Build Caffe with Intel Compiler

Builing the caffe with Intel C++ Compiler allows you to take full advantage of the Intel(R) processor. This is a step-by-step tutorial for building Intel caffe with MKLDNN library.

0.Prerequisite

The Intel C++ compiler produce optimized code that can run significantly faster by taking advantage of the ever-increasing core count and vector register width in Intel® Xeon® processors and compatible processors. Please install it from this link before executing the following steps.

1.Building Boost library.

• Download the boost from offical page and unzip it.
• Execute the following commands step by step.
  1. Run source <compiler root>/bin/compilervars.sh {ia32 OR intel64} or source <compiler root>/bin/compilervars.csh {ia32 OR intel64}
  2. cd <boost root>
  3. ./bootstrap.sh
  4. ./b2 install --prefix=<Boost.Build install dir>
  5. For 32-bit: ./b2 --build-dir=<Boost object directory> toolset=intel stage
  6. For 64-bit: ./b2 --build-dir=<Boost object directory> address-model=64 toolset=intel stage

2.Build caffe with Makefile

• cd to /path/to/caffe and create the Makefile.config from the Makefile.config.example.
• Set the variable CUSTOM_CXX and CUSTOM_CC to /path/to/icpc and /path/to/icc. e.g:CUSTOM_CXX := /opt/intel/compilers_and_libraries/linux/bin/intel64/icpc CUSTOM_CC := /opt/intel/compilers_and_libraries/linux/bin/intel64/icc
• Set the variable BOOST_ROOT to /path/to/unzipped_boost_root. e.g:BOOST_ROOT := /home/user/boost_1_64_0
• Run `make all -j$(nproc)' to build the caffe.

3.Build caffe with CMake

• Create folder under caffe. e.g：mkdir build
• cd build
• Run CC=icc CXX=icpc cmake .. -DCPU_ONLY=1 -DBOOST_ROOT=<boost path> to generate makefile
• Run CC=icc CXX=icpc CPATH="" make all -j$(nproc) to build caffe