This section of the manual contains general information about HTCondor configuration, relating to all parts of the HTCondor system. If you're setting up an HTCondor pool, you should read this section before you read the other configuration-related sections:
The HTCondor configuration files are used to customize how HTCondor operates at a given site. The basic configuration as shipped with HTCondor can be used as a starting point, but most likely you will want to modify that configuration to some extent.
Each HTCondor program will, as part of its initialization process, configure itself by calling a library routine which parses the various configuration files that might be used, including pool-wide, platform-specific, and machine-specific configuration files. Environment variables may also contribute to the configuration.
The result of configuration is a list of key/value pairs. Each key is a configuration variable name, and each value is a string literal that may utilize macro substitution (as defined below). Some configuration variables are evaluated by HTCondor as ClassAd expressions; some are not. Consult the documentation for each specific case. Unless otherwise noted, configuration values that are expected to be numeric or boolean constants can be any valid ClassAd expression of operators on constants. Example:
MINUTE = 60 HOUR = (60 * $(MINUTE)) SHUTDOWN_GRACEFUL_TIMEOUT = ($(HOUR)*24)
Multiple files, as well as a program's environment variables, determine the configuration. The order in which attributes are defined is important, as later definitions override earlier definitions. The order in which the (multiple) configuration files are parsed is designed to ensure the security of the system. Attributes which must be set a specific way must appear in the last file to be parsed. This prevents both the naive and the malicious HTCondor user from subverting the system through its configuration. The order in which items are parsed is:
if HTCondor daemons are not running as Local System on
Windows platforms,
the file %USERPROFILE\.condor\user_config if it exists,
or the file defined by configuration variable USER_CONFIG_FILE;
Some HTCondor tools utilize environment variables to set their configuration; these tools search for specifically-named environment variables. The variable names are prefixed by the string _CONDOR_ or _condor_. The tools strip off the prefix, and utilize what remains as configuration. As the use of environment variables is the last within the ordered evaluation, the environment variable definition is used. The security of the system is not compromised, as only specific variables are considered for definition in this manner, not any environment variables with the _CONDOR_ prefix.
The location of the single initial configuration file differs on Windows from Unix platforms. For Unix platforms, the location of the single initial configuration file starts at the top of the following list. The first file that exists is used, and then remaining possible file locations from this list become irrelevant.
For Windows platforms, the location of the single initial configuration file is determined by the contents of the environment variable CONDOR_CONFIG. If this environment variable is not defined, then the location is the registry value of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Condor/CONDOR_CONFIG.
The single, initial configuration file may contain the specification of one or more other configuration files, referred to here as local configuration files. Since more than one file may contain a definition of the same variable, and since the last definition of a variable sets the value, the parse order of these local configuration files is fully specified here. In order:
The parsing and use of configuration files may be bypassed by setting environment variable CONDOR_CONFIG with the string ONLY_ENV. With this setting, there is no attempt to locate or read configuration files. This may be useful for testing where the environment contains all needed information.
Macro definitions are of the form:
<macro_name> = <macro_definition>
The macro name given on the left hand side of the definition is
a case insensitive identifier.
There may be white space between the macro name, the
equals sign (=), and the macro definition.
The macro definition is a string literal that may utilize macro substitution.
Macro invocations are of the form:
$(macro_name[:<default if macro_name not defined>])
The colon and default are optional in a macro invocation. Macro definitions may contain references to other macros, even ones that are not yet defined, as long as they are eventually defined in the configuration files. All macro expansion is done after all configuration files have been parsed, with the exception of macros that reference themselves.
A = xxx C = $(A)is a legal set of macro definitions, and the resulting value of C is xxx. Note that C is actually bound to $(A), not its value.
As a further example,
A = xxx C = $(A) A = yyyis also a legal set of macro definitions, and the resulting value of C is yyy.
A macro may be incrementally defined by invoking itself in its definition. For example,
A = xxx B = $(A) A = $(A)yyy A = $(A)zzzis a legal set of macro definitions, and the resulting value of A is xxxyyyzzz. Note that invocations of a macro in its own definition are immediately expanded. $(A) is immediately expanded in line 3 of the example. If it were not, then the definition would be impossible to evaluate.
Recursively defined macros such as
A = $(B) B = $(A)are not allowed. They create definitions that HTCondor refuses to parse.
A macro invocation where the macro name is not defined results in a substitution of the empty string. Consider the example
MAX_ALLOC_CPUS = $(NUMCPUS)-1If NUMCPUS is not defined, then this macro substitution becomes
MAX_ALLOC_CPUS = -1The default value may help to avoid this situation. The default value may be a literal
MAX_ALLOC_CPUS = $(NUMCPUS:4)-1such that if NUMCPUS is not defined, the result of macro substitution becomes
MAX_ALLOC_CPUS = 4-1The default may be another macro invocation:
MAX_ALLOC_CPUS = $(NUMCPUS:$(DETECTED_CPUS))-1These default specifications are restricted such that a macro invocation with a default can not be nested inside of another default. An alternative way of stating this restriction is that there can only be one colon character per line. The effect of nested defaults can be achieved by placing the macro definitions on separate lines of the configuration.
All entries in a configuration file must have an operator,
which will be an equals sign (=).
Identifiers are alphanumerics combined with the underscore character,
optionally with a subsystem name and a period as a prefix.
As a special case,
a line without an operator that begins with a left square bracket
will be ignored.
The following two-line example treats the first line as a comment,
and correctly handles the second line.
[HTCondor Settings] my_classad = [ foo=bar ]
To simplify pool administration,
any configuration variable name may be prefixed by
a subsystem
(see the $(SUBSYSTEM) macro in
section 3.3.12
for the list of subsystems)
and the period (.) character.
For configuration variables defined this way,
the value is applied to the specific subsystem.
For example,
the ports that HTCondor may use can be restricted to a range
using the HIGHPORT and LOWPORT configuration
variables.
MASTER.LOWPORT = 20000 MASTER.HIGHPORT = 20100
Note that all configuration variables may utilize this syntax, but nonsense configuration variables may result. For example, it makes no sense to define
NEGOTIATOR.MASTER_UPDATE_INTERVAL = 60since the condor_negotiator daemon does not use the MASTER_UPDATE_INTERVAL variable.
It makes little sense to do so, but HTCondor will configure correctly with a definition such as
MASTER.MASTER_UPDATE_INTERVAL = 60The condor_master uses this configuration variable, and the prefix of MASTER. causes this configuration to be specific to the condor_master daemon.
As of HTCondor version 8.1.1, evaluation works in the expected manner when combining the definition of a macro with use of a prefix that gives the subsystem name and a period. Consider the example
FILESPEC = A MASTER.FILESPEC = Bcombined with a later definition that incorporates FILESPEC in a macro:
USEFILE = mydir/$(FILESPEC)When the condor_master evaluates variable USEFILE, it evaluates to mydir/B. Previous to HTCondor version 8.1.1, it evaluated to mydir/A. When any other subsystem evaluates variable USEFILE, it evaluates to mydir/A.
This syntax has been further expanded to allow for the specification of a local name on the command line using the command line option
-local-name <local-name>This allows multiple instances of a daemon to be run by the same condor_master daemon, each instance with its own local configuration variable.
The ordering used to look up a variable, called <parameter name>:
<subsystem name>.<local name>.<parameter name>
<local name>.<parameter name>
<subsystem name>.<parameter name>
<parameter name>
If this local name is not specified on the command line, numbers 1 and 2 are skipped. As soon as the first match is found, the search is completed, and the corresponding value is used.
This example configures a condor_master to run 2 condor_schedd daemons. The condor_master daemon needs the configuration:
XYZZY = $(SCHEDD) XYZZY_ARGS = -local-name xyzzy DAEMON_LIST = $(DAEMON_LIST) XYZZY DC_DAEMON_LIST = + XYZZY XYZZY_LOG = $(LOG)/SchedLog.xyzzy
Using this example configuration, the condor_master starts up a second condor_schedd daemon, where this second condor_schedd daemon is passed -local-name xyzzy on the command line.
Continuing the example, configure the condor_schedd daemon named xyzzy. This condor_schedd daemon will share all configuration variable definitions with the other condor_schedd daemon, except for those specified separately.
SCHEDD.XYZZY.SCHEDD_NAME = XYZZY SCHEDD.XYZZY.SCHEDD_LOG = $(XYZZY_LOG) SCHEDD.XYZZY.SPOOL = $(SPOOL).XYZZY
Note that the example SCHEDD_NAME and SPOOL are specific to the condor_schedd daemon, as opposed to a different daemon such as the condor_startd. Other HTCondor daemons using this feature will have different requirements for which parameters need to be specified individually. This example works for the condor_schedd, and more local configuration can, and likely would be specified.
Also note that each daemon's log file must be specified individually, and in two places: one specification is for use by the condor_master, and the other is for use by the daemon itself. In the example, the XYZZY condor_schedd configuration variable SCHEDD.XYZZY.SCHEDD_LOG definition references the condor_master daemon's XYZZY_LOG.
An HTCondor configuration file may contain comments and
line continuations.
A comment is any line beginning with a pound character (#).
A continuation is any entry that continues across multiples lines.
Line continuation is accomplished by placing the backslash
character (
) at the end of any line to be continued onto another.
Valid examples of line continuation are
START = (KeyboardIdle > 15 * $(MINUTE)) && \ ((LoadAvg - CondorLoadAvg) <= 0.3)and
ADMIN_MACHINES = condor.cs.wisc.edu, raven.cs.wisc.edu, \ stork.cs.wisc.edu, ostrich.cs.wisc.edu, \ bigbird.cs.wisc.edu HOSTALLOW_ADMINISTRATOR = $(ADMIN_MACHINES)
Where a line continuation character directly precedes a comment, the entire comment line is ignored, and the following line is used in the continuation. Line continuation characters within comments are ignored.
Both this example
A = $(B) \ # $(C) $(D)and this example
A = $(B) \ # $(C) \ $(D)result in the same value for
A:
A = $(B) $(D)
As of version 8.5.6, the value for a macro can comprise multiple lines of text. The syntax for this is as follows:
<macro_name> @=<tag> <macro_definition lines> @<tag>
For example:
JOB_ROUTER_DEFAULTS @=jrd
[
requirements=target.WantJobRouter is True;
MaxIdleJobs = 10;
MaxJobs = 200;
/* now modify routed job attributes */
/* remove routed job if it goes on hold or stays idle for over 6 hours */
set_PeriodicRemove = JobStatus == 5 ||
(JobStatus == 1 && (time() - QDate) > 3600*6);
delete_WantJobRouter = true;
set_requirements = true;
]
@jrd
Note that in this example, the square brackets are part of the JOB_ROUTER_DEFAULTS value.
Instead of reading from a file, HTCondor can run a program to obtain configuration macros. The vertical bar character (|) as the last character defining a file name provides the syntax necessary to tell HTCondor to run a program. This syntax may only be used in the definition of the CONDOR_CONFIG environment variable, or the LOCAL_CONFIG_FILE configuration variable.
The command line for the program is formed by the characters preceding the vertical bar character. The standard output of the program is parsed as a configuration file would be.
An example:
LOCAL_CONFIG_FILE = /bin/make_the_config|
Program /bin/make_the_config is executed, and its output is the set of configuration macros.
Note that either a program is executed to generate the configuration macros or the configuration is read from one or more files. The syntax uses space characters to separate command line elements, if an executed program produces the configuration macros. Space characters would otherwise separate the list of files. This syntax does not permit distinguishing one from the other, so only one may be specified.
(Note that the include command syntax (see below) is now the preferred way to execute a program to generate configuration macros.)
Externally defined configuration can be incorporated using the following syntax:
include [ifexist] : <file> include : <cmdline>| include [ifexist] command [into <cache-file>] : <cmdline>
(Note that the ifexist and into options were
added in version 8.5.7. Also note that the command option
must be specified in order to use the into option - just
using the bar after <cmdline> will not work.)
In the file form of the include command, the <file>
specification must describe a single file, the contents of which
will be parsed and incorporated into the configuration.
Unless the ifexist option is specified, the non-existence
of the file is a fatal error.
In the command line form of the include command (specified with
either the command option or by appending a bar (|) character
after the <cmdline> specification), the
<cmdline> specification must describe a command line
(program and arguments); the command line will be executed,
and the output will be parsed and incorporated into the configuration.
If the into option is not used, the command line
will be executed every time the configuration file is referenced.
This may well be undesirable, and can be avoided by using the
into option.
The into keyword must be followed by the full pathname of a file
into which to write the output of the command line. If that file exists, it
will be read and the command line will not be executed. If that file
does not exist, the output of the command line will be written into it
and then the cache file will be read and incorporated into the
configuration. If the command line produces no
output, a zero length file will be created. If the command line returns
a non-zero exit code, configuration will abort and the cache file will
not be created unless the ifexist keyword is also specified.
The include key word is case insensitive. There are no requirements for white space characters surrounding the colon character.
Consider the example
FILE = config.$(FULL_HOSTNAME) include : $(LOCAL_DIR)/$(FILE)Values are acquired for configuration variables FILE, and LOCAL_DIR by immediate evaluation, causing variable FULL_HOSTNAME to also be immediately evaluated. The resulting value forms a full path and file name. This file is read and parsed. The resulting configuration is incorporated into the current configuration. This resulting configuration may contain further nested include specifications, which are also parsed, evaluated, and incorporated. Levels of nested includes are limited, such that infinite nesting is discovered and thwarted, while still permitting nesting.
Consider the further example
SCRIPT_FILE = script.$(IP_ADDRESS) include : $(RELEASE_DIR)/$(SCRIPT_FILE) |In this example, the bar character at the end of the line causes a script to be invoked, and the output of the script is incorporated into the current configuration. The same immediate parsing and evaluation occurs in this case as when a file's contents are included.
For pools that are transitioning to using this new syntax in configuration,
while still having some tools and daemons with HTCondor versions
earlier than 8.1.6,
special syntax in the configuration will cause those daemons to
fail upon startup,
rather than continuing, but incorrectly parsing the new syntax.
Newer daemons will ignore the extra syntax.
Placing the @ character before the include key word
causes the older daemons to fail when they attempt to
parse this syntax.
Here is the same example, but with the syntax that causes older daemons to fail when reading it.
FILE = config.$(FULL_HOSTNAME) @include : $(LOCAL_DIR)/$(FILE)A daemon older than version 8.1.6 will fail to start. Running an older condor_config_val identifies the @include line as being bad. A daemon of HTCondor version 8.1.6 or more recent sees:
FILE = config.$(FULL_HOSTNAME) include : $(LOCAL_DIR)/$(FILE)and starts up successfully.
Here is an example using the new ifexist and into options:
# stuff.pl writes "STUFF=1" to stdout include ifexist command into $(LOCAL_DIR)/stuff.config : perl $(LOCAL_DIR)/stuff.pl
As of version 8.5.7, warning and error messages can be included in HTCondor configuration files.
The syntax for warning and error messages is as follows:
warning : <warning message> error : <error message>
The warning and error messages will be printed when the configuration file is used (when almost any HTCondor command is run, for example). Error messages (unlike warnings) will prevent the successful use of the configuration file. This will, for example, prevent a daemon from starting, and prevent condor_config_val from returning a value.
Here's an example of using an error message in a configuration file (combined with some of the new include features documented above):
# stuff.pl writes "STUFF=1" to stdout include command into $(LOCAL_DIR)/stuff.config : perl $(LOCAL_DIR)/stuff.pl if ! defined stuff error : stuff is needed! endif
Conditional if/else semantics
are available in a limited form.
The syntax:
if <simple condition>
<statement>
. . .
<statement>
else
<statement>
. . .
<statement>
endif
An else key word and statements are not required,
such that simple if semantics are implemented.
The <simple condition> does not permit compound conditions.
It optionally contains the exclamation point character (!)
to represent the not operation,
followed by
defined keyword followed by the name of a
variable.
If the variable is defined, the statement(s) are
incorporated into the expanded input.
If the variable is not defined, the statement(s) are
not incorporated into the expanded input.
As an example,
if defined MY_UNDEFINED_VARIABLE
X = 12
else
X = -1
endif
results in X = -1, when MY_UNDEFINED_VARIABLE is
not yet defined.
version keyword, representing the version number of
of the daemon or tool currently reading this conditional.
This keyword is followed by an HTCondor version number.
That version number can be of the form x.y.z or x.y.
The version of the daemon or tool is compared to the specified
version number.
The comparison operators are
== for equality. Current version 8.2.3 is equal to 8.2.
>= to see if the current version number is greater than or
equal to. Current version 8.2.3 is greater than 8.2.2,
and current version 8.2.3 is greater than or equal to 8.2.
<= to see if the current version number is less than or
equal to. Current version 8.2.0 is less than 8.2.2,
and current version 8.2.3 is less than or equal to 8.2.
if version >= 8.1.6
DO_X = True
else
DO_Y = True
endif
results in defining DO_X as True if the current
version of the daemon or tool reading this if statement is 8.1.6
or a more recent version.
True or yes or the value 1.
The statement(s) are incorporated.
False or no or the value 0
The statement(s) are not incorporated.
$(<variable>) may be used where the
immediately evaluated value is a simple boolean value.
A value that evaluates to the empty string is considered False,
otherwise a value that does not evaluate to a simple boolean value
is a syntax error.
The syntax
if <simple condition>
<statement>
. . .
<statement>
elif <simple condition>
<statement>
. . .
<statement>
endif
is the same as syntax
if <simple condition>
<statement>
. . .
<statement>
else
if <simple condition>
<statement>
. . .
<statement>
endif
endif
A set of predefined functions increase flexibility. Both submit description files and configuration files are read using the same parser, so these functions may be used in both submit description files and configuration files.
Case is significant in the function's name, so use the same letter case as given in these definitions.
:default-value is used; in which case it evaluates to default-value.
For example,
A = $ENV(HOME)binds A to the value of the HOME environment variable.
"%d" is used
as the format specifier.
$RANDOM_CHOICE(0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8)
min and max, inclusive,
is selected.
The optional step parameter
controls the stride within the range, and it defaults to the value 1.
For example, to randomly chose an even integer in the range 0-8 (inclusive):
$RANDOM_INTEGER(0, 8, 2)
"%16G" is used
as a format specifier.
name and returns a substring of it.
The first character of the string is at index 0.
The first character of the substring is at index start-index.
If the optional length is not specified,
then the substring includes characters up to the end of the string.
A negative value of start-index works back from the end of the
string.
A negative value of length eliminates use of characters
from the end of the string.
Here are some examples that all assume
Name = abcdef
Environment references are not currently used in standard HTCondor configurations. However, they can sometimes be useful in custom configurations.
BIND_ALL_INTERFACES
FetchWorkDelay
MAX_NUM_CPUS
MAX_TRACKING_GID
MEMORY
MIN_TRACKING_GID
NETWORK_HOSTNAME
NETWORK_INTERFACE
NUM_CPUS
PREEMPTION_REQUIREMENTS_STABLE
PRIVSEP_ENABLED
PROCD_ADDRESS
SLOT_TYPE_<N>
OFFLINE_MACHINE_RESOURCE_<name>
HTCondor provides pre-defined macros that help configure HTCondor. Pre-defined macros are listed as $(macro_name).
This first set are entries whose values are determined at run time and cannot be overwritten. These are inserted automatically by the library routine which parses the configuration files. This implies that a change to the underlying value of any of these variables will require a full restart of HTCondor in order to use the changed value.
HTCondor selects the ``most public'' address heuristically. Your configuration should not depend on HTCondor picking any particular IP address for this macro; this macro's value may not even be one of the IP addresses HTCondor is configured to advertise.
labelparam:IPv4Address
See IP_ADDRESS about ``most public''.
See IP_ADDRESS about ``most public''.
C_GAHP
C_GAHP_WORKER_THREAD
CKPT_SERVER
COLLECTOR
DBMSD
DEFRAG
EC2_GAHP
GANGLIAD
GCE_GAHP
GRIDMANAGER
HAD
HDFS
JOB_ROUTER
KBDD
LEASEMANAGER
MASTER
NEGOTIATOR
QUILL
REPLICATION
ROOSTER
SCHEDD
SHADOW
SHARED_PORT
STARTD
STARTER
SUBMIT
TOOL
TRANSFERER
This second set of macros are entries whose default values are determined automatically at run time but which can be overwritten.
![[*]](crossref.png)
for details.
Since $(ARCH) and $(OPSYS) will automatically be set to the correct values, we recommend that you do not overwrite them.