# Configure and create a cluster with the PCUI
<a name="configure-create-pcui-v3"></a>

The PCUI is a web-based user interface that mirrors the AWS ParallelCluster `pcluster` CLI, while providing a console-like experience. You install and access the PCUI in your AWS account. When you run it, the PCUI accesses an instance of the AWS ParallelCluster API hosted on Amazon API Gateway in your AWS account.

**Note**  
The PCUI wizard may not have UI options for all the supported features in the latest supported AWS ParallelCluster version. You can manually edit the configuration file as needed or use the AWS ParallelCluster CLI.

This section guides you through how to configure and create a cluster using the PCUI.

**Prerequisites:**
+ Access to a running instance of PCUI. For more information, see [Installing the PCUI](install-pcui-v3.md).

**Configure and create a cluster**

1. In the PCUI **Clusters** view, choose **Create cluster**, **Step by step**.

1. In **Cluster**, **Name**, enter a name for your cluster.

1. Choose a **VPC** with a public subnet for your cluster, then choose **Next**.

1. In **Head node**, choose **Add SSM session**, then choose **Next**.

1. In **Queues**, **Compute resources**, choose **1** for **Static nodes**.

1. For **Instance type**, remove the selected default instance type, choose **t2.micro**, then choose **Next**.

1. In **Storage**, choose **Next**.

1. In **Cluster configuration**, review the cluster configuration YAML and choose **Dry run** to validate it.

1. Choose **Create** to create your cluster, based on the validated configuration.

1. After a few seconds, the PCUI automatically navigates you back to **Clusters**, where you can monitor the cluster create status and **Stack events**.

1. Choose **Details** to see cluster details, such as the version and status.

1. Choose **Instances** to see the list of Amazon EC2 instances and status.

1. Choose **Stack events** to view cluster stack events, and a AWS Management Console link to the CloudFormation stack that creates the cluster.

1. In **Details**, after cluster creation completes, choose **View YAML** to view or download the cluster configuration YAML file.

1. After cluster creation completes, choose **Shell** to access the cluster head node.
**Note**  
When you choose **Shell**, AWS ParallelCluster opens an Amazon EC2 Systems Manager session and adds an `ssm-user` to `/etc/sudoers`. For more information, see [Turn on or turn off `ssm-user` account administrative permissions](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/latest/userguide/session-manager-getting-started-ssm-user-permissions.html) in the *Amazon EC2 Systems Manager User Guide*.

1. To clean up, in the **Clusters** view, select the cluster, and choose **Actions**, **Delete cluster**.