In this advanced DeepSpeed tutorial, we provide a hands-on walkthrough of cutting-edge optimization techniques for training large language models efficiently. By combining ZeRO optimization, mixed-precision training, gradient accumulation, and advanced DeepSpeed configurations, the tutorial demonstrates how to maximize GPU memory utilization, reduce training overhead, and enable scaling of transformer models in resource-constrained environments, such as Colab. Alongside model creation and training, it also covers performance monitoring, inference optimization, checkpointing, and benchmarking different ZeRO stages, providing practitioners with both theoretical insights and practical code to accelerate model development. Check out the FULL CODES here.
import subprocess
import sys
import os
import json
import time
from pathlib import Path
def install_dependencies():
"""Install required packages for DeepSpeed in Colab"""
print("
Installing DeepSpeed and dependencies...")
subprocess.check_call([
sys.executable, "-m", "pip", "install",
"torch", "torchvision", "torchaudio", "--index-url",
"https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu118"
])
subprocess.check_call([sys.executable, "-m", "pip", "install", "deepspeed"])
subprocess.check_call([
sys.executable, "-m", "pip", "install",
"transformers", "datasets", "accelerate", "wandb"
])
print("
Installation complete!")
install_dependencies()
import torch
import torch.nn as nn
import torch.optim as optim
from torch.utils.data import DataLoader, Dataset
import deepspeed
from transformers import GPT2Config, GPT2LMHeadModel, GPT2Tokenizer
import numpy as np
from typing import Dict, Any
import argparseWe set up our Colab environment by installing PyTorch with CUDA support, DeepSpeed, and essential libraries like Transformers, Datasets, Accelerate, and Weights & Biases. We ensure everything is ready so we can smoothly build and train models with DeepSpeed. Check out the FULL CODES here.
class SyntheticTextDataset(Dataset):
"""Synthetic dataset for demonstration purposes"""
def __init__(self, size: int = 1000, seq_length: int = 512, vocab_size: int = 50257):
self.size = size
self.seq_length = seq_length
self.vocab_size = vocab_size
self.data = torch.randint(0, vocab_size, (size, seq_length))
def __len__(self):
return self.size
def __getitem__(self, idx):
return {
'input_ids': self.data[idx],
'labels': self.data[idx].clone()
}We create a SyntheticTextDataset where we generate random token sequences to mimic real text data. We use these sequences as both inputs and labels, allowing us to quickly test DeepSpeed training without relying on a large external dataset. Check out the FULL CODES here.
class AdvancedDeepSpeedTrainer:
"""Advanced DeepSpeed trainer with multiple optimization techniques"""
def __init__(self, model_config: Dict[str, Any], ds_config: Dict[str, Any]):
self.model_config = model_config
self.ds_config = ds_config
self.model = None
self.engine = None
self.tokenizer = None
def create_model(self):
"""Create a GPT-2 style model for demonstration"""
print("
Creating model...")
config = GPT2Config(
vocab_size=self.model_config['vocab_size'],
n_positions=self.model_config['seq_length'],
n_embd=self.model_config['hidden_size'],
n_layer=self.model_config['num_layers'],
n_head=self.model_config['num_heads'],
resid_pdrop=0.1,
embd_pdrop=0.1,
attn_pdrop=0.1,
)
self.model = GPT2LMHeadModel(config)
self.tokenizer = GPT2Tokenizer.from_pretrained('gpt2')
self.tokenizer.pad_token = self.tokenizer.eos_token
print(f"
Model parameters: {sum(p.numel() for p in self.model.parameters()):,}")
return self.model
def create_deepspeed_config(self):
"""Create comprehensive DeepSpeed configuration"""
return {
"train_batch_size": self.ds_config['train_batch_size'],
"train_micro_batch_size_per_gpu": self.ds_config['micro_batch_size'],
"gradient_accumulation_steps": self.ds_config['gradient_accumulation_steps'],
"zero_optimization": {
"stage": self.ds_config['zero_stage'],
"allgather_partitions": True,
"allgather_bucket_size": 5e8,
"overlap_comm": True,
"reduce_scatter": True,
"reduce_bucket_size": 5e8,
"contiguous_gradients": True,
"cpu_offload": self.ds_config.get('cpu_offload', False)
},
"fp16": {
"enabled": True,
"loss_scale": 0,
"loss_scale_window": 1000,
"initial_scale_power": 16,
"hysteresis": 2,
"min_loss_scale": 1
},
"optimizer": {
"type": "AdamW",
"params": {
"lr": self.ds_config['learning_rate'],
"betas": [0.9, 0.999],
"eps": 1e-8,
"weight_decay": 0.01
}
},
"scheduler": {
"type": "WarmupLR",
"params": {
"warmup_min_lr": 0,
"warmup_max_lr": self.ds_config['learning_rate'],
"warmup_num_steps": 100
}
},
"gradient_clipping": 1.0,
"wall_clock_breakdown": True,
"memory_breakdown": True,
"tensorboard": {
"enabled": True,
"output_path": "./logs/",
"job_name": "deepspeed_advanced_tutorial"
}
}
def initialize_deepspeed(self):
"""Initialize DeepSpeed engine"""
print("
Initializing DeepSpeed...")
parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
parser.add_argument('--local_rank', type=int, default=0)
args = parser.parse_args([])
self.engine, optimizer, _, lr_scheduler = deepspeed.initialize(
args=args,
model=self.model,
config=self.create_deepspeed_config()
)
print(f"
DeepSpeed engine initialized with ZeRO stage {self.ds_config['zero_stage']}")
return self.engine
def train_step(self, batch: Dict[str, torch.Tensor]) -> Dict[str, float]:
"""Perform a single training step with DeepSpeed optimizations"""
input_ids = batch['input_ids'].to(self.engine.device)
labels = batch['labels'].to(self.engine.device)
outputs = self.engine(input_ids=input_ids, labels=labels)
loss = outputs.loss
self.engine.backward(loss)
self.engine.step()
return {
'loss': loss.item(),
'lr': self.engine.lr_scheduler.get_last_lr()[0] if self.engine.lr_scheduler else 0
}
def train(self, dataloader: DataLoader, num_epochs: int = 2):
"""Complete training loop with monitoring"""
print(f"
Starting training for {num_epochs} epochs...")
self.engine.train()
total_steps = 0
for epoch in range(num_epochs):
epoch_loss = 0.0
epoch_steps = 0
print(f"n
Epoch {epoch + 1}/{num_epochs}")
for step, batch in enumerate(dataloader):
start_time = time.time()
metrics = self.train_step(batch)
epoch_loss += metrics['loss']
epoch_steps += 1
total_steps += 1
if step % 10 == 0:
step_time = time.time() - start_time
print(f" Step {step:4d} | Loss: {metrics['loss']:.4f} | "
f"LR: {metrics['lr']:.2e} | Time: {step_time:.3f}s")
if step % 20 == 0 and hasattr(self.engine, 'monitor'):
self.log_memory_stats()
if step >= 50:
break
avg_loss = epoch_loss / epoch_steps
print(f" Epoch {epoch + 1} completed | Average Loss: {avg_loss:.4f}")
print("
Training completed!")
def log_memory_stats(self):
"""Log GPU memory statistics"""
if torch.cuda.is_available():
allocated = torch.cuda.memory_allocated() / 1024**3
reserved = torch.cuda.memory_reserved() / 1024**3
print(f" 
GPU Memory - Allocated: {allocated:.2f}GB | Reserved: {reserved:.2f}GB")
def save_checkpoint(self, path: str):
"""Save model checkpoint using DeepSpeed"""
print(f" Saving checkpoint to {path}")
self.engine.save_checkpoint(path)
def demonstrate_inference(self, text: str = "The future of AI is"):
"""Demonstrate optimized inference with DeepSpeed"""
print(f"n
Running inference with prompt: '{text}'")
inputs = self.tokenizer.encode(text, return_tensors='pt').to(self.engine.device)
self.engine.eval()
with torch.no_grad():
outputs = self.engine.module.generate(
inputs,
max_length=inputs.shape[1] + 50,
num_return_sequences=1,
temperature=0.8,
do_sample=True,
pad_token_id=self.tokenizer.eos_token_id
)
generated_text = self.tokenizer.decode(outputs[0], skip_special_tokens=True)
print(f"
Generated text: {generated_text}")
self.engine.train()We build an end-to-end trainer that creates a GPT-2 model, sets a DeepSpeed config (ZeRO, FP16, AdamW, warmup scheduler, tensorboard), and initializes the engine. We then run efficient training steps with logging and memory statistics, save checkpoints, and demonstrate inference to verify optimization and generation in one place. Check out the FULL CODES here.
def run_advanced_tutorial():
"""Main function to run the advanced DeepSpeed tutorial"""
print("
Advanced DeepSpeed Tutorial Starting...")
print("=" * 60)
model_config = {
'vocab_size': 50257,
'seq_length': 512,
'hidden_size': 768,
'num_layers': 6,
'num_heads': 12
}
ds_config = {
'train_batch_size': 16,
'micro_batch_size': 4,
'gradient_accumulation_steps': 4,
'zero_stage': 2,
'learning_rate': 1e-4,
'cpu_offload': False
}
print("
Configuration:")
print(f" Model size: ~{sum(np.prod(shape) for shape in [[model_config['vocab_size'], model_config['hidden_size']], [model_config['hidden_size'], model_config['hidden_size']] * model_config['num_layers']]) / 1e6:.1f}M parameters")
print(f" ZeRO Stage: {ds_config['zero_stage']}")
print(f" Batch size: {ds_config['train_batch_size']}")
trainer = AdvancedDeepSpeedTrainer(model_config, ds_config)
model = trainer.create_model()
engine = trainer.initialize_deepspeed()
print("n
Creating synthetic dataset...")
dataset = SyntheticTextDataset(
size=200,
seq_length=model_config['seq_length'],
vocab_size=model_config['vocab_size']
)
dataloader = DataLoader(
dataset,
batch_size=ds_config['micro_batch_size'],
shuffle=True
)
print("n Pre-training memory stats:")
trainer.log_memory_stats()
trainer.train(dataloader, num_epochs=2)
print("n Post-training memory stats:")
trainer.log_memory_stats()
trainer.demonstrate_inference("DeepSpeed enables efficient training of")
checkpoint_path = "./deepspeed_checkpoint"
trainer.save_checkpoint(checkpoint_path)
demonstrate_zero_stages()
demonstrate_memory_optimization()
print("n Tutorial completed successfully!")
print("Key DeepSpeed features demonstrated:")
print(" ZeRO optimization for memory efficiency")
print(" Mixed precision training (FP16)")
print(" Gradient accumulation")
print(" Learning rate scheduling")
print(" Checkpoint saving/loading")
print(" Memory monitoring")
def demonstrate_zero_stages():
"""Demonstrate different ZeRO optimization stages"""
print("n
ZeRO Optimization Stages Explained:")
print(" Stage 0: Disabled (baseline)")
print(" Stage 1: Optimizer state partitioning (~4x memory reduction)")
print(" Stage 2: Gradient partitioning (~8x memory reduction)")
print(" Stage 3: Parameter partitioning (~Nx memory reduction)")
zero_configs = {
1: {"stage": 1, "reduce_bucket_size": 5e8},
2: {"stage": 2, "allgather_partitions": True, "reduce_scatter": True},
3: {"stage": 3, "stage3_prefetch_bucket_size": 5e8, "stage3_param_persistence_threshold": 1e6}
}
for stage, config in zero_configs.items():
estimated_memory_reduction = [1, 4, 8, "Nx"][stage]
print(f" 
Stage {stage}: ~{estimated_memory_reduction}x memory reduction")
def demonstrate_memory_optimization():
"""Show memory optimization techniques"""
print("n Memory Optimization Techniques:")
print(" 
Gradient Checkpointing: Trade compute for memory")
print(" 
CPU Offloading: Move optimizer states to CPU")
print(" 
Compression: Reduce communication overhead")
print(" Mixed Precision: Use FP16 for faster training")We orchestrate the full training run: set configs, build the GPT-2 model and DeepSpeed engine, create a synthetic dataset, monitor GPU memory, train for two epochs, run inference, and save a checkpoint. We then explain ZeRO stages and highlight memory-optimization tactics, such as gradient checkpointing and CPU offloading, to understand the trade-offs in practice. Check out the FULL CODES here.
class DeepSpeedConfigGenerator:
"""Utility class to generate DeepSpeed configurations"""
@staticmethod
def generate_config(
batch_size: int = 16,
zero_stage: int = 2,
use_cpu_offload: bool = False,
learning_rate: float = 1e-4
) -> Dict[str, Any]:
"""Generate a complete DeepSpeed configuration"""
config = {
"train_batch_size": batch_size,
"train_micro_batch_size_per_gpu": max(1, batch_size // 4),
"gradient_accumulation_steps": max(1, batch_size // max(1, batch_size // 4)),
"zero_optimization": {
"stage": zero_stage,
"allgather_partitions": True,
"allgather_bucket_size": 5e8,
"overlap_comm": True,
"reduce_scatter": True,
"reduce_bucket_size": 5e8,
"contiguous_gradients": True
},
"fp16": {
"enabled": True,
"loss_scale": 0,
"loss_scale_window": 1000,
"initial_scale_power": 16,
"hysteresis": 2,
"min_loss_scale": 1
},
"optimizer": {
"type": "AdamW",
"params": {
"lr": learning_rate,
"betas": [0.9, 0.999],
"eps": 1e-8,
"weight_decay": 0.01
}
},
"scheduler": {
"type": "WarmupLR",
"params": {
"warmup_min_lr": 0,
"warmup_max_lr": learning_rate,
"warmup_num_steps": 100
}
},
"gradient_clipping": 1.0,
"wall_clock_breakdown": True
}
if use_cpu_offload:
config["zero_optimization"]["cpu_offload"] = True
config["zero_optimization"]["pin_memory"] = True
if zero_stage == 3:
config["zero_optimization"].update({
"stage3_prefetch_bucket_size": 5e8,
"stage3_param_persistence_threshold": 1e6,
"stage3_gather_16bit_weights_on_model_save": True
})
return config
def benchmark_zero_stages():
"""Benchmark different ZeRO stages"""
print("n
Benchmarking ZeRO Stages...")
model_config = {
'vocab_size': 50257,
'seq_length': 256,
'hidden_size': 512,
'num_layers': 4,
'num_heads': 8
}
results = {}
for stage in [1, 2]:
print(f"n
Testing ZeRO Stage {stage}...")
ds_config = {
'train_batch_size': 8,
'micro_batch_size': 2,
'gradient_accumulation_steps': 4,
'zero_stage': stage,
'learning_rate': 1e-4
}
try:
trainer = AdvancedDeepSpeedTrainer(model_config, ds_config)
model = trainer.create_model()
engine = trainer.initialize_deepspeed()
if torch.cuda.is_available():
torch.cuda.reset_peak_memory_stats()
dataset = SyntheticTextDataset(size=20, seq_length=model_config['seq_length'])
dataloader = DataLoader(dataset, batch_size=ds_config['micro_batch_size'])
start_time = time.time()
for i, batch in enumerate(dataloader):
if i >= 5:
break
trainer.train_step(batch)
end_time = time.time()
peak_memory = torch.cuda.max_memory_allocated() / 1024**3
results[stage] = {
'peak_memory_gb': peak_memory,
'time_per_step': (end_time - start_time) / 5
}
print(f" Peak Memory: {peak_memory:.2f}GB")
print(f" 
Time per step: {results[stage]['time_per_step']:.3f}s")
del trainer, model, engine
torch.cuda.empty_cache()
except Exception as e:
print(f" 
Error with stage {stage}: {str(e)}")
if len(results) > 1:
print(f"n Comparison:")
stage_1_memory = results.get(1, {}).get('peak_memory_gb', 0)
stage_2_memory = results.get(2, {}).get('peak_memory_gb', 0)
if stage_1_memory > 0 and stage_2_memory > 0:
memory_reduction = (stage_1_memory - stage_2_memory) / stage_1_memory * 100
print(f" Memory reduction from Stage 1 to 2: {memory_reduction:.1f}%")
def demonstrate_advanced_features():
"""Demonstrate additional advanced DeepSpeed features"""
print("n Advanced DeepSpeed Features:")
print(" 
Dynamic Loss Scaling: Automatically adjusts FP16 loss scaling")
print(" Gradient Compression: Reduces communication overhead")
print(" Pipeline Parallelism: Splits model across devices")
print(" 
Expert Parallelism: Efficient Mixture-of-Experts training")
print(" Curriculum Learning: Progressive training strategies")
if __name__ == "__main__":
print(f"
CUDA Available: {torch.cuda.is_available()}")
if torch.cuda.is_available():
print(f" GPU: {torch.cuda.get_device_name()}")
print(f" Memory: {torch.cuda.get_device_properties(0).total_memory / 1024**3:.1f}GB")
try:
run_advanced_tutorial()
benchmark_zero_stages()
demonstrate_advanced_features()
except Exception as e:
print(f" Error during tutorial: {str(e)}")
print("
Tips for troubleshooting:")
print(" - Ensure you have GPU runtime enabled in Colab")
print(" - Try reducing batch_size or model size if facing memory issues")
print(" - Enable CPU offloading in ds_config if needed")We generate reusable DeepSpeed configurations, benchmark ZeRO stages to compare memory and speed, and showcase advanced features such as dynamic loss scaling and pipeline/MoE parallelism. We also detect CUDA, run the full tutorial end-to-end, and provide clear troubleshooting tips, allowing us to iterate confidently in Colab.
In conclusion, we gain a comprehensive understanding of how DeepSpeed enhances model training efficiency by striking a balance between performance and memory trade-offs. From leveraging ZeRO stages for memory reduction to applying FP16 mixed precision and CPU offloading, the tutorial showcases powerful strategies that make large-scale training accessible on modest hardware. By the end, learners will have trained and optimized a GPT-style model, benchmarked configurations, monitored GPU resources, and explored advanced features such as pipeline parallelism and gradient compression.
Check out the FULL CODES here. Feel free to check out our GitHub Page for Tutorials, Codes and Notebooks. Also, feel free to follow us on Twitter and don’t forget to join our 100k+ ML SubReddit and Subscribe to our Newsletter.
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