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TORQUE Resource Manager

github.com

Free plan macOSLinuxAPISelf-hosted
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Spec score 7.5 #12 of 21 in GPU Cluster Management Software

What it is

TORQUE Resource Manager is an open-source resource and queue manager for compute clusters, based on the original PBS resource manager. The project is free, with Linux, macOS, API and self-hosted options. TORQUE 4.0 release notes state that it can support clusters with more than 15,000 compute nodes; that release also introduced a multithreaded pbs_server intended to improve command response and job throughput. An optional MOM hierarchy can reduce update traffic from compute nodes to pbs_server and lets administrators manage network communication. In version 4.0, component communication moved to TCP/IP, removing UDP and RPP. The trqauthd daemon authorizes client connections to pbs_server and must run as root on client hosts. Linux builds can optionally use control groups and cpusets, and documentation describes integration with Moab Workload Manager. The project is built from source using configure and make; installation instructions also cover RPM and self-extracting package creation. Its license terms are in the repository's PBS_License.txt. A compatibility caveat for version 4.0 is that its components cannot communicate with earlier TORQUE versions, so rolling upgrades will not work.

Spec sheet

Purpose
TORQUE is an open-source resource manager and queue manager based on the original PBS resource manager.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Integrations
The maker's documentation describes integration between TORQUE and the Moab Workload Manager.Read 8 Oct 2026 · docs.adaptivecomputing.com
Support
The project README directs questions and contributions to the [email protected] mailing list.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
License
Use, modification, and distribution are subject to the terms in the repository's PBS_License.txt file.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Authentication
The trqauthd daemon authorizes TORQUE client connections to pbs_server and must run as root on client hosts.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Communication
TORQUE 4.0 release notes say component communication moved to TCP/IP and removed UDP and RPP.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Compatibility limitation
TORQUE 4.0 components cannot communicate with earlier TORQUE versions, so the release notes say rolling upgrades will not work.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Installation
TORQUE is built from source with configure and make, and the install instructions describe RPM and self-extracting package creation.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Large clusters
TORQUE 4.0 release notes state it can support more than 15,000 compute nodes in a cluster.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Linux options
The build configuration supports optional Linux control groups and cpusets.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Node hierarchy
An optional MOM hierarchy reduces compute node update traffic to pbs_server and lets administrators manage network communications.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Scalability
The project highlights scalability, fault tolerance, usability, functionality, and security development as areas of improvement.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Server throughput
TORQUE 4.0 introduced a multithreaded pbs_server intended to improve command response and job throughput.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Use case
The project describes itself as a resource manager for compute clusters.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

TORQUE Resource Manager Free Open-source project · use, modification, and distribution subject to PBS license Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every TORQUE Resource Manager plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free, open-source resource and queue manager.
  • TORQUE 4.0 supports clusters exceeding 15,000 nodes.
  • Optional MOM hierarchy can reduce update traffic.
  • Linux builds can optionally use control groups and cpusets.

Limits

  • Version 4.0 cannot communicate with earlier TORQUE versions.
  • Rolling upgrades will not work for version 4.0.
  • trqauthd must run as root on client hosts.
  • Installation involves building from source.

Who it suits

TORQUE suits administrators managing compute clusters who can build and deploy a self-hosted resource manager. Its source-build process and version compatibility constraint are important to account for.

Verdict

TORQUE provides cluster resource and queue management with documented 4.0 capabilities and optional Linux controls. Its version 4.0 compatibility limit rules out rolling upgrades from earlier TORQUE versions.

Where Specifiction places it

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