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Deploy TensorFlow on Google Cloud C4A (Arm-based Axion VMs)
Signed-off-by: odidev <[email protected]>
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‎content/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/tensorflow-gcp/_index.md‎

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---
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title: Deploy TensorFlow on Google Cloud C4A (Arm-based Axion VMs)
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minutes_to_complete: 30
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who_is_this_for: This learning path is intended for software developers deploying and optimizing TensorFlow workloads on Linux/Arm64 environments, specifically using Google Cloud C4A virtual machines powered by Axion processors.
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learning_objectives:
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- Provision an Arm-based SUSE SLES virtual machine on Google Cloud (C4A with Axion processors)
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- Install TensorFlow on a SUSE Arm64 (C4A) instance
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- Verify TensorFlow by running basic computation and model training tests on Arm64
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- Benchmark TensorFlow using tf.keras to evaluate inference speed and model performance on Arm64 systems.
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prerequisites:
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- A [Google Cloud Platform (GCP)](https://cloud.google.com/free) account with billing enabled
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- Basic familiarity with [TensorFlow](https://www.tensorflow.org/)
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author: Pareena Verma
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##### Tags
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skilllevels: Introductory
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subjects: ML
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cloud_service_providers: Google Cloud
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armips:
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- Neoverse
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tools_software_languages:
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- TensorFlow
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- Python
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- tf.keras
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operatingsystems:
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- Linux
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# ================================================================================
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# FIXED, DO NOT MODIFY
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# ================================================================================
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further_reading:
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- resource:
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title: Google Cloud documentation
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link: https://cloud.google.com/docs
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type: documentation
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- resource:
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title: TensorFlow documentation
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link: https://www.tensorflow.org/learn
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type: documentation
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- resource:
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title: Phoronix Test Suite (PTS) documentation
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link: https://www.phoronix-test-suite.com/
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type: documentation
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weight: 1
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layout: "learningpathall"
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learning_path_main_page: "yes"
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---

‎content/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/tensorflow-gcp/_next-steps.md‎

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weight: 21 # Set to always be larger than the content in this path to be at the end of the navigation.
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title: "Next Steps" # Always the same, html page title.
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layout: "learningpathall" # All files under learning paths have this same wrapper for Hugo processing.
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---

‎content/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/tensorflow-gcp/background.md‎

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---
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title: Getting started with TensorFlow on Google Axion C4A (Arm Neoverse-V2)
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weight: 2
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layout: "learningpathall"
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---
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## Google Axion C4A Arm instances in Google Cloud
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Google Axion C4A is a family of Arm-based virtual machines built on Google’s custom Axion CPU, which is based on Arm Neoverse-V2 cores. Designed for high-performance and energy-efficient computing, these virtual machines offer strong performance for modern cloud workloads such as CI/CD pipelines, microservices, media processing, and general-purpose applications.
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The C4A series provides a cost-effective alternative to x86 virtual machines while leveraging the scalability and performance benefits of the Arm architecture in Google Cloud.
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To learn more about Google Axion, refer to the [Introducing Google Axion Processors, our new Arm-based CPUs](https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/compute/introducing-googles-new-arm-based-cpu) blog.
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## TensorFlow
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[TensorFlow](https://www.tensorflow.org/) is an **open-source machine learning and deep learning framework** developed by **Google**. It helps developers and researchers **build, train, and deploy AI models** efficiently across **CPUs, GPUs, and TPUs**.
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With support for **neural networks**, **natural language processing (NLP)**, and **computer vision**, TensorFlow is widely used for **AI research and production**.
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Its **flexibility** and **scalability** make it ideal for both **cloud** and **edge environments**.
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To learn more, visit the [official TensorFlow website](https://www.tensorflow.org/).

‎content/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/tensorflow-gcp/baseline.md‎

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---
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title: TensorFlow Baseline Testing on Google Axion C4A Arm Virtual Machine
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weight: 5
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### FIXED, DO NOT MODIFY
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layout: learningpathall
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---
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## TensorFlow Baseline Testing on GCP SUSE VMs
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This section helps you check if TensorFlow is properly installed and working on your **Google Axion C4A Arm64 VM**. You will run small tests to confirm that your CPU can perform TensorFlow operations correctly.
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### Verify Installation
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This command checks if TensorFlow is installed correctly and prints its version number.
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```console
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python -c "import tensorflow as tf; print(tf.__version__)"
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```
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### List Available Devices
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This command shows which hardware devices TensorFlow can use — like CPU or GPU. On most VMs, you’ll see only CPU listed.
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```console
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python -c "import tensorflow as tf; print(tf.config.list_physical_devices())"
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```
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You should see an output similar to:
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```output
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[PhysicalDevice(name='/physical_device:CPU:0', device_type='CPU')]
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```
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### Run a Simple Computation
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This test multiplies two large matrices to check that TensorFlow computations work correctly on your CPU and measures how long it takes.
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```python
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python -c "import tensorflow as tf; import time;
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a = tf.random.uniform((1000,1000)); b = tf.random.uniform((1000,1000));
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start = time.time(); c = tf.matmul(a,b); end = time.time();
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print('Computation time:', end - start, 'seconds')"
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```
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- This checks **CPU speed** and the correctness of basic operations.
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- Note the **computation time** as your baseline.
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You should see an output similar to:
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```output
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Computation time: 0.008263111114501953 seconds
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```
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### Test Neural Network Execution
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Create a new file for testing a simple neural network:
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```console
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vi test_nn.py
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```
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This opens a new Python file where you’ll write a short TensorFlow test program.
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Paste the code below into the `test_nn.py` file:
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```python
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import tensorflow as tf
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from tensorflow.keras.models import Sequential
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from tensorflow.keras.layers import Dense
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import numpy as np
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# Dummy data
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x = np.random.rand(1000, 20)
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y = np.random.rand(1000, 1)
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# Define the model
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model = Sequential([
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Dense(64, activation='relu', input_shape=(20,)),
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Dense(1)
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])
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# Compile the model
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model.compile(optimizer='adam', loss='mse')
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# Train for 1 epoch
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model.fit(x, y, epochs=1, batch_size=32)
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```
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This script creates and trains a simple neural network using random data — just to make sure TensorFlow’s deep learning functions work properly.
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**Run the Script**
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Execute the script with Python:
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```console
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python test_nn.py
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```
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**Output**
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TensorFlow will print training progress, like:
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```output
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32/32 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 0s 1ms/step - loss: 0.1024
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```
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This confirms that TensorFlow is working properly on your Arm64 VM.

‎content/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/tensorflow-gcp/benchmarking.md‎

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title: TensorFlow Benchmarking
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---
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## TensorFlow Benchmarking with tf.keras
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This guide benchmarks multiple TensorFlow models (ResNet50, MobileNetV2, and InceptionV3) using dummy input data. It measures average inference time and throughput for each model running on the CPU.
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`tf.keras` is **TensorFlow’s high-level API** for building, training, and benchmarking deep learning models. It provides access to **predefined architectures** such as **ResNet**, **MobileNet**, and **Inception**, making it easy to evaluate model performance on different hardware setups like **CPU**, **GPU**, or **TPU**.
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### Activate your TensorFlow virtual environment
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This step enables your isolated Python environment (`tf-venv`) where TensorFlow is installed. It ensures that all TensorFlow-related packages and dependencies run in a clean, controlled setup without affecting system-wide Python installations.
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```console
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source ~/tf-venv/bin/activate
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python -c "import tensorflow as tf; print(tf.__version__)"
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```
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### Install required packages
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Here, you install TensorFlow 2.20.0 and NumPy, the core libraries needed for model creation, computation, and benchmarking. NumPy supports efficient numerical operations, while TensorFlow handles deep learning workloads.
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```console
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pip install tensorflow==2.20.0 numpy
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```
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### Create a Python file named tf_cpu_benchmark.py:
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This step creates a Python script (`tf_cpu_benchmark.py`) that will run TensorFlow model benchmarking tests.
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```console
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vi tf_cpu_benchmark.py
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```
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Paste the following code:
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```python
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import tensorflow as tf
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import time
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# List of models to benchmark
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models = {
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"ResNet50": tf.keras.applications.ResNet50,
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"MobileNetV2": tf.keras.applications.MobileNetV2,
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"InceptionV3": tf.keras.applications.InceptionV3
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}
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batch_size = 32
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num_runs = 50
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for name, constructor in models.items():
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print(f"\nBenchmarking {name}...")
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# Create model without pretrained weights
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model = constructor(weights=None, input_shape=(224,224,3))
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# Generate dummy input
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dummy_input = tf.random.uniform([batch_size, 224, 224, 3])
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# Warm-up
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_ = model(dummy_input)
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# Benchmark
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start = time.time()
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for _ in range(num_runs):
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_ = model(dummy_input)
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end = time.time()
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avg_time = (end - start) / num_runs
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throughput = batch_size / avg_time
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print(f"{name} average inference time per batch: {avg_time:.4f} seconds")
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print(f"{name} throughput: {throughput:.2f} images/sec")
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```
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- **Import libraries** – Loads TensorFlow and `time` for model creation and timing.
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- **Define models** – Lists three TensorFlow Keras models: **ResNet50**, **MobileNetV2**, and **InceptionV3**.
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- **Set parameters** – Configures `batch_size = 32` and runs each model **50 times** for stable benchmarking.
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- **Create model instances** – Initializes each model **without pretrained weights** for fair CPU testing.
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- **Generate dummy input** – Creates random data shaped like real images **(224×224×3)** for inference.
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- **Warm-up phase** – Runs one inference to **stabilize model graph and memory usage**.
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- **Benchmark loop** – Measures total time for 50 runs and calculates **average inference time per batch**.
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- **Compute throughput** – Calculates how many **images per second** the model can process.
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- **Print results** – Displays **average inference time and throughput** for each model.
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### Run the benchmark
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Execute the benchmarking script:
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```console
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python tf_cpu_benchmark.py
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```
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You should see an output similar to:
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```output
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Benchmarking ResNet50...
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ResNet50 average inference time per batch: 1.2051 seconds
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ResNet50 throughput: 26.55 images/sec
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Benchmarking MobileNetV2...
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MobileNetV2 average inference time per batch: 0.2909 seconds
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MobileNetV2 throughput: 110.02 images/sec
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Benchmarking InceptionV3...
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InceptionV3 average inference time per batch: 0.8971 seconds
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InceptionV3 throughput: 35.67 images/sec
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```
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### Benchmark Metrics Explanation
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- **Average Inference Time per Batch (seconds):** Measures how long it takes to process one batch of input data. Lower values indicate faster inference performance.
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- **Throughput (images/sec):** Indicates how many images the model can process per second. Higher throughput means better overall efficiency.
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- **Model Type:** Refers to the neural network architecture used for testing (e.g., ResNet50, MobileNetV2, InceptionV3). Each model has different computational complexity.
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### Benchmark summary on x86_64
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To compare the benchmark results, the following results were collected by running the same benchmark on a `x86 - c4-standard-4` (4 vCPUs, 15 GB Memory) x86_64 VM in GCP, running SUSE:
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| **Model** | **Average Inference Time per Batch (seconds)** | **Throughput (images/sec)** |
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|------------------|-----------------------------------------------:|-----------------------------:|
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| **ResNet50** | 1.3690 | 23.37 |
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| **MobileNetV2** | 0.4274 | 74.87 |
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| **InceptionV3** | 0.8799 | 36.37 |
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### Benchmark summary on Arm64
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Results from the earlier run on the `c4a-standard-4` (4 vCPU, 16 GB memory) Arm64 VM in GCP (SUSE):
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| **Model** | **Average Inference Time per Batch (seconds)** | **Throughput (images/sec)** |
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|------------------|-----------------------------------------------:|-----------------------------:|
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| **ResNet50** | 1.2051 | 26.55 |
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| **MobileNetV2** | 0.2909 | 110.02 |
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| **InceptionV3** | 0.8971 | 35.67 |
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### TensorFlow benchmarking comparison on Arm64 and x86_64
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- **Arm64 VMs show strong performance** for lightweight CNNs like **MobileNetV2**, achieving over **110 images/sec**, indicating excellent optimization for CPU-based inference.
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- **Medium-depth models** like **InceptionV3** maintain a **balanced trade-off between accuracy and latency**, confirming consistent multi-core utilization on Arm.
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- **Heavier architectures** such as **ResNet50** show expected longer inference times but still deliver **stable throughput**, reflecting good floating-point efficiency.
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- Compared to **x86_64**, **Arm64 provides energy-efficient yet competitive performance**, particularly for **mobile, quantized, or edge AI workloads**.
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- **Overall**, Arm64 demonstrates that **TensorFlow workloads can run efficiently on cloud-native ARM processors**, making them a **cost-effective and power-efficient alternative** for AI inference and model prototyping.

‎content/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/tensorflow-gcp/images/gcp-vm.png‎

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‎content/learning-paths/servers-and-cloud-computing/tensorflow-gcp/installation.md‎

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title: Install TensorFlow
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---
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## TensorFlow Installation on GCP SUSE VM
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TensorFlow is a widely used **open-source machine learning library** developed by Google, designed for building and deploying ML models efficiently. On Arm64 SUSE VMs, TensorFlow can run on CPU natively, or on GPU if available.
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### System Preparation
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Update the system and install Python3 and pip:
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```console
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sudo zypper refresh
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sudo zypper update -y
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sudo zypper install -y python3 python3-pip python3-venv
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```
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This ensures your system is up-to-date and installs Python with the essential tools required for TensorFlow setup.
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**Verify Python version:**
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Confirm that Python and pip are correctly installed and identify their versions to ensure compatibility with TensorFlow requirements.
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```console
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python3 --version
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pip3 --version
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```
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### Create a Virtual Environment (Recommended)
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Set up an isolated Python environment (`tf-venv`) so that TensorFlow and its dependencies don’t interfere with system-wide packages or other projects.
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```console
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python3 -m venv tf-venv
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source tf-venv/bin/activate
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```
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Create and activate an isolated Python environment to keep TensorFlow dependencies separate from system packages.
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### Upgrade pip
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Upgrade pip to the latest version for smooth and reliable package installation.
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```console
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pip install --upgrade pip
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```
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### Install TensorFlow
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Install the latest stable TensorFlow version for Arm64:
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```console
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pip install tensorflow==2.20.0
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```
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{{% notice Note %}}
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TensorFlow 2.18.0 introduced compatibility with NumPy 2.0, incorporating its updated type promotion rules and improved numerical precision.
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You can view [this release note](https://blog.tensorflow.org/2024/10/whats-new-in-tensorflow-218.html)
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The [Arm Ecosystem Dashboard](https://developer.arm.com/ecosystem-dashboard/) recommends Tensorflow version 2.18.0, the minimum recommended on the Arm platforms.
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{{% /notice %}}
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### Verify installation:
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Run a quick Python command to check that TensorFlow was installed successfully and print the installed version number for confirmation.
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```console
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python -c "import tensorflow as tf; print(tf.__version__)"
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```
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You should see an output similar to:
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```output
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2.20.0
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```
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TensorFlow installation is complete. You can now go ahead with the baseline testing of TensorFlow in the next section.

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