description: A one-machine strategy that puts all variables on a single device.

tf.distribute.experimental.CentralStorageStrategy

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A one-machine strategy that puts all variables on a single device.

Inherits From: Strategy

tf.distribute.experimental.CentralStorageStrategy(
    compute_devices=None, parameter_device=None
)

Variables are assigned to local CPU or the only GPU. If there is more than one GPU, compute operations (other than variable update operations) will be replicated across all GPUs.

For Example:

strategy = tf.distribute.experimental.CentralStorageStrategy()
# Create a dataset
ds = tf.data.Dataset.range(5).batch(2)
# Distribute that dataset
dist_dataset = strategy.experimental_distribute_dataset(ds)

with strategy.scope():
  @tf.function
  def train_step(val):
    return val + 1

  # Iterate over the distributed dataset
  for x in dist_dataset:
    # process dataset elements
    strategy.run(train_step, args=(x,))

os.environ['TF_CONFIG'] = json.dumps({
'cluster': {
'worker': ["localhost:12345", "localhost:23456"],
'ps': ["localhost:34567"]
},
'task': {'type': 'worker', 'index': 0}
})

# This implicitly uses TF_CONFIG for the cluster and current task info.
strategy = tf.distribute.experimental.MultiWorkerMirroredStrategy()

...

if strategy.cluster_resolver.task_type == 'worker':
# Perform something that's only applicable on workers. Since we set this
# as a worker above, this block will run on this particular instance.
elif strategy.cluster_resolver.task_type == 'ps':
# Perform something that's only applicable on parameter servers. Since we
# set this as a worker above, this block will not run on this particular
# instance.

Methods

distribute_datasets_from_function

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distribute_datasets_from_function(
    dataset_fn, options=None
)

Distributes tf.data.Dataset instances created by calls to dataset_fn.

The argument dataset_fn that users pass in is an input function that has a tf.distribute.InputContext argument and returns a tf.data.Dataset instance. It is expected that the returned dataset from dataset_fn is already batched by per-replica batch size (i.e. global batch size divided by the number of replicas in sync) and sharded. tf.distribute.Strategy.distribute_datasets_from_function does not batch or shard the tf.data.Dataset instance returned from the input function. dataset_fn will be called on the CPU device of each of the workers and each generates a dataset where every replica on that worker will dequeue one batch of inputs (i.e. if a worker has two replicas, two batches will be dequeued from the Dataset every step).

This method can be used for several purposes. First, it allows you to specify your own batching and sharding logic. (In contrast, tf.distribute.experimental_distribute_dataset does batching and sharding for you.) For example, where experimental_distribute_dataset is unable to shard the input files, this method might be used to manually shard the dataset (avoiding the slow fallback behavior in experimental_distribute_dataset). In cases where the dataset is infinite, this sharding can be done by creating dataset replicas that differ only in their random seed.

The dataset_fn should take an tf.distribute.InputContext instance where information about batching and input replication can be accessed.

You can use element_spec property of the tf.distribute.DistributedDataset returned by this API to query the tf.TypeSpec of the elements returned by the iterator. This can be used to set the input_signature property of a tf.function. Follow tf.distribute.DistributedDataset.element_spec to see an example.

IMPORTANT: The tf.data.Dataset returned by dataset_fn should have a per-replica batch size, unlike experimental_distribute_dataset, which uses the global batch size. This may be computed using input_context.get_per_replica_batch_size.

Note: If you are using TPUStrategy, the order in which the data is processed by the workers when using tf.distribute.Strategy.experimental_distribute_dataset or tf.distribute.Strategy.distribute_datasets_from_function is not guaranteed. This is typically required if you are using tf.distribute to scale prediction. You can however insert an index for each element in the batch and order outputs accordingly. Refer to this snippet for an example of how to order outputs.

Note: Stateful dataset transformations are currently not supported with tf.distribute.experimental_distribute_dataset or tf.distribute.distribute_datasets_from_function. Any stateful ops that the dataset may have are currently ignored. For example, if your dataset has a map_fn that uses tf.random.uniform to rotate an image, then you have a dataset graph that depends on state (i.e the random seed) on the local machine where the python process is being executed.

For a tutorial on more usage and properties of this method, refer to the tutorial on distributed input). If you are interested in last partial batch handling, read this section.

experimental_distribute_dataset

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experimental_distribute_dataset(
    dataset, options=None
)

Distributes a tf.data.Dataset instance provided via dataset.

The returned dataset is a wrapped strategy dataset which creates a multidevice iterator under the hood. It prefetches the input data to the specified devices on the worker. The returned distributed dataset can be iterated over similar to how regular datasets can.

NOTE: Currently, the user cannot add any more transformations to a distributed dataset.

For Example:

strategy = tf.distribute.CentralStorageStrategy()  # with 1 CPU and 1 GPU
dataset = tf.data.Dataset.range(10).batch(2)
dist_dataset = strategy.experimental_distribute_dataset(dataset)
for x in dist_dataset:
  print(x)  # Prints PerReplica values [0, 1], [2, 3],...

Args: dataset: tf.data.Dataset to be prefetched to device. options: tf.distribute.InputOptions used to control options on how this dataset is distributed.

experimental_distribute_values_from_function

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experimental_distribute_values_from_function(
    value_fn
)

Generates tf.distribute.DistributedValues from value_fn.

This function is to generate tf.distribute.DistributedValues to pass into run, reduce, or other methods that take distributed values when not using datasets.

Example usage:

1. Return constant value per replica:

>>> strategy = tf.distribute.MirroredStrategy(["GPU:0", "GPU:1"])
>>> def value_fn(ctx):
...   return tf.constant(1.)
>>> distributed_values = (
...      strategy.experimental_distribute_values_from_function(
...        value_fn))
>>> local_result = strategy.experimental_local_results(distributed_values)
>>> local_result
(<tf.Tensor: shape=(), dtype=float32, numpy=1.0>,
 <tf.Tensor: shape=(), dtype=float32, numpy=1.0>)

1. Distribute values in array based on replica_id:

>>> strategy = tf.distribute.MirroredStrategy(["GPU:0", "GPU:1"])
>>> array_value = np.array([3., 2., 1.])
>>> def value_fn(ctx):
...   return array_value[ctx.replica_id_in_sync_group]
>>> distributed_values = (
...      strategy.experimental_distribute_values_from_function(
...        value_fn))
>>> local_result = strategy.experimental_local_results(distributed_values)
>>> local_result
(3.0, 2.0)

1. Specify values using num_replicas_in_sync:

>>> strategy = tf.distribute.MirroredStrategy(["GPU:0", "GPU:1"])
>>> def value_fn(ctx):
...   return ctx.num_replicas_in_sync
>>> distributed_values = (
...      strategy.experimental_distribute_values_from_function(
...        value_fn))
>>> local_result = strategy.experimental_local_results(distributed_values)
>>> local_result
(2, 2)

1. Place values on devices and distribute:

strategy = tf.distribute.TPUStrategy()
worker_devices = strategy.extended.worker_devices
multiple_values = []
for i in range(strategy.num_replicas_in_sync):
  with tf.device(worker_devices[i]):
    multiple_values.append(tf.constant(1.0))

def value_fn(ctx):
  return multiple_values[ctx.replica_id_in_sync_group]

distributed_values = strategy.
  experimental_distribute_values_from_function(
  value_fn)

experimental_local_results

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experimental_local_results(
    value
)

Returns the list of all local per-replica values contained in value.

In CentralStorageStrategy there is a single worker so the value returned will be all the values on that worker.

gather

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gather(
    value, axis
)

Gather value across replicas along axis to the current device.

Given a tf.distribute.DistributedValues or tf.Tensor-like object value, this API gathers and concatenates value across replicas along the axis-th dimension. The result is copied to the "current" device - which would typically be the CPU of the worker on which the program is running. For tf.distribute.TPUStrategy, it is the first TPU host. For multi-client MultiWorkerMirroredStrategy, this is CPU of each worker.

This API can only be called in the cross-replica context. For a counterpart in the replica context, see tf.distribute.ReplicaContext.all_gather.

Note: For all strategies except tf.distribute.TPUStrategy, the input value on different replicas must have the same rank, and their shapes must be the same in all dimensions except the axis-th dimension. In other words, their shapes cannot be different in a dimension d where d does not equal to the axis argument. For example, given a tf.distribute.DistributedValues with component tensors of shape (1, 2, 3) and (1, 3, 3) on two replicas, you can call gather(..., axis=1, ...) on it, but not gather(..., axis=0, ...) or gather(..., axis=2, ...). However, for tf.distribute.TPUStrategy.gather, all tensors must have exactly the same rank and same shape.

Note: Given a tf.distribute.DistributedValues value, its component tensors must have a non-zero rank. Otherwise, consider using tf.expand_dims before gathering them.

>>> strategy = tf.distribute.MirroredStrategy(["GPU:0", "GPU:1"])
>>> # A DistributedValues with component tensor of shape (2, 1) on each replica
... distributed_values = strategy.experimental_distribute_values_from_function(lambda _: tf.identity(tf.constant([[1], [2]])))
>>> @tf.function
... def run():
...   return strategy.gather(distributed_values, axis=0)
>>> run()
<tf.Tensor: shape=(4, 1), dtype=int32, numpy=
array([[1],
       [2],
       [1],
       [2]], dtype=int32)>

Consider the following example for more combinations:

>>> strategy = tf.distribute.MirroredStrategy(["GPU:0", "GPU:1", "GPU:2", "GPU:3"])
>>> single_tensor = tf.reshape(tf.range(6), shape=(1,2,3))
>>> distributed_values = strategy.experimental_distribute_values_from_function(lambda _: tf.identity(single_tensor))
>>> @tf.function
... def run(axis):
...   return strategy.gather(distributed_values, axis=axis)
>>> axis=0
>>> run(axis)
<tf.Tensor: shape=(4, 2, 3), dtype=int32, numpy=
array([[[0, 1, 2],
        [3, 4, 5]],
       [[0, 1, 2],
        [3, 4, 5]],
       [[0, 1, 2],
        [3, 4, 5]],
       [[0, 1, 2],
        [3, 4, 5]]], dtype=int32)>
>>> axis=1
>>> run(axis)
<tf.Tensor: shape=(1, 8, 3), dtype=int32, numpy=
array([[[0, 1, 2],
        [3, 4, 5],
        [0, 1, 2],
        [3, 4, 5],
        [0, 1, 2],
        [3, 4, 5],
        [0, 1, 2],
        [3, 4, 5]]], dtype=int32)>
>>> axis=2
>>> run(axis)
<tf.Tensor: shape=(1, 2, 12), dtype=int32, numpy=
array([[[0, 1, 2, 0, 1, 2, 0, 1, 2, 0, 1, 2],
        [3, 4, 5, 3, 4, 5, 3, 4, 5, 3, 4, 5]]], dtype=int32)>

reduce

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reduce(
    reduce_op, value, axis
)

Reduce value across replicas.

Given a per-replica value returned by run, say a per-example loss, the batch will be divided across all the replicas. This function allows you to aggregate across replicas and optionally also across batch elements. For example, if you have a global batch size of 8 and 2 replicas, values for examples [0, 1, 2, 3] will be on replica 0 and [4, 5, 6, 7] will be on replica 1. By default, reduce will just aggregate across replicas, returning [0+4, 1+5, 2+6, 3+7]. This is useful when each replica is computing a scalar or some other value that doesn't have a "batch" dimension (like a gradient). More often you will want to aggregate across the global batch, which you can get by specifying the batch dimension as the axis, typically axis=0. In this case it would return a scalar 0+1+2+3+4+5+6+7.

If there is a last partial batch, you will need to specify an axis so that the resulting shape is consistent across replicas. So if the last batch has size 6 and it is divided into [0, 1, 2, 3] and [4, 5], you would get a shape mismatch unless you specify axis=0. If you specify tf.distribute.ReduceOp.MEAN, using axis=0 will use the correct denominator of 6. Contrast this with computing reduce_mean to get a scalar value on each replica and this function to average those means, which will weigh some values 1/8 and others 1/4.

For Example:

strategy = tf.distribute.experimental.CentralStorageStrategy(
    compute_devices=['CPU:0', 'GPU:0'], parameter_device='CPU:0')
ds = tf.data.Dataset.range(10)
# Distribute that dataset
dist_dataset = strategy.experimental_distribute_dataset(ds)

with strategy.scope():
  @tf.function
  def train_step(val):
    # pass through
    return val

  # Iterate over the distributed dataset
  for x in dist_dataset:
    result = strategy.run(train_step, args=(x,))

result = strategy.reduce(tf.distribute.ReduceOp.SUM, result,
                         axis=None).numpy()
# result: array([ 4,  6,  8, 10])

result = strategy.reduce(tf.distribute.ReduceOp.SUM, result, axis=0).numpy()
# result: 28

run

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run(
    fn, args=(), kwargs=None, options=None
)

Run fn on each replica, with the given arguments.

In CentralStorageStrategy, fn is called on each of the compute replicas, with the provided "per replica" arguments specific to that device.

scope

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scope()

Context manager to make the strategy current and distribute variables.

This method returns a context manager, and is used as follows:

>>> strategy = tf.distribute.MirroredStrategy(["GPU:0", "GPU:1"])
>>> # Variable created inside scope:
>>> with strategy.scope():
...   mirrored_variable = tf.Variable(1.)
>>> mirrored_variable
MirroredVariable:{
  0: <tf.Variable 'Variable:0' shape=() dtype=float32, numpy=1.0>,
  1: <tf.Variable 'Variable/replica_1:0' shape=() dtype=float32, numpy=1.0>
}
>>> # Variable created outside scope:
>>> regular_variable = tf.Variable(1.)
>>> regular_variable
<tf.Variable 'Variable:0' shape=() dtype=float32, numpy=1.0>

What happens when Strategy.scope is entered?

• strategy is installed in the global context as the "current" strategy. Inside this scope, tf.distribute.get_strategy() will now return this strategy. Outside this scope, it returns the default no-op strategy.
• Entering the scope also enters the "cross-replica context". See tf.distribute.StrategyExtended for an explanation on cross-replica and replica contexts.
• Variable creation inside scope is intercepted by the strategy. Each strategy defines how it wants to affect the variable creation. Sync strategies like MirroredStrategy, TPUStrategy and MultiWorkerMiroredStrategy create variables replicated on each replica, whereas ParameterServerStrategy creates variables on the parameter servers. This is done using a custom tf.variable_creator_scope.
• In some strategies, a default device scope may also be entered: in MultiWorkerMiroredStrategy, a default device scope of "/CPU:0" is entered on each worker.

Note: Entering a scope does not automatically distribute a computation, except in the case of high level training framework like keras model.fit. If you're not using model.fit, you need to use strategy.run API to explicitly distribute that computation. See an example in the custom training loop tutorial.

What should be in scope and what should be outside?

There are a number of requirements on what needs to happen inside the scope. However, in places where we have information about which strategy is in use, we often enter the scope for the user, so they don't have to do it explicitly (i.e. calling those either inside or outside the scope is OK).

• Anything that creates variables that should be distributed variables must be in strategy.scope. This can be either by directly putting it in scope, or relying on another API like strategy.run or model.fit to enter it for you. Any variable that is created outside scope will not be distributed and may have performance implications. Common things that create variables in TF: models, optimizers, metrics. These should always be created inside the scope. Another source of variable creation can be a checkpoint restore - when variables are created lazily. Note that any variable created inside a strategy captures the strategy information. So reading and writing to these variables outside the strategy.scope can also work seamlessly, without the user having to enter the scope.
• Some strategy APIs (such as strategy.run and strategy.reduce) which require to be in a strategy's scope, enter the scope for you automatically, which means when using those APIs you don't need to enter the scope yourself.
• When a tf.keras.Model is created inside a strategy.scope, we capture this information. When high level training frameworks methods such as model.compile, model.fit etc are then called on this model, we automatically enter the scope, as well as use this strategy to distribute the training etc. See detailed example in distributed keras tutorial. Note that simply calling the model(..) is not impacted - only high level training framework APIs are. model.compile, model.fit, model.evaluate, model.predict and model.save can all be called inside or outside the scope.
• The following can be either inside or outside the scope:
  • Creating the input datasets
  • Defining tf.functions that represent your training step
  • Saving APIs such as tf.saved_model.save. Loading creates variables, so that should go inside the scope if you want to train the model in a distributed way.
  • Checkpoint saving. As mentioned above - checkpoint.restore may sometimes need to be inside scope if it creates variables.