config::Transport != MG_Config::TransportMode::Monolith)
+            else if (MG_Config::DataArmIsRecord())
                 MG_Remote::Server::ServerStagedTexture().Drop(
                     MG_Remote::Server::StagedTextureStore::KeyForHandle(handle.Handle));
         }