📙 PCluster Guide

PCluster 101

This guide walks you through everything you need to go from zero to running HPC jobs on AWS using ParallelCluster. Follow the steps in order for the smoothest experience, or jump to a specific section if you know what you’re looking for.

Step Section What You’ll Learn
1 Introduction to PCluster What it is, how it works, and when to use it
2 Getting Access Prerequisites and access requirements
3 Navigating the ParallelCluster UI Finding your way around the PCUI
4 Creating Your First Cluster Cluster configuration, queues, storage, and launch
5 Connecting to Your Cluster DCV remote desktop, SSH, and clipboard usage
6 Working with Data & Software Shared storage, Spack package manager, and data transfer
7 Submitting Jobs with Slurm Job scripts, queues, monitoring, and scaling
8 Troubleshooting & FAQs Common issues and frequently asked questions

For detailed reference tables (instance types, Slurm commands), see the Reference section.

Tip

First time here? Start at Step 1 and work your way through. You’ll have a running HPC cluster within 30 minutes.