Neural Network Dataflow Scheduling

This Python tool allows you to explore the energy-efficient dataflow scheduling for neural networks (NNs), including array mapping, loop blocking and reordering, and parallel partitioning.

For hardware, we assume an Eyeriss-style NN accelerator [Chen16], i.e., a 2D array of processing elements (PEs) with a local register file in each PE, and a global SRAM buffer shared by all PEs. We further support a tiled architecture with multiple nodes that can partition and process the NN computations in parallel. Each node is an Eyeriss-style engine as above.

In software, we decouple the dataflow scheduling into three subproblems:

• Array mapping, which deals with mapping one 2D convolution computation (one 2D ifmap convolves with one 2D filter to get one 2D ofmap) onto the hardware PE array. We support row stationary mapping [Chen16].
• Loop blocking and reordering, which decides the order between all 2D convolutions by blocking and reordering the nested loops. We support exhaustive search over all blocking and reordering schemes [Yang16], and analytical bypass solvers [Gao17].
• Partitioning, which partitions the NN computations for parallel processing. We support batch partitioning, fmap partitioning, output partitioning, input partitioning, and the combination between them (hybrid) [Gao17].

See the details in our ASPLOS'17 paper [Gao17].

If you use this tool in your work, we kindly request that you reference our paper(s) below, and send us a citation of your work.

• Gao et al., "TETRIS: Scalable and Efficient Neural Network Acceleration with 3D Memory", in ASPLOS, April 2017 [Gao17].

Install

The following are the commands required to install. This program requires Python2.7 and does not work in later versions without modifications:

> pip install -r requirements.txt
> pip install --user -e ./
> python2.7 setup.py install

You might need sudo user when installing the second command.

Usage

First, define the NN structure in nn_dataflow/nns. We already defined several popular NNs for you, including AlexNet, VGG-16, GoogLeNet, ResNet-152, etc.

Then, use nn_dataflow/tools/nn_dataflow_search.py to search for the optimal dataflow for the NN. For detailed options, type:

> python ./nn_dataflow/tools/nn_dataflow_search.py -h

You can specify NN batch size and word size, PE array dimensions, number of tile nodes, register file and global buffer capacity, and the energy cost of all components. Note that, the energy cost of array bus should be the average energy of transferring the data from the buffer to one PE, not local neighbor transfer; the unit static energy cost should be the static energy of one node in one clock cycle.

Other options include:

• --mem-type: 2D or 3D. With 2D memory, memory channels are only on the left and right sides of the chip; with 3D memory, memory channels are on the top of all tile nodes (one per each).
• --disable-bypass: a combination of i, o, f, whether to disallow global buffer bypass for ifmaps, ofmaps, and weights.
• --solve-loopblocking: whether to use analytical bypass solvers for loop blocking and reordering. See [Gao17].
• --hybrid-partitioning: whether to use hybrid partitioning in [Gao17]. If not enabled, use naive partitioning, i.e., fmap partitioning for CONV layers, and output partitioning for FC layers.
• --batch-partitioning and --ifmap-partitioning: whether the hybrid partitioning also explores batch and input partitioning.

Code Structure

• nn_dataflow

  • core

    • Top-level dataflow exploration: nn_dataflow, nn_dataflow_scheme.
    • Layer scheduling: scheduling.
    • Array mapping: map_strategy.
    • Loop blocking and reordering: loop_blocking, loop_blocking_scheme, loop_blocking_solver.
    • Partitioning: partition, partition_scheme.
    • Network and layer: network, layer.

  • nns: example NN definitions.
  • tests: unit tests.
  • tools: executables.

Verification and Testing

To verify the tool against the Eyeriss result [Chen16], see nn_dataflow/tests/dataflow_test/test_nn_dataflow.py.

To run (unit) tests, do one of the following:

> python -m unittest discover

> python -m pytest

> pytest

To check code coverage with pytest-cov plug-in:

> pytest --cov=nn_dataflow

Copyright & License

nn_dataflow is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the BSD License as published by the Open Source Initiative, revised version.

nn_dataflow was originally written by Mingyu Gao at Stanford University, and per Stanford University policy, the copyright of this original code remains with the Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University.

References

[Gao17]

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) Gao, Pu, Yang, Horowitz, and Kozyrakis, TETRIS: Scalable and Efficient Neural Network Acceleration with 3D Memory, in ASPLOS. April, 2017.

[Chen16]

(1, 2, 3) Chen, Emer, and Sze, Eyeriss: A Spatial Architecture for Energy-Efficient Dataflow for Convolutional Neural Networks, in ISCA. June, 2016.

[Yang16]

Yang, Pu, Rister, Bhagdikar, Richardson, Kvatinsky, Ragan-Kelley, Pedram, and Horowitz, A Systematic Approach to Blocking Convolutional Neural Networks, arXiv preprint, 2016.