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What are compute targets in Azure Machine Learning?

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A compute target is a designated compute resource or environment where you run your training script or host your service deployment. This location might be your local machine or a cloud-based compute resource. Using compute targets makes it easy for you to later change your compute environment without having to change your code.

In a typical model development lifecycle, you might:

  1. Start by developing and experimenting on a small amount of data. At this stage, use your local environment, such as a local computer or cloud-based virtual machine (VM), as your compute target.
  2. Scale up to larger data, or do distributed training by using one of these training compute targets.
  3. After your model is ready, deploy it to a web hosting environment with one of these deployment compute targets.

The compute resources you use for your compute targets are attached to a workspace. Compute resources other than the local machine are shared by users of the workspace.

Training compute targets

Azure Machine Learning has varying support across different compute targets. A typical model development lifecycle starts with development or experimentation on a small amount of data. At this stage, use a local environment like your local computer or a cloud-based VM. As you scale up your training on larger datasets or perform distributed training, use Azure Machine Learning compute to create a single- or multi-node cluster that autoscales each time you submit a run. You can also attach your own compute resource, although support for different scenarios might vary.

Compute targets can be reused from one training job to the next. For example, after you attach a remote VM to your workspace, you can reuse it for multiple jobs. For machine learning pipelines, use the appropriate pipeline step for each compute target.

You can use any of the following resources for a training compute target for most jobs. Not all resources can be used for automated machine learning, machine learning pipelines, or designer. Azure Databricks can be used as a training resource for local runs and machine learning pipelines, but not as a remote target for other training.

Training  targets Automated machine learning Machine learning pipelines Azure Machine Learning designer
Local computer Yes    
Azure Machine Learning compute cluster Yes Yes Yes
Azure Machine Learning compute instance Yes (through SDK) Yes Yes
Azure Machine Learning Kubernetes Yes Yes Yes
Remote VM Yes Yes  
Apache Spark pools (preview) Yes (SDK local mode only) Yes  
Azure Databricks Yes (SDK local mode only) Yes  
Azure Data Lake Analytics   Yes  
Azure HDInsight   Yes  
Azure Batch   Yes  

Tip

The compute instance has 120GB OS disk. If you run out of disk space, use the terminal to clear at least 1-2 GB before you stop or restart the compute instance.

Learn more about how to submit a training run to a compute target.

Compute targets for inference

When performing inference, Azure Machine Learning creates a Docker container that hosts the model and associated resources needed to use it. This container is then used in a compute target.

The compute target you use to host your model will affect the cost and availability of your deployed endpoint. Use this table to choose an appropriate compute target.

Compute target Used for GPU support FPGA support Description
Local web service Testing/debugging     Use for limited testing and troubleshooting. Hardware acceleration depends on use of libraries in the local system.
Azure Machine Learning Kubernetes Real-time inference

Batch inference		 Yes N/A Run inferencing workloads on on-premise, cloud, and edge Kubernetes clusters.
Azure Container Instances Real-time inference

Recommended for dev/test purposes only.		     Use for low-scale CPU-based workloads that require less than 48 GB of RAM. Doesn't require you to manage a cluster.

Supported in the designer.
Azure Machine Learning compute clusters Batch inference Yes (machine learning pipeline)   Run batch scoring on serverless compute. Supports normal and low-priority VMs. No support for real-time inference.

Note

Although compute targets like local, and Azure Machine Learning compute clusters support GPU for training and experimentation, using GPU for inference when deployed as a web service is supported only on Azure Machine Learning Kubernetes.

Using a GPU for inference when scoring with a machine learning pipeline is supported only on Azure Machine Learning compute.

When choosing a cluster SKU, first scale up and then scale out. Start with a machine that has 150% of the RAM your model requires, profile the result and find a machine that has the performance you need. Once you've learned that, increase the number of machines to fit your need for concurrent inference.

Note

  • Container instances are suitable only for small models less than 1 GB in size.

Learn where and how to deploy your model to a compute target.

Azure Machine Learning compute (managed)

A managed compute resource is created and managed by Azure Machine Learning. This compute is optimized for machine learning workloads. Azure Machine Learning compute clusters and compute instances are the only managed computes.

You can create Azure Machine Learning compute instances or compute clusters from:

When created, these compute resources are automatically part of your workspace, unlike other kinds of compute targets.

Capability Compute cluster Compute instance
Single- or multi-node cluster ✓ Single node cluster
Autoscales each time you submit a run ✓
Automatic cluster management and job scheduling ✓ ✓
Support for both CPU and GPU resources ✓ ✓

Note

When a compute cluster is idle, it autoscales to 0 nodes, so you don't pay when it's not in use. A compute instance is always on and doesn't autoscale. You should stop the compute instance when you aren't using it to avoid extra cost.

Supported VM series and sizes

When you select a node size for a managed compute resource in Azure Machine Learning, you can choose from among select VM sizes available in Azure. Azure offers a range of sizes for Linux and Windows for different workloads. To learn more, see VM types and sizes.

There are a few exceptions and limitations to choosing a VM size:

  • Some VM series aren't supported in Azure Machine Learning.
  • Some VM series are restricted. To use a restricted series, contact support and request a quota increase for the series. Please note that for GPUs and specialty SKUs, you would always have to request for quota due to high demand and limited supply. For information on how to contact support, see Azure support options.

See the following table to learn more about supported series and restrictions.

Supported VM series Category Supported by
DDSv4 General purpose Compute clusters and instance
Dv2 General purpose Compute clusters and instance
Dv3 General purpose Compute clusters and instance
DSv2 General purpose Compute clusters and instance
DSv3 General purpose Compute clusters and instance
EAv4 Memory optimized Compute clusters and instance
Ev3 Memory optimized Compute clusters and instance
ESv3 Memory optimized Compute clusters and instance
FSv2 Compute optimized Compute clusters and instance
FX Compute optimized Compute clusters
H High performance compute Compute clusters and instance
HB High performance compute Compute clusters and instance
HBv2 High performance compute Compute clusters and instance
HBv3 High performance compute Compute clusters and instance
HC High performance compute Compute clusters and instance
LSv2 Storage optimized Compute clusters and instance
M Memory optimized Compute clusters and instance
NC GPU Compute clusters and instance
NC Promo GPU Compute clusters and instance
NCv2 GPU Compute clusters and instance
NCv3 GPU Compute clusters and instance
ND GPU Compute clusters and instance
NDv2 GPU Compute clusters and instance
NV GPU Compute clusters and instance
NVv3 GPU Compute clusters and instance
NCasT4_v3 GPU Compute clusters and instance
NDasrA100_v4 GPU Compute clusters and instance

While Azure Machine Learning supports these VM series, they might not be available in all Azure regions. To check whether VM series are available, see Products available by region.

Note

Azure Machine Learning doesn't support all VM sizes that Azure Compute supports. To list the available VM sizes, use one of the following methods:

If using the GPU-enabled compute targets, it is important to ensure that the correct CUDA drivers are installed in the training environment. Use the following table to determine the correct CUDA version to use:

GPU Architecture Azure VM Series Supported CUDA versions
Ampere NDA100_v4 11.0+
Turing NCT4_v3 10.0+
Volta NCv3, NDv2 9.0+
Pascal NCv2, ND 9.0+
Maxwell NV, NVv3 9.0+
Kepler NC, NC Promo 9.0+

In addition to ensuring the CUDA version and hardware are compatible, also ensure that the CUDA version is compatible with the version of the machine learning framework you are using:

Compute isolation

Azure Machine Learning compute offers VM sizes that are isolated to a specific hardware type and dedicated to a single customer. Isolated VM sizes are best suited for workloads that require a high degree of isolation from other customers' workloads for reasons that include meeting compliance and regulatory requirements. Utilizing an isolated size guarantees that your VM will be the only one running on that specific server instance.

The current isolated VM offerings include:

  • Standard_M128ms
  • Standard_F72s_v2
  • Standard_NC24s_v3
  • Standard_NC24rs_v3*

*RDMA capable

To learn more about isolation, see Isolation in the Azure public cloud.

Unmanaged compute

An unmanaged compute target is not managed by Azure Machine Learning. You create this type of compute target outside Azure Machine Learning and then attach it to your workspace. Unmanaged compute resources can require additional steps for you to maintain or to improve performance for machine learning workloads.

Azure Machine Learning supports the following unmanaged compute types:

  • Your local computer
  • Remote virtual machines
  • Azure HDInsight
  • Azure Batch
  • Azure Databricks
  • Azure Data Lake Analytics
  • Azure Container Instance
  • Kubernetes

For more information, see set up compute targets for model training and deployment

Next steps

Learn how to: