# How Amazon ParallelCluster works
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Amazon ParallelCluster was built not only as a way to manage clusters, but as a reference on how to use Amazon services to build your HPC environment. The following topics describe Amazon ParallelCluster processes, the Amazon Web Services services that Amazon ParallelCluster uses and how, and the internal directories.

**Topics**
+ [Amazon ParallelCluster processes](processes-v3.md)
+ [Amazon services used by Amazon ParallelCluster](aws-services-v3.md)
+ [Amazon ParallelCluster internal directories](directories-v3.md)