> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.malbox.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Workers

> Worker configuration reference

This page documents all worker configuration options. For conceptual information, see [Workers](/task-management/workers).

## Daemon-level settings

You configure worker pool settings in the `[general]` section of `malbox.toml`:

```toml theme={null}
[general]
max_workers = 4
min_workers = 1
idle_timeout_ms = 60000
```

| Field             | Type      | Default | Description                                                                                                   |
| ----------------- | --------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `max_workers`     | `integer` | `4`     | Maximum number of concurrent workers. The pool auto-scales up to this limit when all active workers are busy. |
| `min_workers`     | `integer` | `1`     | Baseline workers that are always running. These never idle-exit.                                              |
| `idle_timeout_ms` | `integer` | `60000` | How long a demand worker (beyond `min_workers`) waits without work before exiting. In milliseconds.           |

Baseline workers (`min_workers`) have no idle timeout and run until the daemon shuts down. The daemon spawns demand workers when all active workers are busy, and they exit automatically after `idle_timeout_ms` of inactivity.

## Worker configuration

Control individual worker behavior through `WorkerConfig`:

```toml theme={null}
[[workers]]
name = "default"
execution_mode = "Single"
batch_processing = false
max_batch_size = 1
batch_timeout_ms = 500
idle_timeout_ms = 500
max_concurrent_tasks = 1
priority = 5

[workers.resource_limits]
memory_mb = 4096
cpu_cores = 2

[workers.plugin_restrictions]
allow = ["string-extractor", "yara-scanner"]
deny = []
```

### Fields

| Field                  | Type       | Required | Default   | Description                                                                        |
| ---------------------- | ---------- | -------- | --------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `name`                 | `string`   | Yes      | -         | Unique name for this worker configuration.                                         |
| `compatible_tasks`     | `string[]` | No       | all types | Task types this worker can handle. Omit or set to `null` to accept all task types. |
| `execution_mode`       | `string`   | Yes      | -         | `"Single"` (one task at a time) or `"Batch"` (batch processing).                   |
| `batch_processing`     | `bool`     | Yes      | -         | Whether this worker supports batch processing.                                     |
| `max_batch_size`       | `integer`  | No       | `1`       | Maximum tasks in a single batch.                                                   |
| `batch_timeout_ms`     | `integer`  | No       | `500`     | Maximum time to wait for batch collection (milliseconds).                          |
| `idle_timeout_ms`      | `integer`  | No       | `500`     | Maximum idle time before the worker exits (milliseconds).                          |
| `max_concurrent_tasks` | `integer`  | No       | `1`       | Maximum concurrent tasks this worker can handle.                                   |
| `priority`             | `integer`  | No       | `5`       | Worker priority for task assignment (higher = preferred). Range: 0-255.            |
| `compatible_platforms` | `string[]` | No       | all       | Machine platforms this worker can handle (`"windows"`, `"linux"`).                 |

### `[workers.resource_limits]`

Optional resource constraints for the worker.

| Field          | Type      | Default   | Description                      |
| -------------- | --------- | --------- | -------------------------------- |
| `memory_mb`    | `integer` | unlimited | Memory limit in megabytes.       |
| `cpu_cores`    | `integer` | unlimited | CPU core limit.                  |
| `disk_mb`      | `integer` | unlimited | Disk space limit in megabytes.   |
| `network_kbps` | `integer` | unlimited | Network bandwidth limit in KB/s. |

### `[workers.plugin_restrictions]`

Control which plugins a worker is allowed to execute.

| Field   | Type       | Default            | Description                                                                 |
| ------- | ---------- | ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `allow` | `string[]` | `[]` (all allowed) | Plugins this worker is allowed to use. Empty means all plugins are allowed. |
| `deny`  | `string[]` | `[]`               | Plugins this worker must not use. Takes precedence over `allow`.            |