An embodiment method for massively parallel processing includes initiating a management instance on an initial machine, the management instance generating an initial partition corresponding to the initial machine, determining a total number of partitions desired for processing a database, the total number of partitions including the initial partition, determining a number of additional machines available to process the database, grouping the initial machine and the additional machines together in a pod, and launching the management instance on the additional machines in the pod to generate the total number of partitions desired for the database. Additional embodiment methods and an embodiment system operable to perform such methods are also disclosed.