> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://igb.mit.edu/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://igb.mit.edu/mini-courses/advanced-utilization-of-igb-computational-resources/high-performance-computing-clusters.md).

# High Performance Computing Clusters

High-performance computing clusters have multiple CPUs and massive amounts of RAM all distributed between multiple machines, and all used by multiple people with varying needs. Because of this, multiple common problems arise:

1. Distributing the processing load from so many people's jobs onto computing nodes.
2. Running interactive programs on the computing cluster.
3. Managing packages when users have varying, sometimes contradictory needs.

How do we manage these problems on our computing cluster?