diff --git a/other/java/client/src/main/proto/filer.proto b/other/java/client/src/main/proto/filer.proto
index 0021c2ec52..feb37fbd7f 100644
--- a/other/java/client/src/main/proto/filer.proto
+++ b/other/java/client/src/main/proto/filer.proto
@@ -698,6 +698,7 @@ message SubscribeMetadataResponse {
     repeated SubscribeMetadataResponse events = 4; // batch of additional events (backlog catch-up)
     repeated LogFileChunkRef log_file_refs = 5;    // log file chunk refs for client direct-read
     int64 flushed_ts_ns = 6; // local log-buffer flush watermark: everything at or below it is on disk
+    int64 mutation_ts_ns = 7; // metadata mutation commit stamp; ts_ns carries the delivery stream position instead
 }
 message ListMetadataSubscribersRequest {
     repeated string client_types = 1; // optional filter by client type, e.g. "mount"; empty = all
@@ -822,6 +823,7 @@ message CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterRequest {
     string name = 2;
     int32 chunk_concurrency = 3; // parallel chunk downloads per file, 0 = default (8)
     int32 download_concurrency = 4; // multipart download concurrency per chunk (if supported by remote storage), 0 = default (5 for S3)
+    int64 max_size = 5; // reject remote objects larger than this before downloading, 0 = no limit
 }
 message CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterResponse {
     Entry entry = 1;
diff --git a/weed/pb/filer.proto b/weed/pb/filer.proto
index eaea6a9f0f..feb37fbd7f 100644
--- a/weed/pb/filer.proto
+++ b/weed/pb/filer.proto
@@ -823,6 +823,7 @@ message CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterRequest {
     string name = 2;
     int32 chunk_concurrency = 3; // parallel chunk downloads per file, 0 = default (8)
     int32 download_concurrency = 4; // multipart download concurrency per chunk (if supported by remote storage), 0 = default (5 for S3)
+    int64 max_size = 5; // reject remote objects larger than this before downloading, 0 = no limit
 }
 message CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterResponse {
     Entry entry = 1;
diff --git a/weed/pb/filer_pb/filer.pb.go b/weed/pb/filer_pb/filer.pb.go
index 8ba6fcbfd3..cb5f44b2b5 100644
--- a/weed/pb/filer_pb/filer.pb.go
+++ b/weed/pb/filer_pb/filer.pb.go
@@ -5447,6 +5447,7 @@ type CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterRequest struct {
 	Name                string                 `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=name,proto3" json:"name,omitempty"`
 	ChunkConcurrency    int32                  `protobuf:"varint,3,opt,name=chunk_concurrency,json=chunkConcurrency,proto3" json:"chunk_concurrency,omitempty"`          // parallel chunk downloads per file, 0 = default (8)
 	DownloadConcurrency int32                  `protobuf:"varint,4,opt,name=download_concurrency,json=downloadConcurrency,proto3" json:"download_concurrency,omitempty"` // multipart download concurrency per chunk (if supported by remote storage), 0 = default (5 for S3)
+	MaxSize             int64                  `protobuf:"varint,5,opt,name=max_size,json=maxSize,proto3" json:"max_size,omitempty"`                                     // reject remote objects larger than this before downloading, 0 = no limit
 	unknownFields       protoimpl.UnknownFields
 	sizeCache           protoimpl.SizeCache
 }
@@ -5509,6 +5510,13 @@ func (x *CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterRequest) GetDownloadConcurrency() int32
 	return 0
 }
 
+func (x *CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterRequest) GetMaxSize() int64 {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.MaxSize
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
 type CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterResponse struct {
 	state         protoimpl.MessageState     `protogen:"open.v1"`
 	Entry         *Entry                     `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=entry,proto3" json:"entry,omitempty"`
@@ -7872,12 +7880,13 @@ const file_filer_proto_rawDesc = "" +
 	"\x19worm_grace_period_seconds\x18\x0f \x01(\x04R\x16wormGracePeriodSeconds\x12=\n" +
 	"\x1bworm_retention_time_seconds\x18\x10 \x01(\x04R\x18wormRetentionTimeSecondsB\b\n" +
 	"\x06_fsyncB\a\n" +
-	"\x05_worm\"\xba\x01\n" +
+	"\x05_worm\"\xd5\x01\n" +
 	"&CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterRequest\x12\x1c\n" +
 	"\tdirectory\x18\x01 \x01(\tR\tdirectory\x12\x12\n" +
 	"\x04name\x18\x02 \x01(\tR\x04name\x12+\n" +
 	"\x11chunk_concurrency\x18\x03 \x01(\x05R\x10chunkConcurrency\x121\n" +
-	"\x14download_concurrency\x18\x04 \x01(\x05R\x13downloadConcurrency\"\xdd\x01\n" +
+	"\x14download_concurrency\x18\x04 \x01(\x05R\x13downloadConcurrency\x12\x19\n" +
+	"\bmax_size\x18\x05 \x01(\x03R\amaxSize\"\xdd\x01\n" +
 	"'CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterResponse\x12%\n" +
 	"\x05entry\x18\x01 \x01(\v2\x0f.filer_pb.EntryR\x05entry\x12J\n" +
 	"\x0emetadata_event\x18\x02 \x01(\v2#.filer_pb.SubscribeMetadataResponseR\rmetadataEvent\x12\x1a\n" +
diff --git a/weed/pb/filer_pb/filer_vtproto.pb.go b/weed/pb/filer_pb/filer_vtproto.pb.go
index 29d11c7e15..8cd7734a72 100644
--- a/weed/pb/filer_pb/filer_vtproto.pb.go
+++ b/weed/pb/filer_pb/filer_vtproto.pb.go
@@ -5173,6 +5173,11 @@ func (m *CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterRequest) MarshalToSizedBufferVT(dAtA []b
 		i -= len(m.unknownFields)
 		copy(dAtA[i:], m.unknownFields)
 	}
+	if m.MaxSize != 0 {
+		i = protohelpers.EncodeVarint(dAtA, i, uint64(m.MaxSize))
+		i--
+		dAtA[i] = 0x28
+	}
 	if m.DownloadConcurrency != 0 {
 		i = protohelpers.EncodeVarint(dAtA, i, uint64(m.DownloadConcurrency))
 		i--
@@ -8683,6 +8688,9 @@ func (m *CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterRequest) SizeVT() (n int) {
 	if m.DownloadConcurrency != 0 {
 		n += 1 + protohelpers.SizeOfVarint(uint64(m.DownloadConcurrency))
 	}
+	if m.MaxSize != 0 {
+		n += 1 + protohelpers.SizeOfVarint(uint64(m.MaxSize))
+	}
 	n += len(m.unknownFields)
 	return n
 }
@@ -23123,6 +23131,25 @@ func (m *CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterRequest) UnmarshalVT(dAtA []byte) error
 					break
 				}
 			}
+		case 5:
+			if wireType != 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("proto: wrong wireType = %d for field MaxSize", wireType)
+			}
+			m.MaxSize = 0
+			for shift := uint(0); ; shift += 7 {
+				if shift >= 64 {
+					return protohelpers.ErrIntOverflow
+				}
+				if iNdEx >= l {
+					return io.ErrUnexpectedEOF
+				}
+				b := dAtA[iNdEx]
+				iNdEx++
+				m.MaxSize |= int64(b&0x7F) << shift
+				if b < 0x80 {
+					break
+				}
+			}
 		default:
 			iNdEx = preIndex
 			skippy, err := protohelpers.Skip(dAtA[iNdEx:])
diff --git a/weed/server/filer_grpc_server_remote.go b/weed/server/filer_grpc_server_remote.go
index 18be095c59..78f5e1f610 100644
--- a/weed/server/filer_grpc_server_remote.go
+++ b/weed/server/filer_grpc_server_remote.go
@@ -31,42 +31,74 @@ func (fs *FilerServer) CacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster(ctx context.Context, req
 	// This benefits all clients: S3 API, filer HTTP, Hadoop, etc.
 	cacheKey := req.Directory + "/" + req.Name
 
+	// A caller's size bound is enforced on the entry it resolves, before it
+	// joins the shared download: the rejection stays with the bounded caller
+	// while allowed downloads still dedupe by path across all callers.
+	if req.MaxSize > 0 {
+		if entry, _, err := fs.fencedFindEntry(ctx, util.JoinPath(req.Directory, req.Name)); err == nil &&
+			entry.IsInRemoteOnly() && entry.Remote.RemoteSize > req.MaxSize {
+			return nil, &remoteObjectTooLargeError{path: cacheKey, size: entry.Remote.RemoteSize, limit: req.MaxSize}
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Detach from caller ctx: on failure the error path deletes every chunk
 	// already written, so cancelling mid-download loses all progress. For
 	// blobs large enough that the download outlasts the caller's timeout
 	// the retry loop never converges.
 	bgCtx := context.WithoutCancel(ctx)
 
-	// DoChan (vs Do) so the caller can bail out on ctx.Done() while the
-	// singleflight goroutine keeps caching on bgCtx; otherwise this handler
-	// goroutine stays blocked for the full download after the client is gone.
-	ch := fs.remoteCacheGroup.DoChan(cacheKey, func() (interface{}, error) {
-		return fs.doCacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster(bgCtx, req)
-	})
+	for {
+		// DoChan (vs Do) so the caller can bail out on ctx.Done() while the
+		// singleflight goroutine keeps caching on bgCtx; otherwise this handler
+		// goroutine stays blocked for the full download after the client is gone.
+		ch := fs.remoteCacheGroup.DoChan(cacheKey, func() (interface{}, error) {
+			return fs.doCacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster(bgCtx, req)
+		})
 
-	select {
-	case <-ctx.Done():
-		// Caller gave up; the detached cache keeps running and a later
-		// request will find the entry cached (or join the same singleflight).
-		return nil, ctx.Err()
-	case res := <-ch:
-		if res.Shared {
-			glog.V(2).Infof("CacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster: shared result for %s", cacheKey)
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			// Caller gave up; the detached cache keeps running and a later
+			// request will find the entry cached (or join the same singleflight).
+			return nil, ctx.Err()
+		case res := <-ch:
+			if res.Shared {
+				glog.V(2).Infof("CacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster: shared result for %s", cacheKey)
+			}
+			if res.Err != nil {
+				var tooLarge *remoteObjectTooLargeError
+				if errors.As(res.Err, &tooLarge) && (req.MaxSize == 0 || tooLarge.size <= req.MaxSize) {
+					// The shared flight ran under a co-tenant's tighter bound; this
+					// caller's own bound allows the object, so it starts a fresh
+					// flight rather than share that rejection.
+					continue
+				}
+				return nil, cacheRemoteObjectError(res.Err)
+			}
+			if res.Val == nil {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("unexpected nil result from singleflight")
+			}
+			resp, ok := res.Val.(*filer_pb.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterResponse)
+			if !ok {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("unexpected result type from singleflight")
+			}
+			return resp, nil
 		}
-		if res.Err != nil {
-			return nil, cacheRemoteObjectError(res.Err)
-		}
-		if res.Val == nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("unexpected nil result from singleflight")
-		}
-		resp, ok := res.Val.(*filer_pb.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterResponse)
-		if !ok {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("unexpected result type from singleflight")
-		}
-		return resp, nil
 	}
 }
 
+// remoteObjectTooLargeError reports that the entry a shared download resolved
+// exceeds a bound. It travels through the singleflight result, so callers
+// whose own bound permits the size retry instead of inheriting the rejection.
+type remoteObjectTooLargeError struct {
+	path  string
+	size  int64
+	limit int64
+}
+
+func (e *remoteObjectTooLargeError) Error() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("remote object %s is %d bytes, over the %d byte limit", e.path, e.size, e.limit)
+}
+
 // doCacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster performs the actual caching operation.
 // This is called from singleflight, so only one instance runs per object.
 func (fs *FilerServer) doCacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster(ctx context.Context, req *filer_pb.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterRequest) (*filer_pb.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterResponse, error) {
@@ -94,6 +126,12 @@ func (fs *FilerServer) doCacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster(ctx context.Context, re
 		return resp, nil
 	}
 
+	// Enforce the bound on the entry this flight downloads: the caller's
+	// pre-flight check read an entry a remote metadata refresh can replace.
+	if req.MaxSize > 0 && entry.Remote.RemoteSize > req.MaxSize {
+		return nil, &remoteObjectTooLargeError{path: string(lockPath), size: entry.Remote.RemoteSize, limit: req.MaxSize}
+	}
+
 	glog.V(1).Infof("CacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster: caching %s/%s (remote size: %d)", req.Directory, req.Name, entry.Remote.RemoteSize)
 
 	readDir, readName := fs.filer.RemoteReadPath(entry, req.Directory, req.Name)
diff --git a/weed/server/filer_grpc_server_remote_test.go b/weed/server/filer_grpc_server_remote_test.go
index 7c5f165b3a..73ce5358bc 100644
--- a/weed/server/filer_grpc_server_remote_test.go
+++ b/weed/server/filer_grpc_server_remote_test.go
@@ -227,3 +227,69 @@ func TestPruneOnANonOwnerLeavesTheDeleteToTheOwner(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.False(t, fs.pruneEntryMissingFromRemote(context.Background(), entry.FullPath, entry, remote_storage.ErrRemoteObjectNotFound))
 	assert.Contains(t, store.entries, string(entry.FullPath), "only the write owner may delete the entry")
 }
+
+func pollFindCalls(store *renameTestStore, path string, n int) bool {
+	for i := 0; i < 4000; i++ {
+		store.mu.Lock()
+		calls := store.findCalls[path]
+		store.mu.Unlock()
+		if calls >= n {
+			return true
+		}
+		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond)
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func awaitFindCalls(t *testing.T, store *renameTestStore, path string, n int) {
+	t.Helper()
+	require.True(t, pollFindCalls(store, path, n), "entry %s saw fewer than %d finds", path, n)
+}
+
+// A remote metadata refresh can swap the entry between a caller's pre-flight
+// check and the lookup the shared download resolves: the bound must apply to
+// the latter, and a co-tenant sharing the flight must not inherit a rejection
+// its own bound does not call for.
+func TestCacheBoundAppliesToTheDownloadedEntry(t *testing.T) {
+	fs, store, _ := newRemoteMountTestServer(t)
+	store.findDelay = 500 * time.Millisecond
+
+	small := remoteOnlyFileEntry("/other/obj.bin")
+	small.Remote.RemoteSize = 4
+	store.entries[string(small.FullPath)] = small
+
+	big := small.ShallowClone()
+	big.Remote = proto.Clone(small.Remote).(*filer_pb.RemoteEntry)
+	big.Remote.RemoteSize = 100
+	go func() {
+		if !pollFindCalls(store, string(small.FullPath), 1) {
+			return
+		}
+		store.mu.Lock()
+		store.entries[string(small.FullPath)] = big
+		store.mu.Unlock()
+	}()
+
+	bounded := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		_, err := fs.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster(context.Background(), &filer_pb.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterRequest{
+			Directory: "/other", Name: "obj.bin", MaxSize: 5,
+		})
+		bounded <- err
+	}()
+
+	awaitFindCalls(t, store, string(small.FullPath), 1)
+	time.Sleep(80 * time.Millisecond) // let the bounded flight reach its own find
+	_, joinErr := fs.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster(context.Background(), &filer_pb.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterRequest{
+		Directory: "/other", Name: "obj.bin",
+	})
+
+	err := <-bounded
+	var tooLarge *remoteObjectTooLargeError
+	require.ErrorAs(t, err, &tooLarge)
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(100), tooLarge.size)
+	assert.Equal(t, int64(5), tooLarge.limit)
+
+	require.Error(t, joinErr)
+	assert.False(t, errors.As(joinErr, &tooLarge), "unbounded joiner retries rather than sharing the rejection")
+}
diff --git a/weed/worker/tasks/iceberg/compact_order_test.go b/weed/worker/tasks/iceberg/compact_order_test.go
index 1a36f7618f..49367a5a6d 100644
--- a/weed/worker/tasks/iceberg/compact_order_test.go
+++ b/weed/worker/tasks/iceberg/compact_order_test.go
@@ -363,6 +363,7 @@ func TestResolveCompactionOrderSkipsUncoveredSortField(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("uncovered sort field: got %+v, want nil", order)
 	}
 }
+
 // A full-bin repack that produces nothing must not discard the ordered runs
 // it was meant to replace — they are still valid compaction work.
 func TestCompactDataFilesKeepsRunsWhenRepackFails(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/weed/worker/tasks/iceberg/filer_io.go b/weed/worker/tasks/iceberg/filer_io.go
index b2a447eeb7..2531e1ecb5 100644
--- a/weed/worker/tasks/iceberg/filer_io.go
+++ b/weed/worker/tasks/iceberg/filer_io.go
@@ -181,14 +181,24 @@ func (s *tableState) loadMetadata(ctx context.Context, client filer_pb.SeaweedFi
 	if s.Metadata != nil {
 		return nil
 	}
-	entry, err := lookupFileByIcebergPath(ctx, client, bucketName, s.DataPath, s.MetadataLocation)
+	entry, fullPath, err := lookupResolvedEntry(ctx, client, bucketName, s.DataPath, s.MetadataLocation)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("load metadata file %s: %w", s.MetadataLocation, err)
 	}
-	if len(entry.Content) == 0 && len(entry.Chunks) > 0 {
-		if size := int64(filer.FileSize(entry)); size > metadataFileMaxBytes {
-			return fmt.Errorf("metadata file %s too large: %d bytes", s.MetadataLocation, size)
-		}
+	// Bound what the location would pull before it is pulled: a remote
+	// entry's object is downloaded whole by the cache call, a chunked
+	// file's read is bounded by FileSize.
+	if size := metadataEntrySize(entry); size > metadataFileMaxBytes {
+		return fmt.Errorf("metadata file %s too large: %d bytes", s.MetadataLocation, size)
+	}
+	entry, err = cacheRemoteOnlyEntry(ctx, client, fullPath, entry, metadataFileMaxBytes)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("load metadata file %s: %w", s.MetadataLocation, err)
+	}
+	// The cache call returns the entry the filer then held; a replacement
+	// written during the download keeps the name but not the checked size.
+	if size := metadataEntrySize(entry); size > metadataFileMaxBytes {
+		return fmt.Errorf("metadata file %s too large: %d bytes", s.MetadataLocation, size)
 	}
 	content, err := readEntryContent(ctx, client, entry, s.MetadataLocation)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -202,6 +212,23 @@ func (s *tableState) loadMetadata(ctx context.Context, client filer_pb.SeaweedFi
 	return nil
 }
 
+// metadataEntrySize is the bytes an entry's content would pull into memory:
+// a remote object's size or a chunked file's FileSize. Inline content is
+// exempt — the REST load path accepts it unbounded and the lookup already
+// holds it.
+func metadataEntrySize(entry *filer_pb.Entry) int64 {
+	if len(entry.Content) > 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	if isRemoteOnly(entry) {
+		return entry.GetRemoteEntry().GetRemoteSize()
+	}
+	if len(entry.Chunks) > 0 {
+		return int64(filer.FileSize(entry))
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
 func isFilerNotFound(err error) bool {
 	return errors.Is(err, filer_pb.ErrNotFound) || status.Code(err) == codes.NotFound
 }
@@ -258,10 +285,57 @@ func addFilerPathSpellings(set map[string]struct{}, bucketName, dataPath, iceber
 }
 
 // lookupFileByIcebergPath returns the filer entry holding an Iceberg-style
-// path. dataPath is the bucket-relative directory the table's files live in.
+// path, ready to read. dataPath is the bucket-relative directory the table's
+// files live in. A file of a remote-mounted bucket that is not cached locally
+// is cached first, as the S3 gateway does on a read.
 func lookupFileByIcebergPath(ctx context.Context, client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient, bucketName, dataPath, icebergPath string) (*filer_pb.Entry, error) {
-	entry, _, err := lookupResolvedEntry(ctx, client, bucketName, dataPath, icebergPath)
-	return entry, err
+	entry, fullPath, err := lookupResolvedEntry(ctx, client, bucketName, dataPath, icebergPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return cacheRemoteOnlyEntry(ctx, client, fullPath, entry, 0)
+}
+
+// cacheRemoteOnlyEntry downloads a remote-only entry's object to the local
+// cluster and returns the cached entry. maxSize bounds what the filer will
+// download: the entry it resolves at cache time can differ from the one
+// checked here, and the download would run to its full remote size. One
+// retry covers a cache call racing an uncache of the same entry; an entry
+// still remote-only after caching is an error.
+func cacheRemoteOnlyEntry(ctx context.Context, client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient, fullPath string, entry *filer_pb.Entry, maxSize int64) (*filer_pb.Entry, error) {
+	if !isRemoteOnly(entry) {
+		return entry, nil
+	}
+	dir, name := path.Dir(fullPath), path.Base(fullPath)
+	var err error
+	for attempt := 0; attempt < 2 && isRemoteOnly(entry); attempt++ {
+		var resp *filer_pb.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterResponse
+		resp, err = client.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster(ctx, &filer_pb.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterRequest{
+			Directory: dir,
+			Name:      name,
+			MaxSize:   maxSize,
+		})
+		switch {
+		case err != nil:
+		case resp == nil || resp.Entry == nil:
+			err = errors.New("no entry returned")
+		default:
+			entry = resp.Entry
+		}
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cache remote file %s: %w", fullPath, err)
+	}
+	if isRemoteOnly(entry) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cache remote file %s: still remote-only after caching", fullPath)
+	}
+	return entry, nil
+}
+
+// isRemoteOnly reports whether an entry of a remote-mounted bucket holds no
+// bytes locally: no chunks and no inline content, only its RemoteEntry.
+func isRemoteOnly(entry *filer_pb.Entry) bool {
+	return entry.IsInRemoteOnly() && len(entry.Content) == 0
 }
 
 // loadFileByIcebergPath loads a file from the filer given an Iceberg-style path.
@@ -276,9 +350,14 @@ func loadFileByIcebergPath(ctx context.Context, client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClie
 // readEntryContent returns an entry's bytes: its inline content, or a chunked
 // file read through the volume servers.
 func readEntryContent(ctx context.Context, client filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient, entry *filer_pb.Entry, name string) ([]byte, error) {
-	if len(entry.Content) > 0 || len(entry.Chunks) == 0 {
+	if len(entry.Content) > 0 {
 		return entry.Content, nil
 	}
+	if len(entry.Chunks) == 0 {
+		// Everything read here is Iceberg metadata, a manifest or a data
+		// file, none of which can be empty.
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("file %s is empty (%d bytes in its attributes, no content or chunks)", name, entry.GetAttributes().GetFileSize())
+	}
 
 	initGlobalHTTPClientOnce.Do(util_http.InitGlobalHttpClient)
 	reader := filer.NewFileReader(singleFilerClient{client: client}, entry)
diff --git a/weed/worker/tasks/iceberg/filer_io_save_test.go b/weed/worker/tasks/iceberg/filer_io_save_test.go
index 2040f11e5f..45bf79f84a 100644
--- a/weed/worker/tasks/iceberg/filer_io_save_test.go
+++ b/weed/worker/tasks/iceberg/filer_io_save_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package iceberg
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"io"
@@ -10,12 +11,14 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	util_http "github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/util/http"
 )
 
 // fakeVolumeServer accepts chunk uploads and records what it received, so a
-// test can check the bytes actually left the filer entry.
+// test can check the bytes actually left the filer entry. It also serves
+// chunk reads of what it holds.
 type fakeVolumeServer struct {
 	mu     sync.Mutex
 	server *httptest.Server
@@ -29,6 +32,18 @@ func startFakeVolumeServer(t *testing.T) *fakeVolumeServer {
 	v := &fakeVolumeServer{parts: make(map[string][]byte)}
 	v.server = httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		fid := strings.TrimPrefix(r.URL.Path, "/")
+		if r.Method == http.MethodGet || r.Method == http.MethodHead {
+			// A chunk read, answered as a volume server does (ranges included).
+			v.mu.Lock()
+			data, ok := v.parts[fid]
+			v.mu.Unlock()
+			if !ok {
+				http.NotFound(w, r)
+				return
+			}
+			http.ServeContent(w, r, "", time.Time{}, bytes.NewReader(data))
+			return
+		}
 		// The uploader sends the payload as a single form-data part named
 		// "file" with an empty filename, which FormFile will not match.
 		reader, err := r.MultipartReader()
@@ -58,6 +73,12 @@ func startFakeVolumeServer(t *testing.T) *fakeVolumeServer {
 	return v
 }
 
+func (v *fakeVolumeServer) put(fid string, data []byte) {
+	v.mu.Lock()
+	defer v.mu.Unlock()
+	v.parts[fid] = data
+}
+
 func (v *fakeVolumeServer) hostPort(t *testing.T) string {
 	t.Helper()
 	u, err := url.Parse(v.server.URL)
diff --git a/weed/worker/tasks/iceberg/remote_only_test.go b/weed/worker/tasks/iceberg/remote_only_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7421303c2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/weed/worker/tasks/iceberg/remote_only_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,304 @@
+package iceberg
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+	"path"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb/filer_pb"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/credentials/insecure"
+)
+
+// remoteCachingFiler is the fake filer plus what a remote mount needs, shaped
+// as the real filer answers: a file of a remote-mounted bucket that is not
+// cached locally has only its RemoteEntry; caching it writes its bytes to a
+// volume and returns the entry with chunks and no inline content, so a read
+// goes through the chunk reader, the volume lookup and the volume server.
+type remoteCachingFiler struct {
+	*fakeFilerServer
+	volume     *fakeVolumeServer
+	volumeHost string
+
+	mu         sync.Mutex
+	remote     map[string][]byte // dir/name -> the remote object's bytes
+	cacheCalls int
+	nextFid    int
+	stayRemote bool // answer without caching, as on a racing uncache
+	failFirst  int  // fail the first N cache calls
+	// cacheEntry swaps the stored entry at cache time, as a replacement
+	// written during the download would.
+	cacheEntry func(dir, name string, entry *filer_pb.Entry) *filer_pb.Entry
+}
+
+func (f *remoteCachingFiler) CacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster(_ context.Context, req *filer_pb.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterRequest) (*filer_pb.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterResponse, error) {
+	f.mu.Lock()
+	body, ok := f.remote[req.Directory+"/"+req.Name]
+	f.cacheCalls++
+	f.nextFid++
+	fid := fmt.Sprintf("7,%08x", f.nextFid)
+	stay := f.stayRemote
+	fail := f.failFirst > 0
+	if fail {
+		f.failFirst--
+	}
+	f.mu.Unlock()
+	if fail {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("remote read timed out")
+	}
+	entry := f.getEntry(req.Directory, req.Name)
+	if !ok || entry == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no remote object %s/%s", req.Directory, req.Name)
+	}
+	if req.MaxSize > 0 && entry.GetRemoteEntry().GetRemoteSize() > req.MaxSize {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("remote object %s/%s is %d bytes, over the %d byte limit",
+			req.Directory, req.Name, entry.GetRemoteEntry().GetRemoteSize(), req.MaxSize)
+	}
+	if stay {
+		return &filer_pb.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterResponse{Entry: entry}, nil
+	}
+	if f.cacheEntry != nil {
+		entry = f.cacheEntry(req.Directory, req.Name, entry)
+	}
+	f.volume.put(fid, body)
+	cached := &filer_pb.Entry{Name: entry.Name, Attributes: entry.Attributes, RemoteEntry: entry.RemoteEntry,
+		Chunks: []*filer_pb.FileChunk{{FileId: fid, Offset: 0, Size: uint64(len(body)), ModifiedTsNs: time.Now().UnixNano()}}}
+	f.putEntry(req.Directory, req.Name, cached)
+	return &filer_pb.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterResponse{Entry: cached}, nil
+}
+
+func (f *remoteCachingFiler) LookupVolume(_ context.Context, req *filer_pb.LookupVolumeRequest) (*filer_pb.LookupVolumeResponse, error) {
+	out := &filer_pb.LookupVolumeResponse{LocationsMap: map[string]*filer_pb.Locations{}}
+	for _, vid := range req.VolumeIds {
+		out.LocationsMap[vid] = &filer_pb.Locations{Locations: []*filer_pb.Location{{Url: f.volumeHost, PublicUrl: f.volumeHost}}}
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+func startRemoteCachingFiler(t *testing.T) (*remoteCachingFiler, filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient) {
+	t.Helper()
+	vol := startFakeVolumeServer(t)
+	srv := &remoteCachingFiler{fakeFilerServer: newFakeFilerServer(), volume: vol, volumeHost: vol.hostPort(t), remote: map[string][]byte{}}
+	listener, err := net.Listen("tcp", "127.0.0.1:0")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("listen: %v", err)
+	}
+	server := grpc.NewServer()
+	filer_pb.RegisterSeaweedFilerServer(server, srv)
+	go func() { _ = server.Serve(listener) }()
+	t.Cleanup(server.GracefulStop)
+	conn, err := grpc.NewClient(listener.Addr().String(), grpc.WithTransportCredentials(insecure.NewCredentials()))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("dial: %v", err)
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(func() { conn.Close() })
+	return srv, filer_pb.NewSeaweedFilerClient(conn)
+}
+
+// putRemoteOnly records body as the remote object behind an Iceberg path and
+// puts its remote-only entry: no chunks, no content, only the RemoteEntry.
+func putRemoteOnly(t *testing.T, srv *remoteCachingFiler, bucket, dataPath, file string, body []byte) {
+	t.Helper()
+	full, err := icebergFilerPath(bucket, dataPath, file)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("path: %v", err)
+	}
+	dir, name := path.Dir(full), path.Base(full)
+	srv.remote[dir+"/"+name] = body
+	srv.putEntry(dir, name, &filer_pb.Entry{Name: name,
+		Attributes:  &filer_pb.FuseAttributes{FileSize: uint64(len(body)), Mtime: time.Now().Unix()},
+		RemoteEntry: &filer_pb.RemoteEntry{StorageName: "r", RemoteSize: int64(len(body)), RemoteMtime: time.Now().Unix()}})
+}
+
+func TestRemoteOnlyFileIsCachedThenReadThroughItsChunks(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, client := startRemoteCachingFiler(t)
+	const bucket, dataPath, file = "b", "ns/t", "data/d1-deletes.parquet"
+	putRemoteOnly(t, srv, bucket, dataPath, file, positionDeleteParquet(t, []positionDeleteTestRow{
+		{"s3://b/ns/t/data/f1.parquet", 3}, {"s3://b/ns/t/data/f1.parquet", 9},
+	}))
+
+	var got map[string][]int64
+	var err error
+	noPanic(t, func() {
+		got, err = readPositionDeleteFile(context.Background(), client, bucket, dataPath, file)
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("read: %v", err)
+	}
+	if srv.cacheCalls != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("CacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster called %d times, want 1", srv.cacheCalls)
+	}
+	if n := len(got["s3://b/ns/t/data/f1.parquet"]); n != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("got %v, want the two positions of the remote object", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRemoteOnlyFileSchemaIsReadThroughItsChunks(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, client := startRemoteCachingFiler(t)
+	const bucket, dataPath, file = "b", "ns/t", "data/d2-deletes.parquet"
+	putRemoteOnly(t, srv, bucket, dataPath, file, positionDeleteParquet(t, []positionDeleteTestRow{{"s3://b/ns/t/data/f1.parquet", 1}}))
+	schema, err := parquetSchemaByIcebergPath(context.Background(), client, bucket, dataPath, file)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("schema: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, ok := schema.Lookup("pos"); !ok {
+		t.Fatalf("schema %v has no pos column", schema)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestACachedFileIsNotCachedAgain(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, client := startRemoteCachingFiler(t)
+	const bucket, dataPath, file = "b", "ns/t", "data/d3-deletes.parquet"
+	full, _ := icebergFilerPath(bucket, dataPath, file)
+	body := positionDeleteParquet(t, []positionDeleteTestRow{{"s3://b/ns/t/data/f1.parquet", 1}})
+	srv.volume.put("7,000000ff", body)
+	srv.putEntry(path.Dir(full), path.Base(full), &filer_pb.Entry{Name: path.Base(full),
+		Attributes:  &filer_pb.FuseAttributes{FileSize: uint64(len(body))},
+		RemoteEntry: &filer_pb.RemoteEntry{StorageName: "r", RemoteSize: int64(len(body))},
+		Chunks:      []*filer_pb.FileChunk{{FileId: "7,000000ff", Offset: 0, Size: uint64(len(body)), ModifiedTsNs: 1}}})
+	if _, err := readPositionDeleteFile(context.Background(), client, bucket, dataPath, file); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("read: %v", err)
+	}
+	if srv.cacheCalls != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("CacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster called %d times for a cached file", srv.cacheCalls)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAFileStillRemoteOnlyAfterCachingIsACacheError(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, client := startRemoteCachingFiler(t)
+	srv.stayRemote = true
+	const bucket, dataPath, file = "b", "ns/t", "data/d4-deletes.parquet"
+	putRemoteOnly(t, srv, bucket, dataPath, file, positionDeleteParquet(t, []positionDeleteTestRow{{"s3://b/ns/t/data/f1.parquet", 1}}))
+	var err error
+	noPanic(t, func() {
+		_, err = readPositionDeleteFile(context.Background(), client, bucket, dataPath, file)
+	})
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "still remote-only") {
+		t.Fatalf("err = %v, want a cache error", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAFailedCacheCallIsRetriedOnce(t *testing.T) {
+	const bucket, dataPath, file = "b", "ns/t", "data/d5-deletes.parquet"
+	body := positionDeleteParquet(t, []positionDeleteTestRow{{"s3://b/ns/t/data/f1.parquet", 1}})
+
+	srv, client := startRemoteCachingFiler(t)
+	putRemoteOnly(t, srv, bucket, dataPath, file, body)
+	srv.failFirst = 1
+	if _, err := readPositionDeleteFile(context.Background(), client, bucket, dataPath, file); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("one failed cache call, then a good one: %v", err)
+	}
+	if srv.cacheCalls != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("%d cache calls, want 2", srv.cacheCalls)
+	}
+
+	srv, client = startRemoteCachingFiler(t)
+	putRemoteOnly(t, srv, bucket, dataPath, file, body)
+	srv.failFirst = 2
+	if _, err := readPositionDeleteFile(context.Background(), client, bucket, dataPath, file); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "remote read timed out") {
+		t.Fatalf("two failed cache calls: err = %v, want the cache error", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// A location-only record pointing at a remote object over the metadata bound
+// is rejected on the remote entry's size, without downloading the object: the
+// bound exists because the catalog pointer may name any file in the bucket.
+func TestARemoteOnlyMetadataFileOverTheBoundIsNotCached(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, client := startRemoteCachingFiler(t)
+	original := metadataFileMaxBytes
+	metadataFileMaxBytes = 8
+	defer func() { metadataFileMaxBytes = original }()
+
+	setup := tableSetup{BucketName: "b", Namespace: "ns", TableName: "t"}
+	putRemoteOnly(t, srv, setup.BucketName, setup.tablePath(), "metadata/big.metadata.json",
+		bytes.Repeat([]byte{1}, int(metadataFileMaxBytes)+1))
+	state := &tableState{DataPath: setup.tablePath(), MetadataLocation: fmt.Sprintf(
+		"s3://%s/%s/metadata/big.metadata.json", setup.BucketName, setup.tablePath())}
+	if err := state.loadMetadata(context.Background(), client, setup.BucketName); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "too large") {
+		t.Fatalf("err = %v, want a too-large rejection", err)
+	}
+	if srv.cacheCalls != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("%d cache calls, want 0", srv.cacheCalls)
+	}
+}
+
+// A remote object that grew past the bound between the worker's check and the
+// filer's cache resolve is rejected before its bytes are downloaded: the
+// bound rides the cache request for the entry the filer resolves, not only
+// the one the worker saw.
+func TestAMetadataFileThatGrewPastTheBoundIsNotDownloaded(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, client := startRemoteCachingFiler(t)
+	original := metadataFileMaxBytes
+	metadataFileMaxBytes = 8
+	defer func() { metadataFileMaxBytes = original }()
+
+	setup := tableSetup{BucketName: "b", Namespace: "ns", TableName: "t"}
+	putRemoteOnly(t, srv, setup.BucketName, setup.tablePath(), "metadata/grew.metadata.json", []byte{1})
+	full, err := icebergFilerPath(setup.BucketName, setup.tablePath(), "metadata/grew.metadata.json")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("path: %v", err)
+	}
+	dir, name := path.Dir(full), path.Base(full)
+	client = swapEntryOnCacheClient{SeaweedFilerClient: client, swap: func() {
+		srv.putEntry(dir, name, &filer_pb.Entry{Name: name,
+			Attributes:  &filer_pb.FuseAttributes{FileSize: uint64(metadataFileMaxBytes) + 1, Mtime: time.Now().Unix()},
+			RemoteEntry: &filer_pb.RemoteEntry{StorageName: "r", RemoteSize: metadataFileMaxBytes + 1, RemoteMtime: time.Now().Unix()}})
+	}}
+	state := &tableState{DataPath: setup.tablePath(), MetadataLocation: fmt.Sprintf(
+		"s3://%s/%s/metadata/grew.metadata.json", setup.BucketName, setup.tablePath())}
+	if err := state.loadMetadata(context.Background(), client, setup.BucketName); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "over the") {
+		t.Fatalf("err = %v, want a bound rejection", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// swapEntryOnCacheClient runs swap inside the cache call, as a replacement
+// write landing between the worker's lookup and the filer's resolve would.
+type swapEntryOnCacheClient struct {
+	filer_pb.SeaweedFilerClient
+	swap func()
+}
+
+func (c swapEntryOnCacheClient) CacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster(ctx context.Context, req *filer_pb.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterRequest, opts ...grpc.CallOption) (*filer_pb.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalClusterResponse, error) {
+	c.swap()
+	return c.SeaweedFilerClient.CacheRemoteObjectToLocalCluster(ctx, req, opts...)
+}
+
+// The bound also applies to the entry the cache call returns: a replacement
+// written during the download can be larger than the remote entry that was
+// checked.
+func TestAReplacedMetadataFileOverTheBoundIsNotRead(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, client := startRemoteCachingFiler(t)
+	original := metadataFileMaxBytes
+	metadataFileMaxBytes = 8
+	defer func() { metadataFileMaxBytes = original }()
+
+	setup := tableSetup{BucketName: "b", Namespace: "ns", TableName: "t"}
+	putRemoteOnly(t, srv, setup.BucketName, setup.tablePath(), "metadata/swapped.metadata.json",
+		bytes.Repeat([]byte{1}, 4))
+	srv.cacheEntry = func(_, _ string, entry *filer_pb.Entry) *filer_pb.Entry {
+		return &filer_pb.Entry{Name: entry.Name, RemoteEntry: entry.RemoteEntry,
+			Attributes: &filer_pb.FuseAttributes{FileSize: uint64(metadataFileMaxBytes) + 1, Mtime: time.Now().Unix()}}
+	}
+	state := &tableState{DataPath: setup.tablePath(), MetadataLocation: fmt.Sprintf(
+		"s3://%s/%s/metadata/swapped.metadata.json", setup.BucketName, setup.tablePath())}
+	if err := state.loadMetadata(context.Background(), client, setup.BucketName); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "too large") {
+		t.Fatalf("err = %v, want a too-large rejection", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestAFileWithNoContentOrChunksIsAnEmptyFileError(t *testing.T) {
+	srv, client := startRemoteCachingFiler(t)
+	const bucket, dataPath, file = "b", "ns/t", "snap-1.avro"
+	full, _ := icebergFilerPath(bucket, dataPath, file)
+	srv.putEntry(path.Dir(full), path.Base(full), &filer_pb.Entry{Name: path.Base(full),
+		Attributes: &filer_pb.FuseAttributes{FileSize: 2057}}) // its size says bytes, it holds none
+	if _, err := loadFileByIcebergPath(context.Background(), client, bucket, dataPath, file); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "empty") {
+		t.Fatalf("err = %v, want an empty-file error", err)
+	}
+}