How to install pytorch on Power 8 or PPC64 machine?

Question

I am trying to install pytorch using conda on power 8 IBM machine. Although, I read articles from IBM blog, I couldn't install with success because I got stuck with compiling magma.

Nevski

Answer 1

Assuming that conda is already installed. Simply run the following command

conda install -c engility pytorch
conda install -c engility torchvision

Note:
1. Goto this anaconda page
2. Search for pytorch
3. Scroll down to see which one has linux-ppc64le as platform
4. Click into that specific package
5. You will get the command to install pytorch

Nevski

This only works for Python 3.6 (not above) and will install a very old pytorch version (0.4.0). – Jermyn

Answer 2

I finally installed PyTorch 1.5.0 on ppc64le server using conda environment.

1. Install anaconda (in my case I just installed miniconda3):
2. Add a new config channel:

conda config --prepend channels https://public.dhe.ibm.com/ibmdl/export/pub/software/server/ibm-ai/conda-early-access/linux-ppc64le/

3. Create a new conda environment and activate it:

conda create --name early_access python=3.6
conda activate early_access

4. Install pytorch:

conda install pytorch

That's it! Credits to this blog: https://gauravm.gitbook.io/about/blogs/installing-pytorch-and-transformers-on-ibm-powerpc-architecture

Eleph

Is there any way to install the version with GPU supported? Every time I run this code I could only install the CPU version... – Indestructible

Answer 3

Nowadays you can use powerai - MLDL framework from IBM, which includes PyTorch:

conda install powerai

It installs correct version of pytorch for PPC64.

Elga