Make sure numpy is using MKL library on mac pro

Question

I am using Enthought's Canopy/EPD version of python which ships with numpy linked against MKL. I am currently running a set of simulations in parallel (using PP) on both my work computer (Windows 7, Quad Core i5 @ 3.33 Ghz, 4 GB ram) and my home workstation (Mac Pro 3.1, Ubuntu 12.04, 2x Quad Core Xeon @ 2.8 Ghz, 6 GB ram).

But when I benchmark my simulations, they run much quicker on the work computer (35 seconds per iteration vs. 60 on the mac pro). The problem is being perfectly balanced between cores (embarrassingly parallel problem), so I suspect there is an issue with the MKL library on the linux workstation at home. Is there a way to verify that the MKL library is actually being used in python. I've read threads that say you can check to see if python is linked to it, but it doesn't ensure that it was built correctly and is actually being used.

Answer 1

>>> numpy.show_config()

You will see output something like this, showing that MKL is indeed linked.

lapack_opt_info:
    libraries = ['mkl_lapack95_lp64', 'mkl_intel_lp64', 'mkl_intel_thread', 'mkl_core', 'mkl_mc', 'mkl_mc3', 'pthread']
    library_dirs = ['/Users/vagrant/src/master-env/Resources/Python.app/Contents/MacOS/../../../../lib']
    define_macros = [('SCIPY_MKL_H', None)]
    include_dirs = ['/Users/vagrant/src/master-env/Resources/Python.app/Contents/MacOS/../../../../include']
blas_opt_info:
    libraries = ['mkl_intel_lp64', 'mkl_intel_thread', 'mkl_core', 'mkl_mc', 'mkl_mc3', 'pthread']
    library_dirs = ['/Users/vagrant/src/master-env/Resources/Python.app/Contents/MacOS/../../../../lib']
    define_macros = [('SCIPY_MKL_H', None)]
    include_dirs = ['/Users/vagrant/src/master-env/Resources/Python.app/Contents/MacOS/../../../../include']
openblas_info:
NOT AVAILABLE
lapack_mkl_info:
    libraries = ['mkl_lapack95_lp64', 'mkl_intel_lp64', 'mkl_intel_thread', 'mkl_core', 'mkl_mc', 'mkl_mc3', 'pthread']
    library_dirs = ['/Users/vagrant/src/master-env/Resources/Python.app/Contents/MacOS/../../../../lib']
    define_macros = [('SCIPY_MKL_H', None)]
    include_dirs = ['/Users/vagrant/src/master-env/Resources/Python.app/Contents/MacOS/../../../../include']
blas_mkl_info:
    libraries = ['mkl_intel_lp64', 'mkl_intel_thread', 'mkl_core', 'mkl_mc', 'mkl_mc3', 'pthread']
    library_dirs = ['/Users/vagrant/src/master-env/Resources/Python.app/Contents/MacOS/../../../../lib']
    define_macros = [('SCIPY_MKL_H', None)]
    include_dirs = ['/Users/vagrant/src/master-env/Resources/Python.app/Contents/MacOS/../../../../include']
mkl_info:
    libraries = ['mkl_intel_lp64', 'mkl_intel_thread', 'mkl_core', 'mkl_mc', 'mkl_mc3', 'pthread']
    library_dirs = ['/Users/vagrant/src/master-env/Resources/Python.app/Contents/MacOS/../../../../lib']
    define_macros = [('SCIPY_MKL_H', None)]
    include_dirs = ['/Users/vagrant/src/master-env/Resources/Python.app/Contents/MacOS/../../../../include']