NVIDIA Collective Communications Library (NCCL)
Definition
NCCL coordinates data exchange between NVIDIA GPUs.
The library provides optimized collective communication operations and point-to-point transfer. It is used, among other things, in distributed training.
Simply explained
Multiple computing machines exchange intermediate results via a coordinated delivery service.
Why it matters in practice
Efficient communication is crucial when multiple GPUs compute together.
Example from business
Hypothetical example: A training job synchronizes gradients across multiple GPU machines.
Limits and pitfalls
- Network, topology, and different call orders can affect performance or stability.
Origin & history
NVIDIA developed NCCL for GPU communication in the CUDA ecosystem.
Use in mid-sized companies
- For SMEs, it is usually part of a used training platform.
Frequently asked questions
Is NCCL itself a training framework?
No, it provides communication functions for such frameworks.
Sources
- NCCL overview — · NVIDIA: NCCL overview —
Editorially reviewed on: