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HTCondor

htcondor.org

Free plan WindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hosted
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Spec score 8.0 #8 of 26 in Job Scheduler Software

What it is

HTCondor is a free workload management system for compute-intensive jobs. It queues and schedules work, sets priorities, and monitors and manages computing resources across networked clusters, cloud resources, and international grids. Its ClassAd mechanism matches job requests with machine offers using configurable requirements and preferences. If a machine becomes unavailable during a job, HTCondor can restart that job on another machine. It can transfer job data when machines do not share a file system, or route job input and output through the submit machine. Separate installations can collaborate through flocking, and HTCondor-G works with Globus-managed resources. It is self-hosted and supports Linux, MacOS, and Windows. Feature release 25.14.1 adds a metric daemon that exports metrics to Prometheus and Ganglia. HTCSS is licensed under Apache License 2.0 and distributed without warranties or conditions. Contracted support is available; fees vary by support policy.

Spec sheet

Purpose
HTCondor is a workload management system for compute-intensive jobs, with job queueing, scheduling, priorities, resource monitoring, and resource management.Read 30 Sep 2026 · htcondor.org
Intended users
The maker says hundreds of organizations in industry, government, and academia use HTCondor installations ranging from a handful to many thousands of workstations.Read 30 Sep 2026 · htcondor.org
License
HTCSS is licensed under Apache License, Version 2.0 and distributed on an as-is basis without warranties or conditions.Read 30 Sep 2026 · htcondor.org
Current release
The feature release listed on September 24, 2026 is version 25.14.1.Read 30 Sep 2026 · htcondor.org
Data handling
HTCondor can transfer job data when machines lack a shared file system, or redirect job I/O to the submit machine.Read 30 Sep 2026 · htcondor.org
Distributed computing
HTCondor uses computing resources across networked clusters, cloud resources, and international grids.Read 30 Sep 2026 · htcondor.org
Grid interoperability
HTCondor supports collaboration between installations through flocking, and HTCondor-G interoperates with Globus-managed resources.Read 30 Sep 2026 · htcondor.org
Job recovery
When a machine running a job becomes unavailable, HTCondor can automatically restart the job on another machine.Read 30 Sep 2026 · htcondor.org
Monitoring integrations
The 25.14.1 release adds a metric daemon that can export metrics to Prometheus and Ganglia.Read 30 Sep 2026 · htcondor.org
Project home
HTCSS is housed within the Center for High Throughput Computing at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and receives NSF funding through the PATh project.Read 30 Sep 2026 · htcondor.org
Resource matching
Its ClassAd mechanism matches job requests with machine offers using configurable requirements and preferences.Read 30 Sep 2026 · htcondor.org
Security support
HTCondor provides security fixes for the current feature version and current LTS version, and supports the previous LTS for approximately twelve months after a new LTS release.Read 30 Sep 2026 · htcondor.org
Support options
Contracted support offers guaranteed problem resolution, faster issue turnaround, telephone access, and priority email access; fees vary by support policy.Read 30 Sep 2026 · htcondor.org
Supported platforms
The maker lists Linux, MacOS, and Windows as supported platforms.Read 30 Sep 2026 · htcondor.org

Plans and prices

HTCondor Free Software, source code, and complete documentation freely available under an open source license Read 30 Sep 2026 · htcondor.org

Every HTCondor plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free software, source code, and documentation
  • Restarts jobs when a machine becomes unavailable
  • Matches jobs and machines with configurable requirements
  • Transfers data without a shared file system
  • Exports metrics to Prometheus and Ganglia

Limits

  • Self-hosted deployment
  • No free trial
  • Contracted support fees vary by policy

Who it suits

HTCondor suits organizations that need to coordinate compute-intensive jobs across networked resources. The maker describes installations used by industry, government, and academic organizations, from a handful to many thousands of workstations.

Verdict

HTCondor specifies job scheduling, resource matching, recovery, data handling, and grid interoperability in useful detail. Buyers should account for self-hosting and arrange contracted support separately if they need its guaranteed resolution and priority access.

Where Specifiction places it

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