# Slicer on a cluster using a virtual desktop

**URL:** <https://discourse.slicer.org/t/slicer-on-a-cluster-using-a-virtual-desktop/40316>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [November 21, 2024, 10:16pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/slicer-on-a-cluster-using-a-virtual-desktop/40316 "2024-11-21T22:16:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mandorodriguez](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/mandorodriguez/32/78597_2.png) [@mandorodriguez](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/mandorodriguez)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2024, 10:16pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/slicer-on-a-cluster-using-a-virtual-desktop/40316/1 "2024-11-21T22:16:14Z")

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Greetings,

We users that would like to use Slicer 3D on our compute cluster which has a virtual desktop. We install apps to a common area that they load via a module system (lmod). Are there any examples of someone else doing this?

Or better yet a doc explaining where to copy all base configurations from and how to set all of the environment variables properly to point to an individual users home/work directory?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![muratmaga](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/muratmaga/32/3622_2.png) [@muratmaga](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/muratmaga)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2024, 1:13am UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/slicer-on-a-cluster-using-a-virtual-desktop/40316/2 "2024-11-22T01:13:58Z")

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It is almost guaranteed not to work if you try to use slicer through modules. That’s because that directory is not writable to ordinary users, which can break a lot of things.

The simplest solution is everyone to run slicer from their own home directory. If you do want to keep everything fixed for everyone, then consider creating a docker image and use that. If you search the forum for SlicerDocker you will find discussion of those.

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**Author:** ![mandorodriguez](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/mandorodriguez/32/78597_2.png) [@mandorodriguez](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/mandorodriguez)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2024, 8:01pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/slicer-on-a-cluster-using-a-virtual-desktop/40316/3 "2024-11-22T20:01:18Z")

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Ok gotcha. Will mostly likely set up a fresh install in the users /work directory.